Nofunk's BAT Thread

[Simfan34 11]

You trickster! Pretty nice job!. Can you make a straight version too?

[mightygoose 92]

hey nofunk could you do a grey version of that please just to see how grimey it looks cos it would be perfect for my new grotty region... brutal and dank...

[nofunk 1,933]

ACEfanatic: This is the 2nd time now that your advice has proven indispensible -- that optimize polygons trick shaved over 20,000 polys off the fire escape! I'd say you get a gold star for this, but there isn't one in the list of smileys -- so instead you get a bunny:

Seriously, thank you!!

Gecko_2006: Thanks! Wait till you see the newest update of the Park Apts!! I agree with you on the Federal Building, but of course in real life it's plain too. The textures aren't final, so I think once I touch them up it'll look better. I intend to change the wall texture to add the subtle seams that are visible in the real building, and I will add variety to the windows.

JBSimio & wolverine: It's weird because I have a little (tiny, tiny little) soft spot in my heart for (some) brutalist structures. They're just so raw. That said, it certainly isn't my favorite architectural style, but I was in the  mood for a quick BAT, and wanted to do something large, and it turns out brutalist buildings lend themselves to that.

Simfan34: Yeah, of course! I intend to release it as a growable and ploppable on a square lot, but I was also hoping to release a landmark or ploppable on a diagonal lot, too. You will have your straight version, don't worry!

mightygoose: The final textures will definitely make it look more gray, although it'll still have some peach in it. And I intend to add some "dirt" details to the walls as well. I'm not sure I'll be blowing any holes in the building for your brutal and dank region, but I hope you can still find a place for it when it's done!

UPDATE

I realize I threw one heck of a curveball at ya'll with the Federal Building. Here I've been designing BATs from the '30s and then bam! Concrete and glass! You get a reprieve for now though: I plan to finish up a few of my other ongoing projects before I revisit this one.

John King Books: Cross your fingers, this might be releasing soon! Maybe.

Park Apts: I did some major texture work on this tonight. Also, who wanted the fire escape? (Fledgeling!) Well I've added that too!

Honestly, I am really please with how these turned out. This is your last chance to suggest things... the Park Apts are ready to be rendered!

(Note about the windows on the Park Ave Bldg (short): I think the reason the textures don't show as well is because the windows are so recessed. The general consensus (read: me and Jasoncw) is that the columns are casting shadows on the windows, thus darkening the textures.)

(Also, I'd like to draw your attention to the cracks in the brick wall on the back of the brown building. I'm really proud of those! )

On the docket for this weekend: The Cadillac Tower!!

[ACEfanatic 7]

...English lacks the adjectives to describe this.

Therefore, I shall revert to *doubleplusgood*.

Orwell hath corrupted me.

-ACE

-EDIT-

Glad the optimise trick worked for you, btw...

[Fledgeling 1]

Good i was just going to ask about John King Books!

I love it, as usual. Thanks for adding the fire escape!

I too have a soft spot for brutalist buildings, glad to see your making one.

I have nothing else to add, awsome.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Looking better!

Park Avenue's window texture looks much better, but I think it could still be a lot brighter.  Making it brighter will make the building look less abandoned, and it will create some contrast with the windows frames, which will bring out the window frames.

I also think that the bottom part, and the top part of the building is too far set back into the rest of the building.  Like where at the top, there's the top of the arches, and then the columns, and then the cornice, and then there's that peice set back from them.  That peice seems too far set back to me.  And then the first two floors.  Those two areas are set back in real life, but not that much, and I think it's too much of an exaggeration.

Looking back three pages ago, and now looking at them now is something. 

And your cracks are lovely.

[Simfan34 11]

Oh goody good!

[st louis dude 6]

I really love detroit and it's infamous classical buildings.

[JBSimio 152]

Those textures look great, Nofunk! I emailed you a fire escape today. The poly count should definitely be less than what you had going earlier. I originally made it to cover two windows per floor, but it scales pretty well if it doesn't fit your dimensions.

JB

[mightygoose 92]

thats sounds fine and the new renders look awesome to, i don't want holes just drabness

[st louis dude 6]

I love how you added the fire escape on the back!

[baldy 0]

Holy crap nofunk, this is amazing! You've developed some skills. I like your choice of buildings too, not ones that people would typically think of. Keep up the great work.

[Kwakelaar 92]

These two buildings (one bat) are looking great, I really like the rooftextures you are using. Also the rest of the textures are working very well.

[st louis dude 6]

Now Detroit is a very famed city,so aren't you going to do something a little more renowed,such as the Dime building?

[wolverine 12]

I was working on the dime building, and have been working on and off on it. All of the front and side walls are entirely modeled (with detail).  This was all stopped 2 years ago, and restarted recently

There's a few issues, one being that it's currently in gmax and not 3ds. I hate using gmax, and I never want to go back. Judging by the short amount of time it took me to do some highly detailed buildings in sketchup, i might just created with skp, import to 3ds, and then export it as a BAT. It's much faster and more reliable that way. But I can't work on it now. I'm in the midst of finals week here in college and I don't want to fail my exams lol.

[nofunk 1,933]

ACEfanatic: Thanks! As long as Big Brother approves...

Fledgeling: I'm glad I'm not the only one who appreciates a little brutalist architecture. And thanks for recommending the fire escape! I originally wasn't going to include one, even though the real-life building has it. But it does look much better with one!

