franky_83

Thanks all for the support Debussyman: I'll check the link you gave...if I can do this then it would be worth it. AJHAINC: I used pompeii red color on the velum...but I can experiment with other reds to see what looks best.

I have no idea on how to make something that changes according to season.

Hobostank: I just finished the BAT earlier today...but I am still making adjustments as new ideas come into my head. At this point I have to be very careful about my polygon count...as this structure currently has 1,526,072 polygons. I still have to bat a few props for the lot. So I'm not sure when I can release it...but it shouldn't be too long now. Debussyman: What do you mean by make seasonable?

Nice pics...I've just posted another update...once again. Notice how I retracted the cover. I'm still working on it...gotta attach the velum to the posts. Also, I have yet to do the nightlighting as well as a few more tweaks. Here's what I got so far: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//update7.JPG align=baseline>

Cool...it looks like the real thing. Love the palms.

Exactly what I was thinking...it's such a shame that the bat doesn't support animations. It would be so nice if the cover could be retractable. Hopefully those guys at maxis develop a plugin allowing animations one day...I'm not sure exactly whether they will or not...in fact I doubt they will...but it would have been nice.

Cool...in that case i'll push the release date to next Friday...this should give me plenty of time to get all done.

Thanx Yuting19880820 That would be cool if you could show some pictures. I've never played Caesar games before...Actually Sim City 4 and the Sims 2 are the only games i've really played. But I did hear about the Caesar III game and its buildings...which I could copy if I saw them. This project is coming along nicely but I am still not ready to release it...it still needs work as well as a well-designed lot. I will try to upload it by Wednesday if at that point it is completely ready for upload. I will probably take a day or two to test the new lot in the game...just to see that the props and nightlights show up. One good question... I wanted to ask everyone was...Should this building have jobs or not? And if 'yes' then how many and what wealth level? Anyway, I'll keep everyone posted.

Good idea about the nightlights...about the cover...there is no texture...but I can make it pleated...i'll just realign some vertices. After I finish this...don't know when I will exactly...I guess once i'm satisfied...I will start the hardest part of the project (designing the lot).

I know I keep changing my mind on the release date...but I can't release it today. I tend to be a perfectionist...and I keep tearing the building down and rebuilding it. Hopefully I can get it done by Wednesday. Right now I am working on LOD shells that will allow the view of gladiators combatting inside. I also want to make the whole thing a bit smaller so it can fit on at least an 8x8 size lot. I have the statues done...I just need to place them in the arcades. Does anyone have any tips on nightlighting in ancient buildings? I know they didn't have electricity. I wonder if the buildings remained dark during the night when empty...not sure, though.

This is the last update I am showing before the BAT's release either today (Friday) or Saturday. I still need to add the gates inside the arena...as well as other accessories...plus I have must also add the outside gate. Here is what I got so far...the orange string color will be changed: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//dot.JPG align=baseline>

Aldara6166...I like your enthusiasm...About the round version...just making it crashed my old file...so I lost it...luckily I made a backup file. I figured it never hurts to do so...thank God I did. I did like the round version but I found it made the arena too large...this version is much more realistic in terms of Roman amphitheaters. I might attempt to make the large version as I planned before...i'll just have to defragment my hardrive before doing so. I do plan on making more buildings as well...as most of you already know...smaller ones, of course...I wanted to get the big one done and out of the way first. Thank you so much for the links, Timo...Yes I do speak French fluently, which is good in my case. I can also speak German and Russian. So any websites in those languages, I can read. This has really helped me a great deal. I am batting statues today...but before I add them to the project...does anyone oppose? I guess i'm trying to incorporate a style from Vatican City

I've run into a problem...to render an object this size would so tax my system...so I changed it around again...I know I always try different things...can't seem to make up my mind...but it will be more eliptical and definitely smaller...about 2/3 the size...still needs more work...which now I might not be able to release it until Sunday...I'll still try to get it done by Friday but it still needs a lot of work...currently i'm working on the Gate of Death...which will be on the east side of the arena. ...the BAT is still in the works but here's how I changed it: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//dd.JPG align=baseline>

By the BAT's current size, and guessing plus what i'm going to add to it...it will sit on a 10x10 lot.

