Digby - East Coast Region

lewellan222 · January 16, 2004

The First of Our Smalltown Visits
Although we have been to the first stage of our eight major cities, we still have over 40 smaller towns we can visit. Let's go to one now....

/idealbb/files/SmallTown-Morrison011.jpg

lewellan222 · January 16, 2004

A Closer Look at Morrison
Many of you may think that it never gets dark in Digby, given all the daytime screenshots I have posted. So, let's look at Morrison at three o'clock in the morning! This view gives a good general overview of the town.

Looking a little closer, we see there is a large, open piece of land in the center of Morrison...hmmm...

Let's hope something interesting gets built in Phelan Square!

lewellan222 · January 16, 2004

Urban development has reached Morrison!

Industry in Morrison is mainly comprised of textiles.

/idealbb/files/Morrison01_industry.jpg

January 16, 2004

Looks good.

BarbulaM1 · January 16, 2004

Looks realy good, I can't wait to see the region develop into a large metropolis. You are great at those maps

mckenzieoftanridge · January 17, 2004

Excellent work. Amusing and entertaining side notes. A few nice tips on the side. I'm inspired...

kahinyeh · January 17, 2004

nice work

lewellan222 · January 17, 2004

Problem Apartment in Granton
This apartment is a concern to neighbours. It isn't out of hand yet, but many wonder if it is a sign of the times.

dankrzyz · January 17, 2004

Wow, this is a fantastic city journal. Your cities are interesting, realistic, and beautifully designed. But I think the real prize is your presentation of the city's stories and history, as well as the graphic presentation skills.

I will surely visit again to get an update on the growth of your metropolis!

lewellan222 · January 17, 2004

Reader Comments #2
Here is another collection of your comments. I am very appreciative to you fellow Simtropolites for the nice things you guys have to say! I will continue to keep Digby going, and hope to get you more involved!

I hope you don't mind, but I have again combined your comments into one post, and edited them for clarity. I have also take out questions, which I hopefully answered in private posts or within the text of my own posts.

Here's what you had to say:

Sc4_cewl - Hey this is a great and fun region. Has some great aspects. I've always wanted to do a farm region. Very good job.

Futuropolis - Wow...it's such a wonderful agricultural region. Your news articles are also very entertaining. It's a great way to have a glimpse of your city's development. I'm in awe...

nirgal23 - I love this - so realistic for my locale and for places that I have seen across the globe...thanks again for giving me something to aim for in my cities.

frogface - Really nice farms! The farms look really realistic! I'm impressed.

eppisgood - Good tidbits on the farms & rural areas. Never thought of placing just one low-density residential tile next to each farm. Good thinking and that makes it extremely real. Definately subscribing to this CJ.

chunkymon24490 - I never really thought on starting metropolis' with farms. In my cities things start built up and get even more built up, however the buildings tend to go abandoned. I tried your method of farms; it worked very well. I now have a low-density suburb with no abandoned buildings. I plan to do this on all other cities now! Thanks for the inspiration!!!

Howling - You put a lot of effort into this. Very nice graphical presentation! Best I've seen so far. The realism factor is very high in this one. Awesome!

ginchael - I LOVE checking the CJ out. The custom graphics, the towns, and just everything. I can't wait to see how it evolves!

A Killer Ewok - This is definately an inspirational city to all of us. The way you started with the old 1950's look and all the little communities being hugged by the rich farmland. I just love this. Maybe once you've developed it well, you could expand the regional size?

berkthomas - Bravo!!! Just back to work from Xmas Vacation. What a joy it was to come back to Digby Updates. Your doing and fantastic job, and the tutorials are great. I started my own region while on vacation and I have already included many of your ideas.

cammo2003 - Oh, my goodness...I'm in awe. You make my region look bad. I believe that you truly are putting the effort in that exudes from this journal, you will become a well-respected city builder here at SimTropolis. Oh, and are you going to make Harford your regional centre? Because I find the location is ideal. It is very central in the region, that's why. That or Granton. Both of these would also make good locations for major port facilites, given their easy access to the islands and much of the region. Maybe Granton as a port/industrial city. I dunno, It's just that this region screams potential and I just hope it's tapped into.

