mipro mipro

[matias93 7,535]

19 minutes ago, Jasoncw said:

Tomorrow will be one week until Christmas Eve. What remains: More roof junk. Roof texturing. Spandrel texturing. Entrance modeling/ornament. Nitelites. A few more materials. A bunch of tweaking. Export. Lotting and modding. Query. 

1

Will this be our collective Christmas gift? That's really nice   Maybe it would justify a seasonal nightlighting, like the Telus towers, if you have the stamina to get there...

23 minutes ago, Jasoncw said:

The Christmas tree mostly decorates itself, because we just have to put on a bunch of the ornaments that we've each gotten every year over the years (it's not a color coordinated Martha Stewart tree). The main task of decorating the tree had less to do with aesthetics and more to do with needles stabbing my hand and getting sap all over. 

Luckily we have a much more manageable plastic tree, which doesn't mean we have given it enough attention: it's still empty and cornered because contractors were working on rebuilding the facade's windows last week and everything ended covered on thick brick dust. In any case, nothing will beat the tree my sis did for last year: a handful of dry bamboo canes tied together with hemp rope and plastic silver ribbons (take that, Martha xd).

[Jasoncw 11,840]

15 hours ago, matias93 said:

Will this be our collective Christmas gift? That's really nice   Maybe it would justify a seasonal nightlighting, like the Telus towers, if you have the stamina to get there...

I absolutely do not have the stamina to do a seasonal version lol. It will take enough work just to get it done for Christmas. And I'd still like to do an HD version but that might have to come out later. I'm not sure. But if I were to do a Christmas version of the Guardian there's nothing for me to do, because as far as I know they don't do any special Christmas lighting. The Penoboscot Building actually does have seasonal lighting in real life, so I included Christmas lighting for that one. 

15 hours ago, matias93 said:

Luckily we have a much more manageable plastic tree, which doesn't mean we have given it enough attention: it's still empty and cornered because contractors were working on rebuilding the facade's windows last week and everything ended covered on thick brick dust. In any case, nothing will beat the tree my sis did for last year: a handful of dry bamboo canes tied together with hemp rope and plastic silver ribbons (take that, Martha xd).

Considering that pine trees are an invasive species on your continent I think having a plastic tree is a good idea.  

Someday you'll be telling your grandchildren stories about the house's renovation. And they'll say, "Grandpa, these stories are boring! The house is still under renovation and it's all we've ever known! Tell us Grandpa, was there ever a time before the renovations?" and you'll try to remember such a time and your memory will fail you, and it will be lost to history. 

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Update time. Some more roof junk. I think after this the rest of the roof junk is a bunch of tubes and railing and dishes and things. I'm behind schedule for finishing for Christmas but we'll see if I can catch up...

[Finnbhennach 161]

57 minutes ago, Jasoncw said:

I'm behind schedule for finishing for Christmas but we'll see if I can catch up...

There's still more than a week left--you're already doing a spectacular job I don't doubt it. 

[ESP15 570]

Does anyone know what program to use to model the facades and exteriors in such detail?

I'm sorry if what I asked is the time, but now I have time and desire to get involved. I have many projects in mind!

[Jasoncw 11,840]

@FinnbhennachCheck your calendar.  

@ESP15I use 3ds Max. 3ds Max has extra modeling tools which make it easier, but most buildings can also be easily modeled in gmax. Buildings tend to be boxy. For BATing, knowing what the dimensions of things should be is the hardest part. 

There's metal flashing along all of the edges along the roofs, which I've added (as well as finalizing the roof heights for the smaller roof areas). Like a lot of things I thought it was going to make a bigger visual impact than it has, but it's still added a little bit of detail. I haven't done the highest roofs yet though so maybe it'll have more of an impact there. I did manage to decipher the jumble of pipes though. 

I'm definitely not making it for Christmas anymore, but with the extra week I should have plenty of time to make it for New Year's Eve. But then again this BAT is the definition of "things taking longer than you expect"...

For music to listen to while working I've decided to listen to my entire music library (4 stars or higher) chronologically, and I've been posting a few songs in the "What Music are you Listening To" thread: https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/32802-what-music-are-you-listening-to-right-now-the-second-verse/?do=findComment&comment=1685195

 

[matias93 7,535]

Well, then it's up to be known for which year this with be the BAT of the year...

