Newbie BATter seeks feedback on first creation

[sparkythepenguin 90]

If I lived in Sydney, I'd love to have a terrace house!

I can't help repeating this important BAT tip, but since you're going to start using a graphics editor (photoshop or GIMP, etc..), this bit of information is not only vital, but should be added into the tutorials somewhere:

If your txtures look too bright when previewing, make them 25% darker than what you want them to look like. Metal's going to be a tough one, but generally play with brightness and contrast to achieve the look you want. It takes some time to get used to this, but it's worth it.

Just thought I'd pass that along.

[mattb325 28,891]

Cheers sparky!

I've lived in heaps before - they're really quite cosy even though they are old; they only ever need a new kitchen/bathroom and maybe a wall or two knocked out and they're great.

 

Val: got GIMP - still playing around with it for the roof texture (the last week has been a steep learning curve - still not sure about the texture I've made)...this is where I'm at so far. Some of the textures look great...some...hmmmmm....(even though this is only a low res jpeg); anyway, I let you guys be the judge.

 

At the moment, I'm just adding all of the balcony lace work - i hope it's comparable to the likes of zmveliger...

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//City%20Rd.JPG align=baseline>

 

[mattb325 28,891]

OK - update - balconies are on, front windows and door coloured-glass all done.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//City_Rd.JPG align=baseline>

 

Still to do

- muck around with roof textures

- some texturing at the back

- night lights

 

Did a quick thumbnail and the textures don't appear too white (this is going to be a whit house - i'll retexture with some coloured walls if the LE etc work...

[kd5rax 82]

nice, I can tell youre gonna be better than most of the batters around here including me if you keep this up.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Right back atcha, my Aussie friend! This Yank is very impressed with those row houses. They'd be a good reason to get out of the northern hemisphere and escape the winter season! Those probably would go for a pretty penny here on the US West Coast. There are huge preservationist movements at least here in Portland. Victorian-style houses are all the rage in our Nob Hill neighborhood. These would be no exception if they were around there or in the trendy West Hills.

And to have Kd5rax say you're good is something to be proud of- He's one of the best around this part of cyberspace!

I like your work and hope to see more Sydney creations from you. I'll have to wait to see some more in-game shots of the textures to comment further, but the Terrace Houses look awesome!

[mattb325 28,891]

Wow guys (sparkythepenguin & kd5rax) I am very humbled at your awesome comments; you are both masters....the renovated, larger terraces in Sydney can go for about $600K (U.S. dollars); the smaller, more basic ones (called two-up, two-down) are about $300K USD

 

But sadly -  the to do list appears to 1,000,000% bigger than previously listed....the file looks like it has been corrupted - saved/saved as versions happily mock me by stating 'File open failed: C\gmax\gamepacks\BAT\scenes....' even though i can see it in the preview...DOH

 

Dunno how to fix it.

 

Thankfully I've got the screen shots, so I can start again with a reference point...but if anyone knows a way around this - i'd be forever in your debt!!!!

 

If you need me - I'll be trawling the BAT techical section!!!!!

[mntoes 271]

Sorry, I can't help just lost a file the same way sooooo frustrating.

In the Bat go to customize/preferences/files and check the box increment on save. Every time you save the model will be given a new number. That way if you save regularly you will be able to revert to the previous number if you lose a file. Too late now but useful for the future.

 

Hope that helps.

 

PS where did you get the Gimp?

 

regards

 

Mntoes

[mattb325 28,891]

Hey mntoes!!!!!

 

I found a way of doing it - and I posted the answer to my own question on the BAT help forum...

 

I did a search on turbosquid - and there is a file in c:\gmax called autoback...it takes an auto-save of work every so often, so i picked the biggest and last updated file, opened it in BAT via all files, and almost all of my work was there (I lost only an hour or two which isn't that bad...).

 

So, I am no longer contemplating raiding the liquor cabinet at 10am in the morning :-)

 

I've also turned the increment-save on as well.

 

I found the GIMP (after pages & pages of kinky stuff on google) here: http://www.gimp.org/windows/

 

Haven't really worked out how to use it at all yet, but it is something I will look at....your work is nice and if it does what evry one says it can, I think it will be a boon for the issue of light falling on a triangular texture

 

Cheers

Matt

[MsD 0]

Wow, you have really improved on your bating skills.  You are become a major bat'er.  Keep up the great work.

[mattb325 28,891]

Thanks msd: I've put it on the Lot editor and am just waiting for it to grow in game in that little test city - I reckon it should have grown by this afternoon (It better grow: I've got Xmas drinks!). This time the dimensions were more accurate and it appears to fit wall to wall and is the same overall hight as other 3 storey terraces by much more prolific, and better, batters than me...

