The Official City Journal Critics Thread Archive

[patriots_1228 51]

good review shinguire. Good thing we had you review it..had I reviewed it it would have been "Brisco new england shows how much better new england is than everywhere else"...speaking of me writing reviews...got some work to do...

[patriots_1228 51]

good review, one thing: i know you really like that font, but its really hard to figure out the title of the journal with it. Could you use an easier to read font?

[Shingure 56]

Ok...Well im sorry...I was going by the transit map . I was assuming that the yellow were structures and that the reds and greys were roads on the region veiw.

[Shingure 56]

Lol , Yeah... I have about 3 more scheduled so Im going to be busy.

[WillG_75 19]

Originally posted by: Shingure Ok...Well im sorry...I was going by the transit map . I was assuming that the yellow were structures and that the reds and greys were roads on the region veiw.quote>

You're right about the transit map, but it's just nowhere near 50% filled

[WillG_75 19]

Barely 50% filled? More like barely 10% filled

I try to cut area without structures out of the photos most of the time, but can't always. There will be better photos coming soon, without all the dead space too.

[patriots_1228 51]

The Movian Empire

a (awesome) CJ by Carmine Hilton

While the paris hilton avatar may lead you to think otherwise, The Movian Empire is just what you'd expect from a SCJU member: Quality, In-depth, and oraganized. The first post is as far as you have to read to see the dedication and effort put into this journal from Carmine Hilton. Everything is beautiful, from the sorta-3d maps to the unique seals, banners and flags. The photoshopping, probably this CJ's greatest aspect, is always changing, with each pic being an adventure into carmine's sick and twisted mind (Just kidding on that last part ). You may find yourself admiring the banners and the text more than you admire the city, which is a shame because Movian showcases some excellent city building.

Carmine utilizes the custom content she owns to perfection. A wide mix of buildings leaves the readers jaw on the ground. The transit takes the grid and shoots it in the face. The only criticism i can find is the variety can be too much at times, with a R$$$ highrise apartment tower, small suburban home, and a farm all found on the same corner. This small detail is easily lost amongst the beautiful cities and photoshopping of carmin. To get an idea of how great the photoshopping is, imagine the book of photoshop tricks is a football playbook of say, 450 plays. Well, for each play in the game, carmin calls the perfect play for the situation. In other words, it seems the perfect effect is chosen each time to bring out the best of the picture. Despite a nudish picture of Britney Spears with an article that makes it seem like her life is not in peices, movian also has an interesting fun-to-read newspaper.

Already having mastered rural and suburban, Carmine takes a shot at the big city. First he sends the grid to the grave, and now the big city. Dick Cheney could really take some shooting lessons from him The city, intended to be a Simlympic bid, is beautiful. It has a HK like look, using many of Bixels monsters, and features some beautiful stadiums. Carmine does do a thing I did in tropicana that makes it kind of unrealistic, which is making the skyscrapers w2w, but, most people don't mind, as I don't, because it looks fantastic when its done by a CJer as good as carmine. After 2 pages, I have already determined this CJ worthy of at least 1 trixie (Whats your problem voters?). Thank god we didn't end here, because it gets even better. I have seen 1000+ simcity pictures in my life. I think the picture below may be one of the best pictures I've ever seen.I can't say enough about this journal. I hope it gets the trixies it deserves next year, shame on you voters. To quote Amerikaner-"I am now in love with Movia." 

[xlchrisij 0]

^Nice pics!

[bbfan02 23]

Wow, that picture looks amazing! Great review!

[Shingure 56]

Cj Review By Shingure

CJC

This is a Cj review that is now being done for an Cj that has passed it's time. The Cj began on October 15th 2007 and had closed shy of 2 months after it's release on December 12th 2007. The Cj from what can be recalled in my last Review there was great city building. Also Maxis was used wonderfully which blended well with the Custom content .There was also an effort to stay away from grids. Which I can still give him good credit for. Even though in the end and conclusion of this Cj there were several problems that were similar in my first review of Pinewood.

The problem with the Cj is perhaps a simple one. Repititiveness, But, What can we say. He tried his best weed it out. and did a good job. I suggested more custom content but I came to realise that the Cj doesnt need custom content. It's the Cj's character. So repetitiveness is no longer the issue. And I hope the author ignores the problem with the Cj. Another thing is the abrutness of the ending of the Cj. Perhaps it was too early to end it. But under the choice of the author then it would turn out that it was doomed anyway 

"I have had a lot of fun making and updating this CJ, but this CJ was doomed to fail from the start. I say this because I started this CJ on one city tile not expecting to expand it. Because I suck at terriforming, this CJ will never be as realistic as I would like it to be. I have learned a lot about making a good looking city, and have already started a new giant region and I am almost done filling out one city tile and expanding the highway network..."Said before his last update to confirm this. 

In Short this was A SLCJ ( Short Lived City Journal)  and a LKCJ ( Little Known City Journal ) But it raised the bar for such types of Cj journals. And I will not post the good and the bad because in the end the Cj came out as a well rounded Cj that seemed to have very little problems other than it's abrubt ending.

But the Philosophy is Out of the Ashes comes New Life...

