GORDON142  If you want to play this game, you really need to simply use Boot Camp and get the Windows version.

This port is truly terrible. Not only is it unstable, it runs unplayable slow. This game was first released in 2003, mind you, and no modern hardware should have any trouble running it. Even with all the settings turned down, this version is so stuttery as to be unplayable on a 2008 MacBook Pro. Mind you, the Windows version runs perfectly smooth on highest settings on the same system.

Oh, and if that isn't enough for you, there's the issue of price. You can get the Windows version for like $5 used on Amazon.com or $15 new. By comparison, the mac version costs a whopping $52 (not including shipping).

I've basically stopped buying Mac games since the Intel switch, and things like this are exactly why.  
(Version 1.1revA)

MISCHIVO  The game is ridiculously slow. I've got a Mac Pro with a Quad Xeon and an Nvidia Geforce 8800GT, and the game runs like molasses at 1920by1200 resolutionw ith full settings on.

Now, if you think the high settings are to blame, think again: the computer is more than capable of handling it. When I boot into Windows XP Pro and play the same game with the same settings and screen resolution, the game is has smooth frame rates and responds quickly.

Aspyr: please wake up on this. We want to seriously enjoy this amazing game without being hampered by performance bugs, and without having to rely on Windows. :(  
(Version 1.1revA)

MAC ADAM  and someone about standard version ??

Slow,slow,slow…

please speed for PPC/intel and all version,

thanks, or never buy again !!

… and comeback simcity 2000  
(Version 1.1revA)

THREEDEE912  The game wasn't made for Intel Macs, such as your Mac Pro. That's why it's slow. Maybe they will release an update for Intel Macs.  
(Version 1.1revA)

FROMAGE-HEAD  It clearly doesn't "fly" on a Mac Pro with 3gb of ram...  
(Version 1.1revA)

TEG  If you are having performance issues, open the game while holding the command (apple) key. This will allow you to adjust the resolution and refresh rate, will allow you to run the game in a window, and allow you to use iTunes for music instead of the built-in music. This tip was located in the ReadMe for Rush Hour. I love this game, and it runs great on my PowerBook G4 667 (DVI) with 1GB of RAM, and I usually run it in a window so I can easily switch to other programs when playing.  
(Version 1.1revA)

ROF71  I Bought Simcity 4 + rush hour add on it runs ok under osx panther 10.3.9 but soon as install tiger starts to run slow if i put rush hour , ilike the game but am very frustrated about this i have 1.5gb of ram my machine is a g5 monster 1.8ghz wants going on with this please help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   
(Version 1.0.2)

SCOTMATHESON@HOTMAIL.COM  I have Sim City 4 and a Revision B Imac 20" 2.0 ghz with Tiger and 1 gig ram.

I love this game

Problems with interface. My tool bar moves sometimes over the city and parts of the city break up as I move from one side of the screen to the other. If I just let it sit for a minute, everything catches up and the game will work again. C"om On, I have a pretty fine mac with lots of ram and 128 of video. I have installed the updater, which fixed the water system bug, but it seems as if the game overpowers this fast mac of mine and no new updates for over a year. Please help. Thx  
(Version 1.0.2)

ANONYMOUS  When ever I launch the game It switches to a resolution that my monitor cant display,so I bought the game and havent even played it yet.How can I set the resolution before I launch the game?If anyone can help me I would be greatly appreciated.  
(Version 1.0.2)

ANONYMOUS  This is a sad conversion. Running this on a 1.25 Ghz emac was painful and disapointing. The 2Ghz G5 seemed 75% better. But not many people are lucky enough to have a top end Mac at their disposal. Why release a game when it obviously has so many problems? I added the emac's 9200 graphics card in the "Video cards.scr" file and got an improved result but still hardly worth the effort.

I think the packaging shamefully misleads buyers with the stated system requirements.

This developers need to take a good look at themselves and stop counting the money coming in form disatisfied buyers. Here's a new idea - what about testing the game on a mac before you sell it.  
(Version 1.0.2)

XARLI  how can I install this update???

and another thing,why do I keep getting errors because of the graphics rules.sgr ???

Help,please!!!  
(Version 1.0.2)

ANONYMOUS  I still don't know why the game continually crashes. The computer is powerful and new.  
(Version 1.0.2)

ANONYMOUS  On a PowerBook G4 667MHz, it works *pretty* well to start with... But as the size of the city grows, it gets slower and slower until it's a bit annoying to use. However, the graphics are great, and they've added a lot of interesting tidbits to it.