Grande Forkes would also make an ideal next most major city area. I would strongly suggest NOT developing it all into one big metropolitain area, but rather one larger metro area and a medium-ish city complex or two. Best of luck, and sorry for such a long post!

clindhartsen - Wow, that is the most amazing farmign region I have ever seen. No grid, great design, and a great varity of names. All I can do is sit in awe. This is one amazing region. I like the thought of farming instead of metropolis like most regions. A nice rest from the normal in the game. Anyway, It kind of reminds me of where I live. We have our local Tri-Cities (Richland, Kennwick, and Richland) and then we have dense farming to the west and east until you get to a nother city, Yakima or Walla-Walla. Anyway, the terrians different but it does remind me of were I live. You know what, your region is great and far superior to most I have seen for the farming region. Wow!!!

sargeantcm - I must say what I see here is awesome so far. Puts my journal to shame!! I also must say I agree with and have used many of your city planning techniques/approaches myself. I especially like the farm layouts, it never occured to me to use so many trees!

SkyTearer - Look lewallan, no one has said any bad things about your region, so I'll have to be the one. I'm sorry but I have to tell you that your region is utterly and completely won the
Sky's Shibbylicious Award!

I, as well as many members of Simtropolis, love your region! My favorite thing is that you teach city builders how to make realistic cities, without all the mods and lots, with just plain ole' simcity, and that requires skill, and is what won you this award. Congratulations!

CastAway - Nicely done! This is about as realistic a region as the game allows...keep up the great work!

Vatt3 - One of the most realistic rural regions I've ever seen. I hope Digby develops nicely into a thriving region. Keep up the good work. I also love the way you presented the screenshots.

flywildjaguar14 - Nicely done. Best journal that I've ever read. I especially love the way you present your journal.

MTLT_17 - Well lewellan I have only one thing to say. G-R-A-N-D -- GREAT, RESPECTABLE, ADMIERABLE, NICE, DELIGHTFUL. I am proud of my abbreviation. Keep up the good work!

AV8RFOOL - Awesome job Lewellan! This is the same type of game style I want to approach my next county (region). I took a break from SC4 for a while and am back to start anew. I recently picked up RH, but will start with a rural setting first. I will also not be using any mods, except the snowy peak one for my map. Keep up the great work!

Xurros - Man...incredible CJ! Your region is so cool, and your presentation makes it much better! Congratulations...

simcityperron - What an awsome journal. I love the detail and clear explanations you give. To top it off you gave us a full region view. That was the best. In my opinion this journal is one of the best in Simtropolis. Keep it up.

guitarmanboobs - Fantastic CJ. Great Job.

Silveretta - LOVE THIS JOURNAL!!! You have done an absolutly fantastic job, with both your city/county, and another fantastic job on the journal itself. I'm happy to announce you are my IDOL! LOL. Keep up the amazing job, I eagerly await updates.

BarbulaM1 - Looks realy good, I can't wait to see the region develop into a large metropolis. You are great at those maps.

mckenzieoftanridge - Excellent work. Amusing and entertaining side notes. A few nice tips on the side. I'm inspired...

kahinyeh - Nice work.

dankrzyz - Wow, this is a fantastic city journal. Your cities are interesting, realistic, and beautifully designed. But I think the real prize is your presentation of the city's stories and history, as well as the graphic presentation skills. I will surely visit again to get an update on the growth of your metropolis!

simmax · January 17, 2004

How could I forget to comment? This is a wonderful region, and the journal itself is very good. Well done! I give you 9/10 (it can't be perfect...)

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lewellan222 · January 17, 2004

Where Is this Region Going?

You may not know this, but I have not done ANY building in Digby since I started this journal! But now it's time to start. And I thought I would share with you the plan.

