Hi everyone
I have set up this side topic to my main Bat showcase to post updates on re-rendering all of my first models in the Mattb325 BSC BAT Props Vol01.
Many of these props were rendered in late 2006 early 2007 and while I still like many of the models (although many I cringe at :-[ ), most are in need of an overhaul to bring them up to todays standards either in terms of texturing or scale. I will probably add some new models as well, but new additions within this set will be quite limited and specific to the existing models.
I won't be re-rendering these in HD as most are building models.
At this very early stage, the idea of this project is that once completed, the new BAT props DAT will simply over-ride the existing models. I will keep the instances and occupant numbers the same so that the user should just have to allow the original file to be over-written with new file.
By this method I hope to avoid having the user being required to bulldoze grown buildings , but I haven't made my mind 100% just yet as these BATs have very old values and are quite difficult to grow; others are almost weedy.
In the picture below, the old models are at the back of the lot; the new models are at the front.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest.jpg&hash=fa08841664a75988e557687890581ec89296a86b)
There were 6 tree models in this first pack and I made them using geospheres and opaque solid textures. The tree models were Eucalyptus Citriodora. At 40+m, they were overscaled, quite heavy set and they also suffered terribly from the black edges that often plague GMAX flora.
Some were missing shadows (a result of being a novice with the Maxis PIM) and in one zoom/rotation one model appears to float.
I have re-done these completely, they are now about 28m and have very different textures.
Additionally, I also had three low wealth terraces - "Little Riley St". The texturing on these was very basic, but the real issue was their scale: in those days I would compare my W2W bats with Vanderaaps' (he was the most prolific back then) but I did not realise how overscaled his stuff was. So on these low-wealth terraces, I ended up with a ground floor alone that is almost 8m.... :o
Two of these have been re-done (new textures and a 4.2m floor) and I am working on the third this week....
Other Bats in that pack will be given a similar treatment over the coming weeks/months
your awesome work is getting awesomer?? :D top notch work as always!
The new trees look amazing! i love this since i use a lot of your creations in my game, and your props on my own custom lots. Can't wait. :thumbsup:
That's a great idea Matt. I never liked this Mega Trees much, but the new ones are looking superb in my eyes. Also the buildings are looking promising!
Keep up the great work. &apls
~Simcitler
You're mad! :D
Thanks guys - this is likely to be a crazy idea - especially replacing all those fun hexadecimal numbers in the reader :bomb:
Small update:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_1.jpg&hash=568a274f60e527069c3687e8ccbf0f4609228230)
As you can see, I have turned 6 trees into 9. Working through the hideously saturated garage props ::)
Wow. I have been impressed with your models and glad to see you are revamping the flora around your lots! Don't hide your buildings they are awesome! Thanks for all your hard work!
This looks great.
Models of trees have been improved a lot these years and yours are indeed a great improvement. Good work!
Thanks guys.
Here are the models that have been re-rendered so far. I have placed a few Maxis props in amongst it to line up scale.
The other models in the Vol01 pack are the modern houses and the old windmill terraces. I won't re-render those...they will just remain as is in the new prop pack:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_2.jpg&hash=a15ae075a7b0036f7ebb97d558be25f8c61ecb0e)
One of the new trees near the garages in the lower left corner isn't placed inside the dirt circle. Not sure if you just misplaced it, or if the prop is not centered in gmax (and therefore "jumps" around when you rotate the view), but if the latter is true, you might want to fix that. Otherwise, great rework. :)
Hi Matt ,
What an interesting and pertinent work you've started there ! :thumbsup: I would like to see more creators still active to revisit their own work like you're doing . ::) I'm fan of your BATs & LOTs ( so well crafted ) despite the fact I don't use them , too much involved as I am to reproduce european environments ... but I could start something new in the future , more fanciful , mixing various architectural styles and your work would be among the very firsts to increase my Plugins folder ... :P
Greetings ! :)
Cédric.
