First Time Installation #

• 1. Double check for Sim City 4 version compatibility here
• 2. Download and unzip the NAM Installer via the button at the top of this website.
• 3. Install the pre-packaged Java Runtime Environment if not already installed. This is found under a file named “OpenJDKxxxx”
• 4. Running the Installer…
  • On Windows:
    • Use the file NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.bat. This will install a 4GB Patch that allows NAM to run properly in-game.
  • On macOS:
    • Run NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.jar.
    • If on the App Store version, the installer cannot directly install into the Plugins location the App Store version utilizes, which is inside the .app file (~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.simcity4.appstore/Data/Documents/SimCity 4). Install to an alternate location first, then copy the resultant “Plugins” folder into that location. Note that the NAM Team is currently very limited in our ability to provide installation assistance to App Store users.
  • On Linux:
    • Run NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.jar, or, if that fails, run NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.sh.
• 5. Follow the installer’s instructions, clicking on each tab on the top bar – in order!
  • a) Agree to the mod’s terms on the initial “welcome” tab.
  • b) Select the options you would like to install under the “files” tab.
  • c) Select the install location under the “location” tab. This is typically left unchanged from he default Plugins folder.
  • d) Finally, move to the “install” tab. Click the “Start installation” button to begin the installation process. When the installation is complete, the progress screen will display a message, “All selected components installed!”.
  • e) Close the installer. You’re all done installing.

• 5a) Additional step for Mac users (optional on Windows/Linux): run JDatPacker to consolidate the mod’s files.

  • If on the App Store version, run JDatPacker over the resultant Plugins directory, then move the “Network Addon Mod_###.dat” files (wherein “###” is a three-digit number) into the container.
  • On the Steam version (or if optionally using JDatPacker on Windows), run JDatPacker on the Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins directory (this will also consolidate your other plugins as well). Make sure you remove the original directories that were consolidated, and, if upgrading or reinstalling your NAM package at any point, ensure you delete any the “Network Addon Mod_###.dat” files from your Plugins before running the new installation. It is recommended that you use a new subfolder (i.e. “Plugins\Compressed Files”) instead of installing to the root of the Plugins directory, as this can help prevent mod conflicts.
• 6. Load the game and enjoy the NAM!

Upgrading from a Previous Version #

• 1. Move your current NetworkAddonMod folder from your Plugins folder. Do not delete. Your Desktop is a decent place to move it for now. Note: if you have consolidated your NAM files using a tool such as SC4DatPacker or JDatPacker, move the consolidated file.
• 2. Run the NAM Installer for the new version.
• 3. Run SimCity4 and test. If you have any issues or wish to revert, simply delete the new “NetworkAddonMod” folder in Plugins and replace with your previously moved folder to restore original functionality. Contact us for more help, if required.

Version Compatibility #

The Network Addon Mod is compatible with the following versions of the SimCity4 Deluxe/Rush Hour running Version 1.1.641:

¹ Must be running at least Version 1.1.638
² Running on macOS/OS X Version 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or earlier
³ SimCity 4 Deluxe obtained by redeeming an existing CD key (not purchasing) through Origin Customer Support (Version 1.1.641) is compatible

Notes

• 1. EA/Origin/Xbox Game Pass is not supported as these versions are unfortunately perma-locked to older versions of the game (Version 1.1.610).
• 2. Technical support is limited for Mac Steam version users, and very limited for macOS Store version users._

Minimum Specs #

• NAM with a LowRAM/NoRHW Controller option: Any system built within the last 15 years, with 750MB available disk space. (Users running this option cannot install the RealHighway (RHW) features.)
• NAM with a Full 4GB Controller option: Any system with a 64-bit operating system, at least 4GB RAM, and 1.2GB available disk space. If on Windows, the 4GB Patch must be applied to the game’s executable.

Troubleshooting #

What should I do if the NAM does not support my copy of the game? #

The new NAM installer (introduced with the NAM 37 Release Candidate) no longer runs a version check. However, it is strongly recommended that users check the version they are running, as unpatched copies can be unstable. Version 1.1.610 and Version 1.1.613 are NOT supported.

In Case F, the solution is simply to install the EP1 Update 1 patch, which can be downloaded from EA (SKU 1-5), SimCity 4 Devotion (SKU 1-5), or Simtropolis (SKU 1 and 2 only). To determine the correct SKU version for your copy of SimCity 4, find the installation directory, and look in the subfolder named sku_data. Alternatively, one can simply try all the SKU versions of the patch, until one works.

