Modding school - from the raw model to the complete package

[T Wrecks 10,210]

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

MODDING SCHOOL

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

Chapter 1: Introduction

The "W" questions: Who, what, why etc.

Hello everybody!

1) Who is this guy?

First of all, for those who don't know me, allow me to briefly introduce myself. I do the modding, lot work, documentation and packaging stuff for "freelance" BATters (like jasoncw) whose work I like and who like to collaborate with me, and for the Hong Kong / Asia BAT Team.

2) What does he do?

My "job" is to take a finished and rendered building model and turn it into something you can use in SimCity 4. This means that I need to mod it to the desired functionality (growable residential? Ploppable commercial? Train station? Vanilla landmark?), find appropriate values for it, whip up a nice lot design, and name the files in a way that users will be able to see which files they need under all circumstances and which ones are optional.

3) What's the point in that?

Well, we have many BATters here at Simtropolis who produce superb buildings. Unfortunately, however, many of them don't have much experience with the Lot Editor and all other required tools and skills that it takes to make a building really useful. Or they would lose much time digging into that matter - time during which they can't keep BATting. Thus, many of them end up getting it over with quickly and only provide very basic modding and lot work. And I don't blame them for that, just to prevent misunderstandings!

Now a generic landmark with default stats on a basic lot is fine, but isn't it much nicer to have the choice between various versions with jobs and functionality; versions that have been carefully tweaked to provide well thought out functions? Versions that come with nicely designed lots that get the best out of the building? Versions that are clearly labeled, well documented and easy to use? Without ugly grey and blurry icons and empty descriptions? Versions that don't play inappropriate sounds when you query them?

That's what modding and lot design is for.

4) So why a school?

As I said, Simtropolis is somewhat short on modders and lotters. NDEX, for example, was somewhat in trouble when Equinox left - suddenly there was no one to get all those beautiful buildings into the game with all bells and whistles. It took a while until others filled the gap. In other teams, too, it's the lack of modders that determines release frequencies, less the speed of the BATters. Last but not least, many building models on the STEX are available in a package that doesn't really do them justice IMHO.

And you could change that! Everybody who is interested can learn how to mod and team up with BATers. This way, we have dedicated specialists for all areas, and everybody can focus on what he/she's best at.

Now I am aware of the hurdles that you are facing when you start. Such a huge number of tools, and then those cryptic hex values and all that technical jargon nobody understands! So many questions and nobody to answer them...

This is why I decided to follow jasoncw's example of opening a "school" where I will teach everything I know for everybody who would like to contribute but does not have the time, the computer specs or the skills to use a 3D application and make actual BATs.

Most things are easiest to learn when you have someone to guide you step by step through the process. Endless manuals full of techie mumbo-jumbo are intimidating and often hard to understand. This is why we will proceed differently here. Read on to see how exactly!

5) Who can participate?

Basically everybody who's interested. If you have already gathered some experience, that's ok. But it's not required at all. BATters, of course, are also welcome!

6) What do I need if I want to participate?

Some things you should have to become a modder / lot designer include...

Skills and virtues:

- Reading skills and an attention span of more than 5 minutes.

- Some basic Windows skills like moving and renaming files and folders

- Enough nerve to cope with my boring explanations and bad sense of humour.

- Patience.

- The ability to keep cool, work slowly and systematically.

- A tad of perfectionism doesn't hurt.

- Being slightly crazy doesn't hurt, either - I speak from experience.

- The will and determination to make a building shine as good as you possibly can.

- Time.

Software and downloads:

- The Plugin Manager

- The Lot Editor

- SC4Tool

- LEProp by iLive

- The Reader by iLive

- Both "Buildings as Props" downloads from Maxis

- Access to the STEX and the ability to d/l some files as required

- Any program capable of viewing XLS spreadsheets (Excel 95 or higher would be perfect) [if not possible, no big problem]

- The Windows Calculator (yes, that puny little pocket calculator program thingy)

- A photo-editing software (Photoshop [Elements] would be ideal, but others will do)

Other miscellaneous stuff:

- Pencil and paper. Trust me, you will want to scribble down some ideas, figures and numbers.

Some things you won't need:

- A fast computer.

- Programming skills of any kind.

- A diploma in any technical subject, preferably rocket science.

6) How can I join?

Just drop me a line via PM. If you have any experience, feel free to describe what you know already so I can adapt myself to you as good as possible.

7) What the heck will we actually do?

I will try to guide you through the entire process of taking a "bare" model file and turning it into an entirely new.

Well, I haven't made up my mind completely yet. My first thought was to select a suitable building (or a few buildings). Then, everybody would work at his computer and mod the building step by step, according to the steps I will outline and explain here.

