vids BAT thread: take two

[vidioman 21]

Starting off fresh! *observes minty fresh scent*

Anyway, I've been in the process of starting this thread for a week now, every time I do, something interrupts me..

So, on October 27, I started making my city's city hall in BAT, and I NEVER expected it to turn out as good as it did. Here are some pictures.


Picture of the real building | Pictures of the model |

Day time preview

Night time preview


In the game

The in game lot is just a test, but the final thing will be based on that. The back and side of the building have no windows, I added them in myself.

The problem: I cant get the nightlights to light up, but, Im sure it's a problem with my game (I don't know if the patch was installed right; I re-installed simcity4 recently) but other than that, it just needs a bit more modding and it's ready. Other things I'm working on:

Twin City Gas Building


Red River Towers


And a generic office building, not really based on anything.

The blue inside is just to show what it will look like when it's done. The windows and roof will be more detailed of course.

Note about roof junk: Many buildings here [Thunder Bay] don't have much roof junk, so many of the buildings I make will have very little roof junk. This is because we have harsh winters. It is also because I'm lazy, and dont feel like putting roof junk on them. But I'll put enough on so it isn't just plain.

Most have little buildings on top that house the roof junk, like the city hall above, and these buildings! So, that's why they look plain!

Comments are appreciated. I don't do requests, and if you ask, I'll sic DuskTrooper on ya

-me.

Oh yeah, I've got other things planned, but i'm not telling you what they are because if I do and then I dont do them, it'll be a let down

[DuskTrooper 314]

*observes minty fresh scent*

Yeah, looks good so far. Oh, and yes, gladly, I shall smite those that have requests.

Keep up the good work, Knave!

[dev 47]

Lovely...I remember you showing me some BAT stuff a while back...good to see some more...

[vidioman 21]

Thanks for the comments.

I added some horizontal thingermabeebaws to the top and bottom, and made an opening for doors (I want this to fit a 2x2 lot) I'm working on the windows now.

[[picture was deleted somehow, not sure why.]]

[DuskTrooper 314]

Edit: oops, misunderstanding, sorry, knave. keep up the good work.

[vidioman 21]

Date: 11/12/2005 9:29:15 PM
Author: DuskTrooper
Can you post a pic of the real life building, please?


please excuse this not so cleverly concealed bump. Thank you!

quote>

I, uh... I can't.

It's made up! Sorry!



Okay, I did the windows there, but i'm not quite sure I they look good.... Should I redo them, or do you think they're fine?

[SYM Productions 7]

I like the design... looks like the Police Central in Winnipeg.

 

- CDI_spy , proud part of SYM Productions

[Sum Wan 0]

Looks good!

[vidioman 21]

After a couple days away I've got a few more things to show.

Okay, I've got the doors and main floor windows in..


Forsterk suggested trying transparency, so I might try that. I'll add some floors inside and a few simple objects, and light it from behind (I don't know how to make fancy lights, though.. *looks at DT*) but I also thought, why not give orange a try?


It's based on this building I made in BlockCAD. (and yes, once I get better, I'll be making some of my blockCAD creations!) I don't particularly like that shade of red-orange, but I can change it a bit. I do like the red more than the white.

Also, since we're on the subject of red buildings, what about this? (note the typo - it should say humanities not humanites!!) I know you guys (the downloaders) detest the slightly less attractive of buildings, but I think we can all agree that brutalism is severly under-represented in this game, am I right? There is more than a tower, there is also a hall on one side ( See? A hall! ) so I think if I successfuly BAT this building, it'll be part on of my University project.

Over the next few months, I'm going to be making a few BAT buildings to add to a university, because the one in-game isn't really to my liking (too old, all on one lot, Universities dont fit into squares!!) so I'm going to make some more buildings, to place around it. They'll most likely be educational, or residential plops.

Depending on how the floors and lights go, I might be releasing this and the City hall in a few days. I figure I'll release them together, and have this as an annex. (Funny story - TB City Hall was built before TB existed, and it's way to small for our city's government. more than 70% of the city's employees actually work elsewhere, and that building is just councillors offices and storage now, aside from the council chambers on the side)

Anyway, any comments or suggestions? I could probably use a bit of help with that University project, maybe we could get a few people together and make a team, since DuskTrooper reclined..

(and his lofts would be perfect as dorms)

-me

EDIT: Fixed the typoes.. my God, were there typos...

[Glenni 1,444]

hey cool!i like that one !haha and i love your avatar too. bucky the cat from fuzzy

[vidioman 21]

I spent... I dont know, 3 hours last night? With DT trying to get thhe spotlights to work, and just ended up with the master light inside the building, illuminating it from the inside out! Yes, I know. I'm pissed too.