I've got the basic shape of the BAT now. Still got work to do but here's another update: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//amphi.JPG align=baseline>

I initially wanted a smaller arena...but realized that it wouldn't support enough room for the other stuff I want to place around it...so I decided to widen it....here it is so far: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//screenshot1.JPG align=baseline>

That's the exact feeling I have too...as wood deteriorates alot faster than stone...this could be a reason...it's hard to find accurate examples or Roman designs...even from movies as they don't show everything...or in great detail...i still have to find out what the flags looked like, as well as their parasols etc. As far as styles...the columns are ionic style...as you can see from the screenshots. Also many amphitheaters in ancient Rome were built of wood. And I can't seem to find anything that would indicate how these looked like. This is definitely strange...but I guess I'll have to make do with the info I got. Also the colors...I used colors that the current buildings depict today...but they could have been painted or colored differently back then. However, I didn't plan on making this an exact replica of a building...but more of a blend of styles...taken from Rome, Pompeii, and Putuoli...as well as others. I like all these cities but I guess if it were to be truly exactly Roman...the style should come right from Rome. But even there styles have changed over time so there are numerous types of architecture there. Also I'm trying to keep the building from looking run-down and in ruins. I know houses in Pompeii and numerous Roman cities had wooden frame roofs. I'll have to watch Gladiator again to see examples of flags, banners, etc. So far i've had to rely on ruin pics and my imagination...which might not be accurate at all. I guess nobody really knows exactly how things were back then...I mean it was 2000 years ago. I guess I could be inventing a certain style...hehe.

Thanks everyone for their support... Okay...I've thought about this...it would take a whole lot of work...including batting...which I might have to do most or all of it...not that I mind that. As far as batting...I can do all the nightlighting and rendering...I can do wonders with lights in gmax. Although SimRome does sound like a nice idea...I do support it...but we'd all have to keep in mind that this project could take well over a year to complete...so nobody should get too excited yet. I can bat pretty fast (given I have a day off from work and studies), so it would help there. And then if this project were to become a reality...there would probably have to be a leader...someone bossy probably...which is not me...so count me out there. And like mentioned...if this project were to take off...we'd need to know if people would support it or not...i'd hate to be doing this project for nothing...but I do feel people would support it. Aldara6166...thanx for starting the music conversions...I love Roman music...so it should sound cool. Better than the in-game music. Debussyman...I know it looks really small but this is just one end of the arena...it's gonna be in the shape of an elipse...exactly like one i've seen in Italy when I was there on my high school trip. It had many seats yet the arena was fairly small in ratio to the theater. I do like how the project is coming along...but I'm dissatisfied with it...I still find it lacks something...but I can't figure out what that is. Maybe coz it's not done yet...I still have to add statues and props. If anyone has an idea about what kind of building should be batted next...i'd like to know...so I can start that after this sucker is finished. Actually an Italy set sounds cool too...it might be easier for the transportation that is...it would illiminate having to convert the cars to horses and carriages.

Thanks Aldara6166 This is my second BAT, actually...I've been playing Sim City for 2 months now...but have recently downloaded the BAT from Maxis about a month ago because I got tired of the boring old buildings that kept popping up in the game. Actually, I'm not a natural...although I haven't made many buildings yet, I am not new to gmax. I taught myself how to use it through modeling tutorials...i've been using it for like 6 months now...mostly making objects for the Sims 2...but I do like making buildings better...there are fewer steps in rendering. Meaning fewer programs to use. I also like the idea of SimRome...sounds cool...the only thing with that is...I am by no means a good modder...I can only add jobs to a landmark...that's it...so someone else would have to do the modding and UI editing coz I suck at it. If someone else is willing to do the modding, I am totally for the idea of SimRome. I do like your idea you mentioned earlier about taking music from the Roman games...if it's possible to do so...that would be really cool. And I doubt you're crazy, lol

Here's another one update...not much has changed but i've renedered this piece at a different angle. Keep in mind that it's not yet finished...still have a lot of work to do on it: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//amphitheater_updated2.JPG align=baseline>

Thanx all for the support. What i've done is blend styles from the Flavian amphitheater in Rome and also from the ancient amphitheater in Pompeii. The light arches on the top come from the amphitheater in Putuoli (Don't know if I spelled that right). I hope to have this project on the STEX by Friday. Note** If anyone wants to take some credit for this project...I will/or might need someone who can make a custom UI for the lot. PM me if interested

I've updated the amphitheater pictured in the previous thread. It's still in its initial stages of construction, but here's what I got so far: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//amphitheater_updated.JPG align=baseline>

Absolutely! I will be making more Roman BATs...I want to make all three levels of wealth and density houses as well as shops and markets. Forums and baths will also be needed, so I will make these. I'd also like to make at least 5 different landmarks (the amphitheater being one of them), as well as plazas and parks. Also, even though they are disgusting, no Roman town would be true without a latrina (public toilets), as most people, especially that most Romans didn't have indoor plumbing, and had to use these public facilities. Yes, I plan on making them ploppables, so it will be easier to test them in the game.

Talk about a nice skyscraper...she's a beauty!

That is a really nice building...I so love the color contrasts...looks like a very well-made building.