Possible Mac CJ

[Altauria 2]

I just wanted to get some preliminary opinions on a possible CJ that I would like to do. It may take a while as I have not begun the city yet (it's all in my head).

I'm pretty excited about starting it, because it's going to be a bit different than some other CJs. It won't be quite as ellaborate as some of the story driven ones (there wont be one) but still very extensive. It's more of a time/snapshot project. I may just split it up into separate threads for continuity. Essentially, I would like to build up an entire region and snapshot it at different time periods. That is, I would build (or intentionally not build) on every single square until it is conformed and opperating on the same standards as the rest.

The advantage to this is amazing differences and eye-candy when it comes to changes in the city. Also, it provides easier presentaion, in a way. The disadvantage, is that the evolution will be grand, so that means the often fun step-by-step projects and undertakings won't be seen in the making but rather they won't be there in one presentation, then they will.

Basically, the reason for all this is my interest in realism - and coherent structure. This city will be based on the typical American style growth (perhaps western cities). The eras I would freeze frame everything would be as follows:

1. 1900-1930....just before the art-deco explosion, and far before highways.....lots of industrial and poor citizens.....beginings of major civic projects, i.e. park systems (thinking american cities here), elevated rail, subways etc. Largely agrarian still. Only using the Chicago tileset.

2. 30's-60's.....first superstructures and highways, suburbs begin, other extensive transit projects, avenues, airports, extended recreational opportunities. Spawl begins. This will only be using the New York set.

3. 70's - 80's (early 90's I suppose)....continuation of urban clogging. Sprawl evolves to more custom developements. Transit networks are severely extended. Burly monolithic international structures and the ignoring of green space (whether or not this actually took place is besides the point). CBD fills in many gaps in skylines. Some cities are deppressed. Industry begins to be isolated from residents (this may begin in stage 2 somewhat). Still using NY tile-set and begining to use the Houston ts.

4. Now. 90's - 2000.....new transit options become available, sprawl takes on a whole new disgusting level, overall quality of life improves. Urban renewel projects take shape. Recreational options explode. This is using the Houston and European tilesets. Post-modern and modern super-structures appear and are more ergonomic. Neo-victorianism (urban living) appears.

5. Near-future.....revitalization in previously deppressed areas...whatever else I may think of.

Ok, I'm SURE this all sounds very boring but I guess for some reason I wanted to give a heads-up to make sure I'm not wasting anyone's time. I really want to make a beautiful region. Very realistic and one that many could relate to. I'll be borrowing technuiqes from current cities like Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, San Fran, Philly, and anything else I can find to be helpful.

[kbooms1w 1]

Sounds great. I've never been one for stories. For me a good CJ tells the story of the city in pictures anyway, not in some half-ass narrative.

So stop talking about it, and start building!

Just kidding, it's good that you're putting the time in before hand, I wish I had thought about my first CJ a little more before I started, but oh well..

Looking forward to it.

[Altauria 2]

Hey kbooms1w, thanks for the reply. I should probably post a sneak peak just to make sure anyone but yourself is interested. This project is going to take a LONG time because of time I do not have, so here's a few teaser pics.

Here's the city of Lorient, named after a city in France. This is using the wonderful Bellingham region.


This is Terminal Tower, a lone skyscraper built by the large railroad corporation.


The inner-city residential neighborhoods....


Downtown and oldest skyscrapers in the city.


The central city train station.....and a tunnel underneath to avoid massive potential congestion.


City hall and government district...


The region's main port.


Cruiseship ports and recreation. Also the west end of the forest preserve.


Please forgive my sentense fragments. It's late here and I don't care what I've grammatically butchered. Enjoy the pics. Thank you.

[chipersboy03 0]

Wow, one update and I'm already in love.

[Altauria 2]

Hey chipersboy, thanks for the love. I didn't even think anyone but kbooms was interested. That update is actually very old and much of that city has changed (manicured).

I'm actually still working on the region, it's just that life doesn't allow too much time, especially when you're a musician trying to find real work, ya know? I have four large cities in the region nearing complete right now. When I finally present this city it'll be in the regular CJ forum. If you'd like I could post a few other pics here just so you can see what I'm doing with it.

