BATs Currently in Progress

[BlackDragonAJ89 21]

Yeah, the roof looks too shiny as is right now. Everything else though is coming along just fine...

[CSGdesign 27]

Ya I hadn't completed the mapping yet.

I quickly rendered it with a darker map this morning before work but didn't do the top roof (the big main one), only the smaller ones...  but you get the idea - I was in a rush to get out the door.

Original Texture:

Result:

Darkened Texture:

Result:

It's supposed to be grey slate, not black slate, but the proof is in the pudding eh.  I might go somewhere in between the two for the final product.

Yes Francis the windows are textured.

A colour similar to the roofing on the sills, a lighter shade of it for the bars in the windows, and a glass that is about 10% transparency of aqua blue.

I'll be putting the decking texture from the back deck (left on the north view) onto the floors inside, and arranging a few kids desks and chairs in there which will be much more visible in the night-lit version than the daytime version.

I'll also be adding some downpipes, a water tank, a flag pole, and the yard which will be an asphalt assembly yard (with lines and maybe some hopscotch marks or something) and some daggy old grass and dirt textures... maybe some litter for flavour.

[SimFox 802]

It is pretty good model.

As for the textures/materials I'd say that both black and white are very bad backgrounds. Neither of them really give an accurate impression of brightness and contrasts, neutral gray of 30-50% is far better.

To turn the render background in GMAX independently from viewport backgrounds copy/paste following line:

backgroundColor = (color 90 90 90)

into the pink window down left in GMAX and press enter. The numbers there are RGB values of a color. If needed they could be replace with any other (in a range of 0-255).

  It is always a good idea to superimpose the building onto"typical" SC4 shot to check for colors/brightness etc, particularly when using GMAX or Bat4Max without gamma correction.

I'd say textures need a bit more saturation, as they look a bit washed out. It is, actually a realistic look, as air perspective would do it for a building seen from such a distance, but since SC4 hasn't got one this building will stand out...

As for Bat4Max... I'm a bit apprehensive to open my moth publicly after comments you gave me in now closed thread... both on my spelling and the way I express myself... however you can PM me with precise description of your problem and preferably some screenshots of any possible error messages. Or you can always post it in Bat4Max thread...

It would be good to see this model exported from Max, as it is small and in GMAX it looses all definition of things like windows, balustrade etc...

[BlackDragonAJ89 21]

Well, I guess I could use these as some tips for my own work.

Anyway, I have a quick question before I post up two of my little houses; can I make props in GMAX?

Here's the three houses, all modern in style. I would have posted this on my own thread, but I would be double posting.

[SimFox 802]

Sure!

Basically you don't make props or building in GMAX, you just make and export models. What these models will become in Game is determined by Plugin Manager.

I would suggest to actually texture the glass in the windows. That way you are much more likely to get an impression of real window. GMAX rendering capabilities seriously handicapped in this department. Glass is a very complex material with some "signature" properties that can't be "calculated" by GMAX, so faking it is much better option. Transperency as it set by GMAX isn't physically correct and lack of reflections etc makes it weaker still. As a result it just like something green and somewhat see through, but not glass. Also there isn't really anything to see there...

Take a look at some of the JasonCW and Nofunk BATs to see how advantageous textured, non-transparent windows/glass may be.

I assume that all three of the previews are day ones, right?

If that is a case I'd say that first one (tent like building) is too dark. Although left side of the roof is in shadow, still it is sky facing and as such just can't/shouldn't be so dark. I would decrease saturation quite a bit as well. In fact that may do the trick and spare you from changing it's brittleness value. If this is a bitmap texture you could try to do same manipulation with it in say Photoshop...

Try to use more brightness neutral background, some half bright neutral gray for instance. Instructions on how to set it are in my previous message.

PS

I actually think that it may be more prudent to actually continue such discussion in the dedicated authors thread rather then here. This was supposed to be just for showcasing peoples work...

[Francis90b 748]

BlackDragonAJ89:

Gmax is used only to make the models, you decide what they will be (building or props) in the plugin manager, once you've exported them.

CSGdesign:

I believe that it would be easier to use an opaque texture for your glass.

Generally speaking making interiors is not really convenient, and you can achieve the same result by using a texture.

As for your window frames, i've asked that because they're barely noticeable right now (they don't contrast much with the color of the windows).

Try using a different color, i'm sure it will be better .

