Mass Effect: Beyond | Episode #75

[Belfastsocrates 1,753]

Fantastic, the moon bases have turned out really well, they look excellent!

[LexusInfernus 908]

Wow, amazing work and amazing custom content! 

[Jorge_carrillo 140]

No words, Amazing Journal.

[Benedict 3,119]

Incredible. So good to see you back with a new update - and so close to home, too.

[Huston 5,800]

Thanks guys! Sorry, I don't have much time to reply (studying for finals but procrastinating too D:)

 

Anyways:

As I procrastinate a little (I lied, A LOT) Just have a little concept idea i'd like to run by with to see how people would react to me updating my next

ME:TMW episode in a very distinct way, largely influenced by the way the old Endora steampunk CJ was presented on SC4D; this just means I'm gonna try

to intertwine and incorporate non-simcity 4 3d scenes and elements with actual simcity 4 scenes but with a twist in presentation (so they both match).

 

The one pic I'm showing you know is just a quick draft and still needs refining come time I actually present the episode.

 

So all in all, I've just been playing around with Photoshop effects and tools and stumbled upon a great way to merge non-simcity/simcity

to maximize entertainment as I try to tell a story (with dialog ). It looks interesting to me aesthetically, but it'd be great to know how

an audience/readers would react to it (if it's too low def, visually unpleasing, too obscure?).

 

PAINTED IMAGE EFFECT

(This isn't just any filter effect on Photoshop. I actually have to go over it myself tediously )

 

 

Likewise with the Comic style I had developed a while back, I'd post the pictures in normal form afterwards at the end (spoiler, links whatever) but the difference is that I'm definitely going through with this

(maybe for this particular episode and not every episde, but either way).

 

Thoughts?

[Schulmanator 5,812]

Sounds good to me. Do what makes you happy. I'm sure it will be great!

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

You should try it just to see if you can pull it off.  Chances are, even if you feel you came up short, none of us will see it that way.  Bring it on!

[Belfastsocrates 1,753]

I'd be really curious to see how you work with it, sounds rather interesting! Variety is the spice of life, give it a go and see how you feel.

[Huston 5,800]

Schulmanator
Thanks a lot
 
NMUSpidey
Thanks for that, I'd really love to see how this goes

 

Belfastsocrates

Thanks, glad your interested

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Note: TEASER TIME. AGAIN. Thanks a lot everyone, so far, I still have a bit of refining to do but don't have the time to put in supreme accuracy yet, so far now, enjoy this teaser to the story of three archaeologists, on an episode that returns to the Terminus System world of Kanaze. If you remember the mystery that was embedded in the story of the area of the Ruins of Selutz, then you'll hopefully find this interesting This story is a deviation from the regular stories of the Normandy, and instead focuses again on those on the fringes before the war with a vague understandings of the Reapers.

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Tune in to ME:TMW to see how it all lead to this.

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[Benedict 3,119]

So looking forward to this!

[Huston 5,800]

Benedict
I'm glad you are! But the update's gonna have to wait for now with my inspiration set elsewhere

 

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Note: Way too many teasers...I'm really sorry, but I swear this the last one and the next one will be an actual update

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Enjoy some futuristic city scenery. .

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[Huston 5,800]

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Note: This episode was a spur of the moment, since my laptop has better capabilities in handling

high-rise rendering

 

So enjoy this preliminary update that's going towards a bigger update (thinking of Nos Astra Illium!).

And lol, yeah, didn't keep my word on that other E65 update I was meant to do. But that'll have to wait.

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Illium. Where the Terminus and Traverse collide with the Council Space. It serves as a commercial waypoint between these three regions of space, but as it serves such a wide diversity of businesses and cultural practices, populations and an extensive consumer base, it's also widely known for its

relaxed regulations on commercial practices while which makes this colony a particularly attractive world to do business.