If you're a Sim City fan and enjoyed the previous three versions, then you'll like this one.. However, don't bother buying it if you don't have a modern enough graphics card/computer.  
(Version 1.0.2)

CHRIS WOMBOLD  1st of all the patch downloads funny. but not 2 worrie it downloads fine, but i still have no clue why my web browser makes a page of a bunch of data gibberish. the update it self is unimpressive. i would say they downgraded preformance just to take a few minor bugs out. i would rather play the game w/ smooth animations and framerate then scarifice them for glowing buildings at night. i have a ati 9800 pro there is no reason that all the buildings and animations should dissipear every time i scroll around the map. if u want to see the buildings at night then download this patch but if u'd rather have a playable game then stick w/ version 1.0.1  
(Version 1.0.2)

ALEXIS   This is a great update for ATI cards and Panther users. Game was unplayable before this. Circles which come up when you info a police station or a school are fixed. Outline of beaches and other large objects are now showing up. All buildings are now showing up. Awesome.

The game is very demanding, definitely keep shadows on low to get the best performance. It is now a great port as it compares perfectly to the PC version which is also extremely demanding.   
(Version 1.0.2)

JOSIAH LORUSSO  For anyone who was having problems with slow rendering should update to 1.0.2. I have a powerbook G4 1.25ghz and before it would look very nice until I scrolled across the screen then it would get all pixalated.

After updating to 1.0.2 it doesn't do that at all. It's much faster and it looks like the PC side now.

I have 10.3.2 and had no problems so far.  
(Version 1.0.2)

ANONYMOUS  This updater corrects all the problems I had before.  
(Version 1.0.2)

ANONYMOUS  Just purchased sim city 4. Seems that my mouse is having problems moving around the grid with ease and toggling between the dock and grid. Also I have found the zoom quit frustrating toggling around the grid.When my girlfreind purchsed the game she was told that i had to download something off the net to make it run faster with my g4 1ghz duel processor. any ideas.  
(Version 1.0.1)

JOHN  Right. The straw that broke the camels back.

The updater still doesn't stop the black screen problem. G4 1.25Ghz an' 10.3.2...

No add-ons on the Aspyr site and no sign

of Rush Hour for Mac.

Time to buy a PC methinks.  
(Version 1.0.1)

K MIRANDA  uhmm hi, i feel like i wasted $50 because this sitx file is not even working on my g4 powerbook. it won't launch or open even using stuffit deluxe. i mean isn't it supposed to automatically open once you download it. anyway, if there are others out there who also own macs who are as pissed as me about not being able to play this classic mac game, then let me know. i am going to try to figure out if there is another way to fix this problem, but if it is not going to work, then i am going to try to take this game back to compusa, but i fear since it is software they may not take it back, so i will bring in my computer too, to show them that it is not working. if they still don't give me my money back, then i think i may sue aspyr, because this is crap, that i paid and i can't play, when others are having the same exact problem as me. $50 is a lot of money, that i thought this game was worth it to play, but not if i don't get to play it or get my money back. :< boo.

kanani  
(Version 1.0.1)

GLORIA  Hi, I downloaded the updater for my Powerbook G4 because I get the message that says it will run with the software driver etc. The updater didn't work, I'm still getting the same message. HELP I want to play and buy more of the SIMS. right now I can only play at a friends house.  
(Version 1.0.1)

PERCY  I don't know about other systems, but this upgrade works great on the newest 17 inch power book. First I tried the manual text edit routine-difficult since its hard to get straight guotes in most text edit apps.I did a little copying and pasteing and editing, and it was moderatly successful.Next the upgrade and came up with the usual page of garbled text. Finally the FTP solution.Every thing is pretty much automatic from there. Now.....if we can just get the glowing buildings to quit shing in the dark and a couple of outher minor Quirks, then things should be fine. PW  
(Version 1.0.1)

ANONYMOUS  -Hello everyone, I've just got a G5 and it sweet. So why wont SC4 work when the update has been installed? Answer because the people who wrote the program for Mac users need shooting!

