SimCity 4 > Basics > Advisors
Advisors
SimCity 4 comes with a panel of advisors, sims who give expertise and counsel in each of seven areas. Their advice is available on the news panel. Their mood is gauged by their background color:
- green when all is OK;
- blue for neutral;
- pink when a problem occurs;
- flashing red when a disaster breaks out.
If the problem is severe (like a disaster), they will barge in at once with their message.
It is a good thing to listen to them, and to decide between alternatives when their advice conflicts (they can be testy with each other).
City Planning
- City planner Neil Fairbanks guides you in building your city. For your good work he presents rewards: goodies like a mayor's house or a church. He is the only advisor whose opinion is balanced enough to be taken at face value. When there is a conflict between him and other advisors, he trumps.
Finance
- Financial advisor Monique Diamond advises you on income and spending. When the budget approaches deficit, she presents you with business deals: Money-making schemes of a usually nasty kind, like army bases, missile silos and toxic-waste dumps.
Utilities
- Utilities advisor Jonas Sparks guides you in setting up water, power and trash pick-up. He warns you when demand for resources exceeds capacity, and alerts you to neighbor deals, where you can buy and sell resources with nearby citites.
Public Safety
- Public safety chief Sam Armstrong informs you on crime and fire issues. He lets you know when fire or police coverage is less than it should be, or when it is time to build a jail or or a better fire or police station becomes available. And he sounds the alarm when a disaster (fire or riot) occurs, and warns you when cops or firefighters are about to strike due to lack of pay.
Health & Education
- Health/Education advisor Bettina Dean advises you on health and education. She lets you know when health and education goodies like universities become available. She also lets you know about pending strikes by doctors or teachers when you try to run schools and clinics on the cheap.
Transportation
- Transport advisor Jamil Herd updates you on transit systems. He warns of traffic jams on specific streets and roads, so that you can upgrade them.
Environment
- Ranger Camille Meadows informs you on pollution levels and the need for parks and greenery. She becames very upset when you overbuild your city without adding parks or forests.
Written by Andy West on 14 October 2003, and updated 7 February 2010.