Excellent job!!! I have a small (?) request:
Now that you are revisiting some of your models, could you please modify the villas models a little, so that they can be fitted in a LODshell equal to the Maxis one? The Maxis villas come in basically three sizes. I could extract the LODshells from the Maxis models, or give instructions, if you are interested.
The Maxis models are fine, but the collection, except maybe for the Euro style is poor, featuring only 2 models (with texture colour variations) plus an additional small model per style. As a result, players get the same buildings again and again. So the solution could be making buildings and maybe lots that compete with the Maxis ones. I have tried your villas uploaded on the LEX, but these are not modded like the ingame ones, they house more people (almost close to the ingame "palazzos") and they are yet of lower growth stage, so they hardly allow any of the Maxis ones to grow. It would be nice to have some villas that really compete with the Maxis ones (ie having similar stats - ignore what SC4PIM suggests here). Btw the palazzo's collection is even more poor, so any new addition here would be more than welcome.
Thanks guys - glad you like them.
@ Andreas - well spotted! I checked the model, it is fine, I had just forgotten to move the dirt circle when I was moving all the props around...I have to say, I wish I had used the dirt circle the first time around: it makes spotting rendering errors that much easier.
@ Badsim, with 9 of those trees, I tried to make them blend with more Northern Hemisphere ones (actually the sassafras was the shape that I was looking at when I redid these): Eucalyptus have a very distinct shape and growth habit which I am sure not everyone appreciates :P
@Cogeo: I have actually started soing something like that (way too early to show) - your comments when I did the houses pack previously got me thinking and I started on it a while back. Each house only takes an average of 3hrs from start to finish, so it isn't a massive project, but I have had some difficulty finding source material, particularly for the R$ set.
These are the 'footprints' of the building families - rather than LOD shell measurements that I am using:
R$ = 4 wide x 10 deep
R$ = 6 wide x 8 deep
R$ = 8 wide x 10 deep
R$$ = 10 wide x 14 deep
R$$ = 12 wide x 10 deep
R$$ = 12 wide x 14 deep
R$$$ = 16 wide x 20 deep
R$$$ = 24 wide x 14 deep
R$$$ = 20 wide x 20 deep
So far I have a number of builders web sites book marked and have 3 houses done to that scale.
The reason I wouldn't use the LOD shell is that the R$ houses (and about 3 of the R$$ houses) are just so underscaled - I am using an average of 4.5m per floor.
But otherwise I actually don't mind Maxis buildings, I just don't like their Lot work.
I guess it's a case of watch this space (I don't have an ETA just yet)....but I am more than happy if you want to mod the values of the models in the Maxis building families once they are done.
Great that you are finally making them!
I would gladly make the modding work needed for these (I read your other thread too). Modding some buildings to be like the Maxis ones is actually a trivial task, as the properties one needs to edit are just a few (most are inherited from the parent cohorts anyway). Only one point, I know almost nothing about the american architecture, so another member should suggest the architectural styles these buildings should be included into. I'll make my suggestions about the euro style once the models are ready.
I agree with your comments about the Maxis lots. While the commercial lots are very satisfactory (eg for the Chalmers-compatible BATs I made there are 14 Maxis lots), the residential ones are really very few. For example, each building family for the villas may only grow in just 2 - yes 2! - lots. So any LOT addition here would be a good idea too. Better yet, if the new lots can accommodate the Maxis families (incl the new BATs), instead of individual BATs - unless of course they have specific features, dictating a custom/specific lot. A mountain/stone villa, for example, wouldn't fit well in a Maxis lot, it needs a custom, rather than a more generic lot.
Quote from: cogeo on October 29, 2011, 11:32:15 AMSo any LOT addition here would be a good idea too. Better yet, if the new lots can accommodate the Maxis families (incl the new BATs), instead of individual BATs
If you use a Maxis Family that has props of different requesters (wealth/crime/garbage), like 0xA0000001, there is a little modding that should be done. Open the lot exemplar, and look for the LotConfigProperties. Any conditional family needs to have the 2nd rep end with a 1.
