simmars-forum-threads Sim Mars, a SC4 Conversion

[Pegasus 2,814]

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On 3/4/2004 8:48:57 AM GouRou wrote:

We gotta keep focused guys, I've layed down what will be what, we're going for a graphical change, not a complete overhaul. to change the roads to tubes wouldnt be much fun, where would our traffic go?! we'd have to remove all of the vehicles, not much fun there.

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As you can see, thats not what I had in mind. The traffic has to stay, obviously. But tube-ish structures could be built over them with the various structures connecting (visually) to the tubes as well; providing the classic modular space colony look.

** In this pic, I removed the semi-transparent glass as it was inconsistant in this hurry-up job. But we can clearly have traffic roll through the tubes and be visible. If this could be perfected, I think it would be a real plus for the project. The two potential show stoppers I can with it are:

1. Work Load. All roads would essentially have to be like highways in that they would have a 3D model associated with them as well as a texture. Accounting for the various road types, angles, intersections, etc... it would be a lot of work.

2. Resource Usage. We'd have to determine what impact it would have on the game's performance. Again, each road section would be like a highway section (a bit less, smaller model) and highways don't seem to imapact performance... but then we usually don't have them running all over the palce, either. Still, it would be easy to test.

[ApathyNinja 17]

What about a water-delivey center? Since we can assume that ice bands aren't everywhere, it might be necessary to ship water from the poles either in large trucks or awesomely futuristic cargo ships.

[El Effe 5]

I am willing to be a Beta Tester and I can help provide storylines for Custom Query's.

[Smurfer2 7]

That looks very good Pegasus! Good you put transparent glass in it?

[Arphaxad Locus 0]

Water is the only byproduct of using hydrogen energy, so how about instead of shipping ice etc, the only way to get water is to burn hydrogen? This could be used for power too of course, so water and power would be tied into one. Of course, you would also be wasting a lot of power or water at times. Ideally, the power and water usage would be about the same. If you're confused, research hydrogen energy a bit.

[+Guest]

I hope that EA/Maxis and all other games companies are reading these post on a new game idea.So far of what I read you peeps know more then these million dollar game companies.Your on the ground floor of a new game company so go get the cash and start one.If you offer stock I'll buy it.Goodluck

[MrVegetable 2]

Hmm, Blackbeard gave me a thought. Is this a completely new game as such? Would we be able to keep simcity on Earth whilst having Mars as well? Maybe I didn't phrase this right. Pegasus, nice tube. Where is this being made? I would love to see the progress from the UK.

[Pegasus 2,814]

Not to sound unsupportive, but I do have a concern that should probably be voiced...

If this project gathers up all the custom-content talent for the next year or so, what is going to happen to the custom-content development for the normal game? As cool as this idea is, its not going to be for everyone.

The constant infusion of new custom content has a major role in keeping interest in the game alive. For many players, without the continuous flow of new and interesting toys, the game would wane to an occasional amusement instead of being the steady burning passion it is with so many.

With so much to do, and the ambitious schedule to get it done in our life time, I'd be worried that there may not be enough labor/talent resources to develop for both the current game and this project. And if the flow of custom content for the current game stops, I'd be worried about the impact that would have on the Community.

[rahommer 0]

Smurf - dust storms!  Yeah!

 

Peg - nice tube - you've obviously been hard at work.

 

Floating cars!  Floating cars!

[MrVegetable 2]

Pegasus explained it better than me.

Oh yeah! Disasters, Asteroids! Not just small ickle meteors, HUMUNGOUS ASTEROIDS!!! They could wipe out most of a small city = 1/4 medium tile = 1/16 large tile! Will leave huge crater!

[GouRou 2]

your worrying too much Peg, I gave it a year so it wouldnt do exactly what your talking about. I also think your overestimating how much has to be done in the areas where things are already being done. I know it will take a lot of buildings, but most sc4 buildings are small, not large, also, few people do transportation modds when it comes to vehicles, I will simply soak up talent that isnt be used anywhere else. Also, a lot of buildings could be used in sc4 as it is now, greenhouses, etc, the buildings can go both places. btw, this is day 3, that leaves 362 days to go, try to not rain on the parade before the first step is taken.

