The Greater Terran Region

[s_olah 87]

Incredible development...that second picture is unbelievable...there will be like 25.000 residents in those highrises...incredible...

[Tarkus 6,933]

Talk about a boomtown . . . that seemed to have sprouted up in no time at all.  I really like what you did with the NAM Elevated Avenue pieces transitioning onto that bridge in the first pic of this update.  It's just absolutely seamless.  The RHW usage is excellent as well.  Seeing that dual lane shift setup there gave me an idea for another S-Curve puzzle piece, too.

-Tarkus

[gabry85 2]

Whoa, now that's demand!

[Smarty218 2]

Holy *Bleep*!

That is some INSANE demand!!! How on EARTH (Or otherwise) do you do it?!!?!?!?!?!?

[Need4Camaro 50]

Very nice! Your highways are awsome! Curious how large is the region now? Are you going to gorw the entire city to the bounderies of the region and enlargen the region?

[dfnva 34]

It will be interesting to see what the area looks like once everything is built. I find it interesting that you do what I do and do a lot of planning to put the roads and such in place before the development.

Dan

[Haljackey 17,386]

Replies:

un1:  LOL!  I hope you are okay!  Thanks a lot for your kind comments!

-And to answer your question, I expected demand to be high, but not this high!

-About the building, I'm not too sure at the moment.  The next time I start SC4 I'll query it and get back to you with a PM.  I am pretty sure you can get it from the STEX.

hamish:  Hehe....  Thanks!

mightygoose:  "And we have liftoff of Terran Settlement!"

Skyscraperlover:  Thanks for all your kind comments and constructive criticism!  Let me break down my reply for you:

-I know my transport system is large, but how is it messy?  About management of the system, please take a look at the introduction.  This is a fictional CJ, so some things are bound to be unrealistic.

-How is the city disorganized?  Feedback is always appreciated!  I would love to hear what the viewers have to say!

-The construction/reconstruction in the GTR (Greater Terran Region) is just what happens to growable lots in SC4.  I guess I could make buildings historical so they won't be rebuilt, but I like to see the city reconstruct itself.

-About funding/demand, please see the introduction.

-Glad you liked Gary's traffic report!

-The skyline is spread out too much?  It is really clustered, unless you are talking about the region view.  This region is a HUGE work in progress, and it will look MUCH better when its done!

-About air traffic, of course, the dense skyline would be a "no fly zone".  The GTR has two major airports right now, but I do plan to construct a MASSIVE airport away from the city centre some time the future.

-About the logo, if you would like to help, that would be great!  Send me a PM sometime if you are interested!  I suck at photoshop

Patricius Maximus:  Thanks a lot!

kj3400:  Yes it did.  Thanks a lot for the comments!

s_olah:  Thank you!  Ya, it even amazed me! 

Tarkus:  Hey, glad to see you back!  Thanks a lot for your comments!

-I had no idea this would inspire you to work on some new NAM stuff!  I think the current NAM has enough gizmos already! (But could always use a few more )

gabry85: LOL!  Yes it is! 

Smarty218:  Holy crap!  Why would you say something like that???

-Like I said in my intro, I use the super-demand mod for commercial office only.  Add the huge region population, and you got a boomtown (like Tarkus said!)!

Need4Camaro:  Hey, thanks a lot for all your comments!  In the long term, I plan to develop the region.

-How do you expand a region?  I have always wanted to know....

dfnva:  Yes it will.  You find it interesting, eh?  I do plan many but not all segments.

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Update time!

Whew that was a lot of commenting!  Thanks for all the replies, I love responding to them!

Anyways, not too much for this update, just a few more construction/overview photos of the developing area.

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Picture Information:

NOTICE:  Please Read!

    Before I post some pictures of my cities, please know that I strive for the best quality of my images possible.  Every picture from here on-in is not photoshopped in any way, and is taken directly from the game to show you exactly what I see in the game.  The only editing done is converting the .PNG file to .JPEG.

***IMPORTANT***    Also, please know that my pictures are COMPRESSED, and are NOT RESIZED! When you resize a picture, a ton of the image's quality is lost, and is shrunk to comply with ST's picture size limits.  Compressing the image retains the quality, but looks terrible when squeezed to comply with site limits.

