Blue Hope - The Interactive City Journal

[Need4Camaro 50]

Vote Status : PASSED! - Parcel 21 will be closed for one week from today for development implentations. During this period, you are NOT allowed to upload Parcel 21 or MODIFY the Parcel as you will be required to download it once again upon completion and thus, will erase your modifications...

Stay tuned for the next update!

[Hahayoudied 3]

I miss the story mode of Blue Hope...

[Need4Camaro 50]

Hahayoudied - I'll begin working on the Storymode again after this update. I have finals this week and it still takes a moment to make those story mode updates so just be alittle patient and all will come in time

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Announcement: The Fileshare system has experienced some downtime lately. Those of you who tried to login found you could not remain logged in aswell as recieved a series of php errors in the header. This has all been resolved and you can now access the fileshare center as you normally did. I have also added a folder called Videos in which you may upload BLUEHOPE RELATED videos onto the server and they will be added into the Videos page in the Navigation Bar. 

Also I wanted to announce that PARCEL 21 has been updated - YOU MUST ALL RE-DOWNLOAD PARCEL 21 BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO REQUEST A DEVELOPMENT OR MODIFY IT - You will not need to download any additional plugins or parcels, just Parcel 21 and overwrite your existing Parcel 21.

Finally I wanted to welcome our new member brenn into the Blue Hope City Journal community. He's our newest member and I hope he enjoys his adventure in the everlasting trilogy of the Blue Hope City Journal

And now onto our update...

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First, I've began to take some organization methods to make things slightly more clear and easy.

As a test, Auringy City gets its North / South streets named...

We'll begin with 13th Street.

Just east of Eaton and West of my new development lies 13th Street. This road was existing and offers to connect traffic to the East / West Connector.

11th Street is the newest street proceeding North and South, serving as the main entrance to my new development.

9th street begins the central area of Auringy City and 7th street soon follows just east of it.

5th and 3rd street servicing downtown Auringy City...

1st Street being on the far east side of the city.

Now lets have a look at my new developments...

Click for full resolution...

The first phase development for Pallisades...

Click for full resolution...

Windfield which has access to the lightrail service which travels in the median of highway 504.

Pallisades offers middle class homes at a low density sprawl just outside of Auringy City. It has access to the South Shore Rail Line and Highway 304...

Windfield provides high capacity aquedate lowclass housing just north of 504 and the light rail.

Click for full resolution...

Overview photo

And finally, just as some organization - I've made some signs that will show user developments... you are also allowed to make signs to mark your developments too btw...

and

I hope you've enjoyed this Update...

[Need4Camaro 50]

Btw can someone tell me why page 58 hasn't shown up on the menu yet?

[un1 41]

A new update!! Nice work Need4Camaro, also the reason why the page isn't showing is because of the page flip bug I think.

-un1

[Simonopoly 0]

Question: did you create this entire region without cheating?

I'm trying to build my own 'realistic like' region, and I was wondering if 'cheating' would be a fair tool to be able to create visual realism (i'm talking money tree).

Is it possible to lay-out your city entirely and then fill it up allmost all at once with growable $$ and $$$ buildings (residential and commercial (CO$$$))?

Any tips/hints for building as realistic as possible are welcome!! (things like how to get demand so people want to live in your city and such)

Yes I know I am a ***** that i don't know howto get demand and such, but I gotta learn somewhere right?

P.S. I love your city, i've just began reading it but it's awesome! Your city is a real inspiration to me, although it's tough for me to figure out how, where and when to begin building/developing.

[Need4Camaro 50]

un1 - Ah I see... Welp, you may proceed with your development plans you mentioned earlier

[Need4Camaro 50]

Simonopoly - For the first 35 or so pages, no cheats were used. I did have to use a Money biulding in the end however as people started requesting more developments that city budgets didnt allow for. 

As for laying out your city... It IS possible but you'll likely fail if you try to do too much at once. Also Commercial alone is VERY difficult to maintain in the beggining as it is very dependent on Industry as a backbone... Commercial doesn't REALLY start getting decent until you pass 500,000 people and have a steady supply of industrial jobs, or atleast in my experience. As cities grow larger though then Commercial becomes very important and you can probably even get away with removing or relocating your industrial districts for them.

You always want to start small, don't use up all your money in the beggining, save some because you'll want to beable to afford accidents, new powerplants, basically just don't put yourself in the predicament where you're in a pit because if you do, it's extremely difficult to get out.

Newark started off as just a farming community with a few sparse residential villages until Commercial demand rose just enough for a central business district, and thats when I biult it. It was between the Gulf and the mouth of the Oconee and it just gradually grew larger and larger until it is what you see now...  So just gradually biuld out and expand and take care of needs as they come. You wanna make sure that your existing communities have everything they need (school, fire, police, parks, power, water, garbage disposal) before expanding because you'll only worsen the problem if you expand to quickly.