I did fix the night lights though (forgot to put Night_ before the object name) and its been sent off to render. I'll have more news later.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

The first pic of that small office building reminded me of a section of the Wells Fargo Center here in Portland. Lookin' good

[vidioman 21]

Date: 11/29/2005 5:45:05 AM
Author: sparkythepenguin
The first pic of that small office building reminded me of a section of the Wells Fargo Center here in Portland. Lookin' good

quote>

That's partly what its based on! The Wells Fargo centre in Portland is one of my favourites, actually. Alot of those Portland buildings are really great.

DT sent it to SC4Meister to render, no more news on updates, but I've started a bit of work on that smaller office. I also started working on a breadcast tower but its not really coming out as planned.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Date: 11/29/2005 2:31:46 PM
Author: vidioman

That's partly what its based on! The Wells Fargo centre in Portland is one of my favourites, actually. Alot of those Portland buildings are really great.

quote>

That's nice that you like it so much: it needs admirers, because a lot of people here don't like it (I'm just OK with it)! The Wells Fargo Center is the reason why city council passed height restrictions. When they built it in the 70's, it was so out-of-scale, it dwarfed everything in town! It may be our tallest, but most everyone here hates or is indifferent to it. They're more appreciative of the US Bancorp Tower.

I think a lot of the critics here would have taken your shorter tribute of the WFC over what was actually built!

[vidioman 21]

Date: 12/1/2005 1:25:35 AM
Author: sparkythepenguin

Date: 11/29/2005 2:31:46 PM

Author: vidioman


That's partly what its based on! The Wells Fargo centre in Portland is one of my favourites, actually. Alot of those Portland buildings are really great.

quote>


That's nice that you like it so much: it needs admirers, because a lot of people here don't like it (I'm just OK with it)! The Wells Fargo Center is the reason why city council passed height restrictions. When they built it in the 70's, it was so out-of-scale, it dwarfed everything in town! It may be our tallest, but most everyone here hates or is indifferent to it. They're more appreciative of the US Bancorp Tower.


I think a lot of the critics here would have taken your shorter tribute of the WFC over what was actually built!

quote>

Yeah, but I doubt Well Fargo would like it. They seem to have a thing with ugly buildings. I know the one in Bloomington MN, (on the STEX I tihnk its by niagaraneagle?) itr pretty ugly and the one in Duluth MN appears to be falling apart. I think they've got maybe 3 decent towers out of their whole.. uh, network of towers.

Though I like the internationalstyle, since it's really simple. Just some verticle or horizontal lines, a door, and your done

Chase Tower in Rochester NY is similar to WFC portland, but the vertical white bars are much closer together, and it looks even worse, especially from a distance. The WRF Portland is a good design, though it is a bit plain. Too bad they put the height restriction in. KOIN tower would look cool as the tallest. The city needs a good PoMo tallest bulding.

On to BAT, after the spotlights thing, I decided that was it for BATting that month. Since Im absolutely terrible at keeping track of days, it's December now. I'll try and have the new building out to render by the end of the week, and I think I'lkl call it Wells Fargo Building, instead!

[Slowhand 0]

Nice work. I like your generic office building. It looks.....generic.

[Truckin_Papa 0]

First, I'm just snooping around and checking this site out and I reconized your name so I thought I would check this out.

 

Looks pretty good to me.  I still can't figure out how you all make these things but I think its cool anyway.

 

Good goin'

[vidioman 21]

Date: 12/1/2005 9:14:20 PM
Author: Slowhand
Nice work. I like your generic office building. It looks.....generic.

quote>

That's the point

@truckin' papa: I can't figure out how I make them either!

[vidioman 21]

Textured and lit. All I have to do is fix the night lights (there should be various intensities) and send it off to render.

Back to Twin city Gas Building after this.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Not bad! Looks like you're off to a pretty good start. But aren't you going to add any roof junk? After all, in SC4 the roof is almost the most prominent part of a building, so it really helps when at least something's up there. As for the roof texture, you may want to check out 6459978's Toronto BAT Thread, page 12 or 13. You will find some pretty neat texturing hints there.

Another point about which I'm not really that sure is the doors that you chose. I dunno, somehow they don't look right in combination with the rest of the building. Maybe it's just me, but I think that at least for the entrance, something more modern might look better. It's less noticeable with the roof access door, but the frame around it might end up a bit too bright in game, because the BAT tends to brighten colours quite a bit...

Well, just wanted to throw in my $ 0.02 about some details... keep up the good work!

[vidioman 21]

Looks like you're off to a pretty good start. But aren't you going to add any roof junk?

quote>

Roof junk is heard, and if you read the first post, I already explained this. The roof junk is in the box on otp. Because it is so cold up here, most of our tall buildings don't have anything on top of their buildings, aside from the smaller penthouse where all the roof junk is located. Aside from a few vents, they're pretty bare. (though the roofs of apartment towers are littered with satellite dishes now, one near my dads house has at least 60 of them)

After all, in SC4 the roof is almost the most prominent part of a building, so it really helps when at least something's up there. As for the roof texture, you may want to check out 6459978's 'Toronto BAT Thread', page 12 or 13. You will find some pretty neat texturing hints there.

quote>

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out. I need some better textures. when DT signs on MSN I'll be getting more textures, I want to redo the doors on this anyway.

