Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project (Big Dig)

[ICFan 0]

What a Christmas Special for all of us!  Can't wait!!

[blahdy 21]

Here is a teaser preview of a new thing under works

[ijsblokske 0]

Okay, I don't know if I came to the right part of the forum for my question, but since it is about this project I thought of posting it here.

I downloaded the big dig set 1.0 and tried it several times in a test city but I ran into some problems. It seems to me that if you want to use the big dig set between two parts of your city, you have to have another road linking these two parts. Is this a correct assumption? If I don't, all my traffic going underground just dissappears and my sims don't find a route to travel between both parts. Is there a specific reason why this is as it is?

Another remark I have, is the use of the Route Query Tool. On the pictures in the readme you see this tool indicating traffic going through the big dig but mine doesn't. The only two ways I can see there is traffic going through, is by clicking on the entrances with the little question mark or by looking at my overview map that tells me the amount of traffic going over my roads. Any possible explanation here?

If these things aren't occuring to me only, it might be good to put these things in the readme (if they already are I must have overlooked, sorry).

Apart of these two things, I think this project is just amazing. Congratulations to all working on this!!! Can't wait to get my hands on the next sets!!!

[Sim shady 12]

just curious....did you read the read-me files?

[justintime 8]

I WANT THAT BRIDGE!NOW!!!

[ijsblokske 0]

Originally posted by: Sim shady just curious....did you read the read-me files?quote>

Sure.

Because you made that remark, I reread (have read it at least 3x before) the file and I can't find it. The answers to my questions either aren't in it or I am stupid.

[Murakumon 1]

This is just incredible... I can't wait to get my hands on this. That Leverett entrance is perfect. Nice night lighting.... I really can't wait for release

Please, Keep It Up!

[Swamper77 90]

Originally posted by: ijsblokske

I downloaded the big dig set 1.0 and tried it several times in a test city but I ran into some problems. It seems to me that if you want to use the big dig set between two parts of your city, you have to have another road linking these two parts. Is this a correct assumption? If I don't, all my traffic going underground just dissappears and my sims don't find a route to travel between both parts. Is there a specific reason why this is as it is?quote>

Sblokske,

I had similar issues when testing the Big Dig 2.0 Lots before they went to the beta testers. I ended up having to run a road parallel to the route between the Big Dig Lots. Because Subway is faster than normal car travel, the traffic will choose the route between the Big Dig Lots over a normal roadway. So, you do need a roadway connecting the areas that are at each end of the Big Dig route in you cities, but only so the game's pathfinding system will see that there is a unbroken route between both ends.

-Swamper77

[blahdy 21]

okay, for those anxiously waiting to see what that 'teaser preview' was, it will be the airport taxiway underpass.

more pics below, the green plate will be where taxiway will be constructed on:

[Menotyou 0]

That is great looking!

[Alfred.Jones 2]

That is awesome Blahdy. I cannot wait to see it finished mate

[tommiej 0]

great looking pic!! just one question, you don't now when the zakim bridge will be released?? because it wasn't on the release list....

keep it up blahdy!

[blahdy 21]

unfortunately the zakim bridge will need to be reconstructed b/c gmax and BAT do not like the sheer number of resource it's taking.

When the zakim bridge was first modelled, splines were not used at all, it was built with premature modelling skills where as a result the number of polygons and objects in model is excessive. much of it will have to be re-done from scratch so that gmax will render it w/o any problems. it is not cancelled, but it will have to be rescheduled after some of the tunnel ramps are complete.

[ijsblokske 0]

@Swamper77: Thanks!

[nycsc4 5,250]

that airport ramp is amazing!! one question though. how wide is the area for the taxiway to pass through, my taxiways are two tiles wide so i just wanted to make sure.

great job, and good luck with the Zakim bridge!

[DJGspinNhitz 7]

Blahdy

I remember you were working on a bridge way back when this all started is that going to be seen sometime in the future or has it been scrapped?

Your work is awesome and ultra-realistic.

thank you for your contributions

GQ

[ILL Tonkso 1,239]

Try converting EVERYTHING In zakim to an editable poly, it can cut the poly count by half, GMAX can render at that level if you give some prep, St Pancras was a right doozer.

[blahdy 21]

illtonkso:  thanks for the insight;  i'll try that as well

djgspinnhitz:  no, as said before it's not scrapped, its just going to take a while longer than expected

nycsc4: it will be two tiles wide for a taxiway (RMIP standard).  And it will be a full-duplex taxiway crossing with two taxiways running over the roads as opposed to one like in existing marrast's underpass.  Most airports employing taxiway underpasses have two taxiways crossing for increased ground traffic capacity, not one.   Here is how it looks right now (work in progress):

[blahdy 21]

aight, the modelling for open roof tunnel between the two taxiways (2 tiles) is almost complete.  i'll post more pics as they become available..

[jplumbley 5]

Blahdy, your batting skills are god-like!! Im speechless on your work!! I love the diagonal section over the tunnel entrance.

[tommiej 0]

really great work!! it looks as always so realistic, the zakim bridge, it's good to me as long as it isn't cancelled!!

keep it up Blahdy!!!!

[blahdy 21]

okay, the model was about 80% completed last night; all of the superstructure is done, just the elements need to be finished (signs, lumineries, fence around the open roof tunnel, taxiway centerline lighting, etc, etc).

picture at current state:

Drive-thru pictures:

Pilot's view:

[jj88 24]

I haven't looked at this thread in ages and I come bak and find loads of brillant pictures - keep up the good work everybody!

[mightygoose 92]

what is that gonna be some random underpass or summit???

[Ryan B 35]

mightygoose: That's a tunnel entrance / exit for airport taxiway overpasses. Looks dang good to me.

[nycsc4 5,250]

that is amazing!!! any idea when the beta will be comming out for testing?

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: nycsc4 that is amazing!!! any idea when the beta will be comming out for testing?quote>

sometime in 2007.  currently swamper77 is the only person doing the modding, and there's just too much you can place on one's schedule

good news for beta testers, you can probably expect to see the hallmark of the big dig 2.0, aka Atlantic Avenue I-93 NB on-ramp (Ramp A-CN, the one everyone loves in ST chat) as well as an off-ramp available for beta test in the next few weeks.

[Yoman3 5]

O goodie. Seriously though amazing work on the taxi underpass. I imagine those will be some of the most complicated LODs ever made.

[ICFan 0]

BW Blahdy

[SC4Noobie 5]

This is so sweet! I really like it! 0I really can't wait for thre release, though. Great work!