content Community Build-up Discussion: Trixies 2015-2016

[Cyclone Boom 17,016]

Community Build-up Discussion - 

465 days and counting... It's been a long time since the previous Trixies 
So this is the perfect time to share and discuss notable contributions...

Make no mistake, so much has happened between the ceremony of the previous Trixies. On the STEX, in CJs and throughout the forums, there have been many memorable moments. Although unless anyone regularly visits all areas of the site, keeping detailed running notes over the last 2 years, we realise it would be very tricky to remember more than a handful of items or events. With so many outstanding widespread contributions, it's so easy to lose track. Maybe even forget items which we thought were truly remarkable at the time.

That's why we're starting this Community Discussion, so we can together help each other recall the various noteworthy and significant contributions.

Just to clarify, the goal here is not to develop a ballot paper or set list of candidates, but instead, spread greater awareness before people go to the polls. The Trixies are never intended to be a popularity contest or a campaign of who made the 'better' content. That's not in line with the sense of community spirit in which they're run. Nominations will always be conducted anonymously and made at the discretion of each individual. In no way should the items/authors discussed here be the sole options to nominate.

The thing is, by us all pitching in with notable memories from 2015-2016, it then aims to help with making your own measured judgements. Encouraging you to investigate the items discussed, and perhaps discover things you may have not otherwise known about, or have possibly overlooked.

Also for newcomers who may not have been around since the start of 2015, this aims to inform and give everyone a greater understanding. Remember, all community members are eligible to receive a Trixie, so the power is still in your hands to make the pivotal choice.

In short, this discussion simply intends to put ideas out there for everyone to decide on their own, with a broader perspective.

 

Discussion Guidelines

To help ensure this is conducted fairly and follows the above principles, here are a set of guidelines to follow when posting:

1.
All Examples mentioned...
E.g. STEX files, CJs or other site contribution:

a) Must be submitted or occurred in the eligible period (2015 or 2016).
b) Was created by or relates to someone in the Simtropolis community.
c) Does not concern yourself.
d) Are linked in your post, so others can check it out for themselves. (Feel free to use the auto-embed previews which resolve for links.)

 

2.
Provide a few details about the Example, aiming to use a non-persuasive informational tone:
For instance, where applicable:

• What is it?
• Who created it?
• What does it do or show?
• How was this a highlight for you?
• In what ways did you find it useful or interesting?

 

3.
For each Category, please provide at least 2 applicable Examples, from 2 different Authors.
E.g.

Custom Content

Author A
Created this rustic commercial BAT that functions as a growable CS$ and a ploppable Landmark.

Author B
Created a set of filler Lots, which can be used to construct a custom park.

 

4. (Optional)
Along with each Example, ONE image may be included, to help with the objective of informing.
E.g.

Custom Content
This may show a way you've used the item in the applicable game.

City Journals
This could be an image embedded or linked from the author's CJ. (Please don't re-upload!)

Community
Might not be applicable, but if you can depict a notable other community contribution using a picture, go for it!

 

Special Mention

Thanks to @T Wrecks for thinking of the concept for a Trixies discussion thread in the first place!

 

---

So without further ado...

Post away with what you found memorable...

 

[Fantozzi 4,067]

I'll try my very best - for the year 2015, for what I noticed on the STEX, for SC4 (sorry, don't play C:S).

 

 

SC4Fix: third-party patches for SC4

by simmaster07

This dll eliminated one of the most annoying bugs in SC4, a CTD when hoovering network puzzle pieces over transit enabled lots. Still didn't get used to it - still I save my game each time before I click on a puzzle piece. But I can play hours now without any crash. It's said above to use a non-persuasive tone. But this dll was revolutionary.

 

 

Slovak/Hungrian Small Town

by Wallibuk

It's a construction kit with stone walls and medieval houses you can create a historic city center, a medieval enclosure somewhere on the hills - it contains many pieces to create different scenes and therefore is quite versatile. Also ever single piece is done with love to details. cmdp123789 commented on this upload: "That is absolutely amazing.. to be honest, it must be one of the greatest uploads ever.. the quality and selection is impeccable."

