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

[BigMac 24]

rubik: I've been a Simtropolis member for almost six months and didn't post much on the forum until I heard of the World Trade Center project, which got me very excited. I designed lots for a while last year (Equinox was always an enthusiastic supporter; thanks again for your encouragement!) but lately my muse has been silent, so for now I'm enjoying the excellent work from talented designers like yourself, and will try to be here for the foreseeable future to help where I can.

 

As for the prop pack, that's a great idea. In addition to memorials, you could also include other kinds of props to enliven the lot, such as food kiosks for the plaza, or even fun props that touch on many people's fondest memories of the towers (Philippe Petit's tightrope walk, George Willig's south tower climb, etc.).

[rubik3 118]

Why would you call the WTC a symbol for terrorism?  I think Immortilizing WTC in the BAT is the ultimate memorial to the victims of 9/11.

 

I believe that's what Equinox was getting at.  Since the Towers are themselves memorials and therefore reminders of terrorism, then why should small memorials be left out for that reason?  I think that's what he was getting at, I don't think he was trying to be rude.

 

and will try to be here for the foreseeable future to help where I can.

 

Glad to hear it.  You've been a big help so far.  It seems like everytime I'm working on a certain area you post a pic showing exactly what I need.

 

I'm afraid to say that I'm going to have to put off the release again.  These graphics and lighting problems are big enough problems that I wouldn't feel right releasing them yet.  And I want to make sure that when I start another 40 hours export that it's going to come out right.

 

I've started messing around with the lighting though I'm still not happy with the further zooms.  I think I might soften up the yellow color some more as well as increase the contrast between light and dark.

 

 

 

[Smurfer2 7]

I think the night colors are good! Will this be a RCI ploppable or just a landmark? Thanks for making the memorial optional. I want the WTC before 9/11/01! I love looking at the pretty pictures....

[Equinox 1,218]

You should think before you right.

Hm ... perhaps you shouldn't be criticizing here, it's WRITE -- not right.

Shouldn't YOU look over your posts before you submit them, pal?  https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/images/smilies/23.gif>

I have reviewed every single post I have ever made, and if it contains even the slightest error I can see, I go back and edit it.

 

I'm midway between what Rubik inferred and what Vidioman assumed.

I don't intend on shuffling things up any more, though, so ... *zip* ... let's let it drop.

And yes, Rubik is right, I in no way intended to be rude or to have my comments come across as such.

[yoseph 0]

Well, I think the WTC symbolizes America. By the way. Your building look beautiful, rubik3. Especially the WTC you're working on. I can't wait until they're released.

[davidhogan 1]

There's an article on the same page as an article about the 1993 memorial that shows a lot of the other outdoor public art, maybe some things to have as props?

You might have already seen this, I hadn't noticed it in the previous 335 messeges though.

http://www.ifar.org/911_public1.htm

dave

[ravens31 1]

Thanks for making the memorial optional.

[rubik3 118]

After some beta testing it seems as though the graphics glitch is caused by the game and not the BAT.  Some users saw the same thing I did, others saw very little glitches.  So I guess I'll export again with the material changes I've done and hopefully the people who see the glitches will be in the minority.

 

I think I'm finally happy with the window lighting.  I darkened up the further zooms so it won't become a box of light in zoom 1.  I also added in some day light per DM's suggestion and has helped a little to give a little bit of shinyness to the sides.  It also brightened up the unlit sides which better matches the Maxis buildings.

 

Don't mind the lack of details...I turn them off to help with rendering times when I'm just doing material tests.

 

Here are the window textures I'm using if anyone would like to use them.  Just create a new subfolder in the gmax/gamepacks/bat/map/nightwindows folder and put these 5 images inside of it.

 

[guinea 31]

that looks amazing  

[simmax 0]

It's nearly perfect!!! GREAT JOB!

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/images/smilies/14.gif>BEEP! spaced out page alert !https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/images/smilies/14.gif>  (Sorry, Duke87)

 

 

 

[MayorTim 16]

Wow. I mean, wow. Its simply wow!!!

 

Begins to chant: Release Release Release.......

[rubik3 118]

The final export of tower 1 has just finished.  Sometime this week I will find time to export the final version of tower 2.

