nedal2001

What were you doing in Nigeria? I have business all over Africa, and Ghana is my base!

Well, I had some time to play some Simcity - As I said before, the wife is pregnant (4 months now!) so all my time has been dedicated to being with her Here is a teaser of what is to come in the update before the end of the month!

Well, I had some time to play some Simcity - As I said before, the wife is pregnant (4 months now!) so all my time has been dedicated to being with her Here is a teaser of what is to come in the update before the end of the month!

Night Tour Around Downtown Kafra Today, we will be taking a tour during the night around the developing downtown neighborhood of Kafra! We will end the tour with a small mosaic of downtown Kafra, looking west (north is right, west is up).

Night Tour Around Downtown Kafra Today, we will be taking a tour during the night around the developing downtown neighborhood of Kafra! We will end the tour with a small mosaic of downtown Kafra, looking west (north is right, west is up).

Alright, so I don't know how many of you would be interested in this sort of things, but when I started this CJ, I decided to incorporate an information sheet for it that has slowly expanded. Basically, in my desire to make running Desera as realistic as possible, I created some excel sheets that showed what the country was making and spending, as well as some other tidbits. I know that my formulas are very, very basic, but for anyone with an interest in these sort of things, it might be worth a look! I update the information sheets along with every update, although this latest version is still a work in progress! Anyway, here is the link for anyone interested in seeing things like Desera's GDP, Exports, Imports, Government Spendings, Army Capabilities, and other stuff! Desera Information Sheet

Its very obvious alot of work went into making this tile one of the most detailed ever presented This is very, very good, and Im not just talking about the pictures, but also the storyline!

Alright, so I don't know how many of you would be interested in this sort of things, but when I started this CJ, I decided to incorporate an information sheet for it that has slowly expanded. Basically, in my desire to make running Desera as realistic as possible, I created some excel sheets that showed what the country was making and spending, as well as some other tidbits. I know that my formulas are very, very basic, but for anyone with an interest in these sort of things, it might be worth a look! I update the information sheets along with every update, although this latest version is still a work in progress! Anyway, here is the link for anyone interested in seeing things like Desera's GDP, Exports, Imports, Government Spendings, Army Capabilities, and other stuff! Desera Information Sheet

Year Eight It happened suddenly and in the dead of night; the village of Tarini, deep in the Borkan Mountains and with a population of 4,530 and growing, was awakened by the sound of mortars exploding and helicopters approaching. Led by Prince Diallo Mallam, the Deseran Armed Forces moved against the Torani rebellion, causing heavy damage to the infrastructure of the village and sending the overmatched Torani rebels fleeing deeper in the mountains. Conquering the area was one thing, but defending and keeping hold of it was another thing entirely. The Torani tribe, known as the fiercest fighters throughout the history of Desera, began employing guerilla tactics, hitting the Deseran Armed Forces and running, chipping away at their enemy little by little. The leader of the tribe, Anwar Torani (who previously held a post in the Deseran Council), was reportedly injured in the initial attack, but had since been nursed back to health and was the main coordinator behind the hit and run tactics. Almost all of the Borkan Mountains was loyal to Anwar Torani, even though they remained under the watchful eye of the federal forces. They viewed the Deseran Armed Forces not as their own, but as an occupier, a foreign force that had invaded their land. As Year Eight drew to a close, the army was in control of most of the Borkan Mountains, but was struggling to inflict much damage on the new fugitive Torani rebels. While Prince Diallo wanted an iron fist to control the Borkan Mountains, his father and Royal President Sidebe Mallam began implementing an initiative to win its loyalty another way. He instructed the Desera Council to set up several representative branches throughout the rugged area, with aim of distributing welfare, food, and free healthcare services to the people there. While many in the council disagreed with that method (it was, after all, money that would have went directly to their pockets), after witnessing the ruthlessness and efficiency of the Deseran Army led by Prince Diallo, there was no public discontent. The initiative, called the “We Are One” program, was implemented very late in Year Eight, and the full results would not be known for at least one year of testing. Shots of the Borkan Mountains. Back in Kafra, the major story of Year Eight was the completion of the new seaport, officially called the Damas Port, named after the area it was built in. The Damas Port was the largest project undertaken by the Desera Council, costing the government E1 billion upon completion. The Kafra Seaport, which had become much too small to handle the cargo that was coming into the country daily, was turned into a fishing port, although rumors abound that the council was planning on destroying it completely. The new port’s effect on the commercial and industrial sectors of Kafra was expected to be big, with major growth predicted in them during Year Nine. The Damas Seaport to the west of Kafra. For the first time since its founding, Kafra’s population growth rate slowed from the previous year, increasing to 49,411. The slowdown was mostly due to the fact that fewer nomadic families from Desera’s rural areas found their way to the capital city during Year Eight, giving the Desera Council some relief and time to help invest in the city’s infrastructure and catch up with its growth. The slums and shanty towns surrounding central Kafra showed almost no expansion – instead, the area north of the University of Kafra was developed from clay one story houses to more elegant and luxurious Deseran Revivalist buildings, in line with the rest of central Kafra. On the other side of Masjid Street, in western Kafra, the industrial sector showed major expansion, no doubt spurred by the promise the new Damas Seaport had brought with it. Warehouses were constructed at a rapid pace, and there were even some small, light manufacturing plants that opened its doors for business, to cater to the local market. Western Kafra had become the industrial and trading heart of the city since the old Kafra Seaport was converted into a fishing dock, and center of Kafra, which was once the trading hub of the city, had begun slowly shifting from the wholesale and trade activities into a more retail and service oriented district. Replies NMUSpidey: The climate is northern West African - arid, dry, savannah/semi-desert like temperature and terrain - there are some storms that come through, but nothing like what the western Atlantic sees. We have Dry season and a Rainy season, and lots and lots of humidity! Dudely: The West African coastline is basically flat and sandy, with rainforest pretty much all the way right up to the coast! Thanks for the comment! art128: Thank you! mystic destiny: Lol, Im sure that development will catch up to its location to the west of Kafra one of these days Luiz P. Romanini: I hope I lived up to the standard I had set before! TekindusT: Thank you 10000000000000: After I had completed it, I figured the barriers were way too close to the port itself - I will get to changing it sometime soon Thank you for commenting!

