Mickebears Istrinian BATs - Getting ready to a CJ

[Mickebear 2]

I have been trying to learn to BAT since early August, in order to be able to present something unique in our CJs. As I hadn't found the kind of building style that could have given me that certain Mediterranean feel - I decided to try to create something of my own.

After a few trials, here are some BATs that I have whipped up:

 

Grammar school:

 

 

Hospital:

 

 

Palace of San Martino (this one is under preparation, due to special props that I want to prepare as well):

 

 

I hope that also others will find these BATs nice, remember that I have now started to learn only...

 

Mika

[BarbyW 40]

I do like the look of these, Mika. They show real promise and I look forward to their release on the STEX.

Barby

[Alkaola 18]

Mika , my friend

 

these BAT's are BEAUTIFUL , i also like the second one , and the first one has great nitelights  , i love the looks of the first one

 

can't wait for more

[jp walker 1]

DAMN u say these are some of your first?!?!? keep it up!!!

[jacqulina 162]

wow those are beautifull mika

[Justin-Mary-She-He 0]

Justin or Mary

Well excellent work I am most impressed with your accomplishments the textiles on the buildings are outstanding. Please keep this fabulous work coming. I am to keep an eye on this subject.

Questions

 

1when will your CJ be on the market

2Maybe early but still the work is just so great, when will your BAT be available

 

 

You have to quess am I Mar or Justin a She or a He

[Lord_Bertrum 3]

Micklebear, you have been busy!

[simslover 0]

These are great, please release soon mickebear!

[Former User 225 1]

those are really good looking.

[Kwakelaar 92]

Very well done! The textures look good aswell as the details of windows and arches.
The roof (of the Palace of San Martino)seems to have some minor problem where the narrow parts meet the bigger part, aswell as the textures in the corner that are meeting in different directions. It is a quite complicated construction you are trying to make.
But I must say I am very impressed by your skills after such a short time with gmax.
I think this will be a beautiful building when finished and I will certainly want to download it.

[TheCrybKeeper 301]

WOWZERS! I need a closer peek at that texture on your Palace roof. It appears as rough cedar shingles to me and I need some good ones to work with a bit as a guide.

 I am very very impressed with all three models, Mickebear! Also the rough stucco appearance is very realistic!

[Mickebear 2]

Sorry that I wasn't able answer earlier - I am still at work. Thanks so much for your compliments, Barby, Alk, jpwalker, jacqualina,  Justin-Mary-She-He (what an original name ), Lord-Bertrum, simslover, moonei, kwakelaar and frndofyaweh.

The textures are mostly from my travels in Europe (stucco is directly from Pula, where I went in September), from our back garden in Brussels, and even some downloaded from internet. The cedar-style shingles - I honestly cannot remember where I got that, I have a feeling that it came with the BAT download from EA official site.

 

The roof certainly needs a work to do - also I don't want to imitate others (my first two models have very SimGooberish texture) - so it is a lot of work to find good textures. I have noticed that it is really with textures that you create your own look - because what I am basically doing so far, is just BATting a box.

 

Anyway, I will be able to continue only on Friday, because I ALSO have the CJ preparations going on. Our CJ, Istrinia - Many Nations, One Region (IMNOR) is starting around mid October, and we are a group of 11 trying to make history with that.

 

Hugs

 

Mika

[debussyman 1,349]

Theese are really great BAt's, I really love the textures which, by the way, would you mind to share with us?

Anyways, great job. Looking forward to their release.

[Mickebear 2]

Dear Debussyman

thanks a lot for your comment,

 

Of course I can share the texture, here it is

 

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

[Jerebannus XVI 7]

OMG you are a beginner and you've already created a masterpiece

wow, just wow

[debussyman 1,349]

Great, thanks for the texture.

Your models are coming along pretty well, but as you've mentioned, apart from S. Martino, the roofs need some work; as you can see, texturing is the most important part of the BATing, you can make a simple box and with good textures make it a masterpiece (see my Montejo mansion? it was my first BAT and it was really badly modelled, but as I had very good textures it came out kinda well [i'm also thinking of making a new version]), or you can have a great realistic and complex model but without good textures it wont get to the level; I'd recomend to change a tad the color of the roof, just decrease a little the saturarion, and maybe add a slight gradient, that might do the trick.

