Building Methods

Discover effective building strategies and tactics for SimCity 1989. Learn how to adapt old methods and utilize new features for a thriving city.

Hey there! So, you're looking to build a really great SimCity town, huh? This section's gonna walk you through some smart ways to lay out your city that can really make a difference. The way you build in this version is a bit different from others, especially with how the map size changes things and how zones are now 2x2 squares instead of 3x3. It means we gotta rethink some of those old tricks!

You might remember the 'donut block' method from other versions, where you'd build around a central empty space. That doesn't work quite the same here because the 'Presents' (those special buildings) are 3x3 squares. It makes fitting them into a pattern a bit tricky. I did figure out some ways to make them work, which I'll share, but honestly, once I realized they don't actually boost land value on their own, placing them just for the sake of it felt pointless unless they offered something extra, like the Bank Present giving you a loan.

But don't ditch the donut block idea entirely! It can still be super useful, especially in this NES prototype version. Instead of leaving the center empty or just placing a Present, you can fill that middle spot with a Police Department, Fire Department, or even a Park. If you go with a Park, you'll notice something cool: when your whole map is covered, this 'land value diamond' effect gets way bigger and spreads out across your entire city. Pretty neat, right?