Harishna's BATs

[harishna 847]

Psander5: Thanks problem solved! 

So I have been working a little bit in my BAT, made a couple of important changes and a lot of minor ones. I changed the main textures of the facade and re-modeled the fountain, I think they look much much better. I also changed the ground floor making it a little bit wider, this closer to real life dimensions. I added tables and book shelfs inside the ground floor to add realism, some other props to the outside, and played a little bit with the roof textures. I changed the parapet at the top, I don't know if this is what Simhottoddy meant, and night-lights are also almost done. With what I am still not satisfied is with the patio. In real life there are benches, tables an a lot of plants. I know that the base for the pine is too small and the tree too big, I am planning to change this. I had been looking for some props for the patio but I haven't found much that I like and I don't know how to make plants. Here are some pictures rendered at medium quality, any suggestions. comments, ideas, criticism welcome! By the way I don't know what happened but the coordinates of the bat changed what used to be south now is west and so on I guess is not really important but...

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Looks really harishna. I like the tree but the tree in this angle the trunk size does not look right can you change the size of it only in that angle it looks kind of thick you need to make it a little thiner, from the other areas they look sort of good, but that part bothers me a little. IMO.

[harishna 847]

I agree completely with that Aaron forgot to fix before rendering, thanks

[thingfishs 416]

Looking great Harishna, almost time to call it finished I think (the day that is ;-)). I hadn't actually noticed that face on the fountain previously but yes, your new version looks much better. As for the main facade, that looks worlds better now that it's all the right size etc. I'm so glad you got that sorted. The flashing you've added helps as well.

I always think (with occasional exceptions), pretty or ugly, that the RL building should be the guide (for eg not every darn building has piles of, or even any, roof junk - yet everyone always says "more roof junk"). The thing I don't like with this new version is the extra yellow things on the roof (what are they? and are there so many on the real building?) I think they catch the eye a bit too much. However, if the RL building has them, then I think they should stay... (but could posibly be toned down a few shades of yellow).

There are heaps of plant props available. As it's a shaded area I would be going straight for the shaded plants in CP Mega Prop Pack Vol. 1 

Also try MJB MPP 1. If these don't help I have a large range of unreleased plant props that I have been compiling for the SimMedieval project - pm me and let me know what you're after and I'll see if I've got it.

[mntoes 271]

This is turning out to be a great bat. You might want to re-size your pictures though maximum size is 800 x 600.

[harishna 847]

thingfish: Thanks for stopping by. About the trees I was thinking in modelling them as it may better than adding them as prop, but I  think I have too many polygons now... I believe the things on the roof are a kind of hoist and I am guessing that they are used to service the facade of the building. As you can see on the image below there are quite a few of them on top of the building unfortunately I haven't found a better picture for the roof so I don't exactly know how they look, my guess is that they probably look something like this.

mntoes: thanks for the advice I would take in consideration from now on.

I was thinking in moving to 3ds max so I made the installation in the programs file folder, so there is a space in the name of the directory root, would this cause any issues and if so what should I do? re-install it?

[thingfishs 416]

You don't have to reinstall it, just move it to your C drive root folder and call it 3DSMAX2010 (or whichever version you have - this should work fine, although your welcome screen will be lost). Although from memory, the new version of Bat4Max (V5) can deal with spaces.

Are you going to try and transport the project? I'll be very curious to see if you are successful. (I have tried to export a scene from gmax to max without any luck, via md3 from memory).

[harishna 847]

thingfish: thanks for your comments, I have fixed the hoists on the roof, hope they look better now. I decided not to try to export from Gmax to max as I read it may cause some issues with the textures.

So as I said I re-modeled the hoists on the roof and changed some of the roof props and added some plants to the garden so I think the building is ready or almost ready, any comments welcome. 

I just noticed that there are two scales in my model, I don't know how this happened or how to fix it, and probably at this stage it doesn't really matter.  I mean the main components of the building have the right scale but others, for example the floor that I added at the end for the base supposedly measures 70m while the main roof of the building, which is bigger measures, only 60m.

I also started my second project but this one in MAX, as I said before I installed the latest version of 3ds max but I haven't been able to install the BAT4MAX, so I cannot show my progress. I downloaded the BAT4MAX installer from SC4devotion, but how can I run the script from 3ds max f it is only an .exe file what is included int the .zip file? Also is there something else I should do  to customize MAX to use it for SC4? 

[thingfishs 416]

Well I'm tempted on one hand to say yes, it's all as good as it can be (the hoists look a lot better toned down a bit, smaller, and less in pairs btw). The one thing that bothers me are those giant green slugs you have in your garden. ;-) They look far too maxis like and boring to me. Normally that wouldn't be much of an issue, but for a labour of love like this I think it's worth getting everything right (and by the end of a project like this, esp. as your first one, you may start to cut corners just a little bit - through exhaustion) I realise there will be LOD issues there but if you get a plant which "sprays" to one side you'll be able to get it looking a lot more lush, interesting and realistic. As I've mentioned I have a large collection of royalty free plant models (plus an increasing number of my own) and I will find and send you a few potential options. Where many in the game have an architectural background, mine is more horticultural - and at least in this area I can bring a little experience to the table.

