Anduin Valley Revisited

[Nik-nik 3]

Finally, thank you for fillingin the spot!
I love the way you did it, you blended (bzzzzzzzzz....., not that kind of blendING) the area so well that it is hard to spot in the final overview. ha, ha, ha.
That Etienne's Junction looks very and I mean VERY nice. Although I see a lot of containers but who's going to truck them from the farms to the terminal? Anyway, just a thought that a transport company might be needed. 
Those commercial lots that grewnext to the rail road maintanance yard are perfect. Better than in the previous picture (compare pic 06 and 07......see!)
That new commercial district is very nice too. I love the remark of the carpark. You noticed the way they parked in pic 16 compared to 17! Great stuff.

Thanks for this great update and see ya next Friday.

Nik-Nik

[vester_DK 477]

Love your junction. Great work you have done on that.

Yet another fine update from you.

[Darmok 34]

Hi folks,

just a quick post to clarify some points brought up by Wouanagaine.

Note that I didn't have access to my regular PC this morning, so I just used whatever I had at hand to try to help.

Hoping these pics can help

Rural Trails (mini) Tutorial

As David (dedgren) would say.... "work - work - work"

I'll try to whip up some "real" tutorial with "real" pics. So it would be more "accurate"

Thanks to all, and see you friday for the regular update.

Darmok

P.S. I hope the pics links will work correctly, I had to uplod them at filelodge.com this morning Imageshack was acting up with the uploads. If you see a filelodge nag screen, just refresh the page in your browser and it should be OK.

Thanks

[seemurray2 21]

Hey Darmok, Anduin Valley is looking great, I love how you mix in tutorials with your updates, and the overall professional look of your cj.  Top notch!

[Rayden 7]

WELCOME TO PAGE 127

Wonderfull update, and nice tutorial. Another one for my collection of tutorials on pdf documents.

If you had the prvilege to open my page 2, what should I feel when opening your page 127?

[PDQAg 0]

Excellent update Darmok!  I like the upgrades you made to Etienne's Junction, especially as you showed a few different attempts before the final product.  It is always nice to see the creative process evolve and as you are a master with SC4, it helps the rest of us to learn.  Your overview in picture 10 is gorgeous and I am glad that there is plenty more where that came from.  I cannot wait to see that next 30% of your city and everything that comes after.  

As for what you said about making projects and then working on them is something I completely understand.  I always have these visions in my head about how to build and create wonderous things, not just in SC4 but in real life too, such as buildings, transportation systems, and theme park rides.  In fact, my ultimate real life career goal is to be a Disney Imagineer and help design their next generation of theme park attractions.  I even worked as a ride operator at Disneyland for over a year to learn how they built all their rides.  However I have yet to have the opportunity to take what is bouncing around my head and turn it into reality.  Even if I don't get that dream job, I would still like to create things that people will enjoy, just as you are doing with your CJ.  I'm sorry if I rambled on there, but I just want to let you know how much I appreciate the creativity and hard work that goes into your cities, because I wish I could do what you do.

Until next time, take care!

[Fallon144 1]

can't wait for the next update mate!

keep up the great work!

[rewright 804]

Great work. The area looks so real I get vertigo looking down at it!. The detail and layout continue to inspire me to get more out of my regions. Thank you.

[____----____ 37]

the redone freight station looks much nicer now

[Livin in Sim 83]

Hi, John,

It's technically Friday already, and I am soon to bed.  Tonight when I get home I will engage in what has become as much a Friday evening ritual as the movie and the popcorn.  It's a nice relaxing end to the work week.

Thanks for the great reply.    Yes, although Jean-Luc was a only fictional character, it certainly did give a tug to one's heart to see the dedicated starship captain come to know and love the life of a family man in The Inner Light.  I must agree it was the best of a good series that improved with time.  One of my other favorites is the episode with Data's daughter, Lal.  It was so interesting to see how Data approached parenting.  And it was somewhat of a paradox that Data, a being incapable of emotion, could inspire a person to feel for him.  I like your take on Darmok.  It does relate well to the purpose of your journal.

I know I have some questions.  I'll have to come up with a good one.  I think my favorite part of the last update was the little residential area, topped off by the brewery and inn.  It seemed folksy and authentic.  Let's find a comfy table with a good view, and make a toast with our favorite lager, "To Fridays!"

