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SimCity 3000 and SimCity 3000 Unlimited Help
Having problems with your game?
Below are all the major issues with SimCity 3000 and SimCity
3000 Unlimited. All problems have been arranged in 4 areas:
Technical Problems, Website Problems, Gameplay Problems, and
Building Architect Plus Problems. So just click on the problem
you have or if your problem is not listed here, then click
here.
Contact Electronic Arts Support:
Technical Problems:
Website Problems:
Gameplay Problems:
Building Architect Plus Problems:
Answers:
Random Lock Ups in SimCity 3000 or SimCity
3000 Unlimited.
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
A common issue with SimCity 3000 and SimCity 3000 Unlimited
are random lock ups or freezes. Many times this can be attributed
to an sound issue on the user's system. There are several
reasons why this may occur, incorrect sound drivers installed,
sound drivers being improperly installed, out of date sound
drivers, or an out of date sound card. So what's the solution?
The first step it to determine what sound card is in the system
and what drivers are installed. The best way to do this is
through the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. From the run line (Start
> Run) type "dxdiag" without quotes and hit enter.
It should open up the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, click on the
"Sound" tab. Under "Device" next to "Name"
is the name of your sound card and on the right under "Driver"
next to "Version" is the version number. It's suggested
that you contact your system manufacturer with this information
and request a location from which to download the latest drivers.
These drivers should be installed on your system. Most driver
versions are nine digits and start with a 4 (ex. 4.XX.XX.XXXX).
You may notice that your driver starts with a 5, if you are
running a Windows 9x/ME system than these are not the correct
drivers, contact your system manufacturer, this situation
will almost always cause random lock ups. On this same tab
under "DirectX Features" you may notice a slider
bar for "Hardware Sound Acceleration Level", for
troubleshooting reasons this should be set one notch from
the left on "Basic". If these steps are not successful
then turn off sound and music in the game, or remove your
sound drivers and reinstall them.
If you have problems with SimCity 3000 Unlimited freezing
and you have a Vanta/Vanta LT video card then go to www.visiontek.com
and get the 7.58 version driver.
SimCity 3000 restarts spontaneously when
exiting.
· SimCity 3000
This is an issue isolated to SimCity 3000 and does not occur
with SimCity 3000 Unlimited. It's an issue related to the
way newer systems are configured. There is a way around this
issue though, while in the game (save it first), hold down
"Alt" and hit "Tab" on the keyboard, this
will minimize the game. While the game is minimized hold down
"Ctrl", "Alt", and hit the "Delete"
key, it will open up the "Close Program Dialog Box".
Click on "SimCity 3000" and then click on the "End
Task" button, SimCity 3000 should now close and not restart.
If you are more comfortable with your computer and would like
to try some more advanced steps, try turning off "DMA"
in the Hard Disk properties (you can access the properties
in the Device Manager under "Disk Drives").
I cannot register on the website, I have
SimCity 3000.
· SimCity 3000
This is a common oversight, the website asks if you own a
copy of SimCity 3000 Unlimited when you register. If you just
have SimCity 3000 and don't have SimCity 3000 Unlimited, select
no. You will now be able to site register, which means you
will not need a serial number, and will have limited access
to the website, including all features and downloads for the
original SimCity 3000.
Extremely slow performance in SimCity 3000 or SimCity
3000 Unlimited.
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
Make sure you have the performance updates available for
SimCity 3000 Unlimited located below. Also make sure you have
the latest drivers for both your sound and video cards, you
should contact your system manufacturer for information on
updating drivers.
I cannot save my cities in SimCity 3000 or SimCity 3000
Unlimited.
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
In some instances SimCity 3000 will try and save to the CD-ROM,
since this is not possible it returns an error. Simply change
the save location to a location on the Hard Drive.
File "linked to missing export"
error message with SimCity 3000.
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
This often occurs with outdated or beta versions of DirectX,
simply go to Microsoft's DirectX website and update DirectX.
The website is http://www.microsoft.com/directx.
How do I build a bridge in SimCity 3000 or SimCity 3000
Unlimited?
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
Sometimes it can be a bit difficult to build a bridge, for
a few simple reasons. Make sure that both shorelines are parallel
and close to sea level, also make sure you drag 5 - 10 tiles
before the shoreline and 5 - 10 tiles after the opposite shore
line. Following these simple suggestions will usually end
up in a newly constructed bridge. If you need more help, please
go to the Tips & Tricks
section and there is a tutorial for making bridges.
The Building Architect Plus does not run but SimCity
3000 Unlimited does.
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
Sometimes this can happened and can be caused by several
different things. The first thing to do is shut down all running
tasks except "Explorer" and "Systray"
in the "Close Program Dialog Box", you can access
the "Close Program Dialog Box" by holding "Ctrl",
"Alt", and hitting the "Delete" key. Once
it's open you want to "End Task" on everything except
"Explorer" and "Systray", just select
any item but those two and click on "End Task".
