Jason's BATs & Tutorials

[cogeo 960]

I really like your work. The modelling and texturing quality are superb, plus they blend with the ingame buildings very well, esp with the Chicago buildings. Wish to see more of them on the STEX.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

thanks, this thread was one of the first ones to be rated in this forum, and a 5 at that. Then someone else must have rated it a zero and I thought, "wow, someone must not like me!" Then just now I saw 5 rates and a nice rating, so all is well. More rates gives a more accurate rating, so I think everyone should rate the threads they frequent. But I wonder who rated so low... lol

I wonder how much the LOD affects the filesize of the .sc4model file. That might have more of an effect on performance than the added render time. I'm way too lazy to figure out though, lol.

I was going through my folders today and I saw all of my nearly finished BATs, so I think it would be best if I finished those up before starting anything new (plus I still haven't gotten around to getting 3dsmax to work). But I also need to do and finish up some simmars BATs, since I've been neglecting that for a while.

Here's a new simmars building I just started. This one is coming along smoothly (I've only worked on it for 2 hours) and shouldn't take too much longer to finish.

I'd still like to have one of my unfinished things done and rendered in a week or two. Which one should I finish first?

edit: for some reason I can't get the paragraphs seperated.

edit again: I read how to fix it. firefox users use br or p html tags

[mcarch 15]

You can rate a thread now???? Boy, for being 22 I must be slowing down! 

[brtim2 11]

Have you found a way to get gmax files into 3dsmax? Because I've tried everything and nothing is worked. I'm like you and have a ton of things just floating around that could easily be finished if I, you know, felt like not being a lazy bum. But I want to be able to use 3dsmax but I can't get it to import in from a .gmax file. If you or anyone else has any ideas on what to do, please help. Things would be great.

[Kwakelaar 92]

I have the same problem with my text, and have no idea why??? Hope to see you finish your projects, it would almost be a crime not to do so.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

In some thread somewhere someone posted a way of converting gmax files to 3dsmax files. That person found a program that converted the gmax files to some other format, and then another program that converted that format to a different format, and then another program that converted that format into a format 3dsmax can open. There is probably a thread about it in the BAT workshop.

So which building should I finish first?

[JBSimio 152]

I'm voting for your Pearl Palace... or whatever name was finally decided upon.  I really like the look of that one.  That and it's the only one I can remember the name for!

Off to pretend I'm working!

JB

[Jasoncw 11,840]

The name was never decided. I'm leaning towards Pearl Place (has a nice ring) or the Pearl Building (because the building is large and imposing).

So should it be named Pearl Place, or The Pearl Building?

And which unfinished projects should I finish first? These are the unfinished projects, with links to somewhat recent pictures of them:

- Large Train Station ( http://img460.imageshack.us/img460/6315/simtrain1232jy.jpg )

- Department Store, remodeled into a 1x2 ( )

- Modern Building ( )

- Pearl *Something* ( http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/4673/pearlplace4tn.jpg )

- Wagner & Diehl ( http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7448/wagnerbackground26bv.jpg )

- The Vinton Building ( http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1746/simcityvinton1oi.jpg )

[JayStimson 211]

"One Pearl Place" sounds pretty good.
And I vote for the modern building as the one to finish first.

[wolverine 12]

Currently there is no EFFECTIVE way to get gmax files in 3ds. I've tried all sorts of methods. I'll continue to figure out other ways to do it. Hopefully, I find a catch.

[Simen 1]

Id definitely say the first, simply cos it seems closest to completion.

[brtim2 11]

Originally posted by: wolverine

Currently there is no EFFECTIVE way to get gmax files in 3ds. I've tried all sorts of methods. I'll continue to figure out other ways to do it. Hopefully, I find a catch.quote>

I hope you can too. Cause I have many a projects that could use a spruce up. Well, actually a finish, but that's besides the point, but perhaps if I can get them in 3ds than I can do more with them and hopefully complete them.

Also, Jason, I think you should do the department store, it looks very dominating. And that's always the best when you're trying to have people give you your money.

[Odd from Sweden 129]

I know that thing about unfinished buildings...