For Case G and H, see the section about Origin below.

For Cases D and E, again note that the NAM Team has little experience with the Mac version of the game, mostly restricted to the Steam version, and may be very limited in any ability to provide platform-specific technical support, including with the installation process (which is more complex on the App Store version). See the section about macOS here.

For Cases G, H, I, and J, it is recommended that you purchase a digital copy of SimCity 4 Deluxe (NOT from Origin).

What if my disc copy has simply stopped working with Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, or 10?

In 2015, Microsoft decided that secdrv.sys, the driver file used by the SafeDisc and other disc copy protection systems present in many PC games from the early 2000s, was a security threat. As a result, the driver was not included as part of Windows 10, and Microsoft issued Windows Update KB3086255, which disables secdrv.sys on Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 8.1. In the case of the older versions of Windows, secdrv.sys can be re-enabled when needed through the use of the command prompt or a batch file.

Aside from the advanced step of manually signing a device driver for Windows 10, the only viable courses of action are to either purchase a retail digital copy of the game, from a retailer who offers a fully-prepatched Version 1.1.641 copy of the game (i.e. GOG or Steam), or to get EA/Origin Customer Support to redeem your CD Key for a free digital copy of the game (unlike copies purchased via the Origin Store, the EA App, or EA Play subscriptions, CD Key Redemption copies are fully-prepatched to Version 1.1.641).

Note that cracked executables (i.e. a “No CD” .exe) are not eligible for tech support. The NAM Team does not support piracy, but understands the frustration with the game’s original DRM system being blocked by Microsoft, forcing one to buy a new digital copy in order to continue playing. However, the reason why cracked executables are not eligible is for more practical reasons, namely the potential for version mismatches (i.e. a Version 1.1.638 crack with Version 1.1.610/613 .DAT files, or vice-versa), which can greatly complicate the team’s efforts to provide useful technical support to users. The Origin issues played a role in our keeping the version check in place, until the recent installer change in 2020.

Please note that if you are attempting to use an older, 32-bit version of Windows (i.e. Windows XP) in order to still run your disc game, this will substantially hamper the performance of the game with the full NAM installed, and it is highly recommended that you run the game on a 64-bit operating system if you intend to take advantage of the full feature set. If you must run on a 32-bit OS, you will need to either install the new NAMLite package, or, for a mid-sized installation, select one of the “LowRAM/NoRHW” NAM Controller options. (The RealHighway (RHW) system is by far the largest part of the NAM.)

Notice to Users Who Purchased a Digital Copy from Origin, or Use EA Play or Xbox Game Pass #

Aside from a brief period in 2014-2015, Origin and the EA App, the digital retail platforms run by Electronic Arts (EA), have been selling copies of SimCity 4 Deluxe featuring an unpatched and unpatchable version of the game’s executable file to retail customers. As of the release of NAM 47, this is still the case. Unlike the retail versions sold by GOG.com and Steam (and previously Amazon’s “Thin Game Download” version), which come prepatched to Version 1.1.641, the edition sold on the Origin Store and the EA App (also used by the EA Play subscription service), features a Version 1.1.610 executable, mixed with Version 1.1.641 versions of the SimCity_1-5.dat files. By virtue of switching out the original SafeDisc copy protection for their own DRM, EA/Origin altered the checksum of the game’s executable, thereby preventing EA’s own EP1 Update 1 (Version 1.1.638) and BAT Nightlighting/EP1 Update 2 (Version 1.1.640) patchers from properly updating the executable. It also appears to be more difficult to apply the 4GB Patch with the EA App version, which is needed in order to run a full NAM installation.

This not only fails to meet the NAM’s minimum requirements, but leaves EA App/Origin retail copies with many stability issues developers fixed in 2003, and without working nightlighting on any custom buildings. It also prevents first-party content creation tools like the Building Architect Tool (BAT) from being installed, which look for a properly-patched executable. Note that this is in spite of the curious fact that EA uses images of the NAM and other pieces of custom content to advertise SimCity 4, both on EA.com and in the EA App.

Furthermore, the EA App and Origin client are capable of actually unpatching other versions of SimCity 4 Deluxe that a user may have installed on their system, including the Steam and GOG versions, via the “Repair” process. Even if you are not playing an EA App/Origin version of the game, be aware that the EA App and Origin client can still unpatch your game.

