Anduin Valley Revisited

[threestooges 0]

I don't think there are words to describe it (literally, my interent shutdown on me as I was writing my original message), but I was wondering, how does it feel? It's been a great ride to come along on. The dedication you've shown is nothing short of extraordinary. Great work on the main street area. The SAM adds a great feel to it, and you've become a master of the LE. Those alleyway connectors look great, but even beyond that, the parking lot and baseball field (bleachers). It fits in so well, and the details are great touches: specifically the bike rack. It fits in so well there and seems to be something so obvious that it would be easy to overlook.  The mosaic is probably one of the best I've seen recently. There seems to be so much life to it: the baseball game going on while workers pick from the fields just below, so much detail that really shows how far the game has come, and I don't think it would've made it there without something like this. There are some great BATs out there and their makers are truly talented, but it takes a great application of a BAT to really make it shine. This cj has been that place and that last mosaic really shows it. But even beyond that, it is amazing how you have brought people into it, whether it be in the form of passports of citizenship or dedicating a building/sector to them. Pics 16 and 17 seem so appropriate, and a fitting end for the journey. I hope it was as enjoyable for you as it has been for us. I remember first stumbling across this what seems like years ago... though you've already thanked us, I would like to thank you. Hope the painting goes well and the guitar plays well.

[Cleaner475 150]

its been awesome, and to look back 155 pages would take a long time so I bet people are still reading this from the beggining

great pics, well done, I don't see how you can put up with the game for this long - great dedication too

Richard

[bokrif 18]

GREAT work, that is all I can say. Nothing was and nothing is close to your CJ in greatness. I have to say thank you!

[flame1396 9]

Great! Just great!

I wonder how many times that has been posted in here?

[John94538 0]

Well, it seems that a marvelous CJ will soon end after the mosaic. I've been following this CJ for months already and I think this has got to be one of the best CJs where the author focuses on every little bit of space and stresses that nature should always be used in a city.

EDIT: It looks like no noe else posted before on this page, so here goes:

Welcome to Page 156!

[meinhosen 11]

John,

It's been quite some time since I've posted on your CJ, but needless to say that I'm impressed with all you have done. As always, your work has been an inspiration into the creation, building, and detailing of my own cities and CJ... which brings me to say that I'm sad to see AVR completed. I'm glad to hear that you're considering opening another CJ in the future (you will, of course, always have a fan on my end)... and I will look forward to that occasion.

Thanks for sharing your awesome region and awesome work! I'll be keeping my eyes open for your next CJ!

MH..

[Naryanna 0]

This cj is an amazing piece of art! All aspects of it are greatly done. Seriously superb work was shown here and presented on to eye friendly way. Great!

[wouanagaine 83]

John, you've managed to make me unhide from my lurking mode

I just want to tell you that you've always been a great source of inspiration to my playing style and that all the little tutorials spread over AVR are a great source of knowledge

Take care !

going back to lurking

[bat 6]

Awesome updates there and also a wonderful last update! Fantastic pictures! That region is looking really beautiful, John!

Excellent work!

bat

[jeronij 13]

Hello John, now that you made history is a good moment for a change

AVR is a SC4 legend. Thanks for creating it and sharing it with us

[sebbyb07 2]

This is one of the most awesome Cj's ive seen, i love your farms and the way you make your roads!

[owenluby 1]

Your journal stands out from the rest John. The rest of the (in my opinion) rubbish on this site. Sorry, but it's true..

And to think that it is ending is kind of sad.

But rest assured, you will create something else great...

Thanks for the ride!

Adieu Anduin Valley...

[meldolion 1]

What a wonderful CJ!!! This will be of great ispiration for my at SC4Devotion

Great work Darmok!!!

[Rayden 7]

I won't say goodbye or fairwell yet, 'coz I'm anxiously waiting for that final region mosaic, but, I'll surely miss the Fridays looking around for an AVR update, no more dancing bananas  for you.
Also, despite this is almost over, I'm sure that, between guitar jams and scratches, sooner or later, you will be pulling off your sleeve, something like or even better than AVR. On that day, my dancing banana will show up again, and me and almost everybody will be trilled with your new CJ/MD, what ever.

John, my friend, you've done a great job with this CJ. It has been my source of inspiration for a very long time. This CJ, along with a few others (SCR, Nexis, 3RR, Simtropia, Choco's and AleK's CJ's) are the perls of our SimCity 4 community.

I don't know what else to say, just good luck, make a break, play guitar, and start a new CJ (as soon as possible) when ever you feel like to, I'll be around still, here or at SC4Dev.

[suplado! 23]

this is a very interesting cj!, nice overview of the region...anyway, cool update! hope 2 see more of your work (if ever) soon...

