hkabat-forum-threads Skyfire's Asian BATs

[Skyfire2275 23]

Ok, a small update. This is just a draft quality preview of the base of the tower... what I have been working on tonight. It lacks decent concrete textures still... The ones on there are too feeble... err... don't have enough variation to show up in the game. I liek the grass and bushes though. By the way... this is not an accurate recreation of the base, but more "inspired by" the real thing. The little island by itself in the front holds a spot light that shines on the tower as I could not think of any better way of doing that. So, what do you think of it design wise? Needs more detail (yes, I know... better textures!)? Or, is it a downright hideous idea to begin with?

EDIT: By the way, this thing will sit on a 4 x 6 lot in game. Without the base, it would fit on a 3 x 5 lot. Does anyone have a preference?

[D_DERIDEX 0]

Skyfire, that looks wonderful like that

The base would give it some character [even though it has quite alot already]

I say "YAY" to base!

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Same here, and 4x6 / 6x4 doesn't sound bad to me.

Just two observations:

1) The building seems to float above the base as if there was a meter between both parts. o_O

2) The grass looks a bit radioactive - try toning it down a bit. Less brightnhess, less saturation.

The little base for the spotlight is a nice detail, BUT: If a lot maker wanted to disguise it a bit by means of flora, he'd run into problems because the LOD of the building extends so far. I'd prefer a LOD that fits the main building snugly, and the base for the spot being rendered separately so that it can be placed as a prop later. It should be possible to render the building including all light effects and save the placement of a visible "light source" for the LE, or am I wrong?

[Skyfire2275 23]

Originally posted by: T Wrecks Same here, and 4x6 / 6x4 doesn't sound bad to me.

Just two observations:

1) The building seems to float above the base as if there was a meter between both parts. o_O

2) The grass looks a bit radioactive - try toning it down a bit. Less brightnhess, less saturation.

The little base for the spotlight is a nice detail, BUT: If a lot maker wanted to disguise it a bit by means of flora, he'd run into problems because the LOD of the building extends so far. I'd prefer a LOD that fits the main building snugly, and the base for the spot being rendered separately so that it can be placed as a prop later. It should be possible to render the building including all light effects and save the placement of a visible "light source" for the LE, or am I wrong?quote>

1) Argh, you're right and I know exactly why! Originally the platform was twice as high and then I lowered it, but forgot to lower the building.

2) Ok, I will see what I can do... shouldn't be too hard to fix that.

As for the light "islands"... I think I am going to remove them because the light itself is killing the render times... It took the times from about 15 minutes for a high quality preview to about an hour and a half... So I am just going to take it and the associated lights out althogether.

By the way, I had made a LOD that was snug with the platform and just jogged out to include the light islands... I was thinking a bit...

EDIT:

How about this? I have left the "light islands" there for now, but have fixed T Wrecks' two concerns that I agreed with 100%. This is a medium quality preview:

[bixel 1,228]

OOooOoooH looks good!

[D_DERIDEX 0]

Now That looks great!!!

[Skyfire2275 23]

Ok, so I tried to render Shun Hing Square, but gmax mucked it up. Argh! It was over 90% complete and then stopped with an Error 108. Well that was 6 hours wasted. But all is not lost. Amazingly, the model still sort of worked. All the Zooms 3, 4, and 5 came out ok... but the other zooms are just brown boxes from all angles. Since it worked, I made a lot. I used the BSC MEGA Texture Pack for the base textures as none of the standard ones matched the stairs on the BAT. It is pictured with Maxis' Bank of China for comparison purposes. There are some "faultlines" on the rendering, but since I am going to render it again tomorrow while I'm at work... It is not really a big deal. Any comments/suggestions? Here it is, click to enlarge (it is VERY big).

Also, while I have your attention, my next project (which has been started and about 25% complete) is from Guangzhou, China.

[bixel 1,228]

very nice...gmax is soo slow

[Skyfire2275 23]

@ bixel: You're not kidding... 6 hours for that, only for it to screw up right at the end. It is only 130 000 polys... but is ~395 m tall. Langham Place was 165 000 poly and ~260 m tall and was rendered in 2 hours on the third try... The first two lasted less than a few minutes because I was stupid anf forgot to make LOD4 and LOD5. lol, stupid me.

@ all: Here is an update on the CKC. I am going to try to finish this one now that it has been reduced to 195 000 polys and basically rebuilt. It is ~285 m tall.  This is just a draft quality preview to test a different texture as the last one I had received a resounding two thumbs down from everyone! It took about 10 minutes for this. Again, gmax is slow.

