Skylines 3000 Unlimited (Asian Police HQ Released!)

[boldlybuilding 873]

When I first started making assets for Cities: Skylines, I began by remaking old buildings from Simcity 3000 Unlimited. I think I made 5, then moved onto other kinds of assets. (Those 5 are visible in the above spoof of the SC3KU cover.)

Now, I'm starting to gravitate back to the idea of doing SC3KU buildings again. I'm just getting a tad tired of the amount of time and effort it takes to do these large real-life assets and to make them accurate and detailed. As I'm nearing completion of the Empire State Building, I'd like to move to smaller, simpler, quicker things. Back when I did SC3KU buildings, they got done far quicker. And since I have other things to do, I need to avoid single large projects.

So, soon, I'd like to start work on SC3KU buildings again. In fact, I still would like to eventually do most of the major buildings from that game.

My one primary standard for recreating these buildings is that all assets are as true to their originals as possible, both in detail, look, and scale. Which means:

- NO SCALING DOWN. Apologies for the caps, but it's important in keeping things consistent, and I hate scaling things down. Things have to be the same proportions and lot sizes as their originals. It's my hope that eventually a mod will be made that will allow for larger growables. Failing that, perhaps ploppable RICO will do, otherwise uniques will have to suffice. For buildings that are small enough, though, they can be made growable. 

- NO altering the buildings, like making a better roof or changing their heights.

- They must have the same overall aesthetic as the originals. That won't always be 100% possible, but they must be as close as possible. What this mostly means is the same colors and apparent materials and so on. HOWEVER, variable colors and props for growables is fine, provided at least one version matches the original.

As for scaling, I've figured the best translation of sizes between SC3KU and CSL is that a 1x1 tile in SC3KU equals 2x2 tiles in CSL. Most of the SC3KU buildings are 1x1/2x2 tiles, so they can be made growable without modding. However, most of the main and major buildings are 3x3, some 4x4, or 6x6 and 8x8 in CSL. If Boformer's work on deeper growable zones comes through, that won't be an issue, and will be good motivation for doing those buildings.

At the moment, I haven't started working on more SC3KU buildings, but when I do, I'll mostly post updates and WIPs here. Aside from that, this thread is for any other discussions about SC3K/U stuff for CSL as well. If you have made or are making your own versions of these buildings for CSL, you're welcome to post about it here, too.

Here's a ZIP file (on Mediafire) containing 4-view collections of screenshots of all major buildings across all tilesets of Simcity 3000 Unlimited. I'll be using it for reference, and you all can download it and take a look, too, either to help me decide on what to do next, or to try your own hand at making something, if you really want to. Some are not the best quality, though, as I forgot to enable PNG in Fraps for most images, so most are artifacted JPEG, but details should still be pretty well discernible. Download the archive of SC3KU buildings (around 350 MB) here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/8bd0fclyp8v5r2n/SC3K_Buildings.zip

[Shroomblaze 320]

Cool, I might take a look and see about doing a building from the game once you upload that zip. I understand why you would want to start doing quicker faster projects. I'm actually the same way at the moment. After spending a bunch of time on that golf course I told myself to do faster projects, they seem to be more fun imo. You don't have to get tied down to one thing for weeks. 

[boldlybuilding 873]

The archive is up, you can download it here:

Here's a ZIP file (on Mediafire) containing 4-view collections of screenshots of all major buildings across all tilesets of Simcity 3000 Unlimited. I'll be using it for reference, and you all can download it and take a look, too, either to help me decide on what to do next, or to try your own hand at making something, if you really want to. Some are not the best quality, though, as I forgot to enable PNG in Fraps for most images, so most are artifacted JPEG, but details should still be pretty well discernible. Download the archive of SC3KU buildings (around 350 MB) here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/8bd0fclyp8v5r2n/SC3K_Buildings.zi

It's about 350MB. It contains three folders for the Asian, Euro and original/main tilesets, with those folders broken down into RCI and various utilities, civics, rewards, and other buildings where applicable. Withing those folders are fodlers for each building, each one containing 4 images for each side of the building, and more for larger skyscrapers, taken at the closest zoom level. I forgot to switch to PNG instead of JPEG in Fraps for most of the images, though, so most of them don't look as clear up close, but it shouldn't be too much of an issue. Not all buildings are included. Many airport and seaport buildings are missing. It does not include landmarks. Many "empty" and unimportant lots like dirt, fields, grass, junk piles, trailers, and so on are not included.