--Liv

[szarkoz 8]

Hey John,

I haven't commented for a while, sorry for that. Obviously, I still follow every update in AVR. I'm just becoming a lurker recently...

Anyway, Anôrien is taking a shape. I like what you've done with Étienne's junction. That's a realistic looking freight station. I liked the mosaic of it too.

The small residential and commercial sector looks nice being sort of diagonal. The improvement of parking near the Inn proves how much attention you pay to details.

I'm looking forward to next update (which should be... today!). Keep the great work up, John!

[Rayden 7]

It's Friday, it's Friday...  here it comes, here it comes!!!

[jacqulina 162]

looking forward to more my friend

[Nik-nik 3]

Originally posted by: Rayden It's Friday, it's Friday...  here it comes, here it comes!!!

quote>

 

What can I say more or better than Rayden. great Pic!

eagerily waiting. 

Add one more to make the point even clearer:

[Bombastix 0]

I haven't been here for a while, but your CJ still looks as pretty and professional as it was back then! I like the rural landscapes on the previous page, and I really like seeing you take so much time to reply on comments! Keep this up (I'm sure you will)

[Darmok 34]

Peg MTP Parking Lots

PEG's Scenic Drive Kit

Intermodal Shipping Depot By RJM Designs by aldara6166

SA Cycleways Basic Pack by Shadow Assassin

SA Cycleways Expansion Pack 1 by Shadow Assassin

Container Freight Yards by Sim goober

Andreas Roth SC4 Tool

SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY -

INTERNET WAS DOWN THIS MORNING -

AND WHEN IT CAME BACK I SAW 7 NEW POSTS! -

HAD TO ANSWER THEM!

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Daniel - Shadow_Assassin - Ensenada - That City in the east

Hi Daniel,

hehehe, I think I've used a filter on one of the pics who seemed a bit subdued, but I didn't think that someone would notice it!

Good eye on this!

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Jacky (jacqulina) TWICE - Paradise Falls

Hey Jacky,

Hehehe, you, playing soldiers! And as for the little one cheating when he plays soldier, you can't blame him, the real-life generals cheats all the time, so!

On the weather topic, we have sh... well let's say that it's rainy, gray and cold for 4 days in a row now (this is written monday morning). But the weekend was great anyways, we went to a movie, read a lot, and I played guitar. All in all a relaxing weekend.

As for having a hard time finding the house you want, may I say that the last setup I just finished yesterday night, just trying to place a Movie theater, took me around two hours, I was never satisfied, kept blasting, and redoing, I finally opened the LE and reworked the lot a bit, and it reminds me all of a sudden that I didn't finished it! I still have some details to work out! So you see, I guess we never are satisfied! WINK

Well that's about it for now, enjoy your weekend, and if you play soldier again, try to win at least once in a while! WINK

Take care my friend!

SECOND POST

Here it is my friend sorry about the delay!

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Bat - Capporth City

Hey Bat, well you're welcome, and if you need more help on this don't hesitate to ask or PM me!

Take care

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wouanagaine - SC4 Terraformer a tool for regional hand-terraforming

Hey wouanagaine,

Well I hope the pics I posted monday helped you in a way.

Though as I said, I think I'll try to do a "real" tutorial about it

Take care

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Schulmanator - Schulmania

Hi Schulmanator, well I sohould have known you liked STTNG just by looking at your Klingon avatar!

Yep the music was one of the many good aspects of this TV series. I didn't know about the music CD though! I'll look it up!

Weekend was great, even with the crappy weather we had! Hoping yours will be good!

Take care

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David (dedgren) - Three Rivers Region

Hey David,

On the railroad modeler thing, I must say that I would have loved doing it, but when I was a teenager I had neither the kind of money to build the setup of my dreams, nor the availability, in the sense that there were NO stores that had trains in my hometown, (it was a really small town). I did bought one Bachman HO scale set once, through the Sears catalog WINK , when I was 12 years old or something. But it was not what I had in mind, having the space and money I'd surely love to have an entire basement  full of N-scale models! So! I turned my creativity towards making dioramas of WWII planes, I particularly remember one of a german plane (in winter camouflage, the only one I ever painted with that kind of camo, boy was it long to do!) that landed in a muddy/snowy farm field, which I simulated with plasticine (or modeling clay, as you say in the US) that I carefully painted, I made the bushes, trees and fences with very small twigs... (sheesh!) unfortunately, I never took any photos of all those creations that are now long gone! But I had so much fun! So here you go that's probably my background for liking SC4 so much!

