BAT Projects - SimGoober

[SimGoober 2,351]

I had a request for an alternate Query in the Hooters lot; some people don't want to look at that beautiful waitress...  ah well.  Anyways, the request was made, and the fix is easy.  Also, the request was made in a very polite manner, and it was only proper to respect that!

 

Attached is an alternate query.  I had to remove the music to keep the file size down (It's the standard commercial sound now), and I edited the image to show the Hooters logo instead.  There are two files in the zip, one for the growables, and one for the plop.  I added the letter B to their names; just replace the two files which have the very similar name without the B and you should be all set.  The lots in game should be updated, and not need to be rebuilt.

 

The Mexican place is a little local place called Plaza Azteca.  I'll post a pic in a day or two, as it progresses.

[spy360 1]

I got a request you can add on your list, its no restraunt or grocery store. Its a guitar center! its a differnt item that i havent seen made. how bout it?

[Mexicanboy13r 12]

Date:6/21/2004 5:26:31 PM
Author:SimGoober

I had a request for an alternate Query in the Hooters lot; some people don't want to look at that beautiful waitress...  ah well.  Anyways, the request was made, and the fix is easy.  Also, the request was made in a very polite manner, and it was only proper to respect that!

 

Attached is an alternate query.  I had to remove the music to keep the file size down (It's the standard commercial sound now), and I edited the image to show the Hooters logo instead.  There are two files in the zip, one for the growables, and one for the plop.  I added the letter 'B' to their names; just replace the two files which have the very similar name without the 'B' and you should be all set.  The lots in game should be updated, and not need to be rebuilt.

 

The Mexican place is a little local place called 'Plaza Azteca'.  I'll post a pic in a day or two, as it progresses.

quote>

Im not taking that lady out i like there and the music! lol

But i know what u  mean

[Braxton 0]

Date: 6/20/2004 11:01:36 PM
Author:
Hey buddy! I have a Target and a Wal-Mart under construction as we speak! hehe.

quote>
Excellent!

[dev 47]

Date:6/21/2004 5:52:45 PM
Author:Mexicanboy13r

Date:6/21/2004 5:26:31 PM
Author:SimGoober

I had a request for an alternate Query in the Hooters lot; some people don't want to look at that beautiful waitress...  ah well.  Anyways, the request was made, and the fix is easy.  Also, the request was made in a very polite manner, and it was only proper to respect that!

 

Attached is an alternate query.  I had to remove the music to keep the file size down (It's the standard commercial sound now), and I edited the image to show the Hooters logo instead.  There are two files in the zip, one for the growables, and one for the plop.  I added the letter 'B' to their names; just replace the two files which have the very similar name without the 'B' and you should be all set.  The lots in game should be updated, and not need to be rebuilt.

 

The Mexican place is a little local place called 'Plaza Azteca'.  I'll post a pic in a day or two, as it progresses.

quote>

Im not taking that lady out i like there and the music! lol

But i know what u  mean

quote>

The  lady should be gone but I am going to miss that music. That music was Awesome, SG!

[SimGoober 2,351]

Here is the next project : Plaza Azteca Mexican Restaraunt.

 

It is modeled after one about 1/4 mile from my house, that I frequent a fair amount.  I've cleaned it up a little, as this is one of those buildings that changed hands for quite a while, before this tenant worked.

 

It still needs some detailing, and nitelites.  Most of the exterior details will be added in the LE.  The deck tables and such, plants in the beds, etc.  Gonna make several custom props as well.

 

 

[Mexicanboy13r 12]

Does it look that good?

[hackinosa 29]

that restaurant looks great, we don't have any mexican restaurants in the game, and it was sorely needed!

[BarbyW 40]

The reverse ovelay looks good as well as everything else. This has that bit of extra oomph that many buildings lack.

Barby

[JaWood 194]

You say you're going to add LE props like tables onto the deck?  How do you do that?  I can never get props to appear right when they're inside of the LODs.  They sort of get swallowed up inside of the model.  If you have a secret for getting around this, please; let me know!  I have this same particular problem on my industrial model's parking lot, as I would like to plop some cars into it using the LE.  But much like you're tables on the deck, my cars in the parking lot will be inside of the LODs...

[deadwoods 542]

There's one place I must go to every time I visit Austin.... Chuy's . The chicken enchilada with the green tomatillo/cream sause is the BEST. I used to enjoy Mexican food in Australia, but after quite a few visits to Austin (and SW Texas in general) I've been spoilt. I have a good range of Chuy's T-shirts, infact I'm wearing one right now.

Each store is different, but most of the character (such as the ceiling covered with hubcaps) is on the inside.

[Andy80586 1]

I would like to see a Bashas' made for the game. Your supermarket and other lots and BAT buildings look awesome and well-deserving of several bunnies.

[SimGoober 2,351]

Thanks for the feedback all!

 

For the props to work, you'll need a custom fit LOD.  They are not hard to do, but they require a little patience.  Basically, I start out by drawing a line around the perimeter, and extruding it as high as the highest point.  Then I make boxes where I want to cut areas out.  I connect all those boxes, and do a boolean subtract.  I am left with one object, which turns into my new LOD.  The empty areas will be open in the LE, so props can go there.  You don't need to get too crazy in getting the shapes skintight.  The only really important things are the overall outline, and the areas where you want props.  Areas that don't need them (roof?) can be left alone.