[toxicpiano 125]

the art direction for sc3k really was exceptional imo. triangle terrace was one of my favourites, i tried many times to recreate it in gmax.

[Prosper Merime 128]

So much good news this week!

I was planning to make some SC3K American-style buildings. Not anytime soon, because stick to the plan. For example:

Spoiler

 

Also, when Darf uploded his Kauker manor, I liked it so much that I want to make own version, higher and with other textures. He was inspired by this building:

 

But you're so cool and professional do buildings that now I don't know whether I take it.

[Darf 1,439]

That's simcity 4 though.  SC3000 had more of a candy style look, which is cool for a seperate theme. Also matches the standard buildings a bit more as they are mostly with bright colors. I'm currently working on The Dorilton and than will probably do The Dakota (the white building on the upper left of your screenshot). One of the things I came to realise while doing Kauker manor was that a lot of buildings in Sc4 are terrible with real life proportions. It's best just to go off the Original buildings they are inspired off.

[boldlybuilding 873]

One thing that has always been difficult with the few buildings I've done, as well as slightly time-consuming, is getting the measurements and proportions right. But I had an idea...

Orient the 3D app camera to the isometric view of SC3K. In this case, it's a 45 degree rotation and an exactly 60 degree tilt (according to Maya anyway). Then take the screenshots from SC3K, orient them to the camera and behind/below the 3D working surface grid, size it up to whatever dimensions you're working with, and then just... start modeling it.

It wouldn't be easy to do for the details, but it would be great for getting the overall proportions right.

[Prosper Merime 128]

Oops, I messed up.

[boldlybuilding 873]

One more thing before I go pass out for a while...

Of all the Simcity and city-building games, I've always had a special affinity for the cover art of Simcity 3000 Unlimited. Maybe it's because it features buildings from the Asian tileset, which is my favourite, or just because it was not only the first city-builder game I played, but one of the first PC games I played. There's a great deal of nostalgia. The excitement I had as a 12-13 year old - not a very bright one - back in 2001, standing in Wal-Mart, seeing that box art and the screenshots on the box and going "wow, I can build a whole city on the computer!" When I first started playing it, I wasn't very good. I didn't know how to use zones or power. I kept trying to build cities by just laying out roads and plopping landmarks. I was confused as to why I couldn't build what was on the box. Obviously I hadn't played tutorials, and I don't think I even loaded the started towns yet. I've no idea how long that went on before I finally learned how to play it right. When I did, my younger mind in the days of simpler PCs was amazed by the way things evolved from empty ground to construction sites and skyscrapers. I'd watch the cars traveling down the roads, the people walking around. Then that annoying budget guy would pop up to tell me I'm in debt. And the disasters... oh, I had lots of fun with that.

The point is, this game gave me a lot of memories. Specifically the Unlimited version. The architecture, the aesthetics, the disasters, and the music. The music is still my favourite. In fact, I have it in Cities: Skylines now via the custom music mod. And so that's a large part of why I want to see these assets recreated for CSL. Just to experience some classic piece of city-building in a new way. As for the box art, you'll note the little "remix" I made at the beginning of this thread. I decided to go searching for the manual that came with SC3KU way back in 2000/2001. Can you believe I still have it?! And it's not in too terrible a shape, either. I don't think anything's missing from it, other than possibly the back cover, if there was one. But I wanted to find it for the cover, so I could scan it. I couldn't find any good versions online. I scanned it at 1200dpi, cleaned it up in Photoshop, and that's that. Here it is:

If you want to get a closer look at the details or just keep it for your own files or usage, you can download the full-size 6k wide, 75MB image here (just go to the link and click Download at top-right):

http://www.mediafire.com/view/d2x71m609w4p8aa/Simcity_3000_Unlimited_Manual_Cover_Art_M.jpg

The other great thing about this image is that it gives a neat alternative view of a number of buildings in the game.

