District of Wenzel | Update 116 - (Ouisconsin County) Morgan Town: Rival to the South

[SimCoug 5,977]

We miss DoW - I hope you can get things sorted and show some new updates

[BLANKBLANK 4,414]

I've had a look at previous entries of yours and I really like your style. I see you make extensive use of SFBT's fillers and other fillers to make empty spaces pretty. Looking forward to more entries!

[Sabretooth78 808]

Unfortunately it seems as though the street map is down - this must have happened fairly recently as I was referencing it extensively in making mine (link in my sig).  It's probably safe to say that this CJ tops the list of those I would like to see come back - or be reincarnated in a new CJ if you need to do so in order to get your house in order!

[packersfan 667]

Well what really slowed down my interest was my older laptop and then I was having some CTDs and problems with some of my developing tiles.  I was frustrated and didn't want to have to rebuild a tile...but I think if I need to do something like that, I've been away from the game long enough that I can bring a fresh set of eyes and new ideas to my region and if I have to rebuild an area...well I guess that is all part of the city journal experience.  Now the next step is just getting off my butt and actually playing the game.  And balance the time with teaching.  I have time...it's just about not feeling guilty about playing SimCity instead of "preparing" for class, which today has consisted of me sitting around and surfing the internet....UGHH!

[packersfan 667]

Well it's all happening, folks!  District of Wenzel is alive.  Pulled all the files off of the External Harddrives and loaded up the game in stunning 1920 x 1080.  Load times for my fully loaded large city tiles on average 2.5 minutes, not bad at all.  Everything runs nicely and it should, I have a solid laptop running this game now.  Just loaded up a few of the large tiles and changed many of the trees to the seasonal versions while the water changed and the terrain changed.  No ill effects!

 

Thinking back to last year, I stopped playing because it just wasn't fun to always be afraid of the game crashing or freezing up on my old laptop, so I focused solely on my teaching job.  However, when I went back to America in February 2014, I bought a new laptop with 16GB RAM, two graphics cards, etc, loaded up SimCity and couldn't really tell if things would be better.  Quickly, my laptop started having issues and I had to get it repaired, so I didn't get to use it until maybe April or May in China.  I guess during that time I forgot about SimCity and was just trying to settle into my new job.  I'm still busy with work, but I think I will spend my free time playing SC4 as opposed to just surfing the web and watching Youtube.

I'm excited to dive in and rework areas and develop the region further.  One thing I would love to do is convert ALL the flora and props to seasonal versions, but this is a giant undertaking (even just replopping seasonal trees in open areas takes time).  On the map front, I want to see if I can make a zoomable map of District of Wenzel, so I can include more information about schools, hospitals, landmarks, etc.

Ha, I just got everything working in time for the weekend (when I am booked pretty solid with work from Friday evening until Sunday evening.  Boo...

Hopefully I can get everything sorted out and get an update posted before the month is out.  Thanks for following!
 

[Sabretooth78 808]

A zoomable map would be interesting.  I briefly explored that (wonder if you would be able to emulate the Google Maps API?) but gave it up for being too much work - I do want to actually play the game occasionally, too!  Of course I'm not really into web development so I'm sure what looked like a PITA for me might be easy to somebody else.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if you still get crashes, just not with the same frequency.  It seems to depend largely on what and how much is in your plugins suite, but I've found that just about any session is destined to end in a crash if left untended.  Save early and often, and it seems to hold them at bay.

 

Looking forward to #96!

[packersfan 667]

Yeah, the map project is just an idea, something I might fiddle with if I find the time.  I'm actually having a hard time figuring out how I would be able to do it with the multiple images I stitch together in my web-map.

For sure, I need to remember to save often.  Luckily the saving seems to be a lot faster, too.  Load times average 2.5 minutes.  Saves average 20 seconds!  Frustration saved, Priceless.
 

[Luiz P. Romanini 132]

So glad to see you back, friend!!

[packersfan 667]

Installed the latest version of NAM.  The Real Railways look really cool but the texture doesn't work on my rapid stepped railways...maybe I need to move away from that kind of thing and hope we can get more and more fractional angles...right?

I had a situation with my DAMN menus, but I solved it and didn't have to rebuild those.  PHEW.

I need to download GIMP, and I'm working on filling up some new tiles I created (remember I was converting a few large tiles to mediums to prevent future issues), but I'm feeling more confident that this new laptop can handle the larger tiles and I might not have to continue with that course of action

The weekend is coming and I am booked pretty solid with teaching classes.  UGH.
 

[APSMS 1,893]

You really are back!

 

While the RRW will only have 2 FA that I know of (due to the new standards of FA3 and FA2--FA2 being a new one--and crosslinking problems with additional networks), the RRW is the new paradigm (more realism), will have more draggable elements (read: Draggable Fractional Angle networks), and already has close-proximity curves (two or more smooth/FA curves in previously impossible arrangements).

 

Actually almost all of the previously ploppable pieces like wide street/road curves, RHW ramps, Railway switches are being converted into draggable stuff, so you won't have anymore of those nice suburbs lacking sidewalks on the rounded street corners.

