Twinkle, twinkle, little BAT...

[.Roland 0]

I just wanted to say that these buildings look absolutely outstanding!

[cogeo 960]

if you're referring to tile set, I hadn't given it any thought...I'm just in the BATting/texturing stage. Though I don't think I've ever edited or modded my stuff to exclude any tile sets.

Yes, I mean the tileset. But I didn't ask how these are about to be modded, instead what the real architecture is. As it is also the case with much of the Maxis content, many buildings have been modded to grow in all 4 tilesets, although the architecture was originally of one certain style. Eg Chalmers Co is of NY architecture but included in all 4 tilesets.

So you want to make some new buildings with some of the Maxis ones. Wwll, you know my suggestion, the bldgs growing in stage-5 2x3 lots (among others, but that's the lot size I'm mostly interested in, due to its versatility - it's capable of growing tiny office bldgs to skyscrappers, and even be combined to form 4x3 at some later stage). Modde Inc, Galvin Techtronics, Curtin Fabrics, Fancey Foods and Kearney LLC, grow in large numbers and result in a very repetitive look (although they are as many as 5 and grow in all 4 tilesets). Take a look in one of my cities:

Please also note that the next bigger building(s) (eg Reflect Systems Incorporated or Brink Real Estate) have a very different look, they are mostly "small hirises" rather than "big midrises". That is the above buildings are the biggest available ones that feature a "medium-sized" look, ie the ultimate stage of the development of a medium-density commercial area (although the simulator can grow the above said taller buildings there too, the player can always mark them as historical). In addition, these are also used in many CS$$$ lots, exacerbating the problem. And their shape is not square either!

Another building SC4 lacks is a CO$$$ bldg with about 500 jobs. Such an example is the 0x4000008B family (Bunch Engineering and Ferrrara Inc), only this one is unique to the Chicago tileset. Everyone developing a non-Chicago-style city doesn't have these available. Take a look at my post

As for CO$$, it is quite more complicated, partly due to inconsistent modding. For example, take a look at the stage-6 2x3 lots. These include buildings ranging from 51 to 308 jobs! On the other hand, Leong Accountants (Chicago, 139 jobs) grow in stage-4 2x3 lots! I get lots of Wright & Daughter and Zvenigorodsky Inc (not as many Micro Cox Electronics, though in the same family as Zvenigorodsky, I guess because it offers an exceptionally low number of jobs). The above buildings are set to grow in all four tilesets and compete with true stage-6 buildings (I think the simulator does not "upgrade" a lot to another one of the same growth stage and wealth, even if its number of jobs is much higher - or I'm wrong???). To my opinion the above three buildings, along with Leong, should have been set to stage 5 (which is lacking completely for 2x3-sized lots). In such a case stage-6 2x3 would include buildings ranging from 236 to 308 jobs, which is much more consistent. So I think you could try making (true) stage-6 CO$$$, with some 200 to 300 jobs (basically somewhat taller than the ones you have already made, but ortho- not square-shaped, ie featuring a much bigger volume). Such buildings are Wilson-Wade Attorneys, Tablante Communications, Grove Consulting, Hayashi Consultants and Cho & Sons. Another possibility is buildings like Dolan Contractors, Miguel LLC and Fennel Corp, which the Houston and Euro tilesets lack completely (this is more noticable for their lower-stage, larger lots, like 4x4, 4x3, 3x4 and 3x3).

About the compilation you asked, I have a complete list of all CO$$$ buildings and lots in Excel format, with all buildings sorted by size and categorised appropriately. Also a small (incomplete) list of certain CO$$ buildings (not the ones I mentioned above, unfortunately).

[madhatter106 3,931]

Indeed, the Maxis 2x3's like Modde, Curtin, and Fancey are on my list to make some competition. I'm used to 1x1 and 1x2 and 2x2 buildings, so wrapping my head around something larger takes me a little time; I have some stabs at them currently in the works but nothing worth showing yet. In the meantime, here's a dumpy little building that's been sitting in my "work on this" folder for ages...

It's horrid, isn't it? I think it's going to be some accounting firm of sorts with a name TBD.

[Chris M 406]

All of the most recent BATs you've posted look wonderful and I'm looking forward to using them. I like that we're starting to see you create some slightly larger buildings because I love the detail you put into your buildings and have always wanted to see how that would transfer to bigger creations.

