Anduin Valley Revisited

[jacqulina 162]

hiya john,

yes all is going good here thankyou my friend,

yes i love using chris,s flora so much fun to use.dont worry i know you are a busy man my friend,you pop in when you have time,thanks for popping in and enjoying my work.i think maybe my towns/vcillages have got a little better lol.yours are perfect.

those curvy roads are fantastic aent they,you have used them well,they look fantastic.awesome work as allways.

take care

jacky 

[rklesc 0]

First time to stop in... yeah I have been gone for awhile... sad to say.

In any event, your progress tutorial is inspiring. Really got me thinking about getting outside the box. Thanks for sharing.

[deathtopumpkins 43]

Well, for that shape of zoning you might get your wish in Cities XL... I believe they plan on irregularly shaped zones.

I must say, I was a little nervous about those 1x1 zones... but I must say the final product turned out really well!

I love those commercial buildings too, and where did you get that McDonald's!?

Lastly, I love that last overview! Gorgeous city.

[Hawkeye9 0]

WOW, this is an amazing cj!!!

Spectacular work!!!!

Ill definatly be back for more!!!

[penguin007 27]

Wow you've done a lot since I last commented here I love the river you've created one of the best Ive ever seen and although its not Anduin Valley it more than makes up as its still your classic style

Will

[Rayden 7]

Originally posted by: Darmok... it's just a bit unfortunate that I took an almost sc4 sabbatical last year... but sometimes you have to follow your heart, and in 2008 my heart was more into music...quote>

Tell the truth John, you weared your finger nails playing guitar and couldn't handle the game then.

But I can see you're back again, and those fingers are still doing their magic.

By the way, Happy Fourth Anniversary AVR!

Take care,

Silvio

[mayorbk 66]

great neighborhood and town!!

[sobol 1]

/rubs hands anxiously

I wonder what the Darmok will produce this time...

OT: Hey John! How are you hanging in there?

[Twenty20 28]

Absolutely lovely, I like the way you show the construction of the roads and the city. Your countryside is very nicely done.

[sobol 1]

Wow.. 4th anniversary of this newer thread.. hmm, how old is AVR since it's inception?

[Darmok 34]

haljackey

Hi Ryan

I first saw something like it in Jeroni's Columbia River where he was zoning low and then medium density 1x1 side by side so they wouldn't mix, but then if you have water the medium zone gives you small apartment buildings and I didn't want that so this way all you have to do is wait a bit then make historical and then zone in between...

Yeah, I'm often kind of dyslexic when typing, often inverting letters.... I have to pace myself I always try to type fast and I have a very limited talent in that matter, hehehe...

Take care

-John

Raysfan16

Hi Raysfan,

Thanks for stopping by and have your say!

Looking forward to reading you again

-John

SirUnger

Thanks SirUnger!

-John

sobol

Hey Nathan,

The WRX! Well... you aim high!

Yeah it's kind of a wild beast... not mentioning the price tag!

My taste are more conventional, I prefer to put more money in my music studio than on a steel box with 4 wheels. This being said, I must say that If I was a millionaire, I'd be running to the Aston Martin dealer to buy a DBS.... But as I still didn't won the lottery, my small Mazda will do the trick.

A shame you had to give up on guitar, I did that when I was 24 (or 25) and I regret it to this day, I'm so glad I decided to go back to music you wouldn't believe! It really is my haven after a hard day at work.

Anyhow, good luck in your car shopping!

See you soon

-John

Benedict

Hey Ben,

Well, the personal replies are part of what AVR is all about, I can't imagine this CJ without it... it just wouldn't be the same. Very often inspiration and ideas come from readers remarks and suggestions.

Quality as nothing to do with update frequency Ben, keep at it, and do it at your own pace, that Trixie is just around the corner I'm sure.

-John

art128

Thanks for the good whishes Art!

See you

-John

chocolatemax285

Wow, now that's a surprise!

How do you do Max? Long time no see....

So good to read you again my friend.

A new CJ you say? I'll have to check that up for sure.

