Jason's BATs & Tutorials

[Titanicbuff 1,262]

It is beautiful- downloaded it myself- Love your work

[edwardjeria 503]

Great work

Is beutiful building

[Darknono35 3,137]

I can´t wait your others BATs

Maybe from MotorTown

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Hi everyone!

 

Once again I've had to dig this thread out of the back pages of the forum, but it's time for an update.

 

Website!

 

I've made myself a website. It'll mostly be things related to my architecture but it will also hold SimCity stuff. Over time I'll be consolidating my BATing tutorials there and writing new ones as well. www.jasoncwagner.com

 

BAT Requests!!

 

For many years now people have been offering money in exchange for BAT requests. Having run out of money myself, I decided to start doing them for 2014, and now it's 2014! Payment is via PayPal, and the requests will be uploaded to the STEX afterwards (win-win for everyone). Now's your big chance to get that building you've always wanted!  

 

More details are at http://jasoncwagner.com/2014/01/simcity-4-building-requests/

[darn42 1,268]

I like the website and I love your designs. That Michigan Pavilion thing is genius and beautiful.

 

Seriously, good luck with everything. I feel like accepting payment for BATs might be controversial, but I totally support it.

[MTT9 187]

It might be controversial as Darn42 said, but if someone is willing to pay you and you upload it to the stex, then i see nothing wrong with it. Good luck with this project

[PBGV103 729]

I think it's a great idea; however, I would watch out because a year or two ago I started something similar on a blog I used to post to and was "disciplined" by one of the moderators here. I was told that linking to a site where I was "selling BATs" (I was actually only asking for donations), was against policy and I would be banned. I was also told that they would report me for "selling" models that were produced with the student version of max and maxis software.

That said, I have a feeling that neither Maxis nor Autodesk would ever take notice, and I fully support your new venture. If I had the modeling skills you do I would probably try doing the same, and if I wasn't a poor student I would be commissioning half of NYC from you.

Have you thought about a pricing scale at all? I know you're probably much quicker at modeling than I am, but even so it takes a while to finish a building. From what I've seen, anywhere from $30-50 an hour is normal for modeling commissions, but somehow I doubt people on this site have the budget to spend several hundred on a single building. You might think about group buys, where you get a few people together who all want the same building, and then they split the cost. Then you could sell the completed model on your site as well.

Anyway, I hope it turns out well for you, but not so well that you disappear from us here!

[sencillo1 47]

i think its a great idea, i see no harm.

[weixc812 509]

The only thing that the website may pay attention to is the potential fraud risk, or the dispute attached to the payment. It may bring trouble to the site.

But we all know you, Jason. We fully trust you and hope the moderators will support this way of providing more BATs to the community.

[His Divine Hand 244]

I think it's a great idea; however, I would watch out because a year or two ago I started something similar on a blog I used to post to and was "disciplined" by one of the moderators here. I was told that linking to a site where I was "selling BATs" (I was actually only asking for donations), was against policy and I would be banned. I was also told that they would report me for "selling" models that were produced with the student version of max and maxis software.

That said, I have a feeling that neither Maxis nor Autodesk would ever take notice, and I fully support your new venture. If I had the modeling skills you do I would probably try doing the same, and if I wasn't a poor student I would be commissioning half of NYC from you.

Have you thought about a pricing scale at all? I know you're probably much quicker at modeling than I am, but even so it takes a while to finish a building. From what I've seen, anywhere from $30-50 an hour is normal for modeling commissions, but somehow I doubt people on this site have the budget to spend several hundred on a single building. You might think about group buys, where you get a few people together who all want the same building, and then they split the cost. Then you could sell the completed model on your site as well.

Anyway, I hope it turns out well for you, but not so well that you disappear from us here!

 

But there is a vast difference in what you were doing, which was selling the finished BATs, and what Jason is doing which is being paid to model a building then to distribute it for free.  Jason is being paid to do a service (making a 3D model) while you were potentially selling a file in a propriety format that if I am correct you are forbidden to sell in the EULA.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the support.

 

Darn42: Thanks! I'm glad you looked at the other stuff on the site. I'll be starting some new architecture projects soon as well, and the rest of the ones on the site will be converted for SC4 use.

