Tale of the Northern,Western, and Southern Passages

[Jazzmaster 716]

Welcome to Page 5!

@Benedict: Thanks for stopping by!  Unfortunately, this isn't getting a trememdous amount of usage but...

there is usage present.  Sometimes by the tens, sometimes by the hundreds, but ultimately it depends on where the line is and where Sims need to go.  My next update has considerable usage though, and I've got a pic to prove it!

@penguin007: Thanks, I love selecting different bridges especially!

@jacquilina: Thank you my friend I'm glad you liked it!

Western Passage 17th Stop: Sunshine Island

Much like it's baby brother of Sunshine Straights, Sunshine Island is inhabitated by happy, easy going, "Sunny Sims".  There's a few thousand more people though and all of the population is on one island; not scattered.  There's a cruise ship port since this is a popular vacation area, and hotels to match.  The sunny skies above provide plentiful happiness...and power as well.

As you pass through, you may wish to stop off for a bit to enjoy the splendor, maybe grab a hot dog and lemonade, or just italian ice as you bask in the light!  Ah, that feels good, doesn't it?

Since Benedict asked how well my rail line is used, I figured I'd show a picture of rail usage.  In this case, Sims use the line to travel north to Sunshine Straights and the mainland.  As I said, it varies from city to city.

This is the center of the island at night, where the WP passes right through.

The sun is just rising and the solar power plant is cranking up.  Time for work and school!

There's a cruise ship port and ferry terminal here, which are further utilized by the NDEX Parking Lots.

Simgoober's Za-Za Hotel serves all kinds of patrons.

Just because life is simple here doesn't mean we don't need TV and Radio!  It's suprising a signal could even make it this far...

[penguin007 27]

nice update U see the trains now go through the centre of towns

Will

[Jazzmaster 716]

Penguin007: Thanks!

Western Passage 18th Stop: West Palm Straight

These next several updates, we'll be traveling across the Grand Ocean through these islands...that have a reputation for being good and bad.  The good news?  We get to see more and more of that sunshine, and pleasant attitudes, and no hustle and bustle.  Worry free, Mon!

The bad part?  Well it's not bad depending on how you look at it, but it's that reputation I was talking about.  For you see, these island are very small and charming but their transition from land to water is radical...people would not dare go out more than a few feet without either a.)knowing how to swim, verrry well, b.)having a boat and good life jacket or c.) all of the above.  That's because once you get less than a quarter of a mile away from the shore, the terrain below the water goes plummeting down to the depths of the ocean.  And if you're not careful, you could take one more step and...

bye-bye

Here's a look at the steep incline.  Okay, so maybe you wouldn't fall straight down...

You'd just roll down.

An overview of the area.

Western Passage 19th Stop: Lily Islands

This time around, instead of one island, this area is broken up into many smaller islands.  That's where that name came from--"like tiny little lillypads on the face of the ocean".  Or at least, that's what the mayor decided.  Other than the WP, which really only takes you to two places near here, ferries are the choice form of travel.

Here's two shots of ferries taking our Sims in question around.

Another overview, this time of smaller islands.

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull update my friend looking very good so far growing well,wonderfull work and pics

[suplado! 23]

cool islands...wonder what they look like in the region view?

the sea is very deep, very scary, maybe a sea monster lives there...lol maybe placing some sea walls would help..

[penguin007 27]

Great change to the cj it looks very origanal keep up the great work

Will

[Jazzmaster 716]

@jacquilina: Thanks my friend, I'm glad you like it!

@suplado: Yes, the mystery of the seas can baffle all Sims.  There's definitely more down there than some starfish...

As for a regional shot I'll post one in this next update I'm doing right now!

@penguin007: Thanks, I thought a heavy rail line traveling across small islands seemed like a unique change.

Western Passage 20th Stop: Pleasant Islands

These islands are much like their Lily Island counter parts but are broken up into even more islands.  Not to mention the addition of a Seaport.  As well the streets here are a bit different...