Yeah, the two digits period, t'was some time ago now...

And we still have so much new content on a regular basis, be it Chris Adams rural project or David and gang on the FAR/FARR pieces, the new NAM.... it's easy to get challenged and wanting to play and create some more!

Anyhow, good to see you're back in the saddle again.

Looking forward to see your new CJ.

Take care

-John

GMT

Hi Torben'

At first I just plopped the school itself, and I was not satisfied with the result, but I didn't want a big elementary school... so I just added some trimmings and voila... that's all it needed to be more "realistic".

Hehehe... that's a burden I'm willing to take, no problem, Jeroni did the same to me in 2003 with his detailing and terraforming in Columbia River, before that my terraforming skills were VERY, and I mean VERY limited... so to be able to motivate others up to a certain extent is somewhat fulfilling.

Take care

-John 

PhilsCafe

Hey Phil,

Les commentaires sur ton CJ venaient du fond du coeur, tu as LARGEMENT mérité ton Trixie.

Several of your pics have instilled some new ideas in my mind... Now if only I can implement them in a satisfactory fashion...

I appreciate that you've noticed that the scenic road is more of a beltway than a commercial strip, it'll have some access point to the various residential and/or commercial sectors and serve a better purpose this way.

Back to your CJ, I really like how you succeed at creating that small/unpretentious town feeling, it simply is amazing, only two others in my opinion have the same approach each with their own style, Bernhard (Nardo69) and Meinhosen...

Here's the new update, I hope you'll find some things to your liking.

Take care

-John

Alafel

Hi Alafel

I think I'll do another high res mosaic after that whole new res/com sector will be finished.

See you!

-John

Livin in Sim

Gilmour can make a Strat cry like no other can't he?

The only other one I can think of who can do some similar tricks is Jeff Beck, but then again in his case the guitar wails, he's quite unique. But I prefer Gilmour's sound anyhow. That particular piece was quite good, first time I saw it on the Tube...

What can I say, when I'm ready I just post like mad! hehehe...

Nahhh... it's just that I had the time, if not it would have waited until sunday night so.... better sooner than later no? Well.... not always... but that's another story.

Hum...

Yeah cruising the miracle mile... I'll have to place some parking spots along the scenic route were the kids will be able to watch the submarine races. (nod to Happy Days and Fonzie)

Yeah the knolls... it's so frustrating when a click with the terraforming Mayor tools just ruin your (almost) perfect slope, and you have to repair the whole thing, often arriving at a result which is not what you really wanted... I guess it's often the case in RL too... I've not given up on the seasonal trees but I just don't seem to have the inclination of using them lately.... go figure... my guess is, I'm lazy.

I just had a look at Beebs new Craftsman Houses... impressive! Thanks for bringing it to my attention. They will definitely find a place in AVR! I'll have to look up Homefryes work too!

Your music choice, so far, is perfect. I'm sure the BBM survey (I don't know if you have the same thing in the US but here it's BBM who're making surveys for the radio and TV stations..) would show that KLIV is on of the most successful Radio Station in the business. Talking about new music, my taste will go more towards John Mayer and the likes, my hard rock period stayed with the 70's and 80's, now I'm more of a blues fan.

Shooting the breeze, yeah I would have loved to shoot it for real this morning !... (this being written monday morning) it was minus 20 celcius and with the freezing rain we had sunday I woke up with an inch of solid ice on the windshield! Took me half an hour to get rid of it while freezing my b.. humm... behind... Oh well.. that's the price we have to pay for living up north.

Blown 2 power supplies! Do you have one of those new video cards that suck power like Bela Lugosi in a blood bank? if so you'll need something like a 500 or 600 watt one. Good choice on the long run.

Well... a new PC is always a mixed blessing, the performance is welcome but footing the bill is always a pain in the neck...

Luck

See you

-John

fabsies55

fabsies55

fabsies55

Hi fabsies,

They say three times is the charm, hehehe....

Three posts! I guess you really did liked the update!