 

MTT9: Thanks

 

Paul: lol thanks . I'm coming up with the costs based on an estimate of how many hours it would take me to do the project. I don't want to say how much per hour, or give any generic ranges, because it might change and it might not be accurate. I myself am new to doing these kinds of estimates. But I will say that I'm working for next to nothing when looked at from an hourly basis, and I think even though it's expensive compared to DLC, I think it's worthwhile when compared to going out to the bar or a restaurant.

 

Multiple people chipping in for one request is a *VERY* good idea.

 

And I won't be so busy that I won't be around here. Actually from the perspective of the forums I'll be even more busy than usual, I'll just be making a bigger variety of buildings than usual. And I also still plan on doing mipro BATs and other personal BATs too.

 

sencillo1: Thank you

 

weixc812: This is something I've considered, and I've taken precautions to minimize the chance of those things happening.

 

His Divine Hand: Yes, what I'm selling is the decision of what BAT I am making and how much time I'll be spending on that BAT rather than other BATs. The BATs themselves are free for anyone to download from the STEX, and this is even the standard way that the requester will get the files.

 

 

I've already gotten requests, and I encourage everyone who's interested to contact me quickly. BATs take a while to make and I'll be doing them in order. If you're the last person to contact me your BAT will be the last one made.

[dubaidude303 1,119]

Awesome! Great idea!! :-)

[Darknono35 3,137]

Thanks for the links to your website Jason, your work is amazing a beautiful as always, it's unnecessary to precise about your details and quality level

[gutterclub 2,729]

Will you be posting progress of requested BAT's in your thread? I am genuinely interested to see the sorts of things people are requesting...

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Thanks guys

 

Yeah I think I'll be posting progress for most of them. But I won't necessarily be indicating which are requests and which are my own projects.

 

The first request is a Brazilian pencil tower. There are a handful of what could be called floor/facade types which are variations of each other, meaning that I just need to make the facade variations and then clone the right ones for each position. I have two mostly done, and there are a few more variations to make and then the body of the building will be done.

 

It will be a 1x2, and is 27 floors, so it's definitely a pencil tower.

 

[Girafe 1,729]

The fact I like with this system is that you will BAT totally different things.

 

I am curious about the price of a BAT, as I received many requests for developing new trees and estimated a pack of broadleaf trees to 400$ (around 10$ per hour but it's really expensive and not a price I could apply).

[Delecto 941]

[RepublicMaster 428]

Oh I like this idea very much.

 

I like the first building, it'll be nice to see some different styles from you.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

The fact I like with this system is that you will BAT totally different things.

 

I am curious about the price of a BAT, as I received many requests for developing new trees and estimated a pack of broadleaf trees to 400$ (around 10$ per hour but it's really expensive and not a price I could apply).

 

Yeah I think it will be a good experience. People have requested some interesting things so far, and I'm looking forward to making them.

 

BATs are a very labor-intensive thing and so going by the hour they are very very expensive. $10 an hour is very generous and affordable compared to real life professional rates, but yeah it's just too expensive. I'm charging much less per hour than that. With my prices I think that anyone who has the extra money to be buying a BAT request should be able to afford at least something fun. I think doing requests is only something practical for unemployed people, because even having a bad job would make doing BAT requests not worth the hassle.

[dubaidude303 1,119]

Looks nice! I might be putting in some request in soon :-)

[Vlasky 1,803]

I really like this new BAT

[edwardjeria 503]

nice

[Bastet69008 1,102]

That first variation is awesome I love it! Great Job Jason!

[JP Schriefer 5,590]

I do not think that has trouble selling a BAT. Make a BAT it's not easy work. And if you want to order, the will is yours, no one forced you. I think a good idea.

1x2 and 27 floors   it's cool.

[urielgarcia 344]

Great work Jason...hope you are not overwhelmed.  Your work is top notch always.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Thanks guys

 

I just want to say that I have a request backlog, so right now I would estimate about 6 months until I can get to new requests. But request soon anyway, to get your spot in the queue.

 

 

The main modeling is almost done. The roof is missing and the first few floors aren't done. Roof is next.

 

[Delecto 941]

Nice progress Mr. Wagner.

[MTT9 187]

Looking good

[JP Schriefer 5,590]

It's amazing, Jason!!

What?! 6 months   I should have made the request before

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Thanks!

 

It's amazing, Jason!!

What?! 6 months   I should have made the request before

 

No, what I mean is that the next person who makes a request will have to wait about 6 months while I finish the first people's requests. I'll be starting yours soon.