Such a beautiful mosaic! The way you did the road - its so gorgeous I loved this update!

Those gardens, that palace - royalty definitely being royal!

Ohhhh - is there going to be a story behind this? Great picture!

Man, that is a fantastic opening ceremony! I cant wait to read about the games and the results

Looks like a tropical wonderland Lovely update!

So, so, SO beautiful! Sigh, it makes me want to go and live there! So crisp, and so detailed! I cant wait for Part 2

Benedict, Lyhoko Leaci, vivapanda, and Schulmanator - thank you for reading and commenting! It is very much appreciated Year Eight It happened suddenly and in the dead of night; the village of Tarini, deep in the Borkan Mountains and with a population of 4,530 and growing, was awakened by the sound of mortars exploding and helicopters approaching. Led by Prince Diallo Mallam, the Deseran Armed Forces moved against the Torani rebellion, causing heavy damage to the infrastructure of the village and sending the overmatched Torani rebels fleeing deeper in the mountains. Conquering the area was one thing, but defending and keeping hold of it was another thing entirely. The Torani tribe, known as the fiercest fighters throughout the history of Desera, began employing guerilla tactics, hitting the Deseran Armed Forces and running, chipping away at their enemy little by little. The leader of the tribe, Anwar Torani (who previously held a post in the Deseran Council), was reportedly injured in the initial attack, but had since been nursed back to health and was the main coordinator behind the hit and run tactics. Almost all of the Borkan Mountains was loyal to Anwar Torani, even though they remained under the watchful eye of the federal forces. They viewed the Deseran Armed Forces not as their own, but as an occupier, a foreign force that had invaded their land. As Year Eight drew to a close, the army was in control of most of the Borkan Mountains, but was struggling to inflict much damage on the new fugitive Torani rebels. While Prince Diallo wanted an iron fist to control the Borkan Mountains, his father and Royal President Sidebe Mallam began implementing an initiative to win its loyalty another way. He instructed the Desera Council to set up several representative branches throughout the rugged area, with aim of distributing welfare, food, and free healthcare services to the people there. While many in the council disagreed with that method (it was, after all, money that would have went directly to their pockets), after witnessing the ruthlessness and efficiency of the Deseran Army led by Prince Diallo, there was no public discontent. The initiative, called the “We Are One” program, was implemented very late in Year Eight, and the full results would not be known for at least one year of testing. Shots of the Borkan Mountains. Back in Kafra, the major story of Year Eight was the completion of the new seaport, officially called the Damas Port, named after the area it was built in. The Damas Port was the largest project undertaken by the Desera Council, costing the government E1 billion upon completion. The Kafra Seaport, which had become much too small to handle the cargo that was coming into the country daily, was turned into a fishing port, although rumors abound that the council was planning on destroying it completely. The new port’s effect on the commercial and industrial sectors of Kafra was expected to be big, with major growth predicted in them during Year Nine. The Damas Seaport to the west of Kafra. For the first time since its founding, Kafra’s population growth rate slowed from the previous year, increasing to 49,411. The slowdown was mostly due to the fact that fewer nomadic families from Desera’s rural areas found their way to the capital city during Year Eight, giving the Desera Council some relief and time to help invest in the city’s infrastructure and catch up with its growth. The slums and shanty towns surrounding central Kafra showed almost no expansion – instead, the area north of the University of Kafra was developed from clay one story houses to more elegant and luxurious Deseran Revivalist buildings, in line with the rest of central Kafra. On the other side of Masjid Street, in western Kafra, the industrial sector showed major expansion, no doubt spurred by the promise the new Damas Seaport had brought with it. Warehouses were constructed at a rapid pace, and there were even some small, light manufacturing plants that opened its doors for business, to cater to the local market. Western Kafra had become the industrial and trading heart of the city since the old Kafra Seaport was converted into a fishing dock, and center of Kafra, which was once the trading hub of the city, had begun slowly shifting from the wholesale and trade activities into a more retail and service oriented district.

