S.A.C

Have you ever played games like A-IV Network and A-Train? Well, I have, and they were kind of fun back then when the options weren't as good as they are today! Anyway, by pure coincidence I stumbled upon this A-7 thing, which seems to be a sequel to either A-IV Network or A-Train - or possibly even a mixture of them both. Below are some images from the official site; I certainly like the graphics, and if it's anything like either A-IV Network or A-Train I would definately want this in my collection of city-building games. However, since it's a Japanese game I'm not even sure if it's coming to Europe at all, and that would certainly be terrible out of many aspects. The official A-7 site can found here; http://www.a-7.jp/ Perhaps one of our japanese friends can help us with some translations and further info about this excellent new game!

Loaded my old SC3KU/WE and took a closer look at my custom files. Perhaps some of them can function as an inspiration to those of you talented BAT-artists out there in need of new great ideas! This first image is a commercial BAPlus. It was made using two 5x5 lots put together to form one large commercial tile for a downtown area in SimCity 3000 U/WE; align=baseline> The two highrised buildings on the commercial department store concrete roof are both residential buildings. And the complex itself is based on a real-life building from the city of Orebro, Sweden. The real name; Kr

Date: 9/3/2005 6:30:33 PM Author: Rickk Date: 9/3/2005 6:00:36 PM Author: S.A.C Hmmm...don't I recognize your name?  Wasn't you also, like myself, a Tropico fan?  Or am I mistaken you for someone else? Anyway, yes I noticed that 3DS-model!  Looks good!  Too bad noone actually gotten around completing it!  Perhaps when you get more time on your hands - if not Lee Sojot can reach out a hand - or two If you're the one I bleive you are Rickk, good to see you to again! Yes, that's me. A long, long time ago I started scurking for SC2k, and then when the BAT (and BAP) came out I tried some ventures at that, but wasn't ever really sucessful. I mostly enjoyed seeing other people's creations and staying with that community wherever it went (such as Tropico; though it was you who introduced me to it via your website a few years ago). You may also know me from the admin team on Maxis' sites as MayorRick or SimMasterRick, but I don't visit there much anymore unless someone has a major issue. Okey! Well again, great to see you! And no wonder Tropico was an interesting game as it offered a city building challenge - although not in the same way as with SC2K/SC3K/SC4. Anyway, back to the purpose of this thread! It appears as if the amount of people viewing these images has made my PhotoBucket account go to an end. The bandwidth limit has been exceeded, but I'll post these images below anyway so they're there once they're viewable again! For your inspiration purposes that is! I've made an update - as a test - of one of my earlier European downtown lots for SC3K. Although a test I'm planning to update each lot before thell be uploaded to CityScape! Here's the lot before the renovation; After the renovation; Before the renovation, (back); After the renovation; I hope some of you get inspiration to create more European downtown lots for SC4!

Date: 9/3/2005 12:23:12 PM Author: Rickk Hey S.A.C., you mentioned the Pacific Palace that Lee did (and, as far as I'm concerned, was the best SCURK ever made). I actually, being inspired by Lee's work, attempted to recreate the Island Shangri-la hotel from the complex; but I had to give up on it due to timing constraits. I did, however, upload what I had to the STEX in hopes that someone would one day finish it. Now that I know Lee's here, mayhaps I can pursuade him to take a shot at it. STEX Link: https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=11338 And S.A.C., I've always been a huge fan of your work. It's good to see you still around the community after all these years.quote> Hmmm...don't I recognize your name? Wasn't you also, like myself, a Tropico fan? Or am I mistaken you for someone else? Anyway, yes I noticed that 3DS-model! Looks good! Too bad noone actually gotten around completing it! Perhaps when you get more time on your hands - if not Lee Sojot can reach out a hand - or two If you're the one I bleive you are Rickk, good to see you to again! Date: 9/3/2005 1:25:24 PM Author: superchad i never new sc3k could look soo good, and S.A.C. how did you get the rocks in this picture those rocks are from Age of Empires IIquote> Actually, they ARE from Age of Empires II. I used them for a project I had in mind, but it was never completed though! And speaking of which, I made them into the SC3KU-game by turning them into props! That was one of the good parts with the BAPlus tool - if you didn't know how to draw yourself - turning whatever into props! Even complete buildings if you wanted to! Date: 9/3/2005 1:32:37 PM Author: Hanson784 Great images S.A.C! I can almost feel the street life down there.quote> Yeah! Almost even better than in SC4!