First off, I must explain that although Digby is a region of small and medium-sized towns, I really want to put SimCity 4 through its paces. So Digby WILL experience a vast expansion. But not everywhere!

Where? Granton. That's the target city, and has been since I first drew out the Digby terrain for rendering. However, there will be considerable expansion in the other seven cities, but not nearly as much.

Another secret? I have NEVER seen a high-density structure in this game! I kid you not. Digby is my first region. What you see in Digby is the extent of my experience in the game. I have never laid a single tile of highway, nor have I built an avenue. So, when Digby experiences something for the first time, it is a first for me, too! This makes it more fun for me. Digby and I can discover the game together.

A Clean Build
Many of you have asked me about mods, and skins, and such. Remember, Digby is a retail-version build of SimCity 4. No mods and no lot variations. In the future, I will use BAT-created structures if they match the quality of the original game, but I'll let you know when I do this.

Also, Digby has no cheats. If a city can't afford to build, then they don't! If I am having trouble with abandonded buildings, lack of funds, crime, etc. you'll see it!

Here are some thoughts I want to share with you about realistic expansion in this region.

Time Freeze
If we are going to build a metropolis out of Granton, I am going to have to freeze time in 1950 for a while.

Why? Because if Granton is going to have large structures that were built between 1920 and 1950 (and SimCity4 uses this architecture) then those buildings would already had to have been in place by now! Since they are not there, we will have to watch the expansion of Granton in a time freeze. Once Granton has caught up to 1950, I will open the architectural styles of the simulation to include modern buildings.

Why Not Pretend to Start in 1890?

Gosh, I sure wish I could! But as long as the game uses its current style of police stations, fire trucks, schools, and hospital clinics, we can't go much before 1950 (especially when you look at the architecture).

I DREAM of being able to start this game in 1890 with all the dirt roads and carriages and move throught the decades, changing the look of the town. (A TON of work with the Building Architect Tool will eventually allow this...with traffic turned off, of course!)

So we are going to be stuck in 1950 until Granton has caught up. Then we will move forward to the present day.

A Word About Skyscapers
Most players of this game get carried away with skyscrapers. You won't see that here.

The most skyscapers in the USA are in New York City. No other city in North America matches it. But that is EXTREMELY rare! Certainly the skylines of Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas have skyscrapers, but not to the extent that many players take the game.

Real world Chicago, for example, has about 40 structures that SC4 would consider skyscrapers. But many successful cities often only have four or five. More recently expanded cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Dallas have an average of 15-20 such structures. And these are some of the largest cities on the continent.

Cities that were in their heyday in the 1920-1950s but have since declined, such as Detroit and Buffalo, also don't have many. Detroit has about 12 skyscrapers, and Buffalo (the richest per capita city in America in 1910) has only 7!

So I will allow larger structures to form, but not in a big mess!

We'll talk in detail about realistic expansion a bit more later...

MTLT_17 · January 17, 2004

Great can't wait to see what all this expansion will bring! I love this Journal, and the fact that you based it off a Canadian Terrain! Yay!~

StBBrad · January 17, 2004

Wow! I don't kno9w what to say.. I have been waiting for a big expansion project.... Great work on the region and journal!

Brad

simmfx · January 17, 2004

After just finished reading this cj, I'd have to say that you have sim-pli-city brought this farmland to life with an excellent story line of the city enhanched by the graphics and presentation which gives the city a unique character of its own and makes this one of the best cj around.

I too will be very curious to see how the expansion proceeds into the near future! Keep up the excellent work and detail!

Smack Sim · January 17, 2004

Verra nice region, and even better custom graphics! My reqest is that you post some of your responses to peoples questions with their comments. Here's a question: How did you make the newspaper graphics exactly? I've been looking to do the same with my CJ as I prepare to clean up the journal.

-Smack

lewellan222 · January 18, 2004

eangulus · January 19, 2004

Sorry but have to do this.

Your first Slip up.

