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Welcome to Terraforming Teton. In this diary, I will chronicle the evolution of Teton Valley.
Let me begin by way of some background information:
First of all, this region is based on the excellent map produced by beskhu3epnm of the NHP Mapping group. I can't emphasize strongly enough how impressed I am with the accurate real world 1:1 scale maps being produced by NHP. This map is available on the Stex and is called "NHP Grand Teton National Park". It can be found at this link. (http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=17392)
Here is the screenshot that is supplied with the download. I have scaled it down to 800p wide.
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This map impressed me because I love working with mountains, and the Teton range is a beauty. The broad valley laying below the mountain range will be perfect for introducing some civilization. I am not concerned with making this an accurate re-creation of the region in terms of town and roads (of which there is acually very little). Rather I see this region as a gorgeous spot to develop my own little area. I can envision a couple of small to medium cities, lots of smaller towns, plenty of farmland carved out of forested areas, and of course light development into the mountains themselves.
But before developing any civilization, I need to get the landscape just right(for me). There are couple of changes I immediately want to introduce before major terrain completion. By completion I mean trees, rivers, etc.
I want to have some in-game water, of which there is currently none.
And I would like to lower the snow line slightly as well.
The in-game water was a particular challenge. Thinking it impossible, I tried to create a large lake using ploppable water. As good as those water plops are, a large body of water didn't look very real, and it was literaly taking forever.
You can see the beginnings of this in the next shot.
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So I started a thread on this site in the help forum to see what other ideas and options were out there.
Several solutions were suggested and in my next update, I will detail just what my next steps were.
In addition to the water dilema, I needed to decided on a water mod (cmon, plain maxis water just won't do). Plus I have been fooling with multiple terrain mods and tree controllers. Little did I know that the choices before me would impact elevation, snowcapped mods, and available trees as well.
Anyway, more of that in the next few updates as well of lots more pics.
Thanks for checking Terraforming Teton out!
impressive map. Looking forward to more. :thumbsup:
Excellent!
Thanks for joining us in the Mayor's Diaries. You've picked some beautiful terrain by master map makers. Can't wait to see how you develop it.
Very interesting. Looking forward to see how this developpes :thumbsup:
Very great map. Looking forward to more!
Very nice looking region, it looks great with trees. Can't wait to see how this develops &apls
In the help thread you posted:
Quote
can I create a individual sea level for each city within the region
I belive that the next version of the SC4 startup manger will have the ability to load diffrent plugins for diffrent cities, not just regions. This should make it possible to apply a diffrent water level to certain cities in the region.
Wow! Impressive region...I can't wait to see more of your terraforming work! Good job ;)
Looks great, can't wait to see more! :thumbsup:
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Thanks folks for the kind replies!
TheTeaCat - Thanks for cheking in.
dedgren - I appreciate the welcome. You cj is a source of inspiration for me. I especially love the map stuff.
sebes - Hi sebes, and welcome here.
bat - Thanks, It is a very impressive map by NHP, lots of fun to work with.
mjig_dudy - Thanks for the suggestion. I had kind of wondered about that solution as well. In an upcoming update I will detail out the solution I decided on.
LP_Green - Welcome to Teton LP_Green.
your_adress_here - Welcome, I hope to have an update in the next day or two.
This is not really an update, just replies and a little more background information.
Some people may want to know the size of this region. It is 12 large city tiles by 6 large city tiles. I believe that makes this an area 48k x 24k.
So needless to say, there is a ton of room.
As I mentioned in the first update, this is created from an NHP map. For those wanting to experiment with these maps, its quite easy.
- Download the desired file.
- Unzip it (duh)
- You will want to have SC Mapper if you don't have sc4 Terraformer. It is linked on this thread. (http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=83832&enterthread=y)
- Follow the instructions supplied with the downloaded map.
- Basically the actual map file is a SC4M file and you open it in Mapper.
- In Mapper you then select "Create Region".
- A new region will be saved in your regions directory, and is ready for you to fire up Sim City and begin to open and save your cities.
But, before I opened the region in Sim City4, I did a few things. I moved the contents of my entire plugins directory elsewhere. So I started with a completely clean game. Boy does it load fast with no plugins .....Ahh well. Then I installed the Columbus Terrain Mod (found here) (http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=13804). This was recommended in the readme that came with the map. This is the installer version of the Columbus Mod from 2005. An excellent place to start.