These steps will include:

- Making a work plugins folder

- Making a landmark test lot

- Using the lot editor to design a first lot

- Finding approriate stats

- Creating a growable version, modding tilesets and copying lot designs

- Creating a plop with jobs

- Making a transit-enabling lot

- Making an overhanging lot for diagonal use

- Creating a custom menu icon

- Importing custom icons and adjusting landmark query sounds

Finally, everybody could hand in his/her finished version and show it - maybe we could have guests and watchers vote the best ones and have the three best results uploaded to the STEX? Maybe the admin crew would be willing to publish a short article with the best participants in a little newsflash on the homepage?

I'm open to any suggestions, though, and the first purpose of this thread can be to discuss the exact proceeding. After all, it should be fun for the participants, and I am no dictator (there's only one dirktator here, lol) and will be glad to shape this little modding school according to what the participants would like.

I will be gone over the weekend (rock festival), so there's enough time to throw in ideas and suggestions and jump into the boat if you like! On Monday, I will check back, and we will decide how to proceed and see who's participating. So don't be shy and let's get this thing rolling finally!

[Skyfire2275 23]

Sounds great, but I don't have any graphic editting programs besides paint... and I only have Excel 97... are these sufficient?

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Well, Excel 95, 97, 2000, 2003 / XP are all okay. There is also a free Excel Viewer available from Microsoft and other download sites in various languages.

Actually, Excel is only needed to view the stats database I uploaded to the STEX as a reference for finding usable stats. You can also use SC4Tool to browse through the stats of Maxis buildings. Those contain more jumps and empty spots, but they should provide a general idea to keep you from choosing stats that are totally off, like e.g. 150 tons of garbage per month or other obnoxious values.

As for the photo editing software, it is only needed if you want to create really nice icons. For example, you can download GIMP for Windows (google it; it might exist in different languages as well), which is a free open-source image editing software. It is capable of handling images composed of several layers and transparency, which will be needed to create those snazzy icons with the frame around them and other bells and whistles.

[DuskTrooper 314]

Sounds good, but, I don't have the time. Hopefully, there are others who have time to take this up.

[ironjaw 54]

This is really great. I have interest but it will have to wait until i get a new computer in autumn. Definitely keep me posted

[hamsterTK 93]

awesome. i figured out the bat on my own but im still clueless on modding or making lots right and all those random hex values in ilive are greek to me. this will be a big help. do i need to pm you to be a student in this, or is that part for the people who will be helping teach?

[moganite 4]

At present time is one thing I have lots of Also i have done the process of getting the lot to  the final function it not pretty but it has jobs etc and I have done most of this already. I would like to see if i could improve on my abilities. BTW i am also aiming to improve my batting skills and i am already a decent mapper.

maybe i am taking on too much lol

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Cheers everybody!

Just a quick update: I've caught a cold, so the start might be delayed a bit. Today I'm going to see if I find a nice building that's suitable for all the stuff we are going to do.

Meanwhile, here's a list of people who want to take part:

SC4BOY

maetoch

mongo1

GDB500

skyfire2275

crushedcar

georgec5614

bat

moganite

hamsterTK

Phew, that's quite a lot already! During the first days, when only one or two PM's came, I thought I had overestimated interest in this big time. Now I see exactly 10 people on the list - a pretty nice class for private lessons, I'd say, lol.

Since bat asked a question the answer to which I coinsidered to be of interest for everyone, I'm gonna write it again here:

You will recveive your lessons via PM, and they will come in small and easy-to-handle bits and pieces. An individual lesson shouldn't take more than 20-45 minutes, and this includes reading the instructions, pondering a few numbers, and carrying out the required modifications. In most cases you will have 2 - 4 days to get the stuff done so that all those of us who afford the luxurious hobby called "real life" can still wedge the modding stuff between other stuff on the agenda. And to end this paragraph with a horribly bad pun: If you can't mustard the time, you can alwyas ketchup later, haw, haw. Ok, I'm quiet already.

If you don't understand something or run into a problem, you can post it in this thread, where I'll try to clarify instructions or help to find solutions to a problem.

As soon as we are far enough that something more representative than some hexadecimal values begins to show, this thread can be used to present your creations.

Ok, I'm still not feeling that great, but expect to see an official update during the next 2 days! If anybody still wants to hop on board, now there's still some time left. The official start should be by next weekend.

For all those who miss the occasion, I'm gonna piece the lessons together in one big tutorial and hand it over to the SHS or see that it gets uploaded to the Omnibus once this little modding school is over.

