Show us your City Transit Maps!

[SC4L0ver 394]

Well... This is my very first subway map... 

It's the subway network of Vistalegre, capital of New Iberia, which was featured in my CJ. It has 11 lines and 202 stations as in 2015.

<SNIP>

Great work. Very good for a first map! Did you you Inkscape?

One thing Inwould change is your zoning. Try to have zone 1 as the super central section, rather than the majority of the map. Put it this way, lines should not end in zone 1. 

Keep up the great work! 

Thanks!!! 

I made it with Adobe Illustrator. 

About the zones, some lines have been expanded to zones 2 and 3. The expansion of other lines out of the Zone 1 (e.g. lines 1 and 7) are planned in the future. Also, the zoning system is very different from one to another subway system: Madrid subway system has a large central zone and has only a few lines running out from them (which I took inspiration of), whereas London underground has a ton of zones (up to 10) and almost all lines cross many of them.

  Edited June 23, 2015 by SC4L0ver  

[_Michael 2,681]

Well... This is my very first subway map... 

It's the subway network of Vistalegre, capital of New Iberia, which was featured in my CJ. It has 11 lines and 202 stations as in 2015.

<SNIP>

Great work. Very good for a first map! Did you you Inkscape?

One thing Inwould change is your zoning. Try to have zone 1 as the super central section, rather than the majority of the map. Put it this way, lines should not end in zone 1. 

Keep up the great work! 

Thanks!!! 

I made it with Adobe Illustrator. 

About the zones, some lines have been expanded to zones 2 and 3. The expansion of other lines out of the Zone 1 (e.g. lines 1 and 7) are planned in the future. Also, the zoning system is very different from one to another subway system: Madrid subway system has a large central zone and has only a few lines running out from them (which I took inspiration of), whereas London underground has a ton of zones (up to 10) and almost all lines cross many of them.

Fair point, I just feel if you're going to utilise zones in the first place, you should make more use of them, with more lines expanding into other zones. :)

[_Michael 2,681]

I've been working on a new map, taking into account all of the feedback that users gave me on the last one. Once again, please suggest areas of improvement, as well as what is good!

This is the Mikenstein Area Rapid Transit map, and covers the 7 metro lines in the city.

[Linoa06 1,374]

Much better already, but those lines blur in the background, again using lines that catch the eye a bit better would be welcome (look at that light blue line almost blending in the grey of the outer zone!)

Pretty good though.

[_Michael 2,681]

Much better already, but those lines blur in the background, again using lines that catch the eye a bit better would be welcome (look at that light blue line almost blending in the grey of the outer zone!)

Pretty good though.

Thanks for the feedback. I chose those colours as part of a 'pastaly' theme, but might brighten them up a bit and see how they look.

Thanks again for your comments.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Personally, I would avoid those bright colours. I think your best option is to lighten the grey up a bit (say 30% black on the CMYK scale?), and lighten the water a bit too.

Then make the lines deep tones and this will provide an excellent contrast.

 

[Linoa06 1,374]

Yep, that works too.

Glenvale stuff! (The bus map is a faithful representation of a CSL city)

[Shingure 56]

Something slight. 

 

[elew4too 77]

I feel like every time I check this thread, the maps get better (I see you Michae95l lol).  Here's a revamped, combined transit map based on some new bus analyses I did recently:

I'm also midway through a more comprehensive bus map.  There's still a lot of work to do though:

  Edited August 6, 2015 by elew4too  

[Linoa06 1,374]

Something slight. 

 

Not sure the noodly approach works in concept, but it looks pretty nice. 

Sadly let down by the tiny station labels though I'm afraid.

[crishy 57]

My two cents: the average user in this forum does not have an advanced knowledge of design [software], and is just interested in proudly showcasing his or her creation as per OP.

 

Criticism is fine and dandy but I would avoid focusing too much attention to it (especially in a negative tone) unless the poster has requested for advice for improvements (as some have). Few are going to post anything here if they think someone is going to criticize them too much for their creations, especially since most will not go back to the drawing board again.

 

In this thread a basic novice Paint map is as good as a professional grade one.