Date: 9/3/2005 6:40:08 AM Author: ExiL3 S.A.C: I remember downloading a lot from the Gothia site, always loved new buildings. But I never understood how you got new buildings into the game, cause you always had to replace the new ones, with the original ingame ones... Though I did make some buildings, but most of them are gone ,.. This though is one of my earlier buildings, nothing much, but all I could find ... take carequote> Well, either replaced by using the in-game renderer - or extend the number of in-game buildings by using the Landmark Converter - something which was useful for parks, castles, and lots of other things that you wanted in the game without replacing other buildings!

My Godness, if it isn't Lee Sojot! [:0] After all thees years, I've been thinking both now and then where you went after the SCURK-era - or should I say, after your attempts within the SC3K-community with BAT, BAPlus and SC3URK! What a nice surprise! It's starting to feel like a re-union! First Stephen McGlen, then Justin Smith and now you Lee! Well, as far as I remember you weren't the only one disliking the BAT as being a SCURK -artist! Those few SCURKers who actually gotten around using the BAT-tool and/or the BAPlus tool as well as SC3URK, only made a few buildings before they more or less vanished from the community. Sadly really since the SC2K-community offered plenty of activities with countless of sites everywhere with their own particular nisch, something which never was the case with the SC3K-community - and even worse as far as the SC4 community concerns! Anyway, it's an honor to hear from you again! And I assume that you've also figured out that Stephen McGlen is among us here as well as Justin Smith? Also interesting to learn that you've taken on the SC4 BAT, and that you've also decided to go for the San Antonio's Tower Life Building - one of my favourites! However, if I could choose one of your excellent SCURK's to be BATted I'd definately go with the Pacific Place in HongKong - one of your true Master Pieces Image taken from the SCURK Library at Gothia/CityScape, (the old section) Well, people! I'm soon to go for my usual two-week long work session, but before I do that I thought I should post yet another inspirational image, and a few close-ups, from the SC3K-era! Hopefully all these images from both SC3K and SC2K gives you lots of new ideas for future BAT's; The above image is compiled by several 5x5 lots made in BAPlus - a few of them also improved using SC3URK, (not illustrated in the image though)! Interesting enough is that several things being worked on in SC4 was made a reality in my own showcase city of Olympia! Canals, GLR. and commuter trains! Date: 8/31/2005 8:44:32 AM Author: le_harv PS S.A.C hows the Olympia Motors coming along?quote> I'm waiting for some new models to be completed, but I'm also spending a lot of time preparing for CityScape whichs means lots of new graphics. And apart from that I'm actually looking into SC3K-buildings I've made to see which among them needs to be updated and/or improved for the re-release! And of course, I'm also working on my SC4 materials which includes Olympia Motors! All I need really is more time

WOW! That's a bunch of very cool and interesting buildings - several of which I'd really like to see BATted for SC4! Excellent work you've made there!