Also those tiled sections at the bottom of picture, should they be exact copies of one another? (because it looks repetitive - it would be a cinch to make them appear random)

[harishna 847]

thingfishs: thanks for the quick reply I was still editing my message when you replied lol!. You are absolutely right the plants look cheap, and I am not convinced about them, maybe I want to move on to the other project that I got in hands. I think I am going to take your kind offer and look at the plants you got there. Regarding the floors I think guess I would look for a better option, one that looks less repetitive...maybe the standard white tiles...but I wanted something a little bit more rustic and less modern looking

[SimFox 802]

Originally posted by: harishna

...

I downloaded the BAT4MAX installer from SC4devotion, but how can I run the script from 3ds max f it is only an .exe file what is included int the .zip file? Also is there something else I should do  to customize MAX to use it for SC4? quote>

Hm.. what you have written there makes no sense... could you explain a bit...

[harishna 847]

Simfox: yes it makes no sense, it means that I got confused and wrote stupid things lol this morning I checked things carefully and the problem is that when I run the script I get the following error -- Runtime error: Copy error on file C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max2011\scripts\startUp\CPTB2Startup.ms

I am going to make a fresh installation in the c: directory...and see if this solves the problem

Fresh installation and Bat4Max installed, all seem to be working...is it normal to get a messages that reads something like nitelieghts were disable because of the version of 3ds max I am using?

[Utvaw 45]

Just wanted to stop in and say that this building is looking great, amazing for a first bat. I also wanted to say that I really appreciate your patience and attention and desire to put out a quality bat even though it is your first. Qualities like that will get you very far in the bat field and are greatly appreciated by those of us that download these buildings and like to admire quality works.

Keep up the fantastic work!

Also I hope you do Insignia Tower at some point, if not as your next bat then somewhere down the line; that is one neat looking building.

[thingfishs 416]

 Yes, the night lights were disabled message is normal - I think you have to have a pretty old version of Max to not get that message. Some plants are on their way. Also I wasn't talking about the tiles on the floor - I was talking about the ones on the wall:

[harishna 847]

Utvaw: Thanks for your kind words, I definitely aiming for quality here, I know it won't be the best thing out there but at least hope to make it as good as my skills allow me. I am sorry to disappointed but currently I am working in the rectoria tower, maybe I will do the Insignia tower later.

thingfishs: Oh those tiles, that should be easier to make look less repetitive! Thanks, will play with the plants as soon as I can.

Well I left the UNAM central library for now and moved to max where I am working in the UNAM Rectoria tower everything seemed to be working fine except that this is how the previews look, what I have done wrong now ? I have tried reseting the light and cameras and automatically generated the LOD's again.

Could it be related to the fact that I started the model before installing the BAT4MAX?

[SimFox 802]

It most probably does. What you have there is a result of using wrong system units.

May I ask , again, what version of BAT4Max are you using and what is your version of 3ds Max?

[Utvaw 45]

Originally posted by: harishna

Utvaw: Thanks for your kind words, I definitely aiming for quality here, I know it won't be the best thing out there but at least hope to make it as good as my skills allow me. I am sorry to disappointed but currently I am working in the rectoria tower, maybe I will do the Insignia tower later.

quote>

No dissapointment there, all those buildings look like they would make great BATs

[harishna 847]

Simfox: I have BAT4MAX v5 and 3dsMax2011

 I think one of the problems is that I was using the wrong units...I was using generic units I changed it to metric and scaled the whole thing up 3768%, I couldnt kept the model at this new scaled so try merging into a new file and it worked but whenever I try to run a preview render I get the error message: --Runtime error: Bitmap creation failure and the SFBATPreview_func.ms script pops up at line 118. 

[tzotzil99 2]

I love this building in real life, so its great to see such a worthy version for the game!

I think making the roof textures messier is a big improvement, even if it is 'fake' in relation to the real building, where like you said they probably resurface and repaint it often making it uniform in color and texture. Its a strange paradox that for buildings to look more real in the game, they sometimes can't look as clean and shiny as they do in real life!

Your nite pic of the real building was great so I LOVE the way you added lights that highlight the mural at night. I can't wait to see the final version of this finished. I know I got strangely intimidated near the end of my first project, fussing with this and that, I had to force myself to see it through and hope it was 'good enough' for a first project (although of course it could have been better). Keep up the good work

P.S. I'm impressed you are taking on 3d max. I hope you will comment on how it is to transition. I'm having to start all over myself (I can't remember how I did most of what I have already modeled way back several years ago) and I debated starting with BAT for max (I have max8) instead of gmax but there aren't as many tutorials and it really intimidates me. I only use it now to put free plant and xfrog models in 3ds format to get into gmax. Do you find that the setup and tools are enough like gmax that you don't feel like you are starting from the beginning? Where are you finding tutorials?

