Anduin Valley Revisited

[Rayden 7]

I bet you thought I had forgotten to congrat you on your achievement, didn't ya? Wrong!!!

Just been out for the weekend and then preparing this little token for you.

Click to enlarge (big file, over 5 Mbytes)

And after touring this over 100 pages CJ, twice, I've choosed this image on page 39, as the best one in my opinion;

I hope you like it, and that in a year we'll be celebrating again, the 200 page achievement.

Cheers

Silvio

[Darmok 34]

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NOTE

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This is the third file I told you about....

It's a simple montage of pics, you'll find from left to right then top to bottom,  one picture from each and every page of AVR. They were chosen almost at random.

And they are placed like this :

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

11..etc etc...

Heres the small version

and to see the real one, each picture in it is 800X600 meaning that the whole file is 5X800 = 4000, and 20X600=12000

4000X12000 pixels

the jpg file is 11MB so again I certainly hope you have a fast connection!

If so CLICK HERE

This one was easier to do than the collage, the photoshop file was kind of big (276MB).

I hope you'll like it.

I'll respond to your posts with the friday update.

Take care!

Darmok

[jacqulina 162]

awesome work i loved looking over all that hard work again

[Fabiocb 1]

Congratulations John, you desever each comment you received and will receive here at Anduin Valley, and great work with the bridges and viaducts.

F

[owenluby 1]

WOW! Gee those are some nice pics! Keep it up mate. Yer i spose 200 is a bit far fetched... but hey, never stop dreaming!

[magpieshooter 1]

9000 Views... excellent. Great update too.

[JoeMeister 1]

11 MB took quite a while to download but it's worth it! Beautiful collage of great pics! Have been watching them for over 15 minutes...

Great work!

[szarkoz 8]

I've just downloaded that picture and I've been looking at every pic in it for a long time... I like it very, very much D.!

[pikatchoum 2]

Happy 100th page my friend!!

Tu la merite amplement!

Je suis fier de faire partie des 10 plus gros posteurs de ce fabuleux CJ.Je ne m'y attendais pas.

Durant toutes ces pages tu as vraiment été une source d'inspiration et d'emerveillement sans egale.L'importance que tu as donné à la présentation des screens est vraiment un plus que tu maitrises de mieux en mieux et c'est une réel plaisir d'admirer tes merveilles.

Longue vie à l'Anduin Valley!!

[anubis89 108]

this area around the highway bridge is great

and the other shots are good too

and the "simple" montage of  pics is awesome, so many amazing shots there

and rayden this animated .gif  you made is excellent

[yaptszwai 1]

well... havent seen you for a long time pal...

I spent a hour just to scan the pages i havent seen (~15pages lol)

I've not been visiting simtropolis for a long time due to my exam, but now I'm free =]

your cities are always of high qualities

realistic

n u pay much attention into every small detail

(which I do not lol)

anyway it is glad to see your region to grow into a successful and big one...

nice job ^^

waitin to see more

cu

[dedgren 830]

Lookin' good!

Sincerely,

Lurking in (from?) Texas

[dedgren 830]

Oh man!  The sig gave it away.

Hey John, it's hot down here.  Not near so hot, though, as AVR.  You continue to amaze, and with a frequency that bespeaks an iron constitution (well, butt actually- unless you stand at the 'puter).

David

[mightygoose 92]

hey john

being my favourtie city journal ever and as you are a great guy too it is only fair that i place my 1000th post with anduin valley, maybe you could sort out a particular building to be an AVR embassy for vil valad..... hey thats up to you though..... cheers mate for 100 pages of joy, i just read every one again, they are all brilliant....

cheers

john

[_Enzo_ 0]

many thanks for your warm welcome !

ah hem ! did I say it was awesome ? I've now read/watch 15 pages, it's quite simple I've stop playing and just read your CJ.

I've got a question for you : when you begin your city or a neigbour (quartier en francais, je ne suis pas sur du mot en anglais) do you have a master plan in mind at the start or does it comes like that ? All seems so fluid and realist, it's ... amazing.

[Darmok 34]

No links today

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PLEASE NOTE

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I've decided to post the update today, cause there's a 3 days weekend beginning tomorrow, don't know if I'd have the time to do it as usual, so here you go, next one should be monday as usual!

Enjoy your weekend!

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JoeMeister

Well, it's fun to see the whole thing but it was only a reply to your fun signature! I would not dare asking someone to mdify it! a sig is such a personal thing... so you really are a Speedy Gonzales fan!

I must admit that my preference goes to Bugs Bunny...