[Mickebear 2]

alright, my Palace of San Martino starts to be ready

Day view:

 

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

[Glenni 1,447]

wow!you are really good at batting!you gotta be at Goober's level now or sum ting!

[Hordijk 18]

Looking very good looking forward to more.

[mrbisonm 1,622]

you're doing fine Micke, as long as you don't get better than me....lol

[Kwakelaar 92]

Nice work with your Palazzo, like the new tower you put on the roof.

[Mickebear 2]

Thanks a lot for your comments, Glenni (no, I am not at level of Simgoober, far from it... I realize it when I am taking closer look at his BATs ); Hordijk, mrbisonm (you will see later, that your comments about roof textures (were made in Experimental CJ... )are being taken into account) and Kwakelaar (the roof was just a box, anyway, I am a beginner).

I have been making tests with roofs, because texturing them REALLY has bugged me. I have now made about 30 different test roofs with different textures to compare, and have prepared further 109 textures to be tested as a roof. Roofs are such a VISIBLE part of SC4 that you cannot ignore them, when your BAT has otherwise nice textures.

 

So here is a visual trial of two of the textures. It is funny how SC4 changes dark colors into many shades brighter.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//MedulinDReady001ST.jpg align=baseline>

 

texture examples:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//MB_FR_Roof_002.jpg align=baseline> 

 

looked really nice in Photoshop, looks quite horrible in SC4. I don't think that I will be using this texture any longer, not without further enhancing it.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//MediterranianRustic2.jpg align=baseline> 

 

looks a little lighter and browner, turns also quite red in SC4, although for this small campanile it suits well.

[sharkbait16 0]

What incredible renaissance BAts you have. Reminds me of Florence. Those roof textures though are the best part!

[praiodan 78]

These buildings are very nice - I espacially like how you did these ambulatories/colonnades

[jglei701 8]

These are beautiful Mickebear!

 

This is the first time I'd seen this thread... I saw some of the pictures in the Istrinian thread and I really liked what I saw!  Keep up the great work!

[vester_DK 477]

Hei Mika

I really like your buildings. In your post P: 10/8/2005 11:57:24 AM there is octagonal building. The ridges on the roof, I would thinks a bit to ligth, but that is all I can put my finger on. Great work.

Rigtig flot.

[sorchin 18]

Wow Mika. Very beautiful. How long did it take you to create the BAT in the first picture? That is my favourite

[debussyman 1,349]

You've been busy, I really love all the buildings you are making, you have now enough to make a village! lucky you to have all those textures to use in BAT.

I think those roof ones are still usable, just a little more photoshoping, the tutorial on how to calibrate photoshop for gmax might be useful to make those textures the way you want them.

Keep up the excellent work.

[TheCrybKeeper 301]

Mickebear: You have that many roof textures?! Wow, you are very far ahead of me there!

Your Buildings look fantastic! You must be learning fast.

 

 I too am attempting to BAT and it takes more time than I ever thought. I have some roof textures, but not too grand yet.

 

Churches are one of my favorites! yours is quaint and attractive. The colors are eye pleasing enough, to be just perfect in-game!

[Mickebear 2]

sharkbait16: Thanks a lot, renaissance is the desired style for my CJ, with a touch of baroque in my next project, for which I have been secretly preparing this past week.

praiodan: You will see these buildings more (with ambulatories/colonnades, je comprends bien que tu veux dire)

jglei701: thanks a lot, I hope you will like my next project, which is building a historical town centre in renaissance style

Arne (vester_DK): Indeed, building was made 2 weeks ago, I have learnt a lot since. I will need to retexture all of the roofs to have more authentic look.

sorchin: building in the first picture was 2nd BAT that I have made, it took me a week. Now I am making similar type of building in 2 hours.

debussyman: I really appreciate your advise, I need to take a look right away at this tutorial. And also thanks for one texture I got from you in official texture thread, I will use it in one of my buildings, you will see easily

frndofyaweh: I spent one period of 24 hours just downloading nice looking textures, and preparing them in Photoshop and Seamless Factory (to have that perfect seamless look). BATting takes incredibly lot of time, especially the early stages. And I was so tired afterwards, after all that mental gymnastics with splines, meshes, verteses and UV mapping. Despite downloading textures, I am trying to use mainly textures that I have photographed during our trips to Slovenia and Croatia (both countries have very strong influence of Venetian renaissance and baroque) - gives more authenticity.