New SorGun

[emperordaniel 1,281]

Utterly brilliant work.

[jguy 5]

Just....wow. I've been following this CJ from the beginning and this one is by far my favourite update. Good show!

[rubberduck3y6 45]

AH-MAZE-ZING!!! :D

Particularly the flora in the Bull Run pic!

[SimCoug 5,972]

Furiousuk: Wow again! SC4 painting of the highest degree!

Thank you for the kind comment!

sim_link: So this is the collaboration you spoke of earlier... very nice work to you and kakado! The collaboration was an excellent idea - everything looks awesome!

Thanks sim_link, kakado really came through and made this update pop.

vivapanda: Wow! Amazing to see history come alive in SC4.

Thanks! I'm not sure there is anything you can't do with this game

emperordaniel: Utterly brilliant work.

Thank you!

jguy: Just....wow. I've been following this CJ from the beginning and this one is by far my favourite update. Good show!

Thanks for stopping by, and I appreciate the comment.

rubberduck3y6: AH-MAZE-ZING!!! Particularly the flora in the Bull Run pic!

Thanks! I was most happy with how close that came to the original image.

And now, a little preview of the second and final part of the American Civil War:

(click for full size)

  Edited August 20, 2012 by SimCoug  

[simlink 1,098]

Your work with MMPs is just... wow. I have so little patience for them.

Nice!

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Bring it on!

[Charlie_Zane 963]

Wow! Amazing civil war pictures! The pictures you and kakado_to_save have put up are just amazing!

[vivapanda 422]

All those little man and their horses, you keep shocking us with your detail!

[crazychickensc12 84]

Absolutely amazing! The last update was fantastic the recreations looks amazing in SC4 and great photoshopping skills, that cannon fire is sweet!! The teaser shot looks great anxiously awaiting the next update!

[Za 164]

I've been lurking in this thread for a while; time to say excellent job. Great editing - both on the pictures and your lots.

[SimCoug 5,972]

@sim_link: Believe me, I loose patience on them too, in which case I stop and work on something else. But I am always drawn back in after a while

@Shulmanator: It's been brung... scroll down

@City_Master: Thanks! Hope you enjoy part 2

@Vivapanda: Thanks - I think I'm addicted to the details

@Crazychickens: Yes, Kakado_to_save has amazing photo editing skills - I keep bugging him to share some secrets in a tutorial

@Za: Thanks for the kind comment, and I hope you continue to stop by

Ok, I hope the popcorn is in the microwave - here's the thrilling conclusion...

Update 19

The American Civil War

Part 2 (1863-1865)

If you haven’t already, please feel free to view .

As before, kakado_to_save was kind enough to help me out on the image editing side, so please, if you have time, visit one of his current CJ’s (Volynsia, World War 2) and tell him what a great job he did.

Gettysburg

On July 1, 1863, fresh from his victory at Chancellorsville, General Robert E. Lee intended to take the fight to the northern cities in hopes of ending the war through a negotiated peace. Major General George Gordon Meade led the Union forces against Lee, meeting at the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The first two days saw fierce fighting, with the south gaining ground both days. On the final day, General Lee ordered a massive infantry assault of some 12,000 confederate soldiers against the center of the union line. After giving the orders, all Lee could do was wait, and prey.

For those interested, here is an unedited clip from the movie “Gettysburg” depicting General Lee’s assault, now commonly known as ‘Pickett’s Charge’. The following images are based on this final engagement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3po17QbHLRQ&feature=related

Confederate soldiers crossed over a half mile of open fields in the face of Union cannon fire.

Union soldiers, led by General Hancock (who was wounded in the battle) attempt to flank the Confederate assault, but are stopped near the Codori Farm.

During the climax of the assault, Lee’s forces pierce the Union line near the ‘copse of trees’.

The fighting was devastatingly brutal, with heavy losses on both sides.