[Ocram's Razr 963]

I love Quigley Insurance! Wren Insurance fits the constraints of CSL zoning but I want it [Quigley] as a unique or Office plop.

[Koesj 659]

7 minutes ago, OcramsRzr said:

Wren Insurance

Aaagh!! That which must not be named!

[Msprintz 25]

9 hours ago, boldlybuilding said:

One more thing before I go pass out for a while...

Of all the Simcity and city-building games, I've always had a special affinity for the cover art of Simcity 3000 Unlimited. Maybe it's because it features buildings from the Asian tileset, which is my favourite, or just because it was not only the first city-builder game I played, but one of the first PC games I played. There's a great deal of nostalgia. The excitement I had as a 12-13 year old - not a very bright one - back in 2001, standing in Wal-Mart, seeing that box art and the screenshots on the box and going "wow, I can build a whole city on the computer!" When I first started playing it, I wasn't very good. I didn't know how to use zones or power. I kept trying to build cities by just laying out roads and plopping landmarks. I was confused as to why I couldn't build what was on the box. Obviously I hadn't played tutorials, and I don't think I even loaded the started towns yet. I've no idea how long that went on before I finally learned how to play it right. When I did, my younger mind in the days of simpler PCs was amazed by the way things evolved from empty ground to construction sites and skyscrapers. I'd watch the cars traveling down the roads, the people walking around. Then that annoying budget guy would pop up to tell me I'm in debt. And the disasters... oh, I had lots of fun with that.

The point is, this game gave me a lot of memories. Specifically the Unlimited version. The architecture, the aesthetics, the disasters, and the music. The music is still my favourite. In fact, I have it in Cities: Skylines now via the custom music mod. And so that's a large part of why I want to see these assets recreated for CSL. Just to experience some classic piece of city-building in a new way. As for the box art, you'll note the little "remix" I made at the beginning of this thread. I decided to go searching for the manual that came with SC3KU way back in 2000/2001. Can you believe I still have it?! And it's not in too terrible a shape, either. I don't think anything's missing from it, other than possibly the back cover, if there was one. But I wanted to find it for the cover, so I could scan it. I couldn't find any good versions online. I scanned it at 1200dpi, cleaned it up in Photoshop, and that's that. Here it is:

 

I remember SC3KU very vividly, played it extensively myself.  I was fairly decent, having learned from 2000.  It was my first time playing it's predecessor that I actually had difficulties, because the game was vastly different from it's predecessors.  I found you couldn't do donut-blocks like in the NES version, and i couldn't use railway tracks as a transport between zones.  It was so easy to build and rapidly raise the land value in 3000, the headlines were also amusing before the natural disasters.  Yes the music was great as well, very uplifting and soothing like that of other city building games ( which I suppose is important ).  I also have that manual laying around somewhere in a cabinet, and like yours should be still in perfect shape. 

I actually would subscribe to any structure based on SC3KU

[Ocram's Razr 963]

45 minutes ago, Koesj said:

Aaagh!! That which must not be named!

Wren Insurance is beautiful, in small numbers, surrounded by a wide range of NYC and Chicago buildings. The CAM fixed this a ton.

[boldlybuilding 873]

On to the next building from SC3KU:

[gisshy 0]

1 hour ago, boldlybuilding said:

On to the next building from SC3KU:

Is this building Yokohama Landmark Tower in Japan?

