# Simcity 5 Doper region organizing thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 3, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942 "2013-03-03T21:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/221 "2013-03-10T17:16:49Z")
Speaking of space issues, I’ve run into them as well. It will be hard to get my city to 150k + without some major changes that I’m not sure I want to make. I have worked on optimizing my layout of roads, which is difficult since I decided to go for the esthetic of graceful arches and curves rather than grids. No question this leads to much wasted space! But also, I want to leave a high-wealth district overlooking the water with no higher than medium density; I like the look of it, especially with the Globe Theatre smack in the middle. It looks sort of like a German _Altstadt_. But anyway, in general, I think quite a few people’s towns in Ceciltopia have too many roads. I learned how to optimize them in past SimCity games, when you had to pay to maintain them. In the new game, they’re free once placed, but it’s still better to be efficient with them. For one thing, too many intersections create horrific gridlock, which luckily Podunkton mostly avoids. Another potential issue: one is tempted to zone every side of a block. This can often lead to less efficient use of space, I’m finding (especially with curved roads!) It’s sometimes better to not do this once you’re at medium density or higher. I still have some open space near by the Podunkton Regional Airport and nearby oil wells. The oil is almost about to run out, and I’d need to bulldoze another neighborhood to move the wells to keep the oil flowing, something at the moment I don’t want to do. I’m also keeping the space by the airport more or less open in case I need a second runway. I’m thinking when the current oil wells are dry, I’m putting in a trade port on that location, and zoning the current depot, after demolishing it, to high density residential. We’ll see. I know people are already gung-ho about trying a new region, but I’d argue for doing this on another 16-city location, and possibly having things like a pure resource-creating town and a garbage town. But before that, I think it’d be fun to try to create at least one great work in Ceciltopia. Which bring me to the last part of this report. I’m willing to get a solar farm started, but it costs 500k simoleons. I’m making simoleons hand over fist, and can probably swing this in not too long a time, but it would be nice if at least a few people would send some simoleons my way to help pay the startup costs, and also for several cities to commit to helping provide the resources for it, listed here: [ul] [li]600 tons of Alloy[/li][li]115,000 crates of Plastic[/li][li]45,000 crates of Processors[/li][/ul] If Podunkton tried to provide all that alone, I think my city would crumble into poverty and ruin. One question mark I have, can every city in the region participate in building these, or just the nearby cities? I hope all can, because that would make it a lot more worthwhile. Anyway, please post if you’re willing to support this! Podunkton is willing to lead the way, but we can’t do it alone. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/222 "2013-03-10T17:55:39Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > I’ve opened a new private region using Reflection Atoll (7 city plots & one great work). Anyone want an invite to Slugsworth? I’ll take an invite. I’m Cale Knight on origin. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/223 "2013-03-10T18:13:35Z")
Cale Knight & jenniferrobot have friend requests. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/224 "2013-03-10T18:28:35Z")
Hey, **Lute** , I’ll happily join your region. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/225 "2013-03-10T18:34:22Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > One question mark I have, can every city in the region participate in building these, or just the nearby cities? I hope all can, because that would make it a lot more worthwhile. Anyway, please post if you’re willing to support this! Podunkton is willing to lead the way, but we can’t do it alone. Yeah, I’d love to see at least one great work built in Ceciltopia before we all move one. It’s my understanding that only those in the cluster can contribute to building the wonder, though I’m happy to be proven wrong in this. I would contribute, but unfortunately, Terminus Wetlands doesn’t make much of anything at the moment. I’m trying to develop my casino industry but my rube visitors seem content with pulling the nickel slots in my cheap gambling halls and don’t want to play poker in the fancy new casino I built. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/226 "2013-03-10T18:50:51Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > One question mark I have, can every city in the region participate in building these, or just the nearby cities? I hope all can, because that would make it a lot more worthwhile. Anyway, please post if you’re willing to support this! Podunkton is willing to lead the way, but we can’t do it alone. Mount Olympia would be happy to help, but right now, all I make is Coal and “freight”, whatever that is. If I figure out how to make alloy, plastic, or processors, I’ll let you know. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/227 "2013-03-10T18:53:28Z")
Okay, I am having a problem with cities in my own region. City A just built a nuclear plant and has a 50 kgal/hr water deficit. City B just built a pumping station and has a 200 kgal/hr excess capacity. However, no matter what I do, City B will not sell more than about 25 kgal/hr capacity to City A in the region market. Is this a limitation of the game I don’t know about - e.g. cities can’t sell more than a certain fraction of their excess - or is something just bugged? If it is an intentional gameplay limitation, that just makes the very small city sizes that much more aggravating. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/228 "2013-03-10T18:58:11Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > Hey, **Lute** , I’ll happily join your region. Unable to send invites at the moment. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/229 "2013-03-10T18:59:15Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Mount Olympia would be happy to help, but right now, all I make is Coal and “freight”, whatever that is. If I figure out how to make alloy, plastic, or processors, I’ll let you know. Open a recycling plant for alloy & plastic. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/230 "2013-03-10T19:02:37Z")