[harishna 847]

tzotzil99: Thanks very much. So far my very basic knowledge of gmax has helped me enough to manage to model somehting. About  tutorials, well I have basically searched in the forums or over the web for solutions as I encounter an specific problem/challenge (this may not be the recommended way to learn), there has also been a lot of trial an error (this is a painful way to learn but sometimes the best). But so far my experience has been very positive, with 3ds max you got everything from gmax plus more to play with...Regarding the roof well I made it a little bit "dirtier" not sure if it is enough, I am more than open to opinions.

thingsfishs: thanks for the plants the only thing is that I think I wont be able to use them for the internal patio as it would be cover by the LOD, or is they another way?? I changed the plants a little bit but I think they still look cheap compared to the model, I also changed the tiles hope they look less repetitive now.

I have also been working in my second project the Rectoria the problem was units/scale I was using I rescaled, but the problem is that some parts of the model have the right unit/scale but the parts that were rescaled show the wrong units, Most of the model is done so the rest I can do it with no major problems, but would be good if I can fix it.

Anyways here are some teasers of the library and the rectoria tower in their current state, I have included an in game picture of the library to see how it would fit the game (please pay no attention to the lot)

[thingfishs 416]

Well I guess you need some plants as gmax scenes and to merge and render with the building itself. I will have a look and see if I have any (most of them are 3ds scenes - but it could be a better opportunity to test the conversion process, when a simple re-texturing would be an option). Also have a hunt in the models sections of the STEX & LEX, I remember couchpotato posted some plant models on the LEX for e.g. (but they were probably 3ds files).

I can't see any photos in your post Harishna...?!?

[harishna 847]

I haven't really look at the exporting option I may give it a try this week.

Sorry about the pictures it seems that the server crashed last night while I tried to upload the pics, but here they are...

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

Try merging your newest model into a new scene, but leave out the "TB2 Camera handle" and other lights and cameras. Then hit the LTBL buttons in BAT4max and you should have a working rig again.

Lookin' good by the way!

[Jasoncw 11,841]

In 3ds Max, make a new scene and set up make some boxes. Apply a grey colored material to the boxes, and do a preview render to see how they look.

Right now as you can see the lighting is in the wrong direction, but the render is fuzzy as well.

[harishna 847]

thanks Todd and Jason, I followed your advice and also looked Jason's post in the troubleshooting thread for 3ds max where you help thingfishs with a similar problem and I think is now solved here are some rendered previews. I still have the units issue...

thingfishs I looked at toxicpiano tutorial on exporting to 3ds max but I couldn't get pass the part where one must right click the file and convert it, I simple couldn't find where or how to do that, I mean I must be quite dumb... 

[harishna 847]

Ok one more update to the library I changed the roof texture completely and improved the fountain, I am thinking in calling this done. I would still appreciate if someone has better looking plants in gmax for the garden. Any comments welcome.  

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[tcx 170]

Biblioteca Central looks great!!!! can't wait to download it.

[harishna 847]

G'day, well I haven't receive much feedback for may last posts, so I am assuming that either I am on the right track or that people lost interest in my thread, (well there is a third option in my head: my work is so bad people believe it is hopeless, so no point in trying to make it better), for my own sanity I will take option one . Anyways I have exported the file, there were a couple of things that I wanted to do like adding aircraft warning lights using material that glow, which I don't even know if this is possible with gmax, but maybe I leave it for my next project in 3dsmax. So I played a little bit in LE with the exported model and this is how it looks now...I was thinking on creating an overlay texture to match the building texture for the footpaths but I am still trying to figure it out how to do that.

Anyways, leave me your thoughts, cheers.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

Unfortunately for me, this is the first time I've ever clicked on your BAT thread. First up, I've gotta say that the pictures above have just blown me away.

Such a beautiful and unique building you've chosen to make, it's always great to see someone doing something a bit different. Your texturing skills are phenomenal, especially considering how limiting Gmax can be. Glad to see you're working in Max with your later stuff - it's a pity getting stuff from Gmax to Max is such a pain in the a... I'd love to see this done up with some proper reflective textures and some awesome truNite lighting. Having said that, your current Gmax render is definitely good enough to be released as is in my opinion. Just don't start anything in Gmax again!

Massive credit for the lot design too. Not too crowded, not too bland. Doesn't take anything away from the building. Blends almost seamlessly with the BAT itself. Obviously inspired by real life. Great use of custom textures and props. Can't get much better than that.

By the way...

(well there is a third option in my head: my work is so bad people believe it is hopeless, so no point in trying to make it better)quote>

Uh, I don't think so mate.

I still have the units issue...quote>

Strange, I thought v5 set up all of that for you. You'll have to ask SF. As a genral rule, your first step on the road to BATing in 3ds Max is to read and re-read everything in this post.

[Jasoncw 11,841]

It's definitely the first option.

For the lot, I would either remove or make a version without the parking lot. Or if you really want a parking lot there I would find different parking lot textures.

Also, when you do previews in the game, I would turn the shadows on.

The library turned out lovely, and it looks like the new building will be even better .