hkabat-forum-threads Skyfire's Asian BATs

[Skyfire2275 23]

Ok, since we have our own sub-forum now, I figured I would move all my stuff into my oen thread! I will leave everything else where it is and just pick up where I left off. If you want to see the original thread, it can be found here.

I will use this thread to post my progress, collect feedback and hopefully get pictures of the buildings that I am working on from the people who read this thread. This first post will be used to indicated my progress on my projects as well as links to finished projects (whenever that begins to happen, lol). I will update this post as I make progress.

Current Projects:

Building	Location	Status	To Do List
Cheung Kong Centre	Hong Kong	100%	None - Uploaded 3 Feb. 2007
Langham Place	Hong Kong	100%	None - Uploaded 25 Aug. 2006
Shun Hing Square	Shenzhen	100%	None - Uploaded 2 Sept. 2006
Hopewell Centre	Hong Kong	20%	Too much to list here.
CITIC Plaza	Guangzhou	100%	None - Uploaded 3 Jan. 2007

I am also BATting the Renaissance Centre in Detroit, Michigan... If you are interested in that project, the thread can be found here (I'm not posting it here because it is not an Asian building!)

[Skyfire2275 23]

And here was my latest update that I posted in the old thread...

Anyways, I have an update on Shun Hing Square. I changed the glass texture to blue (bixel might recognize it as one he made for Langham Place that I didn't use... because I can;t make nice textures worth beans... see previous update). In the pictures I have it is either light blue on a sunny day or greenish blue on cloudy days. I figured since dmscopio's version is greenish, I would go for a bluish texture to try and make the greatest difference between the two for the sake of variety on the STEX.

I tried some stuff with the cement texture, but it still doesn't look right. Too brownish/"cheap and crappy" I think. Oh well, I can fix that! I think. So. I figured out how to make glass transparent... for the entrance at the base, and I am pleased with the result. What do you think? I also adjusted the colours of the black rings on the top as the upper ones are definitely darker than the lower ones in the pics I have. I think I have it right now.

As for the nightlights, the night textures are done and now I need to add the actual lights, which there won't be very many... I hope to post a screenshot tomorrow night. The roof of the actual building seems devoid of all junk, so that is what I have done too.

I also fixed the lighting problem that was seen in the previous update, thanks fukuda!!!

I have here, only a draft quality preview for you, but I think it is good enough to see the textures and the structure of the building... the vertical black lines (part of the lattice work) do not show up as much in the high quality previews. Which is odd anyways since all the verticals lattice pieces are identical... Any ideas?

Anyways, I need feedback, so if you have any, feel free to post it!

Click to enlarge!

quote>

[HONG KONG 74]

How nice, a young virgin thread   

Normally I prefer the originality, but your blue version looks better than the original green.

Those should change also the real building.

[bixel 1,224]

I think your Cheung Kong Centre is still going to be a tough one for you. Those night lights on that particular building look very tough to emulate. BTW do you have 3DS max?

[Skyfire2275 23]

@bixel: I have gmax... so I think that may limit my possibilities with that building a lot.

[jacqulina 162]

hey nice work

[Skyfire2275 23]

Thanks jacqulina.

Anyways, here is a small update. I have finished with the night lights because I cannot do any better. I think they are acceptable, but not great. Maybe in the future, when I get better at BAT I can redo them. Any feedback is welcome. I have also decided to stick to the first blue texture I used (thanks for the textures bixel, but I honestly like the original one better... I think it looks good). Well, here they are, the previews, the day time one is high (in game quality), the night preview, however, is draft quality because I have been previewing this thing all night for the last 6 hours... Click to enlarge and enjoy.

  

[bixel 1,224]

I agree the texture looks good...about the top though...I would take out the nite_windows textures just around the 2 column thingys..instead place nitelite_targets inside and place some nitelite_targets outside and low, pointing up towards the spire..it may make for longer render but the effect might be better (like I did w/the Arch).

Remeber nitelight do not have to be within the LOD...they can be outside of it..it doesn't really matter....so place them a good distance down from the spires...I say about halfway....increase the falloff field to about 150 and have it point at the base of the spires...it should have a nice effect.

[owenluby 1]

Nice work Skyfire!

[amal81 3]

Hey man Great work you are doing here, Its unfortunate that I cant play SC4 right now, but when I do start playing it again I am gonna download this BAT for sure.

