Continuing the pyramid theme seemed appropriate, but sloped sides doesn’t really work for you in Sim City does it. In this map we’ll use something similar, a Mesopotamian Ziggurat. I’ve tried to make things interesting buy splitting the Ziggurat down it’s center between two large city zones. But that’s not all.

Ancient Ziggurat rarely came alone, each was part of a larger temple complex. I’ve included a number of other smaller structures, as well as some raised ritual pathways  and intricate water works.

You may also notice a similarity to an earlier anime style map I created, I was going for the same final result; a large metropolis sprawling above a heavily manicured foundation.

Download the Ziggurat region

I’ve not had any free time to actually play this map yet so there wont be an update to the Sim City 4 regions section for a while I suspect, but I definitely am going to play it. Feel free to stop by the comments and link to your region if you download and play the map. I’d especially like to compare city/region layout ideas.

Rather than an open park with some key theming –like last time, I’ve instead chosen to lay down some paths and basic transportation rides. You, as manager, are charged with renovating this old rundown temple into a full blown theme park.

The central feature of the custom map –as the name suggests– is a lost temple. I’ve built an Egyptian style pyramid with an enticing doorway for you to play with. Will you create stairs down into an underground complex, use it for a huge coaster dropping down into the depths or for some other purpose?

Leading up to the temple is a reflecting pool inset with ruined columns. Surrounding the temple and pool is a complex of stepped earth works for you to run coasters down around and through. Set high on the back wall is a huge waterfall to wow your visitors with. All in all I hope you’ll enjoy the possibilities presented at the Lost Temple.

Download the Lost Temple

Items in place

As I mentioned above I’ve laid down two small transportation rides. One is a small boat ride which runs from one side of the park to the other and the other a monorail which runs a short distance in shuttle shuttle mode.

The entrance to the park is also filled with the basic amenities you’ll need to help get your park off the ground, including those jumping fountains we all love to much.

I’ve not had time to actually play this park yet, the build phase has taken most of the free time I could muster. If you download and play the park I’d love to see your creations, be sure to comment or email with a link to some highlights!

More park previews

Six Bunnies Pirate Cove

For my next RCT3 map creation I wanted to open things up and give the appearance of more space – the actual maps are all the same size, large. To help give the feeling of space I’ve included some large cliffs where use of gravity for coasters could help extend run-times. The bottom half of the zone is a small cluster of islands, this opens up new water bound adventures and allows coasters to fly over water for an added feeling of speed.

Download Pirate Cove Empty path only park

Download Pirate Cover Full Rides and Attractions park

(download and unzip these files into your “Parks” folder)

The empty park has less pre-laid paths this time around as I wanted to give you a greater freedom for park evolution. Not one to leave you with a bare park I’ve included two scenery creations with the empty map. One large fort over-run by animatronic pirates rises out of a cliff out-cropping, paths snake throughout and pass close to ancient ruins. On the other side of the map there is a smaller pirate tower which overlooks a secret pool and waterfall.

Pirate Cove path only park

If you choose to download the full park from my own play session you can look forward to some interesting rides and even more colorful scenery than last time. A total of 12 rollercoasters, 9 thrill rides, a largely expanded pool complex and a host of other attractions to test drive, modify or rebuild. This time around I’ve taken much more time to build in the types of scenery you’d expect at a theme park, styled areas and structures around ride entrance/exits to name but a few. I particularly enjoy the Mine Train and Crows Nest Giga coasters.

Pirate Cove full park

Here’s a small selection of screen shots from around the Full Ride and Attractions park. Be sure to link to your own Rollercoaster creations in the comments if you use this park!

Park Preview

In my previous outings with RCT3 I had simply played through the campaign challenges, this time I was going to crack open the sandbox mode and build some custom maps.

Six Bunnies Fluffy Mountain

I named my first custom park ‘Six Bunnies Fluffy Mountain’ as an homage to my new local Californian Theme Park. Here you’ll find a mountainous region complete with lake, custom waterfall and reflecting pool. The terrain transitions from rolling sand dunes to grassy plains, plains to jungle and jungle to snow-capped wasteland. Altogether you’ll have a large varied area to play with.

I’ve decided to make two downloads per map available. One will be mainly empty, only containing pre-placed paths. The other map will contain full rides and attractions from my play session for you to ride.

Download the Empty path only park

Download the Full Rides and Attractions park

(download and unzip these files into your “Parks” folder)

In the empty park I’ve started you off with with a central reflecting pool near the entrance, this pool feeds the stream which falls into the near by lake. Two main paths lead from the entrance along each side of the large central mountain. These paths eventually branch off in to dead ends. You’re all set to start building rides.

Empty path only park

If you choose to download the full park from my own play session you can look forward to some interesting rides and colorful scenery. A total of 8 rollercoasters, 12 thrill rides, a pool complex and a host of other attractions to test drive, modify or rebuild. I had extra fun building the scenery around the Rapids ride and the first ride built was the Wooden Coaster Tundra.