Thanks for your interest everybody, and see you soon!

[bixel 1,224]

Mod it like Wreckham! Hahahahahah! Too bad you are not a cutesy female kirsten dunst look-a-like otherwise EVERYBODY would be in here clamouring for your attention.

[jplumbley 5]

Hi everyone,

Trwecks I sent you a PM yesturday saying I would like to be part of your school I hope I am not too late to join... Goodluck.

JPlumbley

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Originally posted by: bixel Mod it like Wreckham! Hahahahahah! Too bad you are not a cutesy female kirsten dunst look-a-like otherwise EVERYBODY would be in here clamouring for your attention.quote>

How would you know? I could have lied in my profile to spare me 'that' type of attention.

Erm... *cough*

Right. We, uhm... err... where was I? Ah:

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MODDING SCHOOL

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

The Beginning... *muhahaha*

Updated participants list

Buildings to choose from

Where we will start

1) List of participants, updated:

SC4BOY

maetoch

mongo1

GDB500

skyfire2275

crushedcar

georgec5614

bat

moganite

hamsterTK

freedo50

jplumbley

2) Buildings - our work material

We shall need a building to take it and mod it in all possible ways. I have picked some that will be useful for our purposes. Everybody can pick one building he (I think we don't have a 'she' here, or do we? I wanna know if I can open my belt, let my belly pop out and put my feet onto the desk openly) likes and work with this building.

Of course, you can also pick any other building you prefer, but it should meet the following requirements:

• The footprint of the building should involve a triangular shape, an L-shape, a long diagonal line or some similar feature. It should be as far as possible from a simple square.
• It should be good for an overhanging building with roads leading along its sides, either diagonally along a tiny lot with overhanging building or in an L-shape over a regular square lot - preferably both.
• It should not be modded in such a fashion already, i.e. Central Plaza or Glenni's triangular buildings are NOT an option.
• Please inform me about your choice by posting the link and/or a preview picture in this thread so that everybody can see it. Why? To laugh about your bad taste, obviosly... no, seriously: Others might like that building, too, and they might never see it otherwise because they're not aware of its existence.

Needless to say, all lot and desc files are to be removed before we start, but keep them for the time being. We'll have a look into the files, but then we will delete them to make everything from scratch. We will pretend to be (A) a BATter who has just finished a model and now wonders what to do with it, or (B) a modder who has just been sent a model from the BATter he's working with.

That said, here's a short list of buildings that might be interesting:

• Torre Madrid, created by supercento and available from capitalsimcity.com, a great Spanish SC4 fansite.
• Carlton House by onlyplace4, available on the STEX.
• NDEX James Morgenn Center by DuskTrooper, STEX
• Credit Union Plaza by pogoboymtk, STEX
• Marina Residence by skyscraper, STEX
• The Baco Building by baco, a STEX oldie (tricky one, too!)

For the time being, feel free to check out these buildings and decide which one is most interesting for you. Think about purposes it might serve (office? hotel? residential?), in what way the lot could be transit-enabled and how you could make the building fit in a diagonal section of street in front of it or along its backyard, or into the middle of a Y crossing.

Meanwhile, I am in the process of whipping up the first lesson and sending it to you. I will include some pictures, so I will probably write a simple HTML file with pics, zip it all up, upload it and send the download link to you. Then, you will be given some time to d/l, read, and play with the stuff.

For the first lesson, I want you to understand the files you are working with and make you a bit more proficient in terms of tech talk. We wanna sound professional, now, don't we?

Ok, enough waffle for now - check out those buildings or browse the STEX yourself, and pick your favourite!

Oh, and one more thing: You should have your OS settings in a way that ALL file extensions are shown! In the Windows Explorer, you will find this ption under "Extras / Folder Options". Then change to the middle tab; it should be called "View" or similar. Find the option "hide extensions for known file types" (or something in that vein) and un-check it.

[jplumbley 5]

Hi Twrecks,

Thankyou very much for allowing me this opportunity....  The building I have choosen I hope is ok.

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=4325

This is Kd5rax  Rax  Condos... It is a beautiful curvered building that sits diagonaly on a 6x6 lot

JPlumbley

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Hell, YES! Rax Condos! Nice choice, jplumbley! This will indeed be suitable for lots of interesting modding aspects. You will have a lot of work to fill such a large footprint with props and textures, but if it gets too much, you can always do a "light" version. What really matters is the modding tricks and less the actual design. Ok, one more interesting building!

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One more thing I'd like to add as information for everybody:

I cannot show everything for all buildings, so I will alwaysw pick one or two as examples. If you have difficulties retracing my steps with your building, you can always download the building I'm using, follow the steps, and hoperfully, once you have followed it and have done it yourself, you will be prepared to do the same with a slightly different file.

