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City Showcase (All games welcome) => Mayors' Diaries => Inactive Best Sellers => Topic started by: sumwonyuno on July 31, 2009, 01:29:49 PM

Title: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: sumwonyuno on July 31, 2009, 01:29:49 PM
A project based on the Hawaiian island of O'ahu.

"$Deal"$ To go to Reconstruction, click this link (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg297245#msg297245).

If you want to read the legacy chapters, continue below.




The City & County of Capitalis Chapters

Description:
Capitalis, Paradise is known throughout the SimWorld as the premiere island getaway.  In contrast to the visitor stereotypes of a tacky tourist mecca or a tropical urban utopia, this modern metropolis attempts to balance preservation and progress, the environment with the economy, and its past with its prospects, with its laid-back charm and lack of self-esteem.




A Message From the City & County of Capitalis:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSxBQZ4pCUWI%2FAAAAAAAAABo%2FV03KAgZ3vkM%2Fs800%2Fsealccc.jpg&hash=0ec6e998a8f0210a7c4951b94f20436b4d62bbb4)

Greetings and welcome to the City & County of Capitalis, the capital of the State of Paradise.

In January 2008, the great Administrator of the Capitalis region, Sum Won Yuno, initiated an initiative to create a SimCity story.  The City is mandated to publish a non-political informational compilation of important City issues regarding our island home.  Although this taxpayer-funded project has exceeded its budget and its release is a year over schedule, the great Administrator believes this endeavor to be worthwhile.

Unfortunately, the unionized City employees are unable to release the SimCity story in full at this time.  Labor regulations and the economy notwithstanding, Mayor Finn Nemuhanam assures all interested parties that the complete project will be up for public review at a reasonable time in the future.  The City does not intend to have an air of secrecy.  Under Paradise Sunshine laws, an air of anticipation is allowed.

Also under Paradise Sunshine laws, the Capitalis City Council has requested that the public be allowed to participate.  Transparency is a goal of the City.  Story chapter releases will be a roughly a week apart, to allow ample time for a comment period, and allow enough time for the City administration to revise releases to its standards of acceptability.

As a last reference for Paradise Sunshine laws, for the time being, the great Administrator reluctantly acknowledges that plugins, such as additions and mods, and constructive strategies [a.k.a. cheats], may have been used in the Capitalis region, in numerous instances.

The City & County of Capitalis invites anyone that wishes to be informed to regularly check this thread for the upcoming updates.  Enjoy your stay.

***Available at both SC4Devotion and Simtropolis (http://www.simtropolis.com/cityjournals/?p=toc&id=735)***




City & County of Capitalis Table of Contents:
01.  [07-31-2009] Introduction
02.  [07-31-2009] Overview (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg263371#msg263371)
03.  [08-02-2009] Government and Taxes (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg263998#msg263998)
04.  [08-07-2009] Capitalis Capitol District (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg264989#msg264989)
05.  [08-14-2009] Downtown Capitalis Part I (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg266922#msg266922)
06.  [08-21-2009] Downtown Capitalis Part II (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg268837#msg268837)
07.  [08-28-2009] Downtown Capitalis Part III (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg270714#msg270714)
08.  [09-04-2009] East Capitalis (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg273221#msg273221)
09.  [09-11-2009] Windward City (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg274640#msg274640)
10.  [09-18-2009] West Capitalis (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg275812#msg275812)
11.  [09-25-2009] Diamond Harbor (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg277240#msg277240)
12.  [10-02-2009] Windward Coast (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg278652#msg278652)
13.  [10-09-2009] North Coast (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg280066#msg280066)
14.  [10-16-2009] Central Community (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg281224#msg281224)
15.  [10-23-2009] Leeward City Part I (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg282561#msg282561)
16.  [10-26-2009] Leeward City Part II (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg283158#msg283158)
17.  [10-30-2009] Leeward Coast (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8447.msg284091#msg284091)
Title: Overview
Post by: sumwonyuno on July 31, 2009, 01:35:33 PM
Overview

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Fplanet2.jpg&hash=36e6b5788ae4ab39e3e7a0cd7d69f509bfe8d342)

Our focus starts in the middle of the SimPacific Ocean, to the most isolated islands in the SimWorld:  the Paradisian Archipelago.  The islands and atolls stretch 1500 miles across the ocean, and are the peaks of an underwater mountain range.  At the southeast end of the archipelago, there are 8 major islands.  The City & County of Capitalis is located on Community Island, and this is where our story will be told.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Farchipelago2.jpg&hash=6184081e2a3f2d79b5189bd2303c99da1ec8910b)

Although the great Administrator perpetuates a myth that he created Community Island with his own hands, scientists have their own theories and evidence.  The Paradisian Archipelago is believed to be the result of 80 million years of a stationary geological hot-spot and a moving tectonic plate.

Community Island is estimated to be between 2.8 and 3.5 million years old.  The remains of two ancient volcanoes, Vai'anae and Ko'orau, form the twin rugged mountain ranges of the island.  Erosion has caused massive landslides, resulting in a much smaller and irregularly-shaped island.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2FCapitalis_tn.jpg&hash=aa72a189bd5158449194cd84564635f3294b13f2)

About 2 million years ago, secondary volcanic activity occured, which resulted in numerous small craters.  The majority of these craters are clustered within the Capitalis stretch of the Community Island southern shore.  These craters and the original volcanoes are considered extinct, so there is almost no chance of Capitalis being destroyed by lava, excluding mischief by the great Administrator.

Capitalis Region General Information*:
2007 Population Estimate:905,034 Sims
Total Area: 119 large city tiles/744 sq. mi/1904 sq. km
Land Area: 596 sq. mi/1527 sq. km
Density: 1518 Sims per sq. mi/592 Sims per sq.km

Note:  Due to bad gameplay manipulation and unrealistic game mechanics, standard numbers used by independent entities, such as the Census Repository,  are flawed.  The City & County of Capitalis uses statistics compiled by the great Administrator for use in official information, which includes this story.

Climate:
Paradise arguably has the best weather in the SimWorld, with balmy, sunny days almost year round.  Here is also one of the least variations in average temperatures.  Its location in the tropics is one reason, but because it's surrounded by ocean, temperatures relatively near sea level do not change rapidly.  The recorded temperature range has been between 53 and 95 degrees Farenheit in Capitalis.  To the local Sim, anything outside the 70 degree range is uncomfortable.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Fsunrise.jpg&hash=361079b26e3d23d5a480215fef2b86d641f7bcc9)
[Sunrise over Tareakara on Valley Island]

For most of the year, trade winds come in from the northeast, which bring in cool breezes and rainfall.  Naturally, the windward sides of the islands are in the north and east, while the leeward sides are in the south and west.  When trade winds are not blowing, light and arid Kona [south] winds bring in vog [volcanic fog] from the Large Island, and possible stormy weather.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Flargeisland.jpg&hash=22cb0fca5757e6431df4a5a4a28d0cdeeaf2cead)
[Coastal valley on the Large Island]

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Fpearlheadhike.jpg&hash=5d5834b4895fe3a75e8fd50e1542f5a1f7849f22)
[Inside Pearl Head Crater on Community Island]

There are only two seasons, the wet season [October through April] and the dry season [May through September].  Trade winds are prevalent in the wet season and Kona winds in the dry season.  Hurricane season is June to December, although hurricanes hitting the islands are rare.  Weaker tropical disturbances are more common.

Due to geography and topography, there are microclimates on all the major islands.  Areas several miles apart, and in some cases, adjacent valleys, can have completely different weather at the same time.  The only climate types not found in Paradise are artic and tundra.  Deserts, temperate, tropical and sub-artic do occur in one or more areas on various islands.  Though, the mountains of Community Island do not have the elevation to produce sub-artic microclimates.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Ftareakara.jpg&hash=f7b8895d493f046ba6d53481b9978fe3b37d261f)
[Above the clouds on Tareakara]
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Fabian93 on July 31, 2009, 02:00:10 PM
Very interesting start here  :thumbsup:
Been looking forward to this journal since i saw a picture of your region in some "Show us your ......" -thread (i believe).
The island looks perfect - I really like the farmfields in the middle of the two hills and the big cities along the coast - very good.  &apls

Fabian
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on July 31, 2009, 02:05:30 PM
Very cool start!  That first map looks very cool indeed.  I'm looking forward to seeing some of the details!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Q-Tips on August 01, 2009, 05:59:31 AM
Your region looks realistic and very detailed. Looks very good and i am realy looking forward to see how this will go. &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: nedalezz on August 01, 2009, 07:09:24 AM
That is a huge region! A gorgeous island, and the fact its been developed fully through urban centers and farmland, wow. That mustve taken alot of work. Great start, and your storytelling is top notch as well :)
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: mayormalsy on August 01, 2009, 07:27:13 AM
Great start!, can't wait to see more, looks like it's going to very interesting.

malc
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Sciurus on August 01, 2009, 11:18:47 AM
As Nedelazz said, it's a huge region, and incroyable. I hope to see beautiful pics of your cities :thumbsup:

Guillaume ;)
Title: Government and Taxes
Post by: sumwonyuno on August 02, 2009, 09:21:12 PM
Government:
The position of the great Administrator of the Capitalis region is sanctioned by the SimWorld hegemony of SimNation.  This position is self-appointed, voluntary and non-political.  The great Administrator does have direct powers with regards to transportation, zoning/development, utilities, terraforming and applicable physical laws.  In addition, the great Administrator usually reserves the right to not interfere with State or City affairs and duties, or meddle in the personal lives of the Sims of the Capitalis region.

The State of Paradise is the 50th State of the United States of Simerica.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Fflag.jpg&hash=cf5e6645196056e3a481b1d60248e3df6e83a135)

The governments of the State of Paradise and the City & County of Capitalis are modeled after traditional Simerican practices, but with some deviations.  Under the Paradise Constitution, there are only the State and four Counties; no legal, governing entities such as "cities", "towns", etc. exist.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Fcounties.jpg&hash=ede8d0166efdb26e88c8f43ce6373e701e69f163)

The functions of government are highly centralized.  At the State level, transportation [highways, seaports, airports], courts and corrections, education, healthcare, social welfare, civil defense, electricity generation, telecommunications, land use and the tax structure are administered.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Fstatefunc.jpg&hash=ed69617b0bd0c2adde60b4b1268d7ece7dd08c96)

Counties are responsible for local streets, traffic management, public transportation, water/sewage, police, firefighting, emergency response and sanitation.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Fcountyfunc.jpg&hash=ab65a455e16d8133ed90857ecccc555e5157beea)

Capitalis has a mayor-council system, with 3 branches of government, and all seats filled by elected officials.  The Mayor has executive powers, the City Council has legislative and budget powers, and the independent Prosecuting Attorney represents on behalf of the Sims of Capitalis in criminal cases.

The "City" of Capitalis, its metro, Capitalis County and Community Island are under the same local government entity:  The City & County of Capitalis.  Under the Paradise Constitution, the City & County has jurisdiction over all uninhabited islands and atolls not incorporated in the other 3 counties.  The result is one of the largest municipalities [in terms of population, area and length] in the United States of Simerica.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Fdowntown1.jpg&hash=c933394a963e78c95795aa460848d925f8233a2d)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Fdowntown2.jpg&hash=a02f020a29493a8f80c71ad5a65788b3a72849ec)

Taxes:
Paradise consistently ranks as being among the highest taxed states in Simerica.  The scope of the State's responsibilities is one major reason why.  Under the State's tax structure, there are 3 categories:  income taxes, the General Excise Tax (GET) and property taxes.  Income taxes and the GET are the State's main sources of revenue, while property taxes are a County responsibility.

State income taxes are progressive; below-average rates on R$ and R$$, and one of the highest for R$$$.

The GET is not a sales tax, but a business transaction tax.  A rate of 0.5% is applied to wholesale, while 4% is applied to everything else.  Food and presciptions are exempted.  Although it is the business who is liable to file the tax, the bill for the GET is almost always passed on to its customers.  The GET's breadth and compound behavior, especially for transactions across multiple entities, makes it regressive and lucrative.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Fcommercial.jpg&hash=cc5e1465c9a1d7f55b46c9f8e442f053ce6f0655)

Property taxes are the main revenue source for the Counties.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Fapartments.jpg&hash=a67ba3e4439c6537af8a6abf290f63a76922ea3d)

In the City & County of Capitalis, buildings and land are valued separately.  Several independent real estate companies provide estimates, and these are compared to similar properties in the area.  The sum of the averages of individual buildings are added to the average land value estimate, to create a property's total value.  Rates are applied per $1000 of total property value, and the rate depends on the zone type, not wealth level

The following are the rates effective as of July 01, 2009:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FCapitalis%2520-%2520Overview%2Ftaxes.jpg&hash=ae199cdc328b18e5cc09be10ef55e8022c085d43)
Note:  Government property is not taxed.

It is interesting to note that residential property tax rates in Capitalis have always been among the lowest in Simerica.  Property tax valuations use current market value.  Capitalis is one the most expensive real estate markets in the SimWorld because of land prices.  The result is the City is able to have a multi-billion dollar yearly budget, and its taxpayers, comparatively, pay much less in residential property taxes than most places, though, taxpayers have their own opinions.

Starting next chapter, the story will go into an Island Tour arc, where the areas of Community Island will be showcased.




***Replies

Fabian93:  I posted a teaser in the region shots thread, it quickly got buried.  But, wow!  I have an early follower!  Hope the wait was worth it.

Battlecat:  Thanks.  Glad to find out you like the picture, it was meant to shock readers into awe and anticipation for more.

Q-Tips:  Thank you very much, the region took all of my skills and experience to make it.

nedalezz:  Heh, it is a huge region, and took a year and a half to finish the island.  I'm proud that it actually was finished.  And, thanks for noticing the story!

mayormalsy:  Thanks, I hope I'll be able to keep up your (and everyone's) interest through all of the updates to come!

Sciurus:  Thank you, and I hope the upcoming Island Tour will exceed your expectations.
Title: Capitalis Capitol District
Post by: sumwonyuno on August 07, 2009, 12:25:11 AM
Note: The City recognizes that certain events in Paradise history are controversial.  In order to comply with the terms of service of the mediums used to convey this SimCity story, much of the historical and political background of Paradise and Capitalis have been omitted, in order to prevent debate on certain issues.  Historical facts are used to frame better understanding, but are not used as focal points of the story.

Archaeological evidence suggests that the islands, known as Paradise today, have been inhabited by SimPolynesian peoples for thousands of years.  The oldest settlements found on Community Island are 800 years old.

After first contact by SimEuropeans in the 18th century, the islands in the middle of the SimPacific became an strategic point in worldwide trade.  The most important harbor was known as Tonoruru.  Its depth, its size and a protective reef made Tonoruru the best deepwater port in the islands.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fharbor.jpg&hash=d4ea9e708a24fe6fa3870561871ffa1b52debb23)

From the largest island, Tavai'i, a royal chief named Kapetapeta united the multiple chiefdoms of the 8 islands into one, the Kingdom of Tavai'i.  His decendants made pivotal changes that modernized the Kingdom.

The capital of the Kingdom of Tavai'i was moved to Tonoruru Harbor.  This new capital, Kapetalis, was envisioned to be the center of government, trade and education for the Kingdom.  However, the name Tavai'i changed to Paradise, and Kapetalis changed to Capitalis, following certain events.

Around the Capitalis Harbor, industry and commerce grew.  Residential communities spread from the harbor, across the narrow coastal plain and into nearby valleys.  For the first half of the 20th century, Capitalis was a quiet, low-rise port town.  The tallest building was the Capitalis Harbor Tower.  The 10-story tower was the clock of the city and control center for the harbor.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fharbortower1.jpg&hash=557b6730a86cdf13391a062325f636d4cef6624d)
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On the eve of the 1960's, Capitalis started its boomtown era.  It would become the exotic place of opportunity of the SimWorld, where this town would be transformed into a modern metropolis.

"In-town" Capitalis covers an area of several square miles, and is made up of multiple small districts.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fintown.jpg&hash=c9d022b7a8c45d796d5d570972f99a5a9662a2b1)

The Capitol District contains the bulk of government buildings of the State of Paradise, the City & County of Capitalis and various federal agencies.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fcapitoldistrict.jpg&hash=a443854c20fef7f446e5ff0276589927410fc630)

The 'Iorani Palace was the residence of the ruling monarch of the Kingdom of Tavai'i.  It is now a museum of the only royal palace in Simerica.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fiorani.jpg&hash=63e7fdae150fc20c2457eaa60cf3006e6d9ca8a0)

Next to 'Iorani Palace are the Royal and State Archives.  The State Library is the biggest public library in the islands.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fstatelibrary.jpg&hash=0ce106a2b9b2046ea0e749ce9c65770c4ec56aa4)

In front of 'Iorani Palace and the State Library is Capitalis' "Main Street", King Street.  Across the street is a statue of Kapetapeta the Great.  Behind the statue are historical buildings from Capitalis' earlier years.  Ari'iorani Tare was once the main government building of the Kingdom of Tavai'i.  Today, the building houses the State Supreme Court.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fstatue.jpg&hash=6fafb45f8062596915364ff792baf9eeb12010bd)

To the north of 'Iorani Palace is the Paradise State Capitol.  The State executive and legislative branches have their offices here.  This "square" building features a large open-air plaza in the center, and water pools on each side.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fstatecapitol.jpg&hash=989ff25d71c78f0f7626ccca1ce101f3f549deed)

Across Britannia Street from the Paradise State Capitol is SimWashington Place.  Until recently, this mansion was home for the Governor of the State.  This residence too was converted into a museum.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fsimwashington.jpg&hash=19f4e8587736a73222479149d960fa428327f57d)

Juicebowl Street separates the State and City sections of the Capitol District.  On the other side of the street, Capitalis Capitol is the "City Hall" of the City & County of Capitalis.  The Mayor and the City Council have their offices here.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fcapitaliscapitol.jpg&hash=fa6c7a5e04d2ed5a1042bab690ed663afb511998)

To the east is the Capitalis Civic Center, a public green space that hosts many events.  At the end of the block is the Capitalis Municipal Building, which houses the most of the City departments.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fmunicipal.jpg&hash=d0fd62bd4a2fbcd5fc16048593bd8de94493239c)

Across King Street from Capitalis Capitol is the Kavaiata'o Church, the first House of Worship in Paradise.  Next to the church are a cemetary and several preserved houses from early Simerican missionaries.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Fkavaiatao.jpg&hash=2a14e2ee7ecb927c51366ca1a8a7307538e428dd)

At the southern border of the Capitol District is the Prince Kutio Federal Building.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2Ffedbuilding.jpg&hash=a48371a21b32d57de518e958ab41ae1ef60ab9fe)
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: dizflip on August 07, 2009, 01:29:21 AM
Dang! Really breathtaking aerial! And nice city!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on August 07, 2009, 07:17:07 AM
nice city its actualy looking pretty good. By the way where did you get that city hall fix?
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: evertonforever1 on August 07, 2009, 01:42:35 PM
your MD is crying out to me for more custom content! 
nice layout though... and story/senario.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on August 07, 2009, 10:09:04 PM
Quote from: evertonforever1 on August 07, 2009, 01:42:35 PM
more custom content! 
There isn't a lot of Hawaii related content out there. I think I'll try making custom content just to get rid of the Maxis things in this MD.

Anyway, this is an amazing recreation. Can you show me a close-up of my house later?
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: sumwonyuno on August 08, 2009, 03:18:15 PM
***Replies***

dizflip:  Thanks for visiting and enjoying the pictures!

danielcote:  Thanks.  I got that plugin on the Simtropolis Modds & Downloads Page (it's not there anymore).  But, you can use the SC4 Extra Cheats .dll, use the lotplop code, and look for Rw3x4_ ... Large/Medium/Small... _CityHall, select and plop down.

evertonforever1:  Yes, as emgmod pointed out, there isn't much for Hawaii (only the Arizona Memorial and maps).  I do have a lot of custom content, it's just that they don't "fit" (height limits, architectural style, lot size, etc.); you'll see many custom highrises in the next 3 chapters.  I tried making my own BATs, just took too long.  My main goal was recreating the roadways.  Buildings, neighbhorhoods were secondary.  IMO, the Maxis and chosen custom content are decent surrogates for the real thing.

emgmod:  Wow, you're the second person from Hawaii I've seen on this forum! :thumbsup:  I got family and friends living in Waipahu!  I couldn't ever finish the island if I had to recreate everything (locals would just complain, "Dat no look like ____!").  Fictionalizing everything is easier and gets around talking about the controversial history of Hawaii.  Too bad, I couldn't find anything close to Aloha Stadium or the concrete elevated viaduct for the rail [spoiler].  And, I'm not soliciting, but I would really appreciate any content you make. &apls Boxy, beige and white, lanais, plantation-style, tiny houses and small streets are really lacking in the region.  Send me a private message with a neighbor's address (so I don't know your real house) and I'll send you a picture of that area.
Title: Downtown Capitalis Part I
Post by: sumwonyuno on August 14, 2009, 12:06:04 AM
To the west of the Capitol District are two important commercial areas.

Downtown Capitalis is the Central Business District of Paradise.  Commercial office (CO) buildings here are the headquarters of the top local financial businesses.  Banks and insurance companies hold the majority of office space here.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fdowntown1.jpg&hash=71476b925ce6912c2f659e4019119f27edd083ab)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fdowntown2.jpg&hash=1ec4c39612752cc5834e7e723618e9652f4013b5)

Numerous residential buildings are located in Downtown.  Some CO buildings were converted into residential, as the housing market in Capitalis is fiercely competative.  R$$ Sims inhabit the majority of these buildings.  In recent years, R$$$ high-rises were built, reflecting the high demand for housing within the Capitalis urban core.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fhousing1.jpg&hash=ed38dddce1b1f382e0052e1e6b1bc2f0b0c5b7b7)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fhousing2.jpg&hash=7d264d9af4fab61e8862abc9d6ee9f86aede1ef1)

The newest CO building in Downtown Capitalis is the First Paradisian Center, built in 1996.  It currently holds the title of being the tallest building in the State.  The building is the headquarters of the First Paradisian Bank.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fbanktower.jpg&hash=458e6aac071950385dcc93e596c0bfe46b6291a7)

To the west is SimChinatown.  This area has always been where immigrants begin their lives in Capitalis.  Towards the mountains, R$ and R$$ apartments crowd Brittania Street.  Towards the harbor, the buildings of the low-rise past are preserved.  The Nu'uanu River acts as a border between SimChinatown and the lower Ririta area.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fsimchinatown1.jpg&hash=a8683770ea2c85fa4dde9268a3606a1ea88b8dc9)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fsimchinatown2.jpg&hash=d33525418e1622e394e491e8561df6af2ed50382)

Historically, SimChinatown was known for vice and poverty.  In the recent past, the City and the neighborhood have taken steps to take the area back from the criminal elements.  Today, SimChinatown is bustling with open-air markets of locally-grown organic produce, speciality shops, art galleries, restaurants, bars and nightclubs.  The area's problems are still visible, but significantly less than before.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fmarkets1.jpg&hash=9da769ab866aeddff0511ef85430b6130a104a0a)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fmarkets2.jpg&hash=9c4b6878013c9fba02e0fb1fecfb1bd0414e8e5d)

Ivirei was once a system of fishponds.  The ponds were filled in to expand the cargo and industrial capacity of Capitalis Harbor.  In the early 20th century, Ivirei was a manufacturing center and the rail hub of Capitalis.  The Community Rail & Land Company (CR&L Co.) rail lines ended at 'A'ara Park and interfaced with the Capitalis Rapid Transit Company (CRT Co.) streetcar system.  Produce from the plantations were processed here, before they were shipped all over the world.  Today, Ivirei is being redeveloped into a retail and high tech district.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fivirei.jpg&hash=133729d78b190c8fa2cc5f5c7177e60be0bcb431)

Gravel Island is across the harbor from Downtown Capitalis.  It was originally two separate islands and a shallow reef.  As Capitalis Harbor was expanded and dredged, a single island was created.  In the 19th century, the island was used for quarantine and had an incinerator.  Today, Gravel Island handles much of the harbor cargo capacity, has an industrial park and is the site of Capitalis' main water treatment plant.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fgravelisland.jpg&hash=aff2330df64c25254d438c72c82af95172e59ff1)
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Scarton on August 14, 2009, 02:28:05 PM
This is a good CJ. &apls I think the "Paradisian Center" pic is great! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on August 14, 2009, 09:19:51 PM
While taking TheBus through this area today (and cursing at the multiple accidents/road closures) I'm wondering what the traffic is the area is like.
In addition, do you place your bus stops in the same place as in RL?
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on August 14, 2009, 09:47:12 PM
Nice city Very modern and the network of pedways make it look even nicer!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: sumwonyuno on August 15, 2009, 05:42:19 PM
***Replies***

citycapitalizer:  Thank you very much!

emgmod:  Yeah, there's that gas leak on Beretania Street (for reference, see first Downtown mosaic, by the House of Worship, right side of picture).  Hope it's fixed before UH starts (gotta take TheBus through there going home).  I use Simulator Z, it's done a great job for multi-tile commutes.  But because of the neighbor-connection-is-closer bug, commute patterns definitely don't match real life.  I'm using the Ultra setting, and even at that setting, traffic's bad.  Well, in town, I've done my best to put bus stops in their correct places, using some Maxis stops and RTMT lots.  But outside of town, I forgot  :-[.  I could try to put buses in the suburbs, but since buses add to traffic in Simulator Z, congestion will still be bad.

danielcote:  Thanks!  Though, I have to admit, the only other ped malls you'll see is at the University of Paradise at Panoa (chapter 7).