 

Across the colony of wealthy, power-hungry peoples, the construction of various city colonies spread across in major concentrations at the farther north and south regions of the planet where cooler temperatures allow for comfortable living. Across the equator and 'tropic' bands of the planet, however, lie a few pilot colonies that resemble fragments of Illium's great commercial and industrial cities. And while these small citadel-like arcologies seem rather distant and remote, many still remain connected and are busy commercial hubs, some rather escaping the urban sprawl for the pristine arid wilderness. Others are mere research or colonial settlements that have little to do with the planetary economy.

 

 

The distant and remote arcology colony of Rakavir, was built by the asari in the late 18th century CE, by a few colonial asari pioneers looking towards the arid deserts instead of the growing metropolises of cities such as the glamarous planetary capital of Nos Astra. The pristine wilderness of Illium's dry badlands provide a somewhat interesting view for those who want to escape the urban sprawl. A number of big-name corporations exist on this pilot colony, that while remains physically out-of-reach from the major hubs and spaceports, remains connected via the extensive comm-networks and buoys deployed over Illium and the greater scale of Tasale Systems.

 

 

Rakavir's architecture remains largely of a similar design reminescent of those of Illium's major hubs. Notably, they've drawn major inspiration from the distinct construction of cities such as Nos Astra, straying away from the conventional Asari constructs of Thessia and it's other colonies.

 

 

These large arcology colonies are only one of many that dot the sparse regions of Illium's equatorial and 'tropic' bands. These colonies are often fed by large underground water systems or above ground closed-pipe systems. Spikes in temperatures that can go from anywhere between 70 degrees celcius to as high as 90 degrees celcius makes canal-like constructs near impossible and impractical in near-boiling point temperatures.

 

 

These constructs are normally environmentally controlled, while buildings that reach even higher altitudes are naturally cooler. Leaving the premise without enviro-suits is strongly discouraged in the intense heat that of the arid deserts. And while there are flora and fauna that manage to thrive in this environment, the heat is far too intense for many of the races that encounter these regions. Sapient species such as Vorcha are normally the only ones that can manage without the necessity of wearing any clothing articles or enviro-suits.

 

Meanwhile...

 

 

 

In Nos Astra...

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[BLANKBLANK 4,414]

Amazing skyscrapers, while the grey foundation buildings look both grimy and futuristic.

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

Wow, very cool. I like the contrast of the sleekness of the supertalls with the roughness of the stuff around the base.  Kinda like in The Fifth Element where the closer to the ground you are the dirtier and poorer you get.

[Belfastsocrates 1,753]

Absolutely fantastic! Lovely work on the constructs as well

[Compdude787 916]

How come none of the pictures are showing up?

[Huston 5,800]

How come none of the pictures are showing up?

Majhost was just down, and it has a tendency to intermitently go offline. Seems like it's back up though.

[Benedict 3,119]

Another amazing installment - bravo.

[Huston 5,800]

Ln X
Thanks. I never really intended for them to appear grimy, but hey, what works
 
NMUSpidey
Like I said, never really intended the bottom areas to look poor, but I guess they do
 
Belfastsocrates
Thanks a lot
 
Benedict
Thanks Ben
 

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Note: Hey! A teaser with a decently sized image!

And yes, I've plastered this pic a few times around the forums.

It just looks so neat though, idek...

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Not my traditional teaser, but nonetheless a teaser for the next episode and planet.

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[Schulmanator 5,812]

Consider me intrigued.

[Fox 1,444]

Looking good!  Love the work on the Arcologies in a previous update, hopefully those aren't just photoshopped.. cause those would make a stunning release!

 

Thanks for releasing your latest work for the community, if LE ever works again, I'll be sure to use them.

[Benedict 3,119]

The neon tracks look fantastic in the teaser.

[Huston 5,800]

Schulmanator

Thanks

 

Fox

They're not photoshopped (XD). But I haven't completed the nightlights so they won't be on the STEX just yet. Nice to see you're interested in'em though. I must be doing something right then

 

Benedict

Thanks Ben

 

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Note: A short and sweet update. Consider this a Part one. We may yet return to Alchera for the

SR-1's wreckage. (Not a very Christmasy update, but meh )

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Destroyed.

