SimFox's non-Asian BATs

[bixel 1,228]

What are you using for trees? the ones I use are incredibly high poly and slows down my render time.

[Jasoncw 11,949]

Yeah, I need some good flora too. My two next BATs will need some bushes and small trees, and mine aren't very good, lol. I just found the AEC flora, but it doesn't look as good, and doesn't seem as efficient as what you're describing.

[SimFox 804]

sorry for delay in replying...

Well, those trees aren't really a low poly thing... Depending on the level of detail (mainly what sort of branches to create) they weigh about 600 - 800 000 polygons each. So 26 trees in the scene make about 15 - 18 million polygons. But as I've been saying many times the simple number of polygons isn't accurate estimate of the render speed. It is how many of those are seen and interact with environment. Simple illustration would be create some gazilion teapots. and then crate a box over them and try to render.

Trees are created OnyxTree it is a bit hard to get your mind (at first) around program (www.onyxtree.com). But with some experimenting it could deliver totally stunning results. here are some illustration of what it could be in talented hands:

Of course making trees in Onyx for use in SC4 one mast take into account the limitations and peculiarities of the game. "normal" tree wouldn't look quite right. Also materials for leaves is a major part that would affect both look and the speed of the result.

Another way to make foliage is to use particle system. You mane the volume of the tree and set that geometry to emit particles. To make things lighter you can place some sort of leave colored dummy inside and emit particles just on the surface not volume. make convincing "leaf" model and assign it to particles and v

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

WOW, those trees look almost as good as real trees! By the way, great work, its really looking fantastic!

[Andreas Roth 629]

Those trees look excellent indeed! I understand the polygon count/rendering time issue, but I figure that those trees and bushes could be rendered as separate props and then placed on the lot - well, maybe not on this one, due to certain limitations, but I'd love to see some of those great models as a prop pack...

[SimFox 804]

Of course... the main reason to include trees as a part of the model is to have proper shadows (props wouldn't receive them at all, or receive the wrong ones) and to get them into reflections and Ambient Occlusion calculations again for better integration.

I'm working on floral prop pack though...

[Sim shady 12]

all right I imagine flora recieving the Sim Fox quality treatment shall produce stunning results.

[mcarch 15]

I'm going to puke... ugh, those are so good.

[SimFox 804]

I did mentioned it, but I think I must stress it again - THOSE TREES aren't mine... I just showed what the specific piece of software is capable of.

Mine ones are simpler, but I believe are good for SC4. Game it's viewing angles, and scale do create unique challenges that are not normally there for proper architectural visualization. So, naturally there have to be custom solutions...

I'm working on first set of threes, based on the model seen on RT lot and chestnuts I used on lowrise residential... But my plate is pretty full nowadays so it may be some time...

BTW if people have any ideas or requests for particular type of trees please post it here. But please do take time and explain your requests a bit...

[fusion_lemon 2]

Excellent looking trees!!! I first thought they were real photos lol

If there is increasing details with numerous polygons for only one single tree will the filesize gets too large?

[SimFox 804]

what file size are you talking about?

Original Max file - YES

the thing you have in game - NO.

File size of the stuff in game depends only on its 2d dimensions (sorry), because what you see in game is a largely flat picture. To be very precise, there is very much simplified model Basically a 5 sided box, unless one had decided to go for custom LODs. So 10 000 polygon tree and 5 000 000 polygon tree will be exactly same in terms of game file sizes.

BTW this could be considered a reason for BATing the LOTs. On a lot assembled in Lot editor each and every prop, flora object is a separate model (albeit a simple one) still if you have say 100 items the polygon count of such an assembly will be well 100 times more than in case of a BATed lot. Now multiply this great many times you have lots in the city and you see the nature of the issue. So this is a pitfall of Prop packs obsession many either don't comprehend or ignore.

So, it is advisable to bat the entire piece of, say avenue divider (1x3 or2x4 etc) instead of assembling it form 20-30 prop pieces in Lot editor

[Gn_leugim 858]

OMG!!! those tress look.. I'm speechless

[Sim shady 12]

You make a good point with the batted lots there. I think while the lot editor allows for people to have more flexibility in customizing their lots to their taste, batted lots have the ability to look much more realistic and conform with the building better.

[bixel 1,228]

Onyx trees! Cool I'm on it.

[SimFox 804]

Bixel!

Yep!

Ideally get the Treestorm plugin to bring trees to max in procedural form.

[Gn_leugim 858]

I just wish to have your patience and time to do such work (and also a pc which could handle such polygon number lol)

[SimFox 804]

Ukraina ain't forgotten:

CLICK on picture to see proper Zoom5 view

this is a "stocky" version, For the game it will be stretched somewhat along Z axis (1,25-1,3). But to ovoide issues with scalling I'll finnish modeling it in real height and do adjustments as at the final stage...

[Fresh Prince of Wmbg 44]

Moscow state university? Nice!

[SimFox 804]

^^

nope

It isn't... it is Hotel Ukraina - second tallest of Stalins Seven Sisters...

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

I need to go and change my pants now.

[patriots_1228 51]

Hot dogs linked me to this then swore his head off. Now hotdogs never swears.

The moral of the story is, your work is so awesome it made Hot Dogs swear.

[Fresh Prince of Wmbg 44]

Whoops! Looks like I don't know the eastern european buildings well.....................

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

I am this close to setting that render as my desktop background *||* However, i know it will be even more AMAZING after u finish! Looking forward to that one so much!!!

[Gn_leugim 858]

OMG!!! awesome!!!! I'm not going with communist stuff, but that is great!!!!

[renemone 15]

great work

[bixel 1,228]

chekkit - too big to post here

original thread here

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=29760&page=25

[panthersimcity4 162]

My jaw unhinged when I saw those trees. Then I said "holy !@#$" SO amazingly awesomely... awesome!!!!!!!!!

[BurroDiablo 222]

I uh... I uh... emm... weeeeee

[Cockatoo 2,257]

That's amazing to say the least! Nice work Simfox, can't wait to see a textured version. It will look stunning in the game.

[Jasoncw 11,949]

It goes without saying that it's fantastic.

The only thing I can think of to say, is that before you're finished with it, I think it's important that some sense scale is given to all of that massive ornament.