A HOT air ballon does not run on helium. It runs on Hot Air. He would have had to run out of whatever falmable gas they use for the flame.

berkthomas · January 19, 2004

I had the same thought, then it occured to me. Digby is such a progressive community maybe they had invented an early version of a Hybrid Hot Air Balloon One that uses Hot Air and Helium in order to save focil fuel and protect the environment over which it floats.

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To bad it needs both to stay aloft though. Hmmm, back to the drawing boards.

simmax · January 19, 2004

I can't wait to see how the city will expand...

The pic with the helium hot air balloon (or whatever you call it) is very nice indeed.

lewellan222 · January 19, 2004

Helium? Who Said Helium?

Eangulus (from three posts above), I don't know what you're talking about! I didn't say helium. Who said helium?

Of course there isn't helium in a hot air balloon! Helium is for blimps. Or dirigables.

I certainly didn't say helium. I don't know where you got that...

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January 19, 2004

----------------

On 1/19/2004 8:26:31 PM lewellan222 wrote:

Helium? Who Said Helium?

Eangulus (from three posts above), I don't know what you're talking about! I didn't say helium. Who said helium?

Of course there isn't helium in a hot air balloon! Helium is for blimps. Or dirigables.

I certainly didn't say helium. I don't know where you got that...

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----------------

Cheater!https://community.simtropolis.com/assets/emoticons/3.gif>

lewellan222 · January 20, 2004

Realworld City Development
and How It Relates to Expansion in Digby

Before I actually start the building process in Digby, I want to pontificate a little about how cities grow, and why they look the way they do today.

SimCity 4 is not a game designed to chronologically allow the building of a city over time. Instead, the game handles time abstractly, building new 1890's buildings, and new 1990's buildings at the same time. The result is that when you build cities in the sim, you are always looking at a snapshot of a city that has been developing since, in some cases, the turn of the century. People don't build Victorian mansions anymore, so when they pop up in the game, they are assumed to have been there for a hundred years!

So when we want to create a City Journal like the one I am doing, we need to walk the journal forward from the 1950's into the future. Before I can start this walk, I need to establish the 1950's version of Granton first! If Granton had a skyscaper built in 1920, then the building would still be there in 1950. Since there is no skyscaper there now, we'll also have to be a bit abstract about how Granton, or any of the other Digby cities, grow.

Sample Timeline

Using a metropolis such as Manhattan for example, let's consider a simple timeline of how such a city on North America's east coast has come to look the way it does today (note to architectural historians, please don't squabble with me on the dates...this is a generality, though the NYC population figures are about right) Also remember that there are few cities in the world anything like NYC and its look and size!

In this example, the DEMOLITION OF BUILDINGS is shown in RED. This will give you an indication as to typically what type of buildings get replaced, and when!

1650 - A colonial town, trading post, or fort is set up by European settlers. Buildings are wood. Roads are dirt. The town is tiny, between 800-1,000 people. Farming takes place within the settlement, at each house, and around the settlement as a whole.

1700 - The town grows due to trading prosperity. Landed gentry is arriving, and building a few brick houses in addition to the wooden ones. Shops are usually a single structure. Some roads are cobblestone. Population is now 10,000 people. Farming is around the settlement.
DEMOLITION: Some of the rickety structures of the first settlement are removed, or burn down.

1750 - Merchants, shipbuilders, traders and other commercial ventures have expanded. Brick houses and warehouses are being built. Docks and wharfs cover the shoreline. A large fort may exist. Lots of wooden houses throughout. Population has grown to 25,000 people. Farming from here on in has moved outside the main city.
DEMOLITION: Small wooden structures, usually dilapidated, are replaced in choice locations or near the waterfront.

1800 - Further growth. More brick buildings, shops and warehouses. More road covered with cobblestone. Much of the core of the city is now brick structures, including rowhouses. Away from the core, most buildings are wood. Population grows to 49,000 people.
DEMOLITION: Old wooden structures built during the last 100 years are removed or burn down. Small warehouses on the waterfront replaced with larger ones. Docks and wharfs expanded and upgraded. Housing removed as needed.