Date: 8/30/2005 1:34:24 PM Author: mambomumba Hi. This thread makes me really thinking of how beautiful it is here in Sweden. All those signs on your buildings... I see those signs almost everyday IRL and now to look at them on a building made for SimCity makes me wish that I was 5 years older so the old simcity still was the newest one. It surprises me that the buildings really had so much details, I can see 'Kanal 5', 'Apoteket', 'SJ', 'Handelsbanken'... I could go on for ages. Look! There's 'Lansforsakringar'! But the thing that makes me most amazed is the trams, just like in Gothenburg. Thanks for showing this. You gave me a piece of art. Regards|Mambomumbaquote> Well you know what they say, details are vital for a perfect touch! In fact, eventually I made it a habit to be very picky about the level of detailing as far as my own BAPlus concerned. I spent a lot of time creating details and paints for use with my buildings and lots along with drawing new props to further more set a realistic touch to them! And this way of making new BAPlus items made it a lot easier to develop realistic cities in SC3K. However, can't say I made that many cities since my main focus always was Olympia. My pleasure however to send people some inspirations - and at the same time let others have a look-back in the history of SimCity! From one thing to another, here's a building that was made during the BAT-era, hence it blocky shapes. It's a Opera House which eventually got a small facelift with the help of BAPlus. I believe the facelift actually included new props only! Looking at the flag poles I can also tell it's a facelift made in BAPlus early days. These particular danish flag poles was made by someone, Birch perhaps, and I later on extended the set with some more country flags such as Sweden and Germany! Moreso, looking at the building again reminds me of how hidious it is! What was I thinking adding that ridiculous tower on top of the roof!

Date: 8/30/2005 12:30:22 PM Author: DJGspinNhitz what ever happen to olympia? I have bees there, it is awesome, I often try to use some of the ideas there in my own cities. GQ quote> It's undergoing a transformation from the style you can view on the images of the current Olympia City, to a complete European stylished city with the entire region in mind! It will be showcased in good time! Anyway, Shadow Assassin, if you're still interested in making a BAT out of Tom Nillesen's original SCURK, later on made as a BAPlus version by myself, I've attached some more images the building. Since SC2K never allowed for a full-side rotation I had to improve the backside of the building. Not sure if that's how Tom Nillesen ever imagined it to be , but I still had to make a backside due to the full-side rotation views in SC3K! Here's the front - again; And here's the backside; Since we eventually learned the invisible technique with BAPlus, I decided to make the backside of the building partially invisible to allow for an in-door scenery. It's supposed to be a SCURK-exhibition showcasing - Tom Nillesen's SCURK's! A closer look shows parts of the exhibitions along with the caf

Perhaps some inspirations could be valuable to those of you trying to create a working GLR system in our SC4 cities? Here's the GLR system from the SC3K-version of Olympia, showing the puzzle pieces of tracks, stops, and so on. This GLR line passes one of Olympia's suburbs; And below follows some close-up screenshots to those wanting more of the early days goodies; The tram from Olympia's downtown area passes the 7-Eleven store on it's way to the stop ahead. The 7-Eleven store was originally made by another BAT-artist, but I downloaded it from the official BAT-exchange and gave it a minor facelift using the BAPlus tool. The tramstop behind the StatOil Gas Station. This particular Gas Station was also made as a single lot, shown in the picture, apart from the one built in with the EuroStop Service Center, shown in an earlier picture within this thread. Besides the tram closing in to the tramstop, there's also a single tram approaching the very same stop from the other direction. Close-up shot of the other tram approaching the stop. The two residential buildings to the right was one of the last BAPlus I made towards the end of the SC3K-era. I hope you enjoy the pictures - and that they serve their purposes in bringing you just the inspiration you might need to continue your work!

Date: 8/30/2005 7:30:19 AM Author: Slowhand Hey there! I'm not really good adt BATing but I'll give it a shot. Have you made a couple of these lots for SC4? They look so cool. quote> Good Luck! Looking forward to any results you may come up with! And no, I haven't gotten around myself to get more familiar with the BAT-tool! Perhaps when a day finally has 48 hours instead of lousy 24! Here's another inspirational approach, residential buildings; align=baseline> For some reasons this lot above looks very cartoonish! Anyway, it's a BAPlus creation consisting of four 2x2 lots. Below is an example of larger housings; align=baseline> Each building is for four families. This last one was also made for the Livin'2002 exhibit at Expo Scandinavia! We're talking about a large number of houses for the exhibit here!