Jasoncw: Do you realize this is the second time crack has been brought up in my thread?

Simfan34:

st louis dude: Thanks! Yeah, I think the fire escape is a big improvement.

JBSimio: Thanks! I got the fire escape.

mightygoose: Well, drabness you'll get!

baldy: Thank you sir! The spirit of BSP is still alive!

Kwakelaar: Thank you. I'm really pleased with how the textures worked out. I have to give credit to spa for the roof texture -- it has been invaluable!

wolverine: Is there any way to import the old gmax file into sketchup? I'm guessing not. I'd really like to see the Dime Bldg finished -- I remember it looking really sharp when you were working on it before.

UPDATE

Not much to update -- I didn't get nearly as much done this weekend as I had expected to. However, I do have the Park Apts almost completely modded, and Jasoncw is almost done on the John King Bookstore, so this could be a double-release week for me!

Here is what I am planning to offer for the Park Apts (PA) and Park Ave Building (PB) -- all high density:

PA&PB growable R§
PA&PB landmark
PA&PB ploppable CO§§ (or CS§, I can't decide)
PA&PB growable CO§§ (or CS§ )
PA growable R§
PB growable CO§§ (or CS§ )

Since I originally was not planning on offering these buildings separately, I do not plan to make more than a growable of each. But they will be available separate from each other, for those who would prefer that.

I originally modded the commercial version to be a CS§, since the building is sort of grungy, and there is a serious shortage of good CS§ lots in the game. In retrospect, however, I'm thinking that maybe a CO§§ is more appropriate. Maybe I will do a little research and see what originally ooccupied the building, and then use that as a guide.

It could be a CS§ though... it could be 14-stories of people who could do your taxes, or something.

To whet your appetite, here is an in-game shot, looking stately (if a little run-down), next to Jasoncw's Fisk Insurance:

Also, this is a wall-to-wall lot, and also conforms to the agreed upon setback conventions.

[JBSimio 152]

Hot damn... they look even better in game!

[st louis dude 6]

Jason's building almost blends in with it.

[spa 968]

Hey Nofunk. Been rather busy with school as of late and I missed the final developments of this one. It has turned out great. A definite download.

[Glenni 1,444]

Oh man,that is one sweet model!The textures,the details everything just blends nicely!congrats!

[Jasoncw 11,840]

It looks great.

I didn't know that any conventions were agreed on though, it looked like everyone was saying something slightly different, lol.

[SimFox 801]

Very nice!

Only one thing could be improved upon - the height of the ground floor... it looks a bit inadecvate, espectially for left building..

[lrfox 2]

Awesome. simply awesome. i needed to chime my approval. i can't wait to download it.

[mntoes 270]

Simply beautifull work! Have to agree about the height of the first floor though. The detail in this building is totally amazing.

[alex23476 17]

dam thats an awesome building

i like it alot

cant wait for it realese it

[nofunk 1,933]

JBSimio: Haha... thank you! I think they look pretty darn good myself.

st louis dude: Yeah, the floors almost match, don't they? I'm glad it worked out that way.

spa: Thanks!! Yeah, I've noticed that you have been M.I.A. lately... I hope school is going well, even if it is keeping you busy.

Glenni: Thank you! And congratulations to you too on your Trixies!

Jasoncw: Thanks bud. I think the convention [generally] agreed upon was 3-5 m (or 2-3 concrete Maxis tiles) back from the edge of the lot. I think you're just grumpy because Fisk Insurance does not conform to this standard.

SimFox & mntoes: Thank you both for the compliments! I agree with you guys about the floor height, and wish now that I would have corrected it before I rendered. But now all the models are rendered, completely modded, and have had custom icons attached to them. I'd really hate to negate all that work by re-rendering them.

And of course, the R$ houses in the game are about the size of chicken coops, so if people are OK with having 12-14 sims crammed into those, then they will have to be OK with sims crouching to enter the Park Apts, lol.

lrfox: Thank you thank you!

yourmomrulez: Thanks! I always thought my mom ruled. Look for the Park Apts on the STEX some time this weekend!

UPDATE

So, even though I have been a member of Simtropolis for over three years now, this is really the first Trixies that I have been involved in. What an exciting event! Some very talented and very deserving people received Trixies this year, and to all of you I say CONGRATULATIONS!!

I even found that I myself had been nominated! What an exciting surprise! So, to whoever nominated me for Most Improved BATter or voted for me -- THANK YOU!! I didn't win, but it totally made my day. And it makes me want to create even more great stuff for you guys. Thanks to everyone who supports me in this thread and helps me to make my creations better and better!

I have gotten a lot of work done on Park Apts since the last update, but nothing to show. It's all been modding. So look for it on the STEX very soon! John King Books is on its way too, and should be posted soon as well.

OK, wow. Short update lol.

[lrfox 2]

Well, i think that if you keep turning out work at the quality level of this and your other buildings you will not only be nominated, but you will be a shoe-in for a trixie or two. congrats on the nomination though.

[bixel 1,223]

release it already!!!! Its gorgeous!

[Chris M 406]

Freaking beautiful! I love all the details on the facade and the roof, etc; and the textures leave nothing to be desired. I cannot wait to have this building in my cities. I'll definitely get you a shot of it in my cities once it's released.

Keep it up!

[Fledgeling 1]

Its sunday (weekend) and the Park Apt.s will be released sometime today! The anticipation is killing me. Christmas comes early! Feel like a kid about to open a present.