[_Michael 2,681]

My two cents: the average user in this forum does not have an advanced knowledge of design [software], and is just interested in proudly showcasing his or her creation as per OP.

 

Criticism is fine and dandy but I would avoid focusing too much attention to it (especially in a negative tone) unless the poster has requested for advice for improvements (as some have). Few are going to post anything here if they think someone is going to criticize them too much for their creations, especially since most will not go back to the drawing board again.

 

In this thread a basic novice Paint map is as good as a professional grade one.

I'm afraid I fell differently. Firstly, some users have been making maps for ages, and it shows. I would consider these to be masters of whatever software they use. They have learned all of the application's features over time and have mastered  the use of whatever app, Inkscape, Illustrator, etc. They know what makes a great transit map and are willing to share their knowledge in order for you to improve. You should be really grateful for that in the first place. Secondly, you can scroll back through this thread and in March/April I posted my first transit map. It was horrific. Criticism helped me improve, users provided critistim, and compliment (Thanks Linoa06 btw!). And then on the 4th of July, I have uploaded my most recent map. I feel it is a vast improvement in just a few months, but notice users still provide things I can improve on. When you're posting things in forums like these, I think people want to be given suggestions for improvement, so that they can, well, improve. If we all do that, then we can all help everyone to make professional grade maps, and not amautur ones in Paint, because let's face it, if you're doing something because you enjoy it, (which I think everyone here is!) then it's human nature to want to improve. If someone was posting amautur maps and no one was telling them how they could improve, then when they understand that they are making no progress, they will lose interest, and essentially, you are killing of members. Everyone wants to improve and so cristicism and suggestions are necessary. 

[crishy 57]

My two cents: the average user in this forum does not have an advanced knowledge of design [software], and is just interested in proudly showcasing his or her creation as per OP.

 

Criticism is fine and dandy but I would avoid focusing too much attention to it (especially in a negative tone) unless the poster has requested for advice for improvements (as some have). Few are going to post anything here if they think someone is going to criticize them too much for their creations, especially since most will not go back to the drawing board again.

 

In this thread a basic novice Paint map is as good as a professional grade one.

I'm afraid I fell differently. Firstly, some users have been making maps for ages, and it shows. I would consider these to be masters of whatever software they use. They have learned all of the application's features over time and have mastered  the use of whatever app, Inkscape, Illustrator, etc. They know what makes a great transit map and are willing to share their knowledge in order for you to improve. You should be really grateful for that in the first place. Secondly, you can scroll back through this thread and in March/April I posted my first transit map. It was horrific. Criticism helped me improve, users provided critistim, and compliment (Thanks Linoa06 btw!). And then on the 4th of July, I have uploaded my most recent map. I feel it is a vast improvement in just a few months, but notice users still provide things I can improve on. When you're posting things in forums like these, I think people want to be given suggestions for improvement, so that they can, well, improve. If we all do that, then we can all help everyone to make professional grade maps, and not amautur ones in Paint, because let's face it, if you're doing something because you enjoy it, (which I think everyone here is!) then it's human nature to want to improve. If someone was posting amautur maps and no one was telling them how they could improve, then when they understand that they are making no progress, they will lose interest, and essentially, you are killing of members. Everyone wants to improve and so cristicism and suggestions are necessary. 

 

Yea, I noticed your request not long after you posted it, I remember it most as it is the most recent one, among others, and hence  "unless the poster has requested for advice".

Nothing wrong with wanting to improve your skills, of course, best of luck to you, but my OP was not directed at that. Nothing wrong at dishing out criticism or suggestions now and then too, of course, but I would do that occasionally and tongue in cheek, unless more serious and detailed criticism was requested.

Let's move to that Show Us Your Airport thread. Like SC4 and everything else, anyway, you have the "average" players who do not mind plopping the terribly looking vanilla airports by a dense urban area (or otherwise creating an irrealistic airport), and the "hardcore" players who spend some time building their airports to various degrees of improved realism. Either way I could have ended up criticizing every single post in that thread if I wanted to.

