Sim City 4 - Walkthrough/Guide Version 0.21 Copyright (c) 2003 James 'Sraet' Taylor ----- Index ----- 0. Version History 1. Legal Info 2. Introduction 3. Guide 3.1 Region Guide 3.2 City Guide 4. Credits 5. Contact Info -- ------- ------- 0. Version History -- ------- ------- 0.30 - Rewrote intro guide to better use diagrams and incorporate more time after initial setup. 0.21 - Droped letters from version number - Fixed spelling/wording mistakes - Fixed major oversight in zoning layout (Hey, was 4am when I got to that part!) - Added in directions to legalize gambling 0.20b - Initial Release -- ----- ---- 1. Legal Info -- ----- ---- All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders. This may not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal or private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly with out advanced written permission from the author (me). Use of this guide on any other web site or as part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. Copyright 2003 James 'Sraet' Taylor -- ------------ 2. Introduction -- ------------ Welcome to my first ever FAQ. The ironic thing about this is that Sim City 2000 and 3000 were nothing but frustrations to me. This however is written for Sim City 4, which until recently was just as frustrating for me as the others. This guide is going to look a little different if you actually got to reading the .20b or .21 version of it on GameFAQs. First this guide is for taking someone who is either new to the Sim City series of games or someone who is just having constant bad luck with Sim City 4 and then help them along with understanding what makes things grow and how to balance the budget. After you get the hang of things you can apply everything that you learn in this guide to other areas. In the initial layout, I had added a few things I thought would work better but may have ended upmaking things a little tighter in the long run. Let me explain a little bit where this city plan came from. Already having neighbors in my own city I atempted a layout based on information gathered from Bluemoogle's FAQ/Guide and Talnoix's board guide (Which is being made into a FAQ) to getting a 20,000 population in a city. I was completely amazed with the results, using neighbor deals my city was off like wild fire making thousands a month. My brother and I both played Sim City 2000 which for us was either too tedious or too easy and he was ready to call Sim City 4 just another 2000. I helped him build a town like mine, the only drawback is that his town had no neighbors. Low and behold it all worked out! He was never offered any potentially damaging business deals. His funds never went near too low, and his city quickly caught up in population, education and wealth to mine. From what he has done with his city based on my starting design I am writting this FAQ to take you from a clean slate hopefully up to a prospering city of 10,000 residents. I am no longer going to write this saying I assume your building it here like this and with that. I am just going to state it once, right here. This guide is based on following all of it. From creating a new region to selecting where your first city will be built. Well then; shall we get on with it? -- ----- 3. Guide -- ----- --- ------ ----- 3.1 Region Guide --- ------ ----- For this guide we want a completely land and flat region in which to place our city and eventually cities. After the game has loaded you will be sitting at a region screen, either looking at a region you have made or Maxisland with the tutorials placed on it. What we are goinging to do is create a simple region where we remove the hazards of rivers, lakes and mountains. Not to worry, all regions are automatically saved and each city is as well, so making the new region to test this out in will not affect anything you have already done. Open up the Region View Options menu by clicking on the top left icon. In the menu it is the icon on the left, Create New Region, that we want to hit. In the dialog that pops up enter the name for your region and make sure that Plains is selected for Initial Terrain. Once you hit the Create Region button you should be looking at a completely flat, treeless brown map dividing into 3 different sized zones. There is a small zone, a medium zone which is the size of 4 small zones, and a large zone which is the size of 4 medium zones or 16 small zones. We are going to start in a well placed small zone. This little seed of civilization will eventually expand to the entire region greating a region wide city with the goal of millions of inhabitants. All initial zones are created to look exactually the same. To that and and further expansions to this guide beyond just the initial city we are going to pick a small zone that is availible to other small, medium and a large zone. In the bottom right corner is a medium zone. Up one is another medium zone and to the left of that are four small zones. Out of the four small zones we want to pick the top right corner that is touching 2 small, one medium and one large zone. Select the zone, click on the play button and move on to the city guide! --- ---- ----- 3.2 City Guide --- ---- ----- First thing is first. Pause the game. It will remain paused until we have built up the majority of the land and set up the services to cover it. To beging with we have a choice to make, trees now or trees later. This choice is based on what you believe to be cheating. Once you make a city you can not normally reenter God Mode to terraform your land, which includes adding a large area of trees. I do not feel that reentering God Mode with out destroying your city to place trees is cheating. If you do it first the trees make it very difficult to lay down the road grids. Your game will be on pause, the last thing you do before unpausing it will be reentering God Mode to fill in the empty spaces with trees. Now decide for yourself, if you think that adding in the trees after is cheating then before you start your city go into God Mode by clicking on the Sun Icon. The top icon in the list that appears is a picture of a tree and it will bring up the Terraform menu. From the Terraform menu select Seed Forests and the proceed to fill the entire region thick with trees. Again I feel that this will only make your initial task of building more difficult than it need be. A small zone is a square of 64x64 spaces. I will be using a space to character ratio'd diagram to display what your built city will look like. I will start off by giving you the entire picture to look at and then starting from scratch and explaining every addition into the city. So, Here is what it will look like! +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | R R | |RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR| | R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSR RSSSSSSSSSSSSSR~~~RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R~R R R R R R R R | | R~RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R~ R EERrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R EERrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R EERrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ HHHHR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ HHHHR LLRrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ HHHHRFLLRrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ HHHHRFMMRrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R~ R R R R R | | R~ RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R~ R R R R | | R~ RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RCCCC RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RCCCC RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RCCCC RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RCCCC RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RWWWW RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RWWWW RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RWWWW RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | RWWWW | | R | | | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ Key - = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) + = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) | = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) = An empty space, in this case filled with trees R = Road S = Street ~ = Power line W = Waste to Energy Planet C = Coal Power Plant H = High School E = Elementary School L = Local Branch Library F = Small Fire Station M = Medical Clinic G = Large Plaza/Park/Gargen i = Medium Density Industrial c = Low Density Commercial r = Low Density Residential If the diagram doesn't confuse you then you are golden. However it looks confusing even to me and I just made it. You may notice gaps between city blocks. What I call a city block are the four 6x6 blocks surrounded by roads as depicted in the following diagram. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R S R R S R R S R R S R R S R R S R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSR R S R R S R R S R R S R R S R R S R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR City blocks are built of four block seperated by streets and surrounded by roads. The map above has 6 full city block depicted and the right hand side has a few aditional blocks added on to the size due to city zone restrictions. The gaps between the blocks are very very handy. They can hold the majority of your service and utility buildings like your schools, water towers and fire and police stations. Most of these will go in the 3 gap area. In the single gap areas bus stops, gardens, water tower or pumping stations all make a very nice placement. For the most part I leave the single gaps empty and up to you. If a place has a low mayor rating then try placing a small park in the single gap across from it, likewise if the land value is low. Just be careful not to kill your budget with park maintence. The 'Gap Method' to my knowledge was originally put forth by Talonix on the GameFAQ Sim City 4 board. I've since then taken it and used it. Later in the game the gaps can be filled with what ever you want, for the most part now either leave them blank, or in the case of this zone, filled with trees. Lets start laying down some roads. Sim City 4 comes with an auto-road while laying down zones. When first seeing it I am sure you went WOW! What a kewl feature that is! Wel here I am to denounce it. It is a good idea but a bad implimentation. Each section of zone has to have its own road access. The auto-road makes sure this happens but it does not take into consideration already existing roads. The only thing it will compensate for is connecting to close by roads, usually in a fashion that will destroy your free flowing traffic. Never use the auto-road ability. It will only cause you problems down the line. Click on the Transportation Tools icon to bring up the transportation menu. Click on the top icon, Build Roads & Bus Stops, to pop up the sub menu. Select the top option, Road, and lets begin placing down the frame work. Leaving a one space gap along the top of the map, start a road that goes all the way across the top. This will cost you $640 at $10/space and 64 spaces across. When you release the mouse a dialog will pop up asking if you want to connect to SimNation, select yes. Go back to your starting corner, start one space away from the edge and drag the road to the edge again to bring up the same dialog so you are connected off both sides. In the top left corner, where we will start placing down the other roads, save one space off to the left side of the map and start another road down the side. Connect this road to SimNation on both sides again as well. These two roads are the start of what I will refer to as your outer road. Now it is time to start working on the city blocks. With a 1-space gap between your outer road, start in space (4,4) and build a road all the way across but stopping when you reach one space away from the edge of the map (4,63). You can tell when your at the right length, assuming you started in the right corner, when the road's cost is $600. Back up in space (4,4) where you started the road, click and drag building a road downard to a value of $150. This is the side of your first city block. From where you just left off, build another $150 segment over to the right, and then from there finish off your first city block by building a final $150 segment up toward your road. Going to the bottom right corner of your city block you just made click and drag a $50 segment. This is your first 3-space gap. From the end of your new little tail, build a $150 segment road up and another one to the right. Finish off your second city block by building the last segment connecting the lower and upper roads as you did before. Repet the previous step to add a third city block to the right of your second block. On this last block we are going to add on a half-city block to the right side of this city block to utilize the space. From the bottom corner, drag over and build a $80 segment, then build upward a $150 segment to connect it to the road waiting up there. Not the outer road mind you, just the city block road you come to. As of now your map should look like the following. +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | R | |RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR| | R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | | R | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ Key - = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) + = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) | = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) = An empty space, in this case filled with trees R = Road If this isn't what your map looks like, make the nessicary changes to get it in this format. Next we are going to add in two more of our one and a half city blocks, and then a final extended half block to use up the remaining space at the bottom of the city zone. Starting at the bottom right corner of the right most city block, drag a $30 segment downward. Next, since this is an extended city block width wise, drag from the small segment end you just made to the left for $220, lining up the end of the road at the left edge of the city block above it. Add in a small segement up connecting the road to the block above it, and add in another connecting segment where the road is in the middle-right side. Time to finish our city block. From the right corner drag a $150 road segment dowanrd, then another $220 segment to the left and a $150 segment up to make a rectangle. Where the road comes down from the city block, drag a final $150 segment of road downward creating your city and a half block. Repeat these steps to create another city and a half block under this one. The last big block we want to put in is a slightly extended half city block under the last one we just made. Drag down the tree verticle roads to a value of $120 each. This should leave you three