The Portland & Oregon BAT Team, Chapter 1

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Thanks for the comments so far!

Well, consider the skyline query idea dead... Still working on it for fun, but found a different direction to go with future query boxes:

Option 1: Faded stylized picture of building in background:

Option 2: Bucky the Beaver and state outline map:

Thes are just things that I patched together in Photoshop, so don't worry about the organization, stats, and fonts right now... Just wanted to see a good concept before I go to all the trouble programming it. Either can be winners, so please critique and/or let me know which idea would be better!

[Spike345 20]

I like the one with the building, it sorta has more meaning.....maybe you could use the building in the background with the State's flag? its like a cross between the two..

[Sim shady 12]

i like option 1 big time. They both look very nice with the watermark in the background, but i find the building to be much more beautiful thats my 2 cents

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Welcome to the 38th page!

Spike- Tried a version with both map and building in it. It looked too busy...

Here's a new option for everyone's consideration. Please compare with the previous two examples at the end of the previous page:

Option 3: real photo faded as background:

Whichever option I pick I will be using that as a basis for future queries. The building picture versions would be unique to each building and require a new querybox to be made each time. However I do like the looks of them. The state outline would work well as a universal query, and I'd only have to make one query file, but it would be a dependent, like the how NDEX and BSC had "Global essential files".

I'm really leaning toward unique queries for each buildimg. No one else has done this sort of thing yet...

[bixel 1,228]

Love the description!! I think its a great idea!! Also the photo backdrop is a nice touch

[T Wrecks 10,210]

This is it. Stick with #3. It will look great on just about every building. You can always find a photograph that fits into the query box, depending on perspective. A frontal view for a skyscraper, however, would look stupid. Yep, definitely #3.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Well, I now know that I can get a custom query to work!

Just having some issues with transparency. The background image is warped like that because I have't added the description yet. A big problem I am having is adding a new line for text. I can't figure out any way to do that yet with UI Editor. Any tips on that? All I have to do really is get these issues fixed, and then I can finish up making all the different versions...

Also, is there any way to make this query seperate from its lot file, but able to be referenced by other lot files?

Prety good for being new to this, I guess. I was expecting to really be confused and getting something worse than this attempt!

Quick edit: What is the HTML/hex code for the purple color that is recognized as transparent?

[Duvad 26]

#FF00FF

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Originally posted by: sparkythepenguin Also, is there any way to make this query seperate from its lot file, but able to be referenced by other lot files?quote>

Depends. I guess when you have one background picture for each building, it's impossible. I don't think you can separate the background pic from the rest of the query.

If you have one query UI (colour scheme, included stats, background image etc.) for all buildings, then all you have to do is to move its files into a new DAT with the Reader and insert the IID (Instance ID) of the UI window at the property "Query Exemplar GUID" in the building exemplar.

Btw, did you make the header different from standard queries on purpose? I actually like the scheme with the darker blue frame and the lighter blue title box. Of course I'm just mentioning it because I was wondering; feel free to design it as you like.

I'm afraid I'm not very useful when it comes to helping with custom queries... one person to ask would be JBSimio of the BSP. He's pretty much an expert in that area.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

@T_Wrecks: I did make that different on purpose. I wasn't happy with it, so I changed it to the standard type (for now).

@ Bixel: I do have pics of Standard Plaza's Windows. I have sort of a knack for catching real-life windows at a resonably straight-on perspective. I used a real pic for the windows on the Galleria that had closed blinds.

OK I have the content for the query the way I want it. And I put in T_Wreck's menu icons. Got the window to stretch the right way, but had to pare down my description. Any changes I need from here on out are really easy now that the hard parts are figured out. The state map's back, but smaller.

I am sending the query template off to a friend of mine that can make really good window/info box graphics. I'd really like to have something unique, but if that doesn't go over well, I'll just have him clean up the edges.

Here's the latest pic. Almost done!

I'll start packaging all the other lot versions up soon, and after the graphical work is done, I only need to package and upload it! Then it's onto finishing up BofA and Standard Plaza. =)

[bixel 1,228]

WOWOWOWOWOW!!! That is so awesome! What an achievement! The custom icon + neat historical fact and the SparkythePenguin BAT signature totally makes this a real gem!!!

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Thanks Bix for the thumbs up!

I have finally figured out the remaining problems with the query, and am awaiting more options for the final custom background. So while I have been waiting, I have managed to get some more detail added into Standard Plaza's sunken area. Next to go in are the fountains, a freestanding sign, stair railings, and planters. The signs attached to the building took me a while to perfect. Hopefully their detail will come out in high-quality renders.

Now those stairs look kinda funny (that they're bright red notwithstanding). Take a look at the next picture so that I can figure out if I am indeed crazy or not...

Bishop's House is 99% ready to go live on the STEX! Be sure to watch for it....

[hyped_up_boy 15]

awesome work! and the stairs do look a bit funny. i think they're too big.

[lrfox 2]

nice work... good to see you're keeping at it. like the progress on the new one.

[josefmayor 8]

Nice BATing man! Looking forward to downloading and puting them in my city!

[Jasoncw 11,949]

the stairs look like they're 5 feet tall!  lol, I think that's why they look funny.