[norbutt2001 8]

V.Good at long last this was done

[SC4BOY 21]

I personally have absolutely no preference.. so I'll be the "fill guy".. i'll just take one you think will work in with everyone else.. maybe one someone else will not likely choose..

[moganite 4]

cool will get all of these buildings ... but i have an update CJ to do sometime that will only take 5 or so hrs though

I await your assingment

[Skyfire2275 23]

@ T Wrecks: I'll take the Baco Building.

[bat 6]

I will take the Carlton House!

bat

[jplumbley 5]

I have been downloading the Programs needed.... I have used ILive's Reader and SC4Tool before learing things on my own a bit but I cant seem to find Plugin Manager its not on STEX or in the modds section. And my looking through threads has come up empty could someone please give me the link. Thanks!!

JPlumbley

[moganite 4]

I hvae picked the james Morgenn centre

the lot editor and plugin manager is at www.simcity.ea.com as is the prop packs and various other landmarks

You will need to register to get it

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Ok, please excuse the delay, everybody. Firstly, this is more work than I imagined. Secondly, the weather here is superb (~30 degrees celsius and cloudless sky) so that I don't stand to spend much time in my overheated and unventilated room right under the roof. Thirdly, I also have other stuff to do, so yeah.

Anyway, the first chapter has been uploaded, and I am now scratching together all participant names to PM the download link to you.

The first chapter will focus on the theoretical basics; there's much to read and much to poke around and try, and there's also a little task, which is also of more theoretical nature. The task will be easy and shouldn't take much time.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask right here in this thread so that all participants can see possible problems and their solution and profit from the discussion. Thanks for your patience, and I hope one or two of you (mainly the absolute beginners) will learn a few things they might not have known before. We will get into action not too far away in the future.

[jplumbley 5]

Thankyou T Wrecks for this amazing opportunity again and time is not a problem take all the time you need!!! Just dont forget about us I just downloaded the first assignment and will get to reading it later tonight when I have the time myself.

JPlumbley

[maetoch 0]

Im going to try the Oceanic Tower by ks_JPN

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=15731

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Hm, it's a beautiful building, but not really suitable for diagonal lots, don't you think? It's no problem if you take a building that's already been chosen by others if you don't find another suitable one.

[Kwakelaar 92]

I think this is very commendable of you TWrecks and I do look forward to your tutorial as I could use some help with the modding myself.

Lots of success with this project.

[maetoch 0]

Originally posted by: T Wrecks Hm, it's a beautiful building, but not really suitable for diagonal lots, don't you think? It's no problem if you take a building that's already been chosen by others if you don't find another suitable one.quote>

 

Doh!! It does have a square bottom doesnt it? My mistake. I'll try the Marina Residence by skyscraper then.

[moganite 4]

Just got the assigenment this morning reading through it there is a

bit of stuff i wasn't quite sure about but had suspected.

[GDB500 0]

T Wrecks thanks for Chapter 1, PS I am one of your beginners.
I'm using the Kolmiotalo building, it seems to be a landmark, but it is triangular.

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?page=1&keyword=Kolmiotalo&type=all

So I've read Chapter 1 a few times now.
This Kolmiotalo building has a model, Desc & a Lot file, I've delved around in them with iREADER and found the innards.
Lot & Desc each have the 3 files as described

OK I can see which is the Model file, it is called Model after all
But is the Lot file the Growable, so is the Desc file the Ploppable bit?


PS You seem to have used the same image twice in Chapter 1, The Desc one instead of the Lot..

Rod

[georgec5614 0]

I am going to try and work with Janne Toren:

 https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=15635

[georgec5614 0]

I have played around in the reader and found all the files you mentioned in the text.  This building is packaged in separate files for each element.

Here is an attempt at a diagram:

                                                      Janne Toren

                                                      Building file PvM_JanneToren.sc4model

                                                          /                                                       \

                                                         /                                                         \

                                                        /                                                    ________________________

                                              Building                                                |   Building                                    |

                                              Exempler                                             |   Exempler                                  | 

                                              Growable                                             |   Janne Toren_LM.sc4.lot       |

                                             Janne Toren_Grow.sc4desc            |         \                                            |

                                                    /                                                        |          \                                           |

                                                   /                                                         |    Lot                                            |->All

                                              Lot                                                         |    Exempler                                 |   1

                                              Exempler                                             |     Janne Toren_LM.sc4.lot      |  file 

                                              Janne Toren_Grow.sc4Lot              |______________________ _|