Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project (Big Dig)

[blahdy 21]

Okay, the water is gone now; and concrete texture has been darkened a little bit more to better blend with Sim City;  big dig lots look too plastic/bright, so hopefully the new corrected concrete texture will make it look a lot better in SC4.  Swamper77 is going to re-render the above completed straight ramp w/ new concrete texture soon.

gmax shot of the new concrete texture:

[tonkawom 1]

I really love what you are doing. I've been playing around with the current version, and can really see the help this gives my cities. I know you are going for realism here, but I really want to stress that while the entrances to the big dig can restrict traffic, the tubes themselves should be increased some to the Maxis capacities at least.

[Haljackey 17,398]

WOW!!! Cars in/out of tunnel???? Simply amazing! Eager to test em out!

[tommiej 0]

that is absolutely amazing!!! cars in the big dig ramps.... a dream come true! blahdy, swamper this is going to be the best BATting there currently is. it will not be easy to overdo this! keep those details up!! like my signature says...

[Meastro444 1]

YES, nice work, i hope these will be online soon and are the other lots of Ver.1 in the Set with new textures too?

[zachos-prague 0]

Amazing work, blahdy!

[Glenni 1,447]

Whoa!dude that is amazing looking now!youve really improved the textures!

[simzebu 20]

Wow. That's some great stuff, there.

[LivingInThePast 364]

Hello. So, it looks like there are a lot of tunnels in the front. Are those custom exits, or can you create a vast underground road network. I'm a bit confused...

[SC4Noobie 5]

Dude, this is awsome!! Well, I can't answer your question, since I haven't used the stuff in my "playing" cities. I've used them in my test cities, but then that's not showing in a real enviornment. I personally don't use an increased traffic mod for NAM, but I do use 10x commute, and 10x speed, and perfect pathfinding. I don't think that'll help, though. Great work though, when are the new parts coming out though? Not to pressure you...

[blahdy 21]

Okay, Swamper77 and I are happy to announce that the early Beta Testing Program is ready to commence.

The following Simtropolis members have been invited, and have agreed to participate in Big Dig 2.0 Beta Testing Program:

aleking

barbulaM1

indisguise

yoman3

buddybud

crazychickensc12

houston_fan

bourneid

xiziz

terrymunweihao

philscafe

nycsc4

andreas roth

haljackey

Members above will begin receiving completed Big Dig lots that have been tested from instabilities and critical bugs, on one by one manner.  The short, straight version on-ramps will be the first beta testing lots, then followed by Atlantic Avenue on-ramp and curved ramps.  Access information to beta products will be sent via PMs.

[Swamper77 90]

One more re-render of each of the two short straight models will be done on Friday. After the models are checked ingame and Blahdy gives the okay, I will package up the files and send them to him so he can get the files to the beta testers.

-Swamper77 (CEO of Empire Builder, LTD.)

[crazychickensc12 84]

Awesome new textures, i am eager to try out these new lots!!

[Pixelrage 34]

wow, now that is a masterpiece of modeling

[Alfred.Jones 2]

I look forward to seeing how these lots look in different cities and how they go. Nice work Blahdy and Swamper!

[van1357 15]

Everything is looking amazing! Excellent work Swamper getting the automata to go down into the tunnels. Also, once again Blahdy, wonderful work with the models and textures. Can't wait to see these released. They will be a great addition to the game...

[____----____ 37]

looks great glad i am free this weekend

[owenluby 1]

Could I test these lots? I would love to see how they work!

[blahdy 21]

owenluby: i'll work on adding you when i get the chance

Beta testers: the first beta release is out, check your Private Topics forum.

The Pakkusena International Airport continues its tradition of being the first to beta test BLP products & services   Pictures below.

[Alfred.Jones 2]

Fantastic work Blahdy. The new concrete texture looks awesome and the transition to maxis roads is sweet! Look forward to more in-game pictures

[owenluby 1]

Woah, nice work! I like the textures!

[blahdy 21]

Also, coming standard with Big Dig 2.0 will be stand-alone signs that you can use in your cities.

The following is a picture that contains two signs so far:  Avenue Maxis/Default Tunnel Entrance sign (use this sign to revitalize your maxis avenue tunnel with overheight detectors and VMS sign); and Street Direction Sign (black gantry).

The above signs should be packaged soon and be downloadable for beta testers soon -- check the beta test release thread.

More pics of above signs: http://216.93.240.36/~blahdy/stex/kpax/20061028/bd2s/

[Alfred.Jones 2]

These signs look awesome Blahdy! I like how they include overheight detectors. These will definately be of great use!

[tommiej 0]

really fantastic work Blahdy!!!! the signs, the ramps, almost perfect!! really looking forward for the release. Can you tell what will be included in the Big Dig 2.0?? keep it up

[rodent1989 9]

Those signs are a nice touch.  I use the signs from Version 1 on my Rural highways and they look great, can't wait to get these.

I have a question about the real bigdig though.  After they finish all these tunnels and such, what happens to the old highways?  what are they going to put in all that space?

[CltcDrgn 0]

This is all so INCREDIBLE! The work and detail going into this project is simply AWESOME! I have to render a salute to the obvious talent that possessed by all involved. This is what makes the game still so much fun even though it is already considered a "technologically dated" game. What all the designers and builders that contribute here is phenomenal. Keep up the great work! I look forward to being able to incoporate this into my region's towns and cities.

[Sim shady 12]

*claps hands slowly* brilliant. just pure brilliance. what you have accomplished here...just brilliant.

[Dexter 41]

They look great!

Any chance of a LWD version of the signs?

Also, where did you get those construction lots? did you make them? if so, any chance of releasing them?

Thanks.

[MiniMark 7]

At last...the end is almost near...oh what am I saying that for theres always going to be something new too add and have to make this better than before

[bwatterud 7]

Originally posted by: rodent1989 I have a question about the real bigdig though.  After they finish all these tunnels and such, what happens to the old highways?  what are they going to put in all that space?quote>

As I understand it, they turned the area where the highway was into a big ol' park.