[kbooms1w 1]

Put up a few more pictures, no need to be a perfectionist, and when you do get it perfect, you can move it over to the CJ forum. Look at this as a test run..

[chipersboy03 0]

yea i'd love to see more pics

[Altauria 2]

Ok guys, you asked for more pics, so here they are. Now, it's no where near finished, as you'll be able to gather. I'm still getting a hang of the game mechanics and all, especially with those stupid commute times and demands that aren't reliable (the reason I stopped playing). Unfortunately I had to crop the hell out of some of these pics. You'll notice influences of Chicago and Boston in my region.

Region view of Lorient. I began to implement that new terrain mod, that's why the green is inconsistent.


Transportation view.


I've downsized the downtown a bit. Made it a bit more realistic. Also to give it more of a dramatic affect when it grows.










Ok, so on to the East Side This is where most of the dirty industry center is.
I wish I knew how these houses came out like this.




This is where most of the region gets its energy.


This is the main train station and hub for the local university.


This is St. Aposteln (after the church) University. I sorta blended the Cleveland Circle and Boston College areas in Boston for this.


East of the University you'll find this large nature area and cemetary amongst wooded hills.


In a couple hours I'll have the next 3 'cities' up.

[Altauria 2]

Well, for some reason my first few pics (of downtown) didn't even show up. Oh well, maybe these will turn out better. Here's North River Park. The northern and more wealthy (supposed to be anyway) area of Lorient. I haven't given a name to the city on the north side of the river though yet. It's VERY loosly based off of Cambridge, MA. You might be able to tell by the university campus.



I'm still manicuring this area.


A nice park and commons area in the center of the incorperated city.


In between a couple thoroughfares, in the middle of the city, there is this quaint upscale area.


Just an isolated image of a peaceful place where a couple of train tracks split off.




Across the river you'll find this excellent university.


The city hall and train station for that unnamed city.

[Altauria 2]

Here are the other two cities, the rural town of Braintree (including the western edge of that unnamed city on the north side of the river) and the secondary city of Belmont on the eastern side of the city and river.

The actual city of Braintree is the area north of the lake. It's a retreat for the wealthy city-slickers.


Closer up image.


East side of the pond.


Random small train stop for the local farms.


This is where the huge upcoming canal is going to be dug for better logging access from the mills near the coastline to the river. It's going to be a major project spanning two large cities.....it'll be a marvel of engineering with all the lock placements. I've been using this blank parcel for testing. I'm still deciding on how it shall look.


cont.......

[Altauria 2]

And now, Belmont.



Actually, this is the western river shores of Lorient. A nice park grazes the whole strip lined with cultural venues and buildings while being faced with high wealth housing and shopping.


The Opera House and museum


Where seacoast highway comes out of Lorient


Downtown Belmont and its grand oversized train station (it's going to need it in the future!).


Just a little romantic nature walk.


An army base where secretive things happen (keep that in mind).


A small port town on the western ocean coast.


The local county fair....how lame....


Back in town, we have the local amateur football stadium.


The park at the edge of the city....every town needs a nice gothic tower to overlook the sites. Hopefully noone will eavesdrop on the army base!


Houses on cliffs in the bay.


This is a very high class resort at the mouth of the river that leads to Lorient Bay and Harbor. It sports this cabin village where local celebs go to have a getaway.


These trails wrap around the nature preserves on the islands.




I don't know when I'll be able to finish this city, if ever, but there are numerous improvements to be made. Mostly details and the nitty gritty stuff. It's just that the game mechanics have ticked me off so much I don't feel like playing anymore. And I'm trying to get my career off the ground as well.

[chipersboy03 0]

Well, if you do ever finish this city, and if most Simtropolites share my taste, this cj will be a hit!

[Altauria 2]

Thanks chipersboy, I really appreciate the back-ups. I chose that huge Bellingham region - probably a mistake, haha. No, it offered a lot of beautiful land for me to build on and make a realistic city, but honestly, it may not take me that much longer to finish it because most of the urban area is complete for this time period. The rest will be farm towns, forest, small industrial mines, a small island town for tourists, and a smaller urban center at the bottom of the map.

It's really the natural growth of a region I am most interested in. Read my initial post if you want the details. The region intentionally starts out pretty simple. Every era update would be very dramatic and impressive. Jeez I talk too much!