Jason's BATs & Tutorials

[Seraf 1,238]

 

 

 

I think the thing about polycounts limiting things like ornament in C:S, is that those things are already severely limited by resolution in SC4.

 

Yes, that's why I think the perfect solution would be to make game in 2.5D like SC4 but with bigger resolution

 

 

So it's true that in C:S if you zoom too close in you'll see that the column's capital and other ornament is simplified

 

Very simplified in some cases, you can get away with simplifying the Doric order and maybe even Ionic but even remotely simple Corinthian capital takes about ~1500 poly.

 

For SC4 a corinthian capital only takes 100-200, because the resolution isn't capable of showing anything more than that. If it was going to be shown closeup in a movie or if it was 3d scanned it would be millions. I don't think a corinthian column would have more than a palm tree, and yet we're allowed to halve palm trees in the game.

 

It's also getting to be less practical to increase the resolution of prerendered graphics. Even for SC4 which is low resolution our plugins folders are already getting too big, adding a true zoom 6 render would almost quadruple the size, and you still wouldn't be able to zoom in as much and see as much detail as in C:S. And C:S's graphics can be improved with better hardware while SC4's don't (and unfortunately nowadays they actually get worse with better hardware ).

 

 

Yes, yes, I know it can be done with 100-200 poly, I was talking about normal model that doesn't look bad from up close But let's not get carried away with millions, scan - yes because of all the "imperfections" but really good "new" models gave up to 200 000 poly

 

Well...maybe you're right, I was always convinced that prerendered graphics are better than 3D graphic (in case of city building games) because they don't require so much ... computer performance? (sorry, not really my cup of tea ^^"). But it looks like I need to rethink my views on that.

 

Soo... if my Leaning Tower takes over 4 mln poly now... how many polygons should it take for C:S?

[Shy Dude 149]

Maxis somehow pulled off the leaning tower in *cough cough* Sim City 2013.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

WIP List:

 

• Grand Haven Lighthouse ^(DONE)
• Big Red Lighthouse ^(DONE)
• Porto Ponta Negra Residence ^(DONE)
• Design Research HQ ^(DONE)
• 220 West Congress ^(DONE)
• Centre Building ^(DONE)
• Northern Trust Bank ^{(needs: roof, texturing, nitelites, modding)}
• Water Street Maisonettes ^{(needs: roof, alley, nitelites, modding)}
• Art Deco Department Store ^{(needs: roof, interiors, nitelites, modding)}
• 1001 Woodward ^{(needs: to figure out lotting, ground texture, modding, query)}
• The Kean ^{(needs: a lot)}
• Old Detroit Police HQ ^{(needs: a lot)}
• The Pavilion ^{(0% complete, as i'll be restarting it)}

 

The mystery collaboration between me and nofunk is done and on the STEX! It's  located in Milwaukee.

 

(and one more thing to cross off my list! )

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Would you like to tell me what WIP stands for D:

[Jasoncw 11,840]

WIP stands for works in progress.  

 

(now I know what you were thinking when you kept on saying VIP* but it was very confusing before)

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Hah, I guess it was obvious and I was too dumb

 

Thanks anyway

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Getting warmed up with the roof junk. The roof junk isn't quite right and there's a few more pieces that I didn't do but I think there's already an awful lot up there. So all that's left now before texturing is some more ornament.

 

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Looking good. 

[tonyr 926]

[SimCoug 5,972]

For such a beautiful ornate building, I'd say less is more in the roof junk dept.  

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Yup, that's some funny roof junk. Looks like someone took a bunch of differently sized and shaped boxes, put them all in a large bowl, stirred a few times, and emptied the bowl over the roof, all the boxes scattering randomly on the roof surface. And yet, somehow it still differs from the typical newcomer rooftop made according to the scheme "I'll add those pre-made HVACs from the STEX at a random spot, plus some equally random ducts", although I cannot quite put my finger on it.

 

Meh, ignore my rambling - what really counts is that the building model is superb, and I cannot wait to see it textured!

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

So get warmed up then

 

I like the entrance by the way

[Hotwheeler 409]

Yup, that's some funny roof junk. Looks like someone took a bunch of differently sized and shaped boxes, put them all in a large bowl, stirred a few times, and emptied the bowl over the roof, all the boxes scattering randomly on the roof surface. And yet, somehow it still differs from the typical newcomer rooftop made according to the scheme "I'll add those pre-made HVACs from the STEX at a random spot, plus some equally random ducts", although I cannot quite put my finger on it.

 

Meh, ignore my rambling - what really counts is that the building model is superb, and I cannot wait to see it textured!

Seems like it was made like that on the real life building.Boxes of different sizes and shapes were scattered all over the rooftop.Looks like someone tipped over a "jenga" tower

Nonetheless,your representation of the Northern Trust Bank looks really great.I guess all that ornate details are giving you a headache too but they really look splendid.I really hope that the detailed railing on the roof will be visible ingame,would be a shame to lose this detail.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Thanks guys!

 

Unless I'm missing something the modeling is now complete! 

 

 

T Wrecks: yeah somehow even though most roof junk is just random boxes, somehow the real life arrangements are so much more convincing. 

 

Hotwheeler: Thanks! Luckily preview renders are essentially what is in the game, so if it's visible in the preview renders it should be visible in the game too. That said, there's a lot of stuff that isn't visible in the preview renders that I modeled. I might post another HD render before it's done.

[SimCoug 5,972]

Looking fantastic!  Would you consider rendering a diagonal model for us lotting nerds?  

[noahclem 262]

Lovely looking building! Diagonal version does sound like a nice idea...

[Jasoncw 11,840]

If I do a diagonal version it will be after the fact and I can just e-mail it to whoever wants it. 

 

Here's an update: 

 

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

What was the building's name again?

[SimCoug 5,972]

If I do a diagonal version it will be after the fact and I can just e-mail it to whoever wants it.

Good enough for me

Looking forward to some in-game shots 

[Harry's Place 918]

just perfect <3

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Final preview render before I finish and upload it tomorrow. The day is final except that I need to scale the building in in order to make it fit on a 2x1 lot. 

 

So I have to ask, does this building look familiar to anyone?

 

Toothless: This is the Northern Trust Bank.

 

 

[slickbg56 778]

I believe one SimGoober made a rendition, if that's what you're referencing. This looks really great though. Excellent job. It's well updated and clean. Shows what a big leap has been made with modeling since ten years ago.

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Thanks Jason! Is it the one in Milwaukee?

[Bastet69008 1,102]

Awesome! It doesn't look that familiar, Simgoober's version has been uploaded 10 years ago(gosh! 10 years), this is like the 5.0 version

[tonyr 926]

Gorgeous indeed!!!

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Hey guys, so you guys might have seen my 100,000,000th download interview, which can be read here. 

 

I have some uploads to go along with it, but today I'm doing Easter with my family and I've also gotten a cold, so they might be uploaded tomorrow instead.

[Vlasky 1,803]

Great read a and inside view into one of the most legendary folks on Simtropolis! Thank you Jason for all that you done and all that you're doing for this community!

 

You have been a great teacher and a great friend to me, a true role model!

[slickbg56 778]

Excellent interview.

[madhatter106 3,903]

I was very much looking forward to your STEX Millionth interview.
And the new building is to die for...

Yay!

[tonyr 926]

Thanks so much for a superb collection of BATs!  You rule, Jason!