Google Earth Buildings to SimCity 4?

[torontosubway 11]

Does google earth buildings works on sim city 4? I found alot of buildings there that isn't in the stex or the lex.

[Sense 0]

I was walking around my neighborhood and found that all of the buildings are not on the stex or lex.... Haha, either I completely miss the point but this post is a joke, surely?

[Dargor 17]

Obviously he is talking about the 3D Models, so indeed you are completely missing the point, haha

In Google Earth you have a 3D View, which will give you the impression you are in some kind of city building game.

[Deathcat001 8]

Well google skecthup (the program google earth uses for 3d buildings) is quite like BAT and gmax, but i think it would be hard to change the files from .SKB to .GMAX 

[Deathcat001 8]

Also google earth buildings have links to their downloads (about 1 - 6mb for each building) 

[psander5 198]

It is possible to import the models into BAT as far as I know, although quite how I'm not really sure, but generally the models aren't really up to SimCity4 standards. Google Earth models tend to be simple boxy forms with composite textures applied (They have to be otherwise my internet would break ) . If they were to be turned into worthy BATs they'd need lots of work - extra detail modelling and re-texturing - to get them up to standard. I think there have been a few Google Earth buildings uploaded to the stex before, but they don't tend to go down too well.

[simcity4fan12 13]

In my experience with using sketchup, importing Google Earth models into Simcity4 wouldn't look too good. The google models are simply boxes with photo-realistic textures applied to them. From a distance, they look ok, but upclose, they look very odd. If you model your buildings in sketchup(down to every detail) and import them in Simcity4, they would look great. So, I would create the buildings rather than use the Google Earth models.

[Sense 0]

I humbly apologize for my mistake post earlier on, apparently I was very wrong... haha

[IonWind 3]

Google has some special technique that allows them to create whole cities in 3D (maybe satellite data and street view combined somehow), but users can create structures with more accurate and detailed model.

I have made some buildings for Google Earth with sketchup (see the link) and I am interested in converting them to SC4. I guess it wouldn't be too hard to do; I guess the only thing to do is to make the model more complex.

I think I'll try this sooner or later, I'll post results here or, in better case, to STEX.

[psander5 198]

Ooh I see lots of Tampere buildings there!  I had a go at one myself, Pyynikki Observation Tower, but I haven't released it yet. It would be great to see some of these in SimCity.  

I recommend that you post your results by opening a BAT thread if you do intend to convert them to SC4 BATs.  That way you can get lots of friendly hints and tips to help make them work better in SimCity.  It's better to get most of the criticisms out of the way and resolved before posting to the STEX, as comments there can be quite harsh sometimes.

I'll certainly be looking forward to seeing your Finnish buildings becoming quality BATs  

[torontosubway 11]

thanks for all the replies!!!!!!

[thepokemaniac 18]

That would be nice if you could, there are a lot of really nice buildings out there!

[Legosim 14]

if you could, that would be taking others work, so give then the credit for creating the building as always

[Kryptowhite 9]

Most of the google earth models would look horrible in sc4. I know because i have a friend who is in love with putting them in the game.

[IonWind 3]

Kryptowhite, I guess you're right on that. The buildings will look horrible if you just directly import them. I think it would be appropriate to do some re-working, like increasing complexity and improving textures before importing to SC4.

What comes to my endeavour on importing my own models, I see myself at the first step on a stairway to a freaking high mountain top. The whole UI of gmax is so different from ordinary AutoCAD. I spend most of the time looking for the right tools and features that might not even exist. Google Sketchup and gmax shouldn't even be mentioned in same phrase as they are both from totally different universes : P

[expectingrain5 0]

This is interesting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reM4FULCBZA

[torontosubway 11]

Originally posted by: expectingrain5

This is interesting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reM4FULCBZA

quote>

That video was interesting, i would like to try it out biu i can't install the BAT Progrem