Sgt Pepper's BATs

[gutterclub 2,729]

Either/or, it will end up quicker with less issue than GMAX which is the main things.

  Edited February 14, 2012 by gutterclub  

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

Provided you keep your scenes streamlined enough, 4GB on a 32bit OS is more than sufficient for MAX. Obviously speed is dependent on processing power, but you won't be able to get very far with 768MB of RAM either. Just keep your object count under control and don't waste memory on overly large bitmaps and you'll be fine.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

For reference, all of my BATs from 2010 and earlier, plus my US Bank Building BAT (which is a pretty big building) were all rendered with 2GB and a 32 bit system, and I don't think any of them took over a few hours for a full export.

So that's plenty, and it's free.

When the time comes that you're getting a new computer you can do your upgrading then.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Many, many to reply to!

I can understand the way I phrased my reply could be sounding sarcastic, but it really was excited reply. Trust me. That's just my attitude.

Well I appreciate all of your sentiments and concerns about me getting 3ds. Max. While, I'm actually quite happy with Gmax and the way it works, I'm content with the free-ness of it and what I can do. (Well, I hope what I can do with it is any good, my BATs are appreciated right? ) But, I did try and send a message to the folks at Autodesk. I tried to see where I could email them but I was simply brought to a Student Version of the site or whatever and sended them a message about if I could get the software without being in College/University. I pleaded my case and I'm wondering what they'll say. (I certainly hope I sent the message to the right place )

So as I anxiously wait a reply via my email I'll still be using gmax. And if it turns out that Max is cut out for me, then I'll saddle up with Gmax still with Madhatter.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

*slight bump/double post*

Something new-

[PBGV103 729]

Looks like it's straight out of Vegas. It's definitely a new direction for you.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

I tried to see where I could email them but I was simply brought to a Student Version of the site or whatever and sended them a message about if I could get the software without being in College/University. I pleaded my case and I'm wondering what they'll say.

I don't know how many times I have to say this, the student offer applies to high school students too. When I was in high school, my graphics teacher downloaded the student version of Autodesk AutoCAD and shared it with the entire class, which we were all entitled to use.

Anyway, your latest is looking really interesting. First impressions are that I'd like to see a little more distinction between individual floors.

[Utvaw 45]

Ooo is this a recreation or at least based off the New Orleans World Trade Center?

[DCMetro34 576]

I tried to see where I could email them but I was simply brought to a Student Version of the site or whatever and sended them a message about if I could get the software without being in College/University. I pleaded my case and I'm wondering what they'll say.

I don't know how many times I have to say this, the student offer applies to high school students too. When I was in high school, my graphics teacher downloaded the student version of Autodesk AutoCAD and shared it with the entire class, which we were all entitled to use.

Anyway, your latest is looking really interesting. First impressions are that I'd like to see a little more distinction between individual floors.

He's right! Just last year, I had a Drafting teacher refer me. I believe if a teacher recommends or refers (can't remember the exact word), then you can get an account. If I remember correctly, you just enter your personal email in the registration process (as my school's email filter blocked any emails from Autodesk), and then sent the invitation to the teacher with your personal message. I'm sure you have a teacher that would refer that you can go and talk to.

Hope I helped a little bit, at least.

[Gn_leugim 853]

uhuh i'm not alone on Gmax usage XD

now more on topic, that looks good. maybe some railing on the roof might be good? or a wall, cuz, falling from that hight might hurt XD

[shinkansen1 84]

Ohh, I really hope to get hold of this BAT! It looks excellent already!

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Paul- Its actually based on an office building in New Orleans but I like that idea of it. Maybe I could make it a hotel too.

Cockatoo- Well I guess I should be listening more, sorry. Then I should be able to get hold of it then? I'm still waiting a reply from them at Autodesk... Or should I just go ahead and try getting it myself? On the building I'm making itself, I can try some floor distinction...maybe a more varied and contrasted texture? What exactly do you have in mind?

Utvaw- It's based on it. I wasn't going for an exact recreation, as you can tell from slight design differences but overall it shares the similar shape and facade.Thanks for stopping by.

DCMetro34- Hey thanks, my hopes are looking much better then.

Gn_leugim- Yep, I still use it too! You're probably right about adding railing... or Sims could be just more careful...haha! xD Anyhow, I'll see what I can do.

shinkansen1- Thanks, I'm even making it and I can't wait either!