I vote for The Wagner and Diehl. All buildings look great but there is a little problem with The Winton I think. This looks like a Manhattan building but it looks too wide to fit on a typical Manhattan lot and too narrow to fit on a double lot...

[vester_DK 477]

Wolverine: GoaSkin talked about some script to do that. I never really figur out how to do it. Maybe there is some in the Interchange Tutorial by Redlotus. Don't know where to find it. Maybe in the Omnibus sometimes.

It's about how to do the (real) 3d-model that is used in NAM.

Found the link that GoaSkin posted: A thead at SimForum.de. The download link is in post #7.

Don't use BAT myself but MilkShape3D for my automata.

Jason: I vote for Large Train Station and then in second place comes W&D.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

I'll finish the train station, and then Wagner & Diehl. I'll finish them all though, since they're all pretty close to being done. Except for the Department store, which looking back, was modeled too poorly to be easily fixed up, so I'll have to save that one for last. Back then I used to convert everything into meshes right after extruding the splines, which makes problems when trying to delete parts of it later. That means in order to change the front, I'd have to remodel most of it, which means I might as well make a new building all together.

For the train station, I think the texture is too dark and brown. Should I make the texture better at the cost of it not matching the other stations, or not?

That is actually the right dimensions for the Vinton Building. Using google maps and measuring the lot size that way, it is almost exactly a 1x2. Buildings in that part of Detroit have very convienient sizes for Sim City.

I've worked some on Pearl Place (I think that'll be its name). JayStimson, it's funny that you suggested adding the "one" since I actually hate that kind of vague building naming that's been trendy, lol. If I named it that, I'd have to name it "the lofts at one pearl place." It's a pet peeve I have. The "place" in pearl place is almost too much for me too.

Also, instead of doing the Penobscot Building, I was thinking of doing the Buhl Building instead. It's smaller and easier to model, and to be honest, I like it more.

Time to work on the train station . I'll post some more pictures sometime.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

I've worked more on the train station, but while I wait for some opinions (whether I should improve the texture on the train station, making it look better, but not match the other stations) I've been working on Wagner & Diehl, a sim-architecture firm.

Since I've last posted about it I've improved the limestone texture (I'm really happy with it and I'll use it on something else someday), improved the back, and improved the roof. I've also dimmed the night lights, because they were really strong for some reason, and because they were really slowing down the preview renders (I had alot of lights). Right now it's ready to render, but if anything could possibly be improved, say so (After staring at it for so long it's hard to tell).

[Glenni 1,444]

Wow dude!just wow!the way you make the windows make they look exactly like maxis buildings!!!!!

[ardecila 124]

Could you make the top cornice on that building, in the recesses, about.. 40 or 50% taller? Just pull down the bottom edge or something. The way it looks now, the capitals on the columns make the cornice in the recesses look thinner, which in turn makes the building look unfinished.

[Odd from Sweden 129]

Ok so the Vinton is from Detroit... I was quite sure it was a New Yorker, sorry for the complaints. You learn something every day :-) 

[Jasoncw 11,840]

I'm not sure what you mean Ardecila

[Jasoncw 11,840]

One of the forums bugs is showing up (I can't read T Wrecks posts, currently the last post in the thread).

Also, this morning I had rendered it since I had time (it took an hour and a half), but for some reason, the file just plain doesn't show up in the plugin manager. I can click on and see and move around and copy and paste the file in the my documents plugins folder, but it doesn't show up in the manager.

edit: did he actually post here? his post isn't showing up still. maybe I misread something...

[T Wrecks 10,209]

That's a really odd forum bug. I was here last night, and I was considering posting a reply, but I didn't post after all because I also failed to understand what Ardecila said, lol.

As for the building, except for Ardecila's suggestion which I'm sure is good, although nobody understands it (pearls before the swine, haha) the only idea I can think of would be a fire ladder at the end of the shorter wing that would end right next to the loading dock. That might look quite cool.

Otherwise, the building is once more an eample of perfection IMHO. The textures, the skylights in the roof, the window reflections, the details... wow!

