Extract text from SC4 files
To convert your SC4 file to another format, you need SimCity 4 or other Game software.
To convert other file formats to the "Saved Game / Audio" file type, you need software like SimCity 4 or a similar tool.
The .SC4 extension primarily refers to saved city files created by SimCity 4, the classic city-building simulation game by Maxis and Electronic Arts. These files store detailed topographical data, zoning layouts, and simulation states within a proprietary container format known as DBPF (Database Packed File). While essential for gameplay, .SC4 files are notoriously difficult to access outside the game; they cannot be opened by standard image viewers or text editors, making it hard to share city snapshots without loading the full simulation.
A significant portion of .SC4 files are actually legacy digital voice recordings generated by older Panasonic and Sony portable recorders (such as the DMR1000). These audio files often use proprietary ADPCM compression to save space on limited device storage. The primary difficulty for users today is compatibility: modern media players like VLC and Windows Media Player frequently fail to recognize the codec, leaving valuable voice memos or interviews inaccessible.
Conversion Recommendations:
Convert.Guru analyzes your SC4 file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted SC4MODEL, SGS, WHS, RSG and SC3 files.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our SC4 converter.