The Confederate infantry suffered especially heavy casualties, and were eventually forced to retreat from the battlefield. Here is a helpful map showing the last hour of Pickett’s charge.

And finally, here is a massive SC4 mosaic depicting the battle. This is not scale accurate, but I think it is a decent representation of the actual battlefield. After the battle, General Lee was forced to withdraw his army back to Virginia – and while the battle was not a decisive defeat for the Confederacy, it is generally agreed that Gettysburg represents the turning point in the American Civil War.

Massive Mosaic - Click for full size

Dimensions: 6440x3280

Size: 5.3MB

Atlanta Campaign

During the summer of 1864, Major General William T. Sherman and the three Union armies under his command fought a series of battles throughout northwest Georgia, eventually culminating in the capture of Atlanta on September 2^nd.

In November of 1864, Sherman ordered the evacuation of Atlanta by all citizens. Then, on November 14, Sherman’s army burned government and military buildings.

The ensuing fire destroyed much of the city.

The next day, As Sherman led his army east toward Savannah, he wrote: "Behind us lay Atlanta, smouldering and in ruins, the black smoke rising high in air, and hanging like a pall over the ruined city."

Massive Mosaic - Click for full size

Dimensions: 2680x2452

Size: 1.6MB

Appomattox

Sherman’s ‘march to the sea’ demoralized the South, and severely disrupted supply lines. By the spring of 1865 the Confederacy was on her last legs. On April 9, General Robert E. Lee found his Army of Northern Virginia surrounded by union forces and unable to resupply. Lee made one last attempt to break through the Union lines, but the battle fought near the Appomattox Court House would be his last.

Lee signed surrender documents that afternoon, and a formal surrender ceremony was held on April 12. For all intents and purposes, the American Civil War was finally over.

I hope you enjoyed this little side project. I had a lot of fun ‘painting’ each scene, as well as researching pictures, appropriate BATs, and the historical facts to go along with each picture. I’d like to thank Kakado one last time for generously taking time to work his magical photo editing skills on these images. Next time we will head back west and see what is happening in the SorGun region and see how this major historical event has shaped our pioneers.

I’d love to hear your feedback, and thanks for visiting.

[nedal2001 285]

I already commented over on the blog CJ section - but again, bravo!

This update truly deserves the highest commendation possible!

[vivapanda 422]

Can simcity get any better? I believe that's not possible

[LexusInfernus 908]

My eyes almost refuse to believe this beauty! So. Freaking. Awesome! Reading CJ's like this keep me interested in SimCity, and inspire me to make something like this one day as well Keep up the amazing work!

[Benedict 3,119]

Stunning continuation of the war.

[SimCoug 5,972]

nedal2001: I already commented over on the blog CJ section - but again, bravo! This update truly deserves the highest commendation possible!

Thank you for the kind comment, and thanks for stopping by!

vivapanda: Can simcity get any better? I believe that's not possible

Thank you vivapanda - The staggering number of custom BATs (and new ones created each day) ensures that SC4 will continue to get better and better

LexusInfernus: My eyes almost refuse to believe this beauty! So. Freaking. Awesome! Reading CJ's like this keep me interested in SimCity, and inspire me to make something like this one day as well Keep up the amazing work!

Thanks for the comment! I am looking forward to see what you create

Benedict: Stunning continuation of the war.

Thanks Benedict! I feel like I have to keep challenging myself to stay among the great CJ's that populate your top 10 list each week.

Ok, it's teaser time...

Next up - It's been 5 years since we last visited New SorGun. The end of the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln are big topics of conversation, but the new Hotel that opened up recently near the mill is the hottest gossip around town. One word... Girls.

[Schulmanator 5,787]

I am headed to the hotel first and then to the saloon!

[emperordaniel 1,281]

Glad to see New SorGun has weathered the Civil War in apparently good condition.

[crazychickensc12 84]

Dang another stunning update!! Everything is so natural its great you can tell you put a huge amount of effort into this well done!! Love the details and enjoy studying each pic great job!!