What a trip through memory lane there!

Back on topic, about that dark small building, I decide to leave it there because I thought it blended well with the ambiance of the place, not really dashing but clean lines and looking like the administrative building of the train station. About the eye-sore, I'm sorry! I was about to suggest some Visine, but after reading about it on Wikipedia, and seeing the adverse effects, I decided otherwise.

Yeah the sod house, they also had those, at least the roof part, in England and Ireland.

Well I think that covers about all, for now....

See you later my friend

-John

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Bokrif - Szabadság-szigetek // Liberty Islands 

Hi Bokrif, thanks

As for the parkings, just look in the links section at the top!

See you

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Crazychickensc12 - Trinity River Valley - TRV

Hey CC,

Thanks for your kind words my friend.

see you

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Benedict - The Mayors of Ellis Valley

Hi Benedict,

Thanks, I guess!! It's the firs time someone want's to eat the pics!

Take care

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Luker01 - San Lucas: My first CJ

Hi Luke,

Yep return business indeed, one helping the other!

As for the parking lot, well, it's simply PEG's Scenic Drive Kit, that I've transit enabled with Andreas Roth fine SC4 Tool. If you don't have it, grab it while you can it's a MUST have! See the link in the links section.

Take care!

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Owen (Yoman3) - United Republic of Ankara

Hey Owen,

Thanks my friend, much appreciated, yeah I wanted the look of the freight station to grow with the increasing demand in the area, just like in RL, though I kept a small passenger station, which is still sufficient.

Now the lots, the station is essentially composed of 2 lots, that's right, refer to the pic below, A and B are Intermodal Shipping Depot By RJM Designs by aldara6166 and C, the bigger one is Container Freight Yards by Simgoober .

About the cycleways, I just tried to improve on the setup I've already made in Osgiliath, setting it in the same fashion, that is, on the river bank so everyone can benefit from the riverview, not only a few privileged people. And Daniel's (Shadow-Assasin) Cycleways (see link in the links section) are so good looking that you can't miss!

Always good to read you Owen, take care.

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Owen - (Owenluby) - Unifire

Hey Owen,

Glad you appreciated the station. As for the link, what can I say, some like it some don't! Just trying to have some diversity!

Take care

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MadTV Freak - Sweetwater County

Thanks MTV!

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James - hondo42769

Hi James,

Hehehe, yeah, I always have some apprehension before blasting and redoing! To the point that I don't save a new version of the city until I'm convinced that the new setup will look better than the old one! As for showing some of the attempts, I think that sometimes it kind of "demystifies" the reconstruction process, I know for one that in the beginning I was VERY reluctant to blast and redo, I don't know why!! This way it shows that we can redo it in several ways and that everyone of those ways might be good!

The 1X1 res zoning I picked from Jeronij, before that I always zoned at least 1X2, but 1X1 is good for small sectors.

See you later!

Take care

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Menotyou

Thanks Menotyou!

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Fallon144

Thanks Fallon, see you!

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tommiej

Welcome to Anduin Valley tommiej

thanks for taking the time to voice your opinion!

Come back anytime you want.

See you

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pquarles

Hi pquarles,

Welcome (officially) to Anduin Valley!

I say officially because I do remember your PM.

What can I say besides thanks for those great compliments! Much appreciated! And I do try to pay attention when driving in the countryside to absorb the details, small things I didn't noticed before playing SC4. So this game has a good side effect in a way that it make us more "conscious" of our environment instead of just passing thru now we tend to be more observant!

Come back anytime you want pquarles the door's always open!

Take care

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Nik-nik - TWICE

Hehehe, filling updates... blender... my my we're in a culinary mood today! I know now where's Pim get his appetite from!

Hey, the transport company is a great idea.... hummmm what to do???? I'll have to revisit that sector again!

I agree about the buildings that grew near the maintenance building they do look like they belong there! (But as they grew, I have nothing to do with that, so for once let's credit the game for that good choice!)

In pic 16, PEG's MTP parking lot, they're not parked, as the parking lot is TE'd they're coming in and out, It's a miracle that there's no accidents on that lot!

Nik, keep those suggestions coming, I really like the transport company idea!

