Ngeeves BATs

[ngeeves 5]

Well the focus has changed and im now working on stuff for an upcoming CJ.

Well here was my old focus:
 Well I don't know about you but I am extremely tired of filling half a large game tile with really low rise high tech industry just to fill demand. Therefore, I took inspiration from Biopolis (in Singapore) which is just in front of my house and decided to bat a building (or a series - i havent quite decided yet) to help fill that demand. I would very much appreciate comments on it and possible improvements to make it better. 

BTW: It's a 4x5 tiled building.

[drevilshenchman 4]

I have been wishing for high rise high tech for ages. I feel that is completely unrealistic to have sprawling high tech industry because in reality, high tech industry very often operates downtown, even in the same buildings as commercial. The way high tech industry is designed in the game is one of the most flawed things about simcity

[paperboy15 4]

Originally posted by: drevilshenchmanI feel that is completely unrealistic to have sprawling high tech industry because in reality, high tech industry very often operates downtown, even in the same buildings as commercial. The way high tech industry is designed in the game is one of the most flawed things about simcityquote>

Much like Intel's campus of 16,000 employees in Hillsboro, Oregon (a suburb west of Portland). Hahaha. Seriously, I have to disagree with you here. 'High' rise high tech makes sense in a city like Singapore, since space is at a premium, but in the most of the USA (and I would assume almost everywhere else that's not as dense as Singapore) that's not how it is. It's best to give those trucks hauling the chips, robots, lab monkeys, etc some room to maneuver around the loading dock. And how often is high tech industry found in a CBD? I don't know, but I'll guess almost never.

[dwayner 1]

You can find high rise tech here - https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?p=results - it's called HighTech Developments. All I did was load it in the lot editor and delete all the buildings but the tower and make the lot the size of the tower, save over the original and there you have a tower with 9000 high tech jobs.

[SimFox 802]

Much of the high-tech industry requires extreme precision that could be difficult to guarantee in high-rise building due to the moment and vibrations of such a structure.

BTW where have you seen High Tech INDUSTRY operating downtown?

[skyliner22 16]

I think he means bit exactly high rise but mid rise like the many offices in Silicon Valley

Intel HQ

Yahoo HQ

Basically office parks but with large headquarters located there.

And that is an awesome idea, Maxis high tech is very unrealistic most high tech is built within such buildings since it is HIGH TECH~

[SimFox 802]

but are those actual PRODUCTION facilities? or just design centers? If first then these are Offices, not Industry (in the game sense)

[drevilshenchman 4]

The production of products of high tech industries are done by manufacturing industry.  Very often, even in the USA, high tech industries may have several floors in a high rise building in a downtown area

[autoVino 26]

I have to agree with SimFox, the high tech facilities that are high rises are offices.  Lets take any industry with high pressure pressing systems.  You can't have those on the second floor or higher because they would break the building.  They requier a huge support system to keep the building in place.  I can imagine a few prototype machines in high rises, but having a whole industry located in a skyscraper just isn't gonna pass.

Lexmark international (here at Lexington) has a huge office park, with a couple mid rise buildings, but inside them are offices for programmers and designers.  All the prototypes and ink are made in seperate low rise facilities not too far off.  The printers themselves are made in other countries.

Unless of course it's in the biolagical industry, then maybe (mission impossible movies...)

All in all, although unrealistic for "hard core" industry, it would work for the intellectual industry...

So I think it's a pretty good idea if it's the design and prototype industry!  What you have right now is a pretty good shape. 

[hamsterTK 93]

Actually I would say that many are actually mid-rise even if there are only 1 or 2 production floors. Ive driven by the Samsung factory in Austin, and that thing is pretty damn big. The roof junk adds the heigh even more

I think maybe they have to somewhat tall because of all the big ventihilation tubes and other roof junk. Which brings up another point: I think the hardest part of BATting any high tech stuff is going to be all the big pipes and tanks that go all over the plant.

here is a local live shot just showing the height. I know the grayish area is 4 stories high because its flush with the glass facade of the part that faces the highway.