[slickbg56 778]

Looking great!

 

 

3 hours ago, matias93 said:

Well, then it's up to be known for which year this with be the BAT of the year...

Clearly a front runner, that's for sure.

[9gruntsand1hammer 3,194]

The building is looking great. Do you know what size lot the building will sit on?

[mattb325 28,880]

This is looking truly spectacular 

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Thanks guys! 

@9gruntsand1hammer It will be a 5x2. I don't think anyone ever makes 5 tile deep zones so I'm not going to make a 2x5. The front and two sides will have a one paver setback, conforming to that w2w standard, but the back has an alley, so it won't actually touch any neighboring buildings. The best situation for it in the game is for it to cap off a 5 tile wide block, which is what it does in real life. 

[Jasoncw 11,840]

The light fixtures are part of the roof junk, and so I've also started the nitelites, but I'm mainly just confirming that the light placements will work. 

[Finnbhennach 161]

Definitely wasn't trying to be presumptuous but you still got 9-ish more days til the end of the year 
I can only say with certainty that it's morphing into what I can safely describe as perfection defined! 

By the way, I'm drooling over the possibilities of what this device could do for modeling/texturing work (i.e. Photoshop, 3ds max, etc.)
It's got 3 sets of 25 programmable keys for macros, keybinds, and other things.

^{https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G13-Programmable-Gameboard-Display/dp/B001NEK2GE
https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/product/g13-advanced-gameboard}

I think I may know how to get you up to speed for a Christmas release... 
^{(If only I was more baller and not stuck with medical bills and get myself one too xP)}

Haha, take your time nonetheless. It's surely going to be an exquisitely aged, masterful 'brew' to start off 2018!

[Jasoncw 11,840]

@Finnbhennachlol I think that thing would actually make me go slower. I actually use hotkeys less than most people. Although I did set up a custom hotkey to make "c" quickslice, so that I can quickly use a combination of hotkeys to select polygons, turn quickslice on, make the cuts, and then turn quickslice off and then select a different polygon to do it over again. But I don't even use the number pad part of the keyboard when I type numbers. But I do watch professional games of starcraft sometimes, and what I want to see someday is a match where they're not allowed to use a mouse, so that it looks like they're just typing an essay or something when they play lol

 

So guys, I'm not going to be able to fully finish the Guardian Building for 2017. Ultimately it doesn't matter much if it's released now or a bit from now, except for it to fall in the 2017 Trixies. So I'd like to float the idea of uploading a mostly done version of it in 2017, and then updating it later. The 2017 upload would essentially be done, minus some time intensive texture tweaking and the custom query. It would be modded so that you could download it and play with it, and when I updated it you'd just have to replace the .SC4Model file, without having to demolish any lots in your city. It's up to you guys to decide if uploading it that way is a good idea or a bad idea.

On top of normal Christmas stuff I've had to find a new doctor and prepare for an unexpected job opportunity, so I haven't been able to do the BATing marathon that I had envisioned for this week. 

[Fantozzi 4,067]

4 hours ago, Jasoncw said:

So I'd like to float the idea of uploading a mostly done version of it in 2017

Everyone wants to have your bats. So . if I understand right, this would double the amount of download traffic just because of not making it in time. Well, it's your descission, but maybe another solution would be to invent another trixie like 'most endurance work on details' or 'longest awaited bat that didn't make it in time'?

My impression is you're pushing yourself to give something to the community in time. That's noble, but still I would recomment to listen to your heart and do what is fun to you, not making it a duty. Sometimes I get obsessed and then I get exhausted and then I need a break and doing something else. So I never know when things are finished.  Well, everyone is different on this - some people need pressure to run best.  But public will always demand more and more from the artist they like - like a hungry shark. I can't recommend you to be voluntary bait for this never sated animal.

[matias93 7,535]

All the good luck with the new job, and just take your time with this, we can always make some creative tinkering on the categories or simply assume that a building that occupied all your 2017's batting time is a 2017's one.