The signs look nice.  I really doubt that they'll be legible at high quality, but I still think they look good.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Thanks for the feedback about the stairs! I knew those didn't look right. I used SimRuler to check this, and it would turn out the steps would probably rise to about an adult sim's calf, if not near the knee!

This is a little better, although it may be too small now...

Either that or I just have to finalize the slanted wall..

Going to work a lot more on this today and will hopefully have some new pix for everyone. I fugure there about 12 more details to work on before I can even approach texturizing and lighting.

[josefmayor 8]

That looks really freaking awesome. I can't wait for those two buildings to come fo shizzol.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Bishop's House is now released! It should be appearing in the next publishing cycle.

Now time to get back to Standard Plaza, BofA, and Jackson Tower. As it stands right now, Standard Plaza is closest to completion.

Please comment or report any bugs, glitches, or anything that makes you pull your hair out that may occur here!

[bixel 1,228]

That is sooo awesome!! This makes me want to work on the Bank of California...maybe I will see if I can do this during the weekend.

[6459978. 106]

In my opinion, modelling the actual steps of stairs is unnecessary. The exact same effect can be achieved by applying a striped texture to a single inclined plane. The main reason I prefer this is the polygon savings, as well as the ease of construction.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Here is some of the latest on Standard Plaza. Sorry for taking so long, but the little details take a little time to perfect. I'm still at it,  but it is taking a little longer than I want, as this is a level of detail beyond anything I have previously attempted. It's still very rough, and I may even scrap these details if they end up not working as I plan.

This is purely in the test stages, as you can see. If you look closely at one of the floors, you may be able to make out chairs and computer monitors. The original version of this had several hundred thousand items, and I shudder to think of the poly count. Simplifiying everything mad that much better.

I just made those drapes-they need to be a little more brassy. I figured that either I could texture these windows, or I could go one better and model in little details like SimGoober so skillfully does. I like where this is going. It will take me a little while to randomize and adjust everything, but I think these will be very worthwhile details if they come out as I plan them.

If this comes off as planned, I may write up an omnibus article on how to do this. I've figured out a lot with this little experiment.

Please flood this thread with comments!

[T Wrecks 10,210]

I'd really like to flood your thread with comments, but you see, whenever you present something new the first thing that floods is my drool, and when the worst flood is over, I'm at loss for words.

Beautiful work once again! You managed to make superb night window textures in the past, so the thought of you making proper interior lighting is mouth-watering indeed.

[ramvid01 0]

Wow great work and detail. Just a suggestion though with the stairs, you should probably put in a landing, to break up that long procession of stairs, those sims maybe too tired walking up those stairs without a landing.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Thanks T_Wrecks and Ramvid01. I'll take a look at pushing in a landing on ther stairway.

All I'm going to say about the latest progress is that it seemed to take forever to get the new window details just right:

Curtains look good close-up, but I am really trying to get a certain real-life effect from afar... We'll see how that works out later. I'll probably get it right in the texturing process. I'm a little tired of the interior details, and will be working on the outdoor areas that remain to be done: Planters, fountains, HVAC, and trees. Then the tricky matter of lighting this up will go forward.

[Jasoncw 11,949]

It's coming along good.  Once you texture the windows and the stuff inside, I think it will look great.

For the glass, set it to about 60%, and do what I described in the window tutorial that's burried in my thread somewhere, but you don't really need to do the part where you put the photographed windows into it.  Then texture (or color, since they don't really need textures) the insides with a lot of contrast so that you can still see them from outside.

Will you be making a version without the sunken plaza?

[gerAndi 29]

looks very cool

[sparkythepenguin 90]

More progress on Standard Plaza, plus an old and resurected project to follow...

@Jasoncw: I'll definetly take a look at your thread for that info. It is more than likely that it will help me out. A non-sunken version wouldn't be ard to make at all. It'd just mean axing the below ground areas and the bridge. This would also mean that I'd have to move all the windows in on the new "ground" floor. That'd be realistic also, because the real building is on one of Portland's notorious sloped lots, which don't really translate well into SC4.

@Ramvid01: I added landings onto the stairs now.

@gerAndi: Thanks for the comments and I'll definetly check out the Berlin projects that you have.

I decided to begin texturing. It's just to get everything where I want it, making it east to change things later if needed.

(zoom 4, 5th Avenue/east view)

This is a close-up of the improved plaza area. Finally some plants to pretty up that space! Textures are almost where I want them, just got to tweak the floor tiles to something a little less obnoxious.

(Zoom 5, 6th Avenue/west view)

Does anyone remember Waddles? I put this on hold a few years ago, but I have learned new things and have new utilities to help me finish it. With some work, I can get this one done really quick. There are just a few corrections and details to add:

Microsoft finally got some decent Bird's Eye photos of Portland for Windows Live Local, I can make a much better BAT of Waddles than I originally planned! Also, I can now get the lights to work the way I want. Good news all around!

(By the way, Waddles is now a Hooters. Luckily Krispy Kreme didn't move in, and Hooters was very sensitive about the building. On the outside, the only changes are the paint and some signage-Pietro Belluschi's North Portland landmark lives on!)

[ACEfanatic 7]

Waddles! I remember that.

Good work on the Standard Insurance Plaza, as well. The curtains seem a bit too visible though.

-ACE

[spa 970]

Looking good. I didn't see Waddles when you first posted about it but I'm really excited about it. It has a very unique shape and style. I can't wait to see it finished up.