[GouRou 2]

Peg, it's a nice idea about the tubes, I hadnt thought of that actually, those would make some nice high speed avenues, perhaps covered highways as well? standard roads should remain, because of cost realism, but I didnt know what to do about avenues and highways in particular, that is a good idea https://community.simtropolis.com/assets/emoticons/1.gif border=0>

I was thinking more of pedestrian tube, or subway tube, that wouldnt work right, but what you got is a good idea.

[MrVegetable 2]

DAY 3!!https://community.simtropolis.com/assets/emoticons/6.gif> I thought it was only yesterday. I'd better start racking my brain then.

[Simguyuk 0]

GouRou, I really want to stick with this project but;

1.I have no idea what is going on as it is a bit hectic

2.I don't know when and where things are going on, so I cannot provide my ideas and things

Should I just wait till the 'hype' has calmed down.

[DRoseDARs 0]

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On 3/4/2004 8:48:57 AM GouRou wrote:

We gotta keep focused guys, I've layed down what will be what, we're going for a graphical change, not a complete overhaul. to change the roads to tubes wouldnt be much fun, where would our traffic go?! we'd have to remove all of the vehicles, not much fun there. there wont be any showstoppers pegasus, anything that is out of the ordinary will just have to stay a problem, the overall project itself will continue. I've outlined the direction we need to go in, I know a few of you have your own ideas, but they arent realistic. I dont want to make a fantasy sim mars! I want to make a realistic one. that's why maxis never released a futuristic tile set, they are trying to keep it in reality, that's what I want also.

as for the domes, be creative, it doesnt have to be a dome, any simple to construct building will work as well. mars is dim, you need a much larger window to get the same amount of light, therefore a dome is optimum, but not required, anything else that looks good, and looks proper can be built too.

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To be clear, space elevators are very much realistic. Earlier last year a group of scientists announced that they we're seek several billion in funds to build one (complete it around the end of this decade) for Earth. Although I question the feasibility of both the materials and technologies available to them currently, space elevators are just as realistic as colonizing Mars, if taken in the same timeframe.

[GouRou 2]

simguyuk, you really need to chill, I've stated over and over that this is a long term project, not everyone can be doing something constantly. your lack of skill means the same as it did before there was a project, there isnt a whole lot you can do. if you want to help, learn gmax/bat, then in a couple months come back to this project with the ability to do create buildings, we will need them even then.

 

this project just started, day 3 isnt even proper, technically it's the end of day 2, patience would really help, as it is, yes, hectic, but that's because there are a lot of people wanting to help, and a lot that needs done, but organization takes time. this project wasnt started with infrastructure in place, it was started, and such will be put into place, you've walked onto a construction site where crews are still clearing terrain and your holding a paintbrush in your hand, your early.

[jcabassa 20]

I think that there should be some high-tec futuristic skyscrapers being be planned for this project.https://community.simtropolis.com/assets/emoticons/2.gif>

 

It would be a reel good idea.

 

-jcab

[Equinox 1,209]

I don't understand how so many people can be so negative towards an idea -- a group movement -- like this.  https://community.simtropolis.com/assets/emoticons/23.gif>

The only concern I see as valid is that of Pegasus, who wonders at the lack of content for the 'regular' game.

Obviously they will be able to be integrated, but still his concern is valid -- some ppl won't want biodomes in their cities.

There will always be more and more BATters joining this site, and some of them won't be interested in the project -- and that's fine if not good.

[csq246 20]

This idea is fantastic! I have always wanted a Sim City like Mars game, and now you guys are off making it. What I would love to see is ancient ruins like described in the Martian Chronicle's...a good vision of what I have in mind is the sets used in the mini serie's with Rock Hudson from the 70's. All chalky white pillars, and such...sorta reminiscent of ancient Greece and Rome.

Also I would love to see Cydonia as a region...for those who don't know Cydonia is the location of the famous 'Face'.

[Alrowan 0]

another form of power would be the use of microwaves. Because mars lacks any ionosphere, microwave plants in space-to-mars would be waaaaaaaaaaay more effective than any in our terran system. Which brings another point, there is going to be a lot of radiation there on mars with no ionoshpere, so how about incorperating that into the game somehow?

[comoneymaker 0]

Wait whats going on here...i was gone for awhile come back to see a million posts on sim mars....this a new game out now or what ? i would read but there is just so much stuff everywhere it makes my eyes hurt.  Whats up with this ?