Pretty neat idea to revise bats. While you're at it, would you also please consider rerendering the diagonal SG canal pieces so to fit into the SG/CAL set? Maybe my request is slighty out of place since they're in the proppack vol2 but it would be wicked to have SG/CAL diagonals as well.
Take care and keep up the good work :thumbsup:
Quote from: vortext on October 31, 2011, 02:55:36 AM
... While you're at it, would you also please consider rerendering the diagonal SG canal pieces so to fit into the SG/CAL set? Maybe my request is slighty out of place since they're in the proppack vol2 but it would be wicked to have SG/CAL diagonals as well...
What ever happened to the good old days? Can you tell me that? You know. The days when SG canals were SG and CAL canals were CAL. You can call me crazy but ... NO NO NO !!! Don't do it Matt!!!
Look, don't make me get on my knees like some chump, okay? What do I gotta do, beg? Just keep coming out with those great R$ homes and
we'll all be glad you did.
- Jim
Definitely going to download this once you've finished & uploaded the remastered prop pack as I have & love all your work :)
Any progress with this project Matt?
Thanks guys for the comments
@ Vortext, as I and Simgoober use Gmax and CALs pieces are rendered in much newer 3Ds Max, I will never be able to match the water textures of CAL's canal set unless I use that software.
Some small progress:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_4.jpg&hash=b2ec6292bc9f59057b475b91efa7cb6cd5ed6598)
I have re-rendered/scaled the Bristol, the Charmed house and the single storey Windmill St terraces (not sure if they will remain as final just yet).
Most of these are in building and prop families.
Also, I have made custom foundations for most of the houses which will make this set slope friendly.
For the modern Bristol house, I have managed to work out a way where a house and attached garage can actually have a custom foundation without looking too odd and still be centred on the lot. Once I test it I will show results in game.
The good news: - there are not too many models left to re-render, and, given that the models have been scaled back, I am able to include many more and still weigh in at the original prop pack size :)
The bad news: - given how many changes there have been since the pack was first released (pim-x, CPs props, new textures and flora), I am going to dispense with the idea of simply replacing the buildings for the user as I will be re-doing the lot work completely. (The props in the pack such as trees, fences and garages will still be a staight swap where applicable). This approach will require a demolish and re-grow job for users, but will esnure that the models have accurate occupant numbers for a balanced game....
Great work on the BATs Matt - But oh man having to destroy and rebuild every building? Some of my cities are almost entirely made from your terrace BATs haha :D
Ah well I'm sure the end result will be well worth it - looking forward to the release, it's nice to see some of the terraces scaled down a bit
Sweeet! :)
Thanks guys - @ Lach77, the terraces in this pack (Little Riley St, Forbes St and City Rd) aren't frequent growers at all as their occupant numbers are very out-of-date. I hope that by re-assigning these numbers,recreating the lots afresh which of course forces the user to demolish old ones, they will actually grow more frequently....well that's the theory ;)
However, once I update the pack, I will release the new lots ASAP.
Next up, the low wealth cascade has had a makeover: it also has a custom foundation (not shown)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_5.jpg&hash=b618930afa6bbdbf0dbe792c454eed55a5ea6ca8)
Quote from: mattb325 on March 12, 2012, 12:59:26 AM
it also has a custom foundation (not shown)
Yah Hoo! Thank you for the foundation.
- Jim
Thanks for your explanation, too bad it isn't going to happen. The BATs look even better than before, can't wait to see them ingame :thumbsup:
I like what I'm seeing... looks promising all around... anticipate good things to be found on the LEX soonish :thumbsup:
Looks sweet matt ::)
Quote from: mattb325 on March 12, 2012, 12:59:26 AM
Thanks guys - @ Lach77, the terraces in this pack (Little Riley St, Forbes St and City Rd) aren't frequent growers at all as their occupant numbers are very out-of-date. I hope that by re-assigning these numbers,recreating the lots afresh which of course forces the user to demolish old ones, they will actually grow more frequently....well that's the theory ;)
However, once I update the pack, I will release the new lots ASAP.