Thanks for stopping by!

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KoolSIM

Hi Aasim,

hehehe.... no, not at all, I'm a graphic designer, and I guess I just like creative games, and for me SC is probably one of the best in that matter, more so since the MODDERS and BATTERS we have here have changed the game radically with their creations!

For Photoshop, all you have to do is to look around with google, and you'll see that it's one of the most sharing and generous community on the net.

There's literally tons of resources to learn Photoshop, all of it (or almost all of it) free!

But just watching PhotoshopTV each week, will help you a awful lot!

Those guys, Matt Dave and Scott are the best there is!

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Benedict - The Mayors of Ellis Valley

Thanks Benedict, yep it was a long road, long but full of great moments, you know what they say, getting there is half the fun! Well in my case, getting there was about 99% of the fun!

Take care!

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Godwin

Yep and I still maintain that learning is the main goal in life! Whatever we learn is like a LEGO piece! (now I've gone and compare life to a LEGO set!!! I should ask them to sponsor AVR!) 

I'm working with both platforms, (Mac and PC) and they all have their good and bad sides! I just try to get the best of both world I guess!

Take care and enjoy your time in the UK!

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GaBoR - Oro Bruno

Hi GaBor

The weekend was great, the weather was just fantastic, (though a tad on the VERY HOT side!!!), but hery! I'm not complaining! It's way better than 2 meters high of snow in the driveway!

Bruinen Fjord city tile will be almost filled in the end, save some green spaces of course! So, yes there are plans...

The week was also pleasant!

Have a good weekend!

Take care

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Szarkoz - The Free Democratic Nation of Caledonia

You can say that again! Never typed like this in my life! ;-)

Never thought that there would be so many posts for the occasion!

But yes I enjoyed it! As for the bit of diagonal street, if I remember correctly I did it on purpose, to avoid two "regular" curves, which would have given a "left-right/right-left" kind of driving when going there, the only downside for me with the diagonal streets, is the different street texture, the rest I can easily live with.

Yeah I like the new setup better, good thinking about putting some dirt around it.... hummmm... you have me thinking again....

Take care!

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halo_lover

Welcome to Anduin Valley Halo Lover

Well there's a first time for everything!

Thanks for your visit and come back anytime!

Take care!

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Sorchin – Developping Macedon

Hi Steve, yep it began february 4th 2005....

I did take a break in the 2005 summer vacation, 2 weeks worth...

As for the improvements, I guess we all improve over time when learning from one another, just like in nature... cross pollination LOL (here I go again, with godwin I was comparing life to Lego set, and now I compare SC4 to flowers! LOL I guess I must "visualize" ideas...)

Thanks for your good words mate!

Take care

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Bat

Thanks Bat!

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GMT - Greater Columbia River

Hey Torben,

What can I say, I just had to learn to do it a bit better since Bernhard is an authority on that matter...

It's a good way to improve oneself!

See you next time!

Take care

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Rhéal – rw0381c

Salut Rhéal,

No problem Rhéal, thanks for the felicitations!

And yes it was not only "un peu" but more like "la folie furieuse!" LOL

Never typed so many responses since AVR beginning!

Have a great weekend!

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Jacky (TWICE) (jacqulina) - Paradise Falls

Hi Jacky,

Well... it seem like the imageshack tutorial helped others as well. So it was worth the time.

And I'm glad you liked the big mosaic, but to tell you the truth it was not hard work, a bit tedious at time, but quite easy!

Enjoy the weekend!

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Battlecat - Terra - An evolving region 

Yep, the NAM is like our tool box! Have a problem, let's use the NAM!

Yes about a third is done at this point, and as for the depot, I had to rework it otherwise AVR official rail consultants - N&B railway technologies (Nardo and Bernhard) - would have throw a fit! And they would have been right, the council have to keep a very tight control over our city planner who often forget to place enough rail!

See you next time!

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Tracker - Graph X Services

I saw those a few times but never had the "need" for them yet, but it's fun to have the flexibility.

Take care!

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ThePeoplesPerson - The Tropics of Haalu

Hi TPP

hehehe.. well it took several hours on my weekend, but I did a lot of them on my backyard swing enjoying the sunny weather, so it was not a chore. I and totaly agree with you about the NAM potential, as far as I'm concerned I feel like a complete Newbie with those pieces, I'm not using them to their full potential...yet!

But that's what's fun with SC4, there's always something else to try...

Take care

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Special Eddie - Oasis--The Wild West

Hi Eddie,

Oh please No! no spam, IF we get there let's get there one page at a time, getting there is all the fun, let's enjoy the journey must not hurry it! 