[patriots_1228 51]

oops....hotdogs gave me a warning to change it lol, but i missed one. there were only 2 he/shes in the whole review, so it was tough to find them

[CarmineHilton 6]

Thank you Patriots! That is just an awesome review
It really gives me the feeling that I'm doing good! héhé

Mhh.. I still wonder why everybody thinks Carmine is a girls name?!
So I'll just clear it up for once and all,
 -> I'M A GUY/BOY/MAN!! haha

[patfirefghtr 160]

Hey you all are doing a great job on reviewing CJ's.... Congrats to you Pat for getting that trixie and to all of the reviewers a job well done!!!.....

[Shanna 1]

Wow Shingure that's an awesome review... ohhh... I'm without words!!

Thank you my friend, I'm really glad you like my job as far!!! Yes, I'm a perfectionist, in the real life also, so my work is slow 'cause I try to make as well as I can!

I love so much nature and I like recreate natural scenary in my cj. The wonderful Paradise Falls with its green plains, rivers and falls make me inspiration for my work! And I like also rural areas, farms and fields, so I'll use them so much in my regions!

I hope you and others will like the next updates of Edelstein County!

Thank you again and congratulations patriots_1228 on your Trixie!

Shanna

[Mike the Mayor 51]

Great review there!

[Shingure 56]

Cj Review by Shingure

CJC

Author , Sebby07

This Cj was originally named The United Republic of Populieus. The Author decided to shorten the name to URP. The opening of this Cj is in fact fantastic and the pictures are worth a thousand words finally comes into play. We see very well done construction and planning and the custom content is very highly present.There is the photoshopping of the pictures that can also be seen telling what and where these building are. These graphics are also alittle problematic when seeing the pictures among a couple of other things.

In the pictures there seems to be a lack of depth. Meaning that the picutres are very very tightly focused on the buildings and not really the surrounding areas making the focus very closed and in some cases channeled. Plus the graphics on the side of the pics are very large and distract from the picture that is already channel focused making it very controlled. All and all it's just a matter of zooming and sizing of certain components.

In the end this CJ is very nicely done with a couple of zooming and sizing flaws. Other than that it is a beautiful work of art and also did I mention it was Mediterranian themed lightly. I guess I didnt. It's a good read and look out for it today. 

The Good	The Bad
The Cj was well thought out and planned. Which I like. The use of custom content is also very abundant which is highly liked and it flowed very nicely.	The zooming on the pictures were somehing to be desired. Also the photoshopped border was too large and took away from the picture.

( If the review seems scattered Im suffering from a severe cold. Forgive me. )

[BlondeTwiggy 43]

Preston: 1789-1822 by Shingure

The introduction to Shingure’s Preston begins in 1789 with only small black-and-white photographs to give us a glimpse of its early life.  Gradually, Shingure expands his little village through reader involvement, magnificent population increases, and social reforms.  Excitedly one watches the infant town grow…

Promptly an election is held for the Mayor’s office; the two opponents, 2nerdy4u and bighaben, show promising potential as the excellent leaders of Preston and Olney respectively.  Disgruntled citizens even get to send letters complaining to the newly elected Mayors.  Realistic, no?

Strong points:  I especially enjoy the readers’ participation in the progression of the CJ.   Shingure incorporates polls and asks his commenters how the journal should continue, giving Simtropolians a say in the fate of the, uh, Prestonians.  The "election" was also a great addition, in my opinion. 

Suggestions:  Although I realize Preston is a small town, perhaps there could be more variety in the pictures (commercial, parks?).  

Bottom line:  Preston is a realistic, entertaining read.

[patfirefghtr 160]

Shingure and Twiggie  you 2 did a great job on the reviews and very well done!!!

[bbfan02 23]

Looking forward to it! All of your cj's so far were great.

-bbfan02-

[anarchy0029 2]

Wow! I have seen some very nice reviews. Looking forward to more.

[Shingure 56]

You got somemore coming in the next 2 days

[Shingure 56]

The Project S will be released January 30th

Project S-minor will be Released February 1th

So that means that you have released dates that are set pretty far away in terms of Cj building. Even though the roots of this Project being traced back to before the existance of Bayhill.

And If you took a look at Bayhill you will see that Bayhill was essentially a failed Project. Or Project Zeldhiil . So yeah my Cj's are pretty complex and in terms of Cj's all of them except the first have been failed projects.

[Shingure 56]

Sadly the CJ had to close. It was a nice short run. But Im working on my largest project.

[patfirefghtr 160]

I agree i found it and read it... He did have a good start but as you said it sad to see a good Cj Die but anywho what are you working on and sneek peeks at all shingure

[bbfan02 23]

Can you do another review on my cj? You have done a review in the beginning of it before it came a showcase. I think I improved that a lot.

[sebbyb07 2]

thank you for the review Shingure, the reason i don't zoom out very often is there are still alot of blank spaces around but i h vae solved that for my next update focusing on the Embassy area!

[Shingure 56]

Well then. That means you've fixed up. I will do another review soon on your CJ . But I have to wait for some progress first.

[Shingure 56]

Feliz Navidad Jacqulina! - Merry Christmas Jacqulina!

[jacqulina 162]

happy christmas everyone

[patriots_1228 51]

anarchy, bbfan. Please pm critics for reviews, thank you