Reddonquixote's BAT thread

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

True... I'm not sure if length will affect crime. 

I do like the new scaling though.

[Gn_leugim 853]

magnificent work so far

[libellibicus 396]

I've run out of superlatives to describe this.

[Reddonquixote 4,338]

Here's an early test-view of the modeled platforms, in-game (note, I haven't done any of the LOD shaping yet, it's just a test):

 

[libellibicus 396]

It's simply divine. This could set the record for amount of downloads. Fantastic work, Red.

[dubaidude303 1,119]

It's beautiful! Can't wait for everything else on it to come alive!!

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

The 1:21 Lilydale will be departing Platform 2 in 6 minutes, stopping all stations except East Richmond, via the city loop!

The modelling seems to be in check. Interesting to see you tackle textures.

[Darknono35 3,137]

Gorgeous work   many details here, I can't wait to see textures
 

[Xander Dax 310]

Simply Beautiful.

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

It looks cool but somehow I think that the rails are looking overscaled compared to your fabulous station. If there are 10 tracks going in it may become a bit tight

[Reddonquixote 4,338]

Thanks.. appreciate that Skyscraper (and nice comments everyone else )... I'm definitely struggling with scale on this model, (largely due to lack of dimensions available on the web) but its not the tracks that have been worrying me the most, its the Sims on the pavement that look over scaled in comparison to the entrance of the building. (albeit as I understand it the Sims are actually are over-scaled)

 

I think I'll have a better idea when I see a train along side one of the platforms, but I'm having a really hard time with custom LODs. I've never been successful at making custom LODs before, I'm wondering does anyone know any tricks (do & donts) for making them work? Whenever I make them I get a garbled export. I just thought it might be trial and error.. but patience is wearing think after the 6th failed export

 

in any case, here's a Bing image that shows the scale of the tracks compared with the platforms...

 

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

I guess to avoid making it look overscaled you could use the RAM textures for single tracks instead of the ones you use currently. 

[darn42 1,268]

For custom LODs just make sure that it is all one, closed element and it is as simple as you can make it. Then, put it in the LOD layer.

[Reddonquixote 4,338]

For custom LODs just make sure that it is all one, closed element and it is as simple as you can make it. Then, put it in the LOD layer.

This is the LOD I made. Its enclosed, and I think its as simple as I can make it. (I need those little tunnel things for the train to go through)

 

I must be doing something wrong, the only "custom" LODs I've ever been able to get to work are ones where I've moved vertices to re-size the existing LOD shape. Anytime I've ever tried to change the shape by extruding faces etc, it doesn't work.

 

 

Edit: I just came across this old thread, there's an example in there of a LOD made from several objects composited together. I'll try that, I always thought it had to be made of one object. -

[Reddonquixote 4,338]

Ok.. problem solved. It wasn't actually the LODs in the end, it was the wrong size lighting rig in GMAX.

 

Now, back to the scaling problem. Below is what it looks like with the train at the platform. The model is definitely under scaled. Not sure if I can use single track RAM pieces though, I get CTD every time the puzzle piece touches the TE'd lot. I'll keep playing with it. I'm actually going to try increasing the lot size from 6 to 7. Any other suggestions welcome!

 

[dannyhighrise 2]

pleaaaaaseeee! Can you make the Q1 tower in Gold Coast??? this building is wonderful and was the tallest residential building in the world but I've NEVER seen a BAT of this    ...all your buildings are excellent! 

[Reddonquixote 4,338]

Change of design unfortunately. I can't make LODs that enable the trains to pass by the platforms convincingly. They only work from three angles, but on the fourth they clash. The new configuration has two different platform designs, with their own lots. This has the advantage that you won't need to use all the pieces, if you want the full length station you can include the long pieces, or if you just want a compact station you can leave them off, and you can use as many or as few platforms as you want. The platforms need better modelling and I need to fix the LOD joins, but you get the idea...

 

 

[Reddonquixote 4,338]

Here's a bit of a teaser, I've just finished blocking in the colours in preparation for textures and thought I would share. I think there's still some incomplete modelling around the base of the platform to make it look more inhabited, but I think that will need to evolve.

 

 

[Jasoncw 11,840]

For making custom LODs, the best way to think about them is in terms of silhouettes. 

 

In the LOD you posted, the trains go through little tunnels in the LOD.  But that means that the top of the trains are covered up by the LODs (the trains go inside of the LOD's silhouette), which means that they will be behind the rendered images of your building.

 

The LODs for your platforms should probably be _|_ shaped, where the horizontal line is a box tall enough to cover the platform itself, while the vertical part in the middle is tall enough to cover the roofs of the platforms.  Then those things that are above the tracks in between the platforms would have very tight boxes as LODs.

[Reddonquixote 4,338]

Thanks Jason, that worked! I'll keep experimenting with the width of the platforms, I made them really skinny yesterday to try and make it work, but now I know this works, I'll see if I can make them wider again. Thanks for this, I much prefer the look of this design, although I did like the versatility of the other option.

 

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

I can feel the life breathing into that.

I know it's a bright sandstone building, but IMO the colours need to be less saturated. Glad the LODs work.

[Reddonquixote 4,338]

LOL!.. they aren't textures, they're just 3DS MAX pallette colours... these are the start of the textures in case anyone else thinks that...

 

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

I actually swore out loud when I saw that picture. That copper roof texture is just perfect.

[libellibicus 396]

I can feel the life breathing into that.

I know it's a bright sandstone building, but IMO the colours need to be less saturated. Glad the LODs work.

Think of them more as an Undercoat. The Copper Roof texture is sublime, and I particularly like the Melbourne Cup signs. This is coming on fantastically, and at such speed as well. I can't wait for the next update.

[dubaidude303 1,119]

Oh my goodness!! It's beautiful!   

[Pobs 24]

No words. Remarkable.

[scotty222 549]

Looks excellent so far, the entrance in particular is magnificent

Couple of suggestions as well

1. the domes should be a lot less glossy/reflective

2. I think the yellow parts of the facade should be slightly more orange/Brown if that makes sense

 

Edit - Re the colours the yellow parts look like caramel and the brown parts look like chocolate (that was probably the worst advice in the BAT forum ever)

[Reddonquixote 4,338]

Hi Scotty, thanks for the suggestions.

 

- Totally agree with the point about the domes, in fact I thought it was quite low/ even non-reflective, but I just checked the material  and it actually was quite high - so good spotting.

- Totally agree the brown parts look like Chocolate atm. Definitely need to fix that.

- I agree the yellow facade isn't right yet. It was always going to be challenging, the real facade is bright yellow, but its too saturated for the game palette. I need to find the right balance of saturation so it still looks yellow enough.

 

Thanks!

[Gn_leugim 853]

Awesome work.

 

Have you considered breaking the model into several modular parts? just a though. for example you would only need to render a single "isle" inside the station. less render, less space, less loading time for the game, more versatile. the same may be applied to other parts of the structure.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Awesome work.

 

Have you considered breaking the model into several modular parts? just a though. for example you would only need to render a single "isle" inside the station. less render, less space, less loading time for the game, more versatile. the same may be applied to other parts of the structure.

It is a modular lot.