Architech tool for mac

[+Guest]

Frank the only reason I'm withdrawing is the Simtropolis is a larger vessel.
The guns on this site are just itching to blow me out of the water.But someday the Simtropolis won't be there to save MAC from me and my crew.
So enjoy your brief victory and happy holidays.

[SODATWIN 7]

Date: 12/6/2004 9:23:47 AM

Author: BlackBeard

So maybe it's time to throw your MAC out the window and buy a PC,just a thought.

quote>

lol, i think us mac users will pass on that offer... being able to use BAT barely justifies the risk of getting spyware, adware, and viruses on our systems...

[frankenspock 0]

Date: 12/6/2004 9:58:25 PM
Author: BlackBeard
The guns on this site are just itching to blow me out of the water. But someday the Simtropolis won't be there to save MAC from me and my crew.

quote>

One day, probably sooner than any of us want, nobody will be making games for Macs OR PCs anymore, and we'll all be playing SimCity 7 on our Xbox 3 or Playstation 5s, and this thread will look like an argument for Zoroastrianism over Babylonian mysticism.

All I want is a BAT to use on my niche computer. Can't you go steal candy from babies or something?

[GoaSkin 2]

Maxis makes no money with the BAT, the LOT editor and the plugin manager - why does Maxis not release the source code?

I still do not understand why anyone codes freeware but keeps the source as his secret. OK... BAT is based on GMAX and releasing the source here may be a licensing problem - but they could give out datasheets or a diff-Patch while it should be no problem to release the other two programs under the GPL license.

If they would release the source, users could code their own enhancements or port the software to other operating systems.

Maxis has nothing to lose on releasing the sources.

[psychoh13 0]

If you think that a big enteprise like maxis would make open source, it's a dream, I never seen a big enteprise doing this, only developpers who doing this for fun creat open source, those developpers just want to share what they creat,for maxis that's only a money thing.

[GoaSkin 2]

I meant releasing the source codes of their freeware tools and not the games or data sheets to give other developers the possibility to make software which is capable for the file formats used in Simcity4.

[frankenspock 0]

And actually, since the SimCity community is built around user-made mods and other hacks which effectively extend the life of the game long past what it normally would be, releasing the source code of their free tools would only be smart business for Maxis (or EA, since that's what we're really talking about.) Without the extensability inherent in the series, SimCity would be just like any other generic, short shelf-life profit grabber.

As far as no company releasing source code of its products, id did exactly that with Quake. Like I said, smart business; people still fool around with Quake and tend to buy whatever new product id comes out with indirectly because of it.

[readblood 0]

Baldur's Gate 2 is open source on both the PC and MAC, and there are tons of great mods for it. Mods is what really makes Sim City 4 as much fun as it is. Without all of this extra content the game would of died long ago.

[kbooms1w 1]

Date: 12/6/2004 7:33:56 PM
Author: kruegersc4
it is very doubtfull that anyone will make a Mac compatible BAT, but you can always get other 3D programs for Mac (Since 3D is done a lot on them.), but you won't be able to use the models in SimCity. Or you maybe can get a PiMpEd OuT G5, and use virtual PC on it...


You could also get a program like Carrara from www.eovia.com (Which I use.), or any other 3D program, make a building, then export it as a 3ds file, put it on a CD, floppy, zip, or usb, and put it on your PC- weenie-friend's computer and import it into BAT. Then just fix any gliches from the import, add lighting effects, and render! (If, of course, your friend will let you on to his compy for a little while...)

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As Kruegersc4 said, you can use other programs to make 3ds models, which can be imported into the BAT. I had one of the BSC guys test a 3ds file created in the Carrara program and it works fine. Planning to do a couple more tests to see if there are any glitches that need to be ironed out. One thing that has come up has to do with textures (I'll explain when I know more, if anyone wants to know).

You can get a free 30 day demo of the Carrara program at www.eovia.com. Haven't figured out how to use it very well yet, but it is a nice program. Download it and try it out, if you like it, the low-end package (called Carrara 3D Basic, which appears to be more than adequate for building models) costs $45-50, which may be too much just to BAT, but using a Mac is always more expensive, right. Maybe Kruegersc4 wouldn't mind answering a few questions since he uses the program.

There are a lot of people in the ST community who will collaborate on buildings, which the Mac community will need since we don't have access to the Lot Editor and other tools, but it can definitely be done.

I'm going to keep playing with the Carrara program, it be great if some of you did to, maybe we could help each other out. If anyone else finds another 3ds program they like, let us know.

[GoaSkin 2]

I try to use the LOT editor in a virtual machine but it shows me the message cannot initialize DirectDraw. When I choose a LOT to edit, it crashes.

Can anybody help me?

[Subgrav 32]

Date: 6/6/2005 4:04:07 PM
Author: GoaSkin
I try to use the LOT editor in a virtual machine but it shows me the message cannot initialize DirectDraw. When I choose a LOT to edit, it crashes.


Can anybody help me?

quote>

Hei GoaSkin,
I get the same warning, but after I click OK, everything works just fine. Which version of VPC are you running, and under what (so-called) OS...

I'm running XP Pro under VPC 6 in a dual 2.5 G5 (so its actually faster than the crappy wintel box in the corner of the room) and everything is sweet.
I can't play RH for anything (too slow), but BAT and LE work nicely!