Some minor progress pics-

Overall-

Base-

[shinkansen1 84]

I apologise if it is too soon to ask this, but could we get any hints as to what the night lighting will be like?

[Sgt Pepper 864]

I apologise if it is too soon to ask this, but could we get any hints as to what the night lighting will be like?

I haven't started on the night lighting yet, but I can say it won't be anything special rather than classic "stripes" of floors lit up.

This is the building now. I think I'm liking so far how its turning out.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

Then I should be able to get hold of it then? I'm still waiting a reply from them at Autodesk... Or should I just go ahead and try getting it myself?

I'd just suggest doing everything in your power to get a hold of it. As someone who's been in your position before, I really can say that you won't regret upgrading.

On the building I'm making itself, I can try some floor distinction...maybe a more varied and contrasted texture? What exactly do you have in mind?

With the distinction in colour you now have between the glass in stone and the additional window frames, I think you've already achieved this. Nice work.

[shinkansen1 84]

Aww, really? I was thinking that vertical stripes of red neon on the edges would give the building much more character! But that would just be me. The shape of the building kinda reminded me of old Las Vegas buildings, so I got curious about the night lighting.

[Gn_leugim 853]

Reading your topic about the lightning made me think, I am in debt, I still have to do a second video tutorial for lighting on high rise :0 so much to do and so little time to do it

[Sgt Pepper 864]

shinkansen1- That sounds like a good idea, sadly this building isn't a hotel or casino. :/

Gn_leugim- I'm sorry to hear that. My family is having a financial crisis of our own. I wish you luck friend.

Well good news is I got the building in game and this is it.

If there are no major objections as to the building, then this is it. I can release it soon.

Also the building will come with a CO$$ and CO$$$ Version. THe CO$$ version will be named NPC Insurance and the CO$$$ will be something like Sim Nation WTC.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Wow, that was quick!

[slightly OT]Btw, I think gn_leugim means he's in debt to the community, tutorial-wise, and not that he's in a financial crisis - at least that's what I gathered (and it sure is what I hope!)[/slightly OT]

Now back to the building. In fact, I have a few comments/suggestions. The building looks fine, and I like the shape. I also like how the rooftop spire does NOT look like a candy cane.

However, I think the night lights are a bit too bright. On the ground floor, the pattern of the night map you used doesn't really align to the building and to the structure you'd expect inside... it's hard to make sense out of it. If this is a commercial building, it will probably be a good idea to avoid lighting up individual window panes, because this would mean that there are some really tiny office rooms behind. Think of a possible floor plan: I could imagine that the wings of the building are too narrow to have more than one corridor running through them, probably through their middle. This would result in offices on either side of the corridor, and probably the corridor would end in one large room over the entire width of the wing, which means that if you imagine one of these hypothetical rooms to be lit, all of its windows should be illuminated. Single illuminated windows are hard to imagine in such a scenario. Maybe for staircases, but I suppose this building will be accessed through its central core.

As for the day view, I'm not really sure about the colour hue. It might tend a bit too much towards greenish, but it's hard to judge on my notebook screen. Your best bet is probably to plop these between similar Maxis buildings and great BATs, zoom out and see if your building sticks out somehow or doesn't fit in.

In any case, this is a really great building, and you have achieved a high skill level. All my observations are really "luxury problems" - I like what you're doing here. Keep it up!

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Wow, that was quick!

[slightly OT]Btw, I think gn_leugim means he's in debt to the community, tutorial-wise, and not that he's in a financial crisis - at least that's what I gathered (and it sure is what I hope!)[/slightly OT]

Now back to the building. In fact, I have a few comments/suggestions. The building looks fine, and I like the shape. I also like how the rooftop spire does NOT look like a candy cane.

However, I think the night lights are a bit too bright. On the ground floor, the pattern of the night map you used doesn't really align to the building and to the structure you'd expect inside... it's hard to make sense out of it. If this is a commercial building, it will probably be a good idea to avoid lighting up individual window panes, because this would mean that there are some really tiny office rooms behind. Think of a possible floor plan: I could imagine that the wings of the building are too narrow to have more than one corridor running through them, probably through their middle. This would result in offices on either side of the corridor, and probably the corridor would end in one large room over the entire width of the wing, which means that if you imagine one of these hypothetical rooms to be lit, all of its windows should be illuminated. Single illuminated windows are hard to imagine in such a scenario. Maybe for staircases, but I suppose this building will be accessed through its central core.

