nybt-forum-threads PBGV's BAT Thread

[Heblem 600]

Will you bat it? I had plans to do so, let me know if you start doing it

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Your not the only one that hate it. Cities Xl have done some buildings like that too, there not shaped right. Game makes need guys like us.

[PBGV103 729]

Gutterclub, it's not just the scale that's off. They also lopped off the western end of the building, misformed the rest, and, I haven't counted, but I'm pretty sure the floor count is off too.

Heblem, my plans right now are, finish Citigroup, 345 Park Ave., and 277 Park Ave. Then fix the roof of 600 Lexington. After that I was concidering making the Rockefeller Center complex. It would be a very ambitious project and would take a very long time to finish, but I think it needs to be done. Since all the buildings would use a similar group of materials, I think I'd start out with the smaller buildings and work my way up in size.

Aaron Graham, how is Cities XL2011? It seemed to me that there was a very limited selection of buildings in it, and a lot of the larger cities I've seen look odd, like the layouts were impractical. This along with the fact the no one has made even a semi accurate recreation of Manhattan makes me believe that they can't due to game design.

  Edited September 12, 2011 by PBGV103  

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

The game is okay it still does not beat Sim City 4, I think Sim City has a lot more buildings than Cities Xl, and there's not many people making building for this game due to the way you have to make them. I have seen a thread on custiomizing things but it not like Sim City 4, Sim City 4 is the King of city building.

[Heblem 600]

Maybe i can help you doing rockfeller center as a collaboration project using similar materials (maybe using arch & design of mental ray) when you done first with your projects, as i have some other projects to do too

  Edited September 12, 2011 by Heblem  

[Jasoncw 11,987]

Yeah, they really managed to mess up that building. I don't really know why they chose to make it how they did. I think the quality of the building itself is pretty good it's just a bad recreation. The recording studios in there are an important part of the identity of the building (especially recently with the 30 rock tv show) and they chopped that entire section off, lol

They might have just ran out of time and decided to finish it by not modeling that part, but usually you model something first and then texture it, so if something had to be cut I'd figure it would be the textures.

I know that in general they were working really fast because time is money. Who knows, the person making this might have only had one day to complete it and ended up checking his e-mail a few too many times instead. Us on the other hand, even though we're not as skilled as they are, we can pour a massive amount of time into every building we make, so we have better results.

[PBGV103 729]

Since a few of you asked about the top of Citigroup here's a preview of what it'll look like.

I played around with the flood lighting for the night scene too and haven't had great results, but here's a preview of that as well.

I think reducing the reflectivity of the aluminum just for the night scene will take care of a big part of the problem.

  Edited September 15, 2011 by PBGV103  

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

The details on the top of the Citigroup building look 100% better, I kinda like the night light glare, I think you could fix the reflectivity just a little. Keep it up.

  Edited September 16, 2011 by Aaron Graham  

[maikeli.1 12]

pbgv103 you have perfectly recreated the citicorp center and 345 park ave as they are in real life good work keep going

[Vlasky 1,803]

Just simply WOW! This, with all its problems looks spectacular! It would steal the show in any city! Just keep working on it, don't loose motivation!

[art128 4,622]

I like the nightlights on the roof part!

[PBGV103 729]

Suprise!

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Yay something new, what is it??

[Vlasky 1,803]

It's non other than the Westin Hotel, West 270 42nd Street (but located on corners of 9th ave and 42nd and 43rd streets). One of the ugliest buildings to be built in Manhattan in recent years (2007 or 2010 was the year of competition). I really dislike that building from the start.

But hey! Please don't get me wrong! What a nice surprise it is! And what a leap! From one of the most praised post modern buildings, to the one of the cheapest, most SHENZENian tower.

[PBGV103 729]

Hahahaha it always reminded me of Vegas. Gold and gaudy, so naturally I have to make it xD

[Vlasky 1,803]

Ah, good old times, when Vegas was the tackiest city in the world. Well this seems appropriate:

But thankfully, when New York does ugly, that's what it does ^^

It could be worse. Like this:

(but you do notice similarities)

or, really, anything from Dubai.