Use "Ctrl", "Alt", and "Delete"
again to open the "Close Program Dialog Box" and
continue ending task until only "Explorer" and "Systray"
are remaining. If that does not allow the BA+ to run correctly,
right click on your "My Computer" icon and select
"Properties", it should open up the "System
Properties". Click on the "Performance" tab
and then on the "Graphics" button. Lower this setting
to "Basic" (one notch from the left), click on "OK",
and then click on "Close". Restart your computer
and try running the BA+.
SimCity 3000 Unlimited fails to render buildings or my
active list is always empty.
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
This is often caused by other applications running while
SimCity 3000 Unlimited or the Building Architect Plus is running.
Follow the steps in "The Building Architect Plus does
not run but SimCity 3000 Unlimited does." to end all
background tasks. If you have programs such as Norton Anti-Virus
be sure to shut those down before ending task on any items
in the "Close Program Dialog Box".
The Active Building List has malfunctioned, I am unable to add buildings to the active buidling list.
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
What has happened is you have a corrupted "bat.dat" file. Look in the \SimCity 3000
Unlimited\Apps\BARender directory for bat.dat - if it is corrupted, it should
be 0kb in size. Delete that file and you should be able to start building a new bat.dat -
without having to reinstall the game.
When I open my saved cities there appears to be nothing
more than vast oceans.
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
This is because the save file has become damaged or corrupted,
or was not able to save correctly. Follow the steps in "The
Building Architect Plus does not run but SimCity 3000 Unlimited
does." to end all background tasks. If you have any anti-virus
applications shut them down before ending task, these programs
could be the cause. There is not way to restore corrupted
cities.
My water deals keep failing, how can
I make them work?
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
You need a fairly high percentage of your water resources
free for the deal to work. Some have suggested that you build
a separate water system for water deals only so your city
doesn't take water from it and make your deal get cancelled.
If you don't want to do this, you can just build many water
pumps, probably many more than you think are necessary. You
should also place lots of connections so all the water can
get to your neighboring city. These tips should allow you
to maintain a steady and long-lasting water deal.
I want cheat codes!
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
All cheat codes are located in the Tips and Tricks section.
How do I import custom made/downloaded
Building Architect buildings into my city?
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
When you download a building, it is placed in your buildings
folder. You can always look there to see if it downloaded
right from the exchange or you placed your custom made building
in the correct place. When you want to replace a building,
click the query (question mark) button on the building you
want to replace while playing and then click on the REPLACE
button. The menu will show you what to do from there.
How do I organize my props folder?
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
There are two reasons to put props in folders. To keep the
props organized by type. For instance, all cars in
one folder, all flowers in another, etc. That way they show
up in the prop window the same way. These folders should be
kept in the BA Custom 'Props' folder to show up in the game,
and you can't have folders within folders. For instance, if
you had the 'flower' folder within the 'car' folder, the cars
would show up, but the flowers wouldn't. Also, make sure the
associated .met files are in the same folders as their props.
My population is suddenly dropping,
what do I do?
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
Population drops are frequent in SimCity and sometimes you
just have to sit tight and wait until demand goes back up.
Other times there are certain things that you can do to help
encourage sims to move back into your city. First, make sure
that taxes are rather low and aren't bothering people enough
to make them leave. Also make sure that your city is powered
and watered, this is very important. Finally, just keep working
at improving your city, eventually if you have a city with
nothing wrong, people will start to move back in and fill
in zones that were abandoned.
I lost my CD case and I need my serial
number, what can I do?
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
This is a very common problem and one that can be easily solved
in some situations. The solution would be to just check your
registration information at SimCity.com and see the serial number you entered
upon first registering your game. To do this
Go onto the main of SimCity.com page and see where it says "Welcome
Username" where the username is yours. Look under that
and click on the link where it says, "(Click here to
login with a different User Name.)". Afterwards click
the update registration option then on the next screen look
on the side and click "Update Product Registration".
Finally put your username and password in the Update Registration
info section. The next page will display your serial number
if you had written it in when you first registered that name.
If you haven't registered at SimCity.com then you should try
contacting EA Tech Support. You will not
get one by asking on the BBS or in the chat so don't bother
asking for one.
I have not been offered X building,
how come?
· SimCity 3000
· SimCity 3000 Unlimited.
The only time you are offered the casino, toxic waste plant,
gigamall, and the maximum security prison is whenever your
available funds are below zero (in the red). You can also
use the cheat codes located in our Tips
& Tricks area.
Where can I find a Linux version?
Go to http://www.lokigames.com/products/sc3k.
Technical Support Contact Information:
If you are having a gameplay problem then you might want
to check out our Tips & Tricks
area. We have posted several guides to help you get the
most out of your city (ie - Help getting farms, high-tech,
seaports, BAP, etc).
If you are having a technical problem with SimCity3000 Unlimited (ie- crashing, video or sound problems) we recommend you visit the EA.com Support Website at http://techsupport.ea.com.
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