So, hopefully I'll have some screen shots by boxing day (Xmas day for those of you in the USA)

 

So, for everyone on here who has been truly wonderful and kind and constructive - have a merry christmas!

 

Cheers

Matt

[MsD 0]

Something to think about - -

Some people would preferr to have plopable lots others growable lots others a choice.

 

There is a tutorial in the Omnibus section Called Making A Functional Landmark Lot by simgoober | November 22, 2004. it is the very last topic covered.

 

In this tutorial it talks about making both plopable and growable lots and combining them in your package for downloading, that way the person who downloads it can have a choice.

 

It also tells you how to make your lot interact with the game so that it will add residents, increasing your population.  It also covers a little bit of how to set the paramiters on your lot so you can specify how much water and electricity it uses and how much garbage it produces.

 

There are some other great tutorials over there, a nice one teaches you how to make your lot transit enabled.

 

You had mentioned that you were not happy with the roof texture, and I mentioned that I would post some for you to look at, so here they are.  I have others as well.

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/1542/b2roof0021bw.jpg align=baseline>http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/8462/b4roof0015rf.jpg align=baseline>http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/1489/roofing55lj.jpg align=baseline>http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3274/b5roof0065nf.jpg align=baseline>

[mattb325 28,891]

Msd - those roof textures are perfect.

 

Especially the first one with the slates that have been replaced: this is exactly what these houses have! Thankyou :-) The third and fourth are identical to high wealth homes around that era which use a thick terracotta tile; but the 2nd one is perfect for the terraces that end up as rental housing stock and undergo only renovations as needed and as cheaply as possible. Spot-on for a low $ one!

 

I grew it in game as a 1x1 med density $$ with 39 inhabitants (I know Maxis has positively dickensian values for all of their residential, so I might drop that - but the reality is that in real life if 6 people were living in one of these it would be considered cramped) - what would people think of lower density values - leave as assigned or drop to say 10-15?

 

Was also mucking around with additional textures (a Sandstone version - the front and back walls look great and the contrast shows the detailing on the walls nicely - also added a little front box-hedge garden and grew some ivy up one of the back-walls - bot of which look good, but don't show up on the images below)

 

Night lights are good; the spot light shows the lace work balconies. The width dimesions are good, as the buildings do indeed sit flush with each other. Also put this next to one of gascookers' fine london terraces and all the height dimensions matched; so modelling is complete.

 

I had also reworked the varandah roof with corrugated extrusions and these show up in game; the curve of the verandah also bends the light, so I am happy with that.

 

The black roof is going to the gods as it detracts from the whole lot.

 

To do:

-fix side sandstone walls

-make the white version darker to allow the details to show up better

-make some coloured versions

-make a brick version

-master GIMP and stomp all over the black roof

 

Anyway - here's the photos. Comments as always, well receieved as I couldn't do it without you guys

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//City%20Rd%20Chippendale%20-%20night%20(stone+paint).JPG align=baseline>

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//City%20Rd%20Chippendale%20day(stone+paint)edit.JPG align=baseline>

[ianpaschal 77]

that looks pretty sweet

good work!

[choco1 4]

Wow! They are looking absolutely fantastic in game! I am loving these so much!

I look forward to seeing these develop even more! Keep at it you genius!

[mattb325 28,891]

Cheers chocolatemax - I love the PK trees - those london plane trees of his (which I know he did for his Paris set) still look surprisingly like the streets of Paddington/Surry Hills/Woollahra/Erskineville etc. I this ends up being worthy of uploading, I think the lots will have to come with these...

 

Msd. I added your roof texture. I really think this is the one (I'm estatic!) - tweaked some of the blue colours to make them the purple-grey typical of Sydney Slate: please let me know your thoughts

 

VIL/sparky the penguin -  if you check this - haven't been able to work out GIMP properly, but changed the slate roof textures in the picture it by making 3 copies and crops of Msd's roof texture. The base one is 37% darker; the 2nd (penultimate top fifth of the picture is about 30% and the last fifth is about 25% darker). I think this will simulate the fake ray tracing in the Omnibus...I have the darker portion at the top...

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//City%20Rd%20-%20Msd%20slate%20roof.JPG align=baseline>

 

 

[MsD 0]

Awsome!  I am glad the roof textures are working.

I love the night lighting, it is really cool how it shows the latice work.  Way cool!!!

 

If you are interested, I also have some stucco textures that may work for outer walls as well as some brick textures.  And Depending on how you would like to set up different lots I have some walkway textures that I think are pretty cool.

 

Let me know.  Keep up the great work.

