ATeX Tubes Addon

[SimCity4IE 203]

Hey all,

I've been working on an addon for monorail in simcity 4, and it's based off of the translucent futurtistic tubes in Futurama. I've decided to try to recreate them for use in a modern futuristic mod similar to the Shinkansen Mod.

This is my progress so far:

I need to change the shape supports to make it look more realistic, and add t21 transparent tubes, but I think it's turning out quite well for only 2 days work on them with no prior experience.

You can follow my progress at sc4devotion, and I'll post the pictures of it's progress here. Visit SC4D for the entire discussion on it.

ATeX Tubes Logo:

Thanks warrior and GlobexCo for all your help!

Also post what you would like in this monorail mod!

[GlobexCo 33]

We know that the ATEX is a Japanese idea... So, If you succeed in making functional this fantastic set of sci fi transport, I'll download (and maybe it can be used also in my SciFi City project).

Try to remove double side polys from the tube and add segments to the tube; they seems too low-poly.

[DCMetro34 577]

I would download if the tubes were covered, instead of just the rings, which it looks like you'll do. Keep up the great work!

-dcmetro34

[Larks2242 251]

Cool idea, i'll be sure to check back on your progress

Larks

[SimCity4IE 203]

Originally posted by: DCMetro34

I would download if the tubes were covered, instead of just the rings, which it looks like you'll do. Keep up the great work!

-dcmetro34quote>

They're going to be covered, and with a semi transparent blueish/greenish colour

[DCMetro34 577]

Originally posted by: SimCity4IE

Originally posted by: DCMetro34

I would download if the tubes were covered, instead of just the rings, which it looks like you'll do. Keep up the great work!

-dcmetro34quote>

They're going to be covered, and with a semi transparent blueish/greenish colour

quote>

Then, that is awesome! Makes me excite about monorails, again! What are you going to have in the way of stations?

[SimCity4IE 203]

I was thinking of a modern glass covered station with tubes feeding in to it from both sides. I'll start on it when I have the glass finished. You'll see what I mean by then

[Larks2242 251]

Sounds real cool i gotta see how this comes out!

[SimCity4IE 203]

I've started on a station to test transit enabling, it has custom LODs, so the trains can be seen travelling through the station.

I've also switched to 3ds max 2010.

[thepokemaniac 18]

Looks great!

[SimCity4IE 203]

It's now completely TE'd

I'm working on supports for the rings, pictures will be posted soon

[DCMetro34 577]

Looks great so far, keep up the good work!

[GlobexCo 33]

1 The glass is unreal! You've got 3dsMax, you can't do glass wiht a simple "standard" map + low opacity + blue colour

2 How can I enter into the station?

3 Try to extract the textures of the MAXIS monorail and use them in the station...

[warrior 169]

Also its seems to have rendered incorrectly, I think you need to turn of backface culling in BAT/etc.

[SimCity4IE 203]

Q. How can I enter into the station?:

A. I still haven't worked that out yet, I was thinking stairs?

Q. Try to extract the textures of the MAXIS monorail and use them in the station...

A. I did that, and it still comes out like an alluminium colour What did I do wrong?

Q. Also its seems to have rendered incorrectly, I think you need to turn of backface culling in BAT/etc.

How could I do that?

I've added supports to the rings BTW

[GlobexCo 33]

Originally posted by: SimCity4IE

Q. Try to extract the textures of the MAXIS monorail and use them in the station...

A. I did that, and it still comes out like an alluminium colour What did I do wrong?

Q. Also its seems to have rendered incorrectly, I think you need to turn of backface culling in BAT/etc.

How could I do that?

quote>

This is because the light rig of the BAT rendering affects the colour of the texture. If you don't want to exclude manually the solid from the main light (difficult to find if you're using "let there be light" in 3dsMax), try to edit the texture and make it darker

About backface:

> Turn on "2-sided" option in material editor for rendering two sides. It's under "Shader Basic Parameters" rollout.

> OR use "Flip Normals" one-time command in the Edit Mesh to flip the normals of selected triangles or polygons.

> OR use "Normal" modifier to flip normals with a modifier on the stack.

> OR use "Force 2-sided" option in the rendering dialog under the "Common Parameters" rollout, "options" group. This will make all the polygons in scene 2-sided.

> OR turn off "Backface Cull" in display tab or in object properties dialog. Backface Cull works only for viewports and does not affect rendering.

Since atm you're using a Standard material, try to turn on "2 sided", before editing normals.

[SimCity4IE 203]

Okay, here's a little update, I fixed the different textures with the station, and the track is fully level with the station.

It's also UDI compatible, and I've started on the glass on the tubes

Here's a short video on how it looks ingame

[DCMetro34 577]

Pretty good! Are the curves going to be covered?

[GlobexCo 33]

Fantastic work.

Remember to turn on the 2 sided option for the texture of the transparent tube: atm I can a "normals" error.

[SimCity4IE 203]

Originally posted by: GlobexCo

Fantastic work.

Remember to turn on the 2 sided option for the texture of the transparent tube: atm I can a "normals" error.quote>

Transparency in transit modding can only be 1 sided. That's what Xylo and Blue Lightning said anyway.

[SimCity4IE 203]

Originally posted by: DCMetro34

Pretty good! Are the curves going to be covered?quote>

Obviously, they'd look terrible otherwise

[gio10469 24]

This project seems to be off to a great start. Great work so far; I can't wait to see more.

[DCMetro34 577]

Originally posted by: SimCity4IE

Originally posted by: DCMetro34

Pretty good! Are the curves going to be covered?quote>

Obviously, they'd look terrible otherwise

quote>

Ok, good. I was almsot a little scared. Anyway, the project looks terrific!

[bama15 0]

I like where this is going. I can't wait until you add more pictures, I will definitely be downloading this when it is done!

[bigthing 35]

For the stations you could have a lift in a smaller tube that goes up the side.

Could this be made as a starter piece based mod? That way people can still use the monorail.

[SimCity4IE 203]

That could be possible, but I'm going to make it as a replacement first; then after a while I'll try to get HSRP, monorail and ATeX to work beside each other.

I'll release 2 versions:

• Starter piece version
• Monorail replacement version

I'm going to work on textures for a while, and then finish transparency. I'll PM either Tarkus or Andreas about it to find out more.

More pics soon!

[DCMetro34 577]

Sounds good! Can't wait!

[warrior 169]

I am now confused, I could have sworn you were called Earwax_man a few days ago. I have PMs from you with that name.

How come you were allowed to change names?

And the station looks amazing, so does the tubes.

[DCMetro34 577]

I have a question. You said the ATEX tubes could replace the default the SC4 monorail. But the High Speed Rail Project uses the default monorail for its track. Will the two interfere?

[bigthing 35]

If that were the situation i think that he/she would have to release a patch, like the BTM-HSRP patch.

Good to here about the Starter piece option, i am defiantly gong to get this!