 

The NAM Team in the last year has been making incredible developments in draggable stuff...

 

But I digress.

 

Glad to see you back, and with all your old cities, too! I know how you feel about the free time. Sometimes though, I feel like SC4 is such a chore to do when you want to have fun.

[packersfan 667]

Haha, yeah, sometimes SC4 can feel like a chore.  I love the draggable stuff.  Yup, I'm back.  Glad to see people care, haha.

[bakercity 270]

Welcome back packersfan. It would be awesome to read your cj entries again. District of Wenzel is one of my favorite cj to read and to keep track. Maybe you should take a look at my cj (Region of Salem) as I took a little to some aspects of D of W and converted them to my liking and see if you like it or not. I look forward to your updates when they come and good luck balancing work with play. JKB

[packersfan 667]

New link for the District of Wenzel Street Map.  Update your favorites! - http://packersfan.comli.com/streetmap/

[packersfan 667]

I am having a crisis.  I need to decide on multiple things.

A) Do I start a fresh new region with a fresh take on my plugins folder, a fresh style (to better incorporate RHW, RRW, etc.)?

 

B) While appealing in its own way, starting a new region means losing the history and development of District of Wenzel.  So if I want to keep working on District of Wenzel, do I try to modernize my style (more flexible roads, avoid step-style for different angles) or keep doing what I'm doing and implement newer options like RHW, RRW, FAN, etc. in newer sections of my city?

What a pain.  It seems I always get to a point where playing my region gets frustrating because I feel trapped but at the same time I don't want to lose the history and progress I've made in my region.  I like having a long continuity.
 

UPDATE: I just reinstalled NAM in order to remove Project Symphony.  While Symphony looks great it also does not have full features.  Many of my highways are currently very step-heavy and also feature many diagonal bridges which neither RHW or Symphony seem to support.  In the course of playing, I hope to upgrade areas to RHW and more friendly to future NAM.  I guess my city is old-school in that way.

 

I also spent 10 hours working on stuff that I will now delete because it just doesn't fit...ugh, push back the update!

[Sabretooth78 808]

If you're starting over, the safe bet would be to start a new region.  But that's your decision and only your decision.  I know what you mean regarding the time investment; I've made changes my my plugins that have affected my CJ region that I've barely started and while some things would be easier to just start over - I've invested too much time into getting it where it is.

 

My vote is unless you have some catastrophic conflict of old vs. new in your plugins, keep it and update your style as you go along.  My impression of your journal is that Martin is not quite up to the current date (real life) in terms of development anyway (as compared to say a real-life midwestern US counterpart).  Such cities always have anachronisms and substandard features and once you reach build-out, you have something to keep going with.  Call the step-wise curves a "substandard feature" and gradually update them with a step-wise/FAR hybrid.  I bet you can keep a similar footprint but achieve something that looks better in the city view.  Not only will it maintain your continuity, it might help you extend it further.

[jmsepe 2,040]

A. I want to see a new project.

 

Yep Sabre has a lot of good inputs. As for me, a fresh start is always better as it gives us a fresh and new environment to work on with that has no limits and boundaries brought about by the existing cities and systems.. 

[bakercity 270]

I would keep the current map and what you already have, just implement the new stuff on new tiles. If you look at some big cities, they have new and old highways mixed with outdated specs for the old highway and new and updated specs for the new highway. That is my two cents worth, plus why get rid of something you worked hard at. Do what you feel comfortable while gradually implement new ideas and ways. Good luck no matter what. JKB

[packersfan 667]

Interesting points.  Part of me is thinking maybe start another region to run along side this one...another city in the nation where I can use all the modern toys.

I love the idea that the old stuff is like the outdated old highways that don't meet current standards found in many places.  That is definitely how it is my city (heck, most of the roads in my inner city are only two lanes while out in the newer areas (just like in real life) there are more avenues, wider roads, etc.

I keep getting CTDs on this one tile that I was just working on when I would terraform (whether with a street tile, rail, brush, etc) over a certain tile (blank tile and nothing within the area...I made sure to clear out the area just to remove any possible lots being the cause.  Maybe I will have to start that tile over...not a big loss, just a tiny little town and farms on it (St. Mark).

Here's to hoping playable doesn't become a deciding factor, though that takes the decision making out of my hands

This was one thing I PLANNED to do from the start.  I wanted to build out the region and then go back into the older parts and update things (modernizing road layouts....but also I guess with new techniques).  It really is amazing some of the blah stuff in my older areas (it's just like flipping back through the pages of the journal).

Keep your fingers crossed.
 

[blunder 1,080]

OOOH.  I can't wait to see what you come up with, packersfan.

 

The crashing issue you describe sounds most likely to be there is a piece of ghost flora there.  This happens when you leave a tree from a previous tree controller behind when you upgrade to a new tree controller.  Whether or not the tree shows up, the city will run fine until the elevation of that tile changes, then bam, ctd.