[Giligone 10]

I guess its true, "all good things must come to an end". But that doesn't make it any easier. AVR has been/still is an amazing CJ. You're updates are more like tutorials than traditional updates and have helped me raise my 'game' to higher levels. Thanks so much! Will you be done CJing for good now or is there plans for a new CJ? In any case, Amazing job on this for so long.

[sobol 1]

Hey admin peeps.. can this CJ be compiled (all non creator comments removed) and be made into a single cj faq/tutorial and be kept as a sticky???

[mightygoose 92]

well i know i was active for a while, then i slipped back into lurkdom, but dedgren gave me a heads up to check AVR out and i can catergorically say this is the best CJ i have ever read. its just too good. thankyou for this wonderful sweeping piece of art and i cant wait for the full region mosaic. thanks thanks and thanks again.....

john

[Dsrwhat316 12]

nooooo, i don't want this to end! this has been one of my biggest sources of inspiration when i first joined this site. i really wish you the best of luck on whatever endeavors you decide to undertake; hopefully we'll see another masterpiece by you someday. i'll have a link permanently attached to my sig so that people won't forget this. take care!

~ Dan

[Chris M 406]

Hey John,

It's sad to see Anduin end, but it was a great way to go out.  It was a nice final update; very relaxing and peaceful.  Anoriend reminds me of a great little place to spend a nice Saturday afternoon.  Going street shopping and then out to watch some baseball.   The rural image is a great thing and it's nice seeing it in a CJ because I don't get much of it where I live, lol.  Also, it's great to see you opening up the LE and doing a little bit of customizing to your game (other than just the streets with the SAM mod). 

Excellent work, and I truly enjoyed Anduin Valley and let it rest in peace!

Looking forward to the next city journal by you John,

Thanks for a great adventure,

Chris

[patfirefghtr 160]

John I've been a loooong time Lurker here on AVR and I'm sadden to see it end... But alas all good things must come to end and with that I want to say thank you for such great step by step tuts and the wonderful and most wicked cool pics you have shown here... So its a tad late to come out of Lurking but what a better time to add my wishes of thanks and praises to you.... - Pat

[Yoman3 5]

I feel like I've just read the last word in the last chapter of one of my favorite books of all time (Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy). First time I read it all those years ago I didn't want it to end. I've searched the entire genera of Techothrillers and now have read pretty much everyone. But nothing has topped Red Storm thus far, and every year and a half or so I continue to read it. Takes me about a week because I love it so much.

So AVR goes in with one of my favorite CJs / MDs of all time. And it would not surprise me to find myself looking up the links to all the others in the next three hours and reading through them. Then every time I need some inspiration or remember to I'll probably find myself on one of the many pages or AVR.

One of the major reasons I keep coming back is not the city building (which is near perfect) but your hands on style with the readers. You don't just show pictures like I tend to do. But you teach the people how to do it and exactly what you did. I know my visits here have made my own city building skills much better. Not only this, but I'm glad to be a citizen of AVR, and in about 20 seconds once I finish this comment I'm going to go look for that update, way the hell long ago, probably about 100 pages back or so where I got my passport, just to remember it.

So good luck with whatever you decide to do after this, at ST, Sc4D, or in RL John, and thanks for sharing AVR with us.

Thanks,

Owen

[GreekMan 246]

ohh Anduin was a great Cj!

My condrads to you!

[SpecialEddie 3]

I love the small town feel of the main street, and those new road textures:  Once again, the attention to detail is still unparalleled, especially in the ballpark and its parking lots. The main street strip looks very cozy and small-town feely (). 

And a very subtle ending to this great CJ. Finally decided to settle down, eh?  You deserve it, John. AVR has been a great ride. You've truly made it a work of love, effort, and determination. 

Sad to see it go, though. At least I get the feeling that I was part of something. *brandishes passport*

[Shadow Assassin 336]

Two years later, Anduin Valley's ended.

It was a great ride while it lasted.

So, what's next on the drawing board after Anduin Valley?

[IDS2 3,346]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was the most unbelieveable, realistic, amazing city journal that will ever be created. I seriously envy you. I wish I could live in Anorien...wow...as always, and for the last time, I guess, congratulations on Anduin Valley, just amazing. And now that it's the end, what's next?

[Gayowulf 14]

So it goes.

Let us know what you're making next. We'll be there.

Farewell, Anduin Valley Revisited!

[sloppet 3]

Hi there John!

Yeah, it's me...

Just wanted to say that sill you're CJ is #1 for me. You've got some mad skillz, great work there!

156 pages - now that's what you call a big CJ.

[JanYpe 17]

Bravo, this is the kind of gold that got me interested in CJ's.

[colin1234 0]

fantastic work you have done john so sad to see it end