Even myself, however, as and airport and airline enthusiast, keep my airports only at a certain degree of realism because using the puzzle pieces is very time consuming, and I want to play SC4, and not SimCityAirportPuzzlePieces, and because I do not have a lot of time available to play. Either way it is just a game. Same thing for map making. While many will appreciate serious criticism, many others may not, will not care, or may not even come back to the thread, whatever the reason. Especially since people here are SC4 players, and may not share necessarily the same passion for designing, you know.

As a side note, I only posted after this thread died for a while, as it used to be a little more active beforehand. My opinion is that in threads like this, people should not compelled to insert something like "sorry this is not as good as the others".

  Edited August 23, 2015 by crishy  

[Linoa06 1,374]

My two cents: the average user in this forum does not have an advanced knowledge of design [software], and is just interested in proudly showcasing his or her creation as per OP.

 

Criticism is fine and dandy but I would avoid focusing too much attention to it (especially in a negative tone) unless the poster has requested for advice for improvements (as some have). Few are going to post anything here if they think someone is going to criticize them too much for their creations, especially since most will not go back to the drawing board again.

 

In this thread a basic novice Paint map is as good as a professional grade one.

I'm afraid I fell differently. Firstly, some users have been making maps for ages, and it shows. I would consider these to be masters of whatever software they use. They have learned all of the application's features over time and have mastered  the use of whatever app, Inkscape, Illustrator, etc. They know what makes a great transit map and are willing to share their knowledge in order for you to improve. You should be really grateful for that in the first place. Secondly, you can scroll back through this thread and in March/April I posted my first transit map. It was horrific. Criticism helped me improve, users provided critistim, and compliment (Thanks Linoa06 btw!). And then on the 4th of July, I have uploaded my most recent map. I feel it is a vast improvement in just a few months, but notice users still provide things I can improve on. When you're posting things in forums like these, I think people want to be given suggestions for improvement, so that they can, well, improve. If we all do that, then we can all help everyone to make professional grade maps, and not amautur ones in Paint, because let's face it, if you're doing something because you enjoy it, (which I think everyone here is!) then it's human nature to want to improve. If someone was posting amautur maps and no one was telling them how they could improve, then when they understand that they are making no progress, they will lose interest, and essentially, you are killing of members. Everyone wants to improve and so cristicism and suggestions are necessary. 

 

Yea, I noticed your request not long after you posted it, I remember it most as it is the most recent one, among others, and hence  "unless the poster has requested for advice".

Nothing wrong with wanting to improve your skills, of course, best of luck to you, but my OP was not directed at that. Nothing wrong at dishing out criticism or suggestions now and then too, of course, but I would do that occasionally and tongue in cheek, unless more serious and detailed criticism was requested.

Let's move to that Show Us Your Airport thread. Like SC4 and everything else, anyway, you have the "average" players who do not mind plopping the terribly looking vanilla airports by a dense urban area (or otherwise creating an irrealistic airport), and the "hardcore" players who spend some time building their airports to various degrees of improved realism. Either way I could have ended up criticizing every single post in that thread if I wanted to.

Even myself, however, as and airport and airline enthusiast, keep my airports only at a certain degree of realism because using the puzzle pieces is very time consuming, and I want to play SC4, and not SimCityAirportPuzzlePieces, and because I do not have a lot of time available to play. Either way it is just a game. Same thing for map making. While many will appreciate serious criticism, many others may not, will not care, or may not even come back to the thread, whatever the reason. Especially since people here are SC4 players, and may not share necessarily the same passion for designing, you know.

As a side note, I only posted after this thread died for a while, as it used to be a little more active beforehand. My opinion is that in threads like this, people should not compelled to insert something like "sorry this is not as good as the others".

Your rant is sort of beating a dead horse here, because nobody goes out of their way to post "sorry this is not as good as the others". You don't like scrolling past criticism, that's fine, it was not directed towards you anyway. Some people DID ask for criticism, and learned from others in this thread (I know I'm in that category). Your opinion was heard but we don't need a thread police, sorry. I'm not discussing this further, anyway. This is not a thread for debate

Also if you take a good look at the maps here, you'll realise there's a lot from CSL, CXL, even real maps and so on, so it's really more of a map-making thread than a SC4 specific thread and at such people here will care a bit more about their maps. Maps are not game-specific, trying to keep a thread for each game would pretty much split this thread in tiny bits and deny maps from games that aren't covered by Simtropolis. Nobody's ever been bothered by that, don't you start. 

