Building Log: World Trade Center (Pre-9/11)

Smurfer2 · February 5, 2004

To quote someone, take all the time in the world.

DoubleJ2K · February 5, 2004

For the record, I'd like to apologize to everybody if my comments on the new albeit ugly WTC designs sparked an argument. I was simply stating an opinion. I realize that not everybody loved the Twin Towers for the better part of their life, but I don't think that you could say that they were a failure, even if they didn't acheive success until recently. I visited the WTC on a trip to NY in 1996 and I have some very fond memories from atop 2 WTC. Whenever I see the Twins, I sit back and smile. Cheers to Rubik again, great job lad.

If you support the rebuilding of the Twin Towers or are just curious as to how work at the site is progressing, visit www.teamtwintowers.org.

Double J

February 6, 2004

Looking great so far, they'll be a welcome addition to my Downtown New York themed city.

Smurfer2 · February 6, 2004

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On 2/5/2004 11:58:29 PM DoubleJ2K wrote:For the record, I'd like to apologize to everybody if my comments on the new albeit ugly WTC designs sparked an argument. I was simply stating an opinion. I realize that not everybody loved the Twin Towers for the better part of their life, but I don't think that you could say that they were a failure, even if they didn't acheive success until recently. I visited the WTC on a trip to NY in 1996 and I have some very fond memories from atop 2 WTC. Whenever I see the Twins, I sit back and smile. Cheers to Rubik again, great job lad.

If you support the rebuilding of the Twin Towers or are just curious as to how work at the site is progressing, visit www.teamtwintowers.org.

Double J

----------------

I might as well give my opinion. Rebuilding them the way they were would make it almost impossible to tell the first Twin Towers from the second Twin Towers. All I wanted from the new design was that the new building would be the tallest structure in the world. Though, I want Canada to keep the record for tallest free standing structure.

Californication · February 6, 2004

I think politics should be taken to another thread and this thread be kept about rubik's and anyone else's efforts on creating a model of the twin towers in the game. Not that I don't like the talk, just I don't like looking for an update on it's progress and having to trudge through political arguments. I'd like to share my opinion on it too, maybe someone should start up a thread; or maybe there is an old one already discussing it? I bet there is!

Rubik I'm really impressed with what you've done, it's more than I've imagined anyone could do with the game. Keep up the good work, and don't let nit pickers bug you

Speaking of nit picking! I was wondering if you were considering releasing the buildings all as seperate lots, and the memorial plaza as well, since I read you were going to make one huge lot. With the buildings on seperate lots, people could get more creative with how the buildings are set up, including traffic flow and park placement.

Anyone have any pics of a top-down view of the WTC site setup including building footprints/roads, parks, etc.

rubik3 · February 6, 2004

This is the site plan I've been using. I have another one but it's not quite as detailed.

Californication · February 6, 2004

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On 2/5/2004 7:49:11 PM rubik3 wrote:

With the FDNY memorial being the size it is, it's impossible to make out any detail so i'm thinking about leaving it out.

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I think the memorial is cool, it looks symmetrical with that statue at the other end. What other memorials were you thinking of making? Maybe you could make the memorial bigger, or put half the names on the other side of it. Honestly, being able to read each individual name isn't that important, although it would be cool. I think the point is that it is there, and from the pic I could tell that names were written on there. It looks really good to me, and I think it is a nice way to show respect.

I was curious about some other things, does the game randomly have windows light up, or is it just something that you permanently decide (which windows light up) when you create your building?

What would be a rough guess of the hours you have put into say, each of the four different structures (Tower 1, Tower 2, the Plaza and the Hotel), or maybe just a total time for all?

What would you suggest is the best way to design in the BAT to fit the scale of buildings in Sim City? Like when creating an object you enter the length, width, height, etc; what is 1 unit of that in relation to a unit of sim city space, or real life space (since sim city attempts to scale to real life units, such as the area of a large city is supposed to be 4km x 4km). I guess a better way to ask this is, how the hell did you know how big to make the Tower's in the BAT?