Note: (I don't think anyone notices) I've changed the first mosaic picture:  the pedestrian mall has been extended to the left of the twin white buildings.  (compare with the Capitalis Harbor Tower mosaic in the fourth chapter)
Title: Downtown Capitalis Part II
Post by: sumwonyuno on August 20, 2009, 06:08:22 PM
The Nu'uanu Valley sits overlooking Downtown Capitalis and the harbor.  In the lower half, apartments, high-rises and commerical buildings are present.  Deeper in the valley are historical estates and low-density housing that encroach into the mountain watersheds.  To the west is Ririta.  It is contiguous of and is similar to the Nu'uanu area.  Ririta Street is the area's "Main Street".  Although it is close to Downtown, Ririta keeps the small town feel of Capitalis' past.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fnuuanu1.jpg&hash=a78ac56c1a2587c01e52e3dd879f438e5ff3afd4)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fnuuanu2.jpg&hash=973ff0a558da482d96933d89ac159dcc9bb6e6db)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fnuuanu3.jpg&hash=0ae55ee7920115449da554f718918e5081a6621d)

The Jari Highway runs through the valley.  It is the oldest of the 3 roadways that cuts through the Ko'orau Mountains to connect Capitalis with the Windward City.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fjari.jpg&hash=1690b23b4adc4e1b19bbe1445f6832413c89601b)

About half a mile from the shore is Juovaina, a volcanic crater, also known as Juicebowl.  Today, the National Cemetary of the SimPacific in the crater holds the remains of soldiers and veterans of the Simerican military.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fjuicebowl1.jpg&hash=baf6c5b28047fb82146a15c5d7da8cc58f47aa4c)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fjuicebowl2.jpg&hash=6bf083fdd2a3ea6b02fd5c32b30eb04b120f6642)

East of Juicebowl Crater is Pakiki.  This neighborhood is the most diverse of Capitalis and has the densest residential population in Paradise.  Sims from all backgrounds, all ages and all three wealth levels live side by side here.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fpakiki1.jpg&hash=ee289b223decdf147416cc1ea52e9a9a2bc1274a)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fpakiki2.jpg&hash=9cda98df1bb25785218307fd3cd89b4b92114ac3)

The Bill Desallean Center is a City complex of multi-purpose buildings.  It is comprised of an arena, an exhibition hall and a concert hall.  After recent renovations, the Center is a boon, hosting numerous local and world-famous attractions.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fbilldesallean1.jpg&hash=41de8d4cbedc82157c4ec95a1624253c00d3dc39)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fbilldesallean2.jpg&hash=2b96dc51133449b103f39b412bb0b3df05720dd0)

The New Beginnings Apartment is a rental high-rise on Britannia Street.  This humble residence has become a recent tourist attraction.  The current President of the United States of Simerica was born in Capitalis, and was raised by his grandparents that lived in this building.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fnewbeginnings.jpg&hash=42ac24aaa97acb2aca9bbbd4f7eea6d5c96ddc20)

To the east of Capitalis Harbor is Kaka'ako.  This area in early Capitalis history was comprised of dirty industry (I-D).  The City also had a landfill and an incinerator by the waterfront.  Today, warehouses and commercial service (CS) shops dominate the area.  High-tech (I-HT) buildings and educational facilities are being built.  Parks replaced the landfill, and incinerator site was redeveloped.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fkakaako.jpg&hash=5aea3feebceab44e695b8b41cef90213642baf91)

A few relatively-new highrises inhabit the area.  Kaka'ako is one of the areas left in in-town with both potential and significant area.  Government planners and private landowners have been wanting to redevelop Kaka'ako for several decades.  The current vision is to create mixed-used developments, focusing on transit and pedestrian scale.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fkakaako2.jpg&hash=c8c3875995d5384b7d3e5b3d0c3e50c7a5ad3083)

The Ara Poana area is the retail capital of Capitalis.  The Ara Poana Shopping Center, the Draw Retail Complex and Sim-Mart are all located here.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Farapoana.jpg&hash=d36b0e265ce066543d9e02512fcb89d5d79fbed3)

The Ara Poana Shopping Center was the biggest shopping center in the SimWorld when it opened in 1959.  Today, it is among the largest shopping centers in Simerica, and is still the largest in the islands.  It also holds the "green" distinction of being the largest of the few open-air shopping centers in Simerica.

Across Ara Poana Blvd. is Capitalis' most popular public spaces, the Ara Poana Beach Park and the Enchanted Island peninsula.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fbeachpark1.jpg&hash=6bceda4794332c370eca5f07876de552436a8aa0)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520II%2Fbeachpark2.jpg&hash=56bb94069b04f11010da626cc1c01262df5f5416)
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: soulchaser on August 21, 2009, 12:38:03 AM
I think, it's a bit bold, to build a graveyard upon an old volcano, but nevertheless, this looks great!

I love the mix of buildings of different heights. looks quite natural.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: KoV Liberty on August 22, 2009, 01:06:00 PM
The "Graveyard" is actually there in RL. Also have you considered having a new terrain mod like the Coloumbus mod? It is much better than the vanilla textures. I love the fact it is in Oahu. I LOVE it there!!!!!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: sumwonyuno on August 22, 2009, 10:36:36 PM
***Replies***

soulchaser:  Thanks!  Driftmaster07 already addressed the cemetary.  I'm happy you like the look in the game, but in real life, there are strict and relatively low height limits, with different limits around the city.  I've tried my best to get the overall visual look right, and finding buildings that look like their real life counterparts.

Here's one, somewhat outdated, picture (but still a good reference shot of how Honolulu looks like):
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftbn2.google.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AoyRyj60JgsX_ZM%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F4%2F47%2FOahu_from_the_air_2004.jpg&hash=41351c9c81979b28bc5b2765200d64e641706c50) (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Oahu_from_the_air_2004.jpg)
[2364px × 1638px, 3.5MB]

Driftmaster07 :  Heh, I'm glad you love O'ahu.  As for the terrain, I do have the THL Tropical spread terrain plugin installed.  I admit, it's only a mild change from vanilla.  I really couldn't find a terrain and rock mod that looked good enough for overall look.  The island has such a diversity in landscapes and color.

To everyone:  What's your opinion on the length and frequency of chapters?  Are the chapters too long?  Is one week too long of a wait?  Or is everything just right?  I've actually finished the chapters for the Island Tour, and I'm working on the main plot.  For the main story, I'm planning to have shorter chapters, twice a week.  I could do the same for the Island Tour, but I'm curious to what people prefer.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Scarton on August 23, 2009, 06:34:45 AM
Very good, I like that mall. :thumbsup: Overall, your cities are great, and the landscape you're developing on is really nice! &apls (I take it it's an Oahu region?). About chapters and all that, you could try to do the same size of chapters every 3 to 4 days. (if you can)
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on August 23, 2009, 03:53:08 PM
I'm okay with the chapters being once a week for the tour. Once the main story kicks in, I would like twice a week chapters.
We need short parking garages for Ala Moana (Ara Poana) instead of that blank space. Would it look better with some Photoshop?

Edit: Would this (http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=14248#) work?
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: KoV Liberty on August 23, 2009, 04:30:22 PM
Oh ok! Also I think the updates are perfectly spaced! Also I play TDU and your version of Oahu is VERY VERY VERY accurate to the real one!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on August 24, 2009, 11:52:45 AM
Nice job on the ongoing updates!  It's looking great! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on August 24, 2009, 05:42:38 PM
Nice custom cematary.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: sumwonyuno on August 25, 2009, 02:16:54 AM
Well, three responses isn't a representative sample for this site.  Anyways, I guess I'll continue with once a week for the Island Tour.  The main story has the potential to be quite long, so it's possible to keep chapter length and double the frequency.  The University of Hawai'i is back in session, and I'll have to balance my fall semester + this mayor diary.

citycapitalizer:  Thanks.  I terraformed all 119 large city tiles by hand (in game and with SC4Terraformer).  O'ahu is very anti-compass-grid.  I oriented areas to fit better on the game grid, so the island looks very skewed at the region level.

emgmod:   I tried several configurations for Ala Moana (Ara Poana), but nothing really looked as good as the ACB-VLT Terminals.  &mmm I wish there were modular parking garage lots.  It's just easier to say that parking's not allowed up there. ;)

Driftmaster07:  Heh, I wish I could say the same about TDU.  I have to give Atari credit for trying.  Hawai'i roads are definitely nowhere near racing quality (design and traffic!).

Battlecat:  Thank you!

danielcote:  Thanks.  It's actually pegasus' memorial park set.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: KoV Liberty on August 25, 2009, 03:52:10 PM
Yeah but they said there will be a sequal... So lets hope that works out better!
Title: Downtown Capitalis Part III
Post by: sumwonyuno on August 28, 2009, 12:45:15 AM
The Panoa Valley is a well-established R$$ neighborhood.  The local Sims comment that it is always raining somewhere in the valley.  Because of this, rainbows are a common occurance.  It is no surprise that the rainbow is a common icon for Paradise.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520III%2Fpanoa1.jpg&hash=8e4d09e060aa958588122e757040ccd1d77a003a)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520III%2Fpanoa2.jpg&hash=a77de92714b57b613777b168095ac58b9ec4c2e8)

At the eastern mouth of the Panoa Valley is the University of Paradise campus.  This accredited public institution has enrollment of over 20,000 students a semester.  19 schools and colleges provide a wide range of degrees and research fields.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520III%2FUPP.jpg&hash=bb20fe6fd878d26638a094eff4f3f11685f159c9)

Po'iri'iri is a neighborhood that marks the eastern end of the old Capitalis town.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520III%2Fpoiriiri1.jpg&hash=fe7b2fdadf3f26b505ba03d9e4957e4c8287a3e6)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520III%2Fpoiriiri2.jpg&hash=2337421a20138ced49a4262e10cda3bc9e249f7c)

At the entrance of Vaikiki is the Paradise Convention Center.  It is a State facility that hosts many yearly events and conferences.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520III%2Fconventioncenter.jpg&hash=f99fe746ed240cab400a56d0687e5e324343c167)

Vaikiki Beach is arguably the most famous shoreline in the SimWorld.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520III%2Fvaikiki3.jpg&hash=2224ab3468767925403efa4ee0976fc32866c136)

Before 1920, the tourist mecca known as Vaikiki was radically different.  The area was primarily coastal wetlands.  In the 1920's, private interests heavily lobbied for the Ara Vai Canal project.  The canal would drain the wetlands, and new developable land would be available.  The ambition was to create Vaikiki as an island paradise of Paradise.  However, due to the Great Depression of the 1930's, the full canal buildout was never completed, and no plans exist to do complete it today, or in the future.

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The first hotel in Vaikiki is the famous pink Royal Paradisian Hotel.  It was built at the turn of the 20th century.  Its location on Vaikiki Beach is still arguably the best available.

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During the building boom, hotel chains battled over lots within the golden square mile of Vaikiki.  Today, tourism is the largest sector of the Paradise economy.  Vaikiki has over 30,000 hotel rooms available each night.  Though, it is a common misconception that since Capitalis is a tourist city, hotels dominate its skyline.  The majority of hotels on Community Island are located in Vaikiki.  However, Vaikiki only contains a third of Capitalis' high-rise inventory.  R$$ apartments and R$$$ condominiums also contribute to the area's skyline, and are the homes for 20,000 Sims.

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Kaji'orani Park anchors the east end of Vaikiki.  It was built during the Kingdom of Tavai'i, and was the first public park in Paradise.  Today, it still holds the distinction of being Capitalis' largest park.  The Capitalis Zoo is right next to the park, across the street.

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The most recognizable landform in Capitalis is the iconic volcanic crater, Re'ati, more commonly known as Pearl Head.  A hike to the top gives the most popular city view of Capitalis.

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Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on August 28, 2009, 07:03:05 AM
Is that an old inactive volcano!?  ???
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on August 28, 2009, 08:21:49 AM
Beautiful work!  That's more familiar territory to me (spent a week in that part of Hawaii in real life).  You've done a great job of creating your own take on the area, while still keeping it very familiar!  Keep up the great work! 

@danielcote: Yup, that's an old volcanic caldera.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: peter007 on August 28, 2009, 11:12:39 AM
Great It's something that me interests pretty cool  &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: BuildingUp on August 28, 2009, 04:15:34 PM
Oh my! I absolutely love what you've done here, and that old caldera is very dramatic! Brilliant!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: sumwonyuno on August 29, 2009, 07:27:18 PM
danielcoteBattlecat's answered your question.  Don't worry, it won't erupt and destroy the city.  $%Grinno$%

Battlecat:  Thanks for the comment.  I take it you were on vacation in Waikiki (Vaikiki) for that week?

peter007:  Thanks and glad this interests you!

BuildingUp:  Thank you, and yes it reall provides a beautiful backdrop to the city in real life.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on August 30, 2009, 10:22:43 AM
Great job on this update. I didn't know about the canal project.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: sumwonyuno on September 02, 2009, 01:32:35 PM
emgmod:  Thanks and, yup, there's tons of things I learned too while writing for the project.
Title: East Capitalis
Post by: sumwonyuno on September 04, 2009, 05:03:22 PM
The stretch of the southern shore to the east of in-town Capitalis is naturally called East Capitalis.  The high quality of life here is reflected in East Capitalis having some of the most expensive neighborhoods of Community Island.

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Jaroro Valley is one of the four major valleys to the north of Capitalis.  Although it does not garner as much attention as the other 3 major valleys, it is the only one left with an unobstructed viewplane from the mountains to the ocean.

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Kaipuki is the first major subdivision outside of the old Capitalis port town.  It extends from Pearl Head and into the Jaroro Valley.  Vaiarae Avenue is the area's "Main Street" and was a major commercial district in the early 20th century.

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Katara is a predominantely R$$$ neighborhood to the east of Kaipuki and Pearl Head.  It was comprised of R$ and R$$ in its early years.  During Capitalis' boom period, R$$$ moved in, redeveloped the area, and property values skyrocketed.  Today, Katara is Paradise's most expensive neighborhood.  To the north of Katara is the Katara Mall and Vaiarae area.

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The string of neighborhoods along the Prince Highway are the result of rapid urbanization of wetlands during the Capitalis boom years.  The R$$ and R$$$ homes were targeted at Sims moving from the Simerican mainland wanting to live in Paradise.

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The Karani Valley and the Vairuje Peninsula.

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'Aina Taina was one of the original neighborhoods in East Capitalis.  It was a village built after the second SimWorld War.  The neighborhood was expanded significantly since then.

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Niu Valley and Kuriouou.

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The largest of the East Capitalis neighborhoods is Paradise Sea.  The Simerican industrialist Kerry Seahin had the vision and the simoleons to transform a remote fishpond village into the premiere Paradisian suburb for Capitalis' affluent.

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North of Paradise Sea is the Karapa Valley.

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Tanaupa Bay in is the remains of Koko Head, an ancient volcanic crater that eroded into the ocean.

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Koko Crater, to the north, is the largest of the secondary volcanic craters on Community Island.

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Sandy Beach is a popular beach for advanced swimmers.

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Pakaju'u Point is part of the Ka Ivi shoreline.  This area is one of the few undeveloped shorelines on this part of Community Island.  City policy and the East Capitalis Development Plan are specifically against any development here.  However, the Ka Ivi shoreline is still zoned under State law as urban.  Local Sims have been lobbying the State's Land Use Commission to rezone the area to preservation.

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Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: KoV Liberty on September 04, 2009, 06:11:02 PM
Looks ideantical to the real one!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on September 04, 2009, 09:38:47 PM
Those are very vast suburbs.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on September 05, 2009, 10:50:58 PM
Quote from: danielcote on September 04, 2009, 09:38:47 PM
Those are very vast suburbs.
Wait till you see West Capitalis.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: BuildingUp on September 07, 2009, 11:31:25 AM
Oh my! This is absolutely dramatic to the highest degree. The suburbia is wonderful. I love it all.  &apls
Title: Windward City
Post by: sumwonyuno on September 11, 2009, 01:59:58 PM
On the other side of the Ko'orau Mountains from Capitalis is the Windward City.  A wide variety of suburban neighborhoods make up this part of Community Island.

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Ocean Life Park is a popular site for tourists and young students.  It is an educational center that focuses on showcasing marine flora and fauna found in Paradise.   Adjacent to the park are facilities, owned by various educational institutions, for doing research on the aquatic world.

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Vaipanaro is a R$ neighborhood largely centered around farming and a rural lifestyle.  The largest concentration of houses here are near Vaipanaro Beach Park.

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Boswell is a decommissioned as an air force base of the second SimWorld War.  Today, some sections are used for training the Marines.  The shore here is contiguous of Vaipanaro Beach.  The Simerican military has jurisdiction, but it voluntarily allows public shoreline access.  Recently, due to illegal behavior by some, the military has found it necessary to temporarily close access, in order to clean up and redesign designated public areas.

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Paunaviri is a small inland neighborhood, inside of the Oropana crater.

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Magic Lake was once a large inland fishpond.  Today, a canal connects Magic Lake to the ocean.  Depending on the tide, it becomes a freshwater lake, or a brackish one.

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Kairua was the first suburban neighborhood on the windward side of Community Island.  It experienced rapid urbanization after the second SimWorld War and during the boom years of Capitalis.  Development has encroached right up to the beach.  Kairua Beach is often heralded as the best beach Paradise has to offer.

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Ranikai is also known as Little Katara.  This small coastal neighborhood boasts the most expensive real estate on this side of the island.  As the sister beach to Kairua, Ranikai Beach is still rated among the most beautiful in the SimWorld.

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The Pokaju peninsula is home to an active Simerican military installation, the Kane'ote Marine Corps Base.

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Kane'ote is the largest of the Windward City neighborhoods.  The area was once used for farming, but was later urbanized at the same time as Kairua.  A majority of the R$$ that reside here commute across the Ko'orau Mountains for employment.

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***Replies***

Driftmaster07:  Thanks!  Though, I don't know if anyone here notices, there are a certain whole neighborhoods missing.  They're suppose to be on the mountain slopes, and sometime after the main story is finished, I'll try to make them in the game.

danielcote:  Heh, almost all of the residential areas that we have yet to visit on the island are suburbs.  On "emgmod's" part of the island (West of Capitalis), now those are really extensive suburban neighborhoods.

emgmod:  Check out the updated region view in the Overview chapter.  I've made some changes in Diamond Harbor (Pearl Harbor).  There are ships in the Middle Loch now, and I've redone Dorf Island (Ford Island).  I've put in a battleship to act as the USS SimMissouri.

BuildingUp :  Thank you very much!  I hope you'll enjoy all of the surburbia that's on the rest of the island as well.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on September 11, 2009, 02:16:32 PM
Another couple of great updates!  You're really doing a superb job of recreating the island.  I keep getting this odd sense of familiarity from some of your shots! 

Yes indeed, I did spend 8 days in Waikiki and also travelling around the island.  I'd go back for another visit without a moments hesitation! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on September 12, 2009, 11:00:37 AM
QuoteKairua
Hawaiian + Replacing l with r = Someone figuring out you're lazy thinking up these names.

Anyway, Due to the H-3, I go to school here.
Red: My dad's workplace
Blue: My school
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Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: sumwonyuno on September 13, 2009, 09:22:17 PM
I was going to wait a while, but I guess it's better to answer now.

Battlecat:  Thank you very much!  Glad that you've enjoyed your time here in the islands, and pleased that this mayor diary is bringing up (hopefully good) memories.

emgmod:  First off, Kailua High School?  Congratulations, you're the first person I've "met" that goes there.  Heh, you're also the first instance I've come across of a student living in one suburb and going to school in another.  It's usually suburb to town.  You've got the best daily commute anywhere.  :thumbsup:

For the proper nouns in this story, yes, it's all based off the real ones.  I have five different ways as an attempt to fictionalize names:

1.  Just adding Sim in front of the name (SimPacific).
2.  Completely make something up (Hawai'i to Paradise, O'ahu to Community Island).
3.  Non-Hawaiian people names are scrambled (i.e. Bellows to Boswell, Henry Kaiser to Kerry Seahin, and therefore Hawai'i Kai to Paradise Sea).
4.  Switch adjectives of two places (i.e. Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor to Pearl Head and Diamond Harbor).
5.  A "Paradisian" alphabet, which keeps all vowels, an apostrophe as the 'okina, no kahakō, and the following consonant conversions from Hawaiian:
  - H to T
  - M to P
  - L to R
  - P to J
  - W to V
  - K and N are kept

As for the stereotypical Asian L and R, such sound interchangability was common among Native Hawaiians as well.  It was the missionaries that standardized the language and did their best to eliminate the ambiguity.  I started off the "Paradisian" alphabet with the alternative letters (K to T, L to R, W to V).  But some names sounded weird (Waikiki to Vaititi).  The alphabet went through several revisions until it became the system I'm using now.  Heh, I have to admit, it's still less than perfect, it still sounds weird and some places still have the same names (Kaka'ako, Nu'uanu, etc.).  The letter choices for H to T and M to P were intentional.  I had alternate meanings for the name "Capitalis", one being the capital, and another being symbolic of capitalism and Honolulu's growth.  And it hit me one day:  Kamehameha > Kapetapeta > Kapetalis > Capitalis.   ;)
Title: West Capitalis
Post by: sumwonyuno on September 18, 2009, 03:15:16 AM
The western part of Capitalis is usually seen as an area that commuters and tourists bypass to get into town.  Nevertheless, West Capitalis is important, as it connects windward to leeward, west to east, and the world to Capitalis.  Its neighborhoods make up over 10% of Community Island's population.

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The area of Kajarapa is composed of numerous smaller neighborhoods.  There is a wide-spread rumor that the great Administrator, Sum Won Yuno, lives in an undisclosed residence here, that may or may not be in this photo.  Other speculation of the great Administrator's home include, but are not limited to, in a geosynchronous satelite, in another dimension, or in a parallel universe.

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Kariti is a large R$ neighborhood that stretches from the ocean and into the valley to the north.  Though it has has a reputation of being a rough neighborhood, grassroots and government-led efforts are working to counter the area's problems.

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The Princess Highway was built as the second roadway to cut through the Ko'orau Moutains to serve the Windward City area.

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The Pajunajuna area is a major retail and industrial business district.  The lower half is vulnerable to flooding, as the average elevation is at current sea level.  Some streets are lower.  They are flooded with salt water at especially high tides, and sea creatures can be found coming out of storm drains.

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Poanarua is a R$$ residential neighborhood.  The Poanarua Valley to the north is a privately-owned, but publicly-accessible forest reserve.

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Salt Lake is the densest neighborhood outside of in-town Capitalis.  The eastern 1-mile stretch of the mountain-side of Salt Lake Blvd. is lined with mid-rise and high-rise apartment buildings.

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The lake that gives it its name was once salty because it had no outlet.  Artesian wells raised the water level in the lake, and canals allowed the accumulated minerals to be washed away.  Today, much of the lake has been filled in, and a golf course replaces it.

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Ariapanu is an extinct volcanic crater, and is the name of the largely R$$ neighborhood around it.

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The land on the ocean side of Salt Lake Blvd. is largely owned and leased by the Simerican Navy.  Single-family housing for soldiers and their families make up the majority of the land use here.  At the western end, there are K-12 schools, high-tech facilities, and retail.

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On the ocean side of the P-1 Freeway Airport Viaduct, there is the Airport Business/Industrial Area.  The land is owned by the State and leased to private business owners.

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The Capitalis International Airport is the largest in the Paradisian Islands.  It was once a major stopover for trans-SimPacific flights.  Although that is not the case as much anymore, it still is among the busiest airports in the United States of Simerica.  Almost all interisland, interstate and international passenger traffic for Paradise is by air.

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The airport has four main runways: two east-west (8L/26R & 8R/26L) and two diagonal (4L/22R & 4R/22L).  There are also two water runways (4W/22W & 8W/26W) to the east for seaplanes.

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The 8R/26L runway is the SimWorld's first one built offshore.

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Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on September 18, 2009, 12:06:30 PM
This is coming along great!  Nice job on the suburban areas!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: BuildingUp on September 23, 2009, 01:55:40 PM
I love what you've done with the airport and the golf course. I wouldn't mind playing golf there myself.  &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: KoV Liberty on September 23, 2009, 02:41:47 PM
I wouldn't mind just visiting!
Title: Diamond Harbor
Post by: sumwonyuno on September 24, 2009, 09:45:46 PM
The Mickah Air Force Base is to the west of the Capitalis International Airport.  Although the base itself does have short runways for SimPlanes, Simerican military aircraft also use the Capitalis Airport runways.

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The Diamond Harbor Naval Base is famous throughout the SimWorld.  Futher information on why it is so can be found elsewhere.  Various memorials of a certain event are scattered among many places, but one notable one is placed on the ruins of the USS SimArizona, a battleship that was in port here.

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Aligned with the remains of the USS SimArizona is the USS SimMissouri.  It had historic roles in past warfare and is now a public museum.

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Diamond Harbor is still one of the most strategically important places in the SimWorld, in a military perspective.  Paradise's location and the geography in and around the harbor are almost ideal.  All of the other military installations on Community Island are meant to support the naval base here.

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All three lochs and virtually all of the surrounding land is owned by the Simerican Navy.  The west loch is an ammunition depot.

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The middle loch is used to store old, decommissioned ships.

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The east loch of the harbor is used to service surface ships and submarines.

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Dorf Island is in the middle of the east loch.  It had a lot of military usage as an airstrip in the first half of the 20th century.  Today, the island is a landmark.

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A rectractible floating bridge, owned by the Simerican Navy, connects Dorf Island to Community Island.

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Tarava is a small neighborhood at the mouth of the Tarava Valley.  A small industrial park and State's largest prison are also here.  However, the most controversial facility here is the P-3 Freeway.  The P-3 is the third and newest roadway that cuts through the Ko'orau Mountains to serve the Windward City.  Further information will be in a future chapter.

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'Aiea is a suburban residential neighborhood that stretches from the mountains to the shore of Diamond Harbor.

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On the southern edge of 'Aiea is the Paradise Stadium.  It is a 50,000-seat State facility, that hosts numerous sport events, concerts, school events and the largest swap meet in the islands.  It was built as the SimWorld's first transformable stadium, to handle both Simerican football and baseball configurations.  Its stands could be moved.  However, due to a materials flaw, the steel in the stadium is rusting, when it was designed not to.  The stadium is now locked in the football configuration.  A lack of maintenance money is to blame for the loss of its movable stands and overall degrading state.

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Vaiparu is the original name of an area that is now also called Diamond Ridge.  Towards the mountains, suburban homes snake up slopes of the Ko'orau.  A small cluster of highrises fit between the P-1 Freeway and Poanarua Road.

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On both sides of the Kapetapeta Highway, there are shopping malls.  The Diamond Ridge Shopping Mall is the second largest in Paradise.  A small farm in the area is reminiscent of the farmland that used to dominate here.

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Diamond City was originally a small neighborhood that supported a military installation on the peninsula to the south.  It was greatly expanded after the second SimWorld War and then later in the Capitalis boom years.

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***Replies***

Battlecat:  Thank you!  There's more suburbs to come!

BuildingUp:  Heh, thanks!  Seems like everyone wants to golf on the best courses in the SimWorld :P.

Driftmaster07:  I hope that this mayor diary is the next best thing to a real vacation :thumbsup:.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on September 25, 2009, 01:06:52 AM
Quote'Aiea
To almost everybody here: Good luck pronouncing that.

We also need someone to BAT Aloha Stadium (Paradise Stadium).
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on September 25, 2009, 11:44:32 AM
Looking good!  Nice job with the military harbor!  It is coming together quite nicely already.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on September 25, 2009, 03:11:36 PM
You're cities look actualy quite realistic.  :thumbsup:
Title: Windward Coast
Post by: sumwonyuno on October 01, 2009, 10:18:42 PM
The Windward Coast is made up of a string of neighborhoods that value a quiet, rural lifestyle on the wet side of the island.

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'Atuipanu is the largest and the only inland neighborhood on the Windward Coast.  To the south of 'Atuipanu is Shrine Valley.   Located here is a large cemetary.  Further in the valley is a place of worship, a replica of one in SimAsia.

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The neighborhood of Te'eia is nestled in between a coastal hill and the shore.

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The Katekiri Highway transitions into the Kapetapeta Highway near Kataru'u.  Some of the largest farms for cultivating traditional food staples were cultivated here, though today, local produce and decorative plants are grown.

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Next to and contiguous of Kataru'u is Vaite'e.

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On the other side of the hill are the small neighborhoods of Vaiatore and Vaikane.

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Further down Kapetepeta Highway is the area known as Kuaroa.  Kuaroa Regional Park is the largest and most-popular park on the Windward side of Community Island.  Next to the park is the largest of the few remaining fishponds on the island.<p>

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Ka'a'ava is a shoreline neighborhood.  Towards the mountains, Ka'a'ava Valley has been used in numerous famous SimHollywood movies.