Message to anyone at Aspyr: Well done on most useless conversion of a game from PC to mac I've ever seen.   
(Version 1.0.1)

JAKE  this patch fixed my screwy graphics problems, where houses and trees looked like parts of buildings, but the game is still slow as molasses and none of the cheats work because control X does nothing.  
(Version 1.0.1)

ANONYMOUS  This fixed the video issues I had with my 1GHz TiBook. Sweet.  
(Version 1.0.1)

JEFF  I have a mac g4 with 1.75 gig ram and dual gig processors. This version crashes constantly, and will not take screen shots. Tech support is no help. Great game...for a PC user.  
(Version 1.0.1)

LINKSTER82  damn, what a bunch of freakin whiners. Who can't spell on top of that. just because you belong to the mac coven does not mean people are going to bend over backwards for you to write software. take what you get. at least this version of EA's simcity is better than 3000.  
(Version 1.0.1)

ANONYMOUS  Well, I'm just a simple user, all this talk about "contextual menus" etc is beyond me, so when I get the jibberish you talk about, it's jibberish.

Therefore until I see a "normal' Mac download I'll be using the older version.

I do agree with the comments about features we aren't seeing yet. I paid the price for a fully functional game, right now I don't have that.  
(Version 1.0.1)

ROBERT LEWIS  I think Aspyr has forgotten their roots. When they first came out as company, they did everything to care for the Mac consumer. They knew the value of users groups to help promote their products throgh game sigs. Ever since a certain PR manerger came to Aspyr all that changed. Now unless you belong to some mega magazine or organization, you are not good enough to appaise and review their products. This whole attitude semm to have permiated throgh the entire Aspyr company. In many ways they have cornered the Mac market in games being converted to the Mac. As long as they crank out the games, they think the users will continue to follow suit and buy only to find that features promised not implemented as in SIM City 4. Look at how Aspyr will not even do cross platorm like Blizzard. Instead they sell PC & Mac versions seperatly. In my opinion they no longer give a damn about the consumer anymore. I remember when Aspyr was run by a handful of people who did give a damn many years ago. What happen Aspyr? I run a game sig here in Houston and write articles about entertainment software locally. Every other game company has support for user groups and are glad to get free PR when they release new software. I think Aspyr needs to take a closer look at who is responsible for bringing them to where they are now, the consumer and start living up to what they advertise for their games. I just think the company has grown too big for its shoes.  
(Version 1.0.1)

ANONYMOUS  A bit strange that I have to put in my registration code again. It is like this is a piece of $1000 software, what gives?  
(Version 1.0.1)

WAZZAMATTAU   by now, you'd think that even a moderately knowledgeable Mac user would know that when you get a page full of code (what some call gibberish, but it is not!), you need to use the contextual menu on the download link and select "download to disk" or words to that effect. s i m p l e.   
(Version 1.0.1)

JIMW  Ratings are for the patch and reflect download problems.

While Aspyr professes to be a Macintosh developer, they do not seem to support a normal download with Safari. You need to use contextual menus and choose "Download link to disk" in order to download the updater. The alternate FTP site also seems to be very busy or dead.

Aspyr also does not seem to be very forthright with their customers either. Aside from taking money (preorders) long before a product ships, sometimes with many delays, they fail to inform their customers that when it comes to EA products, online and download functionality may be severely delayed or lost entirely - functionality you paid for and that is built into the program.

The problem is that while downloads, online play, and tools are available on EA's and Maxis's websites for Windows users, that would work on Macintosh, Macintosh user can't access the web site because EA will not accept registration numbers for Aspyr's Macintosh versions.

In the case of SimCity4 Aspyr promised months ago that these items would be available on their web site but that still has not happened. So this means that Macintosh users are denied the downloadable cities, buildings and on-line/interactive play that is built into the program and as such they paid for.

Unfortunatelyy Aspyr does not let you know this before you purchase the product and the people I have spoken to at Aspyr do not feel this is an issue.

Personally I feel cheated. There are some great buildings and cities that I would love to download from EA's web site. But unless I know a Windows user who has the product or purchase a Windows version for the Serial Number, I can't get to the site to download them.

If you feel the same way about this, I suggest you let them know about it by calling, not emailing Aspyr's customer service (not technical support) about this. emails they can toss without reading. They have to take time to listen to a phone call. Their number is: 1-888-21-ASPYR or 512-708-8100  
(Version 1.0.1)