Next up, the low wealth cascade has had a makeover: it also has a custom foundation (not shown)
Ok, thanks for the explanation - your right I don't have as many of the Riley St terraces and the City road ones are very rare - Most of mine are the boom style terraces.
Thanks everyone....a very quick and dirty test lot for proof of concept for a house and garage with custom foundation
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_6.jpg&hash=55e8d21444ebe1f7ba1fc66992693d9cfc3ca03e)
Hey Matt
Quote from: mattb325 on March 15, 2012, 01:00:56 AM
a very quick and dirty test lot for proof of concept
I never noticed, until now, the concrete breezeway between the home and garage. You'll have to learn how to make base and overlay textures. :D that is, if you enjoy working pixel by pixel in a paint program.
Where did you get the starting roof texture.?
-Jim
Thanks Jim
The roof texture is the one that came with the BAT. The texture in its original form isn't actually tileable, but I made it into a tileable texture and sized it to 1024x1024. I then gave it many different colours/gradients etc. It is non-descript enough to be anything: shingles, ashpalt, slate, terracotta, it really depends on the colour and treatment.
Other quick foundation tests
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_7.jpg&hash=3250716f060b973c8a2f405e2e16067e1d846fac)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_8.jpg&hash=04fb4bbc7a71021bb01b1cf7ee05854f082b9530)
So you get the general idea...I will finish rendering the pack.... :-\
excellent :thumbsup:
Thanks Jack :)
The first of the actual (rather than test) residential lots...this is Northcote St, which except very briefly on Pegs, was never actually released the first time around.
This is the building:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2F4NorthcoteStHaberfield-1.jpg&hash=f66e78c759e3ec8e87a1012ccb5759d3bcd900e4).
This was the original lot and building as shown years ago on PEGs site:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FNorthcoteStHaberfield1.jpg&hash=a12e06f556d053eb7eaa19722d0afec04870c15f)
And this is what a re-render, re-texture, re-scale, custom foundation and new lot work will do: shown here as 45 degree corner on a 2x3 and 2x2 lot as well as ortho on a 2x3 and 2x2 lot. Also shown are the custom foundations for both buildings, they will work up to a slope of about 6m.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9a.jpg&hash=0a6bba43197e3fcab4339d8dda7fcfa3a80a28fc)
Edith St - also only previously released very briefly with the PCG over at PEGs back in 2007 goes from this:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FEdithStMosman.jpg&hash=199c8bb243a3c0b8b3b7b4717f522d5951635b05)
......taking up 2/3 of a 3 tile deep block ::)
To this:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9b.jpg&hash=e8679fccdbd03b87d01fc4c73201bfbc4c8a2a46)
It's still a substantial single story house, but at least now can fit onto a 2x2 block with room to spare...it is slope tolerant to about 5m.
Well, in seven years it surely is a first to have to triple post, even if it has been only a day since the last post.
Below are the changes to the Charmed house and lot. The original is over on Simtrop and here is the pic from the STEX as a reminder:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.simtropolis.com%2Frepository%2Fscreens%2Fmonthly_04_2006%2Fthumb-80bace8890babf6cca702c42918d34ff-Charmed%2520-%2520Day1.JPG&hash=ecca1bf4970317a8816ca384d61bf2570e47c412).