[ngeeves 5]

Well I've been doing work experience inside the building next to this one and all the buildings surrounding me have been filled with labs. In the middle of the building are all the shared rooms such as dark rooms, centrifuge rooms, -20 degree rooms, etc etc. I wanted this to be in my city because the high tech industry would fit in with the buildings surrounding it and there wouldnt be too much of a height jump.

By the way, here's an update to what i've done. The dark blue building hasnt been textured yet.  Any texture suggestions?

Geevesy

[SimFox 802]

I think this argument boils down to the definition of "industry" and “high tech”. We say Film Industry, but mean by this production of Movies, not the actual Film they're shot on. Same goes for High Tech. When word industry is applied to it normally this means the research not actual manufacturing of the resulting product. And let's just think would you call assembling computer high tech? Monkey can do it! Most traditional crafts like carpentry and such are FAR more complex and in fact High tech in a sense that it requires more skill and, particularly, intelligent adaptability from the person performing the task than most actual manufacturing jobs in real "high tech" industry - that's why they are much better performed by stupid, but precise robots! In High tech the HIGH part mostly ends at the design table!

Of course another interpretation of High Tech is any tech performed somewhere high say changing memory module in the office/apartment on say 30th floor. Or when one performing the task is high himself

[ngeeves 5]

Ok well thanks to Simfox for giving us the word by word definition of what 'industry' and 'high tech' is. Moving on, I have an update! I have finished the  texturing the outsides of the buildings. I now plan to add the night lights (something I have not done before). Tell me what you think of what I have done so far! Critisicm is extremely welcome so long as it is constructive !

(I know I need to add chairs etc but i'm saving that for the lot editor)

Geevesy

[bixel 1,223]

ngeeves I am very excited by this project of yours, and the building is looking good. Keep at it. I agree with you on industrials. The buildings should start looking more modern and larger with higher jobs.

[ngeeves 5]

Well it appears i've hit a roadblock! two! Firstly, my night lights wouldn't show in my render and then when I exported it to see what it looked like in game (everything was done except for the night lights), I couldn't find it in the lot editor! I've double checked that it would fit, which it should do, and its in a high tech lot that's big enough for it but it still isn't working.. I've even tried re-exporting it!

Im currently pouring through lot editor troubleshooters but if you want to save me some time (please) then can you please give me some help! 

Thanks,

Geevesy

@bixel: Thanks! Well I figured that with you making residential lots (which I love and fit in with my Singaporean cities) and ndex covering commercial skyscrapers, that I should dabble in some much needed high tech stuff!

[bixel 1,223]

Did you create a LM desc. file 1st?? Also, make sure your lot is not too small. Change the LOT size to 5x6 and see if it shows up.

[ngeeves 5]

The problem has been solved in theory.. now to put it to practice! If you look in the picture you will see that in the overhead view it is large but in the picture it is smaller. This is because the way it was grouped means that it stuck out from the building and tricked the render into thinking something was there. The second problem was that it is a fractured building and not fully there. I believe that is from it not being centered properly - I've now done that properly. Does it need to be centered on the z-axis as well because I haven't .

Wish me luck!

Geevesy

EDIT: I still can't solve the problem! The lengths of the building are 76 x 60 x 56.6 (l x w x h) but it says 116 in the lot editor! I've hidden the building and deleted all around it for stray parts but it still isn't being solved! Can anyone help?

[mightygoose 92]

well maxis put its high tech high rise industries downtown with commercial jobs... pedriana pharmeceuticals, that is an industry... but the building supplies 7000 co$$$ jobs rather than 7000 IHT jobs....

[bixel 1,223]

The model should be centered x = 0 y = 0. Don't center it to z otherwise half the model will be underground. You can try openeing a new scene and merging the model into it and resaving as v2. Then try exporting again, that might work. Sounds like the original LODs are messed up.

[ngeeves 5]

Well this is it. It's in the game and came out alright! Nearly done now.. just gotta sort out the nightlights which for some reason arent appearing in game . Behind it is a quick little sign I made that will go with the set (when the set is complete it will be released with it). Is it good enough for the stex? If it is then i'll release it to see what kind of review i'll get. Please comment.