But, I have found a loophole in this problem.  Each compressed picture displayed will be linked to the actual uncompressed, true image.  All you have to do to view the image in its FULL RESOLUTION (1920x1200) is to simply click on the compressed image displayed in this city journal (800x500).  The reason that the images are not 800x600 is because I present my pictures in widescreen (16:10 aspect ratio), making the image much more appealing for the human eye's stereoscopic vision.

If you have any questions or comments about how I display my images, feel free to post a reply.

Updated as of March 28th, 2008: All images hereon in are in High-Definition! (1920x1200).  Make you sure you click on 800x500 photos in the CJ to see them in excellent quality!

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Pictures:

Click on the Images to view them in HIGH-DEFINITION!

On the north side of the river, a skyline has also taken shape.

Some nice homes near the bullet train river crossing:

A overview of the eastern industrial area.  Still plenty of room for development!  Also, note the cargo ship setting sail.

A look at the causeway and the finished buildings.

FUNNY PIC:  Hey, the ferry terminal isn't ready for use yet!  It doesn't even have power! 

-Stupid Sims!

A look at the rail transfer and city stats.  Population is now 171,000, plus jobs

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Anyways, that's it for now!  I hope you liked it!

Best,

-Haljackey

[un1 41]

I liked it indeed!! No questions this time...

[edmonton_stinks 5]

Haha, that part about the ferry terminal is funny. This is a rather shocking update, though. Low density houses. And...industry!

You certainly keep it interesting.

[Hamish 1,370]

Looking great so far.

[lucky7 73]

Oh, wow, that's what I call a development!! So many skyscrapers, impressive! Looking forward to more,

lucky7

[jacqulina 162]

wow growth is coming on so well,great planning and layout my friend,wonderfull work and pics

[kj3400 178]

Great update. I know some Sims must feel odd, having their small home next to a towering skyscraper.

[sixers33 3]

Great development! I love the skyscrapers, looking Good

[un1 41]

Now I have a question, how do you connect the RHW to the avenue without having that strange loup??

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

Hahaha, those people are REALLY eager to use that ferry! Are they running a special? Are there celebrities showing up for the ribbon cutting ceremony? Are there free pizzas on the other side waiting to be taken home hot and fresh?

[Patricius Maximus 236]

Haljackey, the developers in your city seem to have a taste for massive buildings. Love that transit system -- glad you're still using Maxis Highways and the RHW. They convert into each other quite easilly if you know what you're doing.

Anyway, great update. Can't wait for some more of this

[Haljackey 17,386]

Replies:

un1: Two posts = two replies!

1.  Thanks!

2.  I am not too sure what you are asking.  Directly connecting the RHW to an ave works fine for me.

edmonton_stinks:  Ya, isn't it?

-I try to keep it interesting...

hamish:  Thanks a lot!

lucky7:  Wow!  Thanks for all your comments!

jacqulina:  Thanks!  Glad you like the pics and the layout!

kj3400:  Thank you!  Hey, you saw it grow.  That's the way they wanted it!

-Remember this isn't SCS!

sixers33:  Hey, thanks a lot!

NMUSpidey:  I don't know what's gotten into them!  I would go there too if there was free pizza!  Wouldn't you? 

Patricius Maximus:  It seems so, doesn't it?  Glad you like the transit system!  Yes, don't worry, I know what I am doing when it comes to highways and the RHW!

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Anyways, no update today, I just wanted to get back to your replies!

However, I do have something to show (I always do!).  I have quite a few plugin files that I'd rather not have right now.  Some of them are landmarks/buildings, some are missing/orphaned textures, some are brown boxes!

I have narrowed down my search to many conflicting/unwanted plugins in the game.  No Cleanitol file can get rid of these, so I have been doing it manually.  With over 2GB of plugins, it takes a while.  Here is my progress so far:

Image is rather large.  Click on the thumbnail to view it in its original resolution.

 

Once I get these files out of the way, I will get back to updating the Greater Terran Region (GTR).  Thanks for your patience!

Best,

-Haljackey

[jacqulina 162]

good luck with cleaning out your plugin folder my friend,looking out for your next update

[kj3400 178]

Wow, that's a lot of plugins. and I thought my handwriting was sloppy. No, it's still sloppier.