Apart from the changes to the model itself during the re-render this has been given quite a complex custom foundation with curved walls for a bit of visual variety. It will cope with a slope of up to 6m
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9e.jpg&hash=0a7412e8841cf9d20818f21ab13b9b3d8be27e0f)
Next are the Belmont Rd houses. These were also released on Simtrop in '06. Here is the old picture:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.simtropolis.com%2Frepository%2Fscreens%2Fmonthly_12_2010%2Fthumb-9b93322b7b39bbf66a279282614c0157-Belmont%2520Rd%2520Day.JPG&hash=547f1b5398fcfe77dacfd1a15919d7c6f766aeab)
Again, these houses take a large portion of the 2x3 lots. The colours are also completely saturated. Despite this, they have been downloaded tens of thousands of times.
The re-render, and new custom foundations and lot work produce this:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9f.jpg&hash=f2a8c1984b7d61175556d17865f5b5e5f5b8d817)
Shown above are the corner rotations on 45 degrees (2x2, 2x3 and 3x2) and the ortho variations on 2x2 and 2x3 lots. These ortho buildings are part of a family.
I've deliberately kept the foundations tight and tucked the stairs along the side of the building...that way these are able to fit onto a 2x1 lot which is pretty useful on hilly terrain.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9g.jpg&hash=b8ace0a0bf822fab3d6d36e7b1f0e5ad94714f5c)
That certainly would not have been possible with the old model.
Now as it so happens a third of the posts within this subsection are my own: don't get me wrong, I'm not upset - I view it as probably more indicative of the level of community interest.
However, I can't say that stats like these are even remotely inspirational to continue with the project....I certainly hope the next post after this isn't my own.
I've been watching this thread for a while now (pretty much since it was started), and I'm genuinely looking forward to the results of this project of yours, and what has been shown so far is of course the same high quality that you have always given the community. The foundations are great, and in all my years watching this community (going back to about 2005 now) I don't recall a single person doing this. I could be wrong, it's been a long time :D
Please don't be disheartened by the lack of comments :)
i couldnt agree more. what youre doing is really great. i hope you stick with it and im positive, once completed, the comments of gratitude and awesomeness will come naturally, as they do (and should) with your other great works.
after seeing these remakes im thinking i should be making more suburb communties in the future.
Yeah excellent work as always. This thread I started some time back shows first hand how much your BATS have inspired various people including myself to create amazing cities.
http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=12846.msg416173#new
One thing with the Belmont Rd BAT are you trying to produce a darker weatherboard or brick appearance then the original BAT? The original models looked more like brick that was rendered and painted over. In my opinion for Australian bungalows both are acceptable.
For instance http://federation-house.wikispaces.com/Federation+Queen+Anne+style
Now the brickwork in these houses is quite dark but areas including the bay windows, timber columns, verandahs etc tend to be painted with bright cream/white colours. This produces an excellent contrast with the brickwork. I know what you mean about the old models being colour saturated but that also gave them a sense of energy. So I don't think you need to make them too dark - or increasing the contrast a bit wouldn't hurt.
But anyway I'm looking forward to seeing more BATs
Wow! It's really amazing to see how you can improve these older models. They were great before, but now they are even better.
And these unreleased BATs are like a fantastic bonus! I'm really looking forward to these. :thumbsup:
Quote from: mattb325 on March 21, 2012, 01:35:39 AM
Well, in seven years it surely is a first to have to triple post, even if it has been only a day since the last post.
Well, there's your problem mister, we simply can't keep up. ;D Or more likely been lurking too much, I know I do . . ::)
Rest assured though your effort has not gone unnoticed and frankly I'm a bit impatient to get my hands on them, please continue! I especially like the custom foundations, wish to see more BATters would go that extra mile.
On a side note, I don't recognize this red tree. Is it yours?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9b.jpg&hash=e8679fccdbd03b87d01fc4c73201bfbc4c8a2a46)
trust me I keepin an eye :thumbsup:the projects progress and anticipating its lex release too... so don't judge the 'postings' too literally... :P ;)
Wow. I just realized you were working on that. This is fantastic! Even though the originals were already a favourite of mine, I can't wait to see these babies pop up all over my land.
:)
Quote from: vortext on March 21, 2012, 12:00:27 PM
On a side note, I don't recognize this red tree. Is it yours?