Next, also supplied with the NHP Teton map was a "Snowcapped" file. This file works with the Columbus terrain mod and controls the elevation that the snow will appear. I placed this file in the same folder as the Columbus Terrain Mod. I then opened and then saved each city tile in this region (that's right 72 tiles) and got the result you see in the first screenshot. It worked beautifully. You should achieve the same results working with the NHP maps following these steps.
Till the next Update, thanks for checking in.
If I didn't had already 3 great maps on hands, that would be a great choice for me. The map looks wonderful. I can't wait to see what will pop from it ;)
Looking really excellent so far. Hope to see more soon.
very nice terraforming and a great map
That really is a beautiful map! Looking forward to seeing what you can do with it. The pic with the trees added looks great!
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Water, water, water, and trees
I mentioned before about my ploppable water dilema. At the same time, I had also begun to plop some trees using the God Mode Tree thingy. When I had installed the Columbus Terrain Mod, it included the abilty to select a custom (included) variety of tree. I selected the Lodgepole pine trees. After ploppling water and trees for a bit, I came to two conclusions. The ploppable water didn't really work for me, and the lodgepole pines were too "all the same" as in only 1 variety of trees. The reason I mention both these issues at the same time is, the eventual solutions were related.
After posting my questions about water and receiving some answers I tried a few things. The first thing I did was establish (using the ctrl x "terrainquery") the elevation of the valley floor at the south end. The elevation was about 1800 meters (roughly 5400 ft above sea level). I thought that perhaps I could raise the sea level to 1800 meters and create game water that way. But as the valley floor gradually increased to above 2000 meters at the north end, I would need to use different sea levels for different city tiles.
Now I had figured out that using reader to tweak the "supplied" snowcapped file, I could adjust the sea level. But I would need to create a different snowcapped file for each different sea level required. And then remember to load the correct one with the corresponding city tile.
Plus, I wasn't sure if adjusting the sea level would change the snow elevation; or whether varying sea levels would affect the columbus terrain mod in terms of how it applied it's ground textures. After much experimenting, I wasn't happy with the results.
Here's a shot with the sea level at about 200 meters. It has created a lake in the depression. But it required the use of two different sea levels in adjoining cities, and from the screenshot you can see it didn't quite work. The lake shoulded have been just the oval, not continuing to the left. I realise some tricky terraforming might have fixed this up, but I'm trying to keep the map in fairly original shape??
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As well as not being satisfied with my water results, my trees were fairing no better. The "all lodgepole pine" was a little too uniform for me.
I didn't save many shots of those but this one sorta shows what I mean. All trees on the map were the same, just different densities depending on how heavy I plopped them.
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While my water woes remained, I changed directions and fiddled with the terrain mods. Recently new downloads have become available from cycledogg. Many can be found on this site in the downloads area. The ones that caught my eye were the terrain mods - Missouri Breaks and the Meadowshire Terrain Mod, and Tree controller mods - Olympic and Meadowshire River Trees.
I settled on the Meadowshire Terrain Mod. Has a great abundance of textures and I like the cliff and rock textures too. You can really mix and match components of these terrain mods, but read the readme carefully first!
Then I began to experiment with tree controllers. To my dismay I couldn't get the god mode tree plopper to plop barely any trees in my region and city tiles, no matter how hard I tried. Then it hit me...this was all related to elevation. This revelation led me quickly to my solution.
I imported the region into SC4 terraformer. I used a tool in terraformer to lower the elevation for the entire region by over 1500 meters. This place the south end of the valley floor just below sea level at 250 meters. I saved the region. I then had to open each city tile again in Sim City4 (yes 72 tiles) and save them. I now had the large lake at the south end of the valley. As well, it would not take much terraforming to introduce water even further up the valley.
Then I began to experiment with tree mods and they worked...sorta. After re reading the readme supplied with the Meadowshire Terrain Mod, I realized that the mod was supplied with two optional snowcapped files (you can only use one at a time). A higher snow line version or the lower snow line version. As well, the file also controlls how far up in elevation the trees will populate. After experimenting I settled on the higher snow line version and went to town trying the tree controllers.