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Katana Valley has a unique distinction on Community Island.  No abundance of swords here, as its name may imply.  The area is under the State's preservation lands, as an atujua'a.  The atujua'a was an integral part of the land system devised by the Native Paradisians.  Generally, an atujua'a was a large valley, or series of valleys, that supported a self-sustaining community from the mountain peaks to the oceans.

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Junaru'u is another small shoreline neighborhood, although it is the only place on the whole Windward Coast with development denser than low density.

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Continuing on Kapetapeta Highway is the neighborhood of Tau'ura.

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Ra'ie is home to two of the largest attractions on the Windward Coast.  It is home to a sizable population of faith.  A large House of Worship is the most prominant structure in the area.  The SimPolynesian Cultural Center is a complex of museums that showcases the traditional lifestyles of indigenous peoples of various SimPacific Islands.

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***Replies***

emgmod:  I can pronounce it!  The list of things needed to customize for this region goes on...

Battlecat:  Thank you for your continued patronage!

danielcote:  Thanks!  I'm glad it's realistic by your standards.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on October 02, 2009, 11:04:50 AM
Beautiful coastline!  I travelled around that side of the island one day of my trip, you've captured that coast perfectly! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: KoV Liberty on October 02, 2009, 09:10:44 PM
Gosh thats beautiful!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: rooker1 on October 05, 2009, 07:20:58 AM
Great work and very realistic looking.  &apls

Robin  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: gottago on October 05, 2009, 08:55:04 AM
fascinating MD, glad I found this! Hope you'll post some closer views of the navy base--it's enormous, love to see some details.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on October 08, 2009, 02:05:40 PM
I like that you're getting more farms!
Title: North Coast
Post by: sumwonyuno on October 09, 2009, 01:29:46 PM
The North Coast is the least populated, the least urbanized, and the most rural area of Community Island.  However, the Kapetapeta Highway through the area is often jammed with Sims visiting from other parts of the island or other parts of the SimWorld.

The following pictures were taken in July.  During the summer months, the beaches of the North Coast are extremely popular with locals and tourists.  The ocean is calm and clear.  During the winter months, storms in SimAlaska generate waves that reach the Paradisian Islands.  The composition of the beachgoers change to surfers and spectators.

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Katuku is an area at the northern part of Community Island.  It has always been based in agriculture since the 19th century.  It was a major stop for the old Community Rail & Land Co. (CR&L Co.) passenger and freight rail lines.

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The Tonu Bay Resort is the furthest north one can go on this island.  Tonu is the Paradisian word for turtle.  This hotel is the only one on the North Coast.  Its 880 acres include two 18-hole golf courses and a mile of shoreline.  The State has an interest in buying the property, in order to preserve the area from further development.

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Twilight Beach is a shoreline neighborhood that boasts the best place to watch the sunset anywhere in the SimWorld.  The sun goes below the horizon just next to the Vai'anae Mountains of Ka'ena Point, the western tip of Community Island.

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Jujukea is the largest neighborhood of the Community North Coast.

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Vaipea Bay is the most prestigious of the surfing sites of the North Coast.  Geography and weather allows the area to have the some of the largest swells of the season.  Towards the mountains, Vaipea Valley is a nature preserve.

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Tare'iva is an ocean-oriented neighborhood.  Fishing and surfing are integral parts of the lifestyle here.  In it's post-contact history, Tare'iva was a small plantation village and later an outpost for the Simerican military.  Today, tourism is dominant.  Shops and restaurants line Kapetapeta Highway.  A bypass road has been built to relieve traffic in the congested historical corridor.

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Vaiarua was a major hub for the CR&L Co. rail lines, connecting the North Coast and Central Community to Leeward Community and Capitalis.  Though the rails do not exist anymore, its farms and produce processing factories are still here.

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Pokure'ia, by comparison, is the quietest of the North Coast neighborhoods.  The Governor Highway is left uncompleted about a mile west from the last house and farm.

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Madinghill was an important captain of industry of Community Island in the 19th century.  The CR&L Co. was founded by him.  His decendants would also form other large businesses that influenced the growth of Capitalis.  The only remaining airfield on the North Coast is named after Madinghill.  It was built as part of the massive military expansion during the second SimWorld War.  Today, the Simerican military leases it for use by small civilian aircraft.

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***Replies***

Battlecat:  My family and I drive through the area about once every month, and I never get bored of it.   ;D
Driftmaster07:  SimCity can't fully capture how beautiful it really is in real life.   ;)
rooker1:  Thank you for visiting!
danielcote:  Heh, the farms were there all along.  :P
gottago:  Thanks for stopping by!  Here are the closeups you requested:

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Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: joelyboy911 on October 09, 2009, 01:36:58 PM
Looking good there. Though I think the carparking area is a bit too big for the number of shops there, in the pic of the commercial area.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on October 09, 2009, 03:14:50 PM
You sure like you're suburbs don't you.  :) You should get some sea walls for that industreal area too.
Title: Central Community
Post by: sumwonyuno on October 16, 2009, 12:18:56 AM
Between the two mountain ranges of Community Island is a wide plain, a fertile cresent.  From Vaiarua to 'Eva, the islands' best farmlands are here.  Agriculture was the economy between the mid-18th and the mid-19th century.  Because of the boom years of Capitalis, government reforms and the shift to tourism, significant land was transformed into suburban neighborhoods.

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Vatiava is the neighborhood closest to the geographical center of Community Island.  Although it is some distance to sandy beaches, it does have shoreline property.  Lake Lisnow is the largest above-ground freshwater reservoir on the island.

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The Olde Plantation is a world-famous attraction that tourists and locals always stop by when travelling around the island.  Though plantations had been already around for several decades, a few years after the turn of the 20th century, a man named Olde would plant the seeds of Paradise's premiere crop, the pineapple.  The rich volcanic soil and the frequent rain showers of Vatiava created the perfect environment.

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Besides its agricultural roots, Vatiava also has military ones.  Two nearby installations, Coldfishe Barracks and Rhewlee Airfield both serve the Simerican Army.

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Pirirani is the largest master-planned suburban neighborhood of Capitalis.  It once had some of the most-prized farmland available in the islands.  In the 1960's, the landowner of Pirirani decided that the switch to urban development would serve both the growing R$$ population and its own long-term financial security.  The neighborhood boasts full K-12 education, hospitals, police, firefighting, recreation, retail and even a high-tech park.  Nevertheless, an overwhelming majority of its commuters have to drive to the south shore for employment.

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Kunia today is a snapshot of Pirirani's past.  It still has rich, usable farmland.  However, toward the south, urbanization is encroaching.

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Vaikere and Vaiji'o are suburban neighborhoods that were also previously farmland.

Vaikere is to the north of the P-1 Freeway.  A golf course runs between groups of housing and creates a green belt around a retail complex.

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Vaiji'o is a neighborhood nestled in between the Kapetapeta Highway and the P-2 Freeway.

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The Central Community Regional Park is one of the newest public parks built by the City, and is among the largest on the island.

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Vaijatu is a neighborhood with a plantation past.  It was also a junction for rail lines from 'Eva, the North Coast and Central Community Island to Capitalis.  Today, highway lanes replace the rail lines, and a sprawling suburban neighborhood replaces almost all of the farmland.

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The Vaiji'o Peninsula is owned by the Simerican military.  It has leased land to the City for recreational use.  The Vaiji'o Soccer Complex is the largest of its kind in Paradise.

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***Replies***

joelyboy911:  Heh, much of that parking lot is actually devoted to the two 18-hole golf courses.

danielcote: I actually don't like suburban development in real life.  Yeah, there should be some seawalls by the submarine ports.  I need to look again through all the seawall choices (land-based or sea-based).  I'll redo the harbor early on when I rebuild the island because it's such a flat area.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on October 16, 2009, 12:31:31 AM
Quote from: sumwonyuno on October 16, 2009, 12:18:56 AM
Kunia today is a snapshot of Pirirani's past.  It still has rich, usable farmland.  However, toward the south, urbanization is encroaching.
And I'm a part of it. I just wanted to say something so it seems like I haven't left.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on October 16, 2009, 02:10:21 AM
Woowww!!! That immense rural areas!!! Awesome update!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on October 16, 2009, 03:26:47 PM
Nice suburbs.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Earth quake on October 17, 2009, 01:08:03 AM
Impressive Suburbs, I really like the mosaïc of the region. &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on October 19, 2009, 01:11:30 PM
This is continuing to look great!  Nice job on the central valley farmland!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: sumwonyuno on October 22, 2009, 12:20:23 AM
***Replies***

emgmod:  Heh, I knew you were going to comment.   :D
Tomas Neto:  Thanks for visiting!  Glad you've enjoyed this chapter.
danielcote:  There's more suburbs to come!
Earth quake:  Thank you very much!  I'm pleased that you like the mosaic.
Battlecat:  Heh, as always, a big thank you for your continued patronage.




To everyone:  Now, I know I've promised a main story for this mayor diary.  I've written much of the text for it, but I haven't had the time this semester to open up SimCity and put game pictures together to go with the story.  I won't be able to do that until winter break (mid-December).  I'll be spending the break working on the main story, and that means the main story is delayed until at least mid-January 2010.  There are 3 chapters left in the Island Tour arc.  I can post one every 3-4 days, so that by next Friday the arc is done.  Whether or not I do that, there is the matter of what to do until 2010.

For those that just haven't been picture-skimming, I'm sure that you know Capitalis is based on Honolulu.  I've decided to do a real Island Tour.  I wish I could afford to take pictures from a plane, to compare that view with the SimCity perspective.  The next best thing is pictures from ground level.  I've been taking my camera around and taking pictures.  Almost all of the pictures I've taken are from me being a passenger in a car.  I'm not going to take pictures of everywhere on O'ahu.  I just can't drive wherever I want, and I don't mean to cover all parts of the island.  At the very least, I want everyone to have a better understanding of the Capitalis region.

I've said it many times before, there is very few custom content available for Hawaii.  Maybe there will members that are inspired from my real life pictures to create something.  I wish I could BAT or mod; I'd have to figure out how to do it on my Linux setup.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on October 22, 2009, 12:50:31 AM
I think I can take pictures during my commute to school. Which would be pictures of traffic because the freeway network here skips landmarks.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on October 23, 2009, 02:51:19 PM
ok but you're going to run out of room some time  ;)
Title: Leeward City Part I
Post by: sumwonyuno on October 23, 2009, 05:09:36 PM
The 'Eva Plains is the largest flat expanse on the southern shore.  It is also the driest area on Community Island.  According to scientists, the plains were formerly coral reefs when the sea level was higher.  When the ocean receeded, sediment from the Vai'anae Mountains accumulated onto the new land.

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In the 19th century, a businessman named Pellcamb bought 41,000 acres of land from the Kingdom of Tavai'i in 'Eva.  He originally wanted to start a cattle ranch, but he realized the dirt was rich, volcanic soil.  To solve the lack of water, Pellcamb pioneered the use of artesian wells.  He hired workers to dig through the soil, the coral reef remains and through caprock.  The workers broke into one of the vast freshwater resovoirs under Community Island.  This technology allowed the proliferation of planations throughout Paradise.

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The early entreprenuer Madinghill had other ambitions for the 'Eva Plains.  He wanted to create settlements for Sims to live.  The water problem had been solved.  But the distance to Capitalis was great. It took about a day's journey by horse.  Madinghill saw an opportunity to overcome the distance problem.  His Community Rail & Land Company (CR&L Co.) laid the tracks to provide efficient passenger and freight service between Capitalis and the rest of Community Island.  It is here in the 'Eva Plains that the only surviving rails of this vast network are left unused.

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Though, it would be over a century later that government planners would draw up policy that would bring Madinghill's original ambition to fruition.  Fastforward to the second half of the 20th century, Pellcamb's decendants were following suit with other major landowners to urbanize its farmlands.  Though the Pellcamb family did not want to create just another suburban Paradise neighborhood.  The vision was to create a true second urban center on Community Island, the Leeward City.  The 'Eva Development Plan is a City document that is the master blueprint for land use on this part of Community Island.

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The easiest thing to build on the 'Eva Plains is housing, as residential is always in high demand.

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However, infrastructure, notably roadway capacity, is often not proactively put in.

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The prime case study of this is 'Eva Beach.  It was a small neighborhood on the shore of the ocean.  To the east was Fort Rewave, a military installation built to protect the western entrance of Diamond Harbor.  The four-lane Fort Rewave Road connected the base and 'Eva Beach to Vaijatu.

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In the boom years of Capitalis, 'Eva Beach experienced growth, but not on the scale of other areas of the island.  The State did improve the connection of Fort Rewave Road to the P-1 Freeway.  Though, further improvements were not needed yet in 'Eva because traffic was still light and resources were needed elsewhere on the island.

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However, in the 1990's and into the 2000's, the real estate bubble influenced the State, City and developers to dramatically ramp up the building of homes along Fort Rewave Road.  Today, 50,000 residents live along the 5-mile corridor, largely automobile-dependant, and with worst daily commutes in Paradise.

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The State is in the process of improving Fort Rewave Road, and it is also building a second north-south road.  Despite this, the 'Eva area population is projected to almost double, to over 90,000 residents, in the next 20 years.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520I%2Fnorthsouthroad.jpg&hash=a78f7f04410f52f3ca1254f7ca1d4ea0a3dd524f)




***Replies***

emgmod:  That be great if you could get pictures of Waipahu/Kunia and Kailua.  Guess there won't be any pictures of 'Ewa or Waianae.   &mmm  I'm gonna go around the island tomorrow; my family wants to eat some Kahuku shrimp  :) (I'm allergic so I'm gonna go eat fish).  I'll be taking some pictures around the Capitol, Ala Moana and Waikiki on Sunday.

danielcote:  Room?  I'm not sure what you mean by that.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on October 23, 2009, 05:58:34 PM
I think danielcote means that the island will run out of space to pave suburbs. If that happens, it would look awesome and be really bad for traffic.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on October 23, 2009, 06:23:32 PM
Nice update!  Interesting goals for that section of the island, does that match the reality of what the government wants to accomplish there?  I'm really looking to see photos of what you think is important or interesting on the island!  Particularly since it may be quite different from what the average person sees when visiting as a tourist!  Keep up the great work!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Earth quake on October 23, 2009, 10:44:48 PM
Impressive Update, the Overview of the region is really wonderfull. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on October 25, 2009, 06:41:34 AM
My friend, this suburbs are great!!! Awesome work!!!  &apls
Title: Leeward City Part II
Post by: sumwonyuno on October 26, 2009, 01:46:59 PM
To the north and west of 'Eva Beach, there are three major developments that are planned to start construction within the next several years.

To'ojiri is the largest development envisioned yet for Community Island.  However, it distinguishes itself from other suburban neighborhoods by being a place where residents can live, work and have amenities and services in a pedestrian and transit-oriented environment.  Though criticisms include the worsening of roadway congestion and paving over some of the best farmlands in Paradise that is still in use today.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520II%2Ftoojiri.jpg&hash=4853c080b309937b2352e0b41f81465c696a4429)

The University of Paradise system has its main campus at Panoa and numerous community colleges.  Currently, the University of Paradise West Community is technically a branch of the system, but it is housed in several portables at the Leeward Community College in Diamond City.  The State has plans to create two new suburban-style campuses for West Community, one being another community college and another being a fully featured compliment of the main Panoa campus.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520II%2Fmaincampus.jpg&hash=6e5f8c8deb83a9d76c3aedc71af0c9e1c3885825)
[University of Paradise at West Community Campus]

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520II%2Fsecondcampus.jpg&hash=873eec436e85b9e76438319c6141654498793a7a)
[West Community College]

The Ka Pakana Ari'i is planned to be the third largest shopping center in Paradise.  In addition, three highrises [two hotels and one office tower] will be built.  The hope of these three projects is to lessen the traffic load to Capitalis, while encouraging economic growth on the 'Eva Plains.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520II%2Fkapakanaarii.jpg&hash=c545770e4b4c478e7a1ec7b86867e0ed34b9acad)

To the northwest of the future Ka Pakana Ari'i site, is Kajorei, the core of the Leeward City.  Housing developments were built here first.  Today, retail is moving in.  To a lesser, slower extent, government offices are being added, or even relocated.  Once major office space starts, that will become a major catalyst for economic growth.  As much office space as Downtown Capitalis could be built, all surrounded by mixed-use and transit-oriented development.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520II%2Fkajorei.jpg&hash=a3430ea17b0fa02924e9ed5c221aa3a8eb68025c)

To the north of Kajorei, Pakakiro is one of the older neighborhoods in the area.  Like 'Eva Beach it has been under major growth over the past few decades, but it does not have as bad congestion problems on its sole artery because of the proximity of its connection to the P-1 Freeway.  Pakakiro is expected to grow significantly in the future also.  New developments on each side of Pakakiro are planned to become two other mountain side neighborhoods.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520II%2Fpakakiro.jpg&hash=bf31878998d5f7afe69fa444f5434b3a6a5644e6)

To the south of Kajorei is Karaeroa, a decomissioned military base for the Simerican Navy.  The plan is to give the land over to the State.  It holds special potential as the largest single tract of developable land on Community Island.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520II%2Fkaraeroa.jpg&hash=7416b4286d3332e682622a7fbfeb5da4eb0be401)

To the west of Karaeroa is the Pellcamb Industrial Park, the largest in the islands.  The majority of Capitalis' industrial capacity is located here.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520II%2Findustrialpark.jpg&hash=4bf226de823e0fde134ef95d42cb5268b7ab2061)

In the park, the City has the C-Power waste-to-energy plant.  About 500,000 tons of trash (all residential, green waste and other combustibles) are burned to produce electricity.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520II%2Fcpower.jpg&hash=6161684e7f2e01620cf6e532edf6e85379e05267)

Karaeroa Harbor is under construction as the second commercial harbor of Community Island.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520II%2Fharbor.jpg&hash=d43fedb7c02bf6c98b1ea5b9e376a1ac1678e409)

Ko'orina is a hotel district being built an alternative to Vaikiki.  The focus is more on the local sense of place and more importance on Native Paradisian culture, though Ko'orina is priced in the higher end.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520City%2520Part%2520II%2Fkoorina.jpg&hash=4afdb136e0e367b65adc9c6d59136319695e85a0)




***Replies***

emgmod:  Oh, that makes sense now.  Heh, the "Keep the Country Country" (and the anti-development) people won't let that happen.   $%Grinno$%

Battlecat:  Yes, I took the Development Plan that the City made (with years of area residents' involvement) and drew an overlay on top of the region view.  The RL pictures and main story will both be about three major themes:  transportation, development and the environment.  Heh, I'm finding that my RL pictures are in two big categories:  things tourists normally see when visiting and things that locals see on their daily commutes.

Earth quake:  Thank you!!  Hope part II gives another perspective to the area.

Tomas Neto:  Thanks, and there'll be more, I'm sure about it.   ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on October 26, 2009, 02:13:47 PM
Well that's quite the ambitious project!  It's already coming together quite nicely!  I like the way you've mixed your basic residential in with golf courses in a few places, it looks quite realistic.  Looking forward to the next update!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Earth quake on October 27, 2009, 03:50:05 AM
Beautiful Update, I'm impatient to see the University.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on October 27, 2009, 08:39:37 AM
Fantastic rural and industrial areas!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Leeward Coast
Post by: sumwonyuno on October 30, 2009, 01:04:27 PM
The Sims of the Leeward Coast of Community Island, in several respects, feel as if they are the first in line for being shortchanged, and the last to be considered for benefits.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fleewardcoast1.jpg&hash=d8b844beff433f4048c949c5f0d629020a37b958)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fleewardcoast2.jpg&hash=9be7ab4c9859d91747f8091416b496604d5ccd88)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fleewardcoast3.jpg&hash=fed07897409891dcd9a95aa0ed2a189bb95a38b0)

There once was the CR&L Co. rail line that provided access around the Vai'anae Mountains, but it is replaced by the Governor Highway.  Because of State policy, the highway is not completed around Ka'ena Point.   Thus, the Leeward Coast only has one way in and out.  It is vulnerable to being cut off from the rest of the island, and often is.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fhighway.jpg&hash=ee181a84fdfcf4c9879898ad9fbc4a723b98b4fa)

The first thing from Ko'orina, on the mountain-side of the Governor Highway, is Vaipanaro Gulch.  It is currently used today as the City's main landfill.  The ash from the C-Power waste-to-energy plant and the largely unrecycled trash of Capitalis is buried here.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Flandfill.jpg&hash=4ec6b739563f19fff02d920627761a6f3645ec3e)

A short distance up the Governor Highway is the Kate Power Plant, the largest of three oil-fired power plants that provide electricity for Community Island.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fpowerplant.jpg&hash=27e7ff32f90facca847cc74f363e153154c6c67f)

The Leeward Coast is almost completely comprised of R$ housing; home prices are among the lowest on the island.  There are farms and the local shop, but the overwhelming majority of commuters work elsewhere, along the southern coast of Community Island.  The Leeward Coast has the highest percentage on Community Island of Sims being of Native Paradisian decent or having a multi racial/ethnic background.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fhouses.jpg&hash=c4ff30b15b65332b26b68435291b4e80cb39f682)

Nanakuri is the biggest of the four neighborhoods on the Leeward Coast.  Toward the mountains are farms.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fnanakuri.jpg&hash=342bf6a7e331bd76e56d81952b13fbf6ec855c07)

On the other side of a large hill is the neighborhood called Pa'iri.  It is at the mouth of the largest valley of the Vai'anae Mountains.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fpairi.jpg&hash=e696735b671e6a08445c585154a9778a391c41df)

The area inland from Pa'iri is known as Ruaruarei.  The most visible objects are the powerful twin radio antennas used by the Simerican military for communication.  At 1500 feet, or 458 meters, these two antennas are the tallest man-made structures in the State and in the whole SimPacific region.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fantenae.jpg&hash=b8b7906ec72e76f5e34dfd600678d9fe4a1e630d)

Located under the ground and well into the valley is an subterranean network to store and protect munitions used by the Simerican Navy.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fruaruarei1.jpg&hash=2dea8302cb8eacf3840fdcbc990047c1431d18eb)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fruaruarei2.jpg&hash=65dcfe8aa7a8991d8b8fba9a1b7e2f97bc91cf07)

Continuing north, there is the neighborhood for which the surrounding mountains are named after, Vai'anae.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fvaianae.jpg&hash=885e876f633808772175eeb364825a60b35b3a45)

Towering over the rest of the land is the highest peak on Community Island, Mount Ka'ara, at 4,020 feet, or 1226 meters.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fmountkaara.jpg&hash=19d5cbd795c2f1ac48adf890993d82fe390f350a)

The last residential neighborhood on the Governor Highway is Pakata.  Though it is the furthest neighborhood away from in-town Capitalis, Pakata is the only place on the Leeward Coast with high-rise condominiums.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fpakata.jpg&hash=af59e0ca932ca8661bfa3744652dd81ce39ad812)

Going further north on the Governor Highway, there is the Pakua Valley.  It is a point of controversy between Native Paradisians and the Simerican military.  The military wants to continue using the valley for training, including the use of live ammunition and artillery.  The Native Paradisians want the military to stop, clean up the valley and train somewhere else because of important cultural sites.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fpakua.jpg&hash=0ff422936673ff93429a337462f9fb6aa07811fc)

A little further up the Governor Highway, the road ends.  The area is known as Ka'ena Point, the western point of Community Island.  A wildlife preserve was established here and is the reason the Governor Highway was never fully completed.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FLeeward%2520Coast%2Fkaena.jpg&hash=57784c804a8315f74af9f73bc6e3025269294406)

With that note, the Island Tour arc is now completed.  Starting next week, I'll be posting real life pictures to compare and contrast Honolulu with Capitalis.




***Replies***

Battlecat:  Heh, there's like five or six golf courses there in RL, and there's more planned to be built that will create those green belts around housing.

Earth quake:  Goverment officials did the ceremonial groundbreaking this year, but because of the economy, real construction hasn't happened yet.  I saw the area from a plane, and that new campus is going to be huge in terms of area.

Tomas Neto:  Thanks!  I need to replace all that small-lot Maxis stuff with industrial mega lots.  Also, all that farmland will be gone in about 20 RL years.   &cry2
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on October 30, 2009, 01:17:55 PM
I never made it over to this part of the island on my trip, probably because you can't loop around the island along that closed highway.  The really funny thing is, Google Maps actually shows the highway looping around through that Park!  It seems somebody in the mapping department decided to trace out the route of a dirt road that runs along the coast through the park! 

Those high rise buildings are one of the odder things I've ever seen development wise.  If I hadn't confirmed their existence on google maps, I'm not sure I would have believed it!  In any rate, everything looks great and you're still doing a great job of mimicking reality using the tools available in SC4!

Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on October 30, 2009, 08:28:15 PM
^I wonder if the people making Street View for Hawaii are getting confused right now.

This is probably the only area on the island that I haven't gone to. We never drove past Ko'olina (Ko'orina)
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: adroman on October 30, 2009, 08:57:33 PM
Simply fantastic sumwonyuno!

Keep up the excellent work  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on October 31, 2009, 06:36:20 AM
Wow my friend, fantastic update again!!! Your cities are great!!!  &apls &apls
Title: Real Island Tour: Introduction
Post by: sumwonyuno on November 02, 2009, 01:48:56 PM
From the great Administrator of the Capitalis region, Sum Won Yuno:

For the next two and a half months, I have decided to post real life pictures of Honolulu, Hawai'i to compare and constrast with what I've built in SimCity as Capitalis, Paradise.  I don't have pictures of everywhere possible, but I've taken over 1,000 photos of the island I call home.  The updates will showcase the best pictures I've taken of places that tourists, residents, and locals may see around the island.  I admit, the updates are fillers to keep readers occupied until I have time to do the pictures for the main story.  I don't want this project to just lie in inactivity until mid-January 2010.  I hope that all of you readers will gain a new perspective of Honolulu and better appreciation of the work I've put into Capitalis.

For the Real Island Tour, I will be referencing place names by their real names and including their SimCity name (if any) in the following format:  RealName (SCName)

There will be a lot of single images and some panoramas made from stitching together individual photos (with help with Hugin panorama creator).

Here is an example pair of pictures of Downtown from Punchbowl (Juicebowl) Crater:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg217.imageshack.us%2Fimg217%2F5558%2Fjuicebowl.jpg&hash=a89e7de71b0f579b0712c116b0e0ccd4a81b058e)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg202.imageshack.us%2Fimg202%2F9197%2Fpunchbowl1s.jpg&hash=e530e576628bd4b84df91e657c87bde1bd1b8373) (http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/3349/punchbowl1.jpg)

The panorams are clickable!  Click to see a larger version.  The larger versions won't be the original quality, due to ImageShack's file size constraints.

I have more ready, but I need to fix issues with the panoramas (manual stitching is sometimes better than automatic).  More will come Friday/Saturday this week.




***Replies*** (almost forgot!)

Battlecat:  Yeah, it's probably the only part of the island where tourists don't go.  Heh, I noticed that Google is imagining if the State completed Farrington (Governor) Highway around Ka'ena.  Yeah, the City Council allowed a lot of weird zoning for high-rise residential around the island (especially back during the 1960's and 1970's when the building boom happened).  Those condos are the only highrises I haven't seen in real life yet.

emgmod:  I actually saw the Google car by Aloha Tower one day.  I haven't looked to see if I'm in Street View.  As for the Leeward Coast, I've been there a few times in my life for field trips, years ago.

adroman:  Thanks for the encouragement!