Matt is lettng the cat out of the bag ??? ? :D
Thankyou for the responses, it's not that I was dis-heartened - more unsure if there was any interest...to some of the questions/responses:
Toxicpiano: not too many people use custom foundations. I have many in my own collection and have used them for years, but for this pack decided to release them. CP and Jmyers are both past-masters at using custom foundations, and their work really shines as a result.
jmdude1: thanks - with occupant numbers assigned in pim-x, it is actually quite a deal easier to get decent suburban areas
Lach77: thankyou for the link....pure gold. I live near many of those streets, so it will provide a good deal of inspiration, to not only add a couple of houses to this pack, but I was struggling with finding some high wealth candidates for the other Maxis replacement project...this looks like it will help immensely. With the Belmont Rd houses, the brown one with green roof is to replace the original at the top left - it was a very peculiar shade ::) The corner model is slightly more muted than the original, and the cream version is lighter - but bear in mind, the details don't quite 'pop' as much because the models are correct scale (i.e. 50% smaller).
ScottFTL thanks - these should hopefully b ready within a month or so.
Vortext and JMyers2043 Thanks - let me say that 30-40% of the flora on each of these lots is mine, 50-60% is CPs and 1% is Simgoobers....and of course, as this is a Bat thread, not all is released yet. ;)
Jack Thanks - I can always count on your comments
TiFlo I hope you enjoy the new models more than the originals ()stsfd()
Next change is Reussdale house. Again, this one was only ever released at PEGs back in '06 or so. The original lots to jog your memory:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FReussdaleHouseDay1.jpg&hash=a599eb1e1eaf1f1ad3eed45120384c63520a7c0b)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FReussdaleHouseDay.jpg&hash=2fd1cb5b223aef8c5e36b01b74bfe97dae1dffcb)
And the new version:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9h.jpg&hash=440ef402484e423ed4a95177b6ea1dbebe86da9b)
2x3 and 3x3 lot. The 3x3 has been restricted so that it does not grow on high-density (one thing I always hate is when I zone for an apartment and lots of low density houses pop up)
Reussdale house v2 is much improved... as I have the 'original' peg version and it rarely showed up, plus wasn't enamored with its scale and color... the same for the 'charmed house' and the northcote... it will fit into all the JB, spa, scaled as well as the rest of your house packs... it will make the neighborhoods look better... always willing to comment, even if there isn't anything to nit-pick about...
Hey Matt
Quote from: mattb325 on March 22, 2012, 03:08:59 PM
.. as this is a Bat thread, not all is released yet ...
Perfect! Love it! I laughed out loud. Read it again and ... boy ... that was a good belly chuckle.
Take Care - Jim
I really like your cottage models and lots. The only thing I am not confident with is the size of the trees and few trees models which are "fake"
Keep the good work &apls &apls
just wanted to give another thumbs up for the custom foundations :thumbsup:
It is all looking very nice.
Thankyou guys
Next up is the low-wealth cascade....this is a little trickier to lot given that it has an attached garage and therefore needs a ramp. Both of the cascade models are in a building family.
First is the 2x3 lots (you can also see the rear of the 1x2 as the step down the hill):
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9d1.jpg&hash=7dd5ccf052e6929bf34a1c5eedf057773835c88c)
Next, the 2x2, 1x2 and 2x1s
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9c1.jpg&hash=ad47329d690718694b2b39ed3d117b9650b64f32)
Quote from: mattb325
Lach77: thankyou for the link....pure gold. I live near many of those streets, so it will provide a good deal of inspiration, to not only add a couple of houses to this pack, but I was struggling with finding some high wealth candidates for the other Maxis replacement project...this looks like it will help immensely. With the Belmont Rd houses, the brown one with green roof is to replace the original at the top left - it was a very peculiar shade ::) The corner model is slightly more muted than the original, and the cream version is lighter - but bear in mind, the details don't quite 'pop' as much because the models are correct scale (i.e. 50% smaller).
