Nofunk's BAT Thread

[nofunk 1,933]

Who ever thought a little hotel would cause me so much trouble?

I have completely modded the Hotel Wolverine, but the render didn't look as good as I wanted it, so I re-exported. I thought this was as simple as removing the old .FSH files from the .SC4Model and then importing the new .FSH files.

Apparently I was wrong?

Help?

[Jasoncw 11,840]

It should be. Were the new .FSH files rendered from the same LODs/SC4Model in 3ds Max? Did you save after you inserted the new .FSH files, lol? Those colors mean that it thinks the .FSH files are missing. Is it doing that for all zooms and rotations?

[wolverine 12]

I think it looks perfect. Love the contrasting colors. It will be a new work of art in my city. j/k

[nofunk 1,933]

OK, just tested it again. Yes, the new .FSH files were rendered from the same LODs and model. Yes I saved after I inserted the new files. And Yes, it is doing it for all zooms and rotations.

This is strange. So I work on two computers -- I model and export on my desktop, and I mod and test on my laptop. When I replace the .FSH files on my laptop, I get that weird anomaly pictured above. When I replace the .FSH files on my desktop, and then transfer the .SC4Model file to the plugins folder on my laptop, I get a brown box in the game. I have exported from the same model, with the same LODs and everything, so I'm not sure what the deal is.

Lord, please don't make me export and mod this again!

wolverine, see all the people crowding around it? Clearly they love it too!

[Sim shady 12]

lol. Hope you figure this out without having to spend forever rerendering

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Do you have an older version of the scene from when it still worked? Try exporting from that and see if it works. If it does you can work from that file to try and get it exported again. Also try doing the whole merge into blank scene thing. Even if it's the same .SC4Model it might do something.

One thing you can do, is you can manually correct the ID numbers. AutoVino explains at https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=37&threadid=87426&STARTPAGE=11 It sounds like a pain, but it might be easier than trying to solve the problem. Just make sure you back everything up before you start editing.

I think it's also possible to make a totally new .SC4Model file and edit the IDs in the lots to go to the new .SC4Model without remodding other things, but I don't know anything more than that about it. But even if you did that you would still need to get a correct export.

[SimFox 801]

I strongly believe that the problem has NOTHING to do with MAX as such. it is a mess of BAT (I mean the GMAX part) Max simply takes what it is given. I also bielive that only solution is to export it again, but with entirely new SC4Model file. LODs as such could be old but they have to be exported to GMAX anew, and new SC4Model file has to be created so that NEW set of IDs be assigned.

As far as I see it is rather small building so it should really take much time. If you want i could render it for you with your RIG and your settings...

BTW was it made in truNite style?

[Andreas Roth 607]

Changing the model reference in the lot file isn't very hard, so before you're going to re-assign the texture IDs, create a new SC4Model and edit your lot instead. If you're at least a bit familiar with the Reader, you can do this in a minute. You'll need the new model ID, which is added to the *.SC4Model filename. Alternatively, you can open the model in the Reader, look for the embedded XML file and look up the "ResKey" entry. Copy this value and open the building exemplar file. For growables, it's usually located in the SC4Desc file that the Plugin Manager has generated; for ploppables, you can delete this file after creating the lot, since the building exemplar file will be copied to the lot file. Find the "Resource Key Type 1" property and change it to your new model ID. Then save the lot, and you're done.

[nofunk 1,933]

Yeah, I don't mind re-exporting if I have to; I just don't want to lose all the modding work I've done. If I could just change the IDs in the LOT and DESC files to point to the new model, I'd be set. So I'll try what Andreas has suggested.

SimFox: it's not made in truNite style. I don't know how, and didn't think to send it off to you or Jason. Hm... should it be truNite?

Andreas: I'm exporting a new .SC4Model file right now. So all I have to do is introduce the new file, and go in and change the resource keys on each of the .Desc (for growable) and .Lot (for ploppable) files? Is there just one change per file?

I'm crossing my fingers on this one. I'd like to finish it up already!

[Jasoncw 11,840]

If you want it to be TruNite I can send you the rig I use to do that. You would re-export with this rig and use the night .FSH files from that. You would also have to do some copying and pasting (in the output files folders, you'd have to copy the day alpha masks to replace the night alpha masks).

[nofunk 1,933]

Success!

I will have to tweak the lot -- the building is supposed to be wall-to-wall on it's west side -- but finally this is on its way to completion!

Thanks, Andreas, Jason, and SimFox for the help on this one!

[Godzillaman 21]

My God! That is beautiful!

[Jasoncw 11,840]

heeyy! glad to see it finished!

[Andreas Roth 607]

I'm glad to see that it worked properly this time. Hopefully, this will show up in my cities soon!

[jacqulina 162]

beautifull work

[allez l'om 1]

very good work!!! Typically north american i will put it into my city!!!!

[crazyarchitect 7]

I love historic hotels, awesome job

[bigskelding 12]

are u going to include the sign on top. i think that would be a great feature to the building. both ways it looks great

[nofunk 1,933]

Thanks for the great comments everyone! Jason and I are working on a new custom query for all BSP lots, so it might be a few more days before Hotel Wolverine is finally released, but rest assured, it will be on the STEX by this weekend!

bigskelding: Oops! I totally forgot about the sign. I am going to release the current model this weekend, but I'll think about going back and adding the sign for a new release.

[ilikehotdogsalot 307]

Wow, that building is stunning.

[Sim shady 12]

No question it can contend for BAT of the year award. It just looks phenomenal

[nofunk 1,933]

Thanks everyone!

Quick update! The Hotel Wolverine is now with Jasoncw to have custom BSP queries put on it, and then it will be ready for the STEX! After another long break, I'm back and getting things done. Expect the Hotel Wolverine soon!

[Gecko_2006 1]

Even better than I remember. I love this building. Can't wait until you release it!

[edmonton_stinks 5]

I remember the Wolverine! Can't wait for it!

[T Wrecks 10,209]

That's some great news about a great BAT! And even better to hear there's more behind the horizon... Thanks!

[Afuegosky 5]

Hell yea!

[nofunk 1,933]

Thanks everyone! The Hotel Wolverine is now available on the STEX!

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=19905

[edmonton_stinks 5]

Fantastic! That's great news.

[Gn_leugim 853]

i saw it, i like it

[Misterquicks 4]

Beautiful building and amazing attention to detail, how it was allowed to be demolished and replaced with a carpark, I could never understand, should it not be considered as a heritage building?