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=landmark+tower&biw=1212&bih=741&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQyqmjzIHLAhXEo5QKHWLiBwEQ_AUIBigB&gws_rd=cr&ei=Gt_FVrvVOcW60ASR8IqQAg#tbm=isch&q=yokohama+landmark+tower

[Shroomblaze 320]

most likely where the original artist got the influence from, they look way to similar not to be.

[boldlybuilding 873]

The Pan Pacific Insurance building is now complete and available on the workshop:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=628101617

Game basics: 

*Found in Unique Buildings, Level 5. 
*8x8 lot. 
*Costs $60,000 to build. 
*Upkeep is $1,280 per week. 

Model stats: 

*Main model: 6,998 tris with 2048x2048 textures. 
*LOD model: 886 tris with 512x512 textures.

Again, this is one of those buildings that, if the work with the bigger zones results in a mod release for larger growables, could well be perfect for those 8x8 zones.

Maybe it's because I haven't slept much at all the last day and a half or two, but this too surprisingly little time to make. The World Trade Center took a month and a half. That can be understandable since it was a bunch of buildings. The Empire State Building took 20 days. This one took a day and a half. I started on it right after I finished the Empire State Building yesterday, and I've barely slept since then. Simcity 3000 buildings have tended to take very little time, in the range of a day to three, maybe. Anyway, here are some screenshots:

[boldlybuilding 873]

Quick update:

I created a new collection on my Steam Workshop specifically for my current and future Simcity 3000 Unlimited assets, so check that out if you've missed my earlier releases (and if nothing else, just to see my snazzy new, less crude logo and cover photo combining CSL and 3KU):

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=628192168

[Shroomblaze 320]

I'm impressed on how fast you were able to create that. 

[Darf 1,439]

Yeah, thats really fast. I really like the windows aswelll. Could you elaborate how you got that effect?

[Koesj 659]

They're partial specularity so you can see the diffuse shine through, Zed showcased this a little while ago. 

[Judazzz 1,936]

What a beast of a building, amazing!

[boformer 3,169]

How much do we have to pay you to make 1 building per 2 days?

[boldlybuilding 873]

I don't know, but here's my next one:

This one will be a 4x4 residential growable.

[boldlybuilding 873]

I'm trying to figure out the best way to make this thing. I want to do the following:

• Make it as much like the original as possible.
• Recreate that gradual shading effect and have some variation to the different parts.
• Be able to make the windows and their lights varied.
• Have a high amount of detail.
• Have windows that are 3D so it looks more like the original, and just looks better up close.
• Be able to recreate other nuances of the design without using huge textures.
• Be able to do with a 1024 texture or maybe even 512.

So far I have this...

On the right is the full building as it is.

On most of the left is the different parts that make it up.

The windows are all separate so I can just make a few window variations, apply it to these, and move them about as needed.

The balconies are of course done the best way I figured it would be.

The roofs are more or less single pieces.

For the vertical lines that have a gradual shading from light to dark and clean-dirty, they're single pieces up and down, divided in the middle so I can have a smaller texture.

For horizontal lines, those are their own bits, too.

My only concern is the way things might start to "ooze" through from behind if faces that are on top of each other are too close together. But at the distances here, that should be an issue, and in-game it isn't anyway, as the LOD kicks in before it might start happening.

[boldlybuilding 873]

Nearly there, just have to finish the textures and fiddle with the colors a bit. then do the LOD...

[boldlybuilding 873]

Won-Won Apartments is finished and released! Get it here:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=630382466

The basics: 

*Growable in high density residential zones. 
*Level 3. 
*4x4 lot. 
*Original aqua, dark blue, dark green, and blue-green color variations for the back part of the building. 
*Main model - 3,288 tris, 1024x1024 textures. 
*LOD model - 113 tris, 256x256 textures.

Some screenshots:

[boldlybuilding 873]

And now for my next one...

[wallacet 336]

I have to say...I'm truly amazed at the speed and quality in which your pumping these things out. Keep up the good work dude

[BLANKBLANK 4,414]

Retro but in a great way! I really like the dirty textures of some of the more duller buildings.