That's true I forgot about the scaling - and nice work on the low wealth houses - they look far better then than the maxis low wealth houses (not that that is hard) :)
This project is good timing for me cause I don't want to progress my region too much further until these BATs are ready and the new RHW mod is out.
In the meantime Wing Commander Saga will fill in the gaps for me.
Really interesting houses and what a nice lotting ;)
OMG!!!! I love your houses, keep it up. :O
Quote from: mattb325 on March 22, 2012, 03:08:59 PM
Thankyou for the responses, it's not that I was dis-heartened - more unsure if there was any interest...
Don't ever doubt that sir, this project is much needed and anticipated. I especially like the flora on these new lots.
Cheers,
Willy
Looking forward to create some nice suburbs up the hills :thumbsup:
Did you make seasonal models for the flora? You know why I'm asking, right? ;)
Thanks guys for the comments :)
Lach77 - I hope I can get these out soonish - the target date is end of April/early May
Vortext, the seasonal flora isn't by me ;)
A bit of new lot work
Little Riley Street
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9i.jpg&hash=e1d560ca459dfc1789cb7c2cac917b2a314c150a)
There are also 1x1s which I am testing (not shown) at the moment the foundation stairs can overhang onto the street (which is due to how the game treats foundations - almost like props: if you look closely some foundation instances actually receive shadows from the objects around them) and I'm not 100% sure of it just yet. Of course I can restrict the slope, but that can have unintended consequenses....I may also change the fences/gates on the 1x2 lots prior to release.
Bristol 2x2 and 2x3
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9j.jpg&hash=c2e4f7e442b3b932ceb6ff994c5e26e4a5cf535b)
Also 1x2 and diagonals are yet to be shown. All the buildings are in families; as are most of the props, so it will give quite reasonable variations.
Great work Matt.
Not sure about the skylights on Little Riley Street. A bit to bright I would say.
Quote from: mattb325 on April 02, 2012, 03:49:58 PMif you look closely some foundation instances actually receive shadows from the objects around them
Interesting.
Yeah, foundations can be a little stupid, especially driveways. However, even being slow they make a whole lot more sense than if the garage just ended.
For the foundations with stairs right next to the driveway, maybe connect them and put greenery there.
I better get my act together for May :)
Matt, you make a very wonderfull work. Nice ! &apls
What the hell Mattb?
If I still had any doubts on playing SC4 they're gone now. Your already amazing work is getting even "awesomer"?
This all looks stunning and the slopes, we can build these on hills now? As soon as these come out I think I may be addicted to SC4 again, because this is too good to miss out on!
This is all VERY beautiful and I look forward to it!!! &apls
Keep up the great work, I can't believe it!
EDIT: I'm just wonderinhg:
Are you also doing this to the one story and two story houses that came along with the Bristol? I twould be nice, I'm just really excited about all of this.
Also, are you re-rendering all of the catalog houses like Newark American Stick etc...?
It would be awesome as hell. I wouldn't care if you didn;t because the re-rendered houses and previous bats you shown us are so amazing.
I can't wait to use these and just wondered if the houses like Minnetanka and Hickory too will be redone? It would be great.
I would just love to see Cottages Ornee 1 &2 to be updated like this, but only if you want?
Thanks
Its getting even more exciting with the new developments :thumbsup:... it teases the anticipation... :P :)
Thanks guys
Some more progress - I made the lots/foundations for the 1940's houses:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9k.jpg&hash=5838b9380084f6c3bfc8b778989d50dc0f14d57a)
There is also a 1x2 shown on the corner. I will potentially make a 1x3 for these suburban ones as well to tie in with Maxis lot sizes.....
...and the lots for the City Rd terraces. These do not have custom foundations, but handle slopes well non-the-less as they basically square and flush with the street:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9l.jpg&hash=a38527b39f15de5e374972fee7a3533010bf929a)
Both the 1940's homes and the terraces are part of their own building family.