After lots of playing and further experimenting I decided on the Olympic tree controller. It has a great mix of vegetation, even if some varieties of trees are not native to the area.
Here's a couple of teaser pics to show a bit what the trees can look like.
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And perhaps one showing a little water
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Well, this has been a very long winded update.
Thanks for your patience and I hope you're enjoying the results!
Thats looking awesome pvarcoe!! The way you ay your trees out is so realistic!! When Beskhu3epnm sees this he will go nuts, that someone can do such a good job playing on his map.
It is a great compliment to NHP that one of our maps is being shown in a CJ or MD, thank you!
This looks great! I'm glad you were able to overcome all your problems with the trees and water. Looking forward to seeing more.
Looks very realistic!
Wow! That does really look great! And the reading is never "long and winding"... it's like reading an indepth tutorial on terraforming (which in my case is very well needed). :thumbsup:
i also highly recomend the italia terrain and trees i had awesome success with those, very massive variety of trees, shrubs, flowers and textures, better get those dependencies though. %BUd%
Alek is right, the Italia Terrain Mod is awesome as well, specially when you have to plant flora on high terrain, above snow line, it's mostly shrubs which is quite realistic.
Having now read for a second time your recent post, which was both thoughtful and insightful, all I can think of is...
...been there - done that!
For one, I have probably, by now, "reimported" each of 3RR's 256 quads at least twice, and a fair handfull more often than that.
Unfortunately, my sense after my own experience with all this is that many of the issues you've grappled with are at the fundamentally flawed heart of this great game. When it comes right down to it, it can all be summed up in a point some commenter made over at ST when the author of a thread was bemoaning his/her inability to create precise natural landscapes...
...why, after all, in the heck do you think they named it Sim City?
The point being, of course, that we are not playing Sim Countryside, or Sim Landscape Designer. I really doubt Maxis put any particular degree of thought at all into what would go on outside a player's built-up areas and, to the extent it did, the result was the incredibly broken way the game deals with "farm" (i.e.: rural) development.
Surface "game" water or, alternatively, the ability to have water at different elevations in the game is a perfect example. It's apparent that the issue was on Maxis' radar screen, hence the unfinished "rain" component exploited by Teirusu in his mod. But the fundamental principle that "water flows downhill" remains beyond our grasp. I've dealt with that in 3RR's fantasy landforms by flattening everywhere I want significant water to "game" water level. You don't have that luxury in your RL based region. I plan to use ploppable water, but only where I can make it look good, which is in tiny streams. PW lakes and ponds look like cr-p for mainly one reason- the surface is dead (the same can be said for the canals by worthies such as SimGoober and others). Peg's ponds and waterways look like cr-p for another- the banks are ludicrously regular and griddy (they are also from some world other than ours where perfect little berms mark the divide between land and water, but that's another topic).
n.b.: Let me say here that I have no BAT ability and the vast contribution to the game of the folks I've mentioned dwarfs anthing I have accomplished. I am in awe of their work, generally. I'm not wanting to start a flame war- I'm just speaking plain truth. We all, at some point, have to play with the cards Maxis dealt us, and in some areas of the game, we can count on a lousy hand.
I gave up a long time ago feeling, when I look at an otherwise perfect pic from someones CJ or MD and see some heinous little arrow straight-90 degree bend- arrow straight waterway, like I'm looking at a booger hanging off the Mona Lisa's nose. I just accept that this is the way things is and move on. My own region is full of lousy compromises. There's stuff there that I would give almost anything to change, and it's only the little voice in the back of my head screaming at me that this is just a game after all that keeps me, once it finally gets my attention, from nuking my hard drive of all things SC and looking around for that old copy of Lode Runner.
I haven't ranted about SC4 probably ever in the coming up on three years I've been part of the community, and I apologize for doing so here. That said, what you're dealing with and have described so well perfectly sums up the trouble that lies at the heart of our shared paradise. I look forward to watching you overcome (or, per the foregoing, sometimes gracefully accept and accomodate) all the immense obstacles that playing this wonderful game at the next level presents.
Good luck!
David
You're also a Lode Runner (http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/8104/capture05012007190740fw5.jpg) fan? :o
The information you have provided with regard to your water/tree situation is first-rate! :thumbsup:
David, your "rant" about SC4 has been clanking around in my head in one form or another for years, as I am certain it has for many, many others. You (as well as several others) have presented some creative solutions for some of these issues.
