Project Thread: The Toronto-Dominion Centre

[.soapy 127]

Keeitel, is that you with the cow? Do you live in Toronto / see these buildings regularly in real life?

It is indeed me! Also, I live to the north just outside of the city so I don't get to visit as often as I would like...

EDIT: ah, page two. excellent!

  Edited February 7, 2012 by keeitel  

[Cockatoo 2,257]

I've been doing a little more work on the grounds. Everything, including the flora, is still a work in progress, but you should get the general idea.

I think I kinda went a little overboard modelling some of the restaurant furniture... I'm at the point now where I'm starting to blur the lines between making stuff for SC4 and making stuff for production renders. I guess every bit of modelling practice helps too!

[gutterclub 2,729]

Wow, the production shot is amazing, even without textures..that said, don't let it take your eyes off the prize and get boggd down with making the smallest of invisible detail..this is going to be a beaut

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Looks great and inspiring. Is everthing poly modelled

[moeom 1]

This is going to be awesome! Can't wait. The updates have been superb too. Loving the small details.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Breath taking details...!

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Wow!So far it's looking good!

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Wow I like everything about it cockatoo, keep it up!!!

[art128 4,622]

That's details!

[Simbourgeois 139]

Ice tea for me, please

Really nice job on the restaurant furniture!

[_marsh_ 1,118]

Thanks to you we now have "production render" level buildings in SC4!

[Kendiecasttsoi 209]

Wow this is amazing. I think the only Toronto bats on the STEX so far is Simcoe Place and Roy Thomson Hall, so I agree that Canada's biggest city is under-represented. I think even Winnipeg has better representation on the STEX. There are a lot of landmark buildings worth exploring, including Royal York Hotel, Eaton Centre, University of Toronto Library, perhaps even the original Four Seasons Hotel. Luckily, most of the buildings on this project are quite generic boxy towers, so the time spent on batting won't be too much, but that lot should be one of the most ambitious since Pacific Place Hong Kong and UN Headquarters graced the STEX. Best of luck on a speedy completion.

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

How long do you need for one preview.

[MikeyBugs95 29]

Im envious of all you amazing BATers...

The complex is looking good so far.

[simlink 1,098]

Wow, amazing attention to detail! Look forward to watching to ongoing progress.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Hey everyone! I know there hasn't been updates lately.. it's been mainly due to my recent computer upgrade.

Went from a 3gb rendering dual core to a 8gb quad core. In the future I plan on doubling that processing memory by switching from CPU to GPU or any other instance. The resources are in my hands, it's only actions and time that will take the toll. But for now, my newly built computer is a beautiful beast solely built for 3ds max. I'm returning to University in the fall, so I need a job in between. I have no distractions, no pets, no girlfriend, no problems, etc... The air is clear, and it's all dependent on me to construct these BATs! No excuses! (good to hear, right? )

For those of you whom are curious how much space this mammoth will take up, here's an example...

It's 17x9 tiles... I know what you're thinking!

"pfft, this isn't a mammoth!"

Why yes it is kind sir/mam! The United Nations Project is certainly a big one! The lot size was without a doubt a behemoth. Although this project is smaller on a width scale, the occupancy and scale vertically is significantly enormous compared to the United Nations project (or any project of that matter).

All other major complexes (excluding the UN) are made in gmax or blender.

This will be the first 3ds max complex project to have multiple skyscrapers rendered in one lot. (sorry Paul! :b)

OUR DEADLINE...

Our deadline is initially early summer (June 2012 - July 2012). Me and Cockatoo reconciled on that deadline because it was more realistic! Of course we don't want to spend 1.5 years on a project (tsk tsk). I wouldn't want to anyway. My initial deadline was April 2012. Sure it seems like in the distance, but my super modelling speed skills and new computer won't have a problem. The only problem I have is texturing (mainly). Thank goodness that Jasoncw is taking care of this though! I think with good weather, and concentration... we could get this done by April 2012. In all honesty, I don't want this to be any later than that. Even though I've procrastinated on other projects quite a bit, this won't be one of them. This highly excites me!

But for now, that is all I update you with.

And leave you with a beautiful informational video on the future of the complex in HD VIA YouTube! (:

, Kellydale2003

ps; thoughts appreciated (:

  Edited February 27, 2012 by kellydale2003  

[T Wrecks 10,210]

This will be the first 3ds max complex project to have multiple skyscrapers rendered in one lot.

o rly?