At a certain point, I will look at making a 'foundation pack' for all of the cottage ornee houses that I have released. The custom foundations aren't too hard, and it is only a matter of updating the building/lot status in the reader...however, that does take some time, and I want to knock over this project and the Maxis replacement project first.
Wow.....Just Wow!
Im nearly speechless at the sight of these! The detail on the front exterior of those 1940s houses..... I can't wait to get my hands on these.
excellent and awesome progress :thumbsup:... the anticipation is growing &apls
Good to see this is still being worked on, keep it up mate.
Thanks all...slowly but surely this is almost wrapping up....
The traditional 'kendrick' from the modern house pack gets a makeover, added to a building family and a foundation:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9m.jpg&hash=564926b0c70df15b9e9a25e0a0365f50a2adad59)
The 45 degree version needs to be done, and then the 'worthington' model needs to be re-rendered (ortho and 45 degree); then it's final moddding and hopefully release soon after.
looks good Matt, I just would say that swimmingpool can't follow the slope ;D
Quote from: Girafe on June 17, 2012, 01:21:26 AM
looks good Matt, I just would say that swimmingpool can't follow the slope ;D
Shhhhh, Matt has a degree in Physics Science! :D
Maxis set their pool props to conform to the slope....these are shown on pretty jagged/steep slopes. In reality most players will have more gentle slopes in their game.
Kendrick 45 degree:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9n.jpg&hash=98ee3728d2d0d8b72a912400b94a03a65644a837)
2x2, 2x3 and 3x2 corner lots
progress is happening... &apls progress is always a good thing... like the 'flex' able lotting
THX for the 'embassy apts' as they are acting as dorms for one of the clayhurst campuses [I wish that something good to happen that the remainder of JB's UofC EP 1&2&3 were finally released on the lex -its been years and no news, apparently their done but are held up somewhere]
anyway... your projects are moving along :satisfied:
Quote from: mattb325 on June 22, 2012, 08:14:41 PM
Maxis set their pool props to conform to the slope....
Another proof of Maxis's poor understandig of basic physical laws!
The Maxis pools are pretty useful, even if they are slope conforming.
If they set this to stay flat, then on a slope, half of the hill would sit over the water, and the other half of the 'inground' pool would be floating mid air. To make a prop family, I suspect Maxis opted for the lesser of two evils.
The main reason for their usefulness is that they are in a prop family and the water looks really good, just like pool on a sunny summers day should. Even to this day, there are few other props to choose from. The only other inground pool prop family is SG's, and they are designed for mansions rather than your average middle class house.
Worthington ortho is up next
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9o.jpg&hash=cfb56ffcfbd10187a3ba5b944739f1b1081c0b39)
2x3, 2x2 and 1x2 lots
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe311%2Fmattb325%2FBATPropsTest_9p.jpg&hash=612936d202a33966ab2ca35ac9fb32233c4debbc)
Looks great, nice progress!
great job on my request Matt.
:thumbsup:
Looks nice how houses fit into the slopes. :thumbsup:
All this looks really good. I've been loving the stuff you put on the STEX and the other stuff on your other thread you revealed. Any progress on this? I see you released that medical house. :thumbsup:
Your houses are perfect, as ever. :thumbsup:
As to the pools, I'm not their biggest fan as they effectively limit lots to be used in cities with warm climates. Just a personal peeve.
Cheers
Willy
Hey
Do you have any updates on this project, I can't wait to see these BATs in my cities
Thanks for the comments guys
Quote from: Lach77 on October 22, 2012, 11:11:38 PM
Hey
Do you have any updates on this project, I can't wait to see these BATs in my cities
Just a bit of an update....some of these were lost during a recent hard drive failure. I have some of the models on a secure back-up as well as most of the gmax files so many that were lost can be re-rendered. It may just take a little while &mmm