  Edited June 19, 2012 by DragonAnime  

[Sgt Pepper 864]

I absolutely love that accounting horror block.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

I like the building in terms of shape, but I think the wall texture doesn't work that well. I don't mean the colour, but the pattern/structure. Maybe smaller bricks or a totally different "material" would work better. The building has very strong vertical lines, maybe that's why I think that a texture with emphasis on horizontal lines might not be the best choice.

[cogeo 960]

Indeed, the Maxis 2x3's like Modde, Curtin, and Fancey are on my list to make some competition.

Good! Lotting these can prove quite tiresome - just see how many lots these can grow in, even in lots sized 4x4. Btw these are quite useful too, as players may want to start shaping their CBDs (4x4s, to be filled basically with NDEX creations , as the Maxis collection is incredibly poor in this category too - just ONE model per tileset ). So it might be worth trying to put them into a building familiy (or families). This poses several additional requirements though, the models must be similarly sized and be of basically the same plan amd layout (to be fitting into the same lots).

It's horrid, isn't it? I think it's going to be some accounting firm of sorts with a name TBD.

I don't agree with the posters above me. The problem with this building isn't so much the texture, but instead the model: it has extremely small windows, and therefore the above texture covers the building almost entirely. So the solution could be narrowing those columns instead. If you want to work on the texture only, I think you could try something totally different, ie a much lighter one, eg an almost white gray or beige, colours named like cornsilk, floral etc (of course adjusted for the SC4 luminosity, colour mapping etc). The roof texture should be lightened too (or better changed), as the contrast to the walls would otherwise be too high. Another solution could be something radical, like using different materials for the columns and the slabs.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

I don't see why the windows are such a problem. It looks fine to me. There are plenty of buildings with such windows and buildings of that style that looks like madhatter is trying to create here.

[gutterclub 2,729]

I agree with Sgt Pepper, the Windows are fine, the textures on it seem a little fuzzy..kinda like a Simctiy 3000 building?

[benvoliothefirst 36]

I think it looks great as-is, MHB.

[madhatter106 3,931]

DragonAnime - thanks; though with larger buildings comes more time spent on them. I long for the days when I could crank out a little one storey BAT in a flash...haha.

Sgt Pepper - it is horrid, isn't it? But that's why I like it so much...it has the je ne sais qua of a dead rat swung on a string...

TWrecks et. al. - I'm not seeing the problem with the window widths or the textures. They don't seem fuzzy to me, and the horizantality (is that a word?) of the bricks doesn't bother me. This monstrosity of a building was copied from a source I found somewhere online (though I can't remember what city it was in) and it has a very similar brick pattern/configuration. Maybe the strength of the lines needs to be muted a bit and the contrast lowered? I can play around with it, but it doesn't bug me and I wish I could see what you're seein'. As for the "fuzzy," I've used both the roof texture and the brick and highlight texture on other buildings (though slightly modified) and it seems just fine. Maybe I'm going blind in my old age and dotage?

There are a couple of BATs still sitting on the hard drive waiting to be finished, some of which are in the prior pages (Dunbar & Collins, the above little accounting building), but I've found the modelling to be more fun lately than texturing and lighting. So I've been cranking through some models in the 2x3 and slightly oversized 2x2 vein....

The aqua one I think is going to be titled Hickman and Crowe, and the orangey one is going to be Ballard, Mason & Franks. I must say that I've never been one for much poly-modelling, but have had a bit of fun in the challenge of limiting the number of objects in the scene and seeing how few polygons I can get with the most modelling effort. There are tons of details to do - adding glass, more roof junk and roof garden details, back doors, railings, etc. This is just a progress shot of what's cooking...

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Now this is what I'm talking about!!!! I like these two new buildings of yours, there looking great.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

This is getting magical... You're inspiring me to have the desire to attempt something along these lines...

Keep up the good work, I can't wait to see what else you do with these.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Yes, making the brick lines a tad more subtle might actually do the trick. Scaling down the bricks slightly might also help. In any case, it's not a biggie.

The two bigger buildings look absolutely fabulous! That's a size which is sorely lacking in game.

