About This File
The Network Addon Mod (NAM) all transportation network-related fixes, additions and new creations that have been released so far. It adds countless new features to the existing network tools, such as traffic simulator improvements, new overpasses, highway onramps, intersections, pedestrian malls, a ground light rail network, roundabouts and turning lanes.
This is the standard release version of the 48th edition of the Network Addon Mod, NAM 48.
See below for installation details and a list of new features in the Changelog at the very bottom.
In memory of Paul Pedriana, Lead Programmer for SimCity 4, who passed away in July 2021 from a sudden heart attack while cycling. Thank you, Paul, for everything--we wouldn't be here without you.
RELEASE NOTES
Before you run off in excitement to install the new NAM version, please make sure to read this document first, to ensure the best Network Addon Mod experience.
Note to users of the EA App/Origin: As of June 2023, digital copies of SimCity 4 Deluxe purchased via EA.com, the EA App, or the Origin Store, or played through EA Play/Xbox Game Pass are now properly patched to Version 1.1.641, which means they are compatible with the Network Addon Mod.
New Features for NAM 48
INSTALLATION AND GENERAL NOTES
Before attempting to run the NAM installer, ensure that you have extracted the contents of the .zip download into a folder. Attempting to run the installer while it is still in the .zip will cause the installation to fail.
For the full release, use NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.bat (Windows), NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.jar (macOS, alternate option on Windows if the 4GB Patch has already been installed), or NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.sh (Linux).
See this page on the NAM website for further installation notes.
The minimum requirements for running the Network Addon Mod are as follows:
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A compatible retail copy of SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition OR SimCity 4 with the Rush Hour Expansion Pack:
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Windows/Linux (via WINE): Any digital retail edition, or any disc copy updated to at least Version 1.1.638.
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macOS: Any recent digital edition of the Aspyr port for macOS (installation on the App Store version is more difficult, and the NAM Team is limited in our capacity to provide installation help to App Store users).
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The now-rare non-Deluxe/non-Rush Hour copies of SimCity 4 are not supported. Attempting to run the NAM on a non-Deluxe/non-Rush Hour copy of SimCity 4 will cause the game to immediately crash to desktop (CTD).
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Windows/Linux (via WINE): Any digital retail edition, or any disc copy updated to at least Version 1.1.638.
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Java Runtime Environment (JRE), in order to run the installer--a version for 64-bit Windows is included in the download (OpenJDK11U-jre_x64_windows_hotspot_11.0.8_10.msi).
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If you are not on 64-bit Windows and need Java, Adoptium's open-source edition is recommended, though JRE and JDK can also be acquired in proprietary/commercial (but free to download) form from Oracle at Java.com.
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The Java Development Kit, or JDK, will also work, but contains extra files not needed unless you are a Java developer.
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If you are not on 64-bit Windows and need Java, Adoptium's open-source edition is recommended, though JRE and JDK can also be acquired in proprietary/commercial (but free to download) form from Oracle at Java.com.
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A system with the following specs, for each basic type of NAM installation:
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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.)
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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.
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NOTE: Installing the Full 4GB Controller option without meeting the specifications and without the 4GB Patch will cause the game to crash-to-desktop (CTD) upon attempting to load a city. If you experience this crash, it either means your system does not support the Full 4GB Controller option, or there was some form of failure in the 4GB Patch process.
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Additional Requirement on Windows/Linux (if running Full 4GB Controller/RealHighway options) (not required on Mac): 4GB Patch by NTCore (included in download, automatically installed on Windows with standard installation procedure, and also available at NTCore).
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See Step 3 (under "On Windows") or the 4GB Patch section in the read-first document for more details.
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See Step 3 (under "On Windows") or the 4GB Patch section in the read-first document for more details.
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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.)
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Additional Requirement on Mac (optional for Windows/Linux): JDatPacker by memo.
- JDatPacker is a tool for consolidating folders of SimCity 4 plugins. This can speed up the game's performance, and on macOS, this helps alleviate issues with the Aspyr port's known "number of files limit", wherein exceeding a certain number of files/folders within the game's Plugins directory can cause the game to crash.
To install the Network Addon Mod:
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Install the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) (if already installed, skip to Step 2).
(This is included in the download package.)
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Remove any existing NAM installations, if present (simply deleting the "a_Network Addon Mod Lite" and/or "Network Addon Mod" folder from the Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins directory is the easiest way).
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Run the NAM Installer:
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On Windows:
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If it your first time installing the NAM (or you are installing on a new system/with a new SC4 install), use NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.bat. If you are upgrading from a previous version, or have manually installed the 4GB Patch already (see the 4GB Patch section in read-first), use NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.jar. (The .bat file has a routine to automate the 4GB Patch installation process, necessary to avoid CTDs if running the Full 4GB Controller option, which is necessary to use the RealHighway (RHW) features.)