Tomas Neto:  Thank you very much for that compliment!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on November 02, 2009, 02:31:15 PM
Well you've certainly got the basics of the layout right on even if the exact buildings and heights aren't!  Pretty hard to get building heights exactly on the nose without specific custom buildings though, you've done a great job capturing the gist of it! 

That's certainly a good photo there, an excellent panorama of the downtown area!  Out of curiosity, what is that building with the pillars surrounded by a pool of water in the center of the photo?
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on November 02, 2009, 06:19:05 PM
You did an amazing job in your city!!! Impressive!!!   &apls &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: KoV Liberty on November 02, 2009, 06:42:10 PM
Oh, look at that! I haven't posted in a little while. Well, anyways. Great job on those last updates! Btw, on the topic of Mount Ka'ara, is the top flat like that because of the game height limit?
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on November 02, 2009, 09:58:28 PM
Quote from: Battlecat on November 02, 2009, 02:31:15 PMThat's certainly a good photo there, an excellent panorama of the downtown area!  Out of curiosity, what is that building with the pillars surrounded by a pool of water in the center of the photo?

If my long time ago field trip memory serves me correctly, that would be the state capitol.

By the way, what cruise ship was anchored when you took the picture?
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Earth quake on November 03, 2009, 04:01:11 AM
Nice update. :thumbsup:
I really like the utilisation of the maxis bat in your city.
Beside, your suburbs as usual beautiful.
Title: Real Island Tour: Panoramic views of Honolulu Part I
Post by: sumwonyuno on November 04, 2009, 01:45:16 PM
In-town Capitalis:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg6.imageshack.us%2Fimg6%2F1867%2Fintown.jpg&hash=d9e666da21910b9d444469e380a8e49dca91aa07)

In SimCity 4, you have the game's plane-like view, but there's no ground view available.

It's quite easy to find good (and accessible) views of the Honolulu skyline.  Though, it's actually quite hard to find a place where you can get the entire skyline in one shot.

Here are two panoramas of the rest of in-town Honolulu (Capitalis) from Punchbowl (Juicebowl) Crater:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg269.imageshack.us%2Fimg269%2F5919%2Fpunchbowl2s.jpg&hash=94d7f3bf95ccd43dcedd4408981160bb7515f46b) (http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/4802/punchbowl2.jpg)
[I'm sorry, something was on my lens...]

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg269.imageshack.us%2Fimg269%2F5939%2Fpunchbowl3s.jpg&hash=bf3cee63d006933958d96d1162001f640308bb6b) (http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/883/punchbowl3.jpg)




(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg140.imageshack.us%2Fimg140%2F9664%2Fpearlmount.jpg&hash=e809c0c5b0b64fc5844a023457b28dca3efd3404)

Diamond Head (Pearl Head) Crater is the most recognizable landform in Honolulu.  Here are some pictures of the latest hike to the top I took:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg142.imageshack.us%2Fimg142%2F3718%2Fdiamondhead1.jpg&hash=6ac50972c8b411d1669ebb60dc6f214d44295ed0)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg142.imageshack.us%2Fimg142%2F6821%2Fdiamondhead2.jpg&hash=8931acfa8757d3cc4838f9ab6900465180bf775f)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg21.imageshack.us%2Fimg21%2F5657%2Fdiamondhead3.jpg&hash=ad5e2bedf400a94c7b4153d5fd90c62455fce191)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg21.imageshack.us%2Fimg21%2F8519%2Fdiamondhead4.jpg&hash=9d4200cc2ece5565911aabc48694eb8690de6a6c)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg21.imageshack.us%2Fimg21%2F9748%2Fdiamondhead5.jpg&hash=8baf5c42faebe01603ba9d82005bf4a4396f668a)




***Replies***

Battlecat:  Thanks!  As emgmod replied, it's the Hawaii State Capitol Building.  It's one of the most unique buildings we have.  I chose the game's Palacio Real because it had that open air interior.  The building in RL has an open air design, its columns is suppose to mimic the trunk of the palm tree, its overall design is like a volcano and the water pool surrounding it is suppose to be the ocean.

Tomas Neto:  Thank you!

Driftmaster07:  Heh, thanks for popping back in to see the progress.  Mount Ka'ala (Ka'ara) is actually quite flat at the top in RL.  It's part of the slope of the former Wai'anae (Vai'arae) shield volcano.

emgmod:  I think it's an NCL cruise ship.  I took the Punchbowl and Diamond Head pictures back in 2008, before the cruise ships stopped coming here.

Earth quake:  Thanks!  I'm glad you like how I built things.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on November 04, 2009, 03:39:33 PM
I'm impressed with the size of your cities, and the level of details!!! Fantastic, my friend!!!  &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on November 05, 2009, 08:36:23 AM
I knew that building looked familiar!  I actually went past the State Capitol on the bus, but didn't have time to stop in to look at the area.  That really is a very cool building, and from your description, sounds like a lot of thought went into it!

The view from the top of Diamond Head really is spectacular!  That shot of Waikiki is a great one, it contains most of the area that I spent a lot of time during my holiday.  Spent a lot of time on the beach just to the right of the pink building on the beach (I think it's the one with the Cheesecake Factory in it). 

These shots really do help illustrate just how well you've done with your recreation.  It's not exact but it's pretty close considering the limitations of the game!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Earth quake on November 05, 2009, 12:32:45 PM
Splendid update.
The recreation of the diamond head is really impressive.
Title: Real Island Tour: Panoramic Views of Honolulu, Part II
Post by: sumwonyuno on November 06, 2009, 04:28:48 PM
There is a roadway called Lagoon Drive by the Honolulu International Airport.  Here is the view of Downtown and Waikiki (Vaikiki):
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg269.imageshack.us%2Fimg269%2F3734%2Flagoondrive.jpg&hash=ecf0f4a0fc952fff3aee0f01e4e80291764557ff)

There are many suburban neighborhoods that sprawl on the Ko'olau (Ko'orau) Mountains.  I did not make them in game because it's difficult to do them, especially if they're on city tile borders.

Kapalama (Kajarapa) Heights is up in the hills above my house:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg21.imageshack.us%2Fimg21%2F3259%2Fkapalama1s.jpg&hash=80c6abc964103170916966d9e645fda5373a301f) (http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1401/kapalama1.jpg)

Looking west toward the airport:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg269.imageshack.us%2Fimg269%2F145%2Fkapalama2s.jpg&hash=88c6a56b6a4d815c90e3f68c1bcc43edbaa94f32) (http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2526/kapalama2.jpg)

Liliha (Ririta) is located in the top left corner of the following in-game picture:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg341.imageshack.us%2Fimg341%2F2906%2Fnuuanu2.jpg&hash=3c1163ac416b7d818f1456b7e06059a243910ae0)

I went to a park up there sometime ago and I marvelled at the view from there:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg199.imageshack.us%2Fimg199%2F8826%2Fliliha1.jpg&hash=6705ddc48022e33c74f421dcf8d296d6965b9bbd)


(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg199.imageshack.us%2Fimg199%2F5061%2Fliliha2s.jpg&hash=f356e596287dd5c129657858c47b55e5e85286b6) (http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/9639/liliha2.jpg)

The Manoa (Panoa) Valley:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg504.imageshack.us%2Fimg504%2F6944%2Fpanoa1.jpg&hash=a53ac47fe50a24231ab7700e1f53725cf830370f)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg31.imageshack.us%2Fimg31%2F7727%2Fpanoa2.jpg&hash=989dc636b39b1f58a0bedde64d0aca680165bbf1)

Tantalus is the highest point you can drive in town.  Here's the view of the Manoa Valley, the University of Hawai'i, Diamond Head, and Waikiki:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg269.imageshack.us%2Fimg269%2F6069%2Fmanoas.jpg&hash=b728bfdd4c25990481bd39a7ba9233d54a44155c) (http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2864/manoaw.jpg)

St. Louis Heights is east of Manoa and is another mountain neighborhood that I haven't built yet in the region.  I stumbled upon this view one day when I took a wrong turn going home:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg269.imageshack.us%2Fimg269%2F169%2Fstlouiss.jpg&hash=141ac21a9a20400319b8f52ec1e78467683be206) (http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/1163/stlouis.jpg)

Kaimuki (Kaipuki) is made up of a large grid of streets, but it's quite hilly:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg198.imageshack.us%2Fimg198%2F4967%2Fkaipuki.jpg&hash=027e2ec206473c8fb1f0e166ba74da9aebd11d99)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg21.imageshack.us%2Fimg21%2F7527%2Fkaimuki.jpg&hash=b7570603d2279769d1a0268a42afccc737f60ad4)

Next week, we'll travel over the mountains to the windward side of the island.




***Replies***

Tomas Neto:  Thank you for noticing the detail!

Battlecat:  Ahh, I see.  I'll post pictures of the Capitol area and Waikiki later than sooner because I'm posting in approx. order I took the pictures.  I just took them last week.  I'm glad that you've recognized the effort I've done!

Earth quake:  Thanks, glad you like the recreation!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on November 07, 2009, 12:43:05 AM
The way that you do your updates is perfect, alternating pictures of the real city and the images of the game!!! Fantastic update again my friend!!!   &apls

Welcome to the Best Sellers!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: kbieniu7 on November 07, 2009, 01:54:09 AM
Well, it looks so nice :) Especially, the fact, you "ignored the grid" (in some way), makes it great   :thumbsup:

I think, how would be looks with Street Tree Mod. Maybe you would think about it too?  ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Earth quake on November 07, 2009, 04:36:21 AM
Splendid the update.  :thumbsup:
Your suburbs is really impressive and nice.

And congratulation for your entrance in Best-Sellers !  &apls &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on November 08, 2009, 06:11:34 PM
Nice downtown pics. Very realistic layout.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: KoV Liberty on November 08, 2009, 06:33:12 PM
Shouldn't this be in Best Sellers by now?
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Nexis4Jersey on November 08, 2009, 07:27:07 PM
Another Great Update  :thumbsup:, are you going to slowy replace the Majority of the Maxis Buildings? ()what()
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on November 09, 2009, 10:05:17 AM
Nice update, congratulations on making it to the Best Sellers Section!  You really have captured the essence of the cities here in your MD!  Nice batch of photos, I'm really enjoying these updates with matching up your photos with your recreation in game.  Looking forward to the windward side!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: rooker1 on November 09, 2009, 11:14:12 AM
It gives me great pleasure to move your MD to the "Best Sellers" section.  &apls

Robin  :thumbsup:
Title: Real Island Tour: To the Windward Side, Part I
Post by: sumwonyuno on November 09, 2009, 12:08:25 PM
First off thanks everyone!!! &blush

It's an honor to get this far, and I couldn't have done it without all of you (and your comments!)  ;D




We start the journey to the windward side of O'ahu (Community) near my house.  First, the westbound Vineyard (Orchard) Blvd. onramp onto the H-1 (P-1) Freeway.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg694.imageshack.us%2Fimg694%2F2949%2Fonramp.jpg&hash=41554d91e04c924958e61dd5d64b8406dadee065)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F282%2Fdsc05015.jpg&hash=7e8d7a56b98ce5c20ddf09c9884d4d327c9f2fb8)

The offramp to the Likelike (Princess) Highway.  Likelike is pronounced phonetically, as lee-keh-lee-keh.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg694.imageshack.us%2Fimg694%2F9191%2Fdsc05020h.jpg&hash=2012b9cea1260e3755caca2a5db8b9f1a84498db)

In game, the Freeway in the interchange is elevated because the sunken highway isn't as flexible and it takes up a lot of room compared to real life.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg694.imageshack.us%2Fimg694%2F2470%2Fprincessinterc.jpg&hash=1e450eab721b1260d8b67035f907f75e63f625d0)

The Kalihi (Kariti) Valley in the game.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg159.imageshack.us%2Fimg159%2F1512%2Fkariti1.jpg&hash=3d4beb97377da677ca0328c886b8c65f389fdb47)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg338.imageshack.us%2Fimg338%2F9966%2Fkariti2.jpg&hash=f7228a3a26bd870a8e2ac84402eb0fab8fea5658)

Here are pictures of the valley from the Likelike Highway.  It was a voggy day when I took these pictures.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F7905%2Fdsc05021.jpg&hash=a0180fddb25a1f90650f6681374aa1149ceeb945)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg130.imageshack.us%2Fimg130%2F9427%2Fdsc05025.jpg&hash=021c290db7741b6a3d07c9639df4f0f96dca5013)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg689.imageshack.us%2Fimg689%2F3016%2Fdsc05026b.jpg&hash=d190fd999d0364594d2e76229d5c99aa5e55229e)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F314%2Fdsc05034.jpg&hash=82212e8b1352d2fdf7d74fa52f30d33eafe094f5)

The overpass in this picture is called the Burmeister Overpass because the Burmeister family owns it and land nearby.  According to an article in the local newspaper, you shouldn't go try to go up there...

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg694.imageshack.us%2Fimg694%2F571%2Foverpass.jpg&hash=1cf18fa9e959b6585f2a3e6ad45c2b5a496ef1cd)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg130.imageshack.us%2Fimg130%2F2963%2Fdsc05037.jpg&hash=332c85166185f5403dabec91e148f3dde07c0f83)

The John H. Wilson tunnels are a pair of tunnels for the Likelike Highway, one for each direction, town-bound and Kane'ohe(Kane'ote)-bound.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg199.imageshack.us%2Fimg199%2F5743%2Flisnowtunnels.jpg&hash=fddd0f0fea79144d69a5fd946772e7d7885e722d)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg682.imageshack.us%2Fimg682%2F1557%2Fdsc05040.jpg&hash=6b279ee2d3a0e6cfd36d9fc44a69997fe3cb5e8f)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg682.imageshack.us%2Fimg682%2F6669%2Fdsc05042.jpg&hash=7a0c42de6e7a16a4f3a7af9c3073fccdeb4b1f70)

There's a sharp turn at the end of the tunnel:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg130.imageshack.us%2Fimg130%2F949%2Fdsc05044.jpg&hash=9f4e4222562d1e94e39f743997d1bf9c79535e74)

Next time, we'll see the what's beyond the light...




***Replies***
[Wow, this is the most I've received so far after one update]

Tomas Neto:  Thanks!  You're post wasn't quite there... but it helped  :P   I think I will keep on with the alternating game-RL picture style.

kbieniu7:  Thanks for stopping by and being that special 100th post!!  Heh I forced the city to the game's grid so it's easier to build.  I am looking for a street tree mod, but I need to find one that forms a canopy over the roadway.

Earth quake:  Thanks very much!  There'll be more suburbs as we go.

danielcote:  Thank you, I'm glad you've noticed!

Driftmaster07:  Heh, the moderators aren't as active as us  ::).

Nexis4Jersey:  Thanks for your comment!  I will rebuild Capitalis sometime late next year, and I will get rid of as much Maxis material as I can with custom content.

Battlecat:  I'm really glad that you're enjoying all of this.  I hope I continue bringing up (good) memories of your visit here!

rooker1:  And, a big THANK YOU to you!!!  ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on November 09, 2009, 12:21:25 PM
Looking good!  Interesting story about that overpass, I guess the owner takes trespassing very seriously.  It's amazing just how steep and jagged the mountain range dividing the island is! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on November 09, 2009, 03:19:07 PM
Congrads on getting into Best sellers!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Earth quake on November 10, 2009, 11:35:37 AM
Congraulation for your entry in Best-sellers section. :thumbsup:
This update is really nice, it's a very nice recreation of this road system.
The picture of John H. Wilson tunnels is really impressive.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on November 10, 2009, 12:00:20 PM
Wow, my friend!!! Great update again, fantastic!!!  &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on November 10, 2009, 04:58:18 PM
Street View for Oahu is released!!!
Now I don't have to bring my barely functioning camera with me all the time!

By the way, great update. I wanted to know what that overpass was for a long time.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: KoV Liberty on November 10, 2009, 06:20:47 PM
Very cool!! Love how it is so real!
Title: Real Island Tour: To the Windward Side, Part II
Post by: sumwonyuno on November 12, 2009, 10:01:40 PM
Before I start, as emgmod said earlier, Google Street View for Hawaii is available!

Getting out of the tunnels is the following view:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg130.imageshack.us%2Fimg130%2F2846%2Ftunnelend.jpg&hash=2baf9c3e89bab740f7a47c30619239e86dacc00f)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg689.imageshack.us%2Fimg689%2F8619%2Fdsc05047.jpg&hash=dccd5147c1da809f60044906adba2fb8238f7dc9)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F602%2Fdsc05048.jpg&hash=0ee63f78794d9af10ba946c68de0ab8bc7f65d30)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg130.imageshack.us%2Fimg130%2F4272%2Fdsc05050.jpg&hash=03504e06fb9d8488871176cdc2a60cb55754865e)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F5452%2Fdsc05051.jpg&hash=f684f72c605f907878a7bb8cd81949b2190d10ac)

The H-3 Freeway-Likelike Interchange:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg69.imageshack.us%2Fimg69%2F6365%2Fh3likelike.jpg&hash=0650367ad7dafd9246d7c3eaa9ed8bb7a4a3a432)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg694.imageshack.us%2Fimg694%2F7748%2Fdsc05054.jpg&hash=13f052ddac6a522cc9ff09387c126eb1da93c2f5)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg269.imageshack.us%2Fimg269%2F9482%2Fdsc05055f.jpg&hash=fa9fd39e4ca55ff01864e500839f293eca196a69)

The Likelike-Kahekili Interchange:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg69.imageshack.us%2Fimg69%2F5952%2Flikelikekahekili.jpg&hash=1764b6fad51a582ecff5889eb1edd3664571036c)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg269.imageshack.us%2Fimg269%2F5844%2Fdsc05057l.jpg&hash=84a30f773f8dc27679a0936c842d8ae827c0a4af)

Driving along Kahekili Highway:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg69.imageshack.us%2Fimg69%2F1368%2Fkahekili1.jpg&hash=d7b618b4417f3ff2b5e92c7229bec52bd42eaf9a)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg697.imageshack.us%2Fimg697%2F4434%2Fdsc05061.jpg&hash=8933bc4668432a85ab8ee7f9364f8f604d095a4e)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg269.imageshack.us%2Fimg269%2F9443%2Fdsc05065j.jpg&hash=ec1d5c3dcb16edbeae045e820166e71d588128c3)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg69.imageshack.us%2Fimg69%2F9819%2Fkahekili2.jpg&hash=fbcda2dbfec03de836018cea598718c79f524455)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg109.imageshack.us%2Fimg109%2F986%2Fdsc05068.jpg&hash=4e7fad4202cebcc4634bcb45f4c9650f30820074)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg269.imageshack.us%2Fimg269%2F4595%2Fdsc05070e.jpg&hash=25f139d911bce4b91ad93fc01c8fee1757d63d87)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg69.imageshack.us%2Fimg69%2F1492%2Fkahekili3.jpg&hash=d74cbd2cb81ac8161847dde55fe64aff124c537d)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg687.imageshack.us%2Fimg687%2F3136%2Fdsc05071l.jpg&hash=bc86da612630831488c8dfd42bb110151f6e63d0)

Next time, we'll visit Valley of the Temples Memorial Park.




***Replies***

Battlecat:  Heh, I have more pictures of the two mountain ranges of the island.  I don't believe I've made it rugged enough in the game.

danielcote:  Thank you!

Earth quake:  Heh, there will be a couple more tunnel pictures by the time I'm done.

Tomas Neto:  Thanks!

emgmod:  Heh, you've beat me to it.  The Google Street car couldn't get a view from up there; there's a gate on the rest of Kalihi Street... on the path leading to the overpass.

Driftmaster07:  Thanks for noticing!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on November 12, 2009, 11:56:37 PM
The Googlecar also didn't get the military bases. Also, have you seen this road texture mod (http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=1526)?

One final thing: Can you update about an hour earlier than usual? I don't like stumbling on the update when I'm about to sleep.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on November 13, 2009, 12:37:25 AM
Follow your updates is a fantastic trip! I'm really adoring this way of presenting your cities, alternating real pictures with images of your cities! Great work!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on November 13, 2009, 08:37:40 AM
Yeah, they probably could be more rugged, but the problem is you pass the point where the game still looks good!  It's a shame. 

Anyhow, nice new update, that's a great view as you come out of the tunnel! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on November 13, 2009, 03:32:44 PM
Some of you're grass textures look unrealistic. You might want to replace the maxis grass with retextured versions.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Earth quake on November 14, 2009, 01:21:11 AM
Excellent update. &apls
I really the  comparaison of the real and the sc4 picture. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: kwakelaar on November 14, 2009, 08:30:57 AM
I love the overviews you are making of your cities, they are looking really great.
Title: Real Island Tour: Valley of the Temples
Post by: sumwonyuno on November 16, 2009, 11:22:34 AM
Valley of the Temples Memorial Park is a large cemetary in Temple Valley (Shrine Valley).  In the game, it is quite plain, and I have not done a good job in showing how beautiful the place looks in real life.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg163.imageshack.us%2Fimg163%2F5386%2Fshrinevalley.jpg&hash=e2f77e8a4333585350c7b99e68426997f6cb2a99)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg12.imageshack.us%2Fimg12%2F9382%2Fdsc05073zy.jpg&hash=b29f8a0fd4733b640f96edbca1cf48bb5679b524)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg12.imageshack.us%2Fimg12%2F4051%2Fdsc05074g.jpg&hash=9cdbd1bf9b455c8cb577a8546378e75a604a80cc)

Here is are three pictures that show the same area, each one a different week:

[2009-10-03: cloudy and rainy day]
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg12.imageshack.us%2Fimg12%2F8356%2Fdsc04846c.jpg&hash=ac0904ce0f8bf7cc76778394cd470132e7e7fe69)

[2009-10-10: voggy and cloudy day]
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg12.imageshack.us%2Fimg12%2F8887%2Fdsc05079v.jpg&hash=c432b993e7b3977dbebc98c2db2b7b287847a330)

[2009-10-17: no vog but still cloudy]
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg12.imageshack.us%2Fimg12%2F953%2Fdsc05229fw.jpg&hash=55ee1c0d05e98095821f93ec2fb08fc0e0d7c524)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg12.imageshack.us%2Fimg12%2F7647%2Fdsc05091n.jpg&hash=2f7c7258b54eb048e67182b9106b00be2714165c)

The Byodo-In Temple is a replica of one in Japan.  The majority of the temple is located behind the trees in this picture.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg12.imageshack.us%2Fimg12%2F3668%2Fdsc05092k.jpg&hash=5217ec936cced488a0d3f02b527c75a02343bb99)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg12.imageshack.us%2Fimg12%2F984%2Fdsc05093q.jpg&hash=9a48e677f3e573b75fdda715a132496d88e0a1b9)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg12.imageshack.us%2Fimg12%2F2321%2Fdsc05095l.jpg&hash=10df8d1ff2e2c1fa6cfeb45de31e0b2332785ab9)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg12.imageshack.us%2Fimg12%2F6424%2Fdsc05230x.jpg&hash=e7c9d06074cb246e28e515af94275620d911bb90)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg12.imageshack.us%2Fimg12%2F5546%2Fdsc05849f.jpg&hash=3ea22dc8ef60204804b8ca39282f459670b03422)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg163.imageshack.us%2Fimg163%2F944%2Fdsc05853.jpg&hash=6d45896d78a22b18f9bcb09634f165b3db19150c)

The following panorama is two pictures stiched together.  I only resized and cropped the picture; I did not do any retouching.  It really does look stunning doesn't it?


(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg163.imageshack.us%2Fimg163%2F448%2Fdsc05852.jpg&hash=5b5326c7dd52bcbb3aa53e66d351a3612a55548c) (http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3600/dsc05851g.jpg)

Next update we will drive on the H-3 (P-3) Freeway.




***Replies***

To all:  I actually was able to drive along the Leeward Coast of the island this past Saturday.  I drove all the way up to where the highway ends.  I didn't bring my camera... I'll be going back this weekend (with the camera!).  It really is like a whole other place, even if it is on the same island.  There is a lot of natural beauty, and I got to see the tent cities along the beaches.  I can't imagine how the place looked back in ~2006 when the homeless situation on the Leeward Coast was considered a State emergency.

emgmod:  Nope, I haven't seen that plugin before.  Heh, all right, I'll try to time my posts better for you.  I actually try to aim before the Australia-New Zealand Rush (~ 8PM) and the East Coast Rush (~9AM).

Tomas Neto:  I'm glad you're enjoying the "trip".

Battlecat:  It really is a stunning view and I really like it.

danielcote:  Heh, I know.  Though, there's thousands of Maxis grass tiles in my region...

Earth quake:  Thanks!

kwakelaar:  Thank you!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Earth quake on November 16, 2009, 11:37:23 AM
Other splendid recreation my friend. &apls
The 3rd picture is really nice and the panoramic it's just  &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on November 16, 2009, 11:51:23 AM
Very incredible.  Some places are just so hard to capture in SC4.  Thanks for sharing these pictures, I love the way the mountains provide a backdrop for this area! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on November 16, 2009, 01:05:43 PM
Wow guy, really fantastic!!! Great update!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: KoV Liberty on November 16, 2009, 06:31:52 PM
Very good job! The best thing to do would be to plop some of glodiva's palm trees on the lots beside the roads.
Title: Real Island Tour: H-3 Freeway
Post by: sumwonyuno on November 20, 2009, 11:34:03 AM
The H-3 (P-3) Freeway is a $1.6 billion (mostly) elevated freeway that connects Pearl Harbor (Diamond Harbor) with the Kane'ohe (Kane'ote) Marine Corp Base.  It cuts through the Ko'olau (Ko'orau) Mountain range via the Halawa (Tavara) and Haiku Valleys.

It was originally conceived back in the 1960's to be a ground-level through the Moanalua (Poanarua) Valley to the east for the cost of $260 million.  The creation of a nature reserve in the Moanalua Valley forced the State to reroute the freeway to Halawa.  Both Moanalua and Halawa have endangered species, however, the Halawa Valley contains a number of Native Hawaiian cultural sites.  The State was sued and construction of H-3 stopped.

In 1986, Hawaii's senior Senator to Congress got the H-3 to be a part of a defense bill, which made H-3 exempt from all environmental laws, and construction continued.  It was decided the roadway would be elevated through the Halawa Valley to minimize the impact.  The H-3 finally was completed in 1997.

H-3 is heralded as an engineering marvel and rewarded as the most beautiful Interstate, however, it is an example of modern development versus the environment and the indigenous culture, and at the expense of being the second most expensive highway project in America.

For this tour, we will be going from Valley of the Temples (top right corner) to the Halawa Interchange (outside of picture, bottom left).