For those who have purchased the game via EA.com, the EA App, or the Origin Store, the NAM Team recommends you contact EA/Origin Support about obtaining a refund, even after the return period has expired, as users have had success in this case. If you are among the users who are saddled with the unpatched and unpatchable EA App/Origin retail version. The team would also appreciate hearing from you, as we have a strong desire to see EA give their customers a properly-patched copy of the game, and are trying to document just how many users are affected. Those playing via EA Play/Xbox Game Pass should also let EA Play know that they are serving up an outdated executable for the game, missing key stability fixes.

Strangely, copies obtained by redeeming an existing CD key at no cost with Origin Customer Support (Case C) are properly patched, despite what the same support team routinely tells those who bought copies and received defective Version 1.1.610 digital copies.

In short:

• Free copy from EA/Origin Support for CD Key Redemption: Properly patched executable (1.1.641)
• Purchased copy from EA.com, the EA App, the Origin Store, or playing via EA Play/Xbox Game Pass: Unpatched and unpatchable executable (permanently locked to Version 1.1.610)

For a more detailed assessment of the Origin situation, NAM developer Tarkus has written extensively on the subject at his blog, SimTarkus.

Note to Mac Users #

Aspyr issued an update to their port of SimCity 4 Deluxe for macOS, updating it from a 32-bit app to a 64-bit one on both Steam and the App Store, allowing it to be compatible with macOS Catalina (10.15) and later. This change has introduced a number of quirks, however.

Most notably, it has changed the key combination for cycling through TAB Loops under the NAM’s various buttons. Instead of using TAB to move forward, and Shift-TAB to move in reverse, Mac users must now use Ctrl-TAB to move forward, and Ctrl-Shift-TAB to move in reverse. While TAB and Shift-TAB will allow one to move through the TAB Loop, these keys/combinations will cause some pieces under the buttons to be skipped.

Furthermore, the changes have also broken simmaster07’s SC4MacInjector, which allowed DLL plugins–including SC4Fix.dll (which addressed the puzzle piece/TE Lot CTDs)–to run on macOS. As such, these fixes no longer work on Mac, and users should exercise caution when placing stations in the vicinity of static puzzle pieces.

Additionally, the installation procedure for the NAM varies depending on if one is using the Steam version or the App Store version.

With the Steam version, the NAM will install into the correct location by default: /Users/{username}/Documents/SimCity 4/Plugins/.

The NAM Team is not familiar enough with the App Store version to give reliable installation instructions, and we would instead refer users to the SC4 Mac Users board at Simtropolis for assistance.

A Note About Drive Side (RHD vs. LHD) #

While the NAM Installer, as noted above, has a series of checkboxes in Custom Installation relating to drive side, it is worth re-iterating that these boxes only change the compatibility files installed with the NAM, and do NOT change drive side. If you have an installation with Right-Hand Driving (RHD, vehicles driving on the right side of roads–this concept is NOT the same as the side one sits on when driving a vehicle) and wish to switch to Left-Hand Driving (LHD, vehicles driving on the left side of roads), this generally needs to be done either by adjusting the game’s locale files, and then either editing the game’s Windows registry entries, or by modifying the game’s shortcut.

The new NAM Installer cannot determine default drive side of your installation, so make note of which side vehicles drive on in your game prior to installation. If you have changed your drive side by modifying the game’s shortcut, instead of editing the Windows registry, then this would be the one and only case when changing the box checked here would be needed.

A Note About the “4GB Patch” #

Due to changes in computer systems, and continued expansions of the NAM’s main Controller file, in 2013, it was determined that many newer systems, particularly those with more than 4GB of RAM, and running 64-bit versions of Windows, need additional accommodation. To that end, the NAM includes a “4GB Patch”, also known as a “Large Address Aware (LAA) Patch”, which allows the game to access the full 4GB of RAM that a 32-bit application can read, instead of the default 2GB. The NAM’s patch was designed by NTCore, and built into the NAM with permission, and users with systems that need the patch will receive a prompt during NAM installation to install it. The original patch can be found here.

The only thing this patch does is to switch the Large Address Aware switch, an accessible switch present in all Windows executables, from “off” to “on” for the game’s executable. Patches like this are common in game modding communities, including those associated with The Elder Scrolls series (i.e. Skyrim), and Fallout, and can be used to enhance any 32-bit application’s performance on systems with 64-bit operating systems and a suitable amount of RAM.

The new installation starting point for Windows users– NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.bat–should ensure that your game is automatically patched as needed.