blank spaces below each of them to the edge of the map. Draw one big connecting road segment, value $220, to connect the three tails you just made. Lastly, leaving a 1-space gap drag a top road across forming the extended half city block. To finish up the roads we next want to just build a few of the edges of future city blocks. We are not yet ready to expand more city blocks so do not outline with roads the entire things. Use the diagram below to check your addition of the city blocks as well as adding in the rest of the roads. +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | R R | |RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR| | R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R R R R R R R R R | | RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R R R R R R | | R R R R R R | | R R R R R R | | R R R R R R | | R R R R R R | | R R R R R R | | R R R R R R | | R R R R R R | | R R R R R R | | R R R R R R | | R R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R R R R | | R R R R | | R R R R | | R R R R | | R R R R | | R R R R | | R R R R | | R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R | | R | | R | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ Key - = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) + = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) | = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) = An empty space, in this case filled with trees R = Road With this basic outline set up, and almost hand fed to you in instructions, I am going to ease both of our times from here on out by just giving brief directions and a diagram until we are ready to unpause the game. The next thing we need to put in are our streets within the city blocks. Each full city block will be divided up into four 6x6 blocks. The half sections will just be two 6x6 blocks and the one extend half section will be a trio of 8x6 blocks. And here is your diagram! +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | R R | |RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR| | R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSR RSSSSSSSSSSSSSR RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | R R S R R S R R S R R R | | RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R R R S R R R | | R R R S R R R | | R R R S R R R | | R R R S R R R | | R R R S R R R | | R R R S R R R | | R R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R R R S R R R | | R R R S R R R | | R R R S R R R | | R R R S R R R | | R R R S R R R | | R R R S R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R R S R R R | | R R S R R R | | R R S R R R | | R R S R R R | | R R S R R R | | R R S R R R | | R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R R S R R R | | R R S R R R | | R R S R R R | | R R S R R R | | R R S R R R | | R R S R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R R S R R | | R R S R R | | R R S R R | | R R S R R | | R R S R R | | R R S R R | | R R S R R | | R R S R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R | | R | | R | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ Key - = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) + = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) | = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) = An empty space, in this case filled with trees R = Road S = Street You may notice that city blocks are connected by roads, never streets. This is what I have been doing up and to this point with my games. What I am considiering doing soon is to connect the streets as well in hopes of easing traffic. When a street runs into a road, the road is not hindered in its progress. Its the street that gets a stop sign. Since connecting the streets across the roads will not direclty hinder the roads ability to move cars, the only harm I imediately see to doing this would be the cost of upkeep. When starting out every penny counts! Since traffic is not an issue I see no real reason to connect them yet, but I will keep this FAQ up to date on this, and all other, topics of question I come up with. Now that we have all our roads and streets in place, its time to do some zoning! Click on the Zone Tools icon, its the second one from the top, to bring up its menu. Lets start with industrial since it is easiest. From the Zone Tools menu select the bottom icon, Zone Industrial, and then Medium Density Industiral. Contrary to my initial beliefe, there is not light industrial, it's either medium or farm land. I could go on about the evils of farm land but will eventually do that in another part of this Guide. With our little yellow smoke stack cursor at command, lets go to the top right corner and start adding in a place for our sims to get dirty and grimey and be paid to do so! We will not need alot of industrial. Adding a little bit more later when your population soars. Of our first city block we want three fourths of it medium industrial. Click and drag to fill in the left two boxes or click and hold to have it auto fill the two 6x6 blocks. Next we want to add in two 6x3 blocks along the verticle road through the city block. Tada! You now have your industry done and another thing off the checklist towards your city. Since we are in the area the next thing we will add is the commercial zones. Back to the Zone Tools and this time click on the middle icon, Zone Commercial. From the sub menu we want to pick Low Density Commercial. Finish off the first city block with two 3x6 strips of commercial. Start on our next city block by adding in two more 3x6 strips along the roads, across the 3-space gap from our other commercial. Our last zone will be Low Density Residential. This will fill up every other block in our city blocks. You may be wondering why only low density for the commercial and residential. At this time putting in medium and high would raise the cost to double and five times the cost. You would gain nothing for doing this, only low density housing will be built for quite some time. Your city should now look like the diagram below! +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | R R | |RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR| | R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSR RSSSSSSSSSSSSSR RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R R R R R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R | | R | | R | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ Key - = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) + = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) | = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) = An empty space, in this case filled with trees R = Road S = Street i = Medium Density Industrial Zone c = Low Density Commercial Zone r = Low Density Residential Zone This initial layout is from my old-school Sim City Classic days. The initial industrial jobs that get built will all be dirty or manufacturing which cause alot of pollution. The commercial zone will act as a buffer area where they will not mind the pollution as much as your potential residents would. That is it for the initial zones, this area, with another small block here and there, is enough to kick you into making money with your taxes instead of losing them. Now on to the things that Really cost money, the services and utilities! It is Very important to have your game on pause here, or you will start losing extravagant amounts of money each month. Lets start in the bottom left corner where we will put our Coal Power Plant and