1850 - The industrial revolution is rearing its ugly head. Many brick structures, up to five stories appear. Some parks and city planned features are appearing. Larger buildings becoming common. City core is quite congested. Large single family homes of the prosperous are everywhere. Railroad appears EVERYWHERE. Tracks are laid alongside EVERY commerical venture, to the waterfront, and slice up the city mercilessly. Population increases to 650,000 people.
DEMOLITION: More wooden structures go (many from fire). Most brick structures remain, unless replaced by something important, such as a goverment building. Many structures removed to lay railroad tracks. Housing removed as needed.

1880 (SimCity4-compatible structures appear) - Full industrial activity. Dirty industry throughout, regardless of proximity to housing. Some of the first steel-framed structures up to 15-20 stories are appearing in the core. Streetcars very common. Large houses continue to appear. Large spanning bridges are common. More railroad track is laid. The entire waterfront is industry, with warehouses and grain elevators. Population is now 1,900,000 souls.
DEMOLITION: Any prior to 1750 is gone. Even many of the colonial era brick structures are replaced. Old warehouses replaced with larger ones. Rail lines and train facilities are everywhere. Houses are now a little less likely to be removed.

1900 - Expansion continues like wildfire. Some electricity is appearing in major cities. Buildings up to 40 stories are possible. Cars are on the horizon! Rail continues to be the main mode of transportation. Industry shows no signs of slowing. Apartment buildings are appearing in the congested core area. SUBWAYS are now possible. Population is now 3,400,000 people.
DEMOLITION - Steel-framing is now the norm for structures up to 30 stories, so anything brick in the core is liable to be knocked down a replaced. Houses are less likely to be removed.

1920 - Huge boom in all aspects of building. SKYSCAPERS are now possible up to 50 stories and are built in increasing number. Structures in the core area are getting taller. Roads are being paved. Traffic lights appear, and cars are on the streets in increasing numbers. Still a lot of rail in the cities. Things are really picking up! Population is now 5,600,000 people.
DEMOLITION - The smaller 3-8 story brick structures in the core are making way for the larger offices. Space is at a premium. Industry now includes manufacturing. Houses are much less likely to be removed, especially outside the core area.

1930 - 100-story structures are possible! Huge building projects...large bridges, city halls, banks, and buildings up to 50 stories are now commonly build throught the core. This is the biggest boom of tall buildings, up to the depression. Lots of cars and light rail, subways, and some buses. City population is now 6,900,00 people.
DEMOLITION - Still quite a lot in the core, especially the old low brick buildings. Very few structures previous to 1800 remain. A few structures from 1800 to 1850 remain, especially industrial buildings such as warehouses that do not interfer with the core building boom. Still quite a bit from 1880's and after remain. Housing is MUCH LESS likely to be knocked down, unless in the core.

1940 - Industry is working hard, but less building occurs due to the war. Population now slowing to 7,450,000 people. Still a lot of train use, and a ton of cars. Manufacturing very common.
DEMOLITION: Less of it. Much of the building that has occurred in the core remains unchanged. Most of it was built since 1900.

1950 (Realistic SimCity 4 building now possible) - The war is over, with LOTS of urban housing starting. Highways appear. Skyscapers up to 100 stories possible, but fewer being built. Core area is pretty much established. More buses. Housing should be almost completely moved out of the core if it is not apartment buildings. Subdivisions make their appearance. Airports on the rise. Population increase very little at 7,890,000 people.
DEMOLITION - Slowing even more. Demolition only as needed when an extremely important or profitable structure (stadium, etc) is to be built. Housing ALMOST NEVER knocked down at this point. SOME larger structures up to 40 stories built prior to 1920 might come down, but this is rare.