Just kidding, it does happen sometimes.

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to drop a line, it's really appreciated.

See you

-John

jacqulina

Hi Jacky,

thanks my friend, and I must say that your villages are great and not only that but they have a unique style, which is really something on the SC4 scene.

Heve a great weekend/week

Regards

-John

rklesc

Hey RK,

There's a first time for everything!

I went to look at your CJ, Not bad at all for someone who's "out of touch" for a long time as you say....

I really like the rail treatment in that particular picture

PICTURE FROM rklesc CJ - (Just click on his signature to get there)

I'd say that the only thing with what I have a problem would be the steep slope in some of your roads/street, and that's a question of personal preference so...

All in all you're doing a great work there, different not only in the way you zone, but also in the atmosphere itself... it looks "barren" not in a bad way mind you, but more like a place where someone have to work hard to get by, but were one feels good at the end of a hard day's work, if you see what I mean.

I like it and its promising, always good to see a new approach to an old theme.

As for thinking outside the box... I guess it's due to my nature, I'm in graphic design, so, management is not my forte, but ideas (sometimes wild)... that, I have in spades!

Looking forward to reading you again.

-John

penguin007

Hi Will,

Good to see you!

I must say that I liked working on that river for a good reason... Chris Adams flora... with it it's now quite easy, if you take the time of course, to obtain great results with minimum efforts, mostly patience... ;-)

Well... technically it's not on the same map... but let's say that it's really nearby.

Great to see you again Will, come back anytime!

Take care

-John

Rayden

Hehehe... who told you about my fingernails!

Silvio it's so good to read you again!

Thanks a lot for your good wishes, and yes I'll try to update on a more regular basis now.

I hope you're having a good snowboarding season! We on the other hand have a lot less snow than last year!

Take care my friend

-John

mayorbk

Hi Mayorbk,

Thanks!

sobol

Here you go Nathan,

Some more pictures....

Still hangin' my friend don't worry! ;-)

-John

P.S. AVR is my only thread, it's the one who's 4 years old.

Twenty20

Hi Twenty,

I've learned so much by reading other CJ'ers tutorials, that for me it's kind of returning the favor, and this way by sharing our different techniques we learn faster than by keeping it "secret".

Thanks for stopping by.

-John

And now Ladies and gents here's

So there it is... some new pics.

Hope you liked it and I'll try to have some more ready for next week or so...

In the meantime enjoy life.

Take care

-John

P.S. I don't do this often, but thursday, coming back from my weekly jam, I was checking for new posts, and noticed that we just reached the 140 000 view landmark... wow...

You people truly are supportive!

EDITED

---

P.P.S. here's the LINK promised

[sobol 1]

Hey John,

great update... but is that hospital too big for this rural area?

Subaru update: I found out the 09 WRX is like 100x better than the 08.. more power, better suspension and more features.. and I test drove a Forester XT and I was impressed. The 09 Impreza GT is also very nice. Hmmmm.. choices.. so many.

I didn't give up on music, I do just grew up a bit. In my spare time I turned my home office into a studio and I am learning Logic right now. I have Final Cut down.. so I am learning to edit music and video. Fun, fun and more fun. The home videos are looking rather professional.

Going to NY for the Valentine's Weekend. That will be fun. Each time I visit, I get inspired to play SC4. Go figure.

[PhilsCafe 8]

Wow, I really feel humbled. I love the styles of both Bernhard and Meinhosen. Thank you, John.

Nice update! I like what you've done with the mall, especially the tweaking makes perfect sense. That's something I always look forward to in your updates: you're attention to details. I'm sure, people are very happy that they now have a mall and a hospital near them... no long drives to Anduin Valley anymore...

I like the different focal points, they let me have a presentiment that this town is going to grow to a 'decent' size (you know, I never was a person for a life in the country , I like the amenities of a town).

Take care my friend!

- Phil

[Benedict 3,119]

Excellent stuff - i like seeing some of the midrise development.