  Edited September 21, 2011 by Vlasky  

[Jasoncw 11,987]

I was going to say "the building is looking good" but instead I'll just say "your recreation is coming along well."

[Hanson784 165]

The Citigroup Building is coming along very nicely even though I know there's a lot more to be finished up.

Love how the top looks at night, though the material used for the sloping surface look a bit like roof shingles when lit up at night. I'm not sure what material is used on the real building so if it really does look like that at night nevermind me. It could also be the angle and shadows giving it a "shingled effect."

Also glad to see the Westin Hotel being made too. A necessary evil for those recreating NYC.

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

I was going to say "the building is looking good" but instead I'll just say "your recreation is coming along well."

I applaud your discretion.

  Edited September 22, 2011 by SimHoTToDDy  

[Francis90b 748]

^Ditto.

[PBGV103 729]

The Westin is turning out to be more difficult and confusing than I expected, mainly with the curves along the sides. Not only is the north curve 1/3 the width of the south curve, it also changes it's radius very slightly halfway down the building.

I also needa better picture taken from the angle seen below. Until then the east side of the building is partly a guess.

[Vlasky 1,803]

Well I never! If someone was to tell me I will be searching pics of this monstrosity online, ever, I'd call him loony!

The things I do for this Team ... There, better? :

Also few shots taken from unique positions when it comes to THIS THING lol

[gutterclub 2,729]

If the colour pattern was changed it would be a lot similar to a lot of buildings we have in the UK, mainly built by the Beetham company. Check out Manchesters Beetham Tower and Birminghams Snow Hill..they have that horrid panneling and weird colour scheme.

Good luck with this, I think it will not only be great for Manhatten recreations, it will also fit in well with an Asian style City.

[Roger51 381]

This sure is one strange building...

[IDS2 3,431]

Ahh, the Westin well, it certainly is unique! I must say, I really admire your attention to detail. Everything in here looks fantastic.

[PBGV103 729]

Thanks for the comments everyone, and Vlasky, thank you for those pictures. They've really helped, but it is difficult staying motivated to work on such a crazy building. Everything has to be done by proportions since I can't go there and measure things myself. After a while I just get tired of it. I did, however, finish the glass of the tower part, next will be the crumpled orange thing, which I'm dreading working on, especially the custom bitmap for it. Then there's all the little details like the ground floor, roof tops, and all the signs.

Here's a render I made a while ago of 345 Park Ave. I think I'll finish this one up before I do anythin else since all that's left to do is the HVAC stuff, the Dinoceras statue, other minor details, and the night scene. After that I'll probably fix 600 Lex. then either finish Citigroup or 277 Park Ave before doing anymore work on the Westin. Once all that is done I'm not sure what I'll do, probably either start on the Rockefeller Center or some of the other Times Square buildings.

[Jazzmaster 716]

Lookin' real good!

[Vlasky 1,803]

You're welcome!

Well I shall be careful expressing my feelings about Westing BAT. It certainly progresses .... realistically? You're doing amazing job on it!

As for 345 Park Ave, well I hate boxes, but something about this one is impressive and I love what you've done so far. When it comes to making details on roofs, you certainly win! Those Park Ave towers you did previously had some of the most realistic junk and pipes I've ever seen in a model. SO, in short, I can't wait to see what you're gonna do with this one.

I say your plan for finishing BATs is good. you've set priorities quite well. Now just stick to the plan.

When it comes to Rockefeeler Center, I offer my help for modeling anything you want me to. I'm a sucker for Art Deco and I'll probably do my best finding resources and reference photos, but if you want me to I'll be involved in that project modeling wise.

[shinkansen1 84]

I honestly have no idea what it is that makes this Westin so ugly to everyone. I just don't see it, so I am very confused with such opinions.

Everything that I have seen here, however, is of incredible quality, and I am definitely going to follow progress on these buildings.

[Chris M 406]

Looking forward to everything you've done so far, these are all looking great. Keep up the amazing work, PGBV.