[Gn_leugim 858]

These are looking pretty nice Glad to see you are also making maxis "competitors" for the original tilesets

[Ion_Cannon 677]

Good stuff madhatter

[Jack_wilds 550]

...promising models, like the architectural periods used...

[T Wrecks 10,210]

True. I also like it when the Hatter has one of his architectural periods and makes progress.

[madhatter106 3,931]

Thanks, everyone. And I never thought of myself as having "architectural periods," nor making progress. LOL

Here's a dumpy little building that I had made ages ago, as part of the next pack. I put it aside when the basics were done (partly because I hated it so much), but hadn't done all the details. So I stumbled across it tonight and figured I should jazz it up a bit to see it through, and it really came to life once the ATMs and railings and hedges were added. I've never modelled a handicapped ramp before...

Another horrid one, to go with my accounting building a little bit further back in this thread...

[Gn_leugim 858]

I have to say it looks (as always) good

[IL. 1,043]

amazing! when are you going to upload that? the last building? it looks just like if it was maxis, amazing textures and modeling, and the details are great

Do you mind if you share some of your textures with us?

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Those little details really spruce that thing up! Did you post it a while back in your thread and I may have missed it or is that really the first time we're seeing it? Either way I'd love to see that in the next pack.

[SimCoug 5,976]

I like the 60s/70s feel to that building. All your creations are excellent, and I wanted top take a second to thank you for generously sharing your hard work. I've been playing this game since it first came out, and only in the past few years have I really gotten into the custom content. But simgoober and your works were the first BATs that I played around with, and it breathed so much life into the game. Basically I just wanted to say thank you for keeping this game exciting after so many years.

[Ion_Cannon 677]

There is definitely an air of brutalism about this new building, not a style I am a fan of myself but you've pulled the look off well.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

I love Brutalism and International Styled buildings. I know I all ready had said something but I had to again. I'd love to see more of what you have.

[benvoliothefirst 36]

Fantastic work as always, 'Hat. You DO keep us on the edge of our seats with these teasers.

Il., good luck trying to get him to share his textures. Just check his signature. He'll probably just tell you how to make your own. :-)

[madhatter106 3,931]

Gn_leugim - thanks.

IL. - the last one will be included in the next pack. No idea when it will land on the STEX, as there are others that will go into that pack. But it's definitely part of the next set. As for sharing textures, there probably isn't a need to do so - they're easy to make once you get the hang of it as has been discussed in various other threads. If there were a texture sharing thread out there, I might consider it, but I wouldn't start one myself...

Sgt. Pepper - nah, I never showed this last one, because I hated it so much. But once I added the ramp and the steps and the ATMs and the side hedges and all that, I was rather happy with it. So like a phoenix from the ashes, it has risen again...! Thanks for popping in, you'll be sure to find it in the next pack to be released. Stay tuned, I'm sure there will be more...

SimCoug - many thanks for your kind words. Glad you've enjoyed my silly contributions.

Ion Cannon - I'm not too familiar with brutalism, as this last one was inspired by ugly 60's and 70's offices I've seen before. Perhaps there's an overlap in the styles, but I never set out to make something in the brutalist style. Thanks for stopping by the thread!

benvoliothefirst - thanks again. My intent isn't to tease or tantalize, but I'm glad so many have liked what they've seen so far. Hopefully these will be shared soon, but who knows...depends on what other BATs I need to finish up with them...

So here's some shots which have been sitting on Ye Olde Harde Drive, waiting to be uploaded. Some lighting for the offices in the next pack (now with names goin' on!)...

Here's Olsson Accounting...

Here's a tweak on the old, unshared Dunbar & Collins Publishing...

And here's Hopewell Credit Union...

As for the others, lots of texturing and lighting yet to do. So. Much. To. Do...

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Zomg...

That first one...so ominously and dreadfully boring to work at it seems...

I LOVE IT!

Can't wait to see the rest.

[Gn_leugim 858]

lovely work. I just feel that the last building facade textures are a bit plain and dull maybe. specially the white part. but still looking very good.

[Ion_Cannon 677]

It isn't suprising that it seems a bit dull, it's a brutalist building afterall ^

Ugly 60's/70's offices - definately sounds like brutalism It does have some nicer examples but really alot of brutalist buildings have blighted cities, which is why alot have been or are going to be demolished.

Anyway, looking good