 

Industrial Revolution Mod W2W

by T-Wrecks

The original Industrial Revolution mod dates back in 2012. But it's the endurance of T-Wrecks that shows up with this release, that's remarkable. His continous work - making this, if I'm right, the second largest modding project ever done for SC4 apart from the NAM. And the largest lotting project I know. But the IRM is more than lotting. It's a reorganisation of industries making it easier to control what is growing where. To continue the work from 2012 until today deserves a trixie for endurance in my opinion - even if this blows up by far the dimension of a single years retrospective.

 

The Cathedral of Learning

by Xyloxadoria

I totally disagree with the original (real life building). Knowledge/wisdom shouldn't demand respect and demonstrate mightyness and trying to reach heaven and doing the job of religion (cathedral?). But well, the bat is something I can make peace on. In game the building looks better than on the pictures on the STEX. Me personally, I relotted it to be not an educational but a gouvernal building. As this building odorants dominion and ruling, it has a strong presence in the game. That's why I think Xyloxadoria did a great job on this.

 

The Oakland Tribune

by Jasoncw

I don't even know how it is possible to carry over all this fine details - on the roof, on the facade, on the windows - from a 3d modelling program into the small rendered pictures of SC4. I would imagine they should get lost during this process but somehow Jasoncw manages to keep them. This might be the most fine detailed bat of 2015. Reminds me of goldsmith's art.

 

The car dealer series, as an example: Mini Cooper Dealership

by mattb325

End of 2015 matt325 uploaded a series of car dealerships what - in a game where car traffic is notorious - to me makes much sense. Even if this can be called something generic, those car dealerships all look different, unique in shape and lotting, and enrich every city with occacions to buy different products sims seems to love bejond everything else. So this set adds realism.

 

Aquilina Building

by Huston

Huston has its own style - a bit futuristic, a bit grunge, a bit cold. This building probably marks his style best. For me this building is like it was taken out of a distopyian screenplay. As if it burries a dark secret, some dangerous conspirary is going on there. It has a sinister and anonymous appearance. That's what I like about it.

 

Porto Ponta Negra Residence

by Jasoncw

Residentials can't be plopped, they have to grow. If you want to play cities and not only 'paint' them you'll need good looking residentials matching in occupant size the many good looking commercials you can plop. There aren't plenty of good looking mid- and highrise $$$ residentials. The Porto Ponta Negra Residence therefore is a very usefull addition as it fits in many bigger cities around the world. It's generic but not that generic to be anyoing, it has it's unique style. The overall quaility - well, it's Jasoncw.

 

HD North American Semi Truck Cabs Vol.1 and HD North American 40ft Semi Trailers Vol.1

by mushymushy

I don't use them as I've organized my plugin folder to play european cities. But they are so lovely done that I would feel uncomfortable not to mention them.

 

Research Center

by mattb325

Mattb325 starts his description of the bat: "I really like the in-game research center ..." Maybe. But this is better. The unique shape with the semicircle makes it recognizable even if you are on a lower zoom level, the lotting is excelent. If there was a trixie on bat-lot-harmony I would give it to mattb325. He does very good bats but he even knows how to give them the right lot. This is a holistic work - the batting, the lotting, the modding - all fits together in a very pleasant way. Since I have this, I never made use of the maxis one.

NYBT New York Life Insurance Company Annex

by Seraf

Strangely - from all the stuff I mentioned this is the bat I use most. It might be not the most sophisticated, not the most spectacular or pretty, but - don't know - sometimes the nondescript does the job best. You can't judge this building by the pictures on the STEX. Sometimes it's the fate of more generic buildings that they easily can be overseen. But this one really fits everywhere. In the landmarks menue it's like the triangle player in the orchestra. It doesn't tie your eyes and might not have those spectacular appearance - 'look at me, I'm the princess' - but exactly therefore it is the perfect companion for almost everything else in the game. And white isn't an easy colour (same as black) to make shapes with it. In movies white is used to fades in or out, to blur the scene. I love the clearness, frugality of this building. With some white plaza or pedwalk around it really looks classy ingame.