Yes I'm talking about the new SAM beta just released last night.  You'll want to grab it before you log off.  Oh, and did I mention gizmo28's day/night mod?  It'll make the game soooo much more realistic at night, because now they're darker!  They'll really help this CJ stand out now, hopefully the night shots don't get too dark.  It seems scary out in the middle of the ocean when it's almost pitch black...

Look closely and see, the nice brick streets in this commercial area.  What a change it is!  That station looks awfully close to the water, though...

More brick streets in a residential neighborhood, this time of a slightly different material and without the yellow lines.

Uh oh, it's getting darker...

Holly snap!  Who turned out the lights!  Gizmo28's mod is so much more realistic, shelling out true black nights instead of that navy blue color like before.

An overview of the area at night.  Now you can depict the individual islands.  Well, kinda, anyway.

Western Passage Last Stop, Southern Passage First Stop: Grand Lagoon

Say it ain't so!  Yup, that's right, this CJ will live on in the Southern Passage.  Hopefully by now you see where this is headed, but if not I won't say to keep it a secret...

On with the city in question, Grand Lagoon stands out from it's bretherin for one very shallow reason *crickets chirping*.  Seriously though, this island is known not so much for it's sharp underwater drops, but more for its incredibly shallow water.  This is actually the largest concentration of shallow water near here.  There's a few "cuts" in the lagoon allowing for ferries to get around, they just can't get in...or out.  So then, other than the WP, how does one reach this place.  There's a small landing strip for that.  The good news here is that sims aren't so worried about falling...

See what happens when you get to close to shallow water?  Hey at least people can't steal boats here!

You can see the small "cuts" or "canals" or whatever that the boats travel through.

See the landing strip on the topmost part of this shot?  Sims use it for excursions, or to get to the mainland.

Well it was fun, and now it's time to bid farewell to the WP.  As we leave the city, we pass another train, headed in the opposite direction.  We look at them thinking "I wonder what they saw on their way...".  Of course they give us the same glazed look back...

What will we encounter next?  What types of cities lie south of here?  Stay tuned for answers, but in the meantime, take a look at the regional shot upon Suplado's request.  You can kind of see where we're headed...

[penguin007 27]

Nice region shot and yes it is dark!!!

Will

[Jazzmaster 716]

@penguin007: Thanks, it's very dark indeed! Kudos to gizmo28!

Southern Passage 2nd Stop: Bubba Island
And we're sure it's not Bubba Islands? Well, it may look split in half...but the name stays, so get over it (j/k). Named after a cat we've had since a few weeks birth, Bubba Island was split in half from the great continental divide that occured a million years ago...and is still slowly happening. This island is also a high traffic area for ships; whether they be of the cargo or cruise variety. This is mainly because all those islands we passed, have no real clearance for boats (don't remember any openings or bridges, do ya?...well, excluding Sunshine Straights, of course).
As we go through and stop by the shops and such, we notice a change in the weather. Has it occured to you the wind seems a bit stronger lately...???

Entering the city, we see some more small-time development.


Look at the top and bottom of the picture and notice something diffirent...see how the railway travels under the water instead of above it.  That's because tunnels can be place next to each other, and I didn't have to raise the terrain and skew my city.


You can see how many boats travel through this "natural canal".  I was able to raise the avenue on a bridge because the terrain mod I'm using doesn't require as many tiles to raise an avenue as it does a railroad.


We spent a little too much time shopping here...time to finally get on the train.  Thank god for sleeper cars!


Cruises depart from here daily...and nightly!


Out on the water in the dead of night...a cruise ship eases away from the island.


As the train departs, we notice something odd.  At night, ominous gray clouds are hard to depict...except for when...
KA-ZING!!! Holy smokes where'd that come from?!?!

--to be continued--
-Yoshiisland

[suplado! 23]

the night pics are cool...and thanks for showing us the region map..

[Smarty218 2]

nice story, can't wait to see more!

[penguin007 27]

Nice update the night lighting on the boats look great

Will

[Jazzmaster 716]

@suplado:  You're welcome!

@Smarty218: Thanks, you will right now!

