Tutorial Cities XL Tweaking and Some Suggestion

Migrator's note: mylipho15 is the original author of this tutorial.



Step 1: Increase Consumption/Increase Production

Goto File: "Data\Design\Resource\CityResourcesConsumption.xml" and find this:
<resources>
<RELE_0>0</RELE_0> <!-- POWER -->
<RFUE_0>0</RFUE_0> <!-- OIL -->
<RWAT_0>0</RWAT_0> <!-- WATER -->
<RWAS_0>0</RWAS_0> <!-- WASTE -->
<RFRE_0>0</RFRE_0> <!-- FREIGHT -->
<RHOL_1>0</RHOL_1> <!-- HOLIDAY HOTEL -->
<RPAS_0>0</RPAS_0> <!-- PASSENGER -->
<ROFF_0>0</ROFF_0> <!-- OFFICE -->
<RHOT_0>0</RHOT_0> <!-- BUSINESS HOTEL -->
<RIN1_0>0</RIN1_0> <!-- HEAVY INDUSTRY -->
<RIN2_0>0</RIN2_0> <!-- MANUFACTURING -->
<RIN3_0>0</RIN3_0> <!-- HIGH TECH -->
<RAGR_0>0</RAGR_0> <!-- FARM FIELD -->
<RRET_1>0</RRET_1> <!-- RETAIL -->
<RLEI_1>0</RLEI_1> <!-- LEISURE -->
</resources>
If you entered Positive number, you need build what are required for. If you entered Negative number, you don't need to build what are required for. Simply, negative number like producing but no buildings or trade active. Example: 1000 The Demand Stats will go left and you need to build and produce more. And -1000 The Demand Stats will go right so you don't need build to produce because already in city.

Step 2: Increase/Decrease Game Speed

Goto File: "Data\Config\SimTimeSettings.cfg"
<Time>
<StepTime>1</StepTime>
<TurnStepCount>60</TurnStepCount>
<NbSubStepByStep>50</NbSubStepByStep>
<Speed>
<Multiplier0>2</Multiplier0> <!-- ORIGINAL IS 2 -->
<Multiplier1>100</Multiplier1> <!-- ORIGINAL IS 5 -->
<Multiplier2>200</Multiplier2> <!-- ORIGINAL IS 10 -->
<Multiplier3>400</Multiplier3> <!-- ORIGINAL IS 20 -->
<Multiplier4>800</Multiplier4> <!-- ORIGINAL IS 40 -->
</Speed>
<DayAndNight>
<!-- Duration in seconds -->
<Duration>720</Duration>
</DayAndNight>
</Time>
More number entered from Multiplier will increase speed of your Citizen Progress, otherwise. games will run slower (not lag).

Step 3: Decrease Blueprint Construction and Remove Blueprint Step Construction

Example Blueprint: Tokyo Tower "b_ldm_tokyotvtower_c3_t3.class"
INGAME_DISPLAY
<Display>
<Model>Data/Gfx/Building/b_ldm_tokyotvtower_c3_t3.sgbin</Model>
<Placeholder>Data/Gfx/Placeholder/b_aaind_t3.sgbin</Placeholder>
<Fundament>
<Use>1</Use>
<Model>""</Model>
</Fundament>
<EditModeOnly>0</EditModeOnly>
<Thumb>""</Thumb>
</Display>
Remove "_C3_" from Section and result is "b_ldm_tokyotvtower_t3.sgbin"
LAYOUT
<Layouts>
<UndefinedAdjustHeight>0</UndefinedAdjustHeight>
<LayoutFile1>Data/Design/Layout/Landmark/b_ldm_tokyotvtower_c3_t3_Base.layout</LayoutFile1>
</Layouts>
Remove _C3_ from Section and result is "b_ldm_tokyotvtower_t3_base.layout"
STEPS
Change from Before
<Blueprint>tokyotvtower</Blueprint>
<BlueprintStep>2</BlueprintStep>
<BlueprintFileNextStep>Data/Design/Buildings/BluePrint/b_ldm_tokyotvtower_t3.class</BlueprintFileNextStep>
To this
<!-- <Blueprint>tokyotvtower</Blueprint> -->
<!-- <BlueprintStep>2</BlueprintStep> -->
<!-- <BlueprintFileNextStep>Data/Design/Buildings/BluePrint/b_ldm_tokyotvtower_t3.class</BlueprintFileNextStep> -->
Misc
<IsDestroyable>0</IsDestroyable>
<IsAskForDestroyRequired>0</IsAskForDestroyRequired>
Must be enabled (1) to make this Blueprint like Landmarks
Step 4: Disable City ScreenShot When Loading Cities