Also, i second what Simfox wrote about texturing.

[CSGdesign 27]

The model I posted in this thread was rendered in preview from BAT4max v2.6

I think I have gotten v3.0 to work but need to reinstall the gmax BAT to be sure... we'll see.

EDIT: As for help you'll find me a lot less narky if you don't put me down for no reason.  Since Francis is right this is a BAT thread I won't go into it any further than that.

Your idea of superimposing it on a screenshot from SC4 is a good one and I'll be taking you up on that. Thankyou.

[Francis90b 748]

CSGdesign:

If you and SimFox have a personal problem, for any reason, the right way to deal with it is  to solve it privately, and not to talk about it in a public thread.

[psander5 197]

Here's a BAT in progress then, before this thread veers off somewhere uncomfortable...

... a simple clothes store. I'm starting my small commercials proliferation project This is the first of many from a novice BATer. Please be gentle

[Francis90b 748]

Wow Psander 5, it's looking really good so far !

My only suggestion would be to reduce the thickness of the vertical pillars.

[Jasoncw 11,843]

The BAT4Max that was around for a few years  (since 2004 or 2005 off the top of my head) was version 2.0.  I actually don't remember if 1.0 was ever public or for how long it was.

From there, SimFox has been developing improvements to BAT4Max, and has been increasing the decimal.  The latest version is 2.6 + Let There Be Light (all available in the stickied thread).  SimFox feels that "Version 3.0" entails improvements that haven't been made yet.

Chrisadams3997 at SimCity4 Devotion also developed an improved version of BAT4Max V 2.0, but called it 3.0, feeling that there was enough improvement to warrent the 3.0.  These are just the numbers each of them gave it.

I hope this chart makes it more clear.  3.0 isn't an upgrade from 2.6 even though the numbers imply it.  Also, 3.0 and 2.6 aren't comptabable, and 2.6 makes those other intermediate versions obsolete.  And of course, 2.0 is a dinosaur (if anyone reading this is still using 2.0, they should upgrade!).

As far as I know, everyone in the BAT - Open Discussion uses 2.6 or one of the intermediate versions.

[BlackDragonAJ89 21]

Francis90b - Thanks for the help! I'm going to have to make some since the Maxis props aren't going to look good with the building styles...

[CSGdesign 27]

I gathered that it was something like that - certianly that they were different "strains" of BAT4max.

I didn't realise that in fact v3.0 is probably less refined than v2.6, but to be honest I'd be happy with v2.0 if it worked.

The problem is that at first I was using gmax.

It worked well for me - productivity ways - gmax is a hobbit's version of max as anyone knows.

Then I thought I'd risk trying to get BAT4max to work since I had 3ds Max and was tired of gmax crashing to desktop when i rename a texture (for heaven's sake).

I then downloaded and installed v3.0 BAT4max and couldn't get it to work because I got muddled up with scripts and gmax and process stuff.  I'm a graphic artist who has taught myself 3d over the last 10 years, so scripts and advanced stuff are beyond me, although I think I'm reasonably competant at actually creating 3d artwork.

So then someone said "we all use v2.6" so I went back and un-installed v3.0 scripts one by one comparing them carefully with the zip file, and installed v2.6 and got all kinds of script errors when I went to export.

Then I went back to gmax for awhile, and discovered that I could render straight from gmax as HD so I was happy.  Built all my gates and chainlink fencing in that, however I haven't been able to get it to show night-lights ingame this entire time.

Now I've removed all folders under 3dsmax's gamepack folder and the startup folder in scripts, and installed v3.0 and some plugin caused an exception error so i backed up and deleted all my plugins folder and tried again.  Now it seems to work but I've got to reinstall the gmax scripts cuz i dumped all them again (to get a clean slate).

I read that v2.6 was an incremental update and couldn't find any previous version which is why I resorted to v3.0

And that's where I am today.  Hopefully I'll be able to get gmax to cooperate but I'm not hopeful - I've been battling this garbage for about a month now and I'm a bit tired of it.

[nofunk 1,933]

@psander5: Nice job! I espeically like the detailing on the spandrels. Can't wait to see more!

[Cleaner475 150]

@psander5 - That looks really nice - I wish there were more people working on good looking small buildings

Richard

[BlackDragonAJ89 21]

I'm working on making a bunch of small houses, stores, offices, and little factories/farms before I do major large things, so don't fret, there's people working on nice little things too.