Note that the 4GB Patch is NOT required for users on macOS, as that version of the game is 64-bit and can access more RAM than the Windows version (even with the 4GB Patch!) by default.

The default directory for where SimCity 4.exe may be located depends on how and where you purchased your copy of the game.

• GOG.com: C:\GOG Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\Apps
• Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps
• Original Disc: C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps
• Origin*: C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps

Note that only Origin copies acquired through Free CD Key Redemption (Version 1.1.641) are compatible with the NAM. Copies purchased through the Origin Store or accessed via Origin Access (Version 1.1.610) ARE NOT COMPATIBLE. See here for more details.

Uninstalling the NAM #

To uninstall the files, simply bulldoze every NAM item from this download in your cities and remove the files from the Plugins folder afterwards, which will be contained in Plugins\Network Addon Mod by default.

Changing Options After Initial Installation #

The NAM is a very expansive mod, with a substantial number of features, which may initially prove overwhelming to those not well-versed in its workings. The NAM Team anticipates that users, particularly those new to the NAM, may want to change the feature set they have installed, as they learn more about the mod’s contents and capabilities.

To that end, we encourage users to keep the installer for the current version handy after initial installation. If you plan to change your particular set of options, you will need to remove your current installation. Moving it out of Plugins to a safe location is recommended, in case you want to keep your existing settings as a backup.

Manual Installation - Advanced #

Users who are unable or unwilling to install Java can perform a manual installation of the NAM, something which the new file architecture introduced in 2020 makes far more possible than the previous “Monolithic” releases.

This method requires a file decompression tool capable of opening .jar files, such as 7-zip (Windows) or Keka (macOS). To begin, open NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version47.jar using your file decompression tool.

The NAM’s contents are located in the “installation” subfolder. The current installer uses a series of character flags at the start of directory names, in order to instruct the installer how to order the options, whether they’re mandatory or optional, etc.

Numbers preceded by the at sign ("@"), i.e. “@1”, “@2”, etc., are merely being ordered with this flag.

Any directory with the caret ("^") in front of the name (or behind a “@” ordering flag) is mandatory.

Any directory with the exclamation mark ("!") in front of the name (or behind a “@” ordering flag) is not installed by default.

Any options where the equal sign ("=") and the dash ("-") are present are mutually exclusive–only one should be installed (the “=” option is the default).

The “@1^Core” directory is required. All other folders have options within them. At least one of the folders starting with “0 NAM Controller” must be installed. With “4 Automata Controller#”, and “9 Traffic Simulator#”, simply select one of the options inside and discard the rest, as these are straight up mutually exclusive one another. Within “8 Texture and Drive Side Support”, keep “z_Common Files”, then select either “-EU” (for EU textures) or “=US” (for US textures), and within “-EU” or “=US”, get rid of the “_RightSide” or “_LeftSide” (whichever does not coincide with the side the vehicles in your game drive), and decide if you want any (or none) of the other subfolder options (i.e. Cul-De-Sacs).

The Automata Controller basically affects the display of the visual traffic in-game–Standard is going to be the lightest, while Radical is going to be the heaviest, Persistent makes the automata visuals last longer, and the 24-Hour modifiers handle whether the display is constant, or follows the data for the 24-Hour clock in-game.

The Texture and Drive Side Support includes four options, depending on whether you want to use US/North American textures or Euro/International Textures, and the drive side of your game (RHD or LHD, which should match your selection for the NAM Controller).

With the Traffic Simulator, these are ordered by the “@1” and the like in order of lowest capacity option to highest. Medium is the default.

With 5 DataView Options#, there’s two subfolders. Both are just straight up options, with nothing mutually exclusive. You can probably just leave this one as is, unless you really don’t like the Data View changes.

With 6 Miscellaneous, the two mutually exclusive options to watch out for are Extended Station Queries (there’s four options in there–very subtle differences between them), and Maxis Transit Lots\Airport Capacity Adjustment#, which has three options (Default, Medium, and Large). And the Hole Diggers and Raisers are very much recommended–they have lots of use outside regular NAM usage, too.

With 3 Additional Transit Stations, this depends on if you want more transit stations beyond the game’s default, and what the NAM adds by default for certain additional override networks. There should be no harm in either adding this one in whole, or leaving it out altogether, and if there’s certain added stations you like/don’t like, you can go in and customize this later.