[Simonopoly 0]

N4C - Thank you for replying so soon

Also thanks for the lessons I've learned a great deal from your reply.

I have some experience setting up a farming community allthough I made the fatal mistake to educate them... But I won't be doing that this time

I have still a few questions:

How did you power your farming community's? I'm from Holland so I tend to put windmills everywhere but maybe there's a better solution?

Did you use regional play for farming? (one bigger town and a few maps with a lot of just farmland?) or just real small 1 map farming towns?

I'll be working on those small farmtowns for now, but can I perhaps contribute to your region later on when I get more and more experienced in the game?

[Need4Camaro 50]

Simonopoly - You're welcome. As for your new questions

For power - since Newark was already based on an Island with an abundant of natural resources (Coal and Oil) I started off with Coal because thats what the storyline focused on. Although you could use windmills, they need to be either on the shore or way up in the hills to be realistic and fully functional. I personally dont like using Solar or Windmills as a MAIN source of energy. Solar costs too much for what you get and Windmills require so many before you can even empower a small town. I just use a Coal plant and plop it off somewhere were it won't bother the residents, IE... Away from the city and set up a power deal. You could try using windmills to SUPPLEMENT your main power source but it's not a very good main source.

For my farming communities, I mixxed up the development and honestly in the very beggining the only occupied Parcels were 17 and 21 with Farms and housing developments. I started the farming communities in the center of the city, near where I wanted the downtown to be and just mixxed in some residential with the farming communities in the locations I designed them. As I biult more commercial, I made homes denser in the farming communities and eventually I developed over the farms with residential and commerce as demand called for them to. After that I just relocated the farms by biulding more farms and sparse residential developments further away from the central business district in all directions...

Edit: - Also as far as power goes, definately move up to Nuclear Fission or Hydrogen when you can. Tons of energy with no polution so that definately helps the environment. Wind and Solar power is a GREAT suplementary source though for High-Tech Industrial Areas.

[rocketoink 3]

Argh, hi. Sorry I haven't been active, I was busy with other stuff [Have you tried the Motherload games?] So what happened since I was last here?

[lilmanjs 2]

alright sorry for being gone for so long. I've probably missed a lot. has Tuckaway been closed in?

[Need4Camaro 50]

rocketoink - Yes, redownload Parcel 21 - I've made a small update in it and added labels. Also the Highway Signs are being finished up and I'm thinking up more plot to continue the storyline...

lilmanjs - Nope, download the region if you havn't already, also Parcel 21 has been updated so you'll need to redownload that... 

_______________________________

Attention: Highway 4 Eastbound Signs are COMPLETE and awaiting a menu-management lot allocation by yoshiisland. I will post photos of their GMAX renderings later on.

Westbound Signs should be alot shorter. When they're finished, I will begin by closing PARCEL 3 so all of you who have development requests for it, should begin immediately.

[AceofSpades 1]

Hey, I know I haven't been here in a LONG time. I haven't had access to internet except for short periods of time recently. I just stopped by to check in and I'm glad to see everything's been going great for the city. Sorry I just kinda dissapeared but I'm back

[kj3400 178]

N4C-Same here as AceofSpades, I've had some RL issues and I just got into college so that doesn't help me either. Just wanted you to know i'm not dead and that i wont be able to do much until I get my laptop.

[lilmanjs 2]

I can't seem to download from the fileshare server. I click to download and I have to enter my login stuff again. this sucks cause I need the region now that I have the plugins. also is there a way to get SC4 to start up with just the blue hope region.

[Need4Camaro 50]

AceofSpades - Welcome back - Are you still retaining your job as a Newspaper Poster?

kj3400 - Take your time, when you return, will you retain your job as a Transportation Coordinator?

lilmanjs - So you were able to download the plugins but not the region? Odd. Try again because the fileshare system seems to be fully operational to me. When you get to the point where it asks you to Continue... REFRESH your page because the Fileshare system is actually on a different server so links may need to be updated... When was it that you tried this because this was a recurring problem on the old server due to some defects in the php but that has been resolved...  

As for your second question, yes thats been addressed - read the instructions and it will show you how...

____________________________________________

Poll - Should Blue Hope open up its own forum on the website for the jobs and to post requests? If so, would you check it? - Check the News on the Website for more details (The Home Page, Just scroll down to the 09/08/2008 update...)

____________________________________________

Wanted...

Batters to create Highway Signs

... I've already got the images cut out and the base model for the Highway Sign Posts, I just need people to help me put the boards up so we can get them exported faster... ...Estimating roughly Signs...