 

If you reinstall an old tree controller, load the map, and suddenly there's a tree in the spot that was giving you trouble then that was the issue.  If not, then it's something else and i don't have an answer.  A quicker check would be (but this will destroy all flora on the tile so don't save) to open the cheat box, type "flora off" (sans quotes), enter, then "flora on", then go terraform that tile and see if it crashes.

[packersfan 667]

AH, that might be the issue.  I remember when changing tree controllers you are supposed clear out the old trees using the old controller first and then go back and load with the new controller!  Crap, I can't remember what my old controller was.  I just refreshed to tiles that were giving me trouble...not a big deal as they both contained tiny nothing towns and farmland.  I can see this becoming an issue with other tiles, though.  I'll have to figure out my tree controller situation!!!  I have some serious tiles that have old trees on them and I don't want to run into this problem on those.

Do I need the old controller?  Or can I go in and "flora off" cheat and then "flora on" and that will clear off the tile of ghost trees?  I can't remember how to do all this.  It has been a year and a half since I switched and then quit playing, so I forgot all the little nuances with such a big change.
 

[blunder 1,080]

Ehhhh.... it's been too long since i've tested this.  Flora on -> flora off should do it, but there might be other unintended consequences.  For instance i believe it will delete all flora off of existing lots and it won't come back unless the lot is replopped/grown/upgrades.  It won't delete trees that were placed as props in LE, just trees/bushes placed as flora in LE.  That's why it's better to use it as a quick diagnosis tool and then try to find your old tree controller and remove it manually, unless there aren't any lots with flora on that tile yet.

[Sabretooth78 808]

You will also lose any plop water or any other MMPs you may have placed in the subject tile.  Apart from that it may be a workable solution.

 

Or just obliterate the tile and start over.  Same deal, and you still get to keep your terraforming.

 

FWIW, the idea of a parallel journal sounds interesting.  I've even thought of doing that myself but I haven't been able to put enough focus on the one I already have going in order to do that...

[packersfan 667]

Exactly, having enough time to just focus on one journal is hard enough and if I start a new region I'll inevitably just end up migrating full time to that one and abandoning District of Wenzel - Martin.  I think I'll stick with DoW and work in new things and redo areas as I go along.

I'll have to pull my old controller out of storage...just hope it is the right one!
 

[Donician 9]

I certainly hope you get it worked out. I'm really looking forward to some new updates of DoW.

[packersfan 667]

Update 96 - ST PAUL: Beachview - Updating the Flora

Talk about a long time between updates.  District of Wenzel is back after one and a half years!  Last time we saw Hawthorne with fall colors.  Well that theme continues as I am going through and updating my flora and MMPs to seasonal stuff and just better stuff.

 

Today we visit the north part of the City of St. Paul, Beachview.  Let's finish up this tile and update the flora!

 

 

 

Old seawalls that just don't hug the coast.

 

 

 

Oh, some incomplete plopped grass and all the old flora was eliminated when I switched tree controllers.

 

 

Let's replace these with ploppable rocks like in Penelope River (earlier update).

 

 

Now that looks a lot better.  This is South Shore Park, part of the Waterfront Parkway.

 

 

A wider shot of South Shore Beach.

 

 

South Shore Golf Course.  I don't think it is complete, yet.  The rest will be built in the adjacent tile.

 

 

 

A wider shot of the area.  Ooops, I just noticed I didn't merge all the layers and the street labels didn't get included on any of the pictures.  Still getting used to using GIMP again and the whole process of getting these updates ready.

 

 

You are here.

 

 

 

 

Things are working much better on my new laptop.  I had a number of CTDs when I was working on some other maps recently, but this was probably due to not properly switching tree controllers and having phantom flora messing with my terraforming and causing CTDs.  That problem has been solved!  Now just trying to modernize things again with RHW and stuff...but ughh.

 

Check out the District of Wenzel Street Map to get an idea where we are.  This is A NEW LINK as the old LINK was dead!

 

What are the limits for picture size?  What picture size actually shows up in the forum?  It used to be 800 x 600, but I looked in the guidelines thread and it said 1024 x 768, but the pictures still show up looking smaller than 1024 x 768?  Any clues?

 

[Sabretooth78 808]

Ha, I just noticed your alphabetical street naming scheme in that area.

[bakercity 270]

Lovely picture Packersfan. I am really happy that DoW is back and still looking great. I like the colorful trees, rocks and the water. Simply beautiful. Keep up the awesome work my friend. JKB

[Compdude787 916]

What are the limits for picture size?  What picture size actually shows up in the forum?  It used to be 800 x 600, but I looked in the guidelines thread and it said 1024 x 768, but the pictures still show up looking smaller than 1024 x 768?  Any clues?

Photos are automatically resized on the forums here.

[LexusInfernus 908]

Very nice pictures. Love the golf course. Also, how did you make that map? Do you use a special program for it? 

[packersfan 667]

I need help!  I want to edit some forest lots to decrease the number of trees on the lot because I want to use them as fillers as backyard trees in neighborhoods.  I can't get Lot Editor to work and I can't seem to figure out how to use Lot Editor in PIMx?  Any help?