Bixels HK Projects and Progress

[bixel 1,223]

Ok, so here I decided I'm getting a little over my BATting head on these next projects so I want some advice and opinions.

1st: My next project is..... The Harbourside!!!!!!

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//The_HarbourSide.jpg align=baseline>

This building is a little different from my previous projects.

If you remeber my Sham Wan Towers this was a huge BAT 6x6 and some 50 stories tall.

The Harbourside will be almost as big, I'm planning a lot size of about 3x6. The difference is this: Harbourside is mostly Steel and Glass, not concrete. I got away with a lot of texturing shortcuts by making windows, window frames and concrete construction without using huge skyscenery texture mapping that you would normally find on a highrise CO$$$ or CS$$$.

But the Harbourside is almost all glass. I have a friend he talked about creating a render scene with other buildings in the scene then rendering a 'baked' texture from the reflection and light mapping from the other buildings. Gmax does not support this so I am currently exploring options to export/import from 3DMax Studio 7.

The idea is to create a fake scene in which I render the reflection of other buildings and background directly onto the Harbourside model. I don't know much about how this is done but I guess it will create a very detailed glass texture mapping that will create incredible realism if executed correctly.

Illtonsko has been making some incredibly textured buildings lately, I hope to replicate this level of detail. If anybody knows more about transporting scene or models from 3DS MAX7, to gmax, or Blender to gmax vice versa, or anything about this method of 'baking on textures' please reply to this thread.

If you think you have something to contribute as far as ideas of recreating the realism of Harbourside and or textures that could be used and or methods of texturing....please reply.

So far I have completed some of the base of the model, been fooling around with the material editor and have created some mock glass windows. I will post what I have made soon. [Edit: we don't need these pics anymore]

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Hello bixel! Great to see a thread with your upcoming creations.

You've chosen a very nice building to recreate, too. Personally, I feel that R$$ is much more needed than yet another CO$$$, but your buildings so far have been extremely good, so I'm looking forward to this one, too.

One thing about those window reflections: While your plans sound very interesting and promising in general, I would suggest not making the reflections too defined. You see, the surroundings of the Harbourside mirrored in its windows look very nice - as long as the building is surrounded by the things it reflects.

In SC4, however, the building might be anywhere, including in places where the window reflections absolutely don't match the surroundings - especially if you make it growable.

Therefore, I'd advocate against a very defined window reflection. For SC4 purposes, it's better if the reflections are rather undefined and generic so that the building fits better into the game.

Well, enough said for now - I can't wait to see how you make progress with this beauty. Good luck!

[bixel 1,223]

[Edit: We wont be needing the pics posted here anymore]

Thankyou for the advice on the textured windows.

Don't worry about CO$$$ and CS$$$, this will definetly be a Dense Residential. My only gripe about the textures on the windows was the ability to texture the whole window face of the building. Should each pane of glass be a separate entity?

 

If so I don't know how to place a big sky reflection on all the windows. I think there is a way but I don't know what it is.

Here's what I got so far...if you can recognise it, its the very bottom of the building, the red arrows are pointing to glass material boxes I made as windows. These windows are NOT textured, they have been given a blue material with about 60% opacity.

[pic deleted]

 

I could texture these I suppose,...I did a testing with nite_Glass and it looked bad, really bad so I might have to do Internal Night Lighting, from inside the building.

 

These textures and colors are just temporary.

[pic deleted]

[jacqulina 162]

nice work

[sharkbait16 0]

looks very promising

[Woko 2]

It'S a very nice project!!  Good luck!

[bixel 1,223]

Update commin' soon just keep yer shirts on, or whatever.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

*rips off shirt and starts screaming and running around in office*

UPDATES! I WANT UPDATES!

*freezes on the spot and stares at boss who suddenly entered the room*

There, you almost made me lose not only my shirt but also my job. See how much we need those updates?

[bixel 1,223]

HAWHAWHAW OMGawd that was sooo funny! I can't stop laughing, thank you T Wrecks. Ok ok

Keep in mind I havn't textured anything yet, just working through the geometry here, details have changed here and there, flora will be propped in, so greenery will be placed during the LOT process, so no greenery here sorry.

[Edit: we don't need this pic anymore]

Please give opinions on what does not seem to fit with the reference pictures and anything you might like to see that is relevant to the building. We're alpha stage here.

[bixel 1,223]

Here's another update, some minor tweaks, more geometry of the main towers, these are pretty detailed towers with lots of subtle changes through the floors, decks and other additions will be added.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//HBdemo2.jpg align=baseline>

 

This is not the SC4 angle, I will test a LOT later, and decide if indoor furnature is required. I think its comming along pretty well. All of the above Lobby Geometry will be angled correctly later.

[Slowhand 0]

Wow. I like the progress.

Very nice building. I can't wait to have it.

[bixel 1,223]

How you doing?

Ok. Last update before I go to sleep. ZZzzzzz

This is a ingame LOT test, you can see I added a deck, I arrayed the floors just to get some height, but obviously they need to be set correctly to the reference. Not textured yet. Heh! Can't wait to texture this baby. Hrmm..

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//HBdemo3.jpg align=baseline>

I got some furnature down in the office on the 1st and 2nds floors, but I notice in game its not even visible, however the tower rooms are very open, gonna have to put furnature in there...ohh that's gonna be tedious. Maybe I can cheat HAW HAWHAW, heh.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Looks great so far! And glad that I could cheer you up, hehe...

In fact, the only thing I noticed is this:


This is such an interesting building... somehow it reminds me a lot of Oneil's SeaView Tower - maybe he baseit off the same building?

