fabfabs RG BATs

[fabfab 4]

Hail all talented artists and BATters out there.

All of your work is great, and since I was using a lot of custom content I thought I might give something back to the community. So I started BATting.

To be honest, I'm still in the progress of "starting" - haha.

I need to thank the members of the SFBT who helped me through the first problems and answered my questions (which were quite a lot).

So here are a few steps of my first BAT project (which is finished so far but not released - yet).

OK, the guy will shut up now and show some pictures (tata).

(after some first other "concrete" testsi decided to keep working on that bunker-complex entrance)

(the first texturized version, after ~4 hours)

What followed were a few of bugfixes with the LODs and textures which took another 4 hours (rendering included).

After that I proudly built the first LOT, tried (and failed) to transit enable it and "modded" (haha) it.

Which brings us to the last picture for now, the first InGame Screenshot.

Thanks for your interest

x fabian

[Jasoncw 11,840]

It's looking really good!  Keep on doing what you're doing.

[Krio 624]

I agree with Jason, this reminds me about military facilty which was in one old PSOne game.

[jacqulina 162]

wow this is very good work

[MarcosMX 222]

Wow thats pretty good for a first (public) BAT

[cammo2003 20]

On Transit-enabling: the easiest way to do it is using SC4Tool - with that it's literally drag and drop. You can do just about any other type of modding with that tool as well. You look to be getting the hang of texturing, too. Great work for a first project.

[fabfab 4]

Wow, thanks for all your replies so far, this will keep me staying on this...

> Krio:

In fact, this building was inspired by the designs of Fallout 1+2, still my favourite RPGs for the PC.

The first sets i decided to begin with will all be related with the fictive Recombination Group, who offer special services in case of a nuclear war and the following winter. (Fallout again)

This includes special bunker facilities, holding the so-called dispensers which will ensure survival for more than 500 years in them (if you got the needed extra-$ to pay a "passenger seat" in such a dispenser)...

err, whatever.

This is my result of this morning so far.

The inner scenery still needs a lot of details and the building itself isnt completed, i guess.

So take this as a halftime, or so.

[gshmails 534]

very nice so far! A few suggestions on your latest - Try to add window frames and break up the large windows a bit, it just is an easy way to break up the large surfaces. The chimney should not be solid, but four walls with a hole (it will be noticable in game) and it should either move in or out just a bit. great start, thanks for sharing!

[jacqulina 162]

fantastic so far

[fabfab 4]

> gshmails

Thanks for your suggestions - in fact, the windows turned out to be tricky, but i guess after you found out a quick and clean workflow for them, they'll be fun. The chimney actually wasnt meant to be one, but kinda antenna-tower (uhh yea, i love antennas. more antennas for everyone!)...

> jacqulina

I'm glad you like it! When this one I'm working on is finished and ready for release, I'll upload the bunker, as well...

RG is ready to take over the world... *cough*

Nevertheless, this is today's result:

I'm unhappy with the main-wall's textures, so I need some massive-websearch for more... My old Quake-Fundus doesn't really satisfy my needs, haha...

When the texturing continues I'll post some other angles' pictures.

[fabfab 4]

Just wanted to let you know, that both of them are ready and uploaded to the STEX...

Thanks for the support until here, i think i wouldnt have finished them if you guys (and girls) have booed at me...

[jacqulina 162]

fantastic thanks and also what will you be working on next or is that a secret lol

[fabfab 4]

No secret at all...

the bee-house.. or el hexagonata. or so. errr. i think im gonna see what happens when i start the gmax next O_o

[jacqulina 162]

bee house could you tell me what it is pl thankyou

[fabfab 4]

errr, i'm not quite sure what it is...

im the baddest-modder-of-the-year©, so i actually cant add any function at all...

i adore those BATters who really know what they're doing, in contrast to me. i installed the BAT one week ago and started modeling with some basic knowledge. i used to work with 3dsm but the BAT4MAX plugin looked a bit tricky so i decided to work with the gmax. i'm beginning to get a feeling for it, but theres ages until i can come up with any good results...

[jacqulina 162]

ok,well you are doing well im sure it will be fantastic,and whatever you make will be too

[patriots_1228 51]

haha your better than i am already. could you sue me if i said baddest modder of the year??