Take care my friend and have a great weekend!

SECOND POST

Hey! how did you know that Tiger was my favorite Pooh character! whooooo hooooo!

Here comes the new update.

Thanks!

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VesterDK - VDK Showcase

Hey Arne!

Thanks my friend!

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Seemurra2 - Port Evergreen - ON HIATUS

Thanks seemurray!

Long time no see, any news on Port Evergreen future?

Take care

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Rayden TWICE - Little Italy

Hola Sylvio!

Glad you liked the (very small) tutorial amigo.

I'm just trying to help, but sometimes I feel that I'm not the best one to explain clearly! Oh well!

hey don't worry 127 is only a number, and besides the most important thing is to have fun, the rest is nothing but statistics.

-CJ PLUG WARNING-

PEOPLE IF YOU DIDN'T PAY A VISIT YET TO SYLVIO'S NEW CJ, PLEASE GO NOW.... WE'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU BEFORE GOING FURTHER...

-END OF CJ PLUG-

See you later amigo!

SECOND POST

Hehehe.... loved the dog!

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PDQAg

Hi PDQ

Glad to know that you like the attempts pics, I just try to demystify the whole process, what we achieve if very often the result of lots and lots of trial and errors, and that we shouldn't be afraid of blasting and redoing any sector we don't particularly like!

About the 30%, it's the other way around what you see up to now represent approximately 30% of Anôrien's surface.

As for the ideas, I have so much of them that if I don't want to lose them I have to write em down, one is always pushing the other! I guess it goes with the territory when you're working in a creative job! But sometime it's a drag, cause not being a very "focused" person, my mind is always wandering and trying to find new ideas, and my co-workers are very often teasing me about me not being able to stay alert when we have staff meetings, it's becoming a running gag! But hey! I'm not complaining I just LOVE my job! And if your goal is to become a Imagineer (I like that word!) then stay focused (yeah look who's talking....) and it may just happen! Having a job that you love, is like never have to really "work"! it's like having fun everyday of your life!

I really appreciate you taking the time to share those thoughts, and thanks for the kind words.

Take care

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Fallon

Hi Fallon,thanks for the support!

And here's the weekly update!

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Rewright – Crystal Bay

Hi rewright,

You truly are welcome rewright and thanks for those vrey kind words

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Aleking - AK's Watchamacallit CJ

Hi Alek,

Thanks, glad you liked the change, though my stations are quite uncomplicated compared tou yours! wink

See you!

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Livin in Sim

Hey Liv,

Yep also liked Lal episode, more complex than some others, the serie began to be "mature" with the third season IMO. Nice to know that  AVR is like an evening at the movie!

As for the good table, I'm all for it, a good meal is always welcome, lager and later on a good single malt are also always welcome!

Sorry about the delay in posting this update, but the internet connection was down this morning!

Anyhow here it is.

Take care

-John

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Szarkoz -Everon Metro Area

Hi Tomek,

Good to see you my friend, and glad to know you're still enjoying AVR, and here's a new update!

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Bombastix - Tisk Tisk

Hey Bombastix

Long time no see, hope all is going well for you!

You're always welcome in AVR, and as for taking the time to answer all post, well, sometimes, llike this morning, it can postpone (a bit) the posting of an update, but hey! that's part of the deal aint'it!

Take care!

Again sorry about the delay, but I had to answer the new post this morning!

Please note that this kind of an "in-between" update,

not a lot of things going on, next update will have more pictures.

---

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

---

This week I'll give you two Mystery links....

Number One

, will be of some help when creating cities in SC4,

and

Number Two

, is related to the coming holiday period...

Hoping you'll enjoy them both

People you REALLY are the greatest bunch of crazy folks!  

I just love it! 

Thank you all for your great support, and kindness.

And see you next week!

---

In the meantime

Take care and enjoy life

Darmok

[Fallon144 1]

Man, your photoshop skills are crazy!

I love the way you dress up your screenshots!

keep up the great work mate!!!

[Rayden 7]

Nice little update, but very informative. I have to try once to use those cycleways, I still didn't had the chance to do it or just didn't remember of it

Thx as well for the free advertising on my CJ, not many people do that, but coming from you, that's not a surprise. Thx my friend.

About the mystery links, the one of the house deco, weird man, that really crazy and the music goes along with it it's very appropriate.