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg692.imageshack.us%2Fimg692%2F1900%2F62221696.jpg&hash=ab6ebb4a821e362df2e9a0df959969323c493602)

A view up the street leading to the Windward Community College.  You may be able to see the H-3 viaduct in the distance.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg690.imageshack.us%2Fimg690%2F1164%2Fdsc04847f.jpg&hash=46c03e7226cf1932085c4ae8513264f76a2f8462)

Continuing on Kahekili Highway.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg197.imageshack.us%2Fimg197%2F2146%2Fdsc04848e.jpg&hash=d3ae976c432ab924e92f79883dc6e15b7c6e1f74)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg94.imageshack.us%2Fimg94%2F7480%2Fdsc04849b.jpg&hash=9a3c19146138e650bb16c0b7053ad833733805cb)

A short ride on the Likelike Highway.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg94.imageshack.us%2Fimg94%2F5917%2Fdsc04851v.jpg&hash=d82f7baf45eb3d80099607d11c26b3d591d73d4f)

We take the first exit and we're on our way on to the H-3 Freeway.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg198.imageshack.us%2Fimg198%2F8190%2Fdsc04853y.jpg&hash=25a7519b7422bbe316f088775b1fc05ac4419ef4)

A view of Kane'ohe Bay.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F6641%2Fdsc04855j.jpg&hash=a1f05828f6a0bb819381e2c5c8172565f525b34e)

A view from on top the H-3 Viaduct through Haiku Valley.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg692.imageshack.us%2Fimg692%2F3199%2Fdsc04856.jpg&hash=05562dbb1fa65ae373737a91af17443267ed7500)

The pair of tunnels for the H-3 through the Ko'olau Mountains are over a mile long.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F7246%2Fdsc04859d.jpg&hash=1b19a0de2272f310bc529c16188d822effb9b836)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg190.imageshack.us%2Fimg190%2F6943%2Fdsc04862h.jpg&hash=9c09dc1e800dec800bbf2c66a9739cfe88a7ed3b)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg94.imageshack.us%2Fimg94%2F8104%2Fdsc04863n.jpg&hash=0ac7a5445696510509535d63093258ce2f0c163b)

Out of the tunnels to the Halawa Valley.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg42.imageshack.us%2Fimg42%2F7064%2Fdsc04864b.jpg&hash=49e2c42db48d8085fa4d4e2cc99c1f8965864765)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg198.imageshack.us%2Fimg198%2F4136%2Fdsc04865jh.jpg&hash=238b4606edd41d78986168f1fc2c09a634b19ea3)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg94.imageshack.us%2Fimg94%2F1589%2Fdsc04866v.jpg&hash=9262011bd0efe201627df63d04974f6739279976)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg163.imageshack.us%2Fimg163%2F7509%2Fdsc04868.jpg&hash=94a392a307267c2c0fd34c98e14f07e8be368726)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg121.imageshack.us%2Fimg121%2F7355%2Fdsc04870.jpg&hash=200e28fd36d978fc8997591f707af1e0afe0b497)

Notice, just a few miles back it was a lush rainforest.  Now it's quite dry.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg190.imageshack.us%2Fimg190%2F6259%2Fdsc04871z.jpg&hash=261d3c19488670601a7043f6d7a1b609672b98b2)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg190.imageshack.us%2Fimg190%2F2081%2Fdsc04872k.jpg&hash=4f43850342dbf8bd1b85175c514ca1091d307078)




***Replies***

Earth quake:  Heh, I'm always amazed when I look at it.  ;D

Battlecat:  The mountains always provide a backdrop; Valley of the Temples is one area I know where it really is obvious and beautiful.  :)

Tomas Neto:  Thank you!

Driftmaster:  Thanks for the suggestion.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on November 20, 2009, 11:39:02 AM
Interesting story behind that freeway!  Great job with the shots.  Your mention of the change in foliage is a good point.  Considering the size of Oahu, and the rest of Hawaii, it's rather amazing how much the rainfall and foliage types vary over the islands! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: adroman on November 20, 2009, 12:47:46 PM
Sorry I haven't been around lately Sumwonyuno...

Some impressive photography, it's good to have an idea of Real Life along side your excellent in game shots!

Keep up the good work,  :thumbsup:
Adrian.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on November 20, 2009, 12:48:52 PM
Wow, is a fantastic journey through of your update! Impressive history of the H-3, and beautiful photos too!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Nanami on November 23, 2009, 01:35:38 AM
Awesome, it's great. I like the freeway story.
Title: A Request from the Author
Post by: sumwonyuno on November 23, 2009, 01:20:57 PM
Hello everyone,

I've been thinking on how I should proceed with this mayor diary.  I'm asking you the reader on your opinion, whether you're an active poster or a lurker.

Choice 1:
Right now, I consider the Real Island Tour a filler series.  I do have hundreds more of possible pictures to use, so the Real Island Tour could last for many months.   I pretty much already have shown many parts of the island back in the Community Island Tour, and I'm just reposting the pictures with their real-life counterparts.  These updates are relatively easy to do.  I just have to choose pictures from my collection, resize and crop, get their SimCity equivalent shots, and write captions.  Though, there wouldn't be a sort of direction or real point because it's just fillers.

Choice 2:
There is the main story that I've been mentioning here and there ever since I started.  The main story is suppose to be about 225 years of development history of Honolulu, but in the SimCity world of Capitalis, Paradise (minus annexation, Pearl Harbor attack and party politics).  The focus is on land use and transportation.  [spoiler] The first 220 years or so is background information, while the last 5 years is on this latest and ongoing attempt of elevated rapid transit for the southern shore of the island.

Now, this is an extremely difficult task.  I would have to do the equivalent of going back in time and creating pictures of areas in their respective time period.  It would be essentially rebuilding a huge chunk of the region over and over and over just for pictures.  This is the most ambitious choice.

Choice 3:
A simplification of Choice 2 would be to focus the latest and ongoing attempt of rail transit.  I could use the region I have now and do the story telling with existing locations in the region.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg694.imageshack.us%2Fimg694%2F1061%2Fdowntownstation.jpg&hash=b163e20449dd1958ad11e9cfa64b8793edd12137)

http://www.youtube.com/v/gdUMs1itSlI

Choice 4:
From looking at everyone else's cities, farms, and regions, I've been having an itch to rebuild Capitalis and Community Island.  I don't know if anyone has noticed, but the developed areas in my region are actually flat (all at 270m).  There is a lack of custom content.  In reconstructing the island, I would rebuild the areas to actually have altitude.  I would try to do BATing and lotting (if I figure out how to get it to work on my Linux setup).  Rebuilding in an already established region isn't easy, and the custom content creation will take time.

Please vote (I've added a poll at the top).  If you have other suggestions, then please comment or leave a private message.  Thanks!




***Replies***

Battlecat:  Heh, I would need to put different foliage for different parts of the island in the game.  ;)

adroman:  It's all right, and thanks for visiting again.

Tomas Neto:  Thank you!

976:  Thanks for visiting and I'm glad you like it.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on November 23, 2009, 01:49:40 PM
Given a choice of the four, I have to say I'm intrigued by both options 3 and 4.  The challenges of building a rapid transit line through an existing urban core should be quite interesting, particularly since you're living the reality of it right now.  But at the same time, option 4 does sound quite cool, and I think it does sound like you're itching to do it anyhow.  Hey, what can I say, I'd like to see all four options, but I know that's not realistic!

So I'm going to officially cast my ballot for option 4, because I'd like to see what you can do with the custom content.  But I'm going to suggest that parts of options 1 and 3 could be included in this project.  Real world photos could be used on occasion to illustrate what you're trying to accomplish with custom content.  And if you're rebuilding the region anyhow, perhaps you could look into adding the rapid transit line here and there as you go. 

Regardless, it's a tough decision,  but I'm looking forward to seeing where you take this project next!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on November 23, 2009, 02:42:45 PM
Hmm ... difficult to choose! I agree with the idea that it would be cool to do a mixture of all the options, but I think this is not what you want to do! So, to choose just one, I'll put my vote in the option number 3 or 4!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on November 26, 2009, 11:24:50 AM
I would say option 3, then move on to option 4. I wanted to hear the vurrent rail story once the Island tour was done.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: KoV Liberty on November 27, 2009, 08:12:18 AM
Option 4 would be good.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: amapper on November 27, 2009, 09:49:58 AM
I would go with option 4 also given your comments about topography and custom content. I enjoyed the video of the transit lines planned route.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: danielcote on November 27, 2009, 03:14:11 PM
The real Island tour please! Great video by the way.  :thumbsup:
Title: Results of Voting
Post by: sumwonyuno on December 10, 2009, 03:37:04 AM
Hello, Everyone,

I apologize for the lack of posts.  I didn't realize how much school work I had to do since Thanksgiving.  Don't worry, I'm still here, and Capitalis is too.  I won't have a bona fide update until well after my finals are done (the 18th).

As for the voting, the responses from both Simtropolis and SC4Devotion, the results are overwhelming for Choice 4: Reconstructing Community Island.  Thanks to all that participated.  If your choice wasn't the winning one, I will try to incorporate the other three (subtly and explicitly) into the project.

Here are some ideas of things I've been thinking of (not all are doable):
- Ploppable items (grid and mayor-mode) for various items (flora, parks, eye-candy, etc.)
- TheBus automata (rainbow and classic yellow shades)
- BATing and lotting
- transportation network modding

Now, there are over 400 highrises in Honolulu, thousands of low and mid rise buildings, and hundreds of thousands of residential homes.  I'm not aiming to do them all.  I will need to think of a doable strategy to create a good mix of RCI and ploppable buildings that evoke that feel of Hawaii: lanais, open-air designs, landscaping, mauka-makai, etc.  The different architectural styles, the feel of different areas, and the functions of buildings are all under consideration.

I have purged much of my 1.9GB plugins folder.  Much of the custom content buildings I had in my collection I couldn't use for Capitalis (too tall).  It's stripped down about 120MB of mods and game additions.  I've left the terrain texture alone, but I've changed the water texture to something closer to real life.  I also have started to work on terrain elevation.

Here is the work I did before Thanksgiving:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSyDaT4zdMvI%2FAAAAAAAAAB0%2F4ZEBum2PkLQ%2Fs800%2F20091125.jpg&hash=87a16424f7f4a8c52ff6819744dec3706338c539)

My strategy is to start from shoreline or the mountains (depending on the area), and first put the transportation network to the correct elevations.  The development will come later, once I create it.

Although I really want to work on rail transit, until Mufi (the Mayor of Honolulu) digs that hole in a Kapolei field for groundbreaking, I'm not officially working on rail transit.  I can do things such as the route and rationale for certain decisions as part of the Community Island reconstruction.  The designs for the future stations and future development is an ongoing process.  I'd like to BAT a station or two, but one, there are no blueprints I can go by, and two I'd need to learn additional things to make the stations work in game.

I'm also going to migrate away from Imageshack, as I've been losing an uncomfortable amount of pictures.  I am going to do a combo of Photobucket and Picasa Web Albums.  The Island Tours will be moved to Photobucket, and have thumbnails instead of full pictures, because of the bandwidth limit.  My custom content, terrain, and the big/important pictures will be hosted on Picasa Web Albums.

[EDIT]: I can't find the button to remove the poll...  ()what() Thanks, RippleJet!
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: RippleJet on December 10, 2009, 05:55:21 AM
Quote from: sumwonyuno on December 10, 2009, 03:37:04 AM
[EDIT]: I can't find the button to remove the poll...  ()what()

Now you should be able to find it! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Battlecat on December 10, 2009, 10:02:27 AM
Sounds like you've got good plans ahead!  You really are doing a full scale gutting of the city, can't wait to see how it starts looking once you really get going! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Tomas Neto on December 10, 2009, 01:48:20 PM
Reading what you plan to do, I believe that you have a good deal of work, and certainly we will see a phenomenal job! I'll be here to accompany your project!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: Nanami on December 11, 2009, 07:25:20 PM
Nice plan. I looking forward for the real work.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: amapper on December 13, 2009, 08:26:26 PM
Looking forward to your progress on this project.
Title: Re: The City & County of Capitalis
Post by: emgmod on December 18, 2009, 09:44:07 AM
Nice job with the terraforming. I really have no idea how far above I am from sea level. Where are you finding this information?
Title: Reconstruction: December 21, 2009
Post by: sumwonyuno on December 21, 2009, 01:25:54 PM
I assume you've noticed the name change.  From now on, I will be referencing places by their real names.  It's quite unwiedly to constantly need to use two names for a location.  Since I'm redoing everything in the region to be more like real life, might as well use the real names.  The Capitalis chapters will keep their proper nouns.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSy_jG7lxTII%2FAAAAAAAAAC4%2FXLJLrSSqDJs%2Fs800%2F20091221_04.jpg&hash=034bc62c089b8eda6f723a9d50d92b546cad2799)

All of the development in several city tiles have been demolished.  I did not obliterate because I did not want to lose information on where the roadways have been.  The congestion view is helpful to put roadways back in where I want to.  This is a time-saving measure, as I don't have to constantly switch back and forth between SimCity and Google Earth to gauge relative distances among the roadways.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSy_e4334kTI%2FAAAAAAAAACo%2FW5-qWVUyco8%2Fs800%2F20091221_01.jpg&hash=60dddcf712ce549f823369558acf48be3477736c)

Not all roadways are exactly where they were before.  I've moved and modified the roadways to the south of Punchbowl Crater.  This area is skewed since I have to conform to the game grid.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSy_e5CMdX8I%2FAAAAAAAAACs%2FIvw7SrjhWAQ%2Fs800%2F20091221_02.jpg&hash=b06b9bf716f7992058688bf08010c0bf1a3e2f5b)

I've modified the slopes of Punchbowl Crater to be less jagged and cover more area.  It doesn't look so imposing anymore.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSy_e6InHbLI%2FAAAAAAAAACw%2FYjWrQjtjlzw%2Fs800%2F20091221_03.jpg&hash=3ebce74f8dabd52836d31f38a27512c8a92f8dee)




***Replies***

Battlecat:  The gutting has begun!   :D

Tomas Neto, 976, amapper:  Thanks, I know you all will enjoy what I'm planning to do, and I hope it will exceed all of your expectations!  ;)

emgmod:  The nearby address you gave me is 105m (344 feet) above sea level.  Your elevation is higher than the height of many buildings in town.  I'm using Google Earth.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on December 21, 2009, 02:58:04 PM
I think it's appropriate to have the new name since you're putting so much work into the recreation!  Good start there, I didn't realize that the traffic patterns persist when you bulldoze.  That'll save you a lot of time rebuilding the new road network! 

I think the modified version of the Punch Bowl looks pretty good, it doesn't look as abrupt as the old version on the aerial imagery.  That's pretty subjective though, but I'm looking forward to seeing your interpretation! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nanami on December 21, 2009, 08:17:48 PM
Nice!
I saw you change the name of MD, it will make this MD more realistic.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on December 23, 2009, 03:21:26 PM
A lot of work you are having now, but I'm sure that will be all fantastic soon! To follow the development of your project will be fabulous!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: KoV Liberty on December 23, 2009, 07:57:41 PM
Oh I love it! This MD will be more great than it was before!
Title: Reconstruction: December 28, 2009
Post by: sumwonyuno on December 28, 2009, 02:13:10 PM
Try to find what's special in the picture below:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSzhxl77t0bI%2FAAAAAAAAADo%2FudURK72Pg18%2Fs800%2F20091227_01.jpg&hash=5a6b1c912f036e592a0460acdbe079218eabf30c)

Here's a bigger hint:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSzhxl-OSZRI%2FAAAAAAAAADs%2F7yyVMqbJbUg%2Fs800%2F20091227_02.jpg&hash=92c2200373fc89365283f7f75073f6a3e75ba056)

Yes, I've successfully retextured a bus!  To be more specific, I've retextured the NYBT NYC MTA New Flyer bus from the STEX.  Credit goes to Gwail for the model.

TheBus is the public bus service for the entire island of O'ahu.  Oahu Transit Services is a private company contracted by the City to run TheBus.  TheBus fleet has over 500 buses servicing almost 100 routes.  There are a variety of manufacturers and bus lengths that make up the fleet.  Here is an picture of the #57 bus out in Waimanalo:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSzkgtUv80II%2FAAAAAAAAAEU%2Fl9I8idHRrjg%2Fs800%2F20091227_03a.JPG&hash=3bed181ecb58c0639dd5f34382d61d6156f0d5dc)

This bus a different model than what is in the game, but let's just pretend that TheBus has bought that model.

There is a rainbow paint scheme, and I'm working on that.  I need to figure out how to make another working bus instance.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSzkgtcZO8PI%2FAAAAAAAAAEY%2FofHEH5YEEF4%2Fs800%2F20091227_03b.JPG&hash=bdbf3329e5ac4db5657f1be4daaf4be8faaa862f)

There are articulated buses, and I need to find a correct model first...

Now, forget the last update.  After days of debating with myself, I've decided to scrap the idea of using the old terrain and congestion view.  It wasn't an easy decision to make.  The problem lies with the game grid and how the road network is aligned in real life.

Here is how Capitalis looked:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSzkbNE16yyI%2FAAAAAAAAAEA%2Ffy6x6Dm6PFE%2Fs800%2F20091228_01.jpg&hash=d63f5d33716d124bb9a31250efc94cf40e5a93df)

Here is an O'ahu map from the STEX (with incorrect elevations):

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSzkbNNgksFI%2FAAAAAAAAAEE%2FsrEQqprnfOo%2Fs800%2F20091228_02.jpg&hash=de2c2aadef4130273c62f50479deef6b72cf81bb)

As you can see, the northwest part of Capitalis is fairly accurate.  As you go south and east, the region is skewed.  I was having many problems as the result of legacy decisions back in Capitalis.  As an example, I've obliterated city tiles to flush out the eternal commuters.  So, if I was going to destroy the development, it left me free to do whatever I want with terrain.  If I could do whatever I want with terrain, I could put the landforms in better relation to real life.

The downside is that Downtown was east-west before, but now it's going to be northwest-southeast.  It's either that, or the rest of the island at a compensating angle.  Since I'm BATing virtually all development, I could possibly make things to graphically fit with 45 degree roadways.  30 degrees is a whole other nightmare...  As a tentative plan, I'll be working on the rural areas first.  I'll progress toward Downtown-Waikiki.  This gives me more time to work on diagonal development.

I know it all sounds insane, but at the very least, I'd like to get more area of the island to be like real life.  If I'm only able to do the rural areas, that's fine.  If I can get the urbanized areas too, then  &apls.

I have started to take the region apart.  By the time you read this, it's already out of date.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FSzkbNVzrfbI%2FAAAAAAAAAEI%2F-qsF57JwqWM%2Fs800%2F20091228_03.jpg&hash=6d49b90fe90b4e7d63c9832c12c21a9d0c6ed67a)




Note:  I've started to put the legacy chapter pictures on Photobucket.  If you weren't able to see them before, hopefully now you'll be able to.  I'll be doing this whenever I can, one chapter at a time.

***Replies***

Battlecat:  Well, there goes that strategy...  ::) The congestion view stays there until you unpause the game.  The craters on the southern shore should all look much better if I ever get to them.

976:  Thanks, I certainly hope it all gets closer to real life.  :)

Tomas Neto:  Heh, more and more and more work to do now!  I'm sure you'll enjoy what's coming along.  Though I don't think my rural areas will be as beautiful as yours!  ;)

Driftmaster07:  I'm glad you do!  I certainly know it will be better than before.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: KoV Liberty on December 28, 2009, 03:09:18 PM
It looks great!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nexis4Jersey on December 28, 2009, 04:44:37 PM
cool update , are you going to use Cycledoggs terrain mod?
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: emgmod on December 28, 2009, 06:02:42 PM
Congratulations, you learned to reskin something faster than I did. That region view looks messed up, but I'm sure that it's all going to end in a nice, finished project.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: ecoba on December 29, 2009, 01:29:31 PM
Oh my gosh, the level of detail and accuracy you're putting into everything is really amazing, sumwunyuno.

Can't wait to see some more work from you soon!

Ethan
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on December 29, 2009, 06:28:46 PM
Nice touch adding in TheBus!  It has a pretty distinct style and I just love the name! 

Looks like you've got some dramatic plans for the entire island, looks like you've got a lot of work ahead to bring it to fruition!  I'm looking forward to seeing what you've got on the way!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on December 30, 2009, 01:09:30 AM
Wow my friend, awesome update!!!  &apls &apls
I'll keep watching every development of your MD, because I know I'll see great updates!!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nanami on December 30, 2009, 10:39:39 PM
Nice. The region view just like mine(weird). ^_^
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: rooker1 on January 01, 2010, 12:29:52 PM
Another very interesting MD with a mix of real life pics and ingame ones.  There is no wonder for me why you will be spending this month in OSITM. &apls

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg43.imageshack.us%2Fimg43%2F9397%2Fcapitalisjan2010.png&hash=35769b37f4a72b218f1ca5ff6f6e80e2115b79d9)

Congratulations from myself and The SC4D Staff!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on January 02, 2010, 08:31:49 AM
Congratulations on your OSITM!   &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: warconstruct on January 02, 2010, 09:49:45 AM
very beautiful map !! and great update  &apls
Title: Reconstruction Teaser: January 02, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on January 03, 2010, 02:24:49 AM
Happy New Year to everyone ;D and I'm honored to start off the new decade as a mayor diary in the OSTIM!  &blush  Thank you, staff!  :thumbsup:

I have been working on the region, but the time always goes by fast this time of the year!  I will aim for an update each Monday or Tuesday (Hawaiian Standard Time).  This upcoming update will feature how I'm using Google Earth to make O'ahu in the game.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0Br9K4_8nI%2FAAAAAAAAAFg%2FfqGRTru94S0%2Fs800%2F20100102_02.jpg&hash=e2a8ad11df4f4fd770802a0603ed683c56925610)

Current region view (all hand terraformed in game!):
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0By99YuBVI%2FAAAAAAAAAFs%2FvNgWoFQM__A%2Fs800%2F20100102_01.jpg&hash=ba600ec40e8b46ee7b125985f2b64feeaae96d8a)




***Replies***

Driftmaster07:  Thanks!

Nexis4Jersey:  I'm currently using the THL Tropical Terrain Spread.  I have to admit it looks a lot like the original Maxis textures, but ~350m (100m above sea level) there are big differences.  I'm planning to change the terrain textures to something else, but I need to find one that's good fit for most parts of the island.

emgmod:  It took a lot of practice (lots of 1+ pixel and color errors).  Heh, the finished project is the goal!

ecoba:  Thank you for visiting!

Battlecat:  Thank you!  I'm sure you'll be sticking around to see what I'll create.  ;)

Tomas Neto:  I'm sure you'll be paying close attention also!

976:  Heh, the blank spots have been fixed in the region, and the region should look much more filled in by the end of the month.

warconstruct:  Thanks for visiting!

[Edit]:  I've finished replacing all of the Imageshack image links with Photobucket links for the Capitalis Island Tour.  If you haven't been able to see them before (due to domain restrictions, or MIA pictures) I encourage you to see them now (before the bandwidth limit is reached) !
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nanami on January 03, 2010, 02:40:03 AM
Great!

Welcome to OSITM and congrats!,
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: bat on January 03, 2010, 08:28:46 AM
Congrats for the OSITM!
And looking forward to more from this nice MD! ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: ecoba on January 03, 2010, 08:37:57 AM
Oh my gosh! All Hand Terraformed?

Really sumwonyuno, you and Dave (tooheys) have really got hand terraformed down, as you both make excellent hand terraformed regions.

Keep up the good work and I hope to see some more work here soon.

P.S. Congrats on OSITM.

Ethan
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: adroman on January 03, 2010, 02:18:43 PM
First of all, congratulations on the OSITM.  ;)
Fantastic work on that region, sumwonyuno! You must've put hours into that region, and the results seem to be worth it...  :thumbsup:

Havva good one,
Adrian.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: KoV Liberty on January 03, 2010, 03:39:23 PM
Congrats on the OSITM! And ALL hand terraformed! Wow! &apls &apls &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: emgmod on January 03, 2010, 04:36:51 PM
All hand made? Amazing. I can't wait for you to terraform the mountains.

Earlier today, I found out that TheBus buses (That sounds weird) have a number on top. Is there a chance that you are placing numbers on the automata?
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: tooheys on January 04, 2010, 02:45:03 AM
Now this will be interesting to watch, can't wait to see what you do with this map.

Congrats on OSITM

Dave
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on January 04, 2010, 09:05:53 AM
Hand terraformed?  Incredible work already then.  I imagine the elevated areas are going to be even more challenging because of the reconcile edges annoyance.  I'll be interested to see how you approach this!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Yan077 on January 04, 2010, 10:00:33 AM
Congrats for your OSITM  &apls

Fantastic map, I can't believe it's hand terraformed, it looks so real !!   :o   &apls  &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on January 04, 2010, 02:40:45 PM
Awesome region, my friend!!! Great work!!!  &apls &apls
Congrats on OSITM!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Reconstruction: January 04, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on January 04, 2010, 11:02:09 PM
I don't intend the following as a tutorial, but hopefully the mentioned strategies can be adapted if you are interested in recreating a real world place, by hand.

Google Earth is the workhorse of figuring out where things belong in the region.  The island of O'ahu is about 65km x 51km, and therefore, the region in the game requires 17 large city tiles in the east-west axis and 13 large city tiles in the north-south axis.

Google Earth has a grid, but unfortunately, its lines are in degrees/minutes/seconds.  The Google Earth grid is therefore only helpful as a stationary reference to start and end measurement lines.  The ruler tool and the elevation value are absolutely essential to transfer the information from Google into the game.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0Fh-MRATlI%2FAAAAAAAAAF0%2F-VvDxAKGXPs%2Fs800%2F20100103_01.jpg&hash=7c2078374ad718ba7d4437d783aa983097abab49)

SimCity uses a compass grid, so naturally, an area in real life that is aligned with the compass is much easier to do.  However, there are very few things on O'ahu that are that way.  The fundamental rule of thumb for development in Hawai'i is the concept of mauka (toward the mountains) and makai (toward the ocean).  The Native Hawaiians devised an ingenious land use system where a large valley (or group of valleys), from the mountain tops to the ocean, is a self-sufficient community called an ahupua'a.

Fastforward to today, many neighborhoods are situated in the traditional ahupua'a areas, and these neighborhoods keep the indigenous names.  Additionally, along the southern coast of O'ahu, the concept of 'Ewa (generally, west), and Koko Head or Diamond Head (generally, east) is used to indicate the perpendicular axis compliment of mauka-makai.  Here is a sign at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa that demonstrates the directions.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0Fh-dMUTGI%2FAAAAAAAAAF4%2FS5sreoera7Y%2Fs800%2F20100103_02.jpg&hash=bbe0d933c4a3290064eca59463ed47577141896c)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0Fh-XGE5kI%2FAAAAAAAAAF8%2FLIii0UbLNLE%2Fs800%2F20100103_03.jpg&hash=94d9eb32ffd570d6eb068b0a6833d2938135e9dc)

The mauka-makai and 'Ewa-Koko Head concepts are why both developmment and the roadway system are going to be very difficult to replicate.  I'll likely simplify things on the small scale, but try to keep the large scale look quite accurate.