 

And because this is NOT a SC4 map at all, though the Mass Effect CJ would certainly disagree that sci-fi does not belong in SC4, and because I have worked wayy too long on it not to show it off :

And a sneak-peek of the upcoming Glendale map, accurate and all :

  Edited August 26, 2015 by Linoa06  

[_Michael 2,681]

Great maps Linoa! And so true on your point before them.

[Linoa06 1,374]

Ty

Posting this map though it's gonna be somewhat modified for my CJ's next entry :3

[Joe 90 358]

Tried a subway line in the style I've been doing tram lines:

[rubberduck3y6 45]

Tried a subway line in the style I've been doing tram lines:

Looks good. I like how you've shown that the Mereburg line shares tracks between St Seaxweard's Minster and University Stations (at least that's what I'm guessing it's showing!)

How would you show interchanges if there were any at any of the stations where the line branches though?

[Linoa06 1,374]

the Tamerton and Northampton labels are slightly out of place! Ack! Loves it though!

[Joe 90 358]

the Tamerton and Northampton labels are slightly out of place! Ack! Loves it though!

No, thats deliberate

Tried a subway line in the style I've been doing tram lines:

Looks good. I like how you've shown that the Mereburg line shares tracks between St Seaxweard's Minster and University Stations (at least that's what I'm guessing it's showing!)

How would you show interchanges if there were any at any of the stations where the line branches though?

Bingo for the Mereburg Line. Always good when people understand maps without being told

As for interchanges on branches, something like this I suppose...

[Linoa06 1,374]

Cathnoquey Train Map I did a while ago but never actually got to use

And an airline alliance "map" that I also never really got to use, also for my CJ.

 

[_Michael 2,681]

And an airline alliance "map" that I also never really got to use, also for my CJ.

 

I feel like those corners could do with being smoother, and it's strange that the map is geographic, and yet the air routes, are all orthogonal or diagonal. I really like the train map, though, everything seems to fit together very well.

 

[Linoa06 1,374]

And an airline alliance "map" that I also never really got to use, also for my CJ.

 

I feel like those corners could do with being smoother, and it's strange that the map is geographic, and yet the air routes, are all orthogonal or diagonal. I really like the train map, though, everything seems to fit together very well.

 

Yeah I just kinda wanted to see how it looks lol

[vinlabsc3k 127]

Great maps @all!! 

 

@Linoa06: Why the dead branch? (click to enlarge)

  Edited October 3, 2015 by vinlabsc3k  
Image link changed

[Linoa06 1,374]

Great maps @all!! 

 

@Linoa06: Why the dead branch? (click to enlarge)

I can't see the thumbnail

[_Michael 2,681]

Same here. Google Drive gives a 404.

 

EDIT:

I've looked at your link, you can't use a thumbnail link, you need a URL that has the file extension at the end, for instance: imgur.com/xxxxxx/hi.jpeg (or whatever format the hosting site uses.) After having a quick look, it appears Google Drive doesn't provide a way to access these URLs, so I suggest using a site such as imgur.com.  

  Edited October 2, 2015 by michae95l  

[Linoa06 1,374]

The only mistake I can find on one of those maps is a repeat of a label on the train map, but that's not a "dead branch" at all. lol

Since those are WIPs and I am extremely busy I just don't proofread those maps I just showcase here anymore.

Another "working map" for my CJ :

Next up, maps of real-life Leicester and fictional Vancouver! Stay tuned

  Edited October 4, 2015 by Linoa06  

[aidcity4 17]

My first train map

[_Michael 2,681]

My first train map

Looking good. One question, why do you have the 2 line, when the city express serves all of its stops?

[art128 4,622]

You can see the express doesn't stop at Bordeaux.. But yeah, it would make sense to actually remove the express stop at Dorval and instead just leave Lourdes, Gare Centrale, Montpellier and finally Danville.

 

Quite a nice map, I really like its simple design. Simple is best.