[Raysfan16 5]

Wow, another great update. Your meticulous attention to detail is fantastic. It's cool to see a once pristine area fill in but with development remain so lush and green.

[art128 4,622]

John, this is spectacular my friend !

All your work is awesomely stunning.

You're always a source of inspiration for me...

Take care,

Arthur.

[Hawkeye9 0]

Hey very nice update!!!

The area turned out great, I especailly like the mall!!!

Congrats on 140000 views and ill be back for more!!!

[dfnva 34]

John,

Nice update, I like the small town and the variety of businesses, yet not too many to spoil the small-town feel. Nice work with the transit enabling of the Food Lion. There's an almost identical shopping center near where I live except it's a Bloom, which is Food Lion's upscale grocery division.

-Dan

[danielcote 9]

this is great can you do a small town that would be great!

[Livin in Sim 83]

I'll be the roundabout

The words will make you out n out

You change the day your way

Call it morning driving thru the sound and

In and out the valley

The muses dance and sing

They make the children really ring

I spend the day your way

Call it morning driving thru the sound and

In and out the valley

In and around the lake

Mountains come out of the sky and they

Stand there

One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you

Ten true summers we'll be there and

Laughing too

Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be

There with you

I will remember you

Your silhouette will charge the view

Of distance atmosphere

Call it morning driving thru the sound and

Even in the valley

Along the drifting cloud the eagle searching

Down on the land

Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees

The rim of the land

The eagles dancing wings create as weather

Spins out of hand

Go closer hold the land feel partly no more

Than grains of sand

We stand to lose all time a thousand answers

By in our hand

Next to your deeper fears we stand

Surrounded by a million years

I'll be the roundabout

The words will make you out n out

I'll be the roundabout

The words will make you out n out

From the album Fragile, that's Yes, takin' us to the top of the hour.  Keep it right here on 94.3, KLIV, for your Sunday afternoon, the day after Valentines Day, hope you had a good one.  With chocolate prices on the rise, and anti Valentines cards for sale, hopefully a sweet gesture from someone you love was all you wanted and received.  If you were on the giving end, you could have done what one husband who didn't have time to run out and buy a card did.  He grabbed an advertising flyer from the local hardware store and made his own.  The verse?  "I lawn for you mower and mower each day"...

Hi, John,

The town is commencing to grow.  It's not just a little burg anymore.  Such is life when you are in such a pleasant area.  People are bound to move in, unless you adopt the motto, "Bywater: You Wouldn't Like It Here" and even that may not stop them.  The library is quite suitable, and Benedict does sound very respectable.  The hospital...well, it is a tad large and bright...but I like the reflections--they're very interesting.  You're spot on with the surrounding businesses, and I think there's also a restaurant nearby so folks with ill loved ones won't have to eat that horrible hospital food.  And maybe they can sneak in some take out.  The traffic in the parking lots makes it very realistic.  Do they cause congestion?  I've been scanning about for the high res link, trying to get that little hand to appear...eh, no luck.  Is it there somewhere?  140K views, thatsa lotta eyeballs. 

The computer is back.  It will live on to run Sim for a bit longer.  Evidently the new power supplies are very susceptible to power fluctuations within the house wiring.  A glorified battery powered surge protector that also protects from mini drains was purchased.  I swear the manufacturers are in cahoots.  No, my card is not that greedy for power, thank goodness.  It isn't a juice vampire.  I've heard SC has a bit standoffish relationship with the new ones anyway.  Did you ever have lag after updating your drivers?  Seems to be slower all this time after my son did that.  Can you redo the old ones?  They would be fine since it's just used on SC now, no more WOW. 

Gilmour is holding his own, isn't he?  But when did he start resembling my best friend's father in law??  Who knew that Gilmour would look like Ernie?  Oh, the puzzlement of growing older, looking in the mirror and seeing my mother.  But who is that rather intense looking young guy with nicely mudded motor bike and person?    Why, that's Ol' Darmok, the Forest Rampager!    Yes, I see now, very good, and cool jacket.  A few years ago, I had a "Vernal Equinox" 70's party, it was a dress up, and several of the guys showed up in army surplus. 

