Twinkle, twinkle, little BAT...

[JulioC 2,580]

22 hours ago, madhatter106 said:

 

Everything is very good, amazing job as usual. But I need to say how the first two at the top could work wonderfully as balkan/middle eastern/central asian apartments, which is something we don't have a lot of options out there, very nice 

[raynev1 1,886]

They look incredible, I love your content. Now I'll pull out my laptop and give SC4 a whirl.

[justforfun 7,878]

On 8/25/2024 at 1:41 AM, madhatter106 said:

I've been taking stock of the stuff that I've uploaded to Patreon, and thought I should share some of it, as it will be landing on the STEX in the next several months (depending on the original release date).  A few of these have been previously shared, but I've lumped them together and arranged them, so you'll see a familiar face or two...

 

Low wealth residentials - partially inspired by some similar Maxis counterparts....

I will say the one on the top right with the Claythorne signage looks more medium-wealth to me. Also, any chance you could throw in some pitched roof from time to time? I've got a massive Victorian London-ish region to fill and I don't think I'll manage to create all the models myself 

[benvoliothefirst 36]

New MadHatBats? Is it a leap year already?! Awesome work as usual.

[JulioC 2,580]

On 18/06/2016 at 12:24 PM, madhatter106 said:

 

 

Hey madhatter, I've been reading your BAT thread and I saw this nightlight map you posted. I downloaded it and tested in my gmax and I really liked the results (I really hate doing nightlights in gmax). So I'm asking you if there's any problems with  me using that nightlight map in my BATs. I know there are people out there that uploaded their maps on STEX for other BATters to use it, but since you didnt do that, I'm asking you here for permision since this has been only posted here in your BAT thread. I totally understand if you're answer is no. Thanks in advance 

[madhatter106 3,905]

@JulioC - go ahead and use the nightmap as you see fit.  I'm glad someone else could get some use out of it, and anything that makes doing nightlights in gmax easier for anyone, I am all for sharing.  I do very much appreciate the ask.  Best of luck with your BATs.

[madhatter106 3,905]

The first residential pack is (finally) uploaded here on the STEX.
The SRO hotels should also be coming soon.
There are at least two more packs of residentials that are forthcoming - one is a trio of 3x3 towers (which I shared in December on the Patreon account), and another is a set of 4x2 towers which I am in the process of finishing and sharing in there in the coming months. 

Also in the coming months, there are two packs of small industrials (mechs and outs) to share, which should provide for some much-needed variety in the dirty and manufacturing sectors.
Plus there's always more office goodness as well; we can never have enough CO$$ and CO$$$ in my mind!

[hollyleaf 0]

Do you know if your commercial packs will work with CAM? Getting back into the game and building up my plugins

[madhatter106 3,905]

On 7/10/2025 at 1:13 PM, hollyleaf said:

Do you know if your commercial packs will work with CAM? Getting back into the game and building up my plugins

I can't speak from experience, as I don't know the inner workings of CAM and I don't have it installed, but I would imagine there are no issues.
None of my stuff is too high a stage (I think some of the offices hit stage 6, depending on the lot size.)

Perhaps someone who has my stuff unmodified in their plugins folder who also runs CAM could weigh in.  But my guess is that there would be no issues.

[Crossroads Inc. 68]

Totally off topic... but something i love about this website....

Seeing a topic created back in 2008... still active.. with posts from members who JOINED back in 2008?

genuinely warms my heart.

[Honolulu 2,773]

4 hours ago, Crossroads Inc. said:

Totally off topic... but something i love about this website....

Seeing a topic created back in 2008... still active.. with posts from members who JOINED back in 2008?

genuinely warms my heart.

Still off topic (forgive me @madhatter106 ). That's exactly what I found so remarkable when I discovered this site....The generosity of its community. Indeed, it warms the heart.

[matias93 7,535]

21 hours ago, madhatter106 said:

I can't speak from experience, as I don't know the inner workings of CAM and I don't have it installed, but I would imagine there are no issues.
None of my stuff is too high a stage (I think some of the offices hit stage 6, depending on the lot size.)

Perhaps someone who has my stuff unmodified in their plugins folder who also runs CAM could weigh in.  But my guess is that there would be no issues.

If you modded them with PIM-X, then they will work perfectly with CAM. Otherwise, the biggest possible problem is that they might grow too much or too little, because their stats might be too high or low for their growth stage. Even then, the CAM was mostly made to fit the base game stages and go up from there, so if your stats work well among Maxis lots (and they do), they should also work well with CAM.

[Fantozzi 4,067]

I agree with matias. I didn't play the newest CAM version but it was always the way on the first four growing stages there was no big difference regarding the density (occupants per tile). Reason ist those stages are defined by other needs (water, electricity - so your city won't grow much regarding population but regarding size), So to "camify" bats on the first three growing levels never was really needed. It's mainly and above all an upward expansion adding 8 grow stages behind the 8 grow stages of the base game. The most important thing for gameplay is to have all your nice bats distributed  over those 16 grow stages in a reasonable way. Imagine you'd have 5 bats on grow stage 3 and 500 on grow stage 4. SC4 tends to build always the same - best fitting - bat, it doesn't seem the algorithms can really make use of so many different bats in your plugin folder, if they are all on the same grow stage. Of those 500 most of the time only maybe 50 (don't know) may be seen. But always those poor 5 on level 3.