The largest area on the island that is aligned to the compass grid is the Honolulu International Airport runways.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0Fh-iyghhI%2FAAAAAAAAAGA%2FLjUG200-DcI%2Fs800%2F20100103_04.jpg&hash=28ec4f92fe41a3b82ddffde358e445113a68a9b7)

My strategy is to pick an easy reference point (on the Google Earth grid), and then measure the distance to another easy reference point (another grid line, a building, or a roadway).  It is important to only take orthogonal distances (north-south or east-west).  I often move the map so that one reference point is on the border of the window.  The elevations of the reference points are also noted.  Let's take the Reef Runway as an example.  This breakwater wall that sticks out is an area of interest.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0Fh-xAWrEI%2FAAAAAAAAAGE%2Ffp0um7hdQt8%2Fs800%2F20100103_05.jpg&hash=db5c3fac1bc828a7615c29d28874b767ced69db1)

Using the Google Earth ruler, the breakwater wall is about 157m x 18m.  A single cell in the game is 16m x 16m.  So the breakwater wall takes up about 10 tiles x 1 tile in the game.  The breakwater wall is essentially at an elevation of 0m (sea level), and that translates into the game as 250m.  The terrainquery cheat code and the terraforming tools (god mode and mayor mode) are used to draw the target area into the desired shape and elevation.  I use the road tool to measure the number of tiles quickly.  Each road tile is $10.  So, I measure $100 worth of single-tile, straight road for the breakwater wall.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0FiBRdwI_I%2FAAAAAAAAAGM%2F_XyEy53FUEM%2Fs800%2F20100103_06.jpg&hash=cc1be5dd1e1ba0545f44faa511dfad370856a170)

I repeat this process as necessary on the small scale (working with meters in mayor mode).  I also use a similar strategy on the large scale (working with kilometers in god mode).  In the kilometer scale, I use the fact that a large city tile is 4km x 4km.  I eyeball fourths of a city tile and terraform that way.  When I'm ready, I go back to the small scale and refine the terrain.  The road tool and the Google Earth ruler can switch roles so that the road tool measures a distance to be used in Google Earth.

As for the problem of working between city tiles, it's necessary to pick reference points that match up with the borders between two city tiles.  It's absolutely necessary to remember (or note) what you've done on one side of the border so you know what to do on the other city tile.  The distance from the edge or corner is the way I do it.  I don't use the reconcile tool often, as it often messes things up.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0LiGZ3wURI%2FAAAAAAAAAGk%2FUd8RYsDcURY%2Fs800%2F20100103_07.jpg&hash=81dc79802e8e9a639953d7531fcb5fa5e98c74d3)

Next update, we'll go into terrain, textures and flora.




***Replies***

976:  Thanks!

bat:  Thank you for your first comment here!  Hope you stick around!

ecoba:  Heh, not just one large city tile... but 100+!

adroman:  Part of the North Shore are from the Capitalis map, but all of the other shorelines are definitely remade in the past week.

Driftmaster07:  Thanks!

emgmod:  Yes I do know buses have numbers, and no, I didn't put the numbers on the automata.  The resolution isn't high enough to be seen in game.  Heh, I'm dreading the part of the Ko'olau to the northeast of the Dole Plantation... it's the most rugged part of the island...

tooheys:  Heh, the wait certainly will be worth it.

Battlecat:  If I do it right, the mountains should look even better than they do in Google Earth and look much closer to real life.  I avoid from reconcile tool by copying things on both side of the border.

Yan077:  Thanks for your visit as well!

Tomas Neto:  Thank you!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: warconstruct on January 05, 2010, 10:12:17 AM
very beautiful map  &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on January 05, 2010, 10:33:17 AM
Very cool indeed.  It's a challenge approach, but one that will result in a pretty accurate map in the end.  I guess you'll also be using the in game elevation tools to help with your mountains as well! 

I don't think it matters much what your approach is, any road style other than diagonal and straight is pretty hard to replicate in game.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you've got on the list next!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: bat on January 05, 2010, 11:03:44 AM
Nice work on that update, and looking forward to the next update... ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: ecoba on January 05, 2010, 07:00:25 PM
Wow, that seems to be working out well! (Using the Google Earth to terraform your map!) Are you planning to install a terrain mod when you are finished terraforming? As I feel the the plain Maxis textures are unattractive for Hawai'i and maybe the West Coast (California) modd by Eblem (Heblem( might be better, just a suggestion though.

I hope that the terraforming will stay in it's state of ease, and I hope to see some more beautiful work from you here again soon!

Ethan
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on January 06, 2010, 03:33:10 PM
Wow, that perfection in the execution of your city!!! I was expecting something fantastic, but the your updates will be much better than I thought!!!  &apls
Title: Reconstruction: January 10, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on January 10, 2010, 02:46:55 AM
The island of O'ahu can be generalized as a rocky volcanic island.  However, it covers almost 600 square miles, and has varying geography in different parts of the island.  The simple conclusion is that there is no one magic terrain, flora, or rock controller that accurately portrays all real life characteristics of all parts of the island in the game, all at the same time.  The best I can do is download as many (non-conflicting) plugins (and tweak them) such that the underlying terrain is acceptable, and pick flora that looks close enough to what may be found in the corresponding area in real life.

Generally, I would generally classify the dirt of the island into three areas.  The southeastern part of the island has darker brown dirt.  Most of the island, from 'Ewa to Kahuku, has famously reddish dirt (good for farming).  The northwestern part of the island has faded to light brown dirt.  This is the result of the Wai'anae Mountains being older than the Ko'olau Mountains, and the differring geography leading to different decomposition of Hawaiian basalt. 

I've chosen the Red Granite rock mod by pegasus.  Up close it's somewhat red, and far away it looks brown.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mVUEif9LI%2FAAAAAAAAAIE%2FgiAte2dX0lc%2Fs800%2F20100109_13.jpg&hash=90c719cb4511c6deed75ec8dea0c7b9f4f48c1ce)

As for terrain, I've chosen hemblem's Californian Terrain Mod.  It's green at low elevations, drier at "mid" elevations (good for highlands), and then pale green at the highest elevations possible on O'ahu (+1100m above sea level).  I've also modified the plugin so that beaches extend "forever" (at elevations lower than 251m) so that I can make variable width sandy areas.

I cannot represent the windward-leeward look with a terrain mod because the terrain mods depend on elevation, not with rain patterns.  Flora is how I plan to mimic the windward-leeward difference.

I'm in awe of natural environment shots I've seen in other people's work.  I've downloaded many ploppable flora plugins available on the STEX and LEX.  The following is the result of about a week of playing around with mayor mode ploppable flora, rocks, and water.

Although Pearl Harbor is thought of as the quintessential U.S. naval base, and today it is virtually surrounded by suburban development, it once was a huge wetland area.  There are still small pockets of protected and undeveloped shoreline.  I've chosen two such areas on both sides of the Pearl City peninsula.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQPhGspAI%2FAAAAAAAAAHQ%2FhrNTVWdQywE%2Fs800%2F20100109_01.jpg&hash=675e7b2a83748a6dbeab97e3ca3e359b66ae5f3a)

I'm not sure what the first area is exactly.  Google and maps I've seen doesn't have a label on it.  It's a grassy area between the H-1 Freeway and Pearl Harbor to the west of the Waiau Power Plant in Pearl City.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQP2rwrDI%2FAAAAAAAAAHU%2FXoiQz27NoDc%2Fs800%2F20100109_02.jpg&hash=c194fd05987944e3a72a52891489b017d27884e5)

Here is the result of my interpretation of the area in the game:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQP9hPEXI%2FAAAAAAAAAHY%2FGQfFD0-cOlo%2Fs800%2F20100109_03.jpg&hash=93eb86405ce51be9e63de79eebea5e425d848cde)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQQA0tS0I%2FAAAAAAAAAHc%2FqMn4qbJ5lRE%2Fs800%2F20100109_04.jpg&hash=e126379ae6684d35e09c904a3ea79ed349cc458f)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQQekIGGI%2FAAAAAAAAAHg%2FvSi4zbb7ruw%2Fs800%2F20100109_05.jpg&hash=0d35fca7ccd8ea19d484a800ac06aa1dee2c08d6)

The second area I've chosen is known as the Waiawa unit of the Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge.  The refuge is actually only the two ponds (with greenish looking water).  The wider area is owned by the U.S. military.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQZsaiA3I%2FAAAAAAAAAHk%2FQfOxvf1hV0g%2Fs800%2F20100109_06.jpg&hash=f61bff8e7cdfaef68cccb7bf16519ff5aac0f29c)

I've started by "roping off" the area with roads.  This is to restrict the area that I'm considering.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQZu0_WtI%2FAAAAAAAAAHo%2FEEJMf63huDQ%2Fs800%2F20100109_07.jpg&hash=d94d1c0a7de307b6b9116c75e060cda989a3fed0)

I put in the small stream that runs through the area, and the larger dirt tracks/abandoned roadways as reference points in the game.  I also refine the look of the shoreline.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQZu7RVuI%2FAAAAAAAAAHs%2F7SUWGKIOQHc%2Fs800%2F20100109_08.jpg&hash=3ce109ccc70f22949dc83a13185fdb241bb46ebc)

After many (discontiguous) hours later, the flora, rocks, and ponds are put in.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQZ6mXdmI%2FAAAAAAAAAHw%2F_rO-gSFc5GA%2Fs800%2F20100109_09.jpg&hash=fca79bb6ea5ed08719f6e3a0dc8b77a669d53498)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQaO3qKEI%2FAAAAAAAAAH0%2FqIW77aQ1BW0%2Fs800%2F20100109_10.jpg&hash=53b683da99a887bfa347fa4132f9cd324009a90d)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQfCQ54mI%2FAAAAAAAAAH4%2FwHwCDyrnJEw%2Fs800%2F20100109_11.jpg&hash=1f04afd7e206a17223970a353b9d79a732210520)

The zoom 1 picture of the area.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQfDEyedI%2FAAAAAAAAAH8%2FUkbDWzftHF8%2Fs800%2F20100109_12.jpg&hash=86eed1f594648e5958b40142e35d2c23e87d5ea2)

On Monday, I'll be starting yet another semester, and I know I won't have as much free time as I'd like.  For the next update, it'll probably be more protected areas/undeveloped land.  I'm not sure exactly where, but it'll probably be on hilly, if not mountanous, terrain.




***Replies***

warconstruct:  Thank you!

Battlecat:  The god mode tools do a lot of the heavy lifting, and the mayor mode tools is where all the pain is.   $%Grinno$% Development (whether orthogonal, diagonal, or some evil angle &sly) will come much later.

bat:  Heh, I hope this update did not disappoint!

ecoba:  I certainly took your suggestion.  ;)  There is like about 100 square miles of decently "flat", gentle sloping land around the edge of the island, and those will be the easy areas for terrain, but definitely not easy for development.  :'(

Tomas Neto:  Heh, thanks, and you're definitely one of my inspirations for rural areas!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: oktoberfest on January 10, 2010, 05:44:21 AM
oh my god! thanks to this i have seen god's perfection
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kwakelaar on January 10, 2010, 09:35:16 AM
This is indeed some beautifully looking nature recreated with perfection in Simcity. I am truly impressed by what you have been up to lately. And congratulations on your OSITM.  &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: bat on January 10, 2010, 10:22:17 AM
Nice work on the nature there! The small river and lake are really great!
It is looking beautiful! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: KoV Liberty on January 10, 2010, 11:01:15 AM
OMG.................................................... ;D :thumbsup: &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: emgmod on January 10, 2010, 01:41:09 PM
I think I remember that area from heading to the developed part for cheaper gas. I wasn't really sure what it looked like past the treeline, but you did an awesome recreation of it.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on January 10, 2010, 02:00:37 PM
Fantastic work!  You've done a great job creating a scene that is incredibly similar to reality! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Connor on January 10, 2010, 02:04:56 PM
Fantastic work, looks just like the real life picture, looking forward to more.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nanami on January 11, 2010, 02:12:14 AM
Awesome!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on January 11, 2010, 06:17:15 PM
Oh yeah!!! A W E S O M E ! ! !   &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kelis on January 13, 2010, 11:23:56 AM
Yeeah !!! very good recreation my friend !
Title: Re: Reconstruction: January 10, 2010
Post by: RBC on January 18, 2010, 08:16:33 AM
Quote from: sumwonyuno on January 10, 2010, 02:46:55 AM
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQP9hPEXI%2FAAAAAAAAAHY%2FGQfFD0-cOlo%2Fs800%2F20100109_03.jpg&hash=93eb86405ce51be9e63de79eebea5e425d848cde)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS0mQZ6mXdmI%2FAAAAAAAAAHw%2F_rO-gSFc5GA%2Fs800%2F20100109_09.jpg&hash=fca79bb6ea5ed08719f6e3a0dc8b77a669d53498)


This is just ridiculous. Incredible good! I've recently tried to recreate a few areas similar to the ones you found on Hawaii. In SC4 they are nowhere to be found, but in the real world they are everywhere. However, the result was pretty miserable (to say the least), but I thought the task was virtually impossible anyway, so it didn't bother me that much. But now this! I have to go right back to SC4-school - again!

For the untrained eye this might not be that spectacular, but as mentioned I've been trying this myself, and I'm absolutely stunned by (and in awe of) the skills put into it.

&apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Fabian93 on January 18, 2010, 08:39:15 AM
First: Congratulations on your OSITM - award.... it really is deserved &apls &apls
That recent Update is just fantastic :thumbsup:
The area looks so realistic... must have taken you some while to figure out how to do this.
I will definitively use this as inspiration :).

Once again: &apls
Fabian ;)
Title: Reconstruction: January 25, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on January 25, 2010, 03:45:50 AM
Sorry everyone, I've been bogged down with school work from my classes and I haven't had much time as I'd like to work on SimCity. ()sad()

The following is a small cluster of islands in the west loch of Pearl Harbor.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS119MgWWseI%2FAAAAAAAAAJY%2F5-BIl1qKkus%2Fs800%2F20100125_01.jpg&hash=e8c0a2bc13165c875dcd5ef0578fc08300f91187)

I decided to try using mangrove trees and the result is actually quite nice in my opinion.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS119MpjszXI%2FAAAAAAAAAJc%2Fc6ZrOVTKzPM%2Fs800%2F20100125_02.jpg&hash=4c4cc587e6778424e21e588cfd19e1882ea74269)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS119NEk2n1I%2FAAAAAAAAAJg%2FO-iShPSv-2o%2Fs800%2F20100125_03.jpg&hash=4da27dd55026a572ef93f42551e95ee09aa80e7f)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS119NHkU2cI%2FAAAAAAAAAJk%2F7OoJ7AkyU9c%2Fs800%2F20100125_04.jpg&hash=a5ca715fd95411f057e91eced8994cca6a23e5cd)

As for the rest of the region, it's pretty messed up.  I've been experimenting with different strategies for terrain.  One strategy worth noting is to add an Image Overlay on the Google Earth world, then snap it to a certain elevation above sea level.  The image will block everything below that elevation.  As an example, the black image is at 130m above sea level.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS119NSaVEpI%2FAAAAAAAAAJo%2FmzBN1Ze1Eh4%2Fs800%2F20100125_05.jpg&hash=998cbd6f465bdd5849e52d5a6a40522c123da3e7)

I basically use the same strategy I use to trace shorelines to trace that Image Overlay outline.  I use the combination of the Google Earth ruler, the road tool, ground lifter, leveling tools, and terrain query.

Here is the result of tracing 130m in game.  I've used the rain tool to outline it better.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS119cVE70yI%2FAAAAAAAAAJ0%2FN9Sk-0I5q5w%2Fs800%2F20100125_06.jpg&hash=5c1a0e5682ac2866c22dc9c76bc7eef88fc436bc)

Well everyone, it's been a great month on OSTIM!  I don't think I'll be able to push in another update before the 30th.  I will keep working on my region as time permits.  I've got fascinating and challenging classes this semester, and SimCity will have to compete with them!  ;)




***Replies***

oktoberfest:  Heh, I am not God, but I'm glad you've seen perfection!  ;)

kwakelaar:  Thanks for the comment.  I'll be working with nature for a while!

bat:  Thank you!

Driftmaster07:  Heh, I must have really stunned you!  :P

emgmod:  Man, I tried getting pictures of that empty field from H-1, and I've failed every single time! &cry2

Battlecat:  I take a lot of inspiration from your work.  ;D

Connor:  I've got a whole island to do, so there'll be a lot to be looking forward to.  ;)

976:  Thanks very much!

Tomas Neto:  I certainly take a lot of inspiration from your natural landscapes as well!   :thumbsup:

kelis:  Thanks!  Hope you stick around!

RBC:  Wow!  Thanks for your first comment here!  I'm honored by everyone's comments, and I'm glad that you made those points.  These sorts of undeveloped lots of land are everywhere, and there's no shortage of them on this island!  Both areas took me several trials (paint, demolish, repeat) to get it their final results.  I hope you'll successfully develop strategies of your own!  :)

Fabian93:  Heh, it's been a while!  I'm honored you take me as inspiration!  I've been doing the same with your mayor diary!  :P
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on January 25, 2010, 04:11:50 AM
I always liked of your MD, but now your MD be on a level of very high quality! I'm really happy by the way you are following, and I believe that we will see many amazing upgrades, as the update that you did today!!! Awesome again my friend!!!  &apls &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: mightygoose on January 25, 2010, 05:23:18 AM
great work, your efforts toward realsim are very good and well received
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Delecto on January 25, 2010, 06:11:36 AM
Beautiful work on the nature, very pleasant to the eyes. Can I say photorealistic?!  ;)

DEL!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on January 25, 2010, 09:43:45 AM
Beautiful work!  You've done a great job capturing the feel of those small islands!

Terraforming by hand when you have a specific recreation in mind is a huge challenge, you're certainly doing a thorough job! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: bat on January 25, 2010, 11:02:23 AM
Nice work on that small island! It's really beautiful! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: scott1964 on January 26, 2010, 09:52:57 PM
Your pictures are awesome.  ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nanami on January 30, 2010, 09:57:52 AM
Nice update!
It's not just you who not have many time to play SC4 because a busy school. I am too, busy because a big exam.
Title: Reconstruction: February 10, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on February 10, 2010, 04:30:20 AM
Hello everyone,

I'll start off by saying that my goal is really too ambitious:  an accurate rendition of the island, complete with terrain, roadways, and development.  I'm getting frustrated because I'm hitting the same game limitations that I went through with Capitalis.  I can't play the game if I'm fussing about things the game was simply not made for (e.g. non-compass grid development).  I still want to put more of Honolulu into the game, but I need to be humble...

In other news, I've figured out how to get the BAT, Lot Editor and SC4PIM working on my system.  Yesterday, I finished my first complete lot.  It is based on a two-story house in Kalihi.  It is meant to be an R$ home. 

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS3KRBVbHJuI%2FAAAAAAAAAKs%2FgovKtGS9ZRg%2Fs800%2F20100210_01.jpg&hash=81d604370950fe80b14f14f7d1af400f9d018349)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS3KRB-MhocI%2FAAAAAAAAAKw%2FUuPGuT_X9Ec%2Fs800%2F20100210_02.jpg&hash=39a4357381e303100bd3281b25421867b21b5b99)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS3KRB4eXrJI%2FAAAAAAAAAK0%2F0z7df9TluIM%2Fs800%2F20100210_03.jpg&hash=d9d08fbb044986cb462a5d2142d1c5dc4647992a)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS3KRB4aSeYI%2FAAAAAAAAAK4%2FzwvDlqL-0Gc%2Fs800%2F20100210_04.jpg&hash=b93ee0a2e5de10e0c307fa47953ccf72066a0c72)

There are some things to point out.  For homes close to town, there isn't much space.  The building almost takes up the entire lot.  Yet, there is enough space for plants along the sides of the house.  The garage is part of the house.  The lanai (balcony) rests above the garage.  Virtually all residential lots have walls or fences surrounding the perimeter.

Using a 1.0 filling degree, the PIM rates this building (10m x 26m x 7.6m) as a stage 4 with 36 R$ Sims.  I would guess this building in real life has half that number living there.  The densities in the game are something that that I need to reconcile.  The Capitalis region had ~2.3x the population of Oahu, while the development in game generally looks less dense than real life... and it gets back to the whole matter of game limitations.

...

After a long reflection, I'm kind of leaning away from reconstructing the island as a whole.  A more doable option is to do small sections of the island (within one city tile).  I could focus on one area for a while, rotate it so it's doable in the game, and make it as close to real life as I can with terrain 'n paint, and custom BATs.  The areas I end up doing wouldn't be contiguous, so the region view would be a mess... but that's one sacrifice I'm willing to have.

Any suggestions, on what I should do, on my first complete BAT, or anything else, is welcomed.

[Edit]:  Anyone pro on textures?  I had a brick texture for the walls of the building, but it keeps being scaled to the faces of the polygon.  I'd prefer it to keep to a certain size and automatically tile itself.




***Replies***

Tomas Neto:  Wow, thank you for the compliments!

mightygoose:  Thanks, and I'm glad you stopped by to comment!  Inspiration!   :)

Delecto:  Thank you for your first comment!  Google Earth doesn't do the real life picture enough justice!

Battlecat:  Heh, it may be too big of a challenge!

bat:  I'm glad that you enjoy my recreation of the islands!

scott1964:  Thank you!

976:  Heh, hope you do (or did) well on your exam!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: soulchaser on February 10, 2010, 04:44:03 AM
Rebuilding must be quite hard, I never tried, because of the angles are limited. so your decision is quite reasonable.

your first BAT looks ok, I would change wall textures though. The dimensions look good, too.

So I wish you good luck with your project.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: BuildingUp on February 10, 2010, 11:33:15 AM
That's great for a first lot. Looking forward to seeing more! :)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on February 10, 2010, 03:25:57 PM
Quote from: sumwonyuno on February 10, 2010, 04:30:20 AM
After a long reflection, I'm kind of leaning away from reconstructing the island as a whole.  A more doable option is to do small sections of the island (within one city tile).  I could focus on one area for a while, rotate it so it's doable in the game, and make it as close to real life as I can with terrain 'n paint, and custom BATs.  The areas I end up doing wouldn't be contiguous, so the region view would be a mess... but that's one sacrifice I'm willing to have.

I think that this is to better form of conduct the works, I liked your plan for the future updates!! As regards the BAT I think very cool!!!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on February 10, 2010, 03:32:22 PM
Nice job on that little house.  I can't blame you for being frustrated, I don't think we'll ever be able to do perfect recreations in Simcity 4.  But even your best effort will be pretty cool.  At some point an homage to the reality would be pretty cool as well.  Good luck with your custom lots!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: emgmod on February 11, 2010, 01:07:08 AM
Congratulations, you are one BAT closer to making the entire island. As for recreating everything off the grid, the best thing you can do is to adapt as much as you can.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nanami on February 15, 2010, 06:56:03 PM
Until now looks nice!
Title: Reconstruction: February 28, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on February 28, 2010, 08:03:08 PM
Don't worry everybody, I'm still here!  The tsunami that passed yesterday were more like rapid tidal surges.  I'm certainly glad that it wasn't destructive.  Although my home is less than a mile from the ocean, it's 15 meters above sea level and out of any tsunami evacation zone.  It's coincidental that I had written a paper on disaster planning a few weeks ago (about tsunamis) and the weekly topic of the TV program Island Insights on PBS was on disaster preparedness.  While I stayed at home, I had some time to catch up on school work and SimCity.  :)

The area I chose for this update is on the Leeward Coast of O'ahu, Farrington Highway to the south of Makua Valley.  It was relatively easy to make, taking about 2 hours from scratch on a new city tile.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS4pcgs5JQ-I%2FAAAAAAAAAL0%2FtzLZ1RQFZA8%2Fs800%2F20100228_01.jpg&hash=a1179c2461a634f9f0cc30b14b77630bf6d3fd39)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS4pcgqUMdiI%2FAAAAAAAAAL4%2FG-5q4yEl08o%2Fs800%2F20100228_02.jpg&hash=b40f47738a0a594807d8df021d44304a4b0aa98e)

The following real world photo was taken January 9, 2010.  It looks green because of recent rain, but this is the dry side of the island.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS4pcg3qTZPI%2FAAAAAAAAAL8%2FM8wCPwHraKI%2Fs800%2F20100228_03.jpg&hash=55f9b35e457ac810fbc5927f7a2f6b2141a2d661)

I found the equivalent shot in Google Street View.  I would guess this photo was taken in the first half of 2009.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS4pchFgPN4I%2FAAAAAAAAAMA%2F6OQgkCgUO9s%2Fs800%2F20100228_04.jpg&hash=1f773cf924a1c809f1b43b49eb30c3ee3929eb86)

Notice how much drier it is.  Though, that tree in the distance actually has green leaves compared to the same tree in my photo.  In the game, I went more for my photo because there aren't many yellow/dry color grass mayor mode flora available.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS4pchUhpddI%2FAAAAAAAAAME%2FkSt5ZU8ccJ4%2Fs800%2F20100228_05.jpg&hash=d948f3824cccd99358652f25f778839ec9303607)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS4pcm24HzTI%2FAAAAAAAAAMI%2FMtElzD-64o4%2Fs800%2F20100228_06.jpg&hash=29d3ee93d76b1c174af7cdb279493ca7aabeae41)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS4pcnDgUPII%2FAAAAAAAAAMM%2Fn2biw1NDxrI%2Fs800%2F20100228_07.jpg&hash=103aa318c9faf52b76c00ec0f324ffa468b98f75)




***Replies***

soulchaser:  Thank you very much for the first comment.  :thumbsup:  I have been trying to change the wall textures to cement blocks, but the texture keeps scaling to the entire wall instead of tiling.

BuildingUp:  Thank you and I have plans for more.  ;D

Tomas Neto:  Thanks, and yes, I think it is the best way to go.

Battlecat:  Thank you!  Playing the game (and not worrying about the tiniest of real world details) should be fun.   ;)

emgmod:  Heh, I would guess there's over half a million buildings on this island alone...

976:  Thanks!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: ShultzCity on February 28, 2010, 09:05:35 PM
Beautiful!!  May I ask what flora you used in the 5th pic?
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: sumwonyuno on March 01, 2010, 12:47:41 AM
ShultzCity:  I sent you a PM.
[For anyone else interested, I primarily used ChrisAdams3997 and pegasus material for grasses, etc.]
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on March 01, 2010, 09:21:58 AM
Wow!  Right down to the rough trails and the rocky beach!  Based on those photos and the aerial image, you're continuing to capture these scenes perfectly!  I particularly like the way you've pushed the rocky details well out into the water and how effectively you're using the various grass textures available!  Always looking forward to seeing more! 
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Toichus Maximus on March 01, 2010, 01:50:53 PM
you've done some wonderful work here! This level of recreation is incredibly difficult to do. Great work and keep it up!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: nedalezz on March 01, 2010, 02:28:21 PM
Very nicely done, the detail level is insane. The way you plopped the grass, even that single tree, the pathways. Bravo!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Connor on March 02, 2010, 12:49:29 PM
Fantastic work. That area looks great and you've captured the realism incredibly well.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on March 02, 2010, 07:57:36 PM
Wow man!!! Awesome work!!! Really great!!!  &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: M.M.Malwin on March 04, 2010, 05:51:22 AM
Woo! Here is a beautiful project! The images of the region are very beautiful. And Oh my God, I love the latest pictures of your seaside They are very realistic! Congratulations!  &apls  ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: emgmod on March 07, 2010, 05:07:53 PM
QuoteTsunami
That was a fun scare.

Wonderful job with landscaping that part of the island. What rocks are you using for the shoreline?
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: marsh on March 07, 2010, 10:51:39 PM
You have a HUGE project on your hands and your REALY trying to perfect this! Keep it up, it looks amazing! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: adroman on March 07, 2010, 11:01:08 PM
Excellent, excellent work around here, sumwonuno!

I really should stop in more often... Best of luck in your project, I look forward to seeing the results  ;)

Always lurking,
Adrian.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: ecoba on March 08, 2010, 11:25:41 AM
Some very in depth detail here, sumwonyuno. Are you trying to recreate the island tile by tile? Such a daunting task you've taken up...

