Ridge - A Starting CJ...

[Tommy_Vercetti3 3]

Here lies Ridge. Still a developing town on a large Square. So far housing 11,373 People. Has Two major Airports.Which will be names later on..Has some nice Rivers and Bridges crossing them.... This city so far has taken me 5 hours to build, not including zones... I will give you all 1 picture now and give you a lot more information  later today...due to it is 3:42AM...

    (The picture is 800x600 on the dot...)

[+Guest highstreet]

keep up the work

[Zelgadis 638]

Pretty griddy, but it looks quite promising. I like all the different bridges. I have a thing for bridges.

ISF

[blade2k5 1,523]

Looks very promising Tommy. I look forward to see how Ridge progresses.

[jacqulina 162]

nice start look forward to more

[simster6 0]

Wow nice bridges! Lots of them!

[wallasey 8]

The infrastructure is there, but is there going to be a great city emurging here? I will stick around and find out!

Great start here ay' mate!

EDIT: I also see that Mr Kenner, the dinner theatre mogul is well established in your city!

[Yoshi25 0]

may i suggest you using some ST EXchange files it really good! (im not saying your city looks bad) it looks really good sofar! Keep up the good work! Love your briges!

[GreekMan 246]

looks good so far.

[Tommy_Vercetti3 3]

@highstreet: Thanks!

@zelgadis: Yes, Its griddy I know. It will be for awhile longer. Well, THAT part of the city will be...Stay tuned becuase ill start 'mixing up'.

@blade2k5: Thanks. The next update will be better...I learned not to update at 3:40 In the morning.

@jacqulina: Thanks. You always do have encouraging words.

@simster6: Yea, I like to use bridges...Don't know why.. heh

@wallasey: The whole part of Ridge is Low Density...So far it has about 15,000 Sims. If demand stays strong, you WILL see a great city emerge...Just think the beast is still sleeping...I will start to modify some of the Density tonight...And yea the Dinner Theatre Is well esablished sadly...Heh those are the first blocks to get redone tonight...

@Yoshi25: Thanks. I will, I keep looking for nice buildings that don't require tons of dependencies..and also im BATing some buildings for Ridge. However I tend to let my cities grow with the stock buildings first. Then if the game starts cloning these buildings too much, then I replace them with customs. This will also start tonight...

@All: Tonight I will be playing and modifing a lot of Ridge.. So expect an update Thursday or Friday. Tonight ill show the Industrial and one of the airports, I hope...

[simster6 0]

Love to see more pictures soon!

[Tommy_Vercetti3 3]

                                                        MINI UPDATE:

This was the First bridge to be build in Ridge:
align=baseline>
This Bridge is a historical bridge, oldest in the city. However, City Officials are trying to demolish the bridge due to its age. They are deeming it Unsafe(Because they don't have the time or the funds to take care of this bridge, they are more concerned about the Suspention bridges that cross the Bluefish River). However, all checks point out the bridge could last another 30 years, so they thought.... One inspection on the bridge about a week later pointed out the bridge's supports are starting to crack and chip. The police officers at a nearby station sometimes see a few pieces of cement fall from the supports everytime a heavy truck goes over it. Eventually this bridge will collapse into the river below and take anyone on it, with it. However, If they demolish the bridge that means people will have to go to the next bridge, some 10 minutes away. Which would snarl traffic on other roadways. Causing even more trouble. Also could start a protest because a lot of people like this bridge and grew up with it. At this point they will try to keep this historic bridge up and in good condition for as lont as possible....

Now, off to the other side of Ridge, The industrial sectors..

What powers the city??

6 Fusion power plants. So far only 2 are needed:
align=baseline>
The power plants and the pumping stations are protected by security outposts centered at every entry point. These power plants even have their own fire house...Just in case. My word of advise....DON'T try to get into the complex.... Getting caught will land you 5 years in the city jail. Believe me, people have tried to sneak in... but got caught in the process...

Industry to the side of the power plant complex:
align=baseline>
Here you'll find factories galore! This may not be the best and cleanest part of Ridge but the industry in this city employs most of the city next to Ridge, Mt. Osaka(Post a sneak preview picture of that city Friday.). The whole industrial area needs to be redone. From the roads you see, to the rails and the water pipes down below...(Future update). They chose this due to the many crashes that happen due to the truck drivers not paying attention.  Now this is only part of the industry of Ridge. Ridge also supports its share of farms...