 

So above level 8, starting with grow level 9,that's where CAM comes fully in charge. If there are no "camified" bats for this growth level ... well obviously nothing can happen then. That's why CAM must modify all maxis bats and reorganize them, spread grow stages out, distribute them over 16 instead of 8 stages. So "camification" is important for those big buildings without CAM they are stage 7 or 8 - with CAM should be 14, 15, 16 instead. On those - change of stage is hughe and makes a big difference (stage is doubled) while between stage 4 or 5, or 5 or 6 - it's not the same big step, the stats won't change dramatically, instead slightly.

 

Now, Regarding the beautiful work of madhatter  most of those bats are "borderline" regarding CAM. Camified or not mostly they wouldn't change growth level, maybe stats a little bit (lesser density/occupants per square). So imo they will run fine with or without CAM. If they don't grow, more likely there are already a lot of bats for this growth level in your plugin folder fitting better (choice/opinion by stubborn algorithms) . So you could alter grow level upwards, f.e. change it from 6 to 7. But then they may grow like weed. It's something I never got balanced in all those years. If you reach a certain amount in your plugin folder regarding a grow level some bats won't grown or grow one of ten cities you build. That's by far the bigger challenge - having a well distributed plugin folder, so each grow level is represented in a reasonable way. Or you make them eyecandy and ploppable. Especially such beauties. Wo would want to wait years for them to show up? Patience is a a virtue, shure, but at a certain point this starts to become torture. All these beautiful things - every week new. More than 22.000 downloads on the STEX!! So, yes, we have to accept, to plopp them to see them is the only painless way. It's smiply too much content to let it grow.

 

Now I ran off topic. Silly old storymaker ... sorry. Better stop my litanies here.

[madhatter106 3,905]

On 8/28/2025 at 9:03 AM, Fantozzi said:

Now, Regarding the beautiful work of madhatter  most of those bats are "borderline" regarding CAM. Camified or not mostly they wouldn't change growth level, maybe stats a little bit (lesser density/occupants per square). So imo they will run fine with or without CAM. If they don't grow, more likely there are already a lot of bats for this growth level in your plugin folder fitting better (choice/opinion by stubborn algorithms) . So you could alter grow level upwards, f.e. change it from 6 to 7. But then they may grow like weed. It's something I never got balanced in all those years. If you reach a certain amount in your plugin folder regarding a grow level some bats won't grown or grow one of ten cities you build. That's by far the bigger challenge - having a well distributed plugin folder, so each grow level is represented in a reasonable way. Or you make them eyecandy and ploppable. Especially such beauties. Wo would want to wait years for them to show up? Patience is a a virtue, shure, but at a certain point this starts to become torture. All these beautiful things - every week new. More than 22.000 downloads on the STEX!! So, yes, we have to accept, to plopp them to see them is the only painless way. It's smiply too much content to let it grow.

Indeed, I think I am probably just skirting the CAM border.  I took a look at the office packs, and up until around volume 7, the vast majority of the buildings were falling in the stage 3, 4, 5, and 6 range.  Then around volume 8 and beyond, the majority were falling into stage 5, 6, and 7.  You might say my BATting got more ambitious here, lol.  At any rate, I am fairly certain I have never BATted something that hits stage 8; so your assessment is probably correct - I would guess them not being CAMified would not break anything.  I think perhaps 12 or 13 storeys is the tallest thing that I have BATted, and I am almost certain that has been a residential BAT that hit stage 7.

[matias93 7,535]

An option to not have to deal with CAM stages would be to make bigger lots for the taller buildings, so that the overall occupancy share keeps the lot under stage 7.

[madhatter106 3,905]

Been meaning to get these on the STEX for a bit, and finally succeeded.  Two packs of dirty industrials - mechs and outs.  I've always wanted to see more variety in my industrial zones, so I figured these would do the trick...

First up are the dirty mechs - tanks and tanks and tanks...

Here are the outs...a selection of sheds...

[brancra 1,134]

By any chance @madhatter106, would you be willing to share in this thread preview pics of BATs that are currently on your Patreon or in-progress? To build up excitement of what's available and what's to come.

[madhatter106 3,905]

@brancra Yes indeed, you read my mind.  Here's a little bit of what I've been up to over at the Patreon, and what should be hitting the STEX soon...

This set of three 3x3 towers (in all three wealth levels) will be the next residential set...

 

And because I cannot get enough offices, here's a medley for the next CO packs...

 

There is also a set of 4x2 residentials that I've been working on, but I've come to a stumbling block on the last one, and I cannot seem to get my head around fixing it.  But hopefully a bolt of inspiration will descend soon and hit me square in my hatted head...in the meantime, enjoy this sneak peek

[matias93 7,535]

I love the shapes of the buildings on the last image, they look perfect for corners!

[raynev1 1,886]

Wow , they look amazing . I'm glad to see you are still making awesome content . Keep up the good work.

[madhatter106 3,905]

@matias93 - thanks, I was on a roll with finding weirdly-shaped offices to break out of the standard rectangle/box mentality and to challenge myself a bit.  Indeed, many of them are perfect for corners!

@raynev1 - thanks.  BATting is a deeply ingrained habit and hobby for me, so it's always fun to make these and fun to share them as well.

I managed to finally upload the 3x3 residential towers pack, so that is now available on the STEX...hoping to share lots more good stuff via my Patreon (for those wanting first crack, "hot off the presses" style) and then the STEX in 2026...best wishes to all for a great new year!

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Wonderful work Madhatter106, those New York style buildings really got my attention, and Happy New Year!!!!

[madhatter106 3,905]

@Aaron Graham - indeed, half of the time I was BATting these, my thoughts would wander and I would think, "what would Aaron Graham do?"  Happy New Year to you as well, and glad to see you are still around here!

[Lab Rat 15]

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