our very handy dandy Waste to Power Plant. Click the Utilities Tools icon, its third from the top with a lightning bolt on it. Next select the Build Sanitation Systems because we want to place the Waste to Energy Plant down first. This is probally the most pollutant building in the game and sticking it in the corner is the best choice. This is why we built the road all the way down here, so they can cart the garbage down to be burnt. You want to place the waste plant so that it is next to the road, but NOT on the bottom edge of the map, You want to leave two blank spaces. One is your normal single gap between the edge of your map and the other will eventually continue the outer road all the way around your city's zone. Next we want the Coal Power Plant, plop it down next to the road and right above your waste plant so they are touching. Tada! We have power! Lets finish up the last of the nessacary power based utilities, powerlines. From the coal plant, along the road, build a long powerline up towards your industrial zones. Click and drag all the way up till you cross a small section of road where your first city block connects to the outer road. Stopping right there is enough to get the power from your plant to your zone. We need one more small segment of powerline. Scroll to the right till you come to your second city block and third city block. You need to place a small three segment powerline between the gap of these two city blocks. That will end the power concerns for now and give you a city resembling the diagram below. +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | R R | |RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR| | R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSR RSSSSSSSSSSSSSR~~~RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R~R R R R R R R R | | R~RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R~ R R R R R | | R~ RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R~ R R R R | | R~ RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | R~ RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RCCCC RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RCCCC RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RCCCC RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RCCCC RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RWWWW RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RWWWW RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR | | RWWWW RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | RWWWW | | R | | R | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ Key - = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) + = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) | = Edge of Map (not an actuall space) = An empty space, in this case filled with trees R = Road S = Street ~ = Power line W = Waste to Energy Planet C = Coal Power Plant i = Medium Density Industrial c = Low Density Commercial r = Low Density Residential We will put in the rest of the services next which will make our finished map look like the original one I first posted Way up above. We need an elementary and high school along with a library for education. A medical clinic to make our sims healthy and a fire department, because if we do not have one a fire will start. First of all though, I will explain why we did not need any powerline in the 3-space gap between the first and second city block. On the edge of each of these blocks are commercial zones. Commercial zones love a plaza by them and it will promote their growth as well as economy level. What we are going to do is give them two large plazas. This will connect zone one and zone two with power and appease the desires of the commercial zones. Click on the bottom icon, Civic Tools, to bring up its menu. In the bottom of the menu we find the Build Parks button which pops up a list of different parks, gardens and plazas. The one we are looking for is on the bottom right before the special reward parks. It is called, handy enough, a Large Plaza. It has a $400 cost and a $35 a month upkeep rate on it. In between our first and second city blocks, place one plaza at the bottom of the 3-space gap and one at the top of the gap. These parks also help with pollution in a fairly large area and along with the trees will keep the pollution within the industrial zones. Follow the diagram below and place an Elementary and High school along with a Small Fire Station, Medical Clinic and Local Branch Library. I would try and describe where to put em but it gets a little hard to explain that many little things in the same 3-space gap. +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | R R | |RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR| | R R R R R | | R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RSSSSSSSSSSSSSR RSSSSSSSSSSSSSR~~~RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccR RcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~RiiiiiiSiiicccRGGGRcccrrrSrrrrrrR RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R | | R~R R R R R R R R | | R~RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR | | R~ R EERrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R EERrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R EERrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R | | R~ R RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                R   RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R |
| R~                                R   RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                R   RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                            HHHHR   RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                            HHHHR LLRrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                            HHHHRFLLRrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                            HHHHRFMMRrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R |
| R~                                R   R             R      R R |
| R~                                RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RSSSSSSSSSSSSSRSSSSSSR R |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR R |
| R~                                    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R |
| R~                                    R             R      R R |
| R~                                    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR   |
| R~                                    RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR   |
| RCCCC                                 RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR   |
| RCCCC                                 RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR   |
| RCCCC                                 RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR   |
| RCCCC                                 RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR   |
| RWWWW                                 RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR   |
| RWWWW                                 RrrrrrrSrrrrrrRrrrrrrR   |
| RWWWW                                 RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR   |
| RWWWW                                                          |
| R                                                              |
|                                                                |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