Farming Sector:
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Due to the low police coverage in this sector a lot of drug deals and a lot of other illegal activites happen here.(Look closely, see a helicopter anywhere? Thats the only police chopper to respond to a drug lab... Some factories also are allowed to build around the farms... Only clean ones however...(I don't think you wanna be carving a pumpkin and finding a car headlight in it...) There isn't much traffic here. These are mostly small produce farms. The bigger farms are located on the outskirts of the sector....

And this concludes ths update. I hope you have enjoyed reading this.

Next update: Airports and Seaports. And more industry.. OH MY!

Good Night All....

[blade2k5 1,523]

Love the updates Only 5 yrs for trying to sneak past power plant security? I thought it'd be a least 10 because of terrorism Can't wait to see further updates.

[Micah 16]

Wow, I'll have to see where this CJ goes. Yeah, like others said, looks promising!

[Zelgadis 638]

Better get some police over to those farming areas!

And I hope that the citizenry is able to come up with a good compromise regarding the bridge. Sounds like it needs a good fixing up...

ISF

[Tommy_Vercetti3 3]

I'm sorry everyone, I won't be able to get an update in this weekend.. I had a major death in the family and I really don't want to continue  right now but just give me a week or so...

[blade2k5 1,523]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your loved one. My prayers are with you and your family.

[Tommy_Vercetti3 3]

Hey all! Sorry for not updating...Im still not over it...but i need to update.

Lets take a look at the two airports in Ridge shall we?

Industrial Airport:

I think the purpose of it being so low in the ground is for when people try to get in illegally...They break their legs in the process.....The city planning has thought of relocating this airport because the wall in the back has a chance of being hit by a plane landing...Luckly that hasn't happend yet...but there is still a threat...

Here is one of the 'best' cops I have:
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Oi. He is asking to get hit by the many planes that take off and land there....

Commerce Airport:
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Ahh, the commerce Airport...Has some nice scenes.. The demand is very high for commerce here as you can tell by the building difference...(lol) Not only does that airport bring tourists to Ridge...The traffic that they generate make local business boom. Heh there is even a spa by the Suspention bridge...That spa has a great water view too! If you have asked yourself why the buildings are not really that close to that river is because the mountians next to Ridge tend to flood those areas in the Spring... That's why the briges are also high.. Sadly sometimes the water is so high and powerful, it hits the substructure of the bridge! After many times of this the bridges need to be repaired and if left alone they have a chance of falling.. If that happends all the ships that are still able to move will be unable to leave Ridge...If your asking how the historical bridge survives this, well look at theose supports, they are in the rock a bit and also the position of the bridge has most the water force weaken before it hits the actual supports.

This what is left of a seaport after one of those floods:
align=baseline>
It was totally destroyed and washed away. Part of the land around it also gave way. Thats why those cliffs are steep. Surrounding buildings have been worried about this..but still they stay in their spots.. However its only a matter of time before another huge flood comes and makes these peaceful industry buildings part of the river....

Now for the seaport that is still working....barely....:
align=baseline>
This is a very stubborn seaport....It has survived most the floods... Really however the port is slowly crumbling...As you can see it has seen better days...Yet the industry on top of those cliffs still use it... Hey, if it still works... Keep using it until it doesn't... There is another problem with this seaport....The workers working have to watch out for falling cars and cargo from that factory on top of those cliffs... This happends because of the land under it keeps falling from under the parking lot and destroys whatever guardrail they put there...Local police say if they dont fix that soon the factory will be shut down...Also with those buildings on top of that cliff, they all have a chance to fall when the next flood comes...The industrial shoreline is very unstable. You all see how sharp of a drop that is off those cliffs...That factory is also very lucky of not being some of the cargo to be transported on a barge...

Thats all folks... I must study Bio and Drivers Ed... I will update this weekend on how the residental area is doing...

[storms991 0]

I have to say great job, this being your first CJ, I am impressed. Nice Downtown by the way.
All I would recomend is that you whould try building a road or avenue along side the shore, and get the slope mod. Adds realism. Great job on your first CJ by the way.

Oh and a quick tip, use the god mode glitch, and plant trees anywhere where you don't want to see bare land. Simple but beautiful.

[Nardo69 51]

Not a bad start. For a beginner you do have a great downtown.

Just some hints:

- with the BridgeHeightMod from the modding section you can build nicer bridges without that bump at the beginning and the end.