 

Then you will need to unhide the current LODs, and delete them.  Rename your object LOD3, and clone it twice, naming them LOD4 and LOD5.  Sometimes it take a little tweaking, but the results are worth it.  This is the method I have used on most my newer projects, to get people and other stuff on the sidewalks, under eves.

[Odd from Sweden 129]

I really like the mexican one!

 

One little remark, there is something wrong with the UVW mapping on the small parts of the brick roof to the right in the picture. Be sure to fix it before You render

[SimGoober 2,351]

Good Catch!  I probably would not have seen that until after the render, and then had to do it again.... I fixed the UVW Maps on the two sections... this IS what you were meant right?

[JaWood 194]

Wonderfull SimGoober!  Thanks for your little mini tutorial.  I knew about custom LODs but I didn't know they could be boolean subtracted like that.  Oooh, the possibilities!

[Sabretooth78 808]

<brick hits head>

 

I can't believe I didn't think about doing that with the LODs.  No wonder I had so many problems placing trees in LE on my HSBC Center lot, and I don't think they even show up in the game half the time.  Well now I know another thing to do when I finally get around to posting an update for that.

 

Was there somewhere that said there was a certain limit on the number of faces that an LOD shell can have?  I thought I saw one somewhere but I can't remember.

 

Nice work on that Mexican place too.  Personally I can't stand that stuff, but it's definitely a need in my cities.

 

-Chris

[SimGoober 2,351]

On custom LODs, the more faces they have the more computer power it takes. Thats why I try to keep them simple. I follow the Maxis lead anywhere I don't intend to put props, and use mosely box shaped objects. Someone once suggested just cloning your whole project, and attaching everything together, to get a perfect fit.  I did that on a very small building.  The model rendered with a normal LOD at about 200k.  With the skin tight one, it was about 1700k..... And this was a small cube of a building, with minor details....  I wouldn't go that route.

[nosoupforyou 9]

OOH, OOH,

make an ENRON, and make it have a very high matinince cost due to executives borrowing from the simpolean vault

[SimGoober 2,351]

Well, I've added some more details to the Plaza Azteca.  I had intended to add props afterwards, but a custom LOD was getting pretty complex.  Everything would look good from one side, but not the other.  So, to simplify things, I am making the whole thing as one unit.  I added some neon lights arounf the perimeter (thanks to Goldivas textures!), and it's just about ready.  I'll render it again tonight and start playing with the lot tomarrow.

[Merkinball 0]

Wow...

Every BAT you make leaves me in amazement. I can only hope the ones I create in the upcoming week turn out HALF as good as yours.

[NYM1980 3]

Very Nice!  Think you could try making an Olive Garden? :-D

[JaWood 194]

Date:6/23/2004 6:45:20 PM
Author:SimGoober

Well, I've added some more details to the Plaza Azteca.  I had intended to add props afterwards, but a custom LOD was getting pretty complex.  Everything would look good from one side, but not the other.  So, to simplify things, I am making the whole thing as one unit.  I added some neon lights arounf the perimeter (thanks to Goldivas textures!), and it's just about ready.  I'll render it again tonight and start playing with the lot tomarrow.

quote>

That's exactly what was happening to me when trying to make custom LODs for my industrial lot (before it crashed)  The LODs were getting in the way and I couldn't see props from sertain angles.  I tried a flat LOD that's like .05 meters high off the ground, but then all the props would show on top of the building when they should be behind.  Sheesh!  Oh well.  Looking good with the restaurant!  Like the neon lights. Just don't put in any nitelite windows, they'll glow raspberry blue!

[subedei 3]

Date:6/23/2004 6:45:20 PM
Author:SimGoober

Well, I've added some more details to the Plaza Azteca.  I had intended to add props afterwards, but a custom LOD was getting pretty complex.  Everything would look good from one side, but not the other.  So, to simplify things, I am making the whole thing as one unit.  I added some neon lights arounf the perimeter (thanks to Goldivas textures!), and it's just about ready.  I'll render it again tonight and start playing with the lot tomarrow.

quote>

 

Great Job. The neon lights add a great touch to it.  

 

Subedei

[6459978. 106]

Nice to see the photoshopping you've done on the roof.

[ak72 54]

Awsome! I can't wait for this one to come out. I like the neon night lights.

[cityman14 0]

Looks nice, you know we don't have many hooters in m area.

[JaWood 194]

SimGoober, did you make those tables with the umbrellas yourself?  I think They look really nice, however you might want to space them out a little bit.  It looks like it might be hard to do, though, as there's not a whole lot of space to move them apart.

 

Also, the topiaries are a nice touch; I always like greenery that's rendered right into a model like that.  As of now, the tall ones look a little too cylindric (I think that's a word )  try using the line tool to draw blob shapes, and then stack and rotate the shapes on top of each other to create a layered effect.  I've found this method to work really well if done carefully.

[SimGoober 2,351]

Actually, the topiaries are cactus.  They don't show up very well from the angle above, as the building casts a shadow over them.  From a side view, they show up much better.  I actually cheated a little on those, and downloaded some 3dS files I found as a starting point.  I had to modify all of them to one extent or another, but it gave me ideas I wouldn'd have come up with myself.

[Sabretooth78 808]

Wow that's looking really nice.  I'm not entirely familiar with everything you've made to date, but I would go so far to say that this is your best work to date - you've really captured the essence of this restaurant, and the detail is striking.

 

I know you had quite a to-do list, so I was wondering if you were developing anything else for Monday?

 

-Chris