Nofunk's BAT Thread

[josefmayor 8]

Straight up Nofunk you are increadible.

All your bats look amazing.

[nofunk 1,933]

Wow, thanks everyone! I'm really glad you guys like it! 

Jasoncw: I took a few of your suggestions. I added some mullions to the windows (some were missing), and added window sills to the bottom of the factory windows. I also fixed the UVW on the penthouse roof. I'm leaving the darker edge along the roof line, because I don't do that to compensate for lack of shadows, but because tar and debris usually makes the edges darker on roofs.

It will be a 2x3 with probably a short parking lot along the back.

lrfox: No worries! But yes, the first window texture was just temporary; but it's easier to compare the rest of the building textures against a texture than against bright blue untextured windows.

I've done some more work on Ellsworth Lofts. There is now roof junk, seating and tables on the deck (although they're not showing up very well), as well as a string of holiday lights along the deck that will illuminate at night. Also new window textures, although at the moment the only ones I really like are those on the top two floors. I definitely have to do something different with the first floor picture windows.

Also, I want to put something in that nook behind the elevator penthouse. A satellite dish, perhaps.

[Sim shady 12]

looks great, but i think you should add some kind of potted plant or flowers by the sun deck

[jcabassa 20]

That looks amazing!

[spa 970]

This new projects looks really promisng nofunk! To me it looks like a modern building trying to duplicate the style of ages gone by. I think you're right, the window textures on the top work but the ones on the bottom still need some work. I have two other suggestions. I like the roof deck but I can't really imagine it being well used with a grimey roof all around. I would suggest trying out some planters along the side that faces onto the bulk of the roof. Second, if you don't already have one (haven't seen a preview from the other angle so maybe there is one there) I would put a second door on the elevator house somewhere so that repairmen who need to access the HVACs don't have to climb down from the patio to do that. Anyway, I think this is looking good. I look forward to more.

[nofunk 1,933]

Sim Shady: I got you covered!

jcabassa: Thank you!

spa: I was actually thinking about the problem of roof access too. I don't want to add another door to the penthouse, but I'm considering cutting a hole in the railing so that people could access the HVAC. The look was going for is one of an old factory converted in to high-end lofts -- and let's say they wanted to offer this sun deck, but they don't want residents just wandering out onto the roof. That was the idea behind the ramp from the door to the deck.

So, I've done some major work on the Ellsworth Lofts: added more roof junk, added planters with trees to block off the grimey roof from the posh sun deck, changed the window textures, and added night lights. Here's a preview:

A note about the bottom floors: the idea behind this building is that it is an old factory converted into lofts. That said, let's assume that various modifications were made to the original structure. In this case, the first floor was very tall (let's say 6 or 7 meters, or about 20 feet). What would likely be done is the vertical space would be split into two floors, the top one being the first floor of apartments, the bottom being ground floor retail. The grey metal bar across the large picture windows on the bottom of the structure is the break between these two floors, and this is why lower and upper panes of glass on the bottom of the building aren't always lit up together. Make sense?

I think this one is close to being finished!

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull work and detailing i love the lighting

[spa 970]

Looking great. Lots of nice little details on this one. I think the planters work and make a nice boundary on the roof. I can see people using it now. When I saw it I actually imagined building security having an ongoing battle with troublemaking youth climbing over the barriers and running around on the roof! It's a nice little detail for me because it sparks that slice of life vision.

I think your concept for the ground floor is fine. I have seen buildings that have done this and have exactly the type of window setup that you're talking about. I have also seen it done deliberately on modern buildings. Here in Halifax, there is a 6-7 storey building (Barrington Gate) that has single panes of glass going all the way up to the top floor from the second. The floors are hidden in exactly the same way that you've done here.

I do have one final minor quibble though. The new roof vents? Those little bumps that rise up (3 on the elevator house and 3 on the main roof in the corners). Well I wouldn't make them grey. They look funny blending into the roof. I would go for an off-white colour similiar to what JBSimio has done on many of his later bats. The texture you've used on the satelite dish might work just fine. Anyway, this is a beautiful bat and looks pretty much ready to go to me.

[Jasoncw 11,841]

It looks really good!  The bushes are a nice addition.

The windows are looking good too.  Try increasing the contrast a little, or increasing the brightness a little  The building seems a little dark for some reason.  The bushes seem dark too.

The texturing and detailing on this one turned out really nice, and you made it fast too.

You're not having any errors on this one, are you?

The walkway on the deck looks funny.  Maybe the rails are too thick, or the walkway is too narrow, idk.

I also think that having some black frame on the top/bottom of the grey floor would look nice.  It would give some nice definition between the objects, and it's a nice easy place to add in some fine detail.

Also, maybe try a really nice rich stained wood for the deck?  That kind of reddish wood?  I know what you have there is probably more realistic, but I think a stained wood would be worth trying out.

And the cement is showing through the columns on the back.

There, I think that's everything I can think of now. 

[6459978. 106]

Wow, that's incredible! I really like the colour palette you've used. I'm sure it will blend perfectly into the game.

