The Portland & Oregon BAT Team, Chapter 1

[diablo_del_bano 3]

one question... What exactly is the Galeria? offices, apartments, stores...? But I love the Fleidner. it would look so good to fill out the rest of the block... I may do that with LE if you release it. but as always, I love your work.

BTW, what happened with the Memorial Colusseum? I was looking forward to that one too.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Thanks again for all the feedback and support! Today's been a sort-of lazy day for me, so I don't know if I'll get back to any BATing until tomorrow.

Some good news: I may be getting a second, faster PCin the next few days! That way, everyone who lives with me won't have to put up with this one slowly exporting BATs, and I may be able to devote more time to BATing!

On what exactly the Galleria is:

The Galleria was originally the Olds, Worthman, and King (OWK) Department store. Later, it was renovated into a shopping mall with offices on the top floors. The retail section couldn't compete with the new Pioneer Place Mall, so the Le Cordon Bleu-Western Culinary Institute moved into and renovated the old mall section into its new Portland campus.

I'm thinking about what sort of purpose to make this into... A CS$$$ for the old OWK... CS$$ for the shopping mall.. CO$$ to represent the office use.. and/or a city college to represent WCI...

And Memorial Collisieum is on hold for a little bit.  Having some issues about what exactly to put inside the see-through glass walls and how to make it all light up.

I am also in the process of deciding my next Portland projects, and whether or not to go and get some modern stuff not yet covered or stay on the old building tracks. I'll post some pics of the next candidates soon. With the New Fleidner and Galleria, I'm sort of getting into a new part of downtown that's currently under-BATed... Lots of modern and old stuff there, but some other landmarks beg to be BATed!

[sparkythepenguin 90]

OK new day, some more progress and info to report on the Galleria:

This view is zoom 4, low-quality. Just needed to show changes...

• Added awnings to ground floor based on old postcard views and memories of mid-80's awnings. Hopefully green is a nice color to add, although these won't go completely around the building.

• Changed the roof texture. Don't know if that looks better, but it is more grainier, faded (this building gets a lot of sun), and has stains & fades that fit well with my plans.
• Changed the atrium window texture. It is a different cloud texture that I have darkened to my own nefarious ends.

If you would like to see some historic postcard and photographs of this building, check out this link:

Olds, Worthman and King at PDXhistory.com

(this isn't opening in a new window, so right-click the link and choose "open link in new window" if you want to keep Simtropolis open)

OK please let me know what you think about these changes!

[spa 970]

This is looking great. We don't have enough midrise commercials so I appreciate this. I like the awnings. The green down there looks great and for the most part I think the roof is good. However, that beige stain area near the centre skylights is a little on the square side. I think it would look more natural if it had smudged edges rather than being a kind of block in the middle. Beside that I have nothing to say except that this is awesome work and exactly what I have come to expect from the Portland series.

[HONG KONG 74]

Great work here

I haven't posted here so much but I follow this thread since its beginning. I don't have to say so much because I'm only a user of this excellent work. surely I miss JT, but this thread nevertheless goes with great results here.

Keep it up!

[sparkythepenguin 90]

@Spa: I'll see what I can do with that roof spot. Thanks for pointing that out. Nothing that a Photoshop layer can't cure!

@HONGKONG:  I miss JtPortland too. It hasn't been the same without him. Although, we're still going strong and doing fine, its hard for me to keep up the pace he once vigourously pursued on this project at his quality level. We miss you Jt!!!!

Onto latest BATing news:

The Galleria and New Fleidner are nearing completion. The only major obstacles are lighting on both projects. The New Fleidner needs roof junk, of which my collection is becoming (admittedly) stale and overused.

I've asked Bixel for some roof junk models, and if anyone has any that I may use, please PM me and I can get these things (and many more) going ahead at light speed. I all ready have some of Jt's roof stuff, and Phillipbo's too. Anything else on the STEX is too similar to those roof junk models.

So for now, until I can get some answers on some things, I am just going to pour out models and get them nearly ready until I can figure out how to get around the lighting problems with the Galleria and get new roof junk for everything else. I've always wanted an excuse to use that batch export feature in BAT...