Ethan
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nanami on March 11, 2010, 10:21:29 PM
Awesome! A great update!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: KoV Liberty on March 16, 2010, 06:47:52 PM
Nice work! Only thing left to do is add poles to the side of the road.

Watching.... $%#Ninj2

Alex
Title: Reconstruction: May 18, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on May 18, 2010, 08:33:44 PM
Hello everyone,

I'm sorry that I've not been able to post any updates since February.  It's been a busy 2 and a half months.  Now it's summer and I've got time for SimCity again!

Maybe you remember back in the January 10th update, I recreated a bunch of islands in the west loch of Pearl Harbor.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS119MpjszXI%2FAAAAAAAAAJc%2Fc6ZrOVTKzPM%2Fs800%2F20100125_02.jpg&hash=4c4cc587e6778424e21e588cfd19e1882ea74269)

I did not have any real life pictures of those islands at the time.  I was able to go out to the west side of the island back during spring break in March.  I took the following picture of those islands from the West Loch Shoreline Park in Ewa Beach.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS_NLQc8ikoI%2FAAAAAAAAANI%2F9gvQvZOYfXA%2Fs800%2F20100518_01.jpg&hash=a0e81697cd69d285ff1728ac8f1c17a61f79bfc0)

On to newer things, when I finally came back to the forums, I found out a new version of the NAM came out, along with the Network Widening Mod.  I've been playing with the new stuff for the past few days.   :)  I went back into the Capitalis region, and I'm in the process of replacing old Maxis roadways with better NWM ones.

As an example, I've picked the King & Ke'eaumoku intersection in Honolulu:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS_NLQi6j5bI%2FAAAAAAAAANM%2FWbmhLoZtCCY%2Fs800%2F20100518_02.jpg&hash=667bcc5310f3567366985f6843c6524f18c675bf)

A real life picture of the area, driving on King Street, three streets before Ke'eaumoku Street:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS_Nrm39Y-EI%2FAAAAAAAAANk%2FP0v19KvirFE%2Fs800%2F20100518_05.jpg&hash=f16dae2e3d06ca12880feb5bb596387ea7c90aaf)

Here is the King & Ke'eaumoku counterpart in the Capitalis region:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS_NLQkckWRI%2FAAAAAAAAANQ%2F9F79K3MogwI%2Fs800%2F20100518_03.jpg&hash=a1cbdf0fd35152b4c0e5ad0b5db368894737f115)

The following is the results of changing the roadways to their NWM equivalents:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FS_NLQ_YPWVI%2FAAAAAAAAANU%2F3FHSjmaVvs0%2Fs800%2F20100518_04.jpg&hash=11494e39b17a12d1ac6b5af7b5fc58b9389e75a3)

IMO, the change is amazing.  I am really appreciative of all the work that's been done by the modders!  Look next week for another reconstruction update!




***Replies***

Battlecat:  Large areas of grasses and rocks on this island are almost never homogeneous.   $%Grinno$%

Toichus Maximus:  Thank you for your first post here!  Realism is difficult, but not impossible!   ;)

nedalezz:  Heh, you were one of the first posters, and I'm glad you've come back!  Most of the details are intentional, and others just turn out that way.   ;D

Connor:  I appreciate you've noticed the realism I'm trying to recreate!

Tomas Neto:  Thank you very much!

M.M.Malwin:  Thank you for your first comment, too!  I am glad that you love the shoreline pictures!

emgmod:  The short answer is pretty much all ploppable rock mods on the STEX and LEX.   :P

marsh:  Thank you for your first comment, as well!  It certainly is a huge project.   ;)

adroman:  You're always welcome here!

ecoba:  Heh, no tile-by-tile was Capitalis.  I'm focusing on selected areas and making them as close to real life as possible.   :thumbsup:

976:  Thank you!

KoV Liberty:  Heh, yeah I wish I could do roadside wooden utility poles.  Pretty much all development on the island built before 1970 has them.  Maybe if I learned how to change them into T21 (and learn T21s first)...

[Edit]: Waiting to get this moved out of inactive...
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: emgmod on May 18, 2010, 11:49:54 PM
Welcome back! Nice job rebuilding the city streets.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on May 19, 2010, 08:27:55 AM
Welcome back!  Great update for your return!  Nice to see those photos confirm you've done a great job of capturing those islands.  Very cool to see the NWM came out at an opportune time for you as well.  It's great to see it in action. 
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on May 23, 2010, 09:27:19 AM
Welcome back my friend!!!  And a comeback with a awesome and beautiful update!!! Great!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Reconstruction: June 02, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on June 02, 2010, 03:22:49 AM
For this update, we are going to the agricultural fields of Central O'ahu.  The area I picked is north of the Dole Plantation in Wahiawa.  This area used to be covered in pineapple, back when agriculture dominated the Hawaiian economy.  Today, a significant percentage of former agricultural land has been converted to suburban development or is left unused.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTAYZl7eIpTI%2FAAAAAAAAAN8%2FS6bww9-lSZY%2Fs800%2F20100601_01.jpg&hash=52c0779d3aa664d99bf3b9cc3218c30c21c8882f)

Here is my interpretation of the area in the game, featuring the first time I've used the RHW in an update:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTAYZmeQ-MmI%2FAAAAAAAAAOM%2FIo9eBHB8MqQ%2Fs800%2F20100601_05.jpg&hash=aa8ced1371d5f6c3f61a6341ca8b83b82f2daf59)

Another perspective of the area:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTAYZw_s986I%2FAAAAAAAAAOQ%2FjLsVtf51a04%2Fs800%2F20100601_06.jpg&hash=7a8ff2137f321bba7381bc14fd774026b875e85e)

A real-life ground-level picture of the area, taken January 16th, 2010:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTAYZmKvzScI%2FAAAAAAAAAOE%2FEtTpRu2-R80%2Fs800%2F20100601_03.jpg&hash=e3dc749bbd334088d5bdd02709cc407c866f9742)

The following real-life picture is facing west toward the Wai'anae Mountains.  You can see Mount Ka'ala (the highest point on O'ahu) on the right, and Kolekole Pass on the left.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTAYZmIoi5DI%2FAAAAAAAAAOI%2FOKvxdIunBio%2Fs800%2F20100601_04.jpg&hash=089d3f84ae77e73935b9d140dcb109b65d83c3ae)

Let's conclude the update with a zoomed-in mosaic.  Enjoy!

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTAYZw1tjhjI%2FAAAAAAAAAOU%2FtbICnt-Zn6w%2Fs800%2F20100601_07.jpg&hash=1ecd11697eea437ca69d07881d726485f7acab49)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTAYZxEYIs4I%2FAAAAAAAAAOY%2FKuEDg4GHfoc%2Fs800%2F20100601_08.jpg&hash=1bc513a3481351813c6d880a13cc18216c304bdd)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTAYZxTUYxXI%2FAAAAAAAAAOc%2FKdQUwEnKb2k%2Fs800%2F20100601_09.jpg&hash=bde4a41cc25fcacdaab3df7bc24e278e667212f1)




***Replies***

emgmod:  Thank you!  1000 miles of roadways to redo...

Battlecat:  Heh, I just happened to come back on to the forums at the right time.   :P

Tomas Neto:  Thank you very much!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: RickD on June 02, 2010, 04:22:42 AM
Great that you are updating again. Still can't believe how realistic your recreations are and you even seem to improve from update to update. I like looking at the real photos, too. I know the island only from the racing game Test Drive Unlimited.  ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: marsh on June 02, 2010, 08:19:51 AM
Thats realy realistic man. Your doing a great job.  &apls

P.S. I remember driving on that road when I went on vacation to Hawaii.  :P

,marsh  :satisfied:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: ecoba on June 02, 2010, 05:08:26 PM
Wow, amazing update here, my friend. Your pictures are so incredibly realistic. :)

Ethan
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: emgmod on June 02, 2010, 09:19:13 PM
Amazing job with the farms. I remember going through roads like these. Very boring.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nanami on June 02, 2010, 11:04:50 PM
Nice Rural Area!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: io_bg on June 03, 2010, 01:39:36 AM
Fantastic recreation - it's so realistic! &apls The use of ploppable flora is great as well!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kbieniu7 on June 03, 2010, 07:15:30 AM
Those fields look very nice. Good work with them  :)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Connor on June 03, 2010, 10:01:11 AM
Fantastic work as always! Great to see this MD getting going again.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on June 03, 2010, 12:00:58 PM
Wow, incredible as is dynamic a presentation mixed of pictures and images of the game, together!!! Marvelously well done this update!!! Awesome my friend!!!  &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: newsimaddict on June 14, 2010, 10:00:00 PM
Great looking farmland! Well done and very creative...
Title: Reconstruction: June 18, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on June 18, 2010, 09:11:30 PM
Hello everyone,

For this update, it won't have a lot of words as usual because I'll leave the pictures to talk for themselves.  This update features the Ko'olau Mountains on the Windward side of the island, specifically in the Waimanalo area.  The mountains on the Windward side are notoriously hard to recreate because of the near vertical cliff faces.  If you're wondering, the cliff edge is about 400 meters (1300+ feet) tall in the following picture, while I am somewhere near sea level:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTBwjat6og_I%2FAAAAAAAAAO0%2FC5deD33wVtw%2Fs800%2F20100618_01.jpg&hash=fe112b04adaaf512ec5edbe3ec2eb476c3b24f15)

Here is the area in game:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTBwjaw_ulfI%2FAAAAAAAAAO4%2FWUoCf_EO1i8%2Fs800%2F20100618_02.jpg&hash=c82b30866795d57ad158d854ddaf7ce91d10d24d)

Without further ado, here is a long mosaic:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTBwja_gLeOI%2FAAAAAAAAAO8%2FNPJHnffLKS8%2Fs800%2F20100618_03.jpg&hash=820b148f970a40d1707390568fa44d61891328ee)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTBwjbZ94bmI%2FAAAAAAAAAPA%2FS0B982jraZk%2Fs800%2F20100618_04.jpg&hash=8ad4287f061fbe94e76df5e6571c6cd75f96d1cd)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTBwjbvXtUEI%2FAAAAAAAAAPE%2FMY3sX8nW31Y%2Fs800%2F20100618_05.jpg&hash=651dd0a4b0ce76c9d6cb99f7466c82e08ab0387d)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTBwjzuJ5ECI%2FAAAAAAAAAPQ%2FafvEX_oRDqk%2Fs800%2F20100618_06.jpg&hash=095ff027f81cbf53542f730aeebf2dd51734a694)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTBwj0YyatXI%2FAAAAAAAAAPU%2FUXFfpXhgqlQ%2Fs800%2F20100618_07.jpg&hash=ab6688ab33671eb1c33b3a2fbc36fab64db2fccc)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTBwj0iNDUdI%2FAAAAAAAAAPY%2FO2Bvc_7mVVA%2Fs800%2F20100618_08.jpg&hash=2c82d0908a6268516803af2b273b28469b99ed6f)

As for a hint about the next update, look up Central Pacific Plaza.




***Replies***

RickD:  Heh, I wish Test Drive Unlimited was accurate.  ;)

marsh:  Awesome!  I'm happy that you came here for vacation, and I'm glad you remember that road!

ecoba:  Thank you very much!

emgmod:  Heh, do you mean boring roads here in Hawaii?  I could have done Kaukonahua Road, but I don't have any utility poles covered in vines or bumpy reflectors.

976:  Thanks!

io_bg:  I'm glad you've noticed!   :)

kbieniu7:  Thank you!

Connor:  Heh, thanks, and I'm back to working on this island!

Tomas Neto:  Thanks, and heh, that's the intended style!   ;)

newsimaddict:  Thank you for visiting and for your comment!  I've got to be creative since there's no exact content in the game to replicate real life places.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kwakelaar on June 18, 2010, 11:43:38 PM
Really beautiful looking recreations, I especially liked your farm fields and the natural areas.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: marsh on June 18, 2010, 11:49:29 PM
Man your amazing at making rural and nature scenes  :thumbsup:

,marsh  :satisfied:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kelis on June 19, 2010, 04:06:37 PM
i like the recreations, and your recreation it's amazing ! well done my friend.  &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: ecoba on June 19, 2010, 05:43:10 PM
Beautiful work here, your amazing attention to detail is really stunning.  :)

Ethan
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on June 20, 2010, 05:36:21 AM
Wow my friend, awesome work!!! Really fantastic!!!  &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nanami on July 01, 2010, 10:14:27 PM
Really nice!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: emgmod on July 02, 2010, 12:01:47 PM
Amazing job!

As for Central Pacific Plaza, is it that one building with the Starbucks? If so, you should create the building across the street intersection.
Title: Reconstruction: July 04, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on July 04, 2010, 03:05:03 PM
Hello everyone,

As a Fourth of July special, I bring to you all my latest attempt at recreating Honolulu.  You may have seen the hint at the bottom of the previous update.  I have chosen to BAT one of the approximately 400 highrise buildings on the island of Oahu.

Central Pacific Plaza is located in Downtown Honolulu, at the corner of King & Alakea Street.  It is made up of a 22-story commercial office building, a four-story extention with an open area on its roof, and an attached parking garage.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTDBiSjwXJlI%2FAAAAAAAAAPw%2FgCdojUmywJg%2Fs800%2F20100704_01.jpg&hash=3ae11af835193cc519557c79c172a9733b2cfaa8)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTDBiSqcK8_I%2FAAAAAAAAAP0%2FZ9tSDbggrv8%2Fs800%2F20100704_02.jpg&hash=59f564a9696cd244d90d72f1d8f0661db7dc48f3)

I used a combination of Google Earth, Google Street View, and Bing Maps.  I got the general dimensions of the building from Google Earth.  I used the Google Street view to estimate the width of columns, height of floors, and other details.  I used Bing to get the four orthogonal views of the building and as the basis for some textures (like the roof and parking lot).

I had to modify the building a bit in order to fit into a 3x5 lot.  For example, the parking lot only has five columns, instead of six.  There is very little room along the sides that face the streets, so there is almost no room for elaborate ground-level landscaping.  Nevertheless, I am proud of my work, and I think the results are better than I expected.

The "North", "East", "South", and "West" previews:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTDBiS1LySkI%2FAAAAAAAAAP4%2F6dkbLzUFvNA%2Fs800%2F20100704_03.jpg&hash=7ff08503cac438b48cbd192809483623a1e835cd)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTDBiTbXcTPI%2FAAAAAAAAAP8%2FwMI92LMmnFw%2Fs800%2F20100704_04.jpg&hash=398a491ca8ba951a5908d4fdfeb699152e791ac4)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTDBiTc1xIwI%2FAAAAAAAAAQA%2FVomj6rcd3XY%2Fs800%2F20100704_05.jpg&hash=93047660e386b67465765faa58463908514e9edf)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTDBiaWkdBYI%2FAAAAAAAAAQE%2FEoDfnavWW_Y%2Fs800%2F20100704_06.jpg&hash=720000796c7e459f8b99736577aec4b2484c884c)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTDBiap2GK8I%2FAAAAAAAAAQI%2F197G3cidWnc%2Fs800%2F20100704_07.jpg&hash=61f703e7ea56e8171cfc6c9d185c8e6528c8821c)

I'm sorry to disappoint, but I do not intend to release it as a downloadable lot right now.  The main reason is there are no nightlights in this BAT.  I would first need to learn how to do them, and then create them.  Even if I could accomplish that, I cannot properly test them in game on my current setup (1.1.638 no-CD patch because my CD is damaged).  Though, I could just trust the gmax night previews...

In testing, I have made a lot for building, and I realized that I can't place props inside the LOD.  I did try making multiple boxes and naming them LOD3/4/5, and it hasn't worked because parts of the BAT get cut off in rendering.  I'm certainly doing something wrong, so I appreciate any help.

As for the next update, we shall see.  :-)




***Replies***

kwakelaar:  Thanks!  It took a while to get the correct Maxis farm, and a really long time to plop all that dirt.

marsh:  Thank you!  Heh, rural and natural scenes lend themselves to creativity!   :P

kelis:  I really appreciate that you enjoy my recreations!

ecoba:  I am glad you've noticed the little details!

Tomas Neto:  Thank you very much!

976:  Thank you!

emgmod:  Yes, there's a Starbucks on the ground level shops.  Heh, I think you mean First Hawaiian Center?  It will certainly be a beast to make, but at least it seems a bit more doable since Central Pacific Plaza was much more complicated than I expected.   :D
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: RickD on July 05, 2010, 01:34:33 AM
Wow, what a nice BAT. It is one of those "generic but not boring" office buildings that fit in almost every highrise CDB. Too bad it won't be released.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: nedalezz on July 05, 2010, 10:39:49 AM
That is a gorgeous BAT! Someone needs to teach you how to make nightlights because I think I speak for everyone when I see I'd LOVE to have that in my cities.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on July 09, 2010, 10:35:23 AM
Wow, awesome BAT, my friend!!!  &apls
I hope that you find a solution for the problem about the nightlights in this BAT!!!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on July 09, 2010, 10:45:38 AM
The last few updates were absolutely superb!  Love the way you detailed those farms, they look quite unique and very realistic.  It's even more impressive side by side with those shots from Google Earth! 
Title: Reconstruction: July 31, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on July 31, 2010, 06:33:00 PM
Hello everyone,

We have reached the one year aniversary!  I'd like to humbly thank you the viewers and the fans for getting us to this milestone.  :)

I have good news.  First of all, I figured out how to do nightlights!  I can't believe how easy it was... Second, I was able to get SimCity 4 Deluxe on Steam, and now I can view nightlights.  This means I can do proper testing in the game for a BAT.  Third, I was able to figure out how to make custom, non-rectangular-prism LODs, so I can actually put cars on the parking garage and decorate the rooftop lanai.  These are three important steps toward the goal of release a BAT for all of you to use in your own cities.  I'm sorry I couldn't have made it possible as an anniversary present on anniversary day, but it will be available sometime soon.  I'll have to learn how to do a quality publish to the STEX and the LEX.

I did not have any reference night shots of Central Pacific Plaza, so I had to based it off other nighttime Honolulu building pictures and available BATs.  Here is the result:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTFNGDPd9iLI%2FAAAAAAAAAQc%2F9Ck4FLc2c4I%2Fs800%2F20100730_01.jpg&hash=a97de962a91fb0e2f223135d7e43352ee1a85de6)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTFNGDDq-8zI%2FAAAAAAAAAQg%2FTpVhuMYMS68%2Fs800%2F20100730_02.jpg&hash=a368978f225acb1244915cced212ba7c28eefcc9)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTFNGDGFapwI%2FAAAAAAAAAQk%2F8CSbXw5Rymw%2Fs800%2F20100730_03.jpg&hash=b8f3a4799e72f9b333ae5fd540cbc42760fb8750)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTFNGDfh6e1I%2FAAAAAAAAAQo%2F53TX08xV8g4%2Fs800%2F20100730_04.jpg&hash=09d9c14aa561faf8611a36639949d5bc64a87acd)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTFNGDT8zsiI%2FAAAAAAAAAQs%2FjmN1iOmLPi0%2Fs800%2F20100730_05.jpg&hash=2ce89e776e351bdcd22e8d8d0c094b1f2bb01141)

The next update will almost certainly be a note from me telling you all that the complete final project (BAT on a lot with props) will be available for download.




***Replies***

RickD:  Heh, it will be released.   ;)

nedalezz:  I'm glad to say that I was able to find out how to do nightlights myself.   ;D

Tomas Neto:  Thanks!  Yes, I have found a solution!

Battlecat:  Yes, the farms actually turned out quite nicely and I was surprised myself about how close the results were to the real world pictures.   :D
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: RickD on August 01, 2010, 02:37:25 PM
Great that your Bat will be released. It will be definitely seen in my Santa Barbara then. :)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: buncheesy on August 01, 2010, 08:34:37 PM

Sorry to go back a bit but are those trees on the Island in your update "reply number 221" goldivas mangroves?  I am thinking of a tropical city and that island is just perfect  :o  :o  :o

Is the underwater also rendered with goldives mangroves?

Your use of ploppable flora is just incredible &dance &dance (pink elephants because I have no superlatives fitting enough for your dedication)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on August 05, 2010, 09:43:38 AM
Fantastic!  Glad you solved your night lights problem!  Looking forward to seeing what's coming up next!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kelis on August 05, 2010, 10:00:46 AM
great job my friend !  &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Yan077 on August 05, 2010, 11:55:18 AM
Very nice BAT, looks wonderful with the night lights  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: danielcote on August 06, 2010, 12:43:50 PM
Nice job!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on August 08, 2010, 05:13:33 AM
Really a awesome BAT!!! Great!!!  &apls &apls &apls
Title: Reconstruction: October 01, 2010
Post by: sumwonyuno on September 30, 2010, 11:38:54 PM
Hello everyone,

I know it's been a long time since the last update.  It's been a busy two months (of school and another "sc" game).  I've been waiting patiently for the SC4D scrutineers on the Central Pacific Plaza lot.  We'll all have to keep waiting patiently since it is out of my hands.

For this update, I've chosen to recreate some undeveloped land along Farrington Highway on the Leeward Coast of O'ahu, a bit north of the Kahe Power Plant.  Based on a map I found on the Kapolei Area Long Range Master Plan, this area is zoned under Public Facility/Utility.  I'm not sure what would eventually be built here, if ever.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTKVuLlKh_KI%2FAAAAAAAAAR0%2Fw_qG3QCYxhA%2Fs800%2F20101001_01.jpg&hash=30a1a514fdb68aab46befcb5f9d7697dc87abe8f)

I travelled through the area in January of this year.  The area is probably still relatively dry, since we've recently ended the dry season.  It has been quite cloudy (like in the following picture) the past few days, with occasional showers and downpours, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is some temporary greening.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTKVuL-2ui_I%2FAAAAAAAAAR4%2FCMX4yOJkY8o%2Fs800%2F20101001_02.jpg&hash=a3e814d7126b62343f16b8a42b58d6abd2a94332)

Here is a zoom 4 and zoom 5 picture of my recreation.  I wish I had some short, dry, and pale green or yellow grasses available to better match real life.  IMHO, the combination and placement of ploppable items may be simpler compared to other updates, but the result looks more pleasing to the eye than some of my previous work.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTKVuLxh-VsI%2FAAAAAAAAAR8%2FVJy4VZS2mxk%2Fs800%2F20101001_03.jpg&hash=ccae45bad65799c8876ec9a438c2ece0a58845ac)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTKVuMKispeI%2FAAAAAAAAASA%2F3rteiHfkoJ0%2Fs800%2F20101001_04.jpg&hash=9e2b77cb7e9d2b6e9fc7c28cb27315c3ed78f3ab)

Until next time, enjoy!




***Replies***

RickD:  I guess you'll have to wait an indefinite amount of time more...  &mmm  Though, I can already imagine how my lot will look in your new city whenever it will be available.

buncheesy:  Heh, we've already discussed in it PM, but for those that want to know, those are the mangroves on the island, and the ploppable marsh from ChrisAdams3997 Pasture Flora is used underwater.

Battlecat:  I would guess you were expecting the lot, but heh, RL nature recreation is the next best thing!   :P

kelis:  Thank you very much!

Yan077:  Heh, I really like how the nightlights turned out!

danielcote:  Thanks!  It's been a while since I've heard from you!

Tomas Neto:  Thanks very much!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: threestooges on October 01, 2010, 12:06:30 AM
I think that's one of the better, and more convincing, open plains I've seen. Nice one.
-Matt
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: RickD on October 01, 2010, 12:44:53 AM
Great to see another update. You did a good job (as usual ;) ) with the ploppable plants.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kwakelaar on October 02, 2010, 01:33:46 AM
Great work on your open plain, nicely done even without the pale green/yellow grasses. :)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on October 03, 2010, 03:36:45 PM
A magnificent work you did in this update!!! Is perfect the representation of the vegetation!!!  &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: nedalezz on October 05, 2010, 07:56:28 AM
Thats some great work with the flora plops of SC, the pictures really turned out realistic :)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on October 20, 2010, 09:22:37 AM
You'll never hear me complain about a nature shot, especially one that looks that nice!
Title: Reconstruction: January 30, 2011
Post by: sumwonyuno on January 30, 2011, 03:49:13 PM
Hello everyone,

I apologize for no updates for the past few months.  The last few months of 2010 were especially busy for me.

First off, I have good news.  I have uploaded my Central Pacific Plaza lot on the STEX.  You all are welcome to download it at:

http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/25798-central-pacific-plaza/

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTGttxgqJXVI%2FAAAAAAAAARI%2FpYSdjMugT68%2Fs800%2F1.jpg&hash=0deb93ce3f1afbece76065dc6d011cad3ebf0e79)     (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTGttyOk5D6I%2FAAAAAAAAARM%2FBKxz2IvsX6w%2Fs800%2F2.jpg&hash=975cc7298ce7f373866ee6d22d2c64768ef95b47)

As for the LEX, I haven't heard a word from the LEX scrutineers in months.  I could have uploaded my lot as far back as September of 2010, but I've been waiting since.  Anyways, please do share your questions, experiences, criticisms, and experiences from using my lot.

In other news, I have obliterated and rebuilt my downtown city tile.  I tried to do it last year by just bulldozing, but I had the problem of "bad decisions" that screwed up various simulators.  This time, I used two instances of SimCity.  One had a backup copy of downtown, and the other was the post-obliteration city tile.  I simply traced lengths of roadways.  It took me several hours over two days.  Surprisingly, there was not much of a performance slowdown.  Here are the results:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTUXnYf4nrwI%2FAAAAAAAAASg%2FIeCIQJhRLy4%2Fs800%2F20110130_01.jpg&hash=d665af0737fdd0f272b01f2105ab518b00846304)

As you may have guessed, I am rebuilding my region.  I have been inspired to BAT.  In Google Earth, there has been a huge addition of new Honolulu buildings, created by various people.  Although many of the buildings (highrise and lowrise) aren't that good quality, these people have shown Honolulu can be done, and with speed too.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTUXnYelUYsI%2FAAAAAAAAASk%2FF0yxfT2qleg%2Fs800%2F20110130_02.jpg&hash=ceb9baeb4a7db8cae957a3d79610d0c80774abce)

I have been creating basic (untextured) models of numerous buildings in the Liliha, Chinatown, and Downtown areas.  I'm gaining experience on how to BAT faster.  A lot of the effort is in creating the model with accurate dimensions, while textures, nightlights, and lotting is more point-click-choose.

Here is the Google Earth reference shot:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh5.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTUXnY7QQ4CI%2FAAAAAAAAASw%2FD8rusdKLUR0%2Fs800%2F20110130_05.jpg&hash=e0beb77aaebe461ecd8103a034976894c8d77ba3)

Here is the old downtown in SimCity:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTUXnYgV4cOI%2FAAAAAAAAASs%2FTOyKM-CzhM4%2Fs800%2F20110130_04.jpg&hash=6244ea94d076f7cc6984276134da18d0849b0490)

Here are the basic building models:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTUXnYuy42AI%2FAAAAAAAAASo%2FJSUbcEbKfwA%2Fs800%2F20110130_03.jpg&hash=1bcc0267e8b13bf78e2038d1ececfef97668eb6d)

Note the differences in height.  Some of the buildings are still just placeholder boxes with the general dimensions.  I'm surprised there are a couple of buildings I used back then that are fairly close to the new models.