Damas Seaport Desera has a new center for logistics – the brand new Damas Seaport, situated just a few miles west of the nation’s capital city of Kafra. After three years of work and an investment of E1 billion, Desera is ready to become a player in the trade and logistics sectors, positioning itself as a prime investment center in the West African region thanks to its modern seaport. The city of Kafra, which already has an international airport that directly connects the country with several capitals both in Europe and in West Africa, has earned its reputation as a prime location in terms of opportunities and investment, and the Damas Seaport with further facilitate and back that claim! With the future in mind, the Desera Council has built the port with a long term vision in mind, and the hopes are that the Damas Seaport will be able to handle Desera’s import and export for years to come. However, it does not stop there – the council has also already drawn up blueprints for both a Phase Two and a Phase Three, which are expansion plans for when the time comes. The E1 billion investment will open up several doors for the country, and, as stated before, foreign investment is sure to be one of them. Just outside the port, the government has constructed a bunch of warehouses that can be rented daily or monthly, in order to help ease storage cost for both importers and exporters. With the Damas Seaport now fully operational, there has never been a better time to call Desera home for your business!

Damas Seaport Desera has a new center for logistics – the brand new Damas Seaport, situated just a few miles west of the nation’s capital city of Kafra. After three years of work and an investment of E1 billion, Desera is ready to become a player in the trade and logistics sectors, positioning itself as a prime investment center in the West African region thanks to its modern seaport. The city of Kafra, which already has an international airport that directly connects the country with several capitals both in Europe and in West Africa, has earned its reputation as a prime location in terms of opportunities and investment, and the Damas Seaport with further facilitate and back that claim! With the future in mind, the Desera Council has built the port with a long term vision in mind, and the hopes are that the Damas Seaport will be able to handle Desera’s import and export for years to come. However, it does not stop there – the council has also already drawn up blueprints for both a Phase Two and a Phase Three, which are expansion plans for when the time comes. The E1 billion investment will open up several doors for the country, and, as stated before, foreign investment is sure to be one of them. Just outside the port, the government has constructed a bunch of warehouses that can be rented daily or monthly, in order to help ease storage cost for both importers and exporters. With the Damas Seaport now fully operational, there has never been a better time to call Desera home for your business!