I still need to do a lot of work on the base and roof... mostly details and better/more textures. I may also tweak the nightlights, although I like them how they are. I also need to figure out how to get the red sign to light up at night as the include/exclude function for lights does not seem to work on gmax. And of course I need to do more texturing... particularly the glass. Click to enlarge:

[D_DERIDEX 0]

Yes finally the Guangzhou Project

And the Shun Hing Looks magnificent!  Totemo suteki desu!!!  <[i know, it's japanese]

Keep it up

[Skyfire2275 23]

Yes I will post screenshots of that when I get most of the structure completed!

[D_DERIDEX 0]

I cant wait, If only my game actually worked!

Oh well, I'm having fun tracking the progress of this team.

[cityhawk 12]

Nice to hear that you're going to tackle a building from China. The one you're working on now looks really good, and I hope it's rendering doesn't mess up again. Great work here!

[bixel 1,228]

The CKC looks awesome you did great work on the lattice and the texture looks nice too.

[toxicpiano 125]

very good work!

[HONG KONG 74]

Seeing here the developing of your models is a joy and you do a great work.  The glass texture of the CKC pleases me very well, no need to be improved. Can't wait, to work this beauty

[Skyfire2275 23]

@ D_DERIDEX, bixel, cityhawk, toxicpiano: Thanks for your compliments.

@ HONG KONG: I hope it will be done some time next week. When it is, I will PM you a link so that you can lot and mod it, ok?

[SC4Noobie 5]

This stuff is looking good!

[Skyfire2275 23]

Quick update: My second attempt to render failed with an error 78, whatever that means. I am going to give it a third try tonight, and if it doesn't work then, I'm sending it to bixel for rendering. Sorry, but you may have to wait a bit longer for Shun Hing Square.

[dmscopio 225]

Your version of SHS looks great! Its details and texture just beat my version. Can't wait till it shoe up on STEX! Good luck with the rendering.

[Skyfire2275 23]

Well, the third render failed, error 108 again. Judging by the file size, it failed at the same time as the other two tries. I don't know for sure because I was asleep. So, you will have to wait longer for it to be on the STEX.

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull work sky i am sure it will render

[Skyfire2275 23]

@ SC4Noobie, dmscopio, jacqulina: Thanks for your compliments!

@ all: Here's an update on the CKC, which shows my main problems with it. Any help would be appreciated. It is a night view. It shows gmax's inability to use the include/exclude feature for the nite lights. Particularly around the roof. You can see it really well with the red light. How can I fix this or get around it?

Other than that, I am quite satisfied with this look, although I think I am going to make the lights on the building more whitish and cover a slightly larger area. I also forgot to put the light around the base, but they are there now and are pretty much like the rest of the lights on the tower. In total there are probably ~600 nitelites.

EDIT:

Well, since Langham Place and Shun Hing Square is pretty much done, only rendering and lotting required, I think I will show my next project. So, here it is... from Guangzhou, China, CITIC Plaza:

(Click to Enlarge)

So far it is totally untextured and the colours are there to remind me of which part gets what texture. The basic structure is done and it is only 25 000 polys... and ~390m tall. I have been VERY careful about the poly count and the number of objects. But, obviously, a lot of work needs to be done. Especially details on the roof, sign, and spires. As well as the base, which is totally absent right now. Nightlights are also not done, but I planned for them this time, so it will be much easier to get the desired effect as the last three times.

If anyone has good pics of the base can they please post them here? Also I need pics of the top of the roof and the text on the sign at the top. If anyone has these, feel free to post them here.

Also, please post any feedback you have. It is much appreciated.

[cityhawk 12]

I wish I could help you with your BATting problems, but trust me, I'm no BATter! Once you get past them problems, the CKC shall be quite a nice building. CITIC Plaza also look like a nice project to tackle, so good luck with that. How long does it take you to BAT these buildings anyway? Just wonderin' in case I ever decide to look into BATting. Anyway, keep up the great work!

[owenluby 1]

Looking fine there Skyfire!

Keep pluggin away!

[tankmank 853]

Originally posted by: bixel 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.quote>

 

That sounds great and langham place is wonderful i can't wait for it  

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull i also are no batter but i love your work

[jriiiis 0]

Can one of you make a beautiful atlhetics stadium???

because i found one but that one had a soccerfield in the middle of it

can one of you make it??? plz plz plz

btw you all make perfect work

[jriiiis 0]

Can one of you make a beautiful atlhetics stadium???

because i found one but that one had a soccerfield in the middle of it

can one of you make it??? plz plz plz

btw you all make perfect work

[jriiiis 0]

Can one of you make a beautiful atlhetics stadium???

because i found one but that one had a soccerfield in the middle of it

can one of you make it??? plz plz plz

btw you all make perfect work