 

I found out that the graphical glitch I was talking about is actually related to my graphics card.  When I switched to software mode in SC4 the glitches pretty much went away.

 

Here are a couple images showing the differences between the 2 renders.  Tower 2 is the old version.

 

[drewz15 0]

does final export mean it's on the BEX!!!?? i can never find out, it's been down so much lately.

[jeeper 14]

Um, I'm gonna guess he's gonna do some more work on the lot first, at the very least...

[Vatt3 8]

Truly amazing! ! I'll be checking in everyday to see when you get them up. Unless of course the first one is up right now (in which case I'll find out in a few minutes) They are perfect landmark additions.

[jcabassa 20]

So all the problems were fixed? I hope so!https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/images/smilies/2.gif>  So how is everything coming. When do you expect it on BEX?

 

-jcab 

[+Guest]

Now that's just nice but the base needs to look more like the real WTC (The texture on the bottom).

[rubik3 118]

Now that's just nice but the base needs to look more like the real WTC (The texture on the bottom).

 

I just plopped in some open plaza areas to get a feel for the final size of the lot (still at least a month away).  The 2 towers will just be seperate 4x4 landmarks and hopefully will be out before the end of the week.  I'm tweaking some lot details at the moment and will probably start the final export of tower 2 sometime tonight.

[Equinox 1,218]

Hm ... make sure you make the base of the lot either adapt to the terrain and look good (I suppose this would be better), or settle on a flat level.  Looks fantastic.

I hope you will upload them separately?  Or perhaps not ...

 

BTW, it looks absolutely fantastic.  You have really outdone yourself here.  Keep it up, I can't WAIT to see these this week.

[jcabassa 20]

Are you still having zoom problems?

 

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

 

-jcab

[BigMac 24]

Looking great, rubik! That's good that they can each fit in a 4x4 space. For the sake of the full release of the trade center, you might want to leave a 2-tile gap between the towers rather than a 3-tile gap, because the length of space between the original towers was about half the length of one of the towers. Just another little fun fact.

[vidioman 21]

The sooner this is out, the happier I'll be. But, by all means, do take your time!

[Equinox 1,218]

Er, Big Mac ... not a 'fun' fact ... a 'realism-obsessed' fact.  https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif>

[BigMac 24]

Well, I can't yet use the B.A.T., so I try to make myself useful somehow. I've studied the trade center for a few years now, so hopefully rubik can benefit from trivia like this, obsessive though it may seem.

[Smurfer2 7]

Do I need to post.... Well, I will. The building is always improving, but the realism of the base isn't reflected in the rest of the building very well. Otherwise it looks good

[joerg 281]

Great work rubik. The towers look great. Oh and one tiny thing it appears your night ligint is identical for both buildings as in the same linghts are on. If you havent started to render the other tower you might change this but either way it woudl be impossible for this lot not to be the best bat yet or maybe even ever.

[BigMac 24]

rubik, in the most recent picture of the towers at night, the lights are visible on the south side of each tower, but they are off on the east side. Just curious, is that something that can be fixed?

[rubik3 118]

rubik, in the most recent picture of the towers at night, the lights are visible on the south side of each tower, but they are off on the east side. Just curious, is that something that can be fixed?

 

Unfortunately no.  With the windows being inset they pretty much become invisible at any zoom other than the closest.  If you look at most night images you'll see kinda of the same thing so I guess it's accurate.  I'd still like some ambient light as if the windows were really lit but it's not going to happen.

 

Oh and one tiny thing it appears your night ligint is identical for both buildings as in the same linghts are on.

 

Each building has identical lighting but each side is different.  In the picture above they are both facing the same direction.  In reality Tower 2 should be rotated once so when it's finally done it will appear like both have different lighting schemes.

 

Are you still having zoom problems?

 

Kind of, not really.  There are still evident changes in the window lighting between zooms but there is nothing I can do about it.

[Woulfe 1]

* Looks atta in game screen shots *

[ Sound of jaw hitting the floor ]

* Thunk ! *

[ The poster has been rendered speechless ]

* Homina homina homina *

Woulfe
* This post brought to you by : SIMLISH : it's the new esperanto *

[sledneck 0]

just a quick post to let you know I love the buildings so far, can't wait for them to come out. I've been waiting to bring the towers back to life in my cities for a while. Good work!