I've also read your PM and agree about the lots. I think I have a nice idea for the 2x3 lot, too... I should just tell you right away that it could take a while this time because I have 2 HK buildings, 1 building by paulvmontfort and some 30 MAPP lots in my pipeline. But of course, I'll do the stuff as I find inspiration, and in no particular order.

[JBSimio 152]

Wow... forgot all about that one!  I really like it.  Actually... I think I know what Ardecila was saying... but I'm not sure how to explain it.  I also could be completely wrong, and would hate to speak for someone else.  Personally, I think it looks pretty beepin good as is.

JB

[spa 968]

This does look pretty good and I can see it fitting in quite nicely with some of the Maxis buildings (West Coa and Ferrara). I'm not exactly sure what Ardecila was saying either. One thing that I noticed, the top black colours on the cornices. I would suggest that the very top outline should be all one colour, maybe a shade darker than the stonework going down the building, and shouldn't have those black squares. It's a relatively minor thing and really it's up to you. This really does look excellent.

EDIT: Sorry I had to rework my post because I realized I too have no idea what Ardecila was saying.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

I talked so ardecila, and he showed me a diagram. Basicly he meant to beef up the slabs at the top of the cornices. I did that, and I also added a fire escape, and some potted bushes to the roof. I didn't change the ridge on the top, but I did change the texture of the black squares to a slightly darker version of stone.

The problems I was having with the model not showing up in the plugin manager was because there was an "&" in the filename. So I re-rendered it without the &, and it works fine. But for some reason it doesn't line up right on the lot. It's supposed to be wall to wall on both edges of the corner lot, and it needs to be 1 meter from the edge of the lot. In the BAT I thought I had it right, but once I got it in the lot editor I saw it didn't work. So I'll do some scaling and render it again.

I'm going to redo the textures on the large train station. I made LODs, but there might still be more work to do with them.

While I was plopping the new building around my cities, I put all of my buildings next to each other, and I realized I'm starting to make a decent sized collection!

[JayStimson 211]

While I was plopping the new building around my cities, I put all of my buildings next to each other, and I realized I'm starting to make a decent sized collection!
-Jason

Yes you are. And a very nice one at that.
- Jay

[JBSimio 152]

I had that happen with my Pit & Balcony theater too.  Took me forever to figure out why it wouldn't show up.  I think I rendered it (unchanged) three times before I tried playing with the file name!

I can't wait till this one is ready.  Can never have enough new "historical" buildings as far as I'm concerned!

JB

[choco1 4]

Wow, that architecture firm is amazing! It looks hyper-realistic and is designed perfectly!

It looks like a maxis original, and I can't wait to download such a high quality bat! Great stuff mate!

[Jasoncw 11,840]

There's the "modern building" (needs a new name) and the large train station with its new textures.  The train station has been rendered about an hour ago, and eventually I'll get around to designing the lot.  Wagner & Diehl has been rendered, and T Wrecks will get to it when he gets to it.   he modern building still needs work on the roofs, and then the base needs to be modified so it can better accept the maxis store front props.  I've done some texture tweaking to Pearl Place, after I did a draft render of it and plopped it around my city.  Something isn't right about it for some reason, so I'm going to work on other things and hopefully I'll be able to fix whatever is wrong next time I work with it.  The Department store isn't worth the effort it would take to remake it, when I could be putting that effort towards better designs.  I haven't even touched the Vinton Building in a while.  Construction on it (the real one) will be starting sometime soon, and although it's not expected to be done untill next winter, plans for whats going to be done might show up somewhere (the biggest part left for me to do is the base, which could be completely changed in the redevelopement), and if not, I can just ask the person. I've also gotten around to getting 3dsmax all worked out, so when I'm done with this stuff I can start a new building. I think that covers everything.   edit: and everythings all messed up looking, lol.

[JBSimio 152]

Very nice... I even like the "Modern Building."  Why not just name it that?  Modern could be the name of some company... sure it could... it's a great idea and you all know it!   Actually, it almost looks a little bit like a hospital to me.  I really like the windows... they look amazing.  I like the train station, but it doesn't show up well for me (old dark monitor on this computer) so I can't really say much about it.  I have one of your earlier ones and really like it, so I'm sure it looks great just like everything else.

JB