Dubuque, Iowa

[Mr. Beer 12]

Hi everyone!

After a year without any new CJ, I'm finally ready to start an another new CJ. I spent lot of time between my work and my freetime to find the city I want to creat on SimCity4. I tried a first to make a recreation like Lincoln, NE, my last CJ, recreating Sioux Falls, SD. Not well started and bad-scaled, I decided to start something new, realistic as possible, but entirely fictional!

First step: to find a cool city-name... and after, to draw a map, using the limit of the game (orthogonal grid, NAM, )...well, as many of my CJ, this one is North American-based... and my best skills is on flat-medium sized cities with large suburbs, farmlands and industry... I thank on an aborted project of recreating Des Moines, IA. It gives me an idea of the area where to build this new city and the name I can give to it!

So... here is:

Here is a map I created as a reference for my work, using the same design like the Yahoo maps (entirely done with Paintbrush)

The fictional city and metropolitan area of Dubuque, IA is approximatively situated in the same place as the real Dubuque... Decided to use plopable water, I make Dubuque on the banks of the Massagamee River, a small river who flows to the Mississippi.

The city is also the County seat of Dubuque and my goal is to arrive to a metro population of around 600'000 inhabitants.

More to come soon!

David

  Edited August 14, 2011 by Mr. Beer  

[jimbo_jj 1]

First post! Interested to see how you recreate the city, only bigger! I'll be waiting for pictures!

[DanWalker8 3]

good that you put a scale on it, but which way is north

[PhilsCafe 8]

Hi David! Long time no see... how are you doing?

Great start to your new CJ, I'm looking forward to this project. The map is really amazing.

- Phil

[packersfan 666]

YOu created that map with paintbrush...you are killing me. I have no idea how you make such realistic cities.

[psander5 195]

I really, really like that map! It looks like the city is already very well planned.

I look forward to seing how it translates to the game!

[GreekMan 246]

Mr. Realism is back!!!! WooHoo!
This is going to be another awesome city from you!!!
I love your CJs!!!

[Hawkeye9 0]

WOW, awsome start to this cj!!!

Good luck!!!

[SounderBruce 173]

Good luck! I'll follow your progress

[CocaTertoka 7]

Yay! The map looks great, very realistic. I will most certainly be following this CJ, hope to see development soon!

[buildsolid 4]

Great map, got a lot of detail in it. Great start to the cj

[yoshikoroyimara 5]

awesome map...how long did it take???

[Schulmanator 5,787]

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE!!!

Glad to see you back! We missed you around here. That is an awesome map. Truly impressive work to start your new CJ.

Rock on!

[bakercity 270]

Mr. Beer is Baaaaack. David my good man, Dubuque is great and to tell you the truth, I travel through Dubuque, Iowa (real city) every two years as I travel to Nebraska. I just love the city as you can see two states from the city (Illinois ands Wisconsin). If I may, look at Google maps on Dubuque to get a real taste of the city. Other words, I look forward to this and the future updates. Your friend JKB (bakercity).

[rushman5 33]

There he is, and he picked an easy re-creation tis time, lol. Can't wait. Really, I wish I could wait, but I'm thinking of hacking your PC so i don't have to.

[WillG_75 19]

Dude!! You read my mind about making maps like that! Map looks great, looking forward to some pics. I know they will be first class

[iamccman 2]

To bad you abandoned Sioux Falls. I would have loved to see that! Any reason why? Good luck on Dubuque, and I know you will do a great job on this!

[jacqulina 162]

welcome back,and a great start and intro my friend,excellent map.

[Shadow Assassin 336]

Awesome, you're back.

This city will look good, for sure.

I can't wait till you start.

[Haljackey 17,251]

Excellent map. I took the bait, I'm hooked.

Looking forward to what you have in store for us,

-Haljackey

[art128 4,618]

great intro there Mr.Beer !

The map is awesome , excellent work on it !

Looking forward to more for sure.

Arthur.

[chrissc94 1]

This looks great! I will definitely have to follow this CJ once it starts up!

[Mr. Beer 12]

jimbo_jj  -  You're welcome

DanWalker8  -  As usual on a map, the North is on the top of the image

PhilsCafe  -  I'm fine, thanks!!! And you? I was in doubt with SC4 but now I'm motivated to play again! Some cities are already done with pictures. I'll do an update soon! 

packersfan  -  yes... Using the same colour of Yahoo Map.. it takes 10 or 12 hours to make it, from primary sketches to the final map... I worked an half hour or one a day a week.

psander5  -  You won't be disappointed!   Thanks!

GreekMan  -  Thank you very much!!! I'm happy too to come back!

Hawkeye9  -  Thanks!

ComputerGuy890100  -  Thanks too!!!

CocaTertoka  -  Probably this weekeend. I've some picture to uploads!

buildsolid  -  Thanks! 

yoshikoroyimara  -  It takes around 10-12 hours. Not in all, I draw it through five weeks.

Schulmanator  -  I know... I'm happy to come back! I had this project in my head for five or six months ago, I decided to start by making a realisting map (when you know what to build and how to make it, it's easy). I'll not follow the map at 100%, sometimes I'll adapt some roads to new conditions. Cheer

bakercity  -  Hellooo!!! I love the Midwest, it's the total opposite of my country, Switzerland... I took a look to the real Dubuque. The name cought me by its french roots, which came from the French explorer Julien Dubuque. Glad to see you JKB!!!

rushman5  -  lol...   ... may I have to panic?

WillG_75  -  Hey!!! I don't have AutoCAD... Paintbrush was the only tool I have... But if you don't plan a megalopolis, it would be easy to do. Thanks!!!

iamccman  -  Sioux Falls, SD was badly scaled by myself and I want to make something much more big with a bigger downtown. I want also to get free of print a picture for every square mile and plop farms, homes and trees only by this. ... I'll build this region soon after I think, it's a really beautiful project! 

jacqulina  -  Hi there!!! Happy to see you too!!!

Shadow_Assassin  -  I'll post pictures this weekend. I'm already get starded!!!

haljackey  -  Thanks!!!

art128  -  RDV this weekend! Thanks

chrissc94  -  Thanks and welcome

David

[feliwi 4]

wow, the map looks very stunning, I'll keep an eye on this!

[jacqulina 162]

thanks my friend looking forward to an update

[dfnva 34]

David,

Glad you're back, I always enjoy your recreations. As for the map... wow! It must be a lot of work, but yet it will save you effort when you lay in all the roads, etc. I'll be eager to see some screenshots.

-Dan

[ilikehotdogsalot 307]

Nice to see you back, I'm sure this will be incredibly realistic

[Mr. Beer 12]

Here is a region view of the current work and the transit network!

And some detailled pics

It's about the farmland community of Menominee, IA...

Farm by the rail, Menominee, IA

Ponds and residentials, Menominee, IA

School and sport field, Menominee, IA

Farms and oil tank depot, Menominee, IA

Farm machinery dealer along Benton Rd, near the I-92, Menominee, IA

Enjoy these first pics

[dfnva 34]

Wow! What a region view!!

-Dan

[Schulmanator 5,787]

I am liking what I am seeing thus far. You have made a great start on making your map come alive.