Key
- = Edge of Map (not an actuall space)
+ = Edge of Map (not an actuall space)
| = Edge of Map (not an actuall space)
  = An empty space, in this case filled with trees
R = Road
S = Street
~ = Power line
W = Waste to Energy Planet
C = Coal Power Plant
H = High School
E = Elementary School
L = Local Branch Library
F = Small Fire Station
M = Medical Clinic
G = Large Plaza/Park/Gargen
i = Medium Density Industrial
c = Low Density Commercial
r = Low Density Residential

 Now we just have one more thing to build. We need to set up a water pipe
supply line, which promotes larger buildings. So back to the Utilitie Tools
menu and pop up the Build Water Systems list of items. Start with Water pipes
and build them according to the diagram below. (You will likely notice that the
water pipes follow most of the roads and some of the streets, well, they do :))

+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                |
|                                                                |
|                                                                |
|   PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   PPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   PPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   P             P   P             P   P                    P   |
|   PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   |
|                                       R                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       P                    P   |
|                                       PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   |
|                                                                |
|                                                                |
|                                                                |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

Key
- = Edge of Map (not an actuall space)
+ = Edge of Map (not an actuall space)
| = Edge of Map (not an actuall space)
  = An empty space, in this case filled with trees
P = Pipes

 All you have to do now is add a water tower next to one of the main vertical
roads and it will build the pipes to connect it to the system you just put in.
Thats it! No more building! If you did not initially fill the zone with all
trees, hold down control-shift-alt and then click on the sun icon to access God
Mode. Fill in the large open area with trees as well as 3-space gap with the
two plazas in it. You can put trees every where if you want to, it will help
slightly with land value and such.
 There you have it, a city that will never need a business deal which can cause
horrid polution, potentially burn down all your buildings around them and raise
crime while systematically lowering the surrouding land value, and if you want
to get a solar power plant in this small little town, you need all the wealthy
people you can get!
 Do not unpause the game yet tho! If you will go over to your taxes view you
will notice that you are making no income yet and spending 2,000+ simoleans!
There is no way you can survive doing that so we will next take the query tool
to our service buildings.
 Below is the list, this is the only part of the guide to survive from version
.21 to .30. As you click on the service buildings you want to change their
local funding to the values listed below. Please note if you are comming from
the original Guide that some of these values HAVE changed.