1960 to Present - Urban sprawl starts in earnest. Cities amalgamate, and are joined by vast expanses of horrible suburbs, which all look the same. In the city core, most skyscrapers remain as built. A FEW new ones are built up to 110 stories, but this has really slowed. Lots of subdivisions. Population hovers around 8,000,000 people throughout this period. Freeways are on the increase. HUGE reduction in train use, with lots of rails removed. Lots of airports built. Attractive architecture is effectively dead. This will be the dark ages of pretty buildings!
DEMOLITION - Much more rare. Historic buildings often preserved. Housing, unless abandoned, is ALMOST NEVER demolished. Any housing built since 1940 should almost always remain (you can't throw people out of their homes anymore!)

Conclusion - Once SimCity4 kicks in about 1950, you see that many of the skyscrapers should already be established. The population is also pretty much established. In fact, growth after 1950 is quite slow compared to the previous 100 years of any city. So, if Digby is to be realistic by 1950, well, then we'll have to stay in 1950 for quite a while before we move on.

Just remember, knocking down housing should be extremely rare. Take a look at your own real life city. Do they EVER knock down post-1950 subdivisions? I doubt it! Look at the housing just outside your core, built around 1920 -1930...I bet a lot is still there (although they have become law offices and medical clinics!) So to play the sim realistically, make sure you preserve housing as much as possible.

Anyway, this went on a lot longer than I wanted...let's get back to city-building!

ragnarocks · January 20, 2004

Outstanding job .Your knowledge of growth factors and their faithful implementation and integration in to a region is Excellent. Not to mention your presentation which is superb!

Now get busy !

eppisgood · January 21, 2004

----------------

On 1/20/2004 11:28:37 AM lewellan222 wrote:

So to play the sim realistically, make sure you preserve housing as much as possible.

Anyway, this went on a lot longer than I wanted...let's get back to city-building!

----------------

Just wondering what the quoted words meant... So, in order to play SC4 as realistically as possible more or less, do you recommend making nearly all residential structures historical after 1950?

January 21, 2004

Sicity 4 realism=/=Real life realism

That's why I disagree with just about all that. Thank you.

(this may be the first negative comment on this cj! yay!)

simmax · January 21, 2004

This chronology is helpful.....

Knocking down housing isn't rare in big cities, however, I agree when you say that recent buildings don't get destroyed.

lewellan222 · January 21, 2004

Argh!

(Temporary Response)

Here we go again...I never said SimCity4 was realistic. The game is abstract. I know this. If you read the second paragraph in the Realworld post above, I say SimCity 4 is not a game designed to chronologically allow the building of a city over time. But, I am attempting to make it so through certain manipulations. But generally, this game allows you to make a city that is a present day (or future) city in North America. I am only trying to work outside that box with Digby.

What I am saying is that when you want to attempt historical, chronological play in the context of making a journal appear like a story, this is one way to do it.

Destroying House Is Rare!

I disagree with Simmax. Destroying houses is rare! Yes, they may (once in a blue moon) knock down a whole block of old abandoned houses in a bad part of town. But that might be ten or twenty houses out of a city of 15,000 houses! And even that is rare.

Think about it...look at your city and tell me you see houses regularily getting knocked down all over the place. Housing is precious to a city (even low-income housing) and it is very difficult and costly for a city to go around putting people out of their homes and destroying them.

In SimCity4 you will have to destroy more housing than what would happen in real life, especially when setting up the cities as I am doing in Digby. The game requires housing to succeed, and since you can't overbuild too fast, you have to place and then replace housing quite often. But once your city is set, the development is much more realistic if you generally leave housing alone. Set it to historical? Absolutely! But remember, this is not me saying how to play the game...it's me saying this is one way to set up a story about city development, like in this journal.

Back to the Task at Hand

I don't want my journal to turn into a forum on realistic city-building (there is another forum for that) so let's get back to watching what goes on in the Regional Municipality of Digby.

lewellan222 · January 22, 2004

And in Granton...

/idealbb/files/Granton-County-Fair.jpg

Xurros · January 22, 2004

Wow Lewellan..Your region is an inspiration for me...I'm excited to see how it'll turn when you get the first big cities...

Digby - East Coast Region

958 posts in this topic Last Reply June 22, 2009

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