[mattb325 28,891]

msd: absolutely - those previous textures are awesome! I am currently staring at the roof texture as I type :-)

[mattb325 28,891]

Here's a preview of the stone house version - I've darkened the textures and re-coloured the stone to make it more sydney-ish

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Day%20view%20-%20stone.JPG align=baseline>

So, I'll test in-game before I start on the rendered versions :-)

[jen_p 53]

Oh, my, that looks beautiful. The roof texture is very good. I have been tempted to make some Sydney terraces since I was there for a couple of days in July. It seems now that I will not have to, as yours are looking perfect.

The only thing I would add is to do with lot making. The tree looks good out the front, but it hides the building. maybe you could make an additional lot without a tree in front, so that some have trees and some don't. That way you wouldn't be hiding all your lovely Batting, but there would be some nice shady footpaths as well.

[mattb325 28,891]

Thanks jen_p!

Made some more colours, fixed the sandstone texture and also made a dark purplish-brick version. Also made them a landmark version (thanks for the tip msd!).

 

jen_p: took away the plane trees for the landmark versions - but just couldn't bring myself to dispense with them for the growable as Sydney streets are always jammed with trees!!!

 

Here they are in game.

 

Versions from the front (left to right) Blue, Brick, dark yellow, cream and sandstone....

 

I'm much happier with the new roof texture, and the other textures as well. A far cry from the first few screen shots...

 

Thoughts? Worthy of cluttering the STEX yet?

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Chippendale%20terraces%20-%20assorted%20colours%20(day).JPG align=baseline>

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Looking good Matt! Could you show us the sides in-game? A previous shot you posted of the side looked like the bricks were too tiled... the new textures look great!!

[SYM Productions 7]

Wow I can't believe I haven't seen this before! 

Impressive work Matt you have an fantastic BATting future! 

 

- CDI_spy , proud part of SYM Productions

[mattb325 28,891]

Cheers sparky & SYM - thanks heaps for the comments!

 

For some reason I didn't take a picture of the side wall (go figure; one of the things I most wanted to fix). It was a lot better...but still just a bit naff and needs tweaking. You can just see it in the screen shots above.

 

Here's a shot of the brick one from the side...not sure what you think...these party (end) walls are always terrible looking in real life as they were never meant to be seen, so the builders used any old bricks they had to hand - anyway they're the bottom two in the picture...

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Chippendale%20-%20grow%20(day).JPG align=baseline>

 

These are from the growables Med density 1x1 stage 4 $$ with 37 occupants...

 

Also aftre looking at them agian in real life, I realised that as these buildings are on the street, the windows are always curtained at night (to stop prying eyes), so i tweaked the night-lighting to blacken the windows, but also shine lights into the tree props...it's more true to form, but I'm not sure people will like it - what do you think?

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Chippendale%20-%20grow%20(night).JPG align=baseline>

 

At least I'm happy with the rendered ones...who knew brick-work could be so hard? HA!

 

 

[SYM Productions 7]

Still quite speechless! 

- CDI_spy

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Wow, the masonry work does look a bit distressed and consisting of different stones. Hat's off to you Matt!

For me just getting textures to look good is a chore. Getting it juuussssst right is a pain. I can model like nobody's business, but I get really stuck on that part of BATing. At least you're a lot farther along with your stuff!

[alynnyes 1]

AWESOME! I am looking forward to these. Keep up the incredible work!

[DJGspinNhitz 7]

They look really good, you should lower the number of residents though to something more realistic like 12. I would dowmload them in a heartbeat for my cities. Great job, great start, you are much better then I am at BAT.

GQ

[mattb325 28,891]

Well, it's done: my little BAT children are in the hands of the STEX gods waiting for the next upload cycle....I've uploaded the growable only as including the LM versions just made the download an unrealistic size for 3 little houses. Changed the stats to 18 at stage 5.

 

PS: I haven't uploaded the brick or sandstone versions as I am not 100% happy with them - will look at the textures again before releasing...

 

But to everyone, thanks for all the help, encouraging words and advice, not only did you take the time to comment but you pushed me to make it better and I really appreciate it...

 

And, while I was tweaking the other ones ready to post, I decided to make another one for low $ residents as I don't agree with how Maxis houses the poor it's a bit too cut & dry for my liking, so I've made them a once-nice, but now crumbling terrace - still 1 tile wide, but I'll make the lot 2 tiles deep this time.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Lt%20Riley%20St%20(montage).JPG align=baseline>

 

Hopefully the reaction is decent on the STEX (I won't be upload this if I cop a slamming - oh no!).

 

By the way, is there a way to change the title of this thread? After the 1st upload & second BAT I can hardly call myself a newbie...

 

Cheers Matt

[jacqulina 162]

very good detail coming on great

[MsD 0]

@mattb325:  I haven't forgoten about posting some other textures.  I will do that tomarrow.  Somethings came up and I got tied up for a few days, Sorry!!!