I’m still locked out of Plainville in Ceciltopia but I’ll take an invitation to Reflection Atoll if there is still space. (user name Keeene) My city of Bear River is making money hand over fist - over 600k simoleans in the bank and making another 3k per hour. But the real moneymaker is the Expo Center, which makes me 120 - 130k simoleans every couple of nights. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/231 "2013-03-10T19:11:10Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Cale Knight & jenniferrobot have friend requests. I didn’t see one, but I went ahead and shot a request back at you. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/232 "2013-03-10T20:40:16Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Mount Olympia would be happy to help, but right now, all I make is Coal and “freight”, whatever that is. If I figure out how to make alloy, plastic, or processors, I’ll let you know. Best way to make alloy and plastic is by installing a recycling plant. You can also make plastics with an oil refinery. Since you don’t produce oil, you could buy it using a trade depot, but honestly I think recycling will generate sufficient plastic. To make processors, you have to install a processor factory. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/233 "2013-03-10T20:44:45Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > I’ve opened a new private region using Reflection Atoll (7 city plots & one great work). Anyone want an invite to Slugsworth? I’d like to use attempt the great works on Ceciltopia, but sure I’ll join you on Slugsworth. ETA: Today I can’t join the server to save my life. Or, er, my city! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/234 "2013-03-10T21:41:11Z")
Anybody have tips about getting tourists? I plopped a few gambling halls and they’re doing well, but my scifi casino is losing twenty gees a day. I added a bunch of tourist attractions but they don’t seem to help. My train is bringing thousands of visitors a day but my ferry isn’t doing crap. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/235 "2013-03-10T21:59:06Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Anybody have tips about getting tourists? I plopped a few gambling halls and they’re doing well, but my scifi casino is losing twenty gees a day. I added a bunch of tourist attractions but they don’t seem to help. My train is bringing thousands of visitors a day but my ferry isn’t doing crap. Heck if I know. I’ve been trying to do the same thing myself. I turned on the population data layer to watch what the sims do. The tourists come on the boat, visit the sleek casino, stay for a while, then leave. There’s never enough to to sustain it. I’ve turned it off for now. The gambling halls are money makers, though. I’d build an Expo Center to drive in the tourists, but I literally have no space left in my city. (And you can thank me for building the Gambling HQ that enabled the higher level casinos throughout Ceciltopia.) ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/236 "2013-03-10T22:15:30Z")
Welp, according to a recent tweet by a Maxis developer, casinos are bugged. Hopefully they’ll release a fix soon or else my city is boned… ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/237 "2013-03-11T00:06:22Z")
I’ve built two new cities in my own region, the first an oil/ore industry which quickly developed a population of about 150k and rows and rows of skyscrapers. The second one is a university town with hi-tech industry and a lower population density of about 70k. But I’ve built the train terminal, ferry wharf and airport which bring in thousands of tourists daily to see events at the Sydney Opera House and tour the Empire State Building. I’m making processors hand over fist but I have to import the plastic and alloy for them so it’s not quite a profitable as it might be otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/238 "2013-03-11T00:19:08Z")
Now the oil isn’t really quite gone. It’s just that I’d have to bulldoze several high density residential neighborhoods to get at what significant reserves remain. I’m certainly not a mayor above putting thousands of people on the streets if it’ll make a simoleon, but the truth is, selling crude oil just hasn’t been as lucrative as we’d all hoped. So the oil wells are gone. Podunkton’s main export is now computer processors, by the truckload! I’ve authorized the construction of a trade port, including a ship yard, for the profit of Podunkton industries, distributing our goods region-, and indeed, worldwide. Yes, some pesky naysayers and obstinate ne’er-do-wells note that our budget dipped into the red (but only briefly!), especially after some gigantic, mutant lizard monster trashed an elementary school and ripped through several prosperous neighborhoods before consuming a great heap of garbage at the city dump. But we don’t care about them. _Podunkton’s economy is strong! The future is bright! All of our students are above average!_ In other news, it’ll be some time before I contemplate again starting up the Solar Farm project. We just don’t have the simoleons at the moment! ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/239 "2013-03-11T01:44:08Z")
Would the good scientists of **Podunkton Tech** be so kind as to research advanced windmills? The casinos of Terminus Wetlands are crying out for more power, yet the local windfarm has run out of space. We think replacing the present windmills with more hi-tech models would do the trick. We would be ever so grateful and would be willing to compensate you with simoleons for your trouble. (That is, as soon as we can bilk sufficient monies from the rubes visiting said casinos.) ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942/240 "2013-03-11T01:52:51Z")
As a matter of fact, the scientists and engineers as of this morning have made plans available region-wide for the new, advanced Vertical Turbine. At a cost of §20,000, each installation of the new design provides up to 15MW of electricity for your city, at an operating cost of a mere §170/hr. ETA: Absolutely Podunkton Tech is willing to entertain research requests. Simply send your request and the requisite simoleons to: Marvin T. Pifflewhacker Chair, Committee for Increasing Wealth via Research P.O. Box 546111 Podunkton Institute for Technology Podunkton, Ceciltopia, 12321 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simcity-5-doper-region-organizing-thread/651942.md?page=13)