Full Ride and Attractions park

Here’s a small selection of screen shots from around the Full Ride and Attractions park. Be sure to link to your own Rollercoaster creations in the comments if you use this park!

Park Preview

Some time ago I created a number of maps which were built using just one shape. While these maps looked great in region view they weren’t exactly the best to play – One was very hard and expensive to build on, while the other was so open and easy it got a little boring in the end.

I had an interesting time making Island Nation a more natural map while balancing out some open areas for large cities. I decided I’d like to make another natural looking map but again limit myself to only using one shape to build all areas of the region. I also imposed a few more guidelines upon my design;

- Only circles can be used to make the map.
- – Further: only four sizes of circle at four different shades may be used (smaller > lighter [125px, 60px, 30px, 10px]).

- The map must contain;
- – Two rivers joining.
- – One island.
- – Geological activity (so I can have mountains on low land).

The region is made up of nine large size cities so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting some nice large populations growing. I hope there is just enough landscape variation that it makes things interesting and you get some good ideas for building different types of communities.

I should have some time over the holidays to update you with how my region is going after I’ve started a city in each area. I have still got that Deadly Furry Cute relaunch to finish too…

Download the New Eden Bay Area region now!

New Eden Bay Area terrain map

New Eden Bay Area region preview

In designing Island Nation I’ve gone for an archipelago island chain, with a mixture of large, medium and small city tiles.  The overall map size is still fairly small, being a long strip, but because large tiles are included the regions population can get much higher. Each tiles land mass is surrounded by water, in all cases this is enough for marina to be an option, very helpful in the later game to bust those aforementioned caps.

You’ll also notice I’ve gone a lot more realistic with this map. There are still large areas of flat land in some of the city tiles enabling large-scale city building, but the overall feel is closer to what you’d expect from an actual volcanic island chain. You’ll also find reclaiming land from the sea is sometimes your only option to advance.

Download the Island Chain region now!

Island Nation terrain map

Island Nation region preview

Island Nation examples

Why? Well that’s simple – and I’m sure every SC4 fan will agree – sometimes you want to play SimCity 4 but don’t want to spend time adding to a current large region which will – and it will – zap all your time away.  What we need is something quick and small that will only take a few hours total to play.

This map came to life while researching art deco stained glass for a project.  In short it’s a stained glass window style design consisting of two medium and eight small city zones.  You’ll notice in my haste I set the sea level too low and as such most of the map is water.  At this point my usual course of action would be to jump back in to Photoshop and fix the issue.  As I’d not yet designed an archipelago I thought it would make an interesting challenge to leave as-is. Also note the shallowness of the surrounding water. It should make reclaiming land relatively cheap.

Download the Stain region now!

Stain terrain map

Stain region preview

Today we talk about Sector 1. ‘This is the center piece you’ve been looking for’ said the brain, which continued ‘however I’ve had this thought…’ NO bad brain!

Continuing to use the inspiration for Sector 7 I moved forward eventually creating something far less complex than I had originally envisioned.  Although not what I set out to complete the map fulfills my criteria for a center piece region and I can see how the city layout will unfold as play progresses – I like to have a plan.

I’ll be making a post when I’ve made a good bit of progress, in the mean time if you download and play the map please let me know!

Download the Sector 1 custom map now!

Sector 1 terrain map

Sector 1 region preview

Both Solaris and Triangle Nation were designed around a single large city in the center of the region.  In theory this would allow the smaller outer cities to feed the center large city.  In practice the smaller cities just aren’t enough to boost population in the larger city and region as a whole.  The new theory is still based around centralized large cities – cunning is it not – but this time I’ll use many of them, supported by many more smaller cities around them.

Sector 7 was inspired by Palm Leaves in Dubai.  Initially this region was designed to be the center piece of my ‘theoretical’ planet, where i would try to finally get super skyscrapers.  In truth I was just not happy enough with my work on the region to call it a ‘center piece’.  Not being a center piece is one thing, not being a good map is another.  With the amount of time I’d put into the map I decided to finish it off and make it available.

Download the Sector 7 region now!

Sector 7 terrain

Sector 7 region preview

Because of my own selfish need for perfection I actually haven’t ever played a city on this region.  If you do please let me know!

This time I tried to not think too much about the eventual city/region layout and instead concentrate on producing something very geometric.  In truth the inspiration was some of my wife’s all over fashion prints. Simple shapes can make beautiful patterns and as we’re about to find out, can create interesting challenges to the budding city planner.

So here it is: Triangle Nation.  She’s built solely from triangles, only elevation differentiates one triangle from another.  That might sound simple enough, but with no smoothing or weather erosion to tone down their harshness the mountain sides can get pretty steep!

Download the Triangle Nation region now!

Triangle Nation terrain map

Triangle Nation region preview

I did actually play test this map, cunningly however my computer decided to crash and even more cunningly I forgot to save. Very newb I know – not to be confused with noob.  Since then I’ve not had time to play the map again, I’d love to know if anyone else has!