Date: 8/29/2005 10:32:11 PM Author: Lord_Bertrum Sorry to go slightly off-topic here SAC. In one of your previous posts you showed a small number of SC4 BATs. I was wondering what example 4 was. It's a lot consisting of a couple of buildings with a road which goes underneath them. I've seen this on your Gothia site before, but have never seen it anywhere else. I know it's a few years old so I wonder if it was transit enabled of just for eye candy?quote> I believe you're referring to this; It's a lot I made myself! You could say that I simply extended the original Road-under-Bridge lot with a few tiles so it allowed for me to add buildings on top of the bridge and at the sides! The Road-under-Bridge lots was already transit enabled - although not functional for UDI if I remember correctly! Or was it the other way around? Well, never mind really! The idea was - and is - to produce a number of European stylished downtown lots that combined/s several buildings on one lot - something which is typical for European downtowns, and pretty much in the same manor as I did with the SC3KU lots back then. Another example from that previous game is posted below; The same goes for this SC4 example! This is basically a train station which also has been extended to allow for buildings to be added - as one of many options to get a realistic touch! I hope that answers your question! Now, let's have another inspirational SC3K-lot posted; This is yet another early BAT-building which has been updated using BAPlus. Not very special, but for some reasons I like it a lot!

One final BAPlus for your inspirations before bed time! This time a town square with a large chapel in the back, (the glass thingy), along with a Culture Center. I believe I also made it as a TV Network Company along with what's described above! Anyway, back tomorrow with more - if you're interested!

A prison is what this building made in BAT used to be - as I recall! I downloaded it from the old BAT exchange and made a few changes to it in order to use it as a TV Tower of some sort! align=baseline> Can't remember who actually did the original BAT though! The one below is my work from the first to the last block. It's yet another RecoSet lot, a total of four 3x3 tiles compiled into one 6x6 tile! And as can tell it's another addition to the European downtown building set as I developed in the SC3K version of Olympia; align=baseline> All these four lots were created during the BAT-era, hence the lack of props. But some of them received an update once the BAPlus tool was released! It was a completely different thing regarding the below lot - also a downtown stylished one, obviously! The number of props being used - along with the invisible technique allowing for in-door-scenery reveals that these lots were developed once the BAPlus tool had been released after the introduction of Unlimited/World Edition! align=baseline> So guys - and girls, do you need more inspiration posted? Let me know! And btw, anyone else with SC3K lots in their lugagge? Feel free to post them inside this thread!

It's soo great to see some former SCURKers devoting time to the third sequel and it's architect tools! And I especially enjoy the fact that youve focused on residential buildings - which to say the least - has become a somewhat forgotten or overlooked part of the overall BAT productions! Very good job Justin!

Yet another residential building. This one was showcased in Olympia already in 2001 during the Expo Scandinavia Exhibit Transport 2001, the one that introduced trams and local trains in Olympia! Another Expo building, this time from the year 2002 for the Livin'2002, made use of some more challenging colors, but despite everything it certainly fitted in and added to the realism overall; This last one was also further improved using the SC3URK tool in order to add shadows - among other things. But it's final appearance above is from the BAPlus tool!

Another residential building! This one was originally made by another artist during the BAT-era! I believe I downloaded it from the old BAT exchange over at Maxis, and made some changes to it such as new bricks and stuff! Anyway, it fitted perfectly in Olympia! Eventually, as with most BAT's, I used BAPlus to add some more props for the sake of realism! However, can't say I would have added that piece of water today!

Date: 8/28/2005 8:19:09 PM Author: Andreas Roth @S. A. C.: Unfortunately, I don't have an idea at the moment, maybe simrolle knows more. Try re-installing Microsoft .NET and perform a Windows update. In addition, I'd like to ask you to post all problems in our support thread here to reduce clutter in the other forums.quote> My Godness how stupid I am sometimes! I recently re-installed Windows XP and forgot to actually re-install also the Microsoft.NET! The only comfort is that I'm aware that we all do these kind of stupid things now and then, that is; doesn't use our brains properly! Anyway, problems solved - and sorry for also posting this in the completely wrong thread! I believe I need some rest...

