FANS SEE COMMON LINK TO ANCESTRY IN 
Awesome game with a lot more to discover than first expected. 
What is so awesome about this game is it takes Sim City and adds the related themes of Sim Copter and Streets of Sim City, plus, you not only get to fly, drive and �swim� your way around in the map, you are also presented with a series of missions and challenges which when completed can earn extra bonuses and building awards. Not only that, but they even introduce an evil villain who will try and tempt you into becoming an accomplice in his diabolical schemes. 
Will you turn to the dark side 
or be loyal to your City. These are a few cities I made that actually worked, and made a profit. All maps have positive cash flow and at least 1 million dollars. 
Norland norland.zip Norland is just a big fat city with a nice skyline. 
Smartville smartville.zip Smartville uses all highest education, arts and science facilities. Features private schools, university, ARC, DRC, and a space port. 
Andrew's Semiconductors I like Smartville cause it�s so clean and perfectly manicured like the TV show Eureka. No smoke stacks. Even the buildings look like circuit boards. Everything is gloriously dehumanizing and impersonal. 
The Andromeda Strain Andromeda Strain (the original movie): Nothing fancy, I just like the idea of a secret underground complex in the middle of a corn field. 
Casino Royal casinoroyal.zip Casino Royale (legalized gambling) A padded expense account�s best friend. One of every resort, entertainment and recreation available. Golf course, convention center, marina, and red light district. 
Departure departure.zip Departure is a road warrior's dream town. One of every vehicle and transportation, including a public race-track and scenic rail tour. Basically what I do is begin with the 5 primary components and make a profitable city which will earn at least 1000 per month. I usually lay out a majority of roads first in a 7x7 grid and hand place all zones equal to or greater than 3x3. Add: Stir in: Residential, Commercial, and Industrial As needed.  I place an elementary school, clinic, and fire department in the middle of a circle and build around it.  Power and landfill goes on the edge of the map. Eventually I use one or two solar dishes and 1 incinerator to eliminate garbage. I noticed cities usually go through 3 phases. Initial occupancy Demand water High occupancy Once the city demands water, they are ready to build up. High rise buildings usually never occur until phase 3.  Before   After This city went from 5000 residents to 30,000 residents virtually overnight after adding water. 
Once the city is started, I reduce all budgets to minimum until everything is balanced or makes a profit, then - S L O W L Y - fill in the grid. Unlike SC2, SC4 has more individual budgets that must be balanced. It�s a good idea to maintain control of your budget from the very beginning of the game because it�s difficult to cut back on a budget once it�s been �blown�, mainly because it�s harder to locate which budget needs cutting, since it can be one of thirty or forty different settings, or a combination of them. Keep it simple until the entire city is filled, THEN throw in all the bells and whistles, one at a time, and keep an eye on the budget. If you add too much all at once and it fails, it can be a real pain trying to undo your budget. If the city is successful and generating between 2000 and 3000 dollars a month, I let it run at fastest speed until it hits a million or more, then save it. With that much loot, you can pretty much build anything you want at will. Congratulations, You�re a Mayor *Easter Eggs. A couple of the coolest things I noticed in the game was the fact that the Ice Cream truck, played the same theme song as back in SC2000, Another was the kids �T-P-ing� the neighbor�s house, awesome! Also the weird plasma coming from the Research facility. Nice touch. 
Oh and throwing money out the limo window, cherry on the cake. No way to really top that. Tips. The old adage used to be, �When in doubt, add industrial�. SC4 however requires more accurate RCI balance than ever before. If you have tweaked your spending to the bone and are still over budget, just flop down a little more Residential somewhere and collect the tax dollars. They may scream for more Health and Education, but screw �em. Ferengi rule of acquisition number 123 states, �Where there�s profit to be made there is profit to be had�. WARNING: The Army base, Area 51, the Toxic Waste plant, the Disease and Advanced Research Center will generate toxic waste. If you allow toxic waste in your city, your citizens will begin traveling around in wheel chairs. If you must use these zones it might be best to keep them away from population and water supplies. And now, a few screen shots in closing. Good job Mayor! 
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Thanks for visiting J's Sim City 4 page
www.geocities.com/simcoptercity