2 Additional Network Features is by far the biggest area of the installer. This contains all the actual network feature addons in the mod. Most networks/network groups will have a “Base Features” folder, which really ought to be mandatory, as it contains a lot of the NAM’s basic additions to each network, along with any Wide Radius/Multi Radius Curves and Fractional Angles, as well as Roundabout options for the various road-type networks.

The main “mutually exclusive” option to look out for here is with the Maxis Highways (there’s two options–@1=Default Style, which keeps the Maxis Highways’ default look and adds the NAM’s additions for it, or @2-Maxis Highway Override (RHW-Style), which completely reskins the Maxis Highways, removes access to the default interchanges, and replaces them with RHW-style modular interchange functionality and a few new ploppable interchanges. Using the RealHighway (RHW) option is pretty much mandatory if you’re going this route).

The other ones to watch out for are in Water Transport, where the Canal Addon Mod (CAN-AM) has two mutually-exclusive styles (@1=Callagrafx Style and @2-SimGoober Style), and there’s also quite a few “non-default” options in Roads, One-Way Roads, and Avenues.

Those three non-default options are !Legacy Auto Avenue Turn Lanes (these are the old auto-turn lanes that appear on Avenue x Avenue intersections–largely considered “deprecated” now, as they can interfere with some newer functionality), !Legacy Semi-Auto Road Turn Lanes (the “semi-auto” replacement for the old auto-turn lanes on Road x Road intersections, which now appear by clicking over Road x Road + and T-intersections with the One-Way Road tool, also somewhat “deprecated” now), and !One-Way Road Arrow Plugins. These Arrow Plugins are mostly just a matter of taste, and, despite the folder naming, actually supposed to be mutually exclusive. “Elimination” gets rid of the arrows entirely, “Reduction” hides some of them (and actually impacts the base functionality of the OWR network to some degree), while “Single Arrows” replaces the default double arrows with just a single arrow (which looks nicer on the NWM networks).

The rest of 2 Additional Network Features is pretty self-explanatory, though micromanagement of these options is not recommended, since it is possible to produce a broken installation this way. RealRailway is the only/default option for Rail now, it’s best to go all or nothing on RealHighways (RHW) and the Road, One-Way Road, and Avenue folder’s “Additional Widths and Turn Lanes” option (which contains the Network Widening Mod and FLEX Turn Lanes). And if something says “Legacy” but it’s not prefixed with “!”, it’s probably safest to install it, as it pertains to being able to keep certain older, deprecated content working, if you’ve built it with previous versions.

Information for Users on Lower-End Systems (32-Bit Windows/<4GB RAM) #

Users attempting to run the NAM as installed by default with the full NAM Controller, on systems with 32-bit Windows and/or less than 4GB RAM, will not be able to make use of the required 4GB Patch, and will encounter Crash-to-Desktop (CTD) errors with that default Controller. The only solution to this is to either install NAMLite, or select one of the “Low RAM/No RHW” options in the installer. Note that the “Low RAM/No RHW” options do not include ANY code for the RealHighway (RHW) plugin, so attempting to build RHW systems will result in everything reverting to the base RHW-2 network. The single biggest contributor to the Controller’s size is the RealHighway (RHW) plugin, so not having it installed helps keep things under control on lower-end systems. Note that the NAM Controller is one of the most critical files in the entire mod; without a NAM Controller, none of the NAM’s menu buttons will function, instead resulting in a “red arrow” when clicked.

Users wishing to run just the NAM’s Traffic Simulator improvements should install NAMLite.

Distribution and Old Versions #

The NAM Team only provides support and allows distribution of the most recent NAM version. With the exception of older non-English language versions (which are supported by their respective sites, not the NAM Team), no technical support will be provided to users of prior versions of the NAM, nor will any past versions of the NAM be made available for download, by request or otherwise. The team does not keep an official archive of past releases, and does not have the resources to answer questions regarding them. Each release includes improvements across the board to features new and old, is designed to be as compatible with cities built with previous versions as is humanly possible, and is also intended to improve the end user experience. Old releases are inherently inferior, and not “simpler” or “easier” to use.

Users wanting a smaller feature set, due to technical limitations, or unfamiliarity with the NAM’s vast options, should instead seek to install NAMLite, or fewer options in the current NAM, potentially coupled with the “Low RAM/No RHW” option, .

Users wishing to hold onto old versions should back them up in their personal archives. Note again that no technical support will be provided for this, nor may any user or site redistribute any old versions.