As for the day view, I'm not really sure about the colour hue. It might tend a bit too much towards greenish, but it's hard to judge on my notebook screen. Your best bet is probably to plop these between similar Maxis buildings and great BATs, zoom out and see if your building sticks out somehow or doesn't fit in.

In any case, this is a really great building, and you have achieved a high skill level. All my observations are really "luxury problems" - I like what you're doing here. Keep it up!

Being in debt to the comunity sounds much better than what I had thought.

I'm going to take your ideas in effect. I changed the over all col0r hue 0f the building(s0rry ab0ut the use 0f 0's the key isn't w0rking s0 I'm n0w using zer0s. Humer0us yes, but I'm getting ann0yed with the fact that this o key keeps getting stuck int0 the key b0ard and I have t0 wait f0r it t0 very sl0wly c0me up...)

As f0r it being so green, h0w about n0w? (o is barely working...) I gave it a m0re red or yellow appearance.(hmm it looked more yellow or brown on my desktop but now looks pink on my laptop...stupid hues...)

  Edited February 25, 2012 by Sgt Pepper  

[Francis90b 748]

Before saying anything about the current situation, is this aimed to be a re-creation of the existing building?

[Gn_leugim 853]

Cof cof, yes, T Wrecks is right, i'm in debt to the community, not in financial debt... up to that point, I am unemployed :|

now OT, I like the new hue version more. Also I have to agree with the T Wrecks's lightning tips

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Francis- No, I don't intend to make this an exact recreation. If s0 (that key is acting up again) there would be al0t m0re w0rk to do. The real building has a wing suspended ab0ve a rail r0ad. Als0 my facade is altered c0mpared t0 the real thing. I h0pe y0u like it though.

Gn_leugim- OH well that is relief. I guess. Maybe being in debt to the c0mmunity isn't that much beter though. I'm still reworking the night lights. I also need t0 add th0se railings y0u menti0ned t0 the r00f. N0t entirely sure what type 0r what the railing should look like though. Maybe just a bunch of bars.

I unfortunately didn't like the red in the new hue, s0 I altered it again-

I want to try adding a better entrance to 0ne side 0f the building f0r better appeal. Maybe s0me planters and benches in the area. The l0t size is 6x6 by the way. The building tightly fits 0n it. But on the subject 0f lighting, I guess I could try changing the overall intensity of the lights fr0m 1.0 to 0.9 0r 0.8? I'm n0t on b0ard t0 the idea 0f m0delling 0ut the lobby.

EDIT: Well I had thought I changed the red but the hues on my laptop compared to the hues on my desktop are much different. THe building is more yellow on my desktop where the red practically stayed the same...ugh If it looks fine to everyone else then I may just leave it.

Oh why did Sprite have t0 spill int0 my keyboard?

  Edited February 26, 2012 by Sgt Pepper  

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Beaut!! Totally forgot about this thread!

[Gn_leugim 853]

For the entrance, I think you can do one of 2 things, or model them together with your building, or, insert them with LE. for the second one, you should change the LODs of the building, has it has not a rectangular shape, and the LODs have, you might (better said, you will) have issued placing the props inside the LODs/building on LE. So, you should change the LODs to something more tight to the building. What's the advantage of this? you could add family props and had some variety to the buildings that will pop up.

About the roof, like I said before, it can be a railing or even a wall. maybe increase the hight of the building walls in relation to the roof. it would also work.

Btw, s0mething is wr0ng with y0ur 0 key, n0? XD

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Sgt Pepper sounds so 1337 and k3wl now... he rly r0x0rz teh big 1!

I like the new colour hue a lot! The first version was a bit too pink, I agree, but the latest one is good IMO.

As for the entrances, I'd model them and make them part of the BAT. Placing props so closely to a building can be difficult enough if you have to deal with a straight orthogonal wall, but in an irregular inside corner...? However, gn_leugim is right in any case: it makes sense to shape the LOD footprint like a large '+' to place props near the building.

One more thing I've been thinking about is the windows. It is impossible to make actual reflections in gmax, right? So basically you need to fake everything... Maybe one way to make the windows appear more reflective would consist in increasing the contrast of the window map you are using. Most notably on the rotunda, some of the windows simply look like black holes. And since sheer black is the absence of any light (and hence, reflected light), this just doesn't evoke the impression of reflectivity. On the other hand, if you make the windows very bright everywhere, they may blend into the walls too much and could end up being hard to tell apart from the rest of the building. That's why I'm wondering whether a bit more contrast in the window map might help... of course, I cannot speak from experience.