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If it your first time installing the NAM (or you are installing on a new system/with a new SC4 install), use NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.bat. If you are upgrading from a previous version, or have manually installed the 4GB Patch already (see the 4GB Patch section in read-first), use NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.jar. (The .bat file has a routine to automate the 4GB Patch installation process, necessary to avoid CTDs if running the Full 4GB Controller option, which is necessary to use the RealHighway (RHW) features.)
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On macOS:
- Run NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.jar.
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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.
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On Linux:
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Run NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.jar, or, if that fails, run NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.sh.
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Run NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.jar, or, if that fails, run NetworkAddonMod_Setup_Version48.sh.
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On Windows:
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Follow the installer's instructions, clicking on each tab on the top bar in order:
- Agree to the mod's terms on the initial "welcome" tab to proceed with the installation.
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Select the options you would like to install under the "files" tab.
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Select the install location under the "location" tab. Unless you have set up an alternate location for your Plugins folder, or happen to be on the Mac App Store version of the game, this should work fine.
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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!".
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Close the installer, using the "X" button or, on macOS, the red circular button, in the upper right corner of the window. You're all done installing the mod.
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Additional step for Mac users (optional on Windows/Linux):
(Run JDatPacker to consolidate the mod's files.)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Load the game and enjoy the NAM!
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If the game crashes on your first attempt to load a city, this means you have the Full 4GB Controller installed, but either have experienced a failure in the 4GB Patch process, or have an incompatible system (not enough RAM and/or a 32-bit operating system). Either attempt to install the 4GB Patch manually, or choose a less intensive installation option (the Low RAM/No RHW option, or download NAM Lite instead).
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Note that if you've never run the NAM before, and you've picked a fuller installation option, the initial load of the game, and of the first city tile you open may be longer--often quite noticeably. This will shorten with subsequent loads of other cities, or, if you exit and re-enter the game, subsequent re-entries will be quicker.
- If you do not see any icons in game, this most likely means your installation ended up in the wrong location. Either reinstall, making sure the files go into your Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins folder (true of Windows and the Steam Mac version), or, if you're on the Mac App Store version, make sure you copy the files into the .app container.
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If the game crashes on your first attempt to load a city, this means you have the Full 4GB Controller installed, but either have experienced a failure in the 4GB Patch process, or have an incompatible system (not enough RAM and/or a 32-bit operating system). Either attempt to install the 4GB Patch manually, or choose a less intensive installation option (the Low RAM/No RHW option, or download NAM Lite instead).
More details on installation and compatibility can be found in the enclosed read-first-NAM-48.html file.
NAM Lite
As mentioned above, an alternative compact version of the NAM is now available, which can be installed instead of the full NAM installation package.
The NAM Lite features just the most essential of NAM features, including the NAM's renowned Traffic Simulator Plugins, refining SimCity 4's pathfinding engine to work as it was originally intended, along with Automata Controller options, updated textures (including a Euro/International texture option), Roundabouts, Diagonal Streets, additional interchanges for the game's base Highway system (the "Maxis Highways"), and (optional) Hole Diggers/Ground Raisers, allowing for precise terrain alteration.
See here for more details and to download NAM Lite:
DOCUMENTATION
For further details on the NAM and its features, visit our new website at:
https://www.sc4nam.com/
Please note that NAM 47 and earlier have been discontinued, and are no longer eligible for any form of technical support.
Thank you all for your continued support--hope you enjoy!
©2024 NAM Team
What's New 48 View Changelog
Released
New Features for NAM 48
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RealRailway Features:
- Draggable OxD, DxO, and DxD crossing support for L1 and L2 ERRW (DTR) over Road, Street, SAM 2-11, One-Way Road, Avenue, RHW-2, Rail, and STR has been added.
- Fractional Angle Starter Pieces have been added.
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Pedestrian Revolution Mod Features:
- Seven new draggable PedMall Bridges (built with the Street network) have been added.
- Aesthetic improvements have been made to the midblock crosswalks, with regional variants (US version gets HAWK crossing signals, EU versions get standard traffic signal).
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Street Network Improvements:
- Diagonal intersections have been redesigned.
- Some orthogonal Street intersections have received improved textures.
- Some aesthetic improvements have been made to streetside signage (including US and EU variations).
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RealHighway Features:
- The Orthogonal FLEX On-Slope Height Transitions have been reimplemented, supporting tighter configurations with FLEXRamps and drag-through construction.
- The MIS x Road orthogonal intersections have received textural improvements.
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Language Support:
- The NAM is now fully translated into Italian (thanks to Ulisse Wolf) and Korean (thanks to SimCitySquare).
- Translations have been expanded for French (thanks to hugues aroux) and Portuguese (thanks to SDA).
