NTM's Lot Workshop

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

This is the Lot Editor/Plugin Manager thread I decided to open up after getting a lot of advise and critism on my BAT thread. My Lot editor work will be posted here before I put it on the STEX. My work that invovles the BAT will be in the BAT-Open dissucsion section.Some of the Lot projects I will be doing include:an airport, a vumansion, lots which allow you to put graffiti whereever you want, and a underground rail station.I hate to be rude, but please no requests, whether big or small, lot or BAT, becuase I have my own work to improve and fix first, so please, no requests. If you have already made a request for me to do....sorry, I will not fill it, as explained above.

My LOT Uploads

Geyser Park V2

Maxis Billboard Pack

Replacement Seaport

Revised Mayor's House

Roundabout Filler Pack 1

NAM Euro SignsInternational Airport V1

VuMansion V1International Airport V2

CBBP

Upgraded Rail Station

Animal Generators

Rural Water Pump

Roundabout Filler Pack 2

Urban Cycleways Pack

RHW Median Filler Pack

  Edited November 21, 2012 by nathanthemayor  

[DCMetro34 577]

Well....this is good that you did this. Can't wait for some projects.

[gio10469 24]

 I can't view your attached pictures. However, this sounds like it will be an interesting thread.

[DCMetro34 577]

Hmm, nice pics; pretty good. It is a nice airport for a small town, but someday, I hope you make one for bigger cities also because this one is good.

[His Divine Hand 244]

While an improvement over the ingame airport, it still falls short of what other stuff people have added to this game is capable of. The problem is that the Maxis airport is kind of a turd, and while this more polished version of the Maxis airport, well that just makes it a polished turd now. Also, you have many parts of the buildings that don't seemed properly aligned that could use more work, and while your attempt at making gates was creative, it doesn't work so well when the player zooms in.

Overall, good attempt, but more work is needed and the very concept falls too short,

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

His Divine Hand:okay, about the buildings, those are the maxis ones, and i DO NOT have any of that custom airport stuff, because it takes up space both on my hard drive and in the airport menu. As well, about the buildings, I had to AT LEAST make sure they were all connected.

[MandelSoft 2,775]

Originally posted by: nathanthemayor

His Divine Handkay, about the buildings, those are the maxis ones, and i DO NOT have any of that custom airport stuff, because it takes up space both on my hard drive and in the airport menu. As well, about the buildings, I had to AT LEAST make sure they were all connected.quote>

Who wants good content, has to take some effort. I have a plugin folder of 2GB's and my Parks, Misc Transport, Railway, Monuments, Airport and Seaport menus are really full. A lot of people who have good CJ's have hundreds of Megabites, or even Gigabites of custom content. And since harddrives today easily go up to 1 TB, harddrive space doesn't seem to be an issue. So keep that in mind, if you please .

[His Divine Hand 244]

Originally posted by: nathanthemayor

His Divine Handkay, about the buildings, those are the maxis ones, and i DO NOT have any of that custom airport stuff, because it takes up space both on my hard drive and in the airport menu. As well, about the buildings, I had to AT LEAST make sure they were all connected.quote>

Understandable, menu glut is one reason that I only install the various airport packs when I need to make an airport. Regardless, the Maxis airport is too small for a real airport, which won't sit well with many vocal SC4 fans. 

Also, as to the building placement, when you do a 'mash up' as you are trying with the buildings to build the terminals, it is highly important to get them to blend into each other as seamless as possible.  In both pics you provide I can see gaps where this did not happen, either because the building is too far away or not lined up quite right.  It also seems to the larger area on the left where this problem is the largest.   More work on getting those lined up just  perfect (hint, remember that props can be moved by the arrow buttons by very small amounts) will make this look better.  It is a nice relot, but as I said before, one that won't be much appreciated.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Okay........here is the final product, after i edited the concorses

[DCMetro34 577]

Originally posted by: nathanthemayor

Okay........here is the final product, after i edited the concorsesquote>

Not bad...looks a little better. It is better than the Maxis airport; but as some people stated before some people might not go for it. Either way, you are improving.

[thingfishs 417]

It's fairly decent Nathan, certainly the custom airport types won't be interested but for more casual players I think it might work well, it's certainly, as has been said, better than the maxis one. Good on you for finally hearing everyone's advice, particularly posting here ahead of the STEX, make sure you take on board what people say. I started my first BAT 2 and a half months ago and it still hasn't been released, longer than I would have liked admittedly, but it's SO much better as a result - almost entirely thanks to other SC players.

