SimCity 3000

By Gordon Stunt
January 01, 2000 00:00 AM PST
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So you think you have what it takes to be a successful SimCity 3000 mayor, huh? Maybe you think that if an ex-pro wrestler can garner enough votes to land the prestigious role of governor, the daily responsibilities of a mayor couldn't be especially difficult. Well, hate to tell you, but this game's no saunter in the Village Square--even if it's simply a Virtual Village Square.

Within the following pages you'll learn pointers that will help you in your endeavors to erect a prosperous city. Whether you choose to build a small town or a jump-jive-and-wailing metropolis, this strategy guide will give you tips aplenty for mastering the game. So, without further ado, let the construction begin!

The Basics
For starters, you'll need to know some basic elements of the game. Some of these principles may seem a tad elementary, but they bear mentioning. First, you'll need to provide power to nearly every building and utility: without electricity, your city will certainly perish. Furthermore, just as your city needs power, it won't grow to its fullest potential unless you provide water to all your structures. Common-sense stuff, really, but it's important.

Power and Water
While we're on the subject of power and water, building--and more importantly, maintaining--grids is key. Depending on what year it is in the game, you'll have different choices of power and water sources. Examine the selections available, consider your financial situation, balance out the pros and cons, and make a choice. Remember, if you're stuck building a power plant that emits high pollution, you'll always have the ability to destroy it and replace it with something better later on. Your city is a living environment, so what you start out with doesn't necessarily have to be what you end up with.

Water pumps can be placed near any water source in your city. However, if you place them near salt water, you'll need a water-desalinization plant. So, when starting out, it's best to find a source of fresh water to drop your pumps near. Once your pumps have been arranged, you'll need to lay down some pipes. Water will spread seven tiles from each side of an active pipe. It's a good idea to get in the habit of building pipes along your transportation routes. This will guarantee thorough coverage.

RCI Zones
SimCity 3000 revolves around three very important zone types--residential, commercial, and industrial. The sooner you comprehend what each of these zones represents, and how to properly plot locations where each zone would best thrive, the sooner you'll be on your way to your ultimate goal.

Residential zones are basically just that. And for the most part, houses will appear where you lay down areas of that type. Commercial zones coincide with businesses and services such as shopping, while industrial zones will supply your city with manufacturing and production plants. You also have the option of deciding what density each zone should permit: low, medium, or high. Keep in mind that if you lay down a high-density zone (which costs the most), it doesn't guarantee that high-density structures will exclusively be built there. In fact, high-density simply means that the zone can accommodate all three zone types. Location, land value, and demand, along with other contingencies, all play into what type of building will erect itself there.

Police and Fire
To combat fire and crime, you'll need to meticulously place police departments and fire stations around your city. Since both of these operate in a radius, you'll need to constantly build more as your city grows larger. On the flip side, with each station comes funding, so you'll want to make sure that you can provide the police and fire departments adequate allowance before you go plopping down a ton of public safety.

Road and Transit
SimCitizens (Sims) are going to need means to get around your city. And SimCity 3000 provides many different ways to accomplish this. Also, knowing the relationship between transportation and specific zones is significant in building a thriving city. The breakdown is as follows: Residential zones can be four tiles from a road. This allows for a maximum eight-tile-wide section of residence with roads at each side. Commercial zones can be three tiles from a road, resulting in a maximum six-tile-wide section. And Industrial zones can go as far as five tiles from a road, permitting a sector of industry to stretch 10 tiles wide as long as there are roads at either side.