Year Seven Year Seven was a turbulent one in the short history of the new nation – the first sign of trouble appeared when the leader of Torani tribe, Anwar Torani, challenged and insulted the rest of the Desera Council, which led to a flare-up that almost spiraled out of control. The Torani tribe, which resided in the Borkan Mountains in northern Desera and were known as the fiercest fighters in the land, then announced that it would no longer report to the Desera Council, and that the Borkan Mountains were now an autonomous state within Desera. This, of course, did not sit well with the rest of the tribes, some of whom wanted immediate action and others who wanted the replicate what Anwar Torani had done. It had put the Royal President Sidebe Mallam in the tightest position of his seven year reign, telling his son, Prince Diallo Mallam, no matter what was decided, Desera “would lose.” Under the new threat from the Borkan Mountains, the Royal President secretly gave the green light to his son to begin stocking up the Deseran Armed Forces for an imminent invasion of the Borkan Mountains. The Royal President did this with a heavy heart and without the console of his council – he knew that the Desera Council’s unity was now at its weakest and most fragile point, and only a show of power could win back the loyalty of the other tribal leaders. It was not his way; indeed, he detested the decision he had to take, but it had to be done, and he knew no one more fit for the job than his own militant son, Prince Diallo. As Year Seven drew to a close, the military was in preparation for its first test – to recapture the Borkan Mountains. A typical village in the Borkan Mountains. Back in Kafra, the local economy was really picking up, which led to the Desera Council’s approval to construct a new headquarters for the Bank of Desera. The twelve story building was built across from the University of Kafra on Masjid Street, costing the Ministry of Finance E40 million upon completion. The old Bank of Desera building, which sat across from the House of Council, was still operational as a branch of the bank, but all the administrative offices were moved to the new building. Additionally, the Ministry of Finance was moved out of the House of Council and took over the last three floors of the new building, which was officially christened the Bank of Desera HQ Building. Kafra’s population was 41,077 at the end of Year Seven, as growth continued to be extremely high. Most newcomers lived in the shanty towns that surrounded central Kafra, but there were some well-off families, mostly from western Africa and the Middle East region, who had immigrated to Desera and set up a home in the new nation. Unemployment, however, was beginning to become an issue the council had to tackle – a lot of the poor that were setting up homes in Kafra were finding it hard to get jobs. The industrial and commercial sectors, while growing, were not keeping up with the huge spike in population, while the federal government was not setting up enough projects to employ a large number of people. There was one project, however, that was started towards the end of the year that promised to employ quite a good amount of people – the new Kafra seaport project. Situated to the west of the city, the new seaport was going to cost the Deseran government almost E800 million in its entirety, and the contractors were a mix of foreign companies and local ones. The Desera Council, amidst all the chaos that was going on inside of it, managed also to set up a new team which was tasked with exploring the natural resources of Desera, both known and unknown. It was called the Deseran Natural Resources Authority (DNRA), and their first mission, to begin in Year Eight, was to find out what other natural resources and minerals was available in Desera other than oil. With the exception of the Borkan Mountains, the Desera Council was finding success in setting up its authority across the land, and that was making it easier to spread the welfare system and investment in other parts of the country. Small villages and settlements were popping up everywhere, and in an end of year meeting, the council informed the Ministry of Transportation that it had to do better in create road access all across Desera. Their budget would be increased, despite most of the surplus in the government coffers going to the new seaport project, but results were expected in a year’s time, as well. A shot from the corner of Masjid Street and Beach Road.

3rd! That is amazing Truly an honour!

Beautiful logistics park - also, your work with making the terrain look so lively and realistic is incredible

I love the way you have drawn up the roads - I dont think Ive ever seen that. Looks gorgeous!

Very cool update - definitely falls in line with the sort of marina/residential developments going on in the Gulf region. Your night pics are stunning!

That is one huge Simlympic Park! Good work!

[quote name='IL.' timestamp='1348317862'] nedal2001, on , said: IL., on , said: Very nice, the city and how to orgenise the buildings is great, it makes everything looks in it's wright place, but what's up with all those slums? I mean that's too much, I don't think such small city can handle them. Hence why the unemployment level is rising! Actually, if you were to look at most African cities, you would see that 80% of them are usually poorer areas while only around 20% are middle and upper class areas. Since Desera is a poor country, thats why you see so many slums. Those that do have work are laborers and unskilled workers. Fishing and livestock breeding is quite popular, but many have also found jobs in the industrial sector and as cleaners, janitors, maids, etc. Contracting companies have also been hiring quite a few number of people as well, lately. Then it would be a good idea to add some poor jobs, maybe some warehouses and stuff like that inside those slums, that would make them look more realisitc, because what it looks like, some houses, and nothing else but houses and neighborhoods, usually if you find neighborhoods that poor, you will surely find some activities that people who live there try to do to survive. [/quote] You are absolutely right in your observation - the shanty town and slum streets tend to have alot of small shops and stores that line them up. Unfortunately, when it comes to SimCity, there is only so much you can do Most of the slums I grow on 5x5 zones, and then I MMP the edges. It would look even less right with a random building/warehouse popping up in between these 5x5 zones - I tried! But again, you are spot on in your observation - perhaps you have some ideas on how I can make that work?