[Hirachi_Dinavo 0]

OK, this is one of the spaceship pics I was going to post yesterday but didn't because I was too busy. It's not very good, this is just a sketch at this point.

(Top view)

This could be a passenger transport ship for the spaceport. It has large wings to land with, as well as using arresting gear at the spaceport. These wings retract for takeoff and the ship launches like a rocket.

Is this good so far? Any suggestions?

[stamp 4]

hi everybody! great thinking on the simmars!

i have a suggestion, take it or not, i think it sounds soo cool.

since the mod here suggested that there wont be any garbage generated, and there would be an air generator, why dont we just change the garbage facilities to air generating ones?

ex: the landfill would be greenhouse fields (primary source of oxygen)
ex: the recycling center would help recycle gases (less surface area = more oxygen)

the incinerator would be the place for the garbage (just boost up the percentage of garbage intake from 30% to 100% )

the incinerator? leave it as it is (except mars-type-looking )

im thinking this because there would never be an issue with pollution, just issues with oxygen.

and theres my two credits..um cents

[brtlrt 0]

Where is this going to be sold? Or will it be a download or something?

[karageur_off 1]

OK. Now I have some ideas about this great project.

I think there should be some connection between Mars and the Earth. The Mars regions could have deals with regions from our planet. For example the Earth could export raw materials to Mars, where they be manufactured.

Mars could also attract a lot of scientists instead of tourists.

Also building on Mars will be very expensive at the beginning. And if we want to be realistic there won't be a lot of cash at the begining, so we could start our city on the Earth and after it is wealth you build research stations, and in the future...go to Mars.

About the airports, I think that there should be at least four types:
- for transporting people on Mars
- for transporting materials on Mars
- for transporting people from Earth to Mars
- for transporting materials from Earth to Mars
There should be a lot of space stations in the prosperious cities.

I personally think that at the beginning it should be something like a colony, and then it gets an independent region. Thet's the way it was during the renaissanse, and I think it is very realistic for going to Mars.

I really like the idea for new disasters, especially about shortage of oxygen. There could be a crater erruption and metheorids like in SC4.

I also have an idea about water supply. I recently read about a new invention that makes water from the air. I think this will be used in the future and will be a great replacement of water pumps and water towers. Getting water from the poles is good idea, too.

That's a wonderful project. Keep it up.

PS: sorry for my bad English and the spelling mistakes (which I probably have).

[GouRou 2]

Alrighty, time for an update.

 

Some elements of what is going to happen have been decided, but they are fairly scattered, and still open to change in the long run. We have been working hard trying to organize people, and get everyone tasked at something that can do something at this stage in the project. I have some information about certain sections, and a bit of info about the timeline. Please remember, a lot of this will be flexible, but we will use it as our guideline unless there is a reason or a need to change it.

 

First, our timeline. This is a very rough outline, but it gives some general structure to how events will unfold.

 

Current phase - Ideas: length - 2 to 3 weeks

Next phase - Post planning and organization: length - 1 week

Next phase - Start of Building, Prop, Transportation, Modd, and Programming. Note: Lot Editors wont start until next again phase: Length - 2 months

Next phase - Review of all creations and direction of project: length - 1 week

Next phase - Restart of all previous Teams, and start of Lot Editing: length - 2 months and 2 weeks:

Next phase - Halt all Teams and compile what we have into a useable beta 1: length - 1 week

Next phase - Beta testing of beta 1 starts with small team: length - 1 week

Next phase - General release of Beta 1, start Teams going again.

 

We will continue in 3 week phases of construction of materials, followed by 1 week of assembly and small group beta testing, followed by a numbered release, at which point the teams will start up again. We will periodically halt construction and have as many people as possible debate the direction we are going in. I forsee that some initial direction in an area may be come impossible, untimely, or just plain ugly in the case of some buildings.

 

Final release is on March 1, 2005, regardless of the final state of the modd. an extension may be in order, and then again, we may release early depending upon completion.

 

Some elements of direction have been decided, a general outline of these is this.

 

Buildings -

utilities: these will be as realistic as possible, we will try as best as we are able to follow reality while staying within the bounds of the gaming engine. some particulars such as power plants have been decided on. garbage has at least 1 set building, and many are in the post thinking process, just trying to set them properly and make sure they are proper. water is still open, but we have several possibles. more will be set later on. this was the easiest area to decide what to, and to not build.