Date: 8/29/2005 7:12:14 AM Author: rp2005 This is without doubt one of the most inspiring threads to appear for ages.  While the individual buildings don't compare to the SC4 BAT creations, the fact that they are used in coherent blocks makes for a better overall look.  I also like the vibrancy of the palette.  I think what this thread demonstrates is the effect of the SC4 lots.  By making building sized lots the emphasis of BATters is understandably on creating the most realistic and detailed individual buildings that they can.  This as been one of the plus points of SC4; some of Porkissimo's Paris buildings are so good as to be nearly photorealistic. The downside is that by focussing on stand alone buildings we've lost the plot a bit in terms of creating realistic cities - one of the reasons I'm concentrating back on small scale everyday stuff.  There are far too many signature buildings and not enough that are suitable for use in combination.  I also think that the time and effort that goes into creating each building makes it very difficult to think in terms of BATting an entire block at a time.  The disciplines of BATting and lot-making have pretty much parted company (with the notable exception of vlakhaas who is excellent in both areas). The supposed 6x6 growable lot size limitation has also probably prevented many lot builders from attempting the kind of city blocks you have been showcasing.  The lack of decent lot builders is also a problem for SC4 as there are very few people who would even attempt anything more than alternative single building lots. quote> Very much my point indeed! I can only look at my own experience with SC4 and especially BAT's and Lots created by all these excellent artists out there. While I admire most BATters creations, their tremendeous skills and their abilities to produce one astonishing building after another, I still do think that as many of them do suck when it comes to creating lots for their stuff! But who ever said that everyone should be able - or have skills - to do everything? Still, I do believe with an eye for details and with some imagination it's quite possible to develop rather interesting blocks for use in SC4. A lot can be done with both 3-tiled up to 6-tiled lots, and combined in a proper environment the result would most likely amaze anyone! So, for the sake of inspiration, here are some more of my SC3K BAPlus creations; Yet another downtown block using a mixture of different building types - something which is often very common in European cities! The yellow brick building is - interesting enough - my VERY first BAT ever, and later on somewhat improved using the BAPlus tool. Date: 8/29/2005 7:56:32 AM Author: Shadow_Assassin quote> SAC, you don't mind me trying a variation on this building in the BAT? I like this one.quote> Not in a million year! I started this thread and posted these images in order to get your inspiration going, so go just ahead! Can't wait to see the final result! Do you by any chance need to see the lot from all 4 angles? Let me know! I'm going to end this particular post by adding a CityHall from the city of Olympia. It was made before the BAPlus era, otherwise it would have been built up using far more props than it finally received after being updated using - the BAPlus tool; align=baseline>

With all commercial buildings posted lately I think it's time to show a little more of the residential buildings I made. Many new ones was created for the Expo Scandinavia's Exhibit Livin'2002, something which has been mentioned a lot lately - for obvious reasons! SC3K, just as SC4, lacked lots of European residential buildings of all kinds, and even though the introduction of the Unlimited/World Edition also gave us two new building sets, the European and the Asian, it still didn't gave us more options. The BAPlus tool was the solution! Below are some examples of European highrises which are very common in Europe. I, for one, would hope these could be an inspiration to all you BATters out there to start looking into residentail buildings; align=baseline> The above ones are similar apart from the colors! It should also be mentioned that these - along with soo many others of my BAPlus buildings - were further improved using the SC3URK tool. This allowed for shadows and other realistic touches to be added! The building below is yet another one of the same style - although green! align=baseline>

