Avanya's buildings (Update 7/1: Cargo rail stations released)

[Matthias King 348]

Huh. I guess I didn't recall those planters being in there.

That new warehouse looks excellent, as always. I can't think of what it might be missing. Do you have any pictures of the inspiration for this new one?

[Avanya 2,605]

This one was my inspiration. Totally not fancy at all either, so my model lives up to that pretty well.  

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Would you be interested in completing and uploading some of my content? UV mapping, improved textures (at your discretion), and anything else you feel is missing can be added. I have a few models and associated textures.

[bsquiklehausen 190]

The new warehouse looks great, @Avanya - maybe a sign prop on the large blank wall? Some parking up against it could work as well - I think the issue is that it's very plan in that stripe all the way from the roof to the sidewalk.

[Judazzz 1,936]

10 minutes ago, Avanya said:

This one was my inspiration. Totally not fancy at all either, so my model lives up to that pretty well.  

Lol, that is building is so bland and nondescript it almost becomes exciting again  

[BLANKBLANK 4,414]

Dude, keep doing what you are doing. You are providing CS with all the dirty, grungy, large industry which the vanilla game sorely lacked.

Keep it up!

[Avanya 2,605]

@bsquiklehausen Props like lamps and parking are totally missing - that will add a bit more to it for sure. ^^

@OcramsRzr No, sorry. I've got a long list of things I'd like to do. I encourage you to start work on them again - there's lots of advice and tips here to help you, but you prob won't find anyone up for finishing your stuff for you.

Ty guys for the feedback! I'll sleep on it and see if more people chime in during the night. You should see this released some time tomorrow.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

That's fine. I have temporarily lost access to 3DS Max and Steam and virtually permanently lost access to any device capable of high settings (my assets had ugly compressed textures before I removed them out of embarrassment).

[Matthias King 348]

On that new warehouse, the only thing that seems to be missing would be those flood lights on the side. You could add some of the downward-facing wall lights in approximately the same place they are on the real building. Other than that, I think you've got it looking as good as the real place.

For the lights, I prefer the less intense orange-tinted light for a lot of exterior lights, as they look more like dim, low-wattage lights than the bright white ones do. I think the orange ones fit very well for above the back door of a commercial building, or over the loading bay door of an old warehouse, while the bright white ones look good on newer office buildings and places like that.

Just my two cents.

I just thought, even though it's not on the real building, you could add bollards between the roll-up doors. There's a really nice yellow bollard prop on the workshop that looks just right for that sort of thing. I use it a lot.

[gfvsims 169]

You are a machine, Avanya! I was going to suggest a sign but looking at the inspiration photo, I think you've pretty much nailed it.

[Avanya 2,605]

And it's on the workshop!  

I already have another in the works, but I'm not sure on the size. It'll be 4 wide and it's currently 6 deep. Many warehouses are really long though (at least the ones on harbors), so it could work as 10-12 deep as well. What do you guys think? Is shorter more practically or is a long one more interesting?

Edit: Oh, and as my collection of RICO buildings is growing, should I spit it up from the growables? Perhaps even one for polluting RICO industry and one for non-polluting like these warehouses? Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!  

[Matthias King 348]

Looks awesome.

I'm not sure about the polluting vs non-polluting. I think that's best determined by the building itself. Based on real-life industry, I think things like these warehouses would probably stay non-polluting.

Things with smokestacks would probably be polluting.

That's one of the most glaring omissions from the game, non-polluting light industry. Buildings like yours and other RICO have gone a long way to remedy that.

Is it possible to make growable industry that doesn't pollute?

I'd say take it on a building by building basis, looking at what the probably function of the building would be, and determine from there.

As for longer or shorter, I think that's up to you. Personally, I find the 4x4 size impractical and unrealistic for a lot of things, so use your best judgment. What looks best and more realistic for each particular building?

[Avanya 2,605]

I was thinking of collections - atm all my industry is in this collection on the workshop. I'm wondering if I should split it in two (or more), so growables are in one and RICO are in another (The RICO one could then be split in two, one for polluting factories and one for non-polluting warehouses like these latest ones). Hope that clarifies what I meant  

I don't think growables that don't pollute are possible - at least not at the moment. The higher level, the less they pollute though, but it's never completely clean.

[Lost Gecko 481]

We've clearly reached a point where your assets alone make a better industrial district than the vanilla ones (I mean there is some serious variety, because of course they look better individually from the beginning)!

For collections, It is fine as it is in my opinion, as growables and RICO are clearly easy to identify and the size is manageable, but it's true that at this rate separated ones might come in handy!