- use your free spaces! build trees! I personally like PEG'S seasonal woods quite a lot but there are also a lot great MM ploppable trees available that cost no monthly fee.

- put some plazas in that downtown! Free spaces make them look better!

- For this town I guess Agrar demand already died but a small rural belt around a town looks always good!

Good start!

Bernhard

[Yoshi25 0]

Really nice. I love the downtown area! I saw what you told me up their, but if you want to, get canals! There very nice found here . I also like all the hydro plants you probualy been working hard. Keep up the good work!!

[Tommy_Vercetti3 3]

Replies!

@storms991: I have gotten the Slope Mod.. However..the way I have my city will mean i will have to destroy 75% of the transit network... It really looks a lot better with the Slope Mod. Thanks for telling me about it!

@Nardo69: I have those mods now.. I like both of them very much. However the Slope Mod is putting me in a bad place..More information on that on the bottom of this Entry... I will put trees in sometime, I want to work out my slopes first though.

@Yoshi25: Thanks! I have tried PEG's canals but I really don't have time or patience to put these canals in.. Remember, this is a LARGE city square...I should have made my CJ on Milltown, a medium city thats lower in elevation.. Maybe in the future I will try these canals again..


Okay I have a poll for you all...


I have a problem, the slope mod works fine but if I want to make the slopes realistic on all of my transit, this means most or all of my intersections with different transit models(Rail crossing road,etc.) will have to be destroyed to make the roads buildable. This means more long hours trying to make them right. Remember this city took me 4-5 hours to lay the roads down. Thats only roads, highways and rails. Thats not including the zoning and water pipes.(Bah large city tiles...) I really need to know if I should carry out this.

Here are some before and after pictures of an avenue intersection:
Before: align=baseline>
After: align=baseline>

Now only the corner slope is modified due to a rail crossing toward the top of the picture, thats why that jump is still there. Thats what im talking about. The road can only be so close to another network. (Before=without Slope Mod, After= With it.

Now the poll:

A) Take the extra time and modify all crossings and make the slopes more realistic.

B) Leave them alone and do nothing.

This poll will be open for a week. It will be closed next Thursday At 8:30PM EST.

[Yoshi25 0]

B. it looks really good the way it is!

[Tommy_Vercetti3 3]

16 comments and 314 views... I cant improve this CJ if you dont comment and give me feedback. So in order to help make this a better CJ, comment and give me good, constructive feedback...

Thanks.

 

[dfnva 34]

The Slope mod is something I'm considering using in my city, but I'll only use it where I absolutely need to. IMHO, the avenue intersection you posted didn't need to be changed.

 

Dan

[Tommy_Vercetti3 3]

@dfnva: Thanks. I only used that to show a difference.. Due to most of the others are crossing another rail, road or street.. You should use it, it really helped out those huge hills for the bridges. However sometimes it can get annoying....


I still need more opinions and poll answers....
It will be open till Monday. I will get a small update in this weekend...

[Darmok 34]

Tommy, this looks promising.
And I agree with Nardo69 about the use of those mods, I wouldn't suggest to redo the whole city, but stick with the slope mod, and learn to zone and develop with it. In the long run you'll be a lot more satisfied with what you achieve with it than without. In RL no cars or trucks could climb a 45 degrees grade!
I like the fact that you don't have any skyscraper in the axis of your airport runways, good thinking!
Also agree with Nardo about the use of plaza, it does give a breathing room to your city.

Keep it up, this is a good start!

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull farms,i love your industry,fantastic airport coming on great so far,the pics are really good too

[Zelgadis 638]

Is the voting still open?

I'd vote for a combination of A and B, actually. In other words, work on fixing the slopes where they really don't look right and ignore the ones that aren't particularly troublesome.

ISF

[Tommy_Vercetti3 3]

Sorry for the delay. I have been very busy these past few days. I just now played Sim City. I will have an update before Sunday.

Ridge Has grown.... The population is at 19,014 Sims! Over 100,000 Comercial Jobs and over 50,000 Industrial Jobs!

I'm getting annoyed at those Dinner Theaters... They are taking over.. GAH!!!!

Any mods out there? Tell me.   I will start downloading new STEX buildings shortly.

Like said above, an update should be here before Sunday.

For now, I must sleep...

Yes, Voting is still open, it will close when i do the next update.