[un1 41]

I have way more than that. But I don't even like most of them!!! About my question I don't need help any longer I found out...

Edit: 2GB???? I only have 612 MB... Wow!!!!

Originally posted by : un1 I have way more than that.quote>

Maybe I don't??? No I don't

[Patricius Maximus 236]

It would seem that you are having the same kind of trouble as mrbisonm (mastermind of Nexis of Geneis   ).

Good luck cleaning your plugins! I had a minor cleanout a few days ago, but not on that kind of scale.

Looking forward to next update.

[cjman 0]

Wonderful city, it is very large, but well planned and the integration of transit systems is near flawless. The region is by far the largest I have ever seen. I really enjoyed your videos too.

~Don~

[edmonton_stinks 5]

2GB of plugins?? Yikes!

[jacqulina 162]

i also have a big plugin folder i think when i have time i will have to do a clean out lol.

[Haljackey 17,386]

Replies:

jacqulina (both replies):  Thanks!  Good luck cleaning yours out too!

kj3400:  Yes it is.  Ya, I wrote this stuff in a rush!

un1:  Actually, I know a lot of people with more than 4GB!  Having 2GB is small for them, but big for me...

Patricius Maximus:  Thanks!  I got most of em!

cjman:  Thanks a lot for all your comments!

edmonton_stinks:  2GB is the largest I've ever had, but I know others with over 6GB!

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Update time!

All right, I got most of the files I was looking for.  Here are the results:

-I got night lighting to work again!  Wow, how I miss all those pretty colours!  My cities will now light up!

-New texture mods are not overridden anymore.  The Greater Terran Region (GTR) now has much better looking sidewalks!

-Most brown boxes have been removed.

-And a lot more!  Overall, it was a good clean!

I have a nice large update to celebrate the cleaning.  It includes the widening/reconstruction of a highway and my first mosaic!  I really hope you enjoy it!

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Pictures:

Click on the Images to view them in High-Definition!  (Please see my PICTURE INFORMATION on my first post on this page if you are new here.  Thanks!)

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A look at the riverside interchange with the new red textures.  Also note the development occcuring around it.

Across the river, you can see that those mansions have been quickly replaced with high-rises as demand continues to rise.

A look at the new city hall:

This RHW-2 is a very congested artery.  Now that the city has grown, inter-region traffic has really increased.  Time to upgrade it!

A look at the new upgraded RHW-4.

New interchanges have also been built for the new highway.  Here is where the highway originally widened:

Here is the newly constructed interchange.

A more centralized look at the curve leading out of the developed part of the city.  Note how the ramps extend to complete the large, open interchange.  Plenty of room for merging has also been added through extended acceleration/deceleration lanes.

Another new interchange along the highway

Further north along the highway, a unique interchange needed to be built:

That does it for my regular 10 photo update, but I have a Bonus for you this time!

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Mosaic

And, finally, as I promised, my first mosaic! 

This was made to celebrate the new night lighting I got from cleaning my plugins.  Beautiful, eh?

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this update as always!

Best,

-Haljackey

[ky72x 13]

Yeah, nightlights! Also, good to hear about the sidewalk mod, as well. Those textures look much better than the generic Maxis-made ones.

Building choices really define a city. You always take note of that, and it shows in your cities! While I'm on the subject, I'll have to ask: What is that small white building in the first picture next to the one being built? I've asked someone about it before, but I never got a response. Luckily, you keep up-to-date with replies, so I won't have to worry about that.

Your mastery of transportation networks is downright amazing. The complex interchanges all look good, and I like the fact that there is plenty of visible traffic traveling along each road. Nice first mosaic to wrap it all up. Keep up the work, I'll be back for more!

- Kyle

[un1 41]

4GB Wow... You know the RHW-2 that was a congested artery that would never be close to mine........

Anyways great update!!!!!! The moisic looks great!!! Keep up the good work!!! 

The RHW-2 has 50,000 cars daily...

I finaly changed it to RHW-4 it still is congested...

The traffic jams are on its entire lenght or across a meduim sized city...

What I should do next???

[tahill79 13]

very beautiful city. ure interchanges are great as allways!!!!!!!!

[GlobalHaze 1]

I was always unsure about this, but you know the red-tiled roads and avenues in your mosaic, which is awesome btw, what are they used for?