In flames.

Making its last journey.

Toward its final resting place.

Sentenced to a cold...

miserable...

and nearly forgotten...

existence on a frozen, dead world.

Yet to ever be found again.

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[NMUSpidey 3,956]

That looks like a movie poster for a kickass movie.

[JP Schriefer 5,591]

Fantastic updates and editing as always!! Those skyscrapers are only for personal use? They look awesome!

[Benedict 3,119]

Congratulations, your CJ is number 9 for 2014! 

[Huston 5,800]

NMUSpidey
Kickass sci-fi movies FTW
 
JP Schriefer

So far, yes. I don't have any intention of releasing them (just yet )
 
Benedict
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGTHANKYOUOMGOMG.

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Note: I've spent 4 days compiling the images and applying tilt-shift on'em, writing up extracts, creating a new high-res logo for ME:TMW and preparing some BATs for the next update I'm doing after this 2nd anniversary update.

I hope you enjoy these 66 images compiled from the previous updates that have been made of these last two years! *Note that Episode 1 is actually missing. The pictures of it aren't a representative of

Ferust in the ME Universe, and is therefore, a non-official update/episode. It's not really accounted for as of yet, until I make a V2 version that suits the City Journal better.

PS. the anniversary for ME:TMW actually isn't until January 8th. I just feel like I should post it anyway even if I'm 2 days early.

PPS. This is the second anniversary in a row where the word ''anniversary'' has been spelt wrong on the banner. *sigh*

PPPS. There's a ton of typos in these images. Just me as usual -- Ain't no body got time fo' grammar

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It has been two long years since the first update of Mass Effect: The Milky Way. At the start, it wasn't even actually a Mass Effect fanfic, until I decided to incorporate the world I made into

the universe. Now, 68 episodes on, ME:TMW has...

-----x-----

Had a viewership of 98,131 in total.

Been updated 68 times, as much as 3N (my most updated CJ also at 68)

Received 807 comments.

An average of 1465 views for page

Earned 21 followers.

-----x-----

I hope you've enjoyed this City Journal as much as I've enjoyed making it. It's been nice to showcase this and there's no sign of me stopping.

Now, for the 67 compiled images. If you have a favorite, don't mind telling me! It's nice to know what people have favored from this CJ in the last

two years

Finally, thanks to everyone for the views, the comments and the devotion to reading this CJ. You've been real great!!

ERROR IN EPISODE 57 : Episode Name - Watching From Afar

Those were episodes from years 2013 and 2014.

What are you looking forward to in 2015?

Here's the next episode this long-running space soap-opera

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[Renedius 25]

happy 2015

[Huston 5,800]

Renedius

Happy 2015 to you to

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Note: It's the first official updated of the year! Unless you count #67. I mean it's an update, just not an episode as such

Fun Fact: None of the episode I've posted have gone beyond the year 2186 - 2187. I'll probably do one a while later, but for now, it's all within or before the Reaper War.

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<New Planetary Info-display interface [gives planet's more distinct apperances]>

Rashina Putra (ANN Citadel Broadcasting): "With increasingly large numbers of batarian war refugees crossing into human territories, many colonial authorities are worried about the possible developments of tension and stretched rationing of food and resources across affected Alliance colonies. To discuss this impending issue, up next is Battlespace with war reporter and analyst Diana Allers. I'm Rashina Putra and from across the Milky Way, this has been the Alliance News Network.