@penguin007: Thanks for stopping by again, and I have Somy to thank for the awesome boats!

Southern Passage 3rd Stop: Straight of Roo-Roo

First off, I'd like to apologize for having such slow updates, but I've been working very hard in RL and in SC4 (I've actually been working ahead on some of my cities for my upcoming CJ updates so I'm not scrambling to finish them later).  Now, on with the actual update...

I know the name is enough to scare you away, right?  Actually it's named after one of my other cats.  Her original name was Russell, but for some or other odd reason our family started calling her Roo-Roo, a very unsensical name...*cough* At any rate, this island sort of once again breaks the pattern of the very simple islands we've seen before.  It offers up some bigger buildings and many more Sims...but that's not the prime concern.  There's something out there, in the wide ocean.  It is a sea monster...a different kind of sea-monster...the one that sailors fear the most.

Every year at around summer time, this monster...perhaps even monsters...appear and barrel around the oceans, wreaking havoc.  It's been known to sink oil-rigs, destroy beaches, and likes to prey on a certain state beginning with the letter "F".  Not sure what it is yet?

One more hint...it's a cyclops type monster.

One in particular is drawing close at a slow, yet ominous pace.  Ahh, but what could it be then?

As you enter, you'll notice a significant change in the scenery, as life here seems so much more busy.

The center of town, occupied primarily of apartments and such.

Sims here sure do love townhomes!

These two station shots are actually different locations, but it may be hard to tell from here...

When the sea monster approaches, dark clouds fortell of it's arrival...

[penguin007 27]

Nice beach town reminds me of daytona except theres a railway

Will

[jacqulina 162]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND I HOPE ITS A GREAT ONE

wonderfull work you have done and the new mods sure look great especially the day and night one it sure is night time now.growing well my friend excellent work and pics.

[Smarty218 2]

I like your beaches. Nice update!

[suplado! 23]

cool nightpics...great coastal area...

[Jazzmaster 716]

@penguin007: Thanks!  That's not what I was gunning for, although I do live in Florida...just on the opposite coast of Daytona.

@jacquilina: Thank you for the considerable wish my friend, but my birthday wasn't to plesant...the restaraunt we were going to eat was closed and that's all we had planned, not to mention all the homework I had to do...

but I'm glad you liked my update!

@Smarty218: Thanks for stopping by!

@suplado: Thank you!

  

Southern Passage 4th Stop: South Island

Riding out Typhoon David: Day 1

A typhoon, say what?!?  Well, that's what all the suspense was for...but first, the main update.

Much unlike it's ocean going predecessors, South Island is actually very well developed and has a bustling economy; due to the international airport and cruise ship docks, that is.  With a population of over 100,000, many seem to get lost in downtown and think they're in "one of them there fancy-pants mainland major-cities" instead of on an island.  Of course, there are the quieter suburbs too...just still very active and not TOO quiet.

Take a moment to enjoy these beautiful night-time pictures.  Once again, kudos to gizmo28!

Hopefully by now you've figured out what the monster is...come now, wasn't it too obvious.  One that "sinks ships, erodes beaches, jacks up gas prices, and only one eye"?  Yes my friends, I was speking of a hurricane.  Well that's what they're called by me in the Atlantic, but out west they're known as Typhoons.  On South Island, the effects are already being felt...

TYPHOON DAVID 4:00 PM WESTERN ADVISORY

"As of 4:00 today, typhoon david was just upgraded from a tropical storm to a category 1 hurricane.  While no significant strenthening to a major hurricane as of the current forecast, residents at the southern portion of Super Grand Metropolis' Western Sea Islands are on high alert.  The sandbags are out, the windows are boarded, and the flashlights and cans of Spaghetti-O's are ready.  South Island is already in a state of emergency and, effective tomorrow, no planes, ships...or trains...are allowed to come to or leave the island.  Sims are already on the avenue adjacent to the Southern Passage and evacuating..."

Looking at the news, you have only one thought: "get the heck outta here!"  Running to catch the last train headed south, you slip and fall on the slippery wet railroad platform.  The train starts to pull away...