Date: 8/29/2005 3:35:33 AM Author: Lord_Bertrum What I love so much about these pictures that you are posting S.A.C. is something that I feel has been lost (or never replicated) in Simcity4. That is whole blocks premade to consist of a number of European buildings making up that block. A number of your pictures show very realistic town/city blocks made up of a number of buidings of various styles and sizes. This of course is how many European city blocks really look. I think in SC4, a lot of BATters have concerntrating on creating one building per block. Yes there has been the W2W project and it has created standards that allow the creation of European blocks consisting of multiple buildings. Off the top of my head I know Porkissmo has done alot of this. Also if you look at Frogface's CJ: 'Thames' you can see this. But I think we have missed an opportunity with SC4 to create these prepared blocks that would ensure we have sorely European City centres without relying overly on the whims of what grows within a block. quote> Couldn't agree more! In fact, I've been compiling a few European stylished BAT's on larger tiles for use in SimCity 4, some of them as shown below; EXAMPLE - SC4 BAT/LE - 1; EXAMPLE - SC4 BAT/LE - 2; EXAMPLE - SC4 BAT/LE - 3; EXAMPLE - SC4 BAT/LE - 4; These are just examples, and with some more efforts it's very possible to create larger blocks suitable for a European stylished downtown area! Here's another SC3K style downtown block for a European city - just to get your inspirations going; This block is a more modern one and was originally created using the former BAT-tool. The lack of props clearly indicates this. For some reason I called these lots, (four 3x3's compiled into a 6x6 lot), the Reco Set! I have no idea why though! Can't even remember what this Reco thing stood for!

Yet another typical European downtown block, made of four 3x3 tiled lots compiled into a 6x6 lot - although it sure looks bigger! This one shows what could be achieved by creating different kinds of details, (like windows, doors, signs, and so on). It also shows the technique - which we eventually learned - of adding invisible parts in BAPlus. A closer look at the building, (roof), to the left shows the intended glass roof that made it possible to create in-door scenery! BAPlus limited our use to block peices to acertain degree, but as we finally were allowed to add props - which wasn't possible using the BAT tool - we could create those things that the blocks prevented us from. An example is the church built between the commercial/residential buildings. I refer to the church spire in this one!

Date: 8/28/2005 10:25:40 PM Author: jt_144_2004 Am I mistaken or is this, in a way a request thread to turn these buildings into SC4 buildings?quote> Not so much that as it is a way of sending some inspiration to all those excellent BAT-artists out there - who, for some odd reasons, seems to be able to make time for doing fun things! I wonder what their secrets are, because time is my biggest issue right now! Anyway, building inspiration is one thing - at least for those using BAT. It's only fair to send some inspirations to those using the LE as well, because that would be the only thing needed for these lots, wouldn't it; Simple and suitable parks possible thanks to BAPlus and the ability to add props - something which opened up a completely new door as far as custom lots concerned the SC3K-game! In this case and for this particular lot; flag poles, trees, streetlights - not to mention, my very first prop ever; the little boy on his small bike - taken from the game itself! The tree flora extended greatly later on as new props began turning up; These trees, btw, were taken from another game! Would anyone with a sharp eye be able to tell which? Another thing that increased the amount of reality was the addition of people props, made by some prop makers out there! Possibly a Freeland artist, if I may take a guess! But then again, this thread is for BAT-makers and their need for inspiration, so it wouldn't be fair to leave that concept. Here's yet another downtown building which was made shortly after I finished the concrete one, showcased above; The white modern building is a hotel, Hotel Anglais to be more specific as the sign on the roof points out! The older building is supposed to be a typical european downtown building with shops, caf

...and the final one before bed time! Believe it or not, but I grew up in this very building! In Kristinehamn, Sweden! To be more exact, on the seventh floor! Cya tomorrow!

What a great tool! I downloaded it immediately to try it out, but although I have the latest Microsoft .NET Framework, (v1.1) along with the MDAC I recieve this error C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\mscorwks.dll could not be loaded! Any ideas - yet!