[Jeffmaster223 24]

if it is too much, a large hospital would be nice.

[Jeffmaster223 24]

or a police station. that'll be pretty cool.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

To animaniacs:I think what you requested is already avalialbe on the STEX(Like the money tree), but if i have time, I will make both.

[His Divine Hand 244]

I hope you plan on working on that more before it's released. It's too bland on textures and too busy on props. Also, doesn't really pop out as anything special, just another mansion in the game. I mean, what defines this as being the mansion of Dr. Vu?

[madhatter106 3,931]

There's little point in creating a lot or BAT thread if you're not going to listen to feedback before posting to the STEX. There's more to these threads than showcasing your work - they're used to get insights in how to improve BEFORE you share it with the community. Listening to constructive criticism, getting input from others who have been where you were when they first started out, and learning how to get better are part of the process.

Vu's Mansion is a case in point - you put this into your lot thread here, and then posted it to the exchange in nearly the same breath. Slow down. There's no rush to get stuff on the STEX; get your stuff polished and finished and critiqued before sharing; otherwise you're just going to generate a lot of negative comments and few downloads of your work.

[Evillions 552]

That mansion is too normal. Where's the "evillness" used? Tone down the props a bit and add some effects to it. This is just one of those major suggestions.

[Simaddict1000 1]

take a breather with uploading

improve your skills and then come back to seek advice when you have unique contributions to the simtropolis community

[thingfishs 417]

Hi Nathan,

if this works for you then fine but if your wanting an OK reaction on the STEX with this you are going to have to make some big changes. First of all it's much too big, try it on 5 or 6 long by 3 or 4 wide and you won't have such an expanse to try and fill up with props. The wall on the left doesn't line up, in the LE use the arrow keys to position them accurately. The ground needs work too, as it is there is no access to where the cars are parked etc. I'm sure Dr. Vu would have some car parks at least. Also I would forgo some of your props and add more vegetation. I would also recommend just one tank, don't need to lay it on too thick. There is various types of security fencing available, I think some barbed wire would look good. Also find a flashier car to park out front, I assume he would drive the best. Anyway that's what stands out to me.

[DazzaDazza 29]

Well I don't like the 2 tanks. What's with that? Maybe add some more trees it looks to plan,

Also the line of guards in the entrance looks a bit odd, maybe replace that with a gate or something and just have one guard ether side of the entrance.

Where the cars are parked, they should be on concrete or something, why would people wont to tear up there grass simply to park a car on there.

You should also have a path or something that Leeds to the helipad. It looks rather stupid that they could afford a helicopter, but can't put a path to get to it.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Okay, here is my final Vumansion

[DCMetro34 577]

It's ok. But still, it doesn't look evil. Also, it looks a little too much like a a Maxis mainsion.

[DazzaDazza 29]

I guess if you wont it to look "evil" then I guess every evil genius needs a or a underground room or a shed to make evil thing in, other then that, ummmmn what is dose a evil looking house look like anyway

Also why did you delete the post above me, you seem to do that a lot, this thread and your other one is rather confusing because I never know what people are talking about.

[Evillions 552]

Well you just overloaded the props, it looks like a prop family rather than a mansion. Be reasonable to what you're creating, all of us been suggesting this in your uploads' comments. Take a step back and do something more simipler such as a tennis court or something. Just LISTEN to our suggestions.

[thingfishs 417]

It's improving Nathan, but each time you post it saying "this is the final version" you seem to be sending a clear signal that you're not interested in any further advice. Nonetheless from your last "final" version to this "final" version there have been some changes, carparks for eg. I just hope your next "final" version continues this trend. FWIW I would still suggest removing a couple of props and adding a LOT of vegetation to bring it all together. First off I'd get rid of that thing to the left of the mansion (not the gazebo, that other thing whatever it is) Also the sandpit and the garden to the right of the helipad, these are just visual clutter.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Here is my final vumansion which I will publish to the STEX

[DCMetro34 577]

Did you mean to show a pic, because there is none.

[TekindusT 3,809]

@DCMetro34: I can see the pic perfectly, maybe you're having problems with your browser.

@nathanthemayor: With some more trees, or a little floral garden; it would be nice enough to be better than a Maxis default lot.

[Evillions 552]

Remove the gazebo and other useless junk. Try to line your props up since it will look better.

[DazzaDazza 29]

a more trees are needed nathan

Edit@  nathan, could you give us more time to look at it before uploading