Kind of a personal question, what kind of education do you have, what kind of work do you do? You're really good at computer modeling and it's something I've always wondered if I could do professional but never knew how to pursue that career.

Woulfe · February 6, 2004

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On 2/6/2004 2:47:20 AM rubik3 wrote:

This is the site plan I've been using. I have another one but it's not quite as detailed.

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Now if SC4 could do roads at oddball angles you'd have less work to do

Seeing how 'the site' is roughly squareish, I suggest just useing custom or making coustom ground textures [ seeing as the lot editor supports that ] as well as coustom overlays [ ditto ] the big triangle that'll be on the left however would be a good place for 1. a memorial park or 2. a memorial visitors center or something along those lines....

Of course seeing as your makeing a puzzle out of 'the site' leaves it up to us how it'll end up wherever we put it when all the pieces are put together as a whole, the largest piece 'area wize' is the plaza which looks downright amazeing, looking at the pic of it above I see that the lighting of it was easyer then the towers, I mean w/ the whole shadow halfway up issue & the rig not being high enough, which is puzzleing because Maxis did do the ESB, which IIRC is 103 floors + the mast / anntena & thay did light it somehow

Yea, yea, yea, I know the WTC is 110 floors + it's mast / antenna, but still....

Oh well, you got around that anyway, moot point....

I do like your addition of a memorial wall, yea, too bad it can't be read in SC4 due to how small it'll be, but it still looks great none the less, so keep it as is names & all, don't pull yout hair out over something just 'cause it won't show up in the game properly, more detail = a good thing [tm]

Anyhoo, back to drooling how great everything looks so far

Woulfe
* Who can't seem to get CamStudio to run at the same time as BAT to record a how to make something in BAT video =P *

rubik3 · February 6, 2004

What other memorials were you thinking of making?

I really wanted to do a complete memorial but I got the list of names done, and I realized that it would take me 2 days to create the textures for it. Copy/pasting over 3000 names into photoshop would probably give me carpal tunnel.

I'll at least end up doing a port authority memorial, and I might end up spending the time to make a complete one. If I don't do the wall of names for everyone i'll come up with another memorial for those that died in the towers and in the air.

was curious about some other things, does the game randomly have windows light up, or is it just something that you permanently decide (which windows light up) when you create your building?

Unfortunately there is no randomize option.

What would be a rough guess of the hours you have put into say, each of the four different structures (Tower 1, Tower 2, the Plaza and the Hotel), or maybe just a total time for all?

Well i've been working off and on on the WTC for about 6 months now. But if I sat down and did it in one sitting, it would probably take me 4-5 days straight to get to where I am now (It probably took me longer originally but anytime you do something twice, it'll take less time the second time around.)

As for the hotel I've probably put about 50 or 60 hours into it.

What would you suggest is the best way to design in the BAT to fit the scale of buildings in Sim City?

Most of my designing takes place in Autocad ADT. I design to real life scale then import into GMax. I can then set the grid to the proper spacing and scale the whole building down to SC size. When I was doing the WTC I made it to true scale then had to scale it to about 5% of it's original size.

I can then go in and add in the detail work which would be drawn in comparison to the building.

Kind of a personal question, what kind of education do you have, what kind of work do you do? You're really good at computer modeling and it's something I've always wondered if I could do professional but never knew how to pursue that career.

I started off by teaching myself AutoCAD r13. I spent about 3 months going through tutorials and learning the ins and outs of the program and then I went to a community college for a 2 year architecture degree. Unfortunately for some reason I decided to stop going with only 12 credits left to finish up. I had learned all i needed to know about architecture and had become enthralled in rendering. I had also gotten a job which allowed me to use and learn 3D Studio Viz (an advanced version of GMax). This is where I got most of my rendering experience and knowledge as I spent about a year there rendering out high-end residential homes and small commercial buildings.