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull texture excellent work

[cityhawk 12]

Nice BAT, Skyfire! Remind me to download it when my CJ starts heading for the dense downtown look.

[villagemayor 0]

Ohh I am so looking forward to Langham Place. Please fill me in, but will  you only BAT the office tower or will the hotel be included? I also hope you'll include the atrium WITH the 4 storey escalator.

[Skyfire2275 23]

This is currently what Langham Place looks like in-game. Right now T Wrecks has it for the purpose of lotting and modding it. It is pictured with Maxis' Bank of China for comparison purposes... click to enlarge and enjoy :

[amal81 3]

good ligting especially the sphere on the terrace

[cityhawk 12]

Are you BATting more than one building? Anyway, Langham Place looks good so far. Hope to see them out soon...

[Skyfire2275 23]

@ amal81: Thanks. I am also proud of the lighting and think it turned out really well!

@ cityhawk: I am slowly working on several projects... See the first post in this thread for more information.

[bixel 1,224]

Looking good...can't wait for the Langham release!

[Vigilante1987 180]

So, you're the one who's responsible for all those cool new buildings that have been springing up in my cities. Thanks!

I'll definitely be downloading Langham Place as soon as it's released.

[Skyfire2275 23]

Originally posted by: Vigilante1987a So, you're the one who's responsible for all those cool new buildings that have been springing up in my cities.quote>

Well, none of mine are released yet, so it must be bixel or paulvmontfort.

[spa 970]

Langham Place looks sweet. Nicely done. I can't wait to see what T-Wrecks does to give it a suitable base.

[Vigilante1987 180]

Well, then Thanks bixel and paulvmontfort. And I'm still looking forward to seeing Langham Place in my cities.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Hm... I played around with the 4x4 lot a bit. You're right, this building is not easy to lot somehow. I move it a bit more towards the front corner, and I resorted to using one dependency, cerulean's base textures. Here are some pics of the lot (front - side - back):

    

(Please ignore the lack of people props; as usual, I didn't wait for them to appear.)

Ok, so let me know if it is any good or if it sucks. I know it's probably far from the RL building...  

[Skyfire2275 23]

Looks good, except the statue is facing the wrong direction . It needs to be rotated 90 degrees counter clockwise. Thanks! The only other input I have is maybe open up the rear entrance a bit. It seems a little bit claustrophobic... but very nice and peaceful at the same time. Your call on that one... or wait for more input

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull work sky you are doing great

[bixel 1,224]

Wow looks real badass!! Gonna be super!

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Ok, so apparenlty it doesn't suck too hard. The statue will be rotated 90°, and I will see if I can alleviate the "Sherwood Forest" look behind the rear entrance a bit. I wasn't completely happy with that myself.

[Skyfire2275 23]

I think to open it up it would be nice if there was a wide path that went out to the corner of the lot or something like that. Just something for you to ponder.

[SimFox 803]

Somehow Safari and Simtropolis aren't the biggest of friends... so this message will probably loose any formatting I'm trying to give it, but let's see... Well, I hate to be a party pooper, but I'm afraid I would have to be, but before I start I just want to make couple of things clear: 1. It is a matter of personal taste and vision. 2. I'm not trying to impose it on anyone, but make it know just to give an alternative. And one with some arguments behind it. Ok here we go: Although the lot as such look good and well balanced, I don't think it fits the tower in question. Both this architectural style and may be more generally high density, although this is more questionable. My take on this particular lot would be to make something of the tower rising from a busy commercial area with pedestrian malls on two sides. So it would create some "shopping street" or some such. As I see it, this building doesn't really feels like it could have such a back garden behind it with those hedges, just as it didn't work with patio furniture on the roof. Generally speaking I find many lots to be way too "tight" and one-sided for many buildings, often creating overly dense cities where all you can see are just rooftops. But that's just my private opinion. And I see no reason why there couldn't be more then one lot. Too put my money where my mouth is I could try to give it a go once I get back home in 2 weeks time, if Skyfire will choose e to agree to my proposal that is.

[bixel 1,224]

Well I have been thinking of creating a small pack of ploppabe and prop peices that resemble or function as the pedestrian elevated pathways that HK has so many of..complete with some interesting park work...might be kinda cool.