Take care

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Rayden - New Haven

Sylvio, that was an incredible gesture! That animated region picture is an idea I should have had! What a great way of showing a region progress! I saved it and it'll be in AVR archives. I'm really touched!

About your favorite pics, the opera sector with the embassies, was probably my first BIG project within AVR, that single pic represents LOTS of hours of work I remember vividly having to redo the setup several times to accommodate the Opera house and the lake, I was always forgetting 1 or to tiles so it would look OK, but I sure appreciate the final result... though would I redo it I think I would.... no no no... I won't 

Sylvio, thanks again for that very thoughtful gesture...

Regards

John

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Fabiocb - RASEC

Hola Fabio,

it's always good to read you my friend!

Thanks for your kind support, and I hope we'll be commenting still a long time in each other respective CJ's

Take care!

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Owenluby - Barton Region

Hi Owen,

hehehe.... As I said to Eddie, whats REALLY important is to enjoy the journey, after all the Romans had it right 2000 years ago when they where saying "Carpe Diem" which could roughly be translated by "enjoy the present".

As for dreaming, I think I was born dreaming.... my mind is always wandering! It's a curse!

You see here I go again... hehehe...

Take care!

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MS (magpieshooter) - Kinata Region

Hey thanks mate!

yep over 90 000 views, that's an awful lot of visits!

On a sadder note, I'm real sorry for Kinata! but has I told you there, you've gained experience in the process, and the next one will be better yet!

Take care!

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JoeMeister

Hi Joe,

I thought that it could be seen like a "résumé" of AVR story so far.

Glad you liked it, it makes the work worthwhile.

Take care

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Szarkoz - The Free Democratic Nation of Caledonia

Hi Szarkoz, as I said to Joe just above, if you appreciate the pics, it was worth the effort!

Take care my friend!

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Pikatchoum - Bluebeach City

Hi Pika,

Merci beaucoup pour ces bons commentaires.

Thanks for those great comments! it's comforting to know that AVR can still be a source of ideas! CJ's tending to be quite personal things, it's not always easy to adapt one's style to our own.

As for the pictures, I guess that the more we do, the better we get, I still have some (small) ideas on that subject, but I'm not quite satisfied with what I've done so far, still looking for the most Zen and attractive presentation, kid of a Holy Grail quest I guess! LOL I'll probably never get there, but the effort to do it is rewarding in itself!

Again thanks for your visit and good words my friend!

Take care

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Anubis - anubis' cities

Thanks Anubis, I just wanted to give kind of a "résumé" of those first 100 pages.

And yes Sylvio's animated gif is quite a sight!

See you!

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Yaptszwai

Hi yaptszwai, I hope your exams went well!

And indeed long time no see, but you're always welcome you know that!

The attention to details.... well I guess that I was infected by the Jeroni bug almost a year and a half ago! LOL

and since then, Dhoppeii's (Dan) rural bug, Nardo and Meinhosen's railroad bug, (and a lot of other CJ'ers influence) and recently David (dedgren) passed along his ploppable water bug ooooh that's a nasty one, full of super detailling.... since then my work is practically crawling... but then again I like it even more! So!

Really good to see you again pal!

Looking forward to reading you again

Take care

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David (dedgren) - Three Rivers Region

Hi David,

Talk about timing, I was on the verge of writing you to have some news... so, speaking of iron b... , TX is hotter than a snakes ..ss (do they have one actually??) in the desert?

Don't get fooled by the update frequency, I have a reserve of pics ready... though with my work slowing down recently, (thanks to you BTW with your superdetailling mania!) detailling riverbeds and all... and no I don't stand when working on the ol' box.

Oh and if I'm a board member of the Iron B.. Society (IBS) I should nominate you for CEO, taking into account you super detailed  river beds and creeks!    (sorry just couldn't resist this one!)

**standing before the judge**

"Libel, your Honor????   no no....   the Devil  made me do it, I swear!...." 

**exiting court house**

have a great time down south my friend!

Take care

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Mightygoose - Vil-valad, a city and its roots

Hi John,

I'm honored, both by your choice of doing your 1000th post in AVR and those very kind words... 

It's a bit odd that you're talking about an embassy, I was just thinking yesterday night while working in Anôrien that the last time I've build embassies, it was in Dol Amroth, perhaps it's time to build some more...

Take care!

-John

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_Enzo_

hehehe...I'm in the same predicament these days I've stop playing cause I'm mostly typing responses!    But having fun doing so...