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Thanks folks for the kind replies!
Rayden - I know what you mean. The choices and quality of NHP maps is outstanding. Thanks!
emilin - Thanks for popping in emilin.
jacqulina - Hi jackie. Good to see you and thanks!
Ajax - The trees have been a challenge, but a fun one. Thanks for dropping in.
jplumbley - Welcome jplumbley. I love the work you did on Invemere. I hope Beskhu3epnm is happy with "this Teton". Thanks for the kind words.
thundercrack83 - Welcome and thanks!
bat - HI bat. Thank you very much.
emilin Welcome back and thank you for the kind comment on my "ramblings".
Alex King of SC4 - Hi Alex. I have been looking at the Italia mod too!. I can't get over the complexity and sophistication of these newest terrain and tree mods.
Rayden - The higher elevation shrubs sound interesting. I hadn't picked up on that yet. Thanks.
dedgren - Hi David. I appreciate your thoughts on the challenges we face. Thank you for expressing your compliments for this MD. I'm a huge fan and close follower of 3RR.
Ajax - Welcome again Ajax. Thank you for the compliments on my Tree and Water jouney.
Update 3, A little more info on trees...
A mentioned in my last update, I am using one of the newer tree controllers by cycledogg. These mods are really amazing. I'll post a couple of sceenshots to show some of the results and then write about them a little more. The first shot is with trees down at sea level or game water level if you prefer ;)
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I can pick out at least 6 different types of trees and flora, maybe more. This next shot is a little more alpine.
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In the shadow of the mountain the trees grow thick. Again I can pick out numerous varieties, and some will grow on patches of snow. Hopefully these 2 shots illustrate some of the complexity of cycledogg's tree controllers.
The beauty of this mod, is that using the god-mode flora brush, it places all the varieties of trees in one step. There is no need to select different types of trees and place them individually. The tree controller places the varieties depending on elevation, and slope of ground. The amount of percieved moisture in the area also seems to affect it. The end result is pretty realistic.
Now, as I previously mentioned I am using the Olympic tree controller. There are several other tree controllers by cycledogg. Italia, Meadowshire, and Missouri Breaks to name a few. You do not need to have one of his "Terrain Mods" installed to use the tree controller. But obviously the terrain mods compliment the tree mods.
Now when you install one of his tree controllers (and you can only have one installed at a time) you are faced with an extensive list of dependencies. A more than fair trade considering the results. Included with the tree mod is a very good readme with links to all dependecies. There are 13 dependencies in all. They give you a total of 34 types of forest. These include trees and flora by cycledogg, Jeronij, Couchpotato, Simgoober, JohnB, Dolphin66, Swi21, and Ripptide. The beauty of it is, once you install the needed dependency files the first time (for whichever tree mod), the other tree controllers use the same dependencies.
Now I found something that might just be my imagination, but for me it seems to be the case. After installing the dependencies I tried the god-mode flora brush for a while. It worked as advertized, but my computer is not the fastest (2.2 gig cpu, 512 megs ram, 128meg video card, not bad, not super great) and the god-mode flora brush worked the computer hard at times (as in lag).
I took a look at the directory (folder) structure of the dependency files (they are BAT and SC4DESC files). This structure is created by the dependency file installers. Most files reside in sub folders and sub sub folders. Just for kicks I tried moving all DAT and SC4DESC tree/flora files into a top-level folder, that resides in the plugins directory (\My Docs\Simcity 4\Plugins\) of course. In that same folder I also placed the Olympic tree Contoller file. That file (and all cycledoog tree contoller files) start with CPT_No7a .
It could be my imagination, but the god-mode flora brush seemed to run faster. So if you're curious give that a try, but be careful, it wouldn't be hard to botch it up!! Just a note, the total number of DAT and SC4DESC tree files is about 159.
Another thing to note, is when using one of the newer cycledgg tree controllers with the god-mode flora brush tool, the brushes raduis that appears while you use it, is significantly larger than the standard maxis one. This allows you to place your forests quicker. A nice little touch, I'd say.
I'm sure that's enough about tree controllers, but if you have questions post them and Ill try to help. It's not like I'm an official tester; these are just things I've observed while playing with them.