[paulvmontfort 616]

that looks great already

BTW: did you too got a PM from shmchan a couple of weeks ago with a proposal for a Hong Kong Community. I think it would be a good idea. what would you think of such thing? It would come in quite handy as i want to put one pacific place into Simcity

[HONG KONG 74]

That is surely my favorite of the threads here.

 

You become better and better and your presentation is very beautiful.

 

A community for Hong Kong could be wonderful. Keep it up.

[bixel 1,223]

T Wrecks: [Edit] Just clicked on the picture, yep you are exactly right, it does look closed. Hrmm, I got some of the floor plans from the Harbourside website and those plans show the railing style that I modeled.. Later after I get off from work I'll work on it and maybe we can all vote on which style we prefere. Don't worry everything will be consistant soon, some of the building geometry I make in advance and then rearranged later according to the references.

paulvmontfort: Yeah i got the PM, but as I am on a dialup until I move into my friends house next month I am not in a real position to start a HK Architect website, is that what you have in mind? I am more than willing to do that once I move in. Or would you rather start a thread on simtropolis instead? Either way I think its a great idea. BTW I think you are a terrific BATter!!!!

HONG KONG: Thankyou for your replies it keeps me motivated. I think a HK or Chinese community is a great idea!!

[lucsteven 0]

Hi Bixel, This is going to be one of my favorite post to visit. Finally someone start to create Hong Kong Building. I like Hong Kong style Building. Is this building part of the Union Square Project?

[paulvmontfort 616]

A website isn't really what i had in mind, just a thread or something like that, but if someone is willing to make a website that would be awesome

[GaryReggae 80]

Wow, this looks really good Bixel!

[ExiL3 10]

Wow, nice work! Though I know you are not finished yet, try some darker textures

take care

[Björn_1984 244]

This is looking very good. Nice work

[HONG KONG 74]

You have probably already many pictures.  Well.... here still more.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//l5.jpeg align=baseline>

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//l1.jpeg align=baseline>

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//l2.jpeg align=baseline>

 

  

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//US-Ph6-04April05-2.jpeg align=baseline>

[leonel1982 7]

Neat! I think I passed by that building once when I was taking the green MTR line east! I recall looking at the openings with great interest.

[bixel 1,223]

HONG KONG Thankyou ThankYou! Oh---I didn't have any pictures of the back hawhaw, those pictures are great, now I can see the detail better, many many thanks, this building is just gonna be perfect I just know it. Those are some great pics and that solved many problems I was having.

BTW: to everybody, that main park on the left side of the building will be there but in a slightly more modified fashion, since the building is already a 6x3 I can't make it any wider so that means the park is going to be a little smaller. with those new pics though I can now make it as realistic as possible without using my imagination. More updates soon! prolly in about 4-6 hours.

[bixel 1,223]

Thankyou lucsteven, and GaryReggae!

 I got a BIG update coming up here as soon as I do a LOT testing in game. This is testing out some textures you might see them in on the tower geometry. the Base has almost been completely redone thank to HONG KONG for the photos, heck! you just got to see it.

[bixel 1,223]

Ok. So I got some screen shots here. A lot has changed because of the new pics from HONG KONG, so we have more detail, some extra detail and some little detail additions. WhEW! The Back has been worked on a bit, a entrance and carports may be expected to follow soon. The images has been reduced to 256 colors so dont be dismayed if the colors are not as pleasing as you would like they are better in game.

 

There has been some mention or call for darker textures, I totally agree, right now I am concerned with realism and geometry, when I feels that is completed the texturing dialogs can begin. So for now....

The front view, we can see some more detail here, some of the building props have been alighned correctly to the references...towers have NOT been ANGLED yet, no worrys there. This building is VERY wide, It barely fits on a 6 wide lot, so we are going to lose some detail and some windows obviously should be a little wider, but there is really not much I can do about it short of making this a LANDMARK only, and we all know we dont want that! We want this to GROW!!!

[Edit: We don't need this pic anymore]

View of the back, obviously we need some more work done here, but now at least I got some photo reference for it.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//HBtest3.jpg align=baseline>

Finally the side view, not much excitement here, but I think it will get better. This wall is angled btw makes for some interesting geometrical dilema for me but what the hell? I can handle it! All these windows have NOT been Textured yet! So who knows what can happen in the next few days. Anyway bixel out! Peace!

[HONG KONG 74]

Wow, a outstanding work which you show here. The small details make the building very realistic.

Small changes at the Desing for a 6x3lot are artistic liberty. And yes, we want this to GROW.

(sorry for my bad english)

 

Peace!

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//HSlogo.jpg align=baseline>

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//HSsky.jpg align=baseline>

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//l7.jpeg align=baseline>

[brtim2 11]

Hey, I think there has been some progress on the stage of growth lots. If you take a look at Barbyw's thread in the BSC Team Room (Barbyw Plays the Game) she has lots that are larger than 6x6 growing. Perhaps you could pm her and get the details on it. It would be terrible if you had to sacrifice some realism if it is possible to grow something larger than 6 tiles wide.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

That's true. In fact, once you know the trick, you are bound to smash your head into the keyboard with full force and wonder why you didn't think of it before... It's not even complicated or difficult, but the BSC discovered the trick, and so they will be the first to publish oversized lots and receive their well-seserved credit.

Anyway, when in doubt between sacrificing a little bit of realism or using oversized lots, I would go for the first method. After all, it's a GAME, and IMHO, a building that fits into the game perfectly, but is not 100% accurate, is more useful than a building which is 100% accurate but falls out of the usual standards. Then again, if you don't get a 7x3 to grow, you might at least get a 4x3 and a 3x3 next to each other.

[ZeramZeram 2]

Aaaaaa.. urrr... gurgle.... I love these buildings so much...

Are you going to make the whole Union Square complex? Specifically the Arch and US7?