hkabat-forum-threads Hong Kong / Asia BAT team

[paulvmontfort 617]

there isn't anything wrong with the LODs. 3dsmax just started rendering the wrong view first resulting in a rotated modell. I merged it into a new scene and now it appears to be rendering the right view. Expect to receive the final modell soon

[bixel 1,228]

I'm glad you were able to fix the problem on the HSBC, the targeted lighting on the splines is real cool! I'm gonna have to figure out how you did that cause I might use the same effects on the Pacific Place.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Just a note on the HSBC: The latest version works perfectly, the lot design is done, the icon is done, and I've got the stats together. Now all it takes is modding and merging the actual files and making the readme.

I planned it to have ~5,100 CO$$$ Jobs so it won't grow too easily. It's not the tallest building, but pretty bulky.

[Glenni 1,447]

wow those look nice!

[jesselong 0]

The Centre is also very amazing.  I don't know if the light will change gradiently in the order from red to yellow to green to blue to pink then back to red cyclely. As far as I know the Centre use approxiamtely a minute to change the color per cycle.

One mre question: How big is the size of the Arch? ( I mean ? X ? grids in game )

[HONG KONG 74]

So many wonderful buildings.  Like bixel always says: HK comes together. 

 I look forward already much to....

[bixel 1,228]

What size will the Arch be? Good question!

 

Here is a schematic of the building orientation. My idea was I would prolly supply to versions (which would mean two models at different angles.)

 

LOT Orientation 1: I plan on puttting the park in there, and then having a 2nd LOT without the park so SC4 can fit it easier in their cities. Prolly 6x5 w/Park and 6x3 wo/Park.

 

LOT Orientation 2: This one I feel is more realistic to the actual placement of the building, and there will be some tricky LOT making for this one. It would be real cool to get a diagonal road in there somewhere or just have the lower part over-hang the LOT so players can plop the diagonal road down. More or less the same size as LOT Orientation 1.

 

T Wrecks, see all that green space? Don't worry that will be all filled with a Park in the render, I may consider using custom LODs so people can place props properly. Who knows, now with the new Simcity Tools I may just LOT this one meself!

[ramvid01 0]

wow amazintg work guys im just shocked at all the work thats being done with this group, keep it up

[HONG KONG 74]

The basis of the Arch is not yet completed in the reality. But there are very good drafts, which show a round four floors entrance. In the picture the outlines of the basis are very well visible. As it would be with a transparent glass front. On the roof of the basis a garden possibly develops.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//layout12.jpeg align=baseline>

The lot organization would have to be revised then however again. Because the road would go through the entrance hall.

[bixel 1,228]

Hrmm!, nice pics HONG KONG. From reference of the air photo, I must say a road going through that corner would not be as cool as the real thing. Thanks for showing us! I kinda like the color of that 'mock-up' Arch. Perhaps I will render two versions, the realistic Red Style and the other Gold/Green Style. What do you think eh?

[Edit] Can anybody tell me the name of the complex directly to the right of the Arch? Looks like 6 towers there. Perhaps I should BAT those as well.

[paulvmontfort 617]

Date: 1/17/2006 8:20:46 PM Author: bixel

[Edit] Can anybody tell me the name of the complex directly to the right of the Arch? Looks like 6 towers there. Perhaps I should BAT those as well.

those are Waterfront 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

 

 

The HSBC is out on the STEX. Go get it here

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Well, on that photo HONG KONG showed, it looked like the Arch could become a simple corner lot without much fiddling around with overhanging props etc, which is a better strategy IMHO. 100% accurate buildings at impossible angles are great for a virtual building showcase, but not for SC4.

Glad to hear about the park; custom LODs would be perfect - as they would have been on the Sham Wan Towers, hehe...

Anyway, things are looking good here - as usual. I wouldn't mind having both styles of the Arch, btw. One could even think about making the two variations a building family so that you never know which version of the Arch you get...

[Bodom 1]

man i love ur las building, the HSBC bank.... amazing, good job with that

[HONG KONG 74]

paulvmontfort:  I love your HSBC, but why you haven't made the mirror on the south side? That is very important for this architecture, because the light is reflected in such a way into the center of the building.

 

bixel:  A second variant is always good. You know the picture probably already, but the basis did not change.. From this angle the colors look as in the draft picture

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//65512858_8fca9d6021_o.jpeg align=baseline>

[paulvmontfort 617]

The reason why i didn't make the mirror on the south side of HSBC is mainly because i didn't know what it was and it would make the lot even bigger and it's already quite big

PS, My next project probably will be Central Plaza

[jesselong 0]

Wow Really??? The Central Plaza? That's great. Seems that there's no worry on the buildings of my CJ on the Hong Kong Island. But some the slums (old building) in the old urban side of Kowloon is really essential. Maybe later I'll post some pictures about the slums.

[Fantail 0]

Paul, the HSBC is amazing... And the Arch is looking great too.

[paulvmontfort 617]

ok i started on Central Plaza today, this is what i have so far:

 

P.S. HONG KONG, do you have some pictures of the base of this building, I didn't found any usefull ones yet

[toxicpiano 125]

i guess its going to be better than the one on the STEX, but what differences will there be?