Another good update under the belt.  You know, I think this journal could catch on...

J/K!!  Give my best to Nancy and the fam.

--Liv

[Darmok 34]

MINI

following Liv (Living in Sim) comment

Sorry for forgetting the link to the HIGH RES global view Liv...

Here it is - Click HERE

Take care

[deathtopumpkins 43]

Great update! I especially like the little shopping center and the overview. Getting very detailed!

And I am with you 100% on TE'ing those shopping centers... really makes it a whole lot more realistic.

[SirUnger 13]

Again very awesome pics! I love your CJ, keep up this awesome work!

[SirUnger 13]

Again very awesome pics! I love your CJ, keep up this awesome work!

[penguin007 27]

Wonderful update again there and lots of development of the town there. However I agree that the hospital looks out of place.

Will

[GMT 389]

so it looks like we're both victims of jeronij's great work back in the days, eh?

anyways, speaking of great work, you got once more a lot of great ideas completing the last update!

I really like what you did to TE all the malls and stores. really adds another little glimpse of realism to it!

as always, can't wait for more!

[Haljackey 17,385]

That is turning into quite the town, John. Excellent work as usual, the new big box stores and the hospital should provide jobs for this growing area. Once again, great work!

[io_bg 249]

Awesome update!

[Darmok 34]

Before answering you this week, allow me to clarify the situation about the hospital, the size of the town and all things related....

I begun playing on Bywater with the idea of creating a small community in a natural setting, but, as I've often wrote, when I play SC4 I never limit myself to a constraint if not what's the point of playing.

So this being said, when I play I really wing it most of the time, and in this case Bywater seems to have a life of its own and wants to grow to a mid size town instead of a small one. This explaining the need for a more commerce and service oriented town which will be serving the greater regional Bywater area, including some small towns that will grow around Bywater itself. thus the need for a good health infrastructure.

Don't worry though, the hospital, which by the way have been replaced with one whose texture fits better in that sector, will be the tallest structure in Bywater, I have NO desire to turn Bywater into a city, not even a small one. It'll grow that's for sure, but more in an "expansive" way rather than in density.

This little speech is in no way intended to limit your suggestions which are ALWAYS welcome, but more of a clarification of what's Bywater is becoming.

I thank Liv, Nathan, Will and all those who pointed out that the Hospital didn't fit in, they were right (texture wise), and I've acted on it, as you will see in the following chapter, searching for a small size hospital made me realize that there's not that much to choose from! Sure you'll find several of them but, most of the time, their footprints are rather large.... Anyhow I think I've found one that'll fit better if not perfecly.

Again thank you all for your suggestions.

I really appreciate it.

-John

Now! Back to our regular programming!

sobol

Hi Nathan,

For the hospital I refer you to the Intro.

Hehehe... yeah... choices choices, but It really is fun to shop for new wheels!

I personally use Sonar Home Studio XL7 (by Cakewalk) for home recording, probably will upgrade to ProTools 8 within the year. But even if I like recording music, my passion is more into playing than recording. Though I must admit that when I shop for a new guitar it's rather expensive!

Hope you had a great time in NY, on our side we played it cozy style, good wine, good food, chocolate fondue, fireplace, good movies.... had a great weekend.

Take care

-John

PhilsCafe

You don't have to feel humbled at all Phil, IMO you are on the same level than Bernhard and Meinhosen.

With all the tools we have now, adding those details is a cinch.

Bywater will grow up to a certain extent, but will not become a city (see intro) but will grow nonetheless

I'm a bit like you, I like to have access to certain amenities but on the other hand I don't want to live in a big city, it's a "m

[dedgren 830]

ar, ar... ar-oooooooooooooooooo!

...where wolf? There- there wolf...

Two great updates, hospital and all, John.

Actually though, stuff that doesn't fit in is way more the RL norm. That's why places where things have been gotten right stand out so far.

That's why AVR stands out so far, my friend.

David