Needless to say having an in house design studio (which I created and ran) wasn't cost effective when the company was wasting money every month. So after a year of spending nights and weekends working for free, and working my ass off, I was laid off. I have since been unemployed but have been running my own company specializing in residential remodels. I'm still not making enough to pay the bills but luckily unemployment is there to still pay me. www.redmoonimagery.com I haven't updated the page for about a year now although I've done some of my best work in that time.

My suggestion would be to spend a few hours every day teaching yourself something new. And if you have the money, take a few courses at your local college.

looking at the pic of it above I see that the lighting of it was easyer then the towers

Actually once I read the help file (duh) it was an easy fix. All you have to do it import a larger lighting rig which takes about 2 seconds. If you have this problem go to file-xref scene. You will see the lighting rig that is currently in your scene and have the ability to import a larger one.

Kliedzkrig · February 7, 2004

For realism, don't light the entire tower up... just some windows on some floors but not all windows on all floors or even some windows on every floor. Just some windows on some floors. Didn't the WTC have a fountain at the base?

NYM1980 · February 7, 2004

Though the first levels and the top levels of each tower should always be lit, im sure the foyer always had lights as did the restaurant at the top.

MTLT_17 · February 9, 2004

When will this be out!

jcabassa · February 9, 2004

OMG! I friggin' can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-jcab

Equinox · February 9, 2004

Holy calzones! (hm ... seems to be a new phrase I've developed here) o_O

Anyhow, this looks amazing. I just wanna see a big fat set of towers, nothing else for me.

I'm the boring, efficient, nice-looking, non-realistic, and functional city design type of guy, I guess.

drewz15 · February 9, 2004

yeah rubik, you need to show up ed_diaz's Sears Tower!

yoseph · February 9, 2004

Hey Rubik. I was wondering... Could you create the Freedom Tower once your done with the WTC? I know it's a little early to ask you this.

Smurfer2 · February 9, 2004

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On 2/6/2004 2:10:29 AM Californication wrote:I think politics should be taken to another thread and this thread be kept about rubik's and anyone else's efforts on creating a model of the twin towers in the game. Not that I don't like the talk, just I don't like looking for an update on it's progress and having to trudge through political arguments. I'd like to share my opinion on it too, maybe someone should start up a thread; or maybe there is an old one already discussing it? I bet there is!

Rubik I'm really impressed with what you've done, it's more than I've imagined anyone could do with the game. Keep up the good work, and don't let nit pickers bug you

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/images/smilies/2.gif border=0>

Speaking of nit picking! I was wondering if you were considering releasing the buildings all as seperate lots, and the memorial plaza as well, since I read you were going to make one huge lot. With the buildings on seperate lots, people could get more creative with how the buildings are set up, including traffic flow and park placement.

Anyone have any pics of a top-down view of the WTC site setup including building footprints/roads, parks, etc.

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I apologize, I think your right. Though, I never thought of my comment as that political, just more of a building style opinion. That kind of comment as you said doesn't belong here and I'm very sorry.https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/images/smilies/15.gif>

I don't know if I can keep waiting... Ok I can. Just keep up the excellent work!https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/images/smilies/9.gif>

pepperme · February 9, 2004

all i can say is... daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn thats goona be the best lot ever, take your time my friend it will be worth it.... unbelievable... if you can add the subway underneith that would be so cool

BigMac · February 10, 2004

rubik3, I am a big admirer of the former World Trade Center and am so pleased that you decided to take on this project. This lot will no doubt be among the most meaningful and popular additions to a game ever. I appreciate the time and effort you are investing. I can't wait for the day I visit the BAT Exchange, and there it will be.

For your benefit and for those wishing to see and interact with the World Trade Center as it was, 3D models are available for viewing here and here . A small browser plugin is required to view the models, but it is well worth it.

rubik3 · February 11, 2004

I've actually known about wtc3d.com for quite a while and have studied it quite a bit. It has been a big help for small details that I couldn't find in any images.