You will be paid on the same basis of a transportation coordinator...

If you finish within the same week, 2,000 points will be awarded, all else will be awarded 1,000 points...

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Score Keepers

Your job is to keep an up to date score for each participating individual by analyzing the amount of posts they make between Score Updates aswell as a provide a monthly pay by accessing a database of deeds within a special photobucket provided by the Estimators of the Blue Hope City Journal. You will make a minimum of One Score Update every two weeks and provide the monthly pay at the end of every Month.

Points Paid - 800 Per Month.

[jacqulina 162]

excellent work and pics my friend,very nice rural

[un1 41]

Score Keepers get paid that much!! (Maybe I should become one)

*Calls mapmaker*

-un1

[Need4Camaro 50]

jacqulina - Thanks - Always a pleasure hearing from you.

un1 - Yeah, I've raised the score because I can't really focus any attention to it myself anymore...

[kj3400 178]

Yes, I will keep my job. Could you tell me what I have to do at this point since it looks like a lot has changed?

[Need4Camaro 50]

kj3400 - Make sure you've downloaded the Region and Plugins from the website. Afterwhich the bulk of what we're doing now is getting these signs together.

[phoenix7 3]

I guess I could be a score coordinator. I have followed Blue Hope since the beginning, but I have only lurked

[un1 41]

I think the CJ is going to go through a busy time soon. It already seems it. (You can tell I'm starting to post more...).

Well I'll start with the requests later this week.

-un1

[lilmanjs 2]

just tried to get the region again today and still I'm having no luck. what is going on? also if it helps I'm using IE6 as my browser as its the only option I have.

[Need4Camaro 50]

phoenix7 - Awsome that'll work, I'll add you up.

un1 - That'll work

lilmanjs - That is very strange. PRIVATE MESSAGE me the username / password you're using. Clear your cookies aswell. If worse comes to worse, upgrade to IE 7 but I doubt it has much to do with that. The Login function uses your cookies and looks into the SQL Database of the server to determine if you're logged in or not. I've beenable to login and remain logged in just fine. When it asks you to login twice, do you login again? I believe it has something to do with the server not recognizing your cookie or unable to find a record of you ever logging in to begin with on your machine. I went and tested your account and it worked fine on my machine... Clear your cookies, Upgrade to IE 7 , Get FireFox and try it if you must... Just incase too, check your security settings...

[AceofSpades 1]

Uhh no I probably won't post newspapers sorry

[Need4Camaro 50]

AceofSpades - No problem at all man...

___________________________________________

I've found a blanket of time to post the Highway 4 Eastbound Signs through Lantia and Tuckaway...

Lets begin shall we...

___________________________________________

The story begins with you cruising down a 4 lane divided highway in the rural country. (2 Lanes each direction), the speed limit is 55 MPH and you occasionally pass rural farms with sprouse developments intertwined within. The roadway is long and gentle with an occasional traffic lamps every 3 to 5 miles. There are no stop signs but you've passed under one or two flashing yellows. Ahead though, you see something that at first stands out of place, but after examining the infastructure of the roadway it becomes more and more aparent that it was destined to occur...

BEGIN ACCESS CONTROL!

- From this point, no longer will there be intersections but grade seperated overpasses!

- There will be no road side disturbances from vehicles launching out of driveways, restraunts, and plaza's but instead concentrated exit and entry ramps to equalize the distribution of traffic!

- No longer can pedestrians or bycicles impede the flow of traffic for the bare minimum speed is 40 MPH.

- The next Exit is Exit 1, Highway 6 - There will be no impedence between here and the next 1 Mile...

Okay okay so maybe I went alittle overboard but this is the very first sign you will witness as Highway 4 becomes Lantia Parkway and proceeds eastward.

Decided to give a backshot photo of Sign 1...

The Half Mile warning for Exit 1...

Exit 1 Departs for Highway 6...

Exit 2 Interchanges in 1 Mile...

The Half Mile Warning for Exit 2

West and East Parkplace Exit in 1 and a quarter of a Mile - this proceeds into the denser residential areas of Lantia and combined these exits handle over 10,000 cars daily.

Exit 2 Departs and forms a loop around exit into Coutils Estate Blvd (due to railroad tracks being present on this side of the highway)

Exit 3 Departs in half of a mile

BEGIN LANTIA STYLE SIGNPOSTS

As you close in on the city of Lantia, the city has provided funding to introduce a new style of Highway Sign to beautify the Lantia Parkway cooridoor as it is an important route through Lantia. 

Exit 3 Exit Only's and forms its on Access Road...

ACCESS ROAD SIGN

On the access road to warn you of the upcoming streets and their approach distances.

