NTM's Lot Workshop

[hittwice99 619]

They are looking much better! You have used the maxis props to good effect. I am glad you have continued with this project, perseverance pays off!

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

My next project:

A One-way road maxis tollbooth

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Here is my next project:The FAX Transit Center Pack from my BAT thread:

I have an issue with transit switch:Nobody uses it. I even plopped it in my biggest city and yet nobody used it. Here is the programmed transit switch:

[T Wrecks 10,210]

I'd change the transit-enabling to streets - this way the connection to adjacent roads/avenues will look a lot better. Does the lot feature a capacity and an entry cost value? Do you have a loose .sc4desc file lying around somewhere? Or a .sav file created by SC4Tool? If so, these might cause problems because they might contain the lot#s properties before the transit-enabling, and if they are loaded later, they will override the new values you entered.

[harishna 847]

Isn't the actual model missing the shadows?

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

I'd change the transit-enabling to streetsquote>

yes, I changed that.

Does the lot feature a capacity and an entry cost value?quote>

2 is cost, capacaiy is 2900

Do you have a loose .sc4desc file lying around somewhere? Or a .sav file created by SC4Tool?quote>

Yes i do, and yes for the .sav file.What does it do?. Do I remove them from my plugins before testing the lot

Isn't the actual model missing the shadows?quote>

Hmm probably its because I turned the day-night mode to day when in reality that pic was taken at night(simcity time)

[harishna 847]

No Nathan I don't think that has anything to do with that...

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Oo wait never mind. It is because I din't turn on "Shadows" in-game. I dont' turn it on because it slows down my game a lot(At least mine)

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Everything in the loose .sc4desc file is contained in your lot automatically (only exception: growable RCI lots), so you don't need that file. It's a duplicate, but it's not automatically synchronised with the content of the lot file, so if you change one, the other remains unchanged. The one that gets loaded last in chronological order is the one that will overwrite all other settings.

The .sav file is yet another backup copy that's created by SC4Tool in case something goes wrong. Had you bothered to read the documentation that comes with SC4Tool, you'd know that, by the way.

So all in all you have three copies of the building descriptor for your lot flying around there, and there's no telling which one is loaded last by the game. I recommend moving the loose .sc4desc and the .sav file to some backup folder outside your plugins folder so they don't interfere, but are still available as a backup if necessary.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Thanks for your advice T Wrecks!!Thanks to you, my lot works!!Yoohoo!!

Yay I made the 1600th view!

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

After a while on hiatus, I am starting lotting again.

A lot I call "Flags In circle". I am using the ones available on the EA website, so credit goes to them:

[Slashback 136]

As various people have said before: Don't make objects appear in a square (in this one, it's the stones) when making a roundabout filler.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

As ImVhOzzi suggested, I rearranged the rocks:

[hittwice99 619]

That's looking better, but it doesn't look quite finished. I suggest putting some small flower beds or shrubs around the flags, as there is quite a bit of empty space. I would also change the brown base texture to grass or even remove it completely (transparent texture). Keep working on it!

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Here is my next lot project: A train station for highways

Full resolution

[Biriali 58]

The station looks really nice But... how are the passengers supposed to get to the station? Are the cars supposed to stop in the middle of the highway? Also, I'd say that it needs some guardrail between the platforms and the highway.

  Edited April 19, 2011 by Biriali  

[His Divine Hand 244]

The station looks really nice But... how are the passengers supposed to get to the station? Are the cars supposed to stop in the middle of the highway? Also, I'd say that it needs some guardrail between the platforms and the highway.

At the bottom of the picture, there are subway stair cases leading from the platform. I'll assume that is how passengers get to and from the platforms.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Also, I'd say that it needs some guardrail between the platforms and the highway.

I'll look into that

At the bottom of the picture, there are subway stair cases leading from the platform. I'll assume that is how passengers get to and from the platforms.

Yes, that is correct.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Update to my project:

I have a question: Anyone know where I can get escalators to replace the subway stairs?

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Okay, I have started a new project:

Urban Cycleways, for use in downtown/CBD areas as well as around canals. I am trying to mimic the paths from this tutorial, but with a few changes.

Dependences I am using:

jes mega Props Vol 1

BSC Mega Textures

Here is the pic I have so far:

  Edited May 18, 2011 by nathanthemayor  

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Update to my project:

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

This is my final version, going on the STEX tomorrow night or tonight

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

I had to make some adjustments to my pack before release:

[Hamish 1,370]

really good work. I think this set will function quite well. Im not a fan of the red bricks, but thats just me. Everything looks pretty good, and I like the PED walkway in the middle, nice way to show how it could be used.

Lacks life and movement though, add some people and it will be ready for release.

[zahrul3 472]

You could just change the base textures to the default R$$/R$$$ paving base texture, which fits the game better as the transition between lot and sidewalk is more eye-pleasing. There's no problem using BSC/Cycledogg(c.p) textures, they are 4x more pleasing than Maxis textures, as well as adding variety and versatility. Most people should have them, they're really common and used on tons of BATs & lots.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Lacks life and movement though, add some people and it will be ready for release.

That is on my list

You could just change the base textures to the default R$$/R$$$ paving base texture, which fits the game better as the transition between lot and sidewalk is more eye-pleasing. There's no problem using BSC/Cycledogg(c.p) textures, they are 4x more pleasing than Maxis textures, as well as adding variety and versatility. Most people should have them, they're really common and used on tons of BATs & lots.

People before have told me to use custom content(Ie props, textures) and I have tried to follow it.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Okay, as per everyone's advise, I added "Randomwalk People", to show life, and I am locating dependences right now, so it could be on the STEX tomorrow.

EDIT: Found the dependences:

BSC Textures Volumne 1

BSC Mega Props JES Volumne 1

  Edited May 29, 2011 by nathanthemayor  

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

I started a Flags in Roundabout V2:

[T Wrecks 10,210]

The idea of making a roundabout with all those flags is something I definitely like, but in this case it looks like the props aren't arranged very thoroughly. I know it's hard to make a decent circle, but in this case things look really untidy. The fountain doesn't seem to be in the centre, either.

The flags and shrubs might look "out of sync" because those Maxis flagpoles aren't properly centered on the flagpoles and end up appearing in different positions depending on camera view - there's really nothing you can do about that. If you don't get it right, the best bet might be to leave out any symmetrically arranged object near those flagpoles, because they will make the problem more obvious.

For the fountain, I suggest trying a different water spray effect. AFAIR, Maxis has made three fountain effects. The one you are using (is it #1 ?) goes pretty much in one direction, which can look a bit awkward. There's one that represents a pretty neat, vertical jet of water, it might be #2.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

The idea of making a roundabout with all those flags is something I definitely like, but in this case it looks like the props aren't arranged very thoroughly. I know it's hard to make a decent circle, but in this case things look really untidy. The fountain doesn't seem to be in the centre, either.

The flags and shrubs might look "out of sync" because those Maxis flagpoles aren't properly centered on the flagpoles and end up appearing in different positions depending on camera view - there's really nothing you can do about that. If you don't get it right, the best bet might be to leave out any symmetrically arranged object near those flagpoles, because they will make the problem more obvious.

For the fountain, I suggest trying a different water spray effect. AFAIR, Maxis has made three fountain effects. The one you are using (is it #1 ?) goes pretty much in one direction, which can look a bit awkward. There's one that represents a pretty neat, vertical jet of water, it might be #2.