Another point about which I'm not really that sure is the doors that you chose. (That is due to a lack of texture variety - me) I dunno, somehow they don't look right in combination with the rest of the building. (I agree - me) Maybe it's just me, but I think that at least for the entrance, something more modern might look better. It's less noticeable with the roof access door, but the frame around it might end up a bit too bright in game, because the BAT tends to brighten colours quite a bit...

quote>

I'll fix that then. I can easily make the frame smaller.

Well, just wanted to throw in my $ 0.02 about some details... keep up the good work!

quote>

I will!

---

I'm going to try batting something I saw at Skyscraper City, a 12 floor office tower in Waterloo. ( LINK ) It's pretty sinple, just lines and glass, so Ill experiment with that. Also, if anyone can help with the roof junk or offer textures, that'd be great, just putting the 45

[choco1 4]

Very nice bats, videoman. I like the square one, it looks very real, and I can imagine finding it in just about any city. I like how you show us the stages because I like watching a BAT develop! Good luck with your BATs, and I really like what you've done so far.

[MsD 0]

I heard about this and had to check it out for myself.  Looks pretty good.  I like the different colors.

 

EDITED:  Oh parden me.  I was looking at what you did before you textured it.  The textures are cool as well.

[Sum Wan 0]

Anything new here?  I don't like the roof, or the windows.  You should use a beige color, or something, instead of blue for the windows.  The roof needs some stains, at least, if there will be no HVAC.

[toxicpiano 125]

Date: 12/13/2005 11:17:23 AM Author: Sum Wan Anything new here?  I don't like the roof, or the windows.  You should use a beige color, or something, instead of blue for the windows.  The roof needs some stains, at least, if there will be no HVAC.

quote>

stop complaining. why dont you try BATing yourself if you dont like it. i really like that vid! i look forward to DLing it.

[sim1234 62]

Very nice work vidioman! The textures are great! Keep up the fantastic work!

[vidioman 21]

@Toxicpiano & sim1234 - I know you two mean well, but Sum Wan's reply is better. Thanks for the compliments, though.

I've got reason to believe that Sum Wan is, if not DuskTrooper, someone related to, or in close contact with DuskTrooper. You see, I constantly criticise Dusky for his choices in roof texture and window design, because they aren't really his strongpoint and bring the model down. It's the only thing I really dislike about his work, and it is easy to fix. It's more a detail issue, anyway, and we usually work it out.

Although, the beige comment kinda throws me off, as Dusky isn't too big on that colour for window lights, he seems to prefer green. (Seriously, green. Lime and sea green too. Yuck! the two greens I hate most!) Although, if he means the base texture for the windows, then I can understand that... I have a new window texture and will apply it when I find time. I was going to BAT a bit over night, but got carried away by a wikipedia article about US Counties. Did you know there are about 3120 of them? Anyway, a cookie for whoever reads all of this, plus a free preview of my next weird article, a day before it's release. but you have to answer the skill testing question, required with all contests here in Canada!

He is right about the roof, it does need more on it. I'll talk to Dusky about it next time I'm batting, and we'll work something out perhaps.

I am really surprised he didnt mention the doors. I'm going to completely change the doors, so next time you see them, they'll be different. I might even consider revolving doors, depending on the difficulty. I can probably get Dusky to help.

The only texture on the entire thing that I am 100% content with is the white concrete of the walls. Other than that, it'll probably undergo a complete overhaul in the next week. I may spend most of my time on the computer, but I can never find time to BAT!

-rambling on
vid

PS: Four little sentences resulted in a Five paragraph response. Amazing what somewhat constructive criticism can do.

[DuskTrooper 314]

Actually, I prefer a special yellow night map(you can have it if you want) for my buildings. I no longer use that green map, which IMO, now seems quite vile on some of the newer PoMo structures. And when did YOUR BAT thread become my BAT thread(in regards to constructive criticism concerning my roofs and windows)?
(we'll discuss the latter, as well as other issues later...knave...)

But, yes, I agree with Sum Wan that the roof and stuff needs help. And no, Sum Wan is not related to me. I think he is from Toronto, or somthing.

[vidioman 21]

I was explaining.

How long has this been titled {vids} bat thread? Weird.

[vidioman 21]

I sent the link here to countless people asking them to post, and none did. Whatever.



If anyone cares, the windows will be blue!

I pised off Dusky, so I'm not sure how/if I'm gonna be releasing anything just yet. Oh well. I'll taunt you for now. I find it entertaining.

update | 07.35: added windows

---

[19.47]
Oh, thanks for the comments everyone!!



Added a roof



I mad a slight mistake, you can kinda see it if you look closely in this pic. Not too noticable, but it's there. If no one complains, Im just gonna leave it.