Goto File "Data\Interface\Panels\ZTopLoading\ZTopLoading.lua" and find this
if (ImgFile ~= nil) and (FileSystem:FileExistEx(ImgFile, tonumber(netapi.E_LOCAL_APPDATA)) == true) then
RandomImage = false
Disable this --> if (ZTOPLOADING.CurrentImg ~= ImgFile) then
Disable this --> ZTOPLOADING.CurrentImg = ImgFile
Disable this --> SCALEFORMMGRoActionScriptWithArg("ZTOPLOADING","LoadImg",ZTOPLOADING.CurrentImg.."|true")
Disable this --> end
end

Step 5: Using Custom Music

Goto Folder "Data\Interface\Screens\" and find this file:

1. S_OUTGAMEMENU
2. S_AVATAR
3. S_GAME
4. S_PLANET

S_OUTGAMENU
S_OUTGAMEMENU = {}
function S_OUTGAMEMENU:OnOpen()

Interface:OpenPanel("OUTGAMEMENU")

OUTGAMEMENU:OnPanelOpen()

Add This --> Playlist:Stop()
Add This --> Playlist:Load("data/sound/music/outgamemenu.m3u" )
Add This --> Playlist:Shuffle(true)
Add This --> Playlistlay()
Add This --> Playlist:Loop(true)

InterfaceMgr.CurrentScreen ="OUTGAMEMENU"
InterfaceMgr:ScreenChange()

end
S_AVATAR
function S_AVATAR:OnOpen()

PLANET:SetVisibleAllCitiesIcons(false)
Interface:OpenPanel("AVATARSCREEN")
AVATARSCREEN:OnPanelOpen()

Add This --> Playlist:Stop()
Add This --> Playlist:Load("data/sound/music/avatar.m3u" )
Add This --> Playlist:Shuffle(false)
Add This --> Playlistlay()
Add This --> Playlist:Loop(true)

InterfaceMgr.CurrentScreen ="AVATARSCREEN"
InterfaceMgr:ScreenChange()
SCALEFORMMGRoActionScriptWithArg(InterfaceMgr.CurrentScreen, "_root.SetDemoMode", tostring(DemoMode));

end

S_GAME
INGAME:OnPanelOpen()

Add This --> Playlist:Stop()
Add This --> Playlist:Load("data/sound/music/ingame.m3u" )
Add This --> Playlist:Shuffle(true)
Add This --> Playlistlay()
Add This --> Playlist:Loop(true)

InterfaceMgr.CurrentScreen ="INGAME"
S_PLANET
PLANET:OnPanelOpen()

Add This --> Playlist:Stop()
Add This --> Playlist:Load("data/sound/music/planet.m3u" )
Add This --> Playlist:Shuffle(true)
Add This --> Playlistlay()
Add This --> Playlist:Loop(true)

Hints: You can add custom music by creating M3U Playlist from AIMP/Winamp and then place it to Music Folder then you can change this section with saved M3U playlist. Example Playlist:Load("data/sound/music/rocklist.m3u" )
ALL TRICK WILL BE POSTED HERE SOON AS POSSIBLE
Step 6: Reduce Memory Usage by Converting all Sounds to .MP3 (Expect for Interface Sounds)

Goto Folder "Data\Sounds" Follow this steps:

1. In Ambiance Folder, convert all file from .WAV Format to .MP3 Format, Set Convert Menthod to 24000Hz and 128kbps Quality (because Cities XL is limited sound engine to 24000Hz)
2. Open SoundDB, replace all .WAV to .MP3 and Save
3. In Effect Folder, do Same with Step 1 and 2
4. Done. I had tried this and now memory usage is reduced by 15%

Footnote: If the file does not exist, copy it text above into notepad and save the file according with the existing field (example: interface.lua)
This is a part of our old Cities XL 2009 development: Cities XL ID (formerly eSeMDe XL)