Guess this is one of the things that will get better when (and I say when and not if on purpose) you switch to 3dsmax. There, you can choose actual materials - concrete that looks like concrete, glass that's actually reflective...

[Francis90b 748]

I asked if it was a recreation because i liked both your BAT and the original building, and was wondering how much close to a recreation were you aiming to go.

There's another feature of the original building you might want to consider, that is a strong (stronger than in your BAT) contrast between the lighter walls and darker window strips.I think it would somehow add more to your building, while the fact that you altered some other features, and made the wall colour different, would still make your BAT different from the existing one.

What do you think for the lot around it? How should it look like? There's an entrance on one side, then i'm just wondering about what there will be on all the other sides.

  Edited February 26, 2012 by Francis90b  

[Gn_leugim 853]

there is some true on what T Wrecks said about the windows. Reflective maps on gmax do not work, or look that way (I thought of some stuff on gmax to not work and I found how to make them work ^^) I guess it might be for the BAT script, because in the viewport the maps do show up. Unfortunately I don't know much about scripts but using them

However, there are some workarounds possible for this issue, which in some way will be cover on my 2nd lightning tut, as it will be on Skyscrapers lighting, and it does also show up how I do texture the windows.

the tech I'll show is the same I used in this one: Gnl_Happy Offices

I did like the end result and I guess a lot of people too. the building it self is not an Empire States Building like, but the overall result was good, for a generic building I think.

Other way would be to make a customized window texture for all windows I think.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Thanks for the advice everyone! And I'm typing this on my laptop so the o is fine lol

What happened was....I was eating pizza and drinking a sprite while on my computer. I left for a moment when my cat came to try and eat the food on my plate. When I came she tipped over my Sprite with her tail and it went into my keyboard. I cleaned it the best I could but now the enter and o keys will occasionally get stuck in the keyboard.

kellydale2003- Glad you remembered! Glad you like this too.

Gn_leugim- I think there was some confusion here with everyone. I had modelled entrances on all sides of the building. I just wanted to make one more "grand" or special in some way. But I should change the LODs definitely... but how would I do that in gmax though? And I'll raise the parapets a bit and then maybe add a railing. 0h N0 n0t much tr0uble at all!

Francis-The window stips ah yes. There is a facade detail on the real building that covers the windows(which I think appear similar to mine, I just don't have this feature covering them). I'm not sure what to call it, it almost looks like thick metal blinds that cover the whole windows. You think I should really add that to this or make a darker contrast to the current spandrels? As for the lot, well the real building has a lot of grass and open areas, the building in real life sits on a big open lot. But I'm only making it a 6x6 lot...so I guess the lot will be cement tiles with some grass areas filled with shrubs. Maybe with a fountain on one side. Anything that you think specifically I should do? Just to give me a few ideas.

T Wrecks- I try man... I try to be kewl and filled with internet swagger. Well glad you like the new hue! So more contrast in the glass? I remember Simfox telling me I shouldn't have that much black in my windows. I better aplly the advice here then. Oh and for the entrances, like I explained with Gn_Leugim I have some on each side, just little double doors, but on one side I wanted it to be more special like a "main entrance" that you can see from the previous picture that I'm trying to model out. I'll still need advice on how to change all the LOD's to a + as I have no idea how the change the LOD shape... Speaking of 3ds. max I want to make the change soon...but finish what I have all ready so I can just start fresh with no projects left over at all. Just as a fair well to the program I had gotten used too(and honestly I'm still not used to it ).

Gn_leugim- Well hello again! The nightmap I currently use is custom and was made by my friend Aaron Graham. I guess to make it appear better for this building... do you think I should change the night map intensity? Or is it better just to find a new night map completely? BTW that building you made there is nice. Subtle and simple. I like it.

I don't have an update now, since I haven't really done anything to it since the last picture, but I have stuff to do now so yeah.

Any other thoughts on it so far though are welcome.

[Francis90b 748]

I think you should add more contrast between the spandrel+windows stripes and the wall stripes.

It's not necessary to add the blinds to do that - just darken the spandrels.

LOT - what about having a thin paved path encircling all the building, the rest of the lot as grass and trees except than in the corner where the main entrance is?

  Edited February 26, 2012 by Francis90b