Dependancies included in this archive ...

In order for this lot to properly function, you must place the file "bsc_Essentials_OG.dat" in your main My Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins folder, with NO SUBDIRECTORIES.

Query file: "NDEX Global Essentials.dat" (you only need one copy of this file in your plugins folder at once - if you download mutltiple NDEX lots, simply keep only one copy). Make sure you have read the instructions above dealing with how to place "bsc_Essentials_OG.dat"! Not installing the file will result in crashes. Note: I recommend replacing your existing copy of this file with a newer one every time you download a new NDEX lot.

Custom building model: "DuskTrooper's Piedmont Bank Tower [Model].dat"

The rest of the files (screenshots and this readme) are not nessecary. I recommend deleting all files not being used by the game (or moving them to another folder) to speed up loading and increase performance. Keep your stuff organized! The neater you keep your plugins folder, the easier it is to find, edit, and delete specific lots!

Dependancies from the Simtropolis Exchange

In addition to the files listed above, you need to have the following files present in your plugins folder.

Textures: NDEX Texture Set, Volume 1
Custom Props: BSC-CARCH Festival Props 2004, SimGoober's Flora Prop Pack, Volume 1,
SimGoober's Flora Prop Pack, Volume 3, BSC Irrigation Canal Set.

Dependancy files are kept separate and not included to give their designers and creators credit. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you, but I have tried to provide direct links to the details window where you can download them.

Installation
 

In order to install this download, all you need to do is unzip the lot folder to any place within your My Documents Plugins folder. You must place the other DAT files in your main My Docs Plugins folder, without subdirectories, however. I recommend placing all lot folders under a "NDEX" folder so you can easily access it should updates be issued for the file, etc.

The BSC team uses executables (Windows app, .exe files) to distribute their creations. NDEX will continue using zip archives, but it is critically important that you place certain files (for now, only "bsc_Essentials_OG.dat") in the correct place, so if bugs are discovered, BSC installers can apply the bugfixes automatically. Please read the instructions above!

Statistics in the Queries
 

In the query for this lot, there are a few statistics provided that pertain to the commercial office ('CO') status of the city you are currently playing. There are two items, found approximately in the query window's center: "Zoned Tiles" and "CO Cap Status".

The "Zoned Tiles" line tells you simply how many SC4 tiles in the current city are occupied or simply zoned for commercial development. The first value is the total number of low-density tiles, the second is for medium-density, and the third is for high-density.

The "CO Cap Status" line tells you about your current commercial office cap and how close you're coming to the limit. Caps are rather detailed, and for the full idea of how they work, you can either search around the Simtropolis Forums or check out this short guide, from the Prima SimCity 4 strategy guide ...

Click to see demand cap details ... (will not work properly unless active content is enabled) Demand caps are items that essentially oppose the growth of your city and - if not properly addressed - can dry up all your city's demand. Caps are fixed ceilings beyond which a population cannot grow, regardless of demand for that developer type. With any increase in population, you get closer to the cap, and the amount of demand allowed decreases until you reach the cap, at which point the demand becomes zero regardless of what is occurring in your city. Most developer types are restricted by demand caps. The developer types NOT affected by this are CS§, CS§§, and CS§§§. Note that demand caps are city-specific. The percentages displayed in the query simply tell you what percent of your current cap is filled. Higher percentages mean lower demand. Caps can be relieved by plopping certain civic structures. The easier way to relieve these caps, though, is to create neighbor connections, and lots of them. The amount of relief a connection provides decreases with each one you make, but are network-specific. Commercial and industrial desire connections to neighboring cities, and residential desires amenities (parks, etc.). For full listing of cap relief structures and how much each plop provides, check out a strategy guide to the game. If these statistics are useful to you, you might consider checking out a mod on the Simtropolis Exchange which replaces the default residential, commercial, and industrial queries with ones that also provide demand, cap status, and zoned tiles information. You can download or view information on it by checking the following link to the STEX: "RCI Query Upgrade Mod".

Finally, the line that reads "Total number of buildings" simply indicates how many individual buildings overall are constructed in your current city. This includes growable lots, plopped lots, civic/utility lots, etc. etc.

For residential queries, the statistics are along the same lines and mean pretty much the same thing.

Note About Custom Model Nighttime FX
 

In order to see night lighting, you need to have the EP1 Update 1 for Rush Hour/Deluxe installed, and then afterwards install the patch specifically for the BAT nightlighting, available on the "Building Architect Tool" page on the official Maxis website.  It is a separate download because it is optional and would add 19 MB to the other update. In addition, you must be logged in to see the download link.

If you do not have this installed, no custom model you
download will display any lighting effects at night.

Previously-Identified Issues
 

In the past, certain NDEX lots have been found to become un-demolishable. The building will disappear entirely, but the lot - usually just the base textures but sometimes props as well - will remain, and will even stay when you alter the terrain it's sitting on. To fix it, first try this: demolish the lot (nothing will appear to happen). Now lay streets parallel to each other so the entire area of the lot is covered by street tiles. The props should still be there, but demolish the streets all at once, and the props and the lot should go away.

If that doesn't work, then try placing the EkRoe Publishing Building so it surrounds the outside of the un-demolishable lot completely, and then bulldoze all of them and the un-demolishable lot at once. The lot now should be gone.

NDEX Translations
 

NDEX lots can be found on several SimCity 4 fansites/communities around the web. We hope that by allowing others to translate our lots and creations, we can create a better gameplay experience for more players around the world. So far, the NDEX series of lots' permissions have been given to SimCityBrasil, and SimsZone.de. If you are a webmaster or somebody interested in bringing these lots to your own community and language, please contact me by email (equinox.nls@gmail.com) or via a private message at Simtropolis.

Current NDEX Team Memberlist
Check out the NDEX Forum!
Links to threads and projects are colored dark blue.