Geevesy

[CarmineHilton 6]

looks nice ngeeves!

Are you planning on making bigger plants too? That would be great!

We really need some new industry in SC4, that can match up with the evolution in real life...

[ngeeves 5]

Thanks Carmine! Well first of all I want to complete a medium rise set before moving on to higher stuff but the second in the series is well on it's way! I think by tomorrow I should have the surrounding walls done which will just leave me night lighting (which i am going to force myself to get better at ) and random clutter around the building! Btw, i'm thinking of a series of 6 buildings for the medium rise 'set'. If you can't bat, or can't be bothered to, then feel free to send me any designs you think of!

Geevesy

[hamsterTK 93]

Interesting,

Ditch the orange though. You could try Copper instead

Monkey can do it! Most traditional crafts like carpentry and such are FAR more complex and in fact High tech in a sense that it requires more skill and, particularly, intelligent adaptability from the person performing the task than most actual manufacturing jobs in real "high tech" industry -quote>

Definetely agree

I know this guy who does horseshoes the old way, its a very complex process that takes skill and isnt that pleasant either between the burning hoof smell and constant hammering.

[ngeeves 5]

Well I know you advised that I change the texture to a copper but it really did not look that good. However, I do have an update and I think you'll find that the building has advanced a considerable way from what you last saw. Hope you like it and please leave helpful comments!



Geevesy

P.S. Where can I find a good foliage tutorial?

[bbfan02 23]

When are you gonna release your latest high-tech building onto the STEX? I'm practically dying to see it!

[ngeeves 5]

Well i've run into some problems to put it bluntly. Firstly, I decided that I need to make it a ploppable as well as growable and a landmark and I also need to alter the growth stage from an 8 to a 6 as it never grows! currently i'm wrestling with the fact that the textures keep messing up in the export of a newer version (with foliage ) and the fact that my iLive reader is not working! If anybody would like to mod this for me I would greatly appreciate it.

Geevesy

EDIT: The foliage is being redone (for the first building) and iLive is finally working . I'm currently exporting the orange building for an in game test (You will have to wait to see what it's called). Lastly, i've created a fully functional bus station to go with it (it'll be included with the 'orange building' when I release it).

Jake_Lava: here's your texture:

[ngeeves 5]

Right well I hate to bump my own thread and i'm sorry about the double posting but i've been working on something ENTIRELY different over these last couple of days. Hopefully some of you know what this is but for those of you here is an explanation: A cable ski or (Ski360 as it is called in Singapore) is where you can wakeboard cheaply (cheaper than hiring or keeping a boat). You are pulled by a cable from the platform (green in this bat). Once up you can ride until either your time is up or you run out of 'runs'.. it all depends on the firm that is running it. Hope to see it soon on the STEX.

Geevesy 

[Sim shady 12]

Cool idea with those ski things. Honestly i have never heard of such a thing before, but i do love water skiing

ps: its no problem to double post after several days have gone by with no responses.*

*lets not beat sim shady to a pulp if you guys disagree with this sentiment

[ngeeves 5]

Well this is: My finished model.. I was going to add a couple of wakeboarders or water skiiers but I never got round to it.. I prefer it empty anyway ! Maybe when my skill with modelling increases I will revisit this and give it a couple of wakeboarders.. maybe some animations.. who knows!



Hope you like it!
Geevesy

Edit: Now with a waves bump map
         I need tips on the decking - it looks far too plain so far! 
        The visible wall of the pro shop now has a Liquid Force advert on it.

[Mr. Glamazon 9]

Hello ngeeves!

I've never posted in your thread, but I've watched it a little. I like some of the midrise hightech you're working on! On the Ski360 I would probably pay a little more attention to the tables, for sure. The umbrellas seem low and the props might use a little more detail in general. I think the textures in general might need some work. For the deck, try going to a home improvement website or a webvsite that advertises a siding or deck material, like Trex, and save a couple of their images to apply to the deck. It'll look like realistic planks, because they ARE realistic planks! Whenever I have a texture issue I check out home improvement store sites and the makers of products that I might use if this were a real life project.