Thanks for the other info - I wish y'all good luck and success with this latest monster.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

This will be the first 3ds max complex project to have multiple skyscrapers rendered in one lot.

o rly?

Thanks for the other info - I wish y'all good luck and success with this latest monster.

Oh gosh, I forgot about that!

Oh well, at least this won't be done over the course of the next few years! :b

[gutterclub 2,729]

It's not a competion and don't worry about setting deadlines, even if you have super modelling speed skills, I think we are all happy to be patient for this beauty.

Looking forward to this beast a lot, have already mapped out an area Downtown! Keep up the great work

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

My HD isn't a crispy char this time around, so maybe I could actually contribute this time around, lol.

[Cockatoo 2,257]

Don't worry guys, we all know that BATing isn't a competitive sport. It's just unfair to try and best one BAT against another.

Quality is the only thing that really matters here. We only want to aim for the highest possible level of quality that we can mannage.

Yes, other projects of this size have taken much longer than expected to complete. That isn't necessarally a bad thing, sometimes other things do have to take preference. We would like to get this one done in a reasonable ammount of time though. At the moment I feel like June is more than reasonable.

Anyway... more from my end later on today!

[wallacet 336]

Again...if you all need any help modeling any of the smaller aspects of the project (The ones I could have time for), I would love to be able to contribute. I may not be the best BAT'er, but I'd like to think I pay a lot of attention to the small details. I do love seeing community projects like this

[Jasoncw 11,949]

Luckily this is a much simpler project than the UN HQ. There's less "stuff" to do, and it seems to be pretty well allocated between Kelly and Cockatoo. Although I shouldn't speak for them, maybe they have some work they can unload onto someone.

[Cockatoo 2,257]

Between the three of us, we've actually got a lot of the work already covered.

I'm taking responsibility for modelling a single tower, the pavilion and the grounds while Kelly's doing all of the other towers. Jason's going to be tweaking / fixing all of our textures and Kelly and I will do the night lighting together. So as far as the actual BATing goes, we've pretty much got the bases covered already.

If you can come up with a part for yourself though, or you have a special area of interest that you'd like to help with, feel free to make a suggestion.

When the time comes though, I think we might need a fourth member to assist with modding. This time round I think it would be really cool to have a reward version... the thing is though, nobody seems to know how to make them anymore. Is there anyone out there who still knows how to do them?

Anyway, here's your first look at the pavilion. As far as fine detailing goes, it's actually pretty minimalist. There isn't actually a whole lot else that can be done to it. I do plan to model some of the interior details though to try and give it that bit of extra visual interest. They should be clearly seen during the night views and perhaps vaguely during the day as well.

On the other hand, I don't really know what to do with the roof at all, so I'm leaving that up to you ST. Should I texture the roof the way it has traditionally been… or should I go with the funky new green roof scheduled to replace the current one later on in the year. Put your choice in your post, 1 or 2.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

I'd go with 2 We can have plently of trees in our yards we don't need them rotting on roofs.

I think I'm dyslexic.. I had thought I mixed up the numbers then it turns out I didn't and I mixed them up again...

  Edited March 1, 2012 by Sgt Pepper  

[Francis90b 748]

I'd go with 1...i'd be interested in seing how it would turn out, and especially at how it might look in game.

[gutterclub 2,729]

I'd go with 2 as well, just personal preference of keeping it old school.

It seems to be the trend at the moment to turn everything green, give everything sky gardens etc in architecture, I think they don't compensate for good urban planning with lots of parks.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

I'll ask Andreas about the reward thing. I have trouble making the actual reward script, i.e. setting the unlock conditions. The rest isn't that hard AFAIR. I think I also remember hearing Andreas say something about a tool that simplifies reward modding. Stay tuned.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

I think #2! I think the traditional one looks better in all honesty. The video I posted reveals that Cadillac Fairview is focused on historical preservation (wish they thought of that with the first TD HQ).

Btw! Skyscraper updates this friday (when I get to an internet connection, right now I just use my Android for txt updates and what not!)

[art128 4,622]

I'd go for number two too as I don't think the green roof would look great with the towers. (it's just my personal opinion.)