With the Highlander finally complete I can finally put all of my time into this project. Expect quite a few updates in the coming days. For now here is an updated image of the observation deck with quite a few more details added.

rubik3 · February 12, 2004

I've started working on the night lighting for the roof but I have exactly zero pictures of the real roof with lights on. If your familiar with the observation deck at night please comment...better yet if anyone has an image that could be of use, that would be great.

kennethcole212 · February 12, 2004

First off I seriously commend you for the hard work and talent you put into this project. As a New Yorker, I always wished the WTC into my Simcity4 cities. I was so disappointed when SC4 was released that I paid fifty dollars for the thing and didn't even get the WTC! I was a frequent at the site and I do remember, taking guest up to the observation deck, and there was little benches in front of the taller pieces of glass there. I remember little no-smoking signs on the taller pieces as well, although it made no sense to me, being on the tallest outdoor deck in the world and you can't even smoke. Another detail I remember was the electric fence on the lower level where no one could go. I guess so no one would jump off. I see you added that, that's great. I remember the floor on the deck was blue for some odd reason. Looking at my old photos I also see there was a multitude of little antennas and mini-satellite dish atop tower 1 in addition to the huge tv mast. I hope I helped you some, and I'm very greatful you're doing this for everyone

BigMac · February 12, 2004

rubik3,

Limp Bizkit's video for Rollin' was the only music video ever filmed at the World Trade Center, hard to believe. Moreover, it was filmed just weeks before 9/11. In it, the band performs on the observation deck of the south tower at night, so there are some good evening shots of it. This site is the only place I have found the video on the Internet so far, but I do know that it is available through file-swapping services.

oneil_1 · February 12, 2004

In one word WOW this building is so going to rock!! the best one I have seen! (and the best roof i have seen)
so can't wait for final cut of the complex!

drool66 · February 12, 2004

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On 2/5/2004 7:49:11 PM rubik3 wrote:

'Just a suggestion: In all the pictures I've seen of the WTC, not all the lights are on. Several floors are unlit, while half of others are. Is there any way to do some nighttime window variation or would that people unbelievably time consuming?'

Yes it's going to be time consuming but it was something I had originally planned on doing. I want to get the daytime details done first then I will work on the lighting scheme.

Here's a rendered image of the plaza. With the FDNY memorial being the size it is, it's impossible to make out any detail so i'm thinking about leaving it out. I'm also still working on a good gold texture but the fountain came out to my liking.

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Wasn't the plaza elevated? I believe that it was elevated one storey above street level with a shoping arcade (i believe this is also where the subway link was).
Cheers!
~drool

rubik3 · February 12, 2004

Wasn't the plaza elevated?

Yes but thats going to be hard to replicate in SC4. The whole complex is a completely flat lot where the roads slope towards the water. So at one corner the plaza is street level and the opposite corner is elevated. It's going to be hard to design for that. Plus if the slope of the ground in your city isn't just right it would look wrong.

In it, the band performs on the observation deck of the south tower at night, so there are some good evening shots of it.

I don't have realplayer and I think that a music video would have altered lighting, but thanks for the link. I might end up checking it out if all else fails.

Here's another image showing the full tower both day and night. I'm still working on the window lighting and the ground floor but unless somebody can get my an image of the top deck at night, the roof is done.

savio · February 12, 2004

simply amazed me again..missing out in action for few monthes and i think iam missing out on something fun! anyway keep up e good work

vidioman · February 12, 2004

The reason Maxis left out the WTC is because of the terrorist attacks. It was done out of respect for those who lost their lives on that day.

It does look very realistic, and I can't for it to be available.

wolverine · February 12, 2004

Now that's the lighting I was thinking about!

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/images/smilies/1.gif> Great work Rubik

Stardog13 · February 12, 2004

Looks simply amazing; can't wait for you to finish it.

Building Log: World Trade Center (Pre-9/11)

1,337 posts in this topic Last Reply August 26, 2010

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