[vivapanda 422]

Girls and a hotel, you've got my attention!

Stunning picture!

[SimCoug 5,972]

New SorGun Job Opening

Are you tired of big city life? Can't get that horse $#%& smell out of your clothes? Is San Francisco just not your cup of tea?

Are you ready for a taste of the real frontier life?

If you have big business ideas, and want to start your new enterprise, New SorGun wants you!

-Business experience in the Barbary Coast is a must

-Management and hospitality experience is highly recommended

-A progressive outlook on morality is assumed

If this sounds like you, please respond and in one sentence and tell us why you should be the next New SorGun business tycoon.

Here's your chance to make a fortune and influence the future of New SorGun.

(Sheriff Stonewell in New SorGun will have final say, but entries with higher 'reps' will rise to the top of the list - so please rep up your favorite)

  Edited September 5, 2012 by SimCoug  

[Schulmanator 5,787]

It has been often stated 'the riskier the road, the greater the profit,' but as a business tycoon of some import, I can assure you New SorGun will only travel the road to prosperity with my yet-to-be-determined business venture leading the way to a great future!

[SAVAGExPHOENIX 955]

I run an empire that simultaneously warred against two nations at once, fought in in a war where an enemy couldn't be seen, and keep my own design business afloat, so this shouldn't be a problem at all.

(I know it doesn't fit the criteria, but it was fun to say )

[vivapanda 422]

I can't beat either of the two above me

That little river is really well done!

[crazychickensc12 84]

Oh wow that river is gorgeous! Great work can't wait to see what you come out with next!

[nedal2001 285]

Well, Im a real life business tycoon, so sign me up for whatever you are offering!

[SimCoug 5,972]

@Schulmanator: Congrats on your winning application. Miss Kitty's saloon is up and running - and already it is the most popular saloon in town.

@datSchikinhed: An impressive application - The sheriff put your application at the top of the pile, but he had never heard of a 'design business' - maybe next time though

@vivapanda: Thanks!

@crazychickens: Hope you enjoy this next update.

@nedal2001: Business tycoons area always welcome in New SorGun

And now... Update time!

Update 20

Home Away from Home

Summer 1867

If you remember, way back in update 16, Mr. T. Master attended to some business in Baltimore, MD. It turns out; he was working to help his friend, Asa Shiner, arrange for the passage of young single women to New SorGun. Convincing young women to give up the relative luxuries of east coast cities was no easy task.

But the excitement of adventure and the promise of a financially stable husband was enough to convince 10 available young ladies to make the journey westward with Mr. Shiner during his visit two years later.

Of the 10 ladies, 9 made the trip to New SorGun (One decided that San Francisco was as much ‘wild frontier’ as she was willing to take).

San Francisco circa 1860

Only one in ten adults in New SorGun were women, so you can imagine how popular Mr. Shiner was with the local populace. The success of his first endeavor encouraged the young man to try again on a larger scale. In 1865, Shiner traveled east, promising to bring back 500 young women. He was collecting $300 for each suitable wife, and received hundreds of applications from the New SorGun fellows.

Unfortunately, Shiner’s second trip was less than successful. Recruitment went well at first, but a large east coast paper got hold of the story and sabotaged his efforts with tall tales of ugly old hermits paying for young brides. Most of Mr. Shiner’s clients weren’t mathematicians, but when the young entrepreneur returned with less than 40 girls, it didn’t take a genius to realize that many men were going home with a broken heart and a lighter wallet. Needless to say, some of the less fortunate suitors were ready to run Shiner out of town on a rail.