 

civics: these will be often exotic, but also realistic, more flight of fancy while staying within reality. these will probably be open to much debate, but some have already come forewards, and I used the inital reactions to gauge what the outcome here would be, and have started setting certain guidelines here as well.

 

rci: I tried to be open in this area, but it was difficult. there is general widespread opinionation about what a colony on mars will look like. a lot of it stems from what each person wants mars to be. some rules will be set down later that should help smooth things all around. a solution was found that might make things easier all around.

 

transit-

roads: this is a sticky one. a decision was reached that many may not approve of, but it remains an open decision, if it can be proved that change is possible, we will change, but for right now... we have decided to scrap a couple 3d transit systems. the highways in the game are not easily modifiable, and while they could eventually be converted, the amount of time spent doing so is staggering, so it was thought best all around to simply remove them from the game. to compensate for the loss of highways, we will modify the other networks to pick up the slack. if we can find a happy solution, we will let you know.

trains: all train networks, whether normal, el, or mono will stay, but we will be modifying all 3 of them to accomodate mars conditions. they will probably be the most radically changed graphically of all of the transit

 

interface-

general: it was decided early on to attempt to modify the general interface to sc4. the positions of buttons will remain the same, however, the look will change. it was felt that the interface was incredibly earth like, and needed a facelift. this will be done with the minimum of change possible to functionality so as to not ruin the experience of playing the game. a specific design is being worked on, and while that design is not set, the interface will be changed.

 

 

As I have more updates for you, I will post them.

[Pooty 228]

I got an idea for Sim Mars. You know how when you make a new region it asks you plains or water? How about Terra or Lunar? Terra would be orange-ish and lunar would be grey-ish. How bout it?

[phungus420 0]

There is alot we can actually do with modding that make this project possible, and also would allow us to really create a totaly different game based on a Martian scenario. First off I'd like to go over the current game structure, and note what we can modd:

1.All tiles have a zone value of 0-7. 0 is dezone, 1 res, etc.

1a.Zone values of 1-3 have an inherent growth rate that uses the zone manager to determine spontanious constructions

1b. Zone values also determine revenue. This can be modified to create negative revenue or cost, if we decide a certain zone type will actualy cost the colony money (Ie industry would cost more money then it produces)


2.Transportation is set up using networks. Networks exist in various types (I believe there are types 01-0B,)

2.a. Spontanious construction in zone types 1-3 or Zone developement corresponds to rates and values of these transported thingys

2.b.These networks carry various bits of data. Most notable are electricity and water (still unknown value). Also from zone type 1, building create trips that travel to other buildings. These tips can be altered into 9 different carrier types

2.c. Values can be modded easily now in the transportation system.

I would like to conclude by saying we could (or even me being a lowly crackerjackbox modder) could easily create a new type of game using simple modding techniques. I'll quickly conclude with an idea using this information that we can modd.

First set the water transporatation system to being simply life support, And modd all stage development to require this, (not just stages 3+) This can easily be done.

Secondly change the idea of Res being residents. Rather R should be the industry in a Mars model (based on trip information). It works like this, R zones will be food centers, and will produce food, based on thier level of development, this food then replaces sims and travels to the other two zone types in the form of trips. A succesfull trip can be calculated as a Sim in the other zone types, and this would be the basis for calculating population. These new food zone types will actually cost money, as we could modd thier taxation to a negative value.

I hope someone is seeing where I am going here. But My point is that if we do create a mars type sim game, we should give it a real Mars Colony feel, and not a total sim city one. The ideas I have just expressed can be done, I could even do them myself. And I'm sure that with other ideas from the comunity we could really create something unique here.

[redlotus 16]

I think that I see where you're trying to go with this, Phungus.  It is an interesting idea, and I like it.  The only problem is that it seems that you are suggesting more of a business simulator rather than a city simulator.  If I'm understanding you incorrectly, then I apologize.  Otherwise, I think that what you propose might be too much of a conversion.  Instituting the changes you suggest would push the SimMars mod into a different genre.  I am not sure how well that would be received by the rest of the SimCity community.

 

Keep up with that kind of thinking, though.  It's nice to see someone thinking outside the box.

 

-red

[ForesterSC4 0]

I personally would love to make my SC4 into a Sim Mars.

Ever since Outpost came out I have played with games that will have me on other planets.