[bixel 1,228]

You mean there is already a Central Plaza on the STEX? Wow Paul, you move fast! Wish I had some more time to finish up that Arch, after that I might try doing the Hill Grove for jesselong. But Glenni just released a triangle BAT with jobs, its pretty good.

All you HKr's is there any Triangle Buildings that should be done? And I dont mean a triangle buildingon a sqaure lot, but that the lot and the building is triangle or partially triangle so that the roads meet diangle-ly.

[HONG KONG 74]

Here are some good pictures of the basis. I have no notion why I don't find any pictures from the entrance hall? But I will check this.

 

 Click..

     

 

     

 

     

 

  

 

bixel:  Any Triangle Buildings that should be done?

 I thought immediately of the old Bank of China.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

What's the hype about triangle buildings anyway? They are ploppable eye-candy, nothing more. ( [sarcasm]hey, I think I just answered my own question[/sarcasm] ) For anyone who plays the game and wants functional buildings, triangular stuff is utterly useless. Oh well, I guess it can't hurt to have a few in different sizes so that ploppers can sculpt their city the way they want, but I wouldn't focus too much on them. Well, on the other hand it should be possible to get most triangular buildings onto a regular corner lot, so...

For the same reason, I see those mega-complexes with mixed feelings. While they certainly look impressive, they are always on the verge of being more of a tech demo than a universally useful building. That's another secret reason why I would welcome mega-complexes with the base rendered separately from the towers and the towers being props: I would probably plop the complex once, have an honestly admiring look at it, then take the individual tower props, stick them on regularly sized, normal growable lots and continue playing with these lots, tbh.

The Arch is a different issue , since the structure itself is a true behemoth, but that six-tower residential complex next to it on one of the photos is one of those cases where I can't help having the thoughts I outlined above.

@Paul: Wow, that looks impressive so far! The textures of the building's sides are beautiful as always.

[Andreas Roth 632]

Date: 1/20/2006 3:27:32 AM Author: T Wrecks

For the same reason, I see those mega-complexes with mixed feelings. While they certainly look impressive, they are always on the verge of being more of a tech demo than a universally useful building. That's another secret reason why I would welcome mega-complexes with the base rendered separately from the towers and the towers being props: I would probably plop the complex once, have an honestly admiring look at it, then take the individual tower props, stick them on regularly sized, normal growable lots and continue playing with these lots, tbh. 

quote>

 

I agree with T Wrecks on this issue. While your creations are utterly amazing, they are practically useless for most of my cities, since they don't really fit in because of the sheer size. Sure, they are from Hong Kong, where everything is a bit larger than elsewhere, but I guess rendering some of your towers separately (maybe with reduced height as well) would be a godsend for those who don't have anything else but dense skyscraper forests. Regarding the triangular buildings, they might fit on a corner lot, but they certainly look odd in a rectangular block. Developing lots for them is really a challenge, and I don't envy T Wrecks for doing that... But enough ranting for this time, keep up your great work!

[toxicpiano 125]

Date: 1/19/2006 5:00:38 PM Author: bixel

You mean there is already a Central Plaza on the STEX? Wow Paul, you move fast!

quote>

your not being serious are you?

[bixel 1,228]

Sorry guys but I love making those huge Residential Tower comlpexes!!!! Though I do agree that making the individual towers more accessable to smaller lots is a good idea. After the Arch is finished there is very good chance of me making more, like the Sorrento, Tung Cheung Crecent and others, however in light of this unless you have a HK CJ or some huge Megapolis, they are not really very useful.

 

I have been playing SC4 and creating cities and even I have been having problems trying to get the bigger lots to grow unless I know I have a really big city 500,000+. So if I do make another huge Residential complex I will offer the towers as separate Lots, and at different heights as requested. I'm thinking of perhaps 20-30 story Res Tower Pack of lots 2x3 and 3x3. This is a bit shorter from the usual 50 story ones I have been making.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

That's great news!

Anyway, don't think I can't understand you. You BAT, and of course you enjoy facing the challenge of recreating such beautiful buildings and refining your skills. It's a challenge, and accepting this challenge and using your skills to finally master it feels great! That's the way things are, in any respect. Whether you make 3D buildings or do sports, whether you like to fish or to play chess, to climb or to cycle. When I receive a new BAT and finish a lot that looks and works great, it's pop-a-bottle time for me, too!

The difficult part is holding your horses and not overdoing stuff... getting back to annoying little details you'd rather brush under the carpet... fixing small issues that look unimportant to you... but in the end, it's what makes things really shine - not only at the first glance, but once and forever.

Ok, I'm shutting up already...

[bixel 1,228]

hehhe, yup you were getting a little Jerry Bruckheimer drama-ish there.

[SpartanBadger 4]

Awesome work! I was always hoping to have such a successful Honk Kong project like yours, keep up the great work!

[jesselong 0]

There are still many huge residential complex in Hong Kong, and many of them are great and special. There's a pile of information about the buildings, so you won't get nothing to do in the coming years.  And I agree that the huge complexes are only suitable for dense city or put the real building in it's real place... (Hong Kong)

[Fantail 0]

lol, yeah, i agree with T Wrecks.