Bay 12 Games Forum

Chapter 3: Life During Wartime


The beautiful new Deimos ferry terminal.
Expanding the commercial district, because there's only so much toxic waste to go around.
Of course, doing so requires more pollution generators power plants.
Unfortunately, my plan of having zero police stations isn't quite working, as a small riot breaks out. Fortunately, two officers are sufficient to eliminate pacify the protestors.

Ungrateful bastards.
We give them their choice of moderately toxic jobs, and this is how they repay us?
Deimos is now a gambling center. Probably attracts the same kind of people that would go to Atlantic City instead of Vegas.
An oil refinery catches fire. Shouldn't be too bad, this happens all the time.
Oh.


But that's just the pregame.

On September 5th, another riot breaks out. Doesn't look too bad.
HOLY SHIT THEY JUST BLEW UP A BLOCK OF APARTMENTS!

I'm not sure what this means. I'm going to assume that the terrorists have massacred our police force.
More officers are conscripted, and loss of life is kept in the triple digits.
After 25 years, Deimos in all its glory.
Also, we have over $400000 in spare cash, despite having to increase the number of police stations by 3. Bringing us to a total of 3. Also, we have a mayor rating of -20. Somehow, pollution levels have dropped, to "moderately corrosive". Possibly because of industrial facilities being burned down during riots. Population is about 25k.


Meanwhile, in Phobos....
A bridge has been constructed to attract high tech industry. A toll both was added on the connecting road, to generate additional cash money dollars.
The Mayor has also designated additional industrial zones.

Success!
Expansion continues. That block encased by the avenues will house a new commercial district, adjacent to the high tech facilities.



And then, in year 21, a little popup appeared informing me that the SimNation military would pay Phobos $380 per month to house a secret military testing ground in the facility. For such an important choice, it has been thought wise to get the council's opinions.

Right now, we have about $4500, and are getting a $200 per month profit. I took some loans to fund expansion, so once we pay off the interest for those (about 7 years from now), our expenses will decrease by about $500 per month.

Just ran Deimos for 10 years, and I learned some new things about Sim City:

Your mayor rating can go negative.

&

Riots are a thing. And they destroy buildings.

Wow, that is cool. Will it work if I import it into an existing region, or will I have to restart?

Also, I tested the budget measures described in the previous post, and Phobos is now making a profit of about $200 per month. Update coming shortly.

Looking at the budget for Phobos, I noticed a few things:

Our mass transit system is costing about $60 per month and netting us a total income of zero.
Our hospital is only at about 25% capacity. I think we could save about $100 a month.
In order to get from Phobos to Deimos, you have to take a ferry, then use a road connection that's at the opposite end of Deimos from the inhabited area.
Deimo's power plants are at about 85% capacity right now.


So, this is what I think I'm going to do:

Reduce mass transit funding (but leave the infrastructure in place for now).
Reduce hospital funding.
Construct a ferry terminal in Deimos to cut down commute time between the cities. Hopefully this should boost residential demand in Phobos, as more jobs become available for the proles.

Look, trees might be nice, but we have to think about the fiscal viability of our projects! Waste incineration has more costs attached, and does cause air pollution. No, we weren't using that space anyway.
I suggest we look at the possibility of a disease research lab. For minimal cost we can give medical attention to the entire suburb. And really, what are a few radioactive monkeys between friends? The people will thank us for extending their lifespans and boosting the high tec industry!

I will do this, but I think we need about 26000 population or so before the event triggers that lets us get it.
Also, I noticed that if we get enough high tech industry, we can get a freaking Space Launch Facility. Considering that Deimos already has its own space program, it is essential that Phobos gets one of these.

I actually reccommend some mods.
Particularly the ones that give you tramlines. They're way cool.

The rush hour pack has tramlines, monorails, and things like that in them. I was planning on building subways once the city grew enough, since they don't take up any aboveground space (except for 1 tile stations).

