Whats the difference?

[trankdog 1]

I'm new to the STEX and i was wondering what the difference is in catigories between BAT and LOT files.  

i'm wondering this because i'm trying to organize all my downloads, so i can exchange files instead of dumping all of them. I'm not a file maker, i'm just plain confuese

[mrbisonm 1,622]

First welcome to Simtropolis.

When you are looking for something on this site, I recommend that you use the search bar first. Usually the answers can be found this way. Then there is the Omnibus section which contains a lot of help and information such as tutorials etc...

Now, a lot is what you plop or what will grow in your City. The stuff on your lot are called props (dependencies) and the ground texture usually is called texture (also a dependency). The mainbuilding is a BAT, but also the props are BATs. BATs are the models created with the 3d program gmax and then placed on the Lot. B.A.T. means = Building Architect Tool, the tool that it was made with.

In other words: The lot usually is empty, nothing on it, and what is on it are called BATs or dendencies.

Hope that didn't confuse you too much now....lol

Enjoy your stay on Simtropolis.

mrbisonm/Moderator

[trankdog 1]

ok so when i download a BAT, am i downloading the 3dsmax file or is it the file i put into sim city?

[Swamper77 90]

When you download a BAT, you are downloading a file for the game. If the file description says it is a 3ds or a GMAX model, then you are downloading something that is to be used in the BAT to create a model to be exported to the game.

-Swamper77

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Yeah, the terms BAT and LOT are not (and cannot be) kept strictly apart, because a building would be no use for SC4 without a lot on which it grows or can be plopped.

Strictly speaking, all stuff that can be grown or plopped in your city and doesn't act as a mere dependency is a LOT - either with a custom-made BAT building on it or not.

I guess the term "BAT" for an entire download came into use when the BAT program was released. Before, only LOTs without custom-made buildings could be made and published. With the new BAT program, it was possible to add a self-made building to the game by putting it onto a custom LOT. So I guess people started to differentiate between BAT (custom LOT with custom building (BAT) on it) and LOT (custom LOT without any custom-made building).

Then, there are lots that do use custom-made buildings, but the buildings are not packaged with the lot. Instead, they are external dependencies, e.g. from a prop pack. In this case, the download is also generally called a LOT.

I hope that helped a little; all these terms and abbreviations are very confusing for every beginner. However, you can rest assured that everything that's not called a prop pack, a 3ds or gmax model, or a texture, is something that will form an immediate addition to your game.

[onlyplace4 605]

Originally posted by: mrbisonm

Now, a lot is what you plop or what will grow in your City. The stuff on your lot are called props (dependencies) and the ground texture usually is called texture (also a dependency). The mainbuilding is a BAT, but also the props are BATs. BATs are the models created with the 3d program gmax and then placed on the Lot. B.A.T. means = Building Architect Tool, the tool that it was made with.

In other words: The lot usually is empty, nothing on it, and what is on it are called BATs or dendencies.

mrbisonm/Moderatorquote>

Well it confused me

Welcome to SimTrop trankdog. I can only echo what both mrbisonm and T Wrecks have already said. One things they haven't said, so I will just in case it crops up, when you download from the STEX you unzip the files into My Documents/SimCity 4/Plugins and then the buildings etc., will appear in your game. If they are ploppable you will find them in the menus within the game. If they are growable then you will have to wait until the game engine decides to use them.

Any questions, feel free to ask

[mrbisonm 1,622]

Originally posted by: onlyplace4

Originally posted by: mrbisonm

Now, a lot is what you plop or what will grow in your City. The stuff on your lot are called props (dependencies) and the ground texture usually is called texture (also a dependency). The mainbuilding is a BAT, but also the props are BATs. BATs are the models created with the 3d program gmax and then placed on the Lot. B.A.T. means = Building Architect Tool, the tool that it was made with.

In other words: The lot usually is empty, nothing on it, and what is on it are called BATs or dendencies.

mrbisonm/Moderatorquote>

Well it confused me

quote>

LOL.............LOL again....sorry about that, come to think of it, after reading it myself, it doesn't seem to be clear....LOL

[newyorkstate 6]

Woah, Im starting to get confused myself!

[trankdog 1]

well it's ok, i understand... I'm not a total $%&^! to 3d because i have worked with a program called Anim8or. Now i'm working on learning an even better program called Blender 3d. Mabye after that i'll finnally get around to learning 3ds max so i can make buildings.

thanks for helping me out. i really was confussed with bats and lots before this topic. thanks.

anim8or
http://www.anim8or.com

blender 3d
http://www.blender3d.org