Fortunately, Mr. Shiner wasn’t the only industrialist on the frontier. Benjamin Sprague, captain of the “Gin Palace Polly” delivered women (along with wine and music) to the many logging camps that dotted the Pacific Northwest. This traveling brothel brought smiles to the hard working loggers, but their bosses were less enthusiastic – a visit from the boat could easily set work back two or three days. The Gin Palace Polly’s days were short lived, as the captain ended up spending two years the state penitentiary for selling liquor to Indians (and on Sundays). *true story*

In the fall of 1865, a solution to the gender gap presented itself in the form of a single man with big ideas. Eastman T. Finch debarked from a San Francisco lumber schooner at Yarahi’s Pier. Tall, saturnine and suave, wearing a fashionable waistcoat and a plug hat – he was the image of a man ready to transform New SorGun.

Mr. Finch got to work immediately, purchasing a small plot of land near the mill, across the street from the famous Kitty Saloon (run by Miss Kitty herself). Eastman had no degree, but he understood economics – and with 10 men for every 1 woman, he knew there was a demand to be fulfilled. His solution was the ‘Illahee’ - a place where men could enjoy the comforts of home… for a price.

Yes, in the spring of 1866, New SorGun was home to the first brothel in the region. As you may have guessed, such a house of sin did not agree with everybody in town. But Mr. Finch was as much a public relations mastermind as he was a shrewd businessman. His first employees were Indian maidens from the local tribes. Most Indians at the time were poor, either living near town in shacks or on tribal reservations.

The maidens were provided with food, modern housing, fashionable clothing and education – and they brought home an honest day’s wage. Some would say Mr. Finch introduced the first anti-poverty program to New SorGun. But he didn’t stop there. The town received an annual licensing fee of $1200 which was invested in a school house the first year. (New SorGun’s total yearly budget was less than $5,000 at the time)

To the business owners in town, Eastman was a saint. The loggers and other lonely men living in the region suddenly found New SorGun THE place to visit. They would stop by Gary’s Gun Shop, Walkers General Store and the Miss Kitty Saloon during the day, and spend the rest of their money at the Illahee that night.

Despite the economic woes resulting from the Civil War (inflation, stalled westward migration), by the spring of 1867, New SorGun was enjoying the greatest economic expansion it had ever seen. Even the farmland to the south of town, which had been deserted since the Indian War, was being revitalized.

The remains of the farms destroyed in the war were still evident.

With the increased commercial activity and Mr. Finch’s licensing fee, the town treasury was overflowing. With a schoolhouse built, the town unanimously voted to expand the docks in order to keep up with the increased shipping activity.

As summer turns to fall in 1867, the little frontier town of New SorGun is expanding more rapidly than ever before. New businesses, including the Illahee, have opened up shop and the town is gaining recognition as the commercial center in the region. Not everybody is happy with the new changes, and growing pains are sure to ensue, but New SorGun is open for business and folks in the western states and territories are finally taking notice.

Credits:

Thanks to NMUSpidey for creating the Eastman T. Finch character (and extensive background story)

And thanks to Schulmanator for developing the Miss Kitty character and her corner saloon.

Both characters will continue to make appearances throughout the continuation of this CJ.

New SorGun reached the number 1 spot on Ben’s Top Ten (CJ section) as well as a number of Best of the Best awards for the last update – so a big Thank you to everyone for their support and comments.

I hope you enjoyed this last update, and thanks for stopping by.

  Edited September 10, 2012 by SimCoug  

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Woo hoo! Let's hope Miss Kitty's business will soon be purring!

[Fox 1,444]

Love this picture!!

Great updates and I'm still loving the History lesson

  Edited September 13, 2012 by Fox  

[packersfan 666]

Your work is what I wish the beginning of my city had been like. If you were to have the time would you advance this all the way to modern times (the downtown sprouting modern skyscrapers, the city sprawling with residential blocks)? Seriously, that was my plan, but I never had the patience or the incredible talent to build a really good looking old town.

I also can't believe I didn't think of this at first, but now I realize a big component to building old cities. Lack of cars! Obviously you need great BATs, but also turn off the cars!

  Edited September 13, 2012 by packersfan