Cheers

Silvio

[crazychickensc12 84]

uhhh....where to start....i really love the way you did those cycleways id go for a ride down those any day , and the new sector is looking amazing and I really like all the trees you use the "fall" shot looks awesome!! keep up the great work here Darmok!!

[bat 6]

Fantastic update like always!

bat

[purpledaddy 6]

Wow I've been seeing a lot of good reviews about your journal when I check out the forum. And now I see why. I really like how you demonstrate your step by step work in a quality style.

[owenluby 1]

Oh man I could just fly down those cycleways... I think I might go for a ride today!

Nice update!

The links were great, especially that lighting up house!

[MasterPlanMan 1]

Very nice!!! Its great how you take the time to show others the sloping techniques. I know it can be expensive for those that still play without cheats but proper sloping of roads, rail etc.. really adds to the realism one can achieve with the game. You have mastered the skills as well as anyone and everything looks beautiful! I slope things pretty much the same way you do but utilize the rail tool to help get the kinks out.

Keep up the good work!

[Schulmanator 5,793]

Always a pleasure to read your CJ. And I am taking notes on terraforming as I have noticed that I tend to have a little too much up and down in my streets. Must be a lot of shocks&struts stores in my CJ region!

Qapla'!

[choco1 4]

Evening my friend! It has been far too long since I've commented here, and I apologise so much! You don't know how many times I've read your update and meant to comment but just haven't had the time to say everything I want to!

Anyway, you don't want to hear about that!

Haha, I love the rain, the first time I saw it I accepted it as real before thinking about it!

I really like that early random shot, the one with the trees and the farms. There is something almost magic about its simplicity!

Those new(ish) paths from Shadow Assassin are excellent, I see now that they are a huge improvement from the previous version as they blend in better with the terrain and the texture looks very realistic.

That little red cottage is very cute, I wouldn't mind living there actually, looks like it has some nice views!

Although, I wouldn't like to live in the house below, I imagine I would fall far too often off the sidewalk into the front yard!

Heh, I have those height problems all the time!

I really like the trees you placed along the cycleway, now I imagine that would be a beautiful ride, especially during autumn with the stunning red trees!

Loved the last update too mate, that junction has to be the best I've seen.

Oh, and I love the random links! Hah, the first one is really bizarre! Hehe... Flumbdumb! Ahem, and the second was unusual but colourful!

You were my first nomination this year mate.

Cheers, choco.

Take care.

[magpieshooter 1]

Excellent update as usual. I really enjoyed seeing the layout of the cycleways, which is very well done, and is well designed. Trial and error is a necessary part and I'm glad you show your decision making processes.

[meinhosen 11]

That's some fantastic work with those cycleways. Makes me wish I had a lot of time available to dedicate to major eye-candy projects. I'm most awed by #11, when you added the trees around the path- that's quality in every sense of the word.

[Nik-nik 3]

John, Internet is realy screwing up my private RL life as I have to give in to my urge to visit your CJ. Well the result is that my youngest (Merijn) is eating his cereal himself (imagine a 1,5 year old with yoghurt all over him especially in his hair and the living room is covered with cereals)

Your update was all worth it

brilliant how you made that cycleway connection next to the red roofed house. It shows your degree of perfectionism. (thank God I am not the only one like that out there).

That cycleway crossing is great and that cycleway is just perfect.

Have a great weekend, John.

Nik-Nik

PS Jop and Pim love your work and I have to rescue my carpet from Merijn.

[hondo42769 0]

Nice work with the cycleways. I haven't used them, but may try them out in the new region I'm developing. I like the fact that it is "hard" to see the cycleway through the trees. There is enough showing through to know it is there, but yet it doesn't distract from the rest of the view. Maintaining this natural look is part of what makes AVR so special.

[aldara6166 109]

John,

My friend...it has been too long since I've visited...the MAPP has taken most of my online time and I need to get out more now that we are in testing and winding down to the initial release.

I am trying to catch up on so much that I've missed...so many CJ's have gone way past where I ever expected them to...so I must keep my responses brief so I can move on to view more...I know I'm going to have at least 25-50 pages or so of yours to catch up on!   

Let me just say though my friend...your skills have grown tremendously...everything here looks great...and, you still find ways to use my creations AND advertise them as well... 

Great work my friend...truly great work...keep em comin...