Ron Swanson

I just purchased this game and am excited to start. I played the demo when it was first released and loved it. I just haven't had the computing power since to run it after I sold my desktop. But my new laptop should be able to run it well. XLnation does have an active community, albeit on a rather crude website. Simtropolis is much more polished and user friendly. I think there is a lot of potential with this game and at least some members who could significantly change the engine for greater performance. However, FHI has resisted such help and so far seem unwilling to change the performance. But I am optimistic they could change their mind. This game, from a graphics standpoint, outdoes SC4 10 fold. The camera angles alone made me enamored with this game. Simcity was my first love and was pretty groundbreaking all the way back to the first one released in 1989. But Simcity 2013 (even with news it will be offering an offline version) is so limiting, I can't stand it. The simulator is impressive, but I've always played to create cities, not handle disasters and satisfy the endless Sims needs. I've read enough to believe I can circumvent the lag issues and there is enough custom content being created to satisfy my wants in a city simulator.

http://www.onlinewelten.com/win/226-cities-xl-beta-keys/ This site is still giving away beta keys, unfortunately, the citiesxl website is down so I can't play the game yet.

Originally posted by: Dsrwhat316 a fresh pic from me: This pic was meant to showcase how to blend in a sunken freeway in a large city, not focusing on the highway itself. ~ Danquote> Where did you get those walls?

Sorry for the bump, but this was more of a test region for my new one that I am currently working on. I tried a lot of new things, things I liked and am looking forward to using in my new journal. I may continue this one later down the road, since to date, it is my most "successful" journal on the forums. But look for my new journal soon. -Cewl

Wow, cool ideas here guys! Love mightygooses use of farms and his roads are extremely realistic. Nice job...

Hey I fixed the link. Hopefully its what you were looking for...

Inglewood, California

Yes, there is a mod that makes all sidewalk textures the same without the grass textures. Link

Yeah it was a real bummer to hear of his death. He had seemingly bright future after his daughter was born. Really sad stuff...So young too...

Hey, just wanted to show you a little picture of downtown. I'll be sending a lot more pictures later on, but I thought it would be fun to see this one for now... C.

Geez, how have I missed this one? Amazing custom transportation. Very very realistic, and the little shanty towns and the stadiums, and the National Park, it's all awesome. Nicely done!

I will have a larger view of the region soon, but I just wanted to focus on Volcano Isle in the last picture. Thanks for the response! C.

cool roads, and really nice use of trees. Interesting water color as well

Alright, I made it to Volcano Isle yesterday and stayed the night, so I have some night shots too. It's nice having my own personal helicopter so I can take the pictures. It adds a whole new dimension to picture taking! Anyways, the town is awesome and the volcano is something to behold. Scientists say this is a dormant volcano and shouldn't be a problem for a long while. Let's hope they're right! C. And a satellite shot... The "Isles Country Club and Golf Course" is the only one of it's kind. It boasts 289 acres and 18 holes of gold. In the shadow of the volcano, and teaming with natural springs, this is a top 10 golf course, according to Sim's Golf Digest. Not for the faint of heart if you decide to walk. There are state-of-the-art golf carts to tote around those who are weaker though! It is a membership only course, and depending on status, that membership fee ranges from $3,220 to $3,890. Still, the climate promotes year-round golf if a little rain doesn't bother you. I received access to take some pictures, but I'm not much of a golfer so I didn't take to the links. I enjoyed the town, and the amount of wealthy people matches the amount of fancy restaurants. Overall a really cool place to be if you have the money...

Yes, rural is awesome. I've always wanted to do rural, but I never have the patience. Nicely done!

I couldn't load the whole mosaic, but from what I saw, it's beautfiul. Realistic and just awesome to look at, it's no wonder this journal is still going strong.

You have some of the most creative transportation systems I have seen in a long time. Very cool.

Pretty cool stuff. But those mountains in your last region view are crazy huge. Not to mention your farms create a great feel.

Hey again! Just thought I'd send something since I haven't in a while. Here is the recently completed Wyned Hospital District in Wyned Flats, about 45 miles SE of Downtown Pinnacle Shores. Boasts the largest cancer treament facility in a 300 mile radius. It's a shining example of the growth occuring in Last Point. Plus, I threw in a little peak (pun intended) of Volcano Isle resort town! Enjoy! -C. Sorry the last picture quality is poor, but it's all I could round up until I go there next week...