Thank you for the quality/quantity!

[Matthias King 348]

1 hour ago, Avanya said:

I was thinking of collections - atm all my industry is in this collection on the workshop. I'm wondering if I should split it in two (or more), so growables are in one and RICO are in another (The RICO one could then be split in two, one for polluting factories and one for non-polluting warehouses like these latest ones). Hope that clarifies what I meant  

I don't think growables that don't pollute are possible - at least not at the moment. The higher level, the less they pollute though, but it's never completely clean.

Ah, ok. I didn't get you at first.

Yes, I think splitting it up between growables and non-growables would probably be a good idea. I know some people only like growable versions of everything, so for those people, having a collection of only the growables would probably be appreciated.

Splitting the RICO into polluting and non-polluting might not be a bad idea as well.

Personally, I just sub everything individually.

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

Sometimes a plain building is very valuable. That last warehouse will fit in more situations than most because it lends itself to unlimited decoration and props around it.

You're seriously making me want to get back to my Chirpy Krisps empire.

[Matthias King 348]

5 hours ago, Mr_Maison said:

Sometimes a plain building is very valuable. That last warehouse will fit in more situations than most because it lends itself to unlimited decoration and props around it.

You're seriously making me want to get back to my Chirpy Krisps empire.

That Colossal Mills factory is awesome. It would be great to see more things in that same vein.

[Avanya 2,605]

Thank you very much for all the kind words!  I've got one more generic warehouse for you all, and I think that'll be the last for now. Gonna start work on a modular distribution center - looks like it'll be 3 parts. I'll prob disappear for a little while (World of Warcraft expansion is gonna steal me), but I really much doubt I can go weeks without doing a little bit of modelling.  

[gfvsims 169]

Very cool, thanks! Quick question: what programme do you use to create your meshes?

[Avanya 2,605]

I use blender.

[DeltaGamer 13]

Dang, even your supposedly grimy, yucky, sad, industrial buildings look amazingly good! You should do tutorials  (for us newbies who can't learn from other tutorials). Anyway, these are great replacements for any and all vanilla industrial buildings

[gfvsims 169]

Thanks. I'm familiar with Milkshape and Wings 3D, but only recently started playing around in Blender. I've meshed in the past (for Sims 3 and 4) but I'd really like to give it a go for CSL. Do you (or anyone else reading this) know of any tutorials that would get me started?

[Lost Gecko 481]

@gfv1974 Temple OfDoom's tutorial series helped me greatly with the whole process. I looked at tons of other things like the game wiki or Workshop guides as well but this tutorial covers the whole process.

[Avanya 2,605]

@gfv1974 I found this wiki/book very useful - I have a bad habit of skipping video tutorials and missing stuff, so writing works better for me.  

@DeltaGamer Tyvm! ^^ Not sure I'd be as good making tutorials, but it's something I've considered.  

[gfvsims 169]

@Lost_gecko and @Avanya: Thank you both! I'm quite excited to try meshing for this game.

[Roadman20 601]

I'm really looking forward to deploying this wave of warehouses in Seattle's industrial district.  Soon^TM

[Avanya 2,605]

Aaaand I couldn't stay away from modelling any longer.   I've got the final 2 sizes of my latest overpass support for you all. Next up is the modular distribution center - I've started it a bit, but atm it's just grey blocks, so nothing to show yet.

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

53 minutes ago, Avanya said:

Aaaand I couldn't stay away from modelling any longer.  

I know the feeling. I'm supposed to be relaxing this weekend and just playing my city making preparations for my new train yard but it's hard to stop thinking of what to get done next as there's so much to do and it's exciting to know we can just call things into existence   Like those overpasses are so awesome, if it was my project, I couldn't resist finishing them either. I don't think there's a rehab for us

[Matthias King 348]

Nice! I was just thinking about these earlier today, and here they are.

I'm anxious to see what you're doing with the distribution center.

[kingleno 197]

4 hours ago, Mr_Maison said:

I know the feeling. I'm supposed to be relaxing this weekend and just playing my city making preparations for my new train yard but it's hard to stop thinking of what to get done next as there's so much to do and it's exciting to know we can just call things into existence   Like those overpasses are so awesome, if it was my project, I couldn't resist finishing them either. I don't think there's a rehab for us

don't I know it. I'm supposed to be taking a break after my next asset, but playing the game just makes me realize more things that I need. And if it's not on the workshop, I'll just make it. It's a blessing and a curse i tell you