"No, wait, STOP!!!"

It's too late.  Now your only thought is "I should've gone back at the end of the Western Passage, but nooooo...."  Your only option now is to chech into a hotel and ride out the storm...

This island has it's own reputation, not for having steep, lethal beaches, but for something else.  I've turned on the grid, rotated the picture, and drew a pretty red icon around South Island so all can see...

With good eyes (and a crazy sailor's imagination) this looks a whole lot like a Typhoon symbol like what you see on TV, as pictured below...

The path of the storm depends soley on the position and strength of the high-pressure ridge to the north.  If it moves further north, the storm could directly effect us.  However, if it doesn't...oh well, we'll just wait and see.

[LilFlipper 0]

Wow this is cool!

but do you have so much money to rebuild the citys after the hurricane hits??

my estimate is that the damage is around 200 Billion dollars 

thats what i get in a month in real life *lol* dream

[KingTitan 6]

Great Job there Yoshiisland. I dont think i commented on your CJ yet....Love your technique.....night shots look awesome.....interesting terra-forming layout.....keep it up.

[Smarty218 2]

Wow that looks catastrophic!

Great Effects, Good Job Overall!

[penguin007 27]

interesting update nice huricane pics

Will

[jacqulina 162]

sorry you didnt have a great birthday my friend

wonderfull work you have done great use of gizmos day and night mod isnt it fantastic,it makes your night shots so realistic,excellent work and pics

[Voulpiotis 4]

Wow, amazing work!!!! I really like the region and I admire your transportation system...!

Just one question: please tell me where did you download those huge container ships?? I buil a new massive industrial port right now and those ships would be a great addition!

[SC4WTC 4]

looks like hurricane katrina hits ny instead of new orleans ...

it wll be a tragedy... i will keep my finger crossed for your city !

[suplado! 23]

thats a huge typhoon it would devastate the whole island...anyway -- nice region view...hehe!!

[KingTitan 6]

Yoshiisland?

I really love your seaport cruise ship area.....do you have an immediate link to it....the Cruise ship port and the ships themselves'?

Hope so friend. i cant find it on the STEX.

[Dsrwhat316 12]

@ KingTitan: that cruise ship port can be found here: Somy's SimCity4 BAT.

great use of the new night light mod, it really makes the lights stand out a lot. and i really like that region shot with all the islands. great work!!

[Smarty218 2]

What are the dependencies for that BAT?

[Jazzmaster 716]

@LilFlipper: Thanks, I hope so too1
@KingTitan: Well, you just commented now! Thanks!
@Smarty218: Thanks, SOMY's BATs have no dependancies.
@penguin007: Thank you!
@jacquilina: Thank you again my friend!
@Voulpiotis: Thanks, the ships are on www.sc4devotion.com .
@SC4TWC: Let's all hope and pray!
@suplado: Thank you for coming by again!
@Dsrwhat316: Thanks for commenting and giving KingTitan the dependancies!

TYPHOON DAVID UPDATE
As of last update, here are the stats:
Category 1 Hurricane
Winds at 100mph
Very low storm surge
Expected to make landfall at some location in the cone within 48 hours.

Overnight, the storm strengthened and it was nearly impossible to sleep because of the excessive yet unusual amount of lightning...

---

Upon waking up, you'll notice that school has been canceled so the buildings can act as shelters, as are the hospitals (except for canceling of course, this is the worst time for medical Sims to go AWOL!).




Roads and rails are void of traffic; commute is the last thing in mind at a time like this!


All ships are anchored down.

---

There's still a few lightning strikes around.  Thankfully, nothing's beeen severely strucken yet...

ZAAAAAPPPPP!!!!!


OH NO!!! FIRE AT THE WIND POWER PLANTS!


HELP!! EMERGENCY!! CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT!!


Too late...


Well, it wasn't too bad, only about 3000 of the city's over 60000 watts of power generated through solar plants and neigbor deals.


*YAAAWN* Time for bed...
Wait...what the...
A waterspout...well, at least it's on the water...