How Do I Build Realistic Downtowns?

[spacenuteskimo 0]

     I suppose I can explain my problem further here.  I have made many cities with all skyscrapers in downtown, and it seemed unrealistic.  I want to know how other people make a realistic downtown.

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RSSS                                           R                                 R = Road

RSSS                                           R                                 S = Skyscraper

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     What do I put in between?  I have used the numerous Paris buildings, but I wonder if anyone has perhaps one that spans a whole block or half of one, for filler and eye candy.  Thanks.

     Matthew

[how_deep 2]

First of all, downtowns vary. It all depends on what kind of city you're building. Of course, a Lower Manhattan or L.A. would be chock full of skyscrapers, while a smaller city might have only a few, but that is all in your power. You can use real cities as an example. San Antonio, for instance has a very large downtown area, but with only a few tall buildings around the river. Most would be considered medium density.

One thing you can do is mix densities. Fill gaps between dense commercial with medium. Plus you have parks, plazas, public buildings, LMs, pedestrian malls (STEX) and then some to space things out. I hope this helps.

[SimFox 804]

BTW LA isn't chock full of skyscrapers... it has very few in fact...

But you are absolutely right about the differences of downtowns. So unless you are making Hong Kong or say to the lesser degree parts of Manhattan, leave more spaces. people are typically stuff they cities way to full with skyscrapers making them monotonous and frankly boring, no city planning skills whatsoever, just displaying someone else's work and being proud for some reason that escapes me. Couple of years ago there were some examples of different but none the less excellent cityscaping by Jeronji and Marrast. Unfortunately Marrasr has left the site and those are not available anymore, but they were truly amazing! Best I've ever seen. He was leaving plenty of space between buildings or clusters of buildings, leaving enough space for roads and squares! I would say one of the most important thing to remember is to break monotony. create some dense clusters, but then alternate them with some parks , open spaces, plazas (bigger then just normal big 3x3 one from the game, that contrast will make it interesting. Also I think people completely overdoing in itself interesting Columbia river terrain mode. In my opinion it is way to cartoonish! It should be desaturated to the great extend to make it more in line with realism of even original game, never mine reality you may see from the viewing angle and height of the camera in the game.

[RushHourFreak 1]

What do you mean with "realistic" . If i'm wrong correcr me, You hav to drag a well layout and mixed them until reching, place a plaza in front you put the city hall, and a park is never a dangerous item, good luck