Chapter Two: Love and Rockets


Phobos continues to grow nicely. A high school, library, and museum have been added, as well as a full fledged hospital. In addition, the water towers have been replaced with a single pumping station, which has been placed adjacent to the gas power plant on the mainland. A deal has also been signed with Deimos, whereby we give them all our trash for a small amount of money. Definitely worth it to keep this place clean. Some land has also been zoned for high tech industry, but nobody has moved in yet.
A recreational beach area has also been designated, with a nice view of the power plant and some high tension lines.
Of course, if you're not happy with that sort of thing, you could always drive over to the beach in Deimos. Try not to get too much oil on yourself, and avoid the paroled[ paranoid sex offenders.

You will also notice the new waste incineration facility. That had to be built since Deimos decided to take in the entire region's trash. Luckily, the city nets over 2,800 cash money dollars a month out of the deal.
SimNation has decided to build a new missile testing facility. Based on the genius advice of defense secretary mcclay, it has been placed directly in the center of the Deimos residential district. What could possibly go wrong.
A view of the picturesque Deimos skyline. Fun fact: both air and water pollution levels in Deimos are over 1600 on whatever scale Sim City uses.



Population in Phobos after 15 years of runtime is about 5,000 or so. We're down to about $1000 in the bank, and are barely managing to balance the budget. Luckily though, our mayor rating is at about 75, and all of the indicators are pretty much fully green.
However, in Deimos, where they don't worry about things like "schools", "police", or "healthcare", they're gaining over $3000 a month. This has been used to fund extensions of the highway and rail networks, in addition to construction of another coal fired plant. An unfortunate side effect is our mayor rating of about 5, and completely red indications on everything except traffic levels.

Chapter One: Striking the Earth

[dramatic music]
As the sims began two settle in a region whose terrain was suspiciously similar to that of San Fransisco, a mysterious group known only as Bay12 began to make plans. Some of the group wanted to create an industrial heartland, driven only by concerns of profit and production. Others sought to create a gleaming, pure, metropolis, a shining example to the whole world. In the end, two cities were created. These are their stories.
[/dramatic music]

Phobos exists mostly on a large island, with a few small land areas lying within the city limits.

A gas power plant was placed on one of these land areas, to keep its pollution isolated from the main island area. At the moment, I have it running at reduced output, to save money. In time, I plan on upgrading it to something more suitable (solar or hydrogen most likely).

I also added land connections to Deimos and simNation at large. The ferry will service the main island.
The initial layout of the settlement. A school and small fire station were added, as well as a water tower. I also dropped about $1000 to plant some trees.


Mayor Sheb moves in. Population is about 600 here.


The addition of a clinic and small police station spurs additional development.


Phobos after 5 years, with a population of around 1100. A church was built recently. Strangely, its congregation worships a man who was launched into space and never returned.

Currently, we have about $68000 in the bank, and are losing about $100 a month, using the Herman Cain tax plan. No ordinances have been enacted. Transit network consists of two bus stops at opposite ends of the town, and a ferry link to the mainland. Utilities are one natural gas plant operating at about 25% capacity, and two water towers.


Meanwhile, industry rapidly grows in the city of Deimos.

Highway and rail connections have been developed to neighboring cities. Also, a coal powerplant has been built to provide energy. Population is about 1100 after 5 years in the residential area east of the highway. We have about $50000 in the bank, and are running a profit of about $100 per month, mainly because of legalized gambling. Transportation includes two freight and one passenger rail station. There is one water pump, which has been moved multiple times, as the game automatically shuts it down whenever pollution gets too high. Also, about a dozen buildings have caught fire so far.




I'm not sure about importing sims, since I don't have any of The Sims games, but I will make some dudes using the My Sim mode.

I welcome this thread, as I am currently trying to do the same thing (American aerospace engineering student).

Councils have been merged into one, as per Sheb's suggestion.

We'll be starting out developing Phobos first, and the first thing we have to do is pick a power source. Our choices are:

Coal
6000 MWH
Cost is 250 cash money dollars (official currency of SimNation) per month
Pollution: Extremely Heavy

Oil
7000 MWH
$700 per month
Heavy Pollution

Natural Gas
3000 MWH
$400 per month
Light - Moderate Pollution

Wind Turbine
200 MWH
$50 per month
No Pollution


Others, such as nuclear, solar, and hydrogen, may become available as the city grows.