Again, I apologize for the long gaps between updates.  But, do expect to see updates throughout on this year.  Besides the BATing I want to do, the real Honolulu is on its way to rail transit groundbreaking in March.  I may do a few updates on the planned route and extentions, using the old Capitalis region as a backdrop.

By the way, should I just keep things all in here, or should I make a separate thread for BATs?




***Replies***

threestooges:  Heh, I'm quite surprised myself about the results.

RickD:  Thanks!

kwakelaar:  We've had a lot of rainfall over the past few months, so now I think the greener grasses are more accurate.   :P

Tomas Neto:  Thank you!

nedalezz:  I think the texture of the grasses add to the realism.

Battlecat:  Heh, I'm sure you won't complain, but feel free to still criticize if needed.   ;D
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on February 01, 2011, 08:20:37 AM
Nice to see you're back at it.  I'm looking forward to seeing more of the region as you develop it. 

Since the BAT work you're planning is tied to the MD, I think you should keep the work in the same place.  Hope to see more updates soon!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Terring7 on February 01, 2011, 08:30:23 AM
Welcome back &dance
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: j-dub on February 01, 2011, 09:31:34 AM
Why does this seem so familliar:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F_upU8nbeXYhI%2FTKVuL-2ui_I%2FAAAAAAAAAR4%2FCMX4yOJkY8o%2Fs800%2F20101001_02.jpg&hash=a3e814d7126b62343f16b8a42b58d6abd2a94332)
I know I used to see this place often times somewhere on TV, along with this angry smoky dude: %bur2$ but nvm that.

Good ol' real cities, I've attempted that with SC4 before. It is usually a real challenge, because what you said, scale of things, not to mention most of the roads are prone to grid restriction. In this case though, for the most part the roads still are a grid city, just not all straight alligned in reality, accurate or not, recreating streets to reality takes some time, but you went a step above with the time it takes to do buildings. In comparison to doing a real city versus a suburb, recreating a real suburb takes forever because of growing the houses, rather then plopping the hundreds of thousands of them, then you got to deal with the real houses all being able to fit in the blocky grid of SC4 scale.

I hope this all turns out right.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Skimbo on February 03, 2011, 09:40:49 AM
Honululu looks nice, good luck with gaining batting experience =)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: RickD on February 04, 2011, 06:21:19 AM
So you are going to do more SC4 Buildings? That would be great because the Central Pacific Plaza turned out really good.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kwakelaar on February 04, 2011, 11:16:35 PM
Interesting to see how you will go about this, and the model on the STEX looks good.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on February 20, 2011, 08:58:29 AM
Wow my friend..., I loved this update!!! It's very interesting, indeed!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Reconstruction: March 12, 2011
Post by: sumwonyuno on March 12, 2011, 01:56:25 AM
Hello everyone,

It's been a sad time for us here in the Pacific.  I hope for the best to everyone affected by the recent earthquakes and tsunamis.  Here in Hawaii, we're certainly not immune to the events that happen across the ocean.

For this update, I have another BAT.  Located in the Capital District, at the corner of King & Alapa'i Street, the Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building is a high-rise tower that houses multiple departments of the City & County of Honolulu.  Formerly called the Honolulu Municipal Building, it has been renamed to honor Honolulu's longest serving mayor.  Below the visible 15 stories is an underground emergency management complex.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TXstbLfgYcI/AAAAAAAAATo/jSnvo50lXxY/s800/20110311_01.jpg)

Here are the day and night renderings from gmax:
[North, East, South, West]

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TXstaxMzDII/AAAAAAAAATk/1nAN99uNq88/s800/20110311_02.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TXstarNXv1I/AAAAAAAAATg/lwUNROC9Ar0/s800/20110311_03.jpg)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TXstb8UnbgI/AAAAAAAAATs/f3sK2gj8spM/s800/20110311_04.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TXstdAjDGZI/AAAAAAAAAT0/a-dVJHR0Dws/s800/20110311_05.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TXstcfi8pmI/AAAAAAAAATw/DPgUPNnEsHg/s800/20110311_06.jpg)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TXstdnDjGcI/AAAAAAAAAT4/o27UXlM6Wqs/s800/20110311_07.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TXsteC5Vj0I/AAAAAAAAAT8/mPsW9BEmC6Y/s800/20110311_08.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TXste44ckcI/AAAAAAAAAUA/BryggCOqgzE/s800/20110311_09.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TXstfYgf7mI/AAAAAAAAAUE/mTm2zCxmY2U/s800/20110311_10.jpg)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TXstf_KnWCI/AAAAAAAAAUI/YLuX9ytPBHs/s800/20110311_11.jpg)

Please leave any comments or suggestions you may have.  I'm planning to turn this into a growable CO$$, and I am going release this lot some time in the next few months.

If you've downloaded my Central Pacific Plaza lot, how is it?  Have you gotten it to grow in your cities?

Until next time, take care!




***Replies***

Battlecat:  All right, all of the fun will be kept right here.   ;D
Terring7:  Thanks!
j-dub:  I have no idea what you're talking about.   $%Grinno$%  I don't think Hollywood goes on that side of the island much to use as a backdrop.  Recreation is ridiculously hard, but I've gotten this far already.  :)
Skimbo:  I'm certainly nowhere near being a pro, but I'm getting more proficient at it.
RickD:  Heh, I think the above update answers your question.   ;)
kwakelaar:  Thank you very much!
Tomas Neto:  Thank you!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: nedalezz on March 12, 2011, 03:22:52 AM
The last BAT looks really good :)

As for your downtown upload picture, I dont believe Ive seen anyone do that in SimCity before - it certainly has the potential to recreate alot of what we know about playing the game.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on March 12, 2011, 03:42:04 AM
I'm a lot worried about you there in the Pacific!!! I'm praying for everything will keep good as quickly as possible!!!

Fantastic BAT..., really great work my friend!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Battlecat on March 16, 2011, 11:05:23 AM
Excellent job on that bat!  You know, I also missed commenting on how innovative your idea of rendering simple scale preview versions of the downtown buildings is.  It's a great idea for urban recreations! 
Title: Reconstruction: March 23, 2011
Post by: sumwonyuno on March 23, 2011, 02:59:05 PM
Hello everyone,

I have created a lot for the Frank F Fasi Municipal Building BAT, and I have uploaded the lot to the STEX for you all to download and enjoy.  It is a ploppable landmark with CO$$ jobs.

You can download it at:
http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/26008-frank-f-fasi-municipal-building/ (http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/26008-frank-f-fasi-municipal-building/)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TYk4B77YrsI/AAAAAAAAAU4/kpihN23xqRY/s288/20110322_01.jpg)(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TYk4BpaaDGI/AAAAAAAAAU0/6SvSeC7syBo/s288/20110322_02.jpg)

Please comment, and please report if there are any problems with the lot.

I've made a dedicated thread for my BATs at:

http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=12802.msg371736#msg371736 (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=12802.msg371736#msg371736)

http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/topic/42388-sumwonyunos-honolulu-bats/ (http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/topic/42388-sumwonyunos-honolulu-bats/)

Until next time, take care!




***Replies***

nedalezz:  Heh, I'll be changing things one BAT at a time.

Tomas Neto:  Thank you Tomas!

Battlecat:  Simple models are good for show, but they've got to be more detailed if I release them.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on March 25, 2011, 09:00:58 AM
Your bat be prepared to put in the cities, and it's very nice!!!  Fantastic news!!!   :thumbsup:
Title: Reconstruction: May 17, 2011
Post by: sumwonyuno on May 17, 2011, 06:58:52 PM
Hello all,

I'd like to inform to everyone that has downloaded my Central Pacific Plaza and Frank F Fasi Municipal Building lots, I've released new versions of them on the STEX.  Both of them are 25% taller (and stats scaled proportionally), and the Municipal Building has been retextured and the model has been improved.  If you currently have them in your cities, I recommend going through the process of replacing with the updated versions.  If you haven't downloaded them, please do!

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TbUZFhJWboI/AAAAAAAAAXo/uteZ1rm02Eo/s800/1.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TbUcy1cKwQI/AAAAAAAAAX0/QQmvkQIoxwU/s288/20110424_1.jpg)

For this update, I have chosen to do the eastern slopes of Mount Ka'ala in the Wai'anae Mountains.  The following picture was taken from Kaukonahua Road.

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TdMcIPedzjI/AAAAAAAAAYc/NkVVuLqN0UI/s800/20110517_1.jpg)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TdMcLwSLl3I/AAAAAAAAAYk/Bu-L550CZjo/s800/20110517_2.jpg)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TdMcLmFogDI/AAAAAAAAAYg/pheJICBKOlk/s800/20110517_3.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TdMcO31p4bI/AAAAAAAAAYo/OH9WjJk7UW4/s800/20110517_4.jpg)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_upU8nbeXYhI/TdMcQTYxHFI/AAAAAAAAAYs/HtKrHvxZayw/s800/20110517_5.jpg)

Until next time!




***Replies***

Tomas Neto:  Thanks!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: marsh on May 18, 2011, 03:39:34 PM
I love those mountains. They're so lush. :)

,marsh
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Ol.S / Benoit on May 18, 2011, 04:17:54 PM
You're doing a great job with the flora and the landscapes, looks very realistic :)  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Skimbo on May 19, 2011, 12:41:33 AM
nice forest =)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: noahclem on May 19, 2011, 02:52:23 AM
Great, lush, tropical forest! I think I need to visit hawaii again!  $%Grinno$%
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on May 19, 2011, 03:13:00 AM
Fantastic..., awesome work my friend!!!   &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: nbvc on May 20, 2011, 10:41:42 AM
Great work. &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: scott1964 on May 21, 2011, 02:33:21 PM
Nice update.  :)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: supremec on May 22, 2011, 12:15:15 AM
So fabulous  &apls  &apls, I love your vegetations  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kwakelaar on May 22, 2011, 01:06:57 AM
Frank F Fasi Municipal Building - your new version is much improved, looks a lot better with the new textures.
And great work with your landscaping.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: io_bg on May 31, 2011, 02:29:44 PM
Nice work recreating that mountain. I guess placing all these trees has taken a while!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: nedalezz on June 01, 2011, 04:12:27 AM
Thats one good looking mountain!

Very well done, cant wait to see more of your updates :)
Title: Reconstruction: Makapu'u Trail
Post by: sumwonyuno on June 14, 2011, 06:11:27 PM
Hello all,

I went on a hike yesterday up Makapu'u, the southeastern point of O'ahu.  I'm used to it being a dry area, but the recent rains have turned the area green.

A picture from along the way up:

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WYHcVj508Gw/Tff4jNqR_TI/AAAAAAAAAb8/dTmEbEStuY0/s800/20110614_1.jpg)

An in-game inspiration:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kE_iUMDyeFI/Tff4k1u4c_I/AAAAAAAAAcA/RgnXPgAIufg/s800/20110614_2.jpg)

Here's the view from the top.  I did a reconstruction update (almost exactly a year ago!) on those vertical cliffs in the distance.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-GlQIkOOaVr4%2FTfbEPATIdPI%2FAAAAAAAAAas%2Fi6NikqLLFIQ%2Fs1600%2FDSC00369.jpg&hash=533edccae7cf2382a0d64310d3a3c49c3301cd9f)

In other news, I have something epic planned for the second anniversary on July 31st.  (It's suppose to be a secret! ;) )  I also have various projects and groups I'm affliated with outside of SimCity.  Follow my blog (sumwonyuno.blogspot.com (http://"http://http://sumwonyuno.blogspot.com/")) if you'd like to know what else I'm doing out here in the middle of the Pacific.  I'm aiming to have daily updates.  I'll still do published updates here, but I might put some SimCity goodies there.

Until next time, take care!




***Replies***

marsh:  Heh, this side of the mountain is lush anyway.   :P
Ol.S / Benoit:  Thanks!  Realistic is the standard.
Skimbo:  Thanks Skimbo!
noahclem:  Glad you visited, and hope you do come back!
Tomas Neto:  Thanks Tomas!
nbvc:  Thank you nbvc!
scott1964:  Thanks scott1964!
supremec:  Thank you very much!
kwakelaar:  Heh, the community helped me with recommendations.  I'm certainly proud of the results!
io_bg:  Trees are evil!   ;D  My hands and arms have recovered.
nedalezz:  I know you'll enjoy what's coming up.   ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kelis on June 15, 2011, 04:33:50 AM
Beautiful pictures ! I like so much your recreation work, You are doing a great job mate, keep up the good work  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: noahclem on June 15, 2011, 06:24:23 AM
Looks nice! My curiosity is piqued as to what you have planned for the anniversary  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kwakelaar on June 15, 2011, 09:08:16 AM
That is some fantastic scenery, great photo :)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Skimbo on June 15, 2011, 02:39:31 PM
cool! looking forward to the annivesary :D
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: bat on June 17, 2011, 12:33:40 PM
Nice work on that road.
And looking forward to the anniversary special, too... ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on June 17, 2011, 06:49:33 PM
Wow..., fantastic recreation work, and awesome this path, really a good idea to made a road!!!   &apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: supremec on June 18, 2011, 11:02:59 AM
Very good, it's beautifully recreated  &apls I think back to Test Drive Unlimited when I read your MD  ;D
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Reikhardt on June 19, 2011, 11:38:18 AM
The way you use the flora in that shot really captures the feeling of moisture, a truly great picture there!


Quote from: supremec on June 18, 2011, 11:02:59 AM
Very good, it's beautifully recreated  &apls I think back to Test Drive Unlimited when I read your MD  ;D

Same here! I loved that game just for touring around the island, found the racing just got in the way  ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: RickD on June 20, 2011, 09:01:49 AM
Great pictures. I, too, have to think about Test Drive Unlimited all the time.  ;)
Title: Downtown Rail Station
Post by: sumwonyuno on July 06, 2011, 04:25:22 PM
Hello all,

Gah, I posted and replied on various threads, and now it's all reset.   %confuso  Anyways...

Nope, rail is not the big anniversary surprise, but this is partially a teaser.  :P

For my international and national friends out there, Oahu is building a 20-mile elevated rail system, from Kapolei to Ala Moana http://honolulutransit.org/ (http://honolulutransit.org/).  I recently went to two City workshops on transit oriented development (TOD) for the Kalihi and Downtown areas.  The City has been hosting TOD workshops so that the neighborhoods will have a voice on what they want in future growth around the stations.  (My blog posts here (http://sumwonyuno.blogspot.com/2011/06/kalihi-and-downtown-transit-oriented.html) and here (http://sumwonyuno.blogspot.com/2011/06/tod-meetings.html)).

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww1.honolulu.gov%2Fcsd%2Fpubliccom%2Fhonnews11%2Ftodkalihidowntownstations.jpg&hash=cfdf1082184d40bad5a6b020e21b38b675cbae0f)

Here's a picture I made of the Downtown rail station:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OfmbwuIvSoU/Tg1-dnLXjQI/AAAAAAAAAcY/bUSL5618utk/s800/20110701.jpg)

Does anyone have an idea what the anniversary update might be about?  First one to get it completely right gets a  &dance (sorry I don't have access to bunnies...)




***Replies***

kelis:  Thanks very much!
kwakelaar:  Heh it's beautiful in real life.   ;D
noahclem, Skimbo, bat:  I'm certain you guys will enjoy what I have planned.
Tomas Neto:  I think I made the road too wide.  It's about 2 meters wide in real life.
supremec, Reikhardt, RickD:  Too bad we can't do TDU stuff on the real Oahu.   ;)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: noahclem on July 07, 2011, 05:49:11 AM
Looks good and I look forward to seeing more of the rail system. Can't wait for the anniversary  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on July 13, 2011, 05:32:47 PM
Very nice my friend!!! Great!!!   :thumbsup:

Quote from: noahclem on July 07, 2011, 05:49:11 AM
Looks good and I look forward to seeing more of the rail system. Can't wait for the anniversary  :thumbsup:

Me too...
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Skimbo on July 14, 2011, 01:00:38 AM
I guess the Millenium will be a Trainride on the system ;D
Title: Anniversary Teaser
Post by: sumwonyuno on July 27, 2011, 12:45:33 AM
What could it be?   ;)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x6J9rUo9Sx8/Ti-zBc0HqlI/AAAAAAAAAeI/MHy_4dvk85Y/s800/20110726_5.jpg)




***Replies***

noahclem, Tomas Neto, Skimbo:  Heh, nope it's not rail.  I might do some stuff when the real rail construction starts in the Fall.  Gotta do all the custom content needed.  ;D
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Terring7 on July 27, 2011, 01:08:24 AM
Wow, beautiful city. Can't wait for more &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: supremec on July 27, 2011, 01:45:54 AM
It is impressive  &apls
It is pity that we haven't 22,5° avenue roads yet  $%Grinno$%
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on July 27, 2011, 07:17:08 AM
Nice city, my friend!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Second Anniversary: Downtown Honolulu
Post by: sumwonyuno on July 31, 2011, 12:35:47 AM
Hello all,

It's been two years since the start of this mayor diary.  Thank you very much for all of the support!

In the past reconstruction updates, I've been doing rural areas and single BATs.  For this special update, I have chosen Downtown and attempted to BAT the highrises there.  They're a step up from boxy placeholders.  They are still basic models with palette colors and simple textures, but the modelling is largely done.

Looking mauka, from Kaka'ako Waterfront Park:

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YbJaMI-0FBA/TjTyomeZpYI/AAAAAAAAAek/e_RXNLIFJ9c/s800/20110731_0.jpg)

Here is the old Downtown Capitalis:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fdowntown1.jpg&hash=71476b925ce6912c2f659e4019119f27edd083ab)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi897.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac174%2Fsumwonyuno%2FDowntown%2520Capitalis%2520Part%2520I%2Fdowntown2.jpg&hash=1ec4c39612752cc5834e7e723618e9652f4013b5)

Here is the new Downtown Honolulu:

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q8ge6Hu-yvk/TjTyt51oWMI/AAAAAAAAAes/62NYfTWlfQI/s800/20110731_1.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SALtZnCHSrQ/TjTytkP4RKI/AAAAAAAAAeo/u3-hRfCtwFI/s800/20110731_2.jpg)

Looking Ewa, across from Honolulu Hale:

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EioD6WfC954/TjTyuEMj-KI/AAAAAAAAAew/iA_7yuNb3XA/s800/20110731_3.jpg)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wgj2TXtz6OI/TjTy0uQtwcI/AAAAAAAAAe4/Dlffu0b2OTM/s800/20110731_4.jpg)

Looking makai, from H-1 Freeway eastbound:

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uVsMISKrG-w/TjTyzSBT_KI/AAAAAAAAAe0/PF0lhDN6Z0g/s800/20110731_5.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9HMDNO_Lgbo/TjTy2nFcjUI/AAAAAAAAAe8/1CpuC2fBrao/s800/20110731_6.jpg)

Looking Koko Head, from Nimitz Highway eastbound on a voggy day:

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1AxEGXrrz-Q/TjTy3DTZzSI/AAAAAAAAAfA/iQVymzxQtdA/s800/20110731_7.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qzBRwUHKmUk/TjTy4mZUPLI/AAAAAAAAAfE/JmsewbzzG9k/s800/20110731_8.jpg)

Hope you enjoyed it all!  Take care!




***Replies***:

Terring7:  I'm sure you will have enjoyed this!
supremec:  Heh, I want any-angle roadways.   :P
Tomas Neto:  Thank you very much Tomas!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: bat on July 31, 2011, 02:37:54 AM
Congrats on 2 years of your MD!! &apls :thumbsup:
Also nice pictures of your city.
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Tomas Neto on July 31, 2011, 08:00:24 AM
Yeahhh... Congrats on 2 years of your MD!!!   &apls &apls
Wow..., nice BATs my friend!!! Great work!!!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: supremec on July 31, 2011, 10:57:17 AM
Congratulations!  &apls
It's basic models, but it's really a good reproduction  &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: marsh on August 01, 2011, 12:20:15 AM
Great work. It will be quite a sight once all those are BATed.

,marsh

ps - congrats on 2 years.  &hlp
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: RickD on August 01, 2011, 05:00:07 AM
Happy Birthday  :party:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Reikhardt on August 01, 2011, 11:00:31 AM
Congratulations on 2 years. Simple bats, but they do a good job for the skyline you are reproducing  &apls &apls
Title: Manoa Valley Hike
Post by: sumwonyuno on September 05, 2011, 01:08:10 PM
Hello all,

It's been a busy summer for me.  I graduated from the university, and last month I was able to get a job at a local company.  I also am part of some volunteer groups, so the only time I have for games is on weekend nights.  This Labor Day weekend, I was able to get some time for SimCity 4.   :P

I went on a hike back on the 4th of July to Manoa Falls.  It's always raining in Manoa Valley, so it's wet and muddy.

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a0BB725ldpk/ThOt5Ld-6OI/AAAAAAAAAdM/Ht9akyj-dh8/s800/DSC00435.JPG)

Yes, those are pine trees and palm trees together in a tropical rainforest.  This is only about 4 miles from Downtown Honolulu and Waikiki.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p8NrjtIufzY/TmUkyJMtupI/AAAAAAAAAfo/5DbNf6Am-S8/s800/20110905_01.jpg)

Next time, we'll visit the falls.  Anyone have a suggestion for custom content that will replicate it?




***Replies***

bat, Tomas Neto, supremec, marsh, RickD, Reikhardt:   Thank you all very much!   :)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: RickD on September 06, 2011, 02:35:41 AM
I'm glad to hear that life is going well for you. Nice area for hiking and good recreation in SC4.

There are some static waterfall lots available from Pegasus. And there are some "flowing water generator lots", which I can not find a link for at the moment.
Title: Re: Manoa Valley Hike
Post by: Tomas Neto on September 06, 2011, 07:06:32 AM
Quote from: sumwonyuno on September 05, 2011, 01:08:10 PM
It's been a busy summer for me.  I graduated from the university, and last month I was able to get a job at a local company. 
Wow..., congrats!!!  :thumbsup:
Nice picture and great work on this forest!!!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: ricardomiranda on September 06, 2011, 05:08:19 PM
Congratulations ! And great job !
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Terring7 on September 11, 2011, 12:14:54 AM
Happy birthday Honolulu &dance (even after 1 month ;D )
This forest picture is very nice, I would like to see more of your forests :)
Title: Manoa Falls
Post by: sumwonyuno on October 09, 2011, 01:19:04 PM
Hello all,

Thanks for all of the suggestions.  I decided to choose jeronij's waterfall lots because they are the closest I could find to recreate the falls.  It's a bit too wide and hard to tame, but it does have good effects.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--jqTDrnbJvE/ThOtwNw3bpI/AAAAAAAAAdA/V0kkVCwwxWc/s800/DSC00427.JPG)

After a one and a half mile hike in the Manoa Valley, you'll reach the 150 foot tall Manoa Falls.

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3EdgEM7lR2s/ThOtzBWWQYI/AAAAAAAAAdE/GKboGprNqSo/s800/DSC00429.JPG)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KJQH40-XYDM/TpAQ7h15A3I/AAAAAAAAAgI/rFYIQodvMqo/s800/20111008_01.jpg)

At the bottom of the falls are many boulders that have fell from further up the mountains.  The water here flows down the Manoa Valley as the Manoa Stream, all the way down to the Ala Wai Canal in Waikiki, and eventually into the Pacific Ocean.

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nRSzooDiZqw/ThOt2J-ZxkI/AAAAAAAAAdI/igbYTKQpXYw/s800/DSC00430.JPG)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vyYnl1bizj8/TpAQ8c9J85I/AAAAAAAAAgI/gaJa8EpalVE/s800/20111008_02.jpg)

Until next time, take care!




***Replies***

RickD: jeronij's water generator lots better captured the essence of the falls better than pegasus's lots.
Tomas Neto: Thanks Tomas!
ricardomiranda: Thank you!
Terring7: Heh, better late than never! I hope this update didn't disappoint.  :)
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Terring7 on October 09, 2011, 01:22:21 PM
Disappoint me? This? You must be joking, right? $%Grinno$%
This is pretty awesome, I like how you made the waterfall and the flora :)&apls :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nanami on November 01, 2011, 04:26:04 AM
Really nice! the recreation of RL pictures!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: carlfatal on November 01, 2011, 07:20:19 AM
These pictures are awesome! I don´t know whether i´ve said anything here before, but i´m a long time lurker in Your thread and i love Your work.  :thumbsup:
Greetz, Carl
Title: APEC 2011
Post by: sumwonyuno on November 11, 2011, 08:21:09 PM
Hello all,

This week, Honolulu is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.  The leaders, high-ranking officials, and delegates from its 21 member economies have come here to discuss issues ranging from trade to renewable energy.  It is the largest event of its kind hosted here.  The Federal government's goals are to encourage international opportunities in the Pacific rim, and the City and State's goals are to encourage those opportunities here in Hawaii.

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VqL9zB_gQqU/Tr3mNNbstmI/AAAAAAAAAgo/9wVgKI5SpTA/s800/20111111.jpg)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.state.gov%2Fimages%2FDipnote%2Fbehind_the_scenes%2F2011_1113_apec_leaders_m.jpg&hash=5d50fc30d4932640996ba9a20eaddc6cae2f1cff)

What?! No aloha shirts?!   :'(

Understandably, security is tight.  It has inconvenienced residents, businesses, and tourists.  There aren't many connecting roads and thoroughfares in town (and the rest of the island).  Every time a motorcade comes, people have to get out of the way, and sometimes sections of roadways get closed (including the H-1 Freeway).  Thankfully I have not been inconvenienced... yet.  Yesterday I did encounter military personnel in my neighborhood on the way to work.  Today is Veteran's Day, so no work, and not having to deal with potential road blocks.

To my fellow Pacific Rim friends, I hope you're delegations have made the most of their stay and value their experiences time here.

Until next time!




***Replies***

Terring7 and 976: Thank you!

carlfatal:  Heh, I'm glad for your appreciation!  ... I thought I saw another name when you originally posted.   %confuso
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: kelis on November 12, 2011, 12:39:22 AM
The region view looks good  &apls &apls You are doing a great job. It's a great recreation !
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Sciurus on November 12, 2011, 01:29:26 AM
Amazing work my friend!! :o :o &apls

Guillaume :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Lior on November 12, 2011, 07:20:28 AM
This view is fantastic, keep the good work!!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: carlfatal on November 12, 2011, 04:49:31 PM
Wonderful overview! I love these satellite pictures...  &apls
And yes You´re right, Jeronij did it and changed my nick, no eufl anymore.  :satisfied:  ;D
Greetz, Carl
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Nanami on November 14, 2011, 06:22:22 AM
Nice region view!  :thumbsup: great work!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: bat on November 18, 2011, 07:56:42 AM
Fantastic regionoverview there!
Looking forward to more...
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: ricardomiranda on November 25, 2011, 05:16:07 AM
Quote from: kelis on November 12, 2011, 12:39:22 AM
The region view looks good  &apls &apls You are doing a great job. It's a great recreation !

&apls &apls
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: noahclem on November 25, 2011, 06:13:01 AM
Nice region overview and beautiful waterfalls in the previous update!  &apls  I wish I knew how to make waterfalls look like that!
Title: Re: The City & County of Honolulu
Post by: Terring7 on December 24, 2011, 05:37:07 AM
Seriously large!! :shocked2: &dance