[Dog 0]

Was just catching up on the thread and somthing popped into my head, South Waterfront.  So I figure I put it out there.  Think it would be easier to do them from all the sketches and promo material available or when the buildings are done and you have somthing to see in reference too?

Dog

The new transit mall equation: Pedestrians + Automobiles + Buses + Light Rail = Trouble ^Fixes!

[Jasoncw 11,949]

You should have him upload them to the STEX, I hate making roof junk, lol.

[ricb 19]

Good Dog Bad Dog is a couple of blocks north of Fox Tower, on Alder Street, great sausages. There is a Pizza Schmizza in the Fox Tower on the Yamhill St side. It's a window service only. Ya gotta have your slice outside. Good Pizza.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. Got that nice new PC I've always wanted. It's PERFECT for BATing! Lots of progress, but first:

@Dog:  SoWa has some neat things under construction and even planned down there. I really don't like to use renderings as a basis, as the only real way you know what the building "does" architecturally (interaction/integration with the street, views from different angles, etc.), and what it looks like is seeing the real thing. With regards to an actual architect's model for the building, I'm open to using that as a basis if I can track it down and photograph it.  So for now, consider anything that has topped out in SoWa fair game. If you want the big Res. buildings, that's more Bixel's thing.

@Jasoncw: Whenever I get some roof junk of my own, I will definetly post it. I even made a special trip up into the US Bancorp Tower just to get zooms of the varia of rooftops downtown. So I now have no excuse that I don't have any pics of roof junk. Now time to make some stuff up.

@Ricb: That Pizza Schmizza in the Fox Tower would have gone into my model, had it not been abandoned due to my old PC's slowness. Although it is missing in JtPortland's model, he did the building justice. If I recall, Good Dog/Bad Dog's building isn't that big. Wouldn't be too hard to do.. I'll need to get some photos of it first, and keep on clearing out my queue before I'll commit to that.

OK now for the progress:

I was stuck on lighting up the Galleria, but I think it is under control now. Here's the latest as of right as I post this:

Day, zoom 4, Alder Street (north) perspective:

I tamed that beige spot on the roof that Spa didn't like, and muted some other stuff that didn't look too good either...

Night, zoom 4, Alder Street (north) perspective:

Now this is what I have so far on lights. Spot lights seem to be the most difficult to mess with. The side columns are really lit up like that, but I think they are only lit on 3 sides of the building. I thought it'd look nice the whole way round. Some of the windows at the base were left unlit, as there are some big-time vacancies on the ground level (you'd see it in other perspective views).

The nite light window texture used is Goldiva's "Almost-white"

All that I really need to do is make up the custom LOD for the building. This way I can add the US flags as props on each corner of the roof. This way, non-US users can delete the prop, or add a flag of their choosing. Also I want a custom LOD on this just in case I decide to add the skybridge and parking garage across the street in the future.

.

I think this one is about ready for the export hopper, now it's time for everyone else's thoughts. So please comment away!

[Cobb32118 244]

That's looking really excellent, Sparky. I like the warm glow through the skylight. I'm looking forward to a download!

[Yisginlasvegas 5]

Very nice, sparky. There really isn't anything to comment about other than your awesome BATing. I look foward to seeing it on the STEX.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

So would anyone go so far as to say that it is uploadable yet? JtPortland are you out there? Bix? T_Wrecks? Andreas?

[Jasoncw 11,949]

looking at zoom 4, it looks like alot of the details on the walls aren't showing up very well.  What you can do, is you can make a lighter version of the main texture, and you can apply it to the details, and they'll stick out better.

I think that if you think you can still make it better, I think you should wait before exporting it.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

*gives thumbs up and smiles*

[diablo_del_bano 3]

It looks great. I do like the idea of adding the parking and skywalk. Though it isn't neccessary. I like it as it is. SC4 kinds misses buildings like this, they were in SC3000, but all they cared about for SC4 was Skyscrapers...

[sparkythepenguin 90]

OK then....

Jason, that sounds like a good idea. The little squares under the main windows aren't showing the right way, and your tip may solve that problem. Thanks!