[wolverine 12]

Purple

[gerAndi 29]

wow that looks fantastic!

very realistic and full of details

Keep Ett

-aNdi

[Sim shady 12]

god that looks good

[Gecko_2006 1]

mmmmmm...

Can I chew on it?

[parisinflames08 0]

In future loft buildings you ay want to consider the addition of balconies such as these.

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060206.jpg

They have been putting them on several converted warehouse lofts in Detroit. most recently 55 West Canfield in midtown. Also many build new penthouses on top of the already existing structures. A great example are the Willy's Overland Lofts.

http://www.willysoverlandlofts.com

[ilikehotdogsalot 308]

Hello nofunk! I have to say, That building just looks fantastic! All the details and work you put into it really do show! I really like the red color and the style of the building! I was surfing around flickr, when I found this picture of 5th Avenue in NYC.

These buildings remind me of the Detroit-style buildings you, Jason, and the team make, So I'd thought I'd post it to maybe give you guys an idea about how these buildings look in a SC4 perspective.

One thing I noticed, The CO$$ style buildings in SC4 have a little billboard on them, It would be interesting if one of your buildings had one of those, Just a suggestion

Cheers!

[Sim shady 12]

just curious, whats with all the yellow cars? are the cabs? lol.

[MarcosMX 222]

Looking pretty nice!!

I agree with ilikehotdogsalot you should put some sort of billboard in top of your building. That would make it more realistic. Keep it up

[lrfox 2]

Sim Shady- Those are cabs. the number i heard (and anyone correct me if i'm wrong) is that there are 30,000 Yellow NYC cabs on the streets of NYC at a time on an average day.

I believe that information came from the wonderful audio guided tour of the Empire State Building.

Back on topic- Sim shady's idea is nice, but i like your buildings (current and past) are good the way they are. keep it up.

[Spike345 20]

it is 30,000..The City of Toronto had a Newspaper Article confirming your Statement. LOL

[metasmurf 705]

Great building. Your bats are really great!

[nofunk 1,933]

Wow. Lots of replies!

jacqulina: Thank you, Jacky! It's been a while -- how have you been?

spa: I think it's great that you can imagine scenes from real life when you look at Ellsworth Lofts. That means I must be doing something right! Also, thanks for your advice on the roof vents: they did blend in and using a lighter texture makes a big difference!

Jasoncw: Thanks. I took a few of your suggestions. I noticed the concrete before and had forgotten to fix it; thanks for catching that!

6459978.: Coming from someone who has created masterpieces with the BAT, that means a lot. Thank you!

wolverine: That's why your computer died.

gerAndi: Thank you!

Sim shady: Thank you!

Gecko_2006: Um... thanks?

ilikehotdogsalot: Thank you! That photo definitely gives me some good ideas. However, I think I am going to hold off on a billboard for Ellsworth Lofts; I think the roof is already busy enough. But I plan to make many more of these great old buildings, so there's plenty of opportunity for some billboards!

MarcosMX: ¡Grácias!

lrfox: Thanks! Will do.

metasmurf: Thanks! I really appreciate it.

Quick update:

I haven't worked on Ellsworth much since the last update, but I did get a few things tweaked:

- made the railings narrower
- applied lighter texture to roof vents
- brightened window textures some
- a few other cosmetic tweaks

[realdimension 6]

that's a nice and realistic building! Good work!!!

[jacqulina 162]

hi my friend im doing good thankyou how have you been,i can see your still doing awesome work

[nofunk 1,933]

And now for something completely different...

Nofunk's Lost BAT Projects a.k.a. "What the heck happened to..."

I realized last night that some of you might be wondering what happened to a few of these projects that have seemingly fallen off the face of the Earth. Well, they're still around, and I fully intend on finishing them... eventually.

This is certainly not set in stone, but I expect to release my projects as follows: Ellsworth Lofts, McNamara Federal Building, Spencer & Co., Kales Building, Donovan Building, Ford Piquette, and Cadillac Tower. Of course, there will probably be a few new projects that I haven't even thought of yet interspersed with these, but that's my general plan of attack.

Hope everyone is doing well!

[Spike345 20]

Hey, Amazing Projects, I cannot wait for them, they are all perfect for my city. Good Luck with finishing them, I always keep tabs on your work, even if I never post. So beware I AM WATCHING YOU, BUAHAHA, not like that means anything though. HA.

[Sim shady 12]

hurray looking forwards to progress on finishing these

[lrfox 2]

@Nofunk- I was always under the impression that RL was what was in the way, not motivation or new software. Interesting, and thanks for the update. All of those projects that you listed are fantastic. I must say, i had nearly forgotten about the Ford Piquette Plant, but it was one of (if not THE) my favorites. Good luck finishing those up, great work takes time, and this is certainly great work.

[lrfox 2]

@Nofunk- I was always under the impression that RL was what was in the way, not motivation or new software. Interesting, and thanks for the update. All of those projects that you listed are fantastic. I must say, i had nearly forgotten about the Ford Piquette Plant, but it was one of (if not THE) my favorites. Good luck finishing those up, great work takes time, and this is certainly great work.

[Jasoncw 11,841]

It's nice to see the progression. You've gotten a lot better.