Ok thanks Sam. You're right, I was looking for 14 billion for the universe and I thought it was 6 billion for the earth, but as you pointed out, it's 4.5 billion. Either way, I do think the big bang is necessary in terms of discussing evolution because this is science's way of explaining how the earth came to be. I don't think it fair to just start at 4.5 billion when it took 9.2 billion to get to the earth. But your right, the theory of evolution does just pertain to the earth. So we'll stick with that. And as far as no one being right, that's also a possibility, but it seems highly unlikely. But it could be. But if that is so, I think the progression of humans as a species is far more limited than most people would like to think. There will always be mysteries in this universe and on this earth that no one will ever discover or figure out. They may have said that 200 years ago, and look at where we are now. Yes technology has opened up a wealth of knowledge, however, technology is limited as well as earth resources. Where we will be as a race in the next 50 years will not be far off from where we are now. Maybe the cure for cancer will be available, but then maybe the avian flu will have knocked out half the world's population. Hard to say. Though actually I had speaker in my biotechonology class say her company is only 5 years from producing an effective vaccine for the avian flu as well as an anthrax vaccine in a powder form, which would allow the vaccine to spread quickly and be available in mass quantities. So there will always be progression, but I think that progression is slowing now. Anyways, that was a huge tangent and I'm not sure what it has to do with no one being right.

Originally posted by: 2nerdy4u Boggy, you are totally right. That story was (obviously) written by a creationist. Key facts were left out of the story. 1. As Boggy said, any teacher would know about cold and darkness being the absences of heat and light, respectively. 2. Evolution surely takes place. Viruses evolve all the time, which is why finding successful vaccines is so difficult. 3. And of course the professor has a brain. He could not function without one. And what about MRI? If the student argues that the teacher has no brain, and therefore cannot be trusted, then likewise, it could be argued that the student, by definition less wise than the professor, also lacks a brain. 4. If faith is the explanation, could it not be argued that unicorns and aliens exist? Surely, if this Christian has faith in a god, he believes also in unicorns and aliens, simply by faith. In fact, why does this student choose to believe only in the Christian god? If what he is truly choosing is faith, then in order to avoid be somewhat of a hypocrit, he must believe in all of the different ideas of gods and all of the myths that men have told. This leads to contradictions. So why and how then, if it is faith that he believes in, does he choose one gods of the many out there? EDIT: Frankie_Grove: All primates are relatively intelligent compared to other animals. Dolphins and elephants are like this too. Also, have you ever heard of Neanderthals? They were, at one time, a completely separate species that lived alongside humans. Then we surpassed them. Perhaps we are a mix of Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons. Or maybe the Neanderthals simply died out. Remember, evolution takes a LONG time, so perhaps this is one of those time periods where there is only one species like us.quote> Yes, technically you are right. If faith is a part of human existence, then it could be argued that unicorns and aliens exist. Who is to say they are wrong for believing? No one can. However, as a Christian, I choose to believe in God, the Holy Trinity, etc. not unicorns and aliens. Why? I don't know. To me, God makes the most sense in a senseless world. Am I wrong? I could be, but I don't believe so. You can tell me I am wrong, just like I could tell you that evolution is wrong. But here is the thing. Someone, somewhere, has to have it right I would think. Someone who believes in some theory (scientific or not) or another has to have it right. Mathmatically, which I believe is the only absolute, the odds are that someone is right in their beliefs. It is because of choice that we believe in God, or evolution, or aliens, or whatever. This discussion is to relate those beliefs. Unfortunately, it has, as it always does, become a debate to prove and disprove and accuse and flame at each other. Well I can see why some people would be bitter towards the Christian population or the evolutionistic population. Who wants to be told they are wrong in their beliefs? No one. It should be like this: Here is my theory, think about it, then tell me your thoughts on it. Do you accept it? If yes, then great. If no, thats fine too. It is about relating beliefs to one another and then choosing something that makes the most sense to yourself. However, some people will take and dismiss one belief or another without fully understanding and thinking about its ideas, history, etc. Thats what this forum is here for. To enlighten those around us. There is a 99.9% chance that no one will be swayed in changing their mind from a paragraph some stranger posted. Thats just how it is. It is simply a way to erase ignorance. The last point you made, evolution taking a long time, and that is because science has to keep expanding the time period for evolution to occur to the point where it is currently. It was 6 billion years ago, n

Wow, now theres a great example of being committed to design. I mean, you've definitely captured Nebraska in a nutshell, flat with tons of farmland. Great suburbs, really great recreation of Lincoln. Well done. May be the most realistic recreation of a city I have ever seen.

Wow, cool stuff. This has potential. I always like seeing stuff like this. Kudos!

Hello! I am extremely excited to tell you that the new airport has been completed as of yesterday. I already have some pictures of it, and a new picture of the cities in the area. It's really neat to see the airport from the aerial view. The most unique thing about this airport is the amount of forest around it. They also created two man made lake and a huge park full of walking trails, which is also really interesting about the design. Its a monument for the region and really is a nice design for its size. Should serve the region well, especially when the second airport is completed down by Volcano Isle! Enjoy!