I also just recieved a package of roof junk stuff from Bixel. I'll see what's in it and maybe replace some of the roof junk if I feel like it.

So after I make those potential changes, I will export!

@Diablo: I only had SC3k without the expansion pack, so I'm not aware of all the buildings that were in it. However, glazed terra cotta structures are very nice to have in any city. Portland just happens to have a ton of them. It was a really big deal here in the US, less so in Canada, and not much at all elsewhere unfortuneately.

@T_wrecks: If you say it should be a go, I take that as the ultimate in green lights.  I am totally serious when I say this! So for all intents and purposes, everything on this is done except the changes I have detailed above.

And thanks again Dog, Ricb, Cobb, and Yisginlasvegas, keep watching. Although it's sometimes slow going, there are more things in store here!

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Hey sparky, you're making a grown man blush with your comments... stop that please!

Seriously, I can't wait to see the last few adjustments made to an already very good BAT.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Well, T_wrecks, you've saved me from some disasters in the past! 

Just uploaded the Galleria! It should be publishing out soon on the STEX. I think everyone who's been watching will be happy. There's like 8 lot versions (counting plops and grows seperately)!

Next out of the gate shall be the New Fleidner Block. It's about 80% done!

And that's not all.. Two new BATs are on the way. One's more along the way than the other.  Hint: These'll scream "I WAS BUILT IN THE '60's!" really loud! are also two moderately signifigant buidlings downtown. They were pretty tall when they were first built, but could be easily overlooked now thanks to Wells Fargo Center, KOIN, Big Pink, et all. Bixel may know.... I'm sure he's aware of the really complex one I've started! Portlandexpos04 ought to know of the other one. I don't think he knows its name, but he knows where it is as he mentioned it a while back...

[diablo_del_bano 3]

I downloaded the Galleria, and can't wait to use it!

[spa 970]

The Galleria has joined my plugins folder. Thanks for the great work. I look forward to more.

[mattb325 28,891]

Hey sparky - just wanted to congratulate you on the Galleria - an awesome piece - brilliantly done :-)

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Thanks Diablo, Spa, and Matt!  I took a day off, then threw myself back into BAT again. The New Fleidner Block is nearly done. All I need to do is light it up, then scale it for propper Wall-to_wall use!

Just have to do the nite_windows and put some omnis in the storefront entryways.

I'm thinking that I'll do this one up as CS$ and CS$$ lots, with a CO$$ version too... Maybe a CO$$$, since there aren't too many lower stage ones out there?

So please let me know what you think about how it looks and lot packaging ideas!

[zzsim 3]

 Wow, I love those textures on the building, very lively and detailed.  That building looks awesome and great for kind of a midtown sort of nieghborhood.  Personally  I think that a CS/CO$$ would be perfecfect for this building, though I do agree that more CO$$$ are needed in this size range.  I can't wait to see this on the STEX, and keep up the great work!

[hamsterTK 93]

Man, all this stuff is awesome. The old brick rear looks awesome. those are some funky pics on the back..what exactly are those?

this will really add a lot of urban ambience thats for sure

[subedei 3]

That looks great> will be a fine addition to the STEX.

Subedei

[spa 970]

Gorgeous looking. The fire escpases are a nice touch as is the muriels on the bricks. I have really nothing to suggest except release it!

[sparkythepenguin 90]

OK, OK... And the word from T_wrecks is?

Thanks Bix for the roof junk file. It's going to help out a TON! Plus I am going to go about making my own stuff pretty soon here... In the mean time the stuff I have all ready got plus Bixel's stuff will hold down the fort.

[Spike345 20]

I think CS$ is a good pick for this building, we lack plopable ones...I mean in the downtown core its hard to have CS$ that fit will into the surroundings.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Originally posted by: sparkythepenguin OK, OK... And the word from T_wrecks is? quote>

Don't rush an old man... I'm in the process of moving back temporarily, carrying around stuff, rearranging and cleaning my room... and I won't say anything without an in-game pic. Seriously, on a black background it's hard to judge if the yellow and red wall textures and that darkbrick textures stand out too much or not. Looks definitely promising abd unique, though!