MAIN CARRIAGE

On the Main Carriage

Exit 4 Exits 1 Mile - This will connect you into Downtown Lantia via Highway 49 South.

ACCESS ROAD

As you approach East Parkplace on the Access Grade Level Road, you get a sign warning you about

the Highway 49 Exit

MAIN CARRIAGE

Exit 4 Departs in Half a Mile.

ACCESS ROAD

The Access Road provides entry back onto Highway 4 / Lantia Parkway EastBound via a short ramp - PREPARE TO MERGE - The ramp is short and offers no taper or shoulder upon entry of Highway 4.

Highway 49's Exit is Just Ahead...

MAIN CARRIAGE

Exit 4 Departs from the Main Carriage and merges onto the Access Road we saw depart at Exit 3... From there, you will Exit off the  access road to merge onto Highway 49 South...

Exit 5 Departs in 1 Mile

ACCESS ROAD

Highway 49 South finally departs here, both the Access Road and Highway 4 Traffic will use this ramp to depart to Highway 49 and Downtown Lantia.

The Access Road no longer has at-grade intersections and becomes grade seperated.

MAIN CARRIAGE

Exit 5 Departs in Half a Mile

Exit 6 is projected in 1 and a quarter of a Mile...

ACCESS ROAD

Left Lane Merged back onto Highway 4 / Lantia Parkway

Right Exit Only's into Exit 5

From here, everything merges back onto the Main Carriage...

Final warning sign for Exit 5...

Diagnal Sign for the Exit 6 Approach.

Exit 6 Departs

The Access Roads which will provide Access to Exits 7 and 8 will depart in two miles...

Exit 7 - Old Lantia Parkway

Exit 8 - Tuckaway Highway

Access Road Exits 1 Mile

Access Road Departs -

Hwy 4 East, Use Left two Lanes

Access Road can use Right two Lanes - Old Lantia Pkwy exits first followed by Tuckaway Highway

ACCESS ROAD

After merging onto the Access Road...

Old Lantia Parkway exits in 1/2 a Mile while Highway 45 (Tuckaway Highway) exits in 1 and 1/2.

ACCESS ROAD

Exit 7 Departs

Exit 8 - 1 Mile

ACCESS ROAD

The Right two Lanes Exit off to Tuckaway Highway (Hwy 45).

The Left two lanes promise to return back to Highway 4's Main Carriage

Exit 9 is 1 Mile Ahead, Accessable by the Access Road.

MAIN CARRIAGE

The Main Carriage also gets a warning for Exit 9

MAIN CARRIAGE

Exit 9 Departs in 1/2 a Mile for the Main Carriage...

ACCESS ROAD

For a short moment after the departure of Tuckaway Highway, the Access Road Merges back onto the Main Carriage and prepares for the next exit...

Those wanting to remain on the Main Carriage will keep left.

ACCESS ROAD

The Access Road Departs once again from the Main Carriage, Exit 9 can be reached here

Exit 10 - The first Limited Access Encounter with Highway 2 is 1 and a quarter miles away

Highway 2 was the Original Beggining of the East/West Connector as Exit 0. Currently it remains the

beggining of the East/West Connector and the Terminus of Lantia Parkway with the addition of 10 Exits.

MAIN CARRIAGE

On the Main Carriage - 1 Mile to Exit 10.

ACCESS ROAD

Diagnal Sign - Exit 10 Departs in half a mile, Highway 4 will return entry to the left.

Notice the trail blazer for the East/West Connector?

MAIN CARRIAGE

Sign on the Main Carriage giving you the half mile warning for Highway 2

MAIN CARRIAGE

At this point, the Access Road merges onto the Main Carriages and continues with its fulfillment with Exit 10

The Right Lane Exit Only's and this would be the final exit for Lantia.

Lantia Parkway ends just after passing Highway 2 and Highway 4 Resumes as the East/West Connector.

The final Lantia Sign Post dedicates itself into stating the next exit... Exit 11, Highway 304 / Atlantic Drive...

LANTIA STYLE SIGNPOSTS END - RESUME STANDARD SIGNPOSTS - LEAVING LANTIA / TUCKAWAY DISTRICT

The final sign for this batch states that Highway 304 is 1/4 Mile away. This concludes the batch before Highway 4 Crosses Parcel Borders...

These signs will be available when Yoshiisland finishes the Menu Management Lot allocation for the Bats... be aware that not all of the signs have allocation just to the left of the tile as some will appear 1, 2, 3 tiles over due to RHW6's, Exits, and Access Roads with Carriageways between them...

That is all for now...

[jacqulina 162]

thanks my friend,excellent signs there

[Need4Camaro 50]

jacqulina - Anytime and thanks