[Finnbhennach 161]

Surely, obligations get in the way of things that we all enjoy and much rather do; nevertheless, I realize that job opportunities and finding the right doctor are just as important (or exciting and hopefully everything's ok  ). At least from what I have seen so far, I concur there's no need to rush to a release, if that means you'll be doing double time to satiate the general masses. You could also think of it as publishing a book or a journal that you've put a lot of work into already--it's hard to a get a second impression (not that I won't be delighted to be absolutely dazzled a second time)--but you see where I'm going with this. I would say take your time but definitely not like me where I go on extended breaks all the time 

 

12 hours ago, Jasoncw said:

@Finnbhennachlol I think that thing would actually make me go slower. I actually use hotkeys less than most people. Although I did set up a custom hotkey to make "c" quickslice, so that I can quickly use a combination of hotkeys to select polygons, turn quickslice on, make the cuts, and then turn quickslice off and then select a different polygon to do it over again. But I don't even use the number pad part of the keyboard when I type numbers. But I do watch professional games of starcraft sometimes, and what I want to see someday is a match where they're not allowed to use a mouse, so that it looks like they're just typing an essay or something when they play lol

Not sure what I'll do without polygon's 'quickslice' or edge's 'connect' honestly--I suppose there's slice plane for certain cases, but it's not the same  The most useful tool I would say is 'remove' or ctrl+backspace and it inextricably ties in all the aforementioned tools. Knowing me as lazy as one can be yet so ocd (it's a horrible curse), I find that it satisfies both needs with macros and one button press hotkeys to do creative work 

It certainly is down to personal preference as far as the use of keys, I'm just used to typing a lot of numbers on the keypad to deduct or add balances together for my real-life job. My co-worker described the sound of it as a Gatling gun (I'm sure it wasn't that bad  ) and I swear I'm not a robot 

Nonetheless, there would be endless amounts of good ol' schadenfreude watching pro players frustrated with just the use of the keyboard. They won't be able to incessantly click on anything on the screen. Oh the joy 

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Well it turns out that I can't finish the Guardian at all for 2017 so it doesn't matter.  

I did get some good progress in today though. More roof junk tomorrow (this is why skyscrapers now have mechanical floors ). 

Thanks for your support everyone. 

HD Zoom 6 (click for full size):

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Loving the roof details, I'm sure you know you can apply the same texture from the ground plan with some setting changes I think to hide the lower part of the building, that keeps from rendering the box.

[Finnbhennach 161]

Is it strange that I want to eat the perfectly frosted, delicious top in one sitting? It's probably not healthy but probably oh so worth it! You see, the platter just makes it all the more delectable... I-I. Can't. Resist. Omnomnom 

Happy New Years, Jason! 

[matias93 7,535]

You know, the top of the main tower, as it looks on the last images, would work as a charm being modelled on its own as a mid-rise condo... Even if finding furniture for the star-shaped penthouse would be a bit difficult...

[JP Schriefer 5,590]

Those black and yellow tiles textures are gorgeous!

Happy New Year!

[slickbg56 778]

So much good wrapped into one BAT. Can't wait for this to be ready! Probably going to start a whole new city just for this building.

[mattb325 28,880]

Looking very sharp. Your beautiful tiled details even hold up at the standard zoom which is always a bonus...for you as the batter and us as the viewer 

[edwardjeria 503]

[MillionSeven 45]

[ericexp 54]

so looking forward to this! There is a big empty space just waiting for it  in my Detroit re-creation...

[Bastet69008 1,102]

That building is a beauty, I might head to Detroit this year for my job I can't wait to see all your creations in RL

[Kingofsimcity4 50]

https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/1/24/16897642/guardian-building-detroit-downtown-art-deco

 

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate it a lot. I should be back to work on it once this forum merger dust settles.

On 1/30/2018 at 8:51 PM, kingofpop said:

https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/1/24/16897642/guardian-building-detroit-downtown-art-deco

Thank you for sharing that. It really is a nice building in real life, and some aspects of it translate really nicely into BAT form and some aspects (especially the lobby) don't.

@Aaron GrahamTo be honest it didn't occur to me at all to do that. Years ago it would crash my max (I still don't know why), so I'm still always very cautious about it, and don't normally think to use it unless I really need to.