"Un quartier", could be translated as "a district" or "a neighborhood" "an area", anyhow, at first I didn't have a plan, wait a minute!..... I still don't.... no I don't have a "great plan" ypu could describe this as an planed improvisation   I work like this : when finishing a city I look at the global situation, that is, both the city as a whole and then the region itself, and then I try to imagine what could be the logical continuation that is as if there was no boundaries or limits... sometimes I will print a region picture, including the "virgin" territory of the new city to be, and in Photoshop I do some zoning tentative, but again very roughly... just to get a feel really.

After that back in the game, and I draw the transit network, which will very often change along with the ideas that come on the spur of the moment.

Usually, when I begin a new city I try to have a "general idea" or rather "un dénominateur commun" like in Osgiliath my main goal was to put as much Cycleways in it as I could... and I built the city with that in mind. But for the rest all is mostly improvised, like where will I put city hall, or the churches etc.. etc..

Whew that was a long one, you  shouldn't get me started on those subjects I really get carried away!

If you have more question do not hesitate, fire away I'll try my best to help.

Looking forward to reading you again, reviens quand tu veux tu est le bienvenu!

Take care!

REM

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The Annduin Valley Council wish to address you...

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And now dear readers, without further ado, here's....

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Ah the food for thought section, I think I begin to like doing some research for this part of the update...

**shuffling pages...**

Ah.... here's a good one

"Too bad the only people who know how to run the country are busy driving cabs and cutting hair."

- George Burns

That's it for today folks, thanks a million for your great support and see you monday!

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In the meantime

Take care and enjoy life

Darmok

[BerlinDude 14]

Now THAT's what I call cool! Looks awesome!

[JoeMeister 1]

Congratulations to Anubis89 and Dedgren for their citizenships! 

Great update Darmok! The houses in pic 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 look real cool.. don't think I ever saw them on the STEX... maybe I did... I don't know ... but I do know I have not downloaded them yet.. think I'm going to start a search! 

Anyway.. I'll say it again... great update! 

BTW: are those old ladies chain-smokers? That amount of smoke.. man it's a miracle they ever got old...

[szarkoz 8]

I second BerlinDude. I call it even mega-ultra-cool. I especially mean that residential sector, it's so european, it looks quite similar to residential areas that you can see in Poland. A pond, and some park space... I'm only missing some playgrounds for children, it's something that you can also usually meet in medium dense residential sectors.

Nice job Darmok, I'm looking forward to next updates!

[Micah 16]

how did I get the avatars? It's quite simple really, I saved each web page of the CJ... at the time it was just a a keepsake, but recently when I realized that AVR would probably make it to he 100 pages, the idea of using old pics came, and.... the rest is history!quote>

WOW! Talk about a lot of work. Simple? haha, it sounds quite hard. lol!!! Nice idea though.

Funny crash. I get those once every blue moon. lol

Talk about another incredible idea... I would have never thought to connect residental lots with those walkways. Really interesting.

Another stunning update!

[aldara6166 109]

Looks great as usual John...still can't believe you hit over 100 pages...how many pages did CRV by Jeroni hit? I think you may be approaching that rapidly...

[Rayden 7]

I don't get tired of admiring your updates, just look at that little corner where nothing was, and know a little and pleasant neighbourdhood full of lowrise estates with view to the water.

Very nice.

It's just a shame we can't build diagonal bridges or tunnels, that would solve that little problem called bridge on the lower right corner right next to your new "quartier" (I like this word, I think it has the same meaning as our portuguese word "quarteirão").

[mightygoose 92]

awesome update im glad you like the embassy idea, another great update and some wicked use of stex lots that date way way back

[bat 6]

Great update!

bat

[Battlecat 14]

Very nice indeed!  Nice mixture of businesses on the waterfront there!

[Sagrel 0]

Awesome update! Nice job Keep up the good work!

Sagrel

[kant01 5]

Hey Darmok -

Sorry I missed the last couple of updates. Really fantastic job! I love that medium density residential area - that looks really good with the apartment building repeated like that.

Also, on the previous update I love that bridge construction you did over the ground highway. I may do something similar to that myself.

Everything continues to be so beautiful! Looking forward to more!

[GaBoR 7]

How soem simple layout brings so maginificent results thanks to your unstoppable creativity, great work, love the captions LOL, those ladies should cut their smoking I'm afraid GreenPeace may organize a march for clean air there!!! Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy yourself, and see you later

PS

Congrats to all new citizens!!!

[SpecialEddie 3]

AHHH! Every update is stunning and informative! Excellent mosaic!

[Ramona Brie 121]

A nice, simplistic update.