 Waste to Energy Plant: Local Funding -> $10
 Coal Power Plant:      Local Funding -> $40
 High School:           Local Funding -> $72
 Medical Clinic:        Local Funding -> $60
 Local Branch Library:  Local Funding -> $10
 Elementary School:     Local Funding -> $60

 What this will do is drop your monthly expenses to around $940/month. You are
now set to unpause the game and wait. It will take around a month for industry
to show up follow by commercial and then residents! You will be losing money
each month.
 Final touch ups. We can now safely set the speed of the game to turtle. I tell
you once and from experience, Cheetah is never a speed you want to use. This
may just be my paranoia but I've see the same exact city build entirely
different at Cheetah than at turtle. Rhino speed is ok but if you have the
time, take it with turtle.
 Anyways, before the game gets too far along, you want to go to your budget and
up the tax brackets all across the board to 8.0%. Growth will still be promoted
at this level and your income will be nicely suplimented a bit here and there.
You also want to go to your ordinances and legalize gambling.
 I can not stress enough how much of a slower pace can benefit your city. The
one I have built following this guide is on to year four, I have a population
of 2,994 to 2,981 (it will always vary a bit) and a steady income of $200. My
budget was making money before droping me below $25,000.
 With the game unpaused your city will spring up quickly. The demand on your
power plant will go up, raise it about $30 each time you need to, watch for
warnings about this that say something like, Total City Infrastructre
Threatened by Power Funding Scarcity. When it does that, just pause the game
right calmly, add the cash in to the local funding of the Coal Power Plant and
you are good to go.  As things grow you will likely need to update your Medical
Clinic and potentially your two schools as well.

 From here the guide's hands on approach to what you do will be pulled back and
more of the descions are put into your lap. Below is a list of things to pay
attention too and to keep in mind. Watch your RCI graph, when your education
increases it will raise the demand for High Tech industry. When the demand gets
higher, raise your taxes on low and medium wealth industry to deter them from
building more and slowly start moving them out of your town. Keep the wealthy
industry level at 8.0% or consider dropping it a bit.
 If you get a good steady income start saving money. You will soon want to
start rezoning your regions to medium density for residential and commercial.
Do not under estimate the need of jobs. Jobs are what make people want to move
into your city. Do not zone too much out to residents or you will lose out on
creating the demand for people to fill in jobs.

 Things to do:
  Keep tabs on your power and water usage.
  Try not to build new zones until existing ones are already filled. Find out
   what is wrong with existing empty ones before over extending your building
   potentials.
  Eventually you will need another elementary school but do not rush in to it.
   Be sure you can afford it.
  Connecting the streets eventually might help with speeding up your commute.
  If fires become out of control and poping up often, consider inacting the
   mandatory smoke detector ordinance
  To further lessen air pollution, consider inacting all ordinances like the
   Clean Air Act to cut back on your plants and industry's pollution raidus.
  It can cost a huge chunk of change to bull doze building you have evicted
   through taxes. Some times it is nessacary, other times you may want to wait
   a couple of months, see if they will rebuild them on their own.
  Air Pollution will disappate, but its not immediate, give it time.

 Things not to do:
  Avoid going any higher than Rhino speed.
  Never build farms, they will pollute your water!
  There is no need to change the funding on the Incinarator.
  You do not really need police in a city this size. Crime never really gets
   out of hand.

 That takes care of all the major things I can think of as of this version of
the guide. I would like to impress upon you one more time that it is small
changes and time that will truly get your city to be great.

-- -------
4. Credits
-- -------

Thanks to the following people:
  Talonix    - In the process of writing a FAQ himself he dumped all his
knowledge into a
               post on the boards. It opened my eyes!
  Hobbess    - In the same post as Talonix he supplied further development and
conversation
               to progress my understanding leading to the format I developed
in this
               guide.
  Bluemoogle - His initial FAQ + Guide saved what seemed to be another doomed
city in my
               hands!
  GameFAQ Message Board Members - Providing answers and for making me feel not
alone with a
               crumbling city on my hands.

 Any who feel they have been missed from the credits please contact me and
explain why I did so please!

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5. Contact Info
-- ------- ----
Email: tears@tears.ws (please include Simcity4 FAQ in email title)
ICQ: 6328161 (please include Simcity4 FAQ or From GameFAQs in your add request)
You can always contact me on the boards if you see me posting as 'Sraet'.

Thanks for reading, good luck building!