 

Bay Adelaide Centre West

By kellydale2003

The technical stuff Kellydale is talking about in the description I can't judge and as I rarely play at night and even haven't darknite mod, I'm not really comfortable to judge this building. I've plopped it several times in my cities and it has nice reflection on the facade, really good looking, and is generic enough to be used frequently. So I thought I should mention it. But to be true - I never saw it with nightlights ingame and they may be the best of 2015.

Bell Canada Microwave Relay Tower

By Takingyouthere

Sounds crazy: but I can't remember seeing something similar before in SC4. They are quite unique. Those are medium sized towers, eye-catching in rural environments, and good looking 1x1 fillers in industrial areas. So it's coherent they have a possitive effect on IHT growth. In skyscraper cities they will be covered by the buildings. Not comparable with those big transmitter poles or broadcasting towers dominating a scene and therefore  being landmarks.

 

 

That's my personal selection off STEX stuff for 2015 . No ranking. 

[Fantozzi 4,067]

I can't do the same for 2016 as I did for 2015 as I was to busy with my own projects (still roundabout 180 zips in my downloads untouched).

But there is one thing I remember. Two weeks after I had repacked his earlier releases into a single dat came this:

Midrise Office Pack Volume 7

by madhatter

And I thought: now I have to do it right again. If I mention madhatter106 - it's like with T-Wrecks in my post above - because of his long-term contribution and doing a continous work. Sometimes I hear similar things as with Aaron Graham - "but this is always the same." My answer: Well, maybe, but if you doing the right thing, why not? It's like you complain with a heart surgeon, "you always engraft hearts, why you never engraft a foot?"  Or talking to Anslem Kiefer "why don't you paint like Edward Hopper?" Why, the hell, shouldn't Ansel Kiefer paint in the style of Anselm Kiefer?

Madhatter might be the batter who is closest to the original game, broaden the game content in a seamless way but at the same time with a hawk eye for giving them some 'character'. He's doing this kind of buildings you want to make class listed, because you feel they have a history. And indeed - everyone of his midrise offices has a story, or maybe better, tells a story. Remaining true to this for many years his work became special and unique. And if they grow in your cities you recognize them - and this means even if I said 'they might be closest to the original game' they are well distinguishable at the same time.

But first of all: they grow. They really grow. I've downloaded many bats in my sc4-career that newer grew and so I forgot about them and years later I found them in my plugin folder and wondered: what's this? This will never happen with madhatter's bats. Second thing is: where they grow some of the uglier maxis buildings won't grow. They enhance your city not with the steamroller-tactics - by placing a superb landmark in the middle of those ugly buildings, but by replacing them here and there - in an overall and smooth way. That's why I think they became really important. They spice up the maxis world like an restaurator spices up an old painting. Not replacing it by modern art. But refreshing the colours, repairing the cracks. If you need something to smooth the visual contrast between the old maxis world and todays HD-renders you need madhatter.

So in my opinion for his Midrise Office Packs 1 to 7 he deserves this lady ... now I forgot her name ... was it Betsy?

[Fantozzi 4,067]

I just read the interview with @korver now and he mentioned a bat for 2016 and I thought, this belongs here too, so I just pick that up:

 

HBS Palacio Legislativo 1.0.0

by Heblem

 

[BLANKBLANK 4,414]

In the interview with _Michael I mentioned some standouts on the STEX in the 2015-2016 period.

@kingofsimcity's parking sets and NAM.

@rsc204 and his Terrain Grass relots.

@T Wrecks and his wall-to-wall industry.

@InvisiChem and the CAM 2.0 (Colossos Addon Mod).

And of course @Simmer2 with his lots, RRW (real railway) work and modular sets- like the pipelines...