[fabfab 4]

Oh, no, of course i couldn't as long as you refer to me as the baddest-modder.. ;D

OK, here's what i got until now. West view in high-detail took about an hour to render... so i'm really looking forward to the export (better i let it run over night )

The TO-DO still contains:

- final details like modeled lights, MAX-Lights, Nightlights

- Textures on windows, some units, retexturing for wires/antennas

- Major details on the roof, i thought of a helipad, but my computer slows down heavily since i started texturing, so i'd need to do it in a seperate file (could end up in a prop)

still, there is no use for this building, if anyone has a suggestion what it could look like - feel free to post here (or if there are any other suggestions at all)

thanks for viewing

xx

edit

Oh, i forgot to mention that the flora will kill me! I already had a try on a simple (and i mean simple!) tree... and i failed under tears

I appreciate every tip and hint on modeling flora like bushes and trees. everyone will receive their own USER-memorial-tree in this BAT (label with name included!)

[jacqulina 162]

great job your doing,nice work

[gshmails 534]

Doing great so far fabfab! Great texturing. My suggestion is to add a connector plate where anything touches the roof. This will define the (whatever they are on the roof) a bit better. As for trees, go to the stex, check under 3dmodels, or search tree. There are some good models you can use or look at for help. Good luck!

[Gecko_2006 1]

I love your style. Very ultramodern- almost similar to what you'd see in a cartoon, but then your bring it into realism with your nitty gritty textures. I really don't have anything to say, besides "Keep up the great work!"

[fabfab 4]

> gshmails:

Yea, thanks for that hint. I found some low-poly trees and noticed that I wasn't far away from a solution using opacity maps..

But it seems to be a great idea that you add all flora after you've done everything and to save after every single bush you add... (yea, i found out the hard way) haha ;D

> Gecko_2006:

I'm glad you appreciate the style I've chosen for my work. I do know, that this isn't what most of the players like, since it's far away from realism anyway...

On the project:

I am stuck on exporting the BeeHouse, it's just too big. So I have to crop it into 2 models, but I'm too lazy for that at the moment...

To not just leave you without any visual, here are the first pics of another project.

It's supposed to contain 3-4 residential ($, $$) LOTs in different sizes (from "We-Are-A-Happy-Family-With-10-Kids" to "OMG, who was that neighbour? I can't remember all of those 203948209348142 million") and the whole range of utility lots.

All in the same style ("Mommy, can I eat this mushroom?")...

(very early beta of the 2x2 small residential version)

Have fun with that, and feel free to leave a comment

[fabfab 4]

OK, here we are with another model for that set...

As you can see, i found the article about drawing a grid from faces.. haha ;D

I'm not sure if I am satisfied with the proportion, maybe the centered mushroom should be a bit higher than the other units.. ummm.

I think I am getting some sort of ideas on how to use that damn BAT *gives a kick*...

[gshmails 534]

Very nice work fabfab! I like the residential building especially. Try adding some small details like door handles (or pads?), small vents, etc. They tend to give a second level to the model that relates well in-game. Anyway, keep it up, but don't burn yourself out. Can't wait for more, thanks for sharing!

[fabfab 4]

Yea, that was a good idea gshmails, thanks

I added some more roofy stuff and controlpanels to every door.

This morning I decided to give it a try and this is the result in combination with some other RG stuff:

Actually, whats the deal about the nightlights?

After rendering a BAT I have to go into 4-5 cities and plop some lots until I get the lights to work. From this point on, they're working fine, but in some cities they just dont seem to work (just for my own BATs, foreign content works well)

thanks for having a look

[jacqulina 162]

very cute nice work

[gshmails 534]

Hey fabfab, plop your lots, run the game on cheetah speed for at least 45 days, then go to night time, and you should have your lights. Make sure you have power to the lot and it should be fine. Good luck, and very nice progress!

[Gecko_2006 1]

Have you considered joining the SimMars team? If they're not dead... :S But have you? Because that would look fantastic in their projects.

[fabfab 4]

> Gecko_2006

Err, no, I haven't considered that. To answer your question: I don't think I'd like this... I create my Lots for use in a contemporary setting, and for users who'd like to add a little anime-ish look to their cities.

But maybe I should offer the models, so that they can do with them whatever they want... thanks for that hint

[MarcosMX 222]

Wow everything here is amazing. I love the detailing and texturing. You should really make some BATs for the SimMars