Yeah psander5, keep up the good work. I wonder what kind of "roof junk" you'll add to the building's roof.

[psander5 197]

Thanks for the comments & feedback.  I appreciate it.  Francis90b: I've adjusted the column widths a bit.   That resulted from the fact I copied a real building but needed to stretch it to make it fit wall to wall on the simcity grid.  I made the columns wider than they should be.  Now i've stretched the windows instead.  It looks better.  BlackDragonAJ89: I wonder that same thing   In real life there's nothing on this building's roof.  It's only small (2x1.5 tiles), so it doesn't need much.  Just a couple of well placed objects and a good texture should do it. 

I've textured it up a bit today, but not enough to show here.  That's what BAT threads are for   Like I said, I plan to do many millions of these buildings, so there should be a few more at least

I also like more adventurous things too.  I'm not ready to show them yet though

[BlackDragonAJ89 21]

Good luck! We could always use more little buildings...

[CSGdesign 27]

Well I think I've finally narrowed my problem with BAT4max down to one thing - having 3ds max installed in "program files" directory.  The space in the folder name stuffs things.  Great.  Reinstalling that beast is NOT high on my list of "favourite things to do".

Anyways here's the night-lighting on this little school.

I really wanna get this working dammit.

I figure at night a school will probably have no lights on at all, but I put both porch lights on, a dim desk light in the corner office, and a light upstairs for some teacher doing some paperwork at night...  mostly to give it SOME kind of lighting.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

A little ad - Click here to go to page.

Great Work Everyone - SimFox your such a great helper.

[BlackDragonAJ89 21]

Cool!

[Xyloxadoria 1,099]

I was looking around my old files and stublmed upon this:

I know i have to fix the pool texture and add stuff to the balconies. I also have to mass around with the textures some and add a little detail somewhere but other than that are there any other pointers you could give me?

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

You are always finding old, unfinished projects aren't you? This one actually looks really great, save for the few issues you brought up.

[CSGdesign 27]

Damn Xylo, that's totally hot.

I know that here in my city a classy residential like that usually has some form of greenery on balconies and the roof in particular. Also, my opinion is that the balconies should contain various potted plants, outdoor furniture, towels hanging over the rails, etc. It usually scruffs the building up but it's realistic.

I really like the geometry and the architecture - is it based on anything or what? It's damn fine.

[BlackDragonAJ89 21]

Well, I got all the little Trinity Houses done:

Now I got some more to do... I need to get the props made and such as well... that is if I don't get distracted by something else... =P

[Xyloxadoria 1,099]

Originally posted by: SimHoTToDDy

You are always finding old, unfinished projects aren't you? This one actually looks really great, save for the few issues you brought up.quote>

All i have unfihsed is this and that giant hotel thing i posted earlier but yeah i tend to leave things unfished. they are both from a residental phase that i went though when trying to learn BATing.  Then i tried a commecial bulding and like didnt go back lol

Originally posted by: CSGdesign

I really like the geometry and the architecture - is it based on anything or what? It's damn fine.quote>

Funny story about this BAT but i actully got the idea for it from a trig problem. the middle section isnt based off it, i added that in later, but there was a trig problem that had concentric ciricles and  various angles on it (imagne looking at the building top down) I somehow decied to make a floorplan out of the trig problem and this is what became of it.

[wallasey 8]

Psander: Great work! Oddly enough I know somebody who works for USC!

This building will look great in any urban area regardless on where it is set.

[CSGdesign 27]

Originally posted by: Xyloxadoria

Funny story about this BAT but i actully got the idea for it from a trig problem. the middle section isnt based off it, i added that in later, but there was a trig problem that had concentric ciricles and  various angles on it (imagne looking at the building top down) I somehow decied to make a floorplan out of the trig problem and this is what became of it.

quote>

So it's your own architecture too?

I'm impressed... it's really good man.  Very inspirational.

[grbac80 5]

WOW, Xyloxadoria I'm stunned... The pool color is great, a bar would fit there. Can't wait...

[kellydale2003 2,276]

@Xyloxadoria - I really like that - Just add some minor roof junk (pipes, few vents, etc.) since there isn't that much room and space to add some major roofjunk.

And just add patio stuff here and there and You have a complete BAT (in my opinion). I personally don't like it too busy. I really love that.