Diana Allers (SSV Normandy Broadcasting): "Hello and welcome to the Battlespace. I'm Diana Allers and here are tonight's top stories. Turian navies continue to make a stand on their homeworld of Palaven, but are struggling as reapers continue to breathe on their necks. The Quarian fleet quiet and almost of out-of-sight. Where is the galaxy's largest starship fleet? And just where are they now? Tasale under fire as reapers encroach on asari space. Alliance marines assist the human colony of Benning in evacuations, as its cities are allegedly attacked by the 'pro-human' dubbed terrorist organization, Cerberus. The fall of Earth and war analyst speculations of how the reapers took hold. More news from Earth as the cities of St. Louis, Macau, Geneva and Nagpur are destroyed. But up first, Batarian refugees"

"Many of the galaxy's renowned war analysts and even galactic politicians have thrown their opinion out into the open. The so-called "Paper-Tiger" Batarian empire has been the focus of recent talks among interests. The Alliance's awareness that incoming reapers would originate from batarian space has caused a rise in opinions that the batarian hegemony has likely been decimated. With communications transmissions escaping batarian clusters, namely in the Kite's Nest, containing the batarian homeworld of Khar'shan, many assumed that batarian authorities have liked faltered to the strength of the reaper armada. Thousands of batarian colonists fleeing occupied systems have begun landing across Alliance space, from the Exodus Cluster to the Skyllian Verge. This has been of much concern to the Alliance as the initial first wave of landings in Eden Prime has sparked the assumption that batarians were intended on invading. But as no naval forces were detected and most ships landing were of unarmored transports, some Alliance colonies have, with open arms, granted batarian war refugees amnesty on their worlds."

"In the Skyllian Verge's Maroon Sea, the Alliance colony of Varuna in the Balkhash system has recently reported the illegal landing of batarian identified transports outside the capital, First Landing's Colony. This has been the twelfth recorded landing in the Verge colony, greatly concerning Varuna’s colonial administration. Already the colony is experiencing shortages of food, fuel, arms and basic commodities that are mostly imported from beyond Balkhash. Moreover, colonists in many affected systems taking in war refugees, mostly of batarian descent, have begun expressing their dismay over the decisions to grant amnesty to the illegal batarian refugees. Colonists of Varuna have begun their own protests against these political measures, but Varuna’s colonial government has condemned their response and continues to allow the flow of batarian refugees.”

"A military response, directed by local authorities, was dispatched to secure the refugee transports and insure that there was no malicious intent as they landed outside of First Landing’s Colony. Colonial authorities also issued out a city-wide lock down and quarantine to prevent the outbreak of violence and clashes between human colonists and batarian refugees as heated racial tensions ensue. Also present at the site, many of Varuna’s colonial politicians and immigration processing officials looking to appropriately process the new war refugees. There has been a count of up to 820 new refugees that were aboard the ships.”

“War analysts, politicians and experts have warned of the potential for more war refugees across the galaxy. The displacement of millions due to reaper occupation has called for the granting of amnesty across all system’s as no single system can maintain the tantamount, shiploads of evacuating colonists. Human colonists have even begun fleeing systems under occupation, flying inward to core cluster systems that are momentarily safe.”

"This is becoming increasingly common place as more systems are affected by reapers. Asari, elcor, turian and volus systems are currently under heavy shelling, and many refugees have escape to settle at the Citadel, and colonies that have yet to be reached by the war. Fortunately, for Salarians, there have been no reports of breach by reaper forces. This is prompted masses of war refugees looking to salarian colonies for shelter from the war, and scenes like the footage featured from Varuna are going to likely overwhelm the governments of the galaxy."

While some colonies such as Horizon's Sanctuary are advertising their safe havens, a lot of colonial adminstrations are still reserved and reluctant, due to the shear numbers of fleeing persons that have tasked to capacity and tested many colonies".

"Up next, our reports cover the efforts of the turian navies, as they continue their struggle to hold on to their homeworld. How are they approaching the invasion on Palaven? Stay tuned for our report on the Battlespace, right after these messages.

 

Here's a few normalized pictures with regular presentation of First Landing's Colony on Varuna.

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[tonyr 926]

Is there anything you can't do! I mean really?