I have almost finished treeing my region. There are areas still to tweak, but I'll leave you with a few screenshots. These will give you a little better sense of the "tree results" from a regional perspective.
This shot is a nice mountainous area in the central west portion of the region.
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Here's a shot of the southern lake's western shoreline.
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And lastly a full region shot. Needs more work...I'll write about that in the next update (I think).
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Thanks for checking Teton out!
Thanks for your comment on Invermere Valley. :satisfied:
Anyways, your terraforming of the waterfront is very nice!! What I am wondering is, are you using the God Mode tools, Mayor Mode tools or SC4Terraformer to do the water edge? Your getting a nice effect and I may want to try it out one day. :-\
Coming along very nicely. The water looks great, and I agree with jplumbley, the shoreline looks outstanding. I am also curious as to how you did it.
WOW :o.
This is simply outstanding work. You are putting so much effort into this it.
The region looks stunning with trees. I especially like it near the snow line.
Amazing work
Wow! The mountains are simply amazing. I love them! They remind me the Rocky Mountains in North America. They are so great and your job with the trees in incredible! Great job mate!
LP
Best. Mountains. Ever.
Stunning pics! Beautiful work! 'Nuff said!
The mountains are very great and the landscape looks very realistic and fantastic!
Very nice terraforming :thumbsup: Keep it up mate ;)
Superb update. It were like a mini tutorial too ta very much.
I like the way way you worked around the limitations of the game.
I can put up with most of them, but the ones that really get me :angrymore: %bur2$
and the most frustrating are the ramdom crashes to desktop.
Oh well its usually just after you "got summat juuuust Right!" and you haven't saved the game. :angrymore: Doh
Keep up the good work mate, wiill be following with interest!
ps Kettle's on &apls
Great use of the trees, and great map you choosed :thumbsup:
David, I couldnt agree more with your first post in this page &mmm .
Dedgren stole my comment...
Great work thoughk it's ll so lush!
Great region.
Great way of playing even through the limtations of SC4 (enough said about that by others).
The mountain valleys and their layout are perfect for some rivers flowing down I guess.
Looking forwrd to more.
nik-Nik
The mountains are Soo realistic ! ! ! ! !
Bravo ! ;D
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Thanks for the extremely generous replies!
Note: You folks have graced me with many fine compliments, which I'm more than happy to receive.
I'll even take credit... for putting the end results together.
But most of the credit goes to the folks who create such excellent resources.
Beskhu3epnm of the NHP map folks, Wouanagaine author of Sc4Terraformer, and Cycledogg, author of the terrain and tree mods, make this all possible.
But you have all been very gracious and I really appreciate the time you take to comment on the end results.
Thank you all very much.
jplumbley - Thanks jplumbley. The results you see regarding the waterfront involve no hand terraforming. It's a result of modifying the elevation of the original map. And then the terrain mod - Meadowshire. Plus perhaps the tree controller - Olympic. I suspect the supplied beach file in the terrain mod probably created a lot of the end result.
thundercrack83 - Welcome back and thank you. See the reply above for my shoreline thoughts.
mjig_dudy - I'm pretty happy with the snowline results too! It makes me think of an early spring snowline. The trees just drift into the snowline in places.
LP_Green - The Rockies are the look I'm going for. I worry that my mountains are slightly too brown and not grey enough, but overall I'm happy. Thanks!
dedgren - I guess slightly stunned would descibe how I felt when reading your comment. Incredibly high praise coming from a terraforming master. I really appreciate it!
Ajax - Hey Ajax, Thanks as well and welcome back. Nice to see the MD gaining some regular visitors.
bat - I appreciate your comments bat. Thank you.
Alfred.Jones - I'll try to continue at this level. Your encouragement is appreciated.
TheTeaCat - Thanks for checking in TeaCat. I'll take you up on that cup!
jeronij - Hi Jeronij and welcome. Thanks for making this forum possible. It's good to hear that some challenges I face resonate with others in the community.
Owen Luby - hehe, thanks! I always liked that word lush. I agree, I think it describes the valleys.
NikNik - Welcome NikNik. Some ploppable water rivers and creeks are definetly in the plan.
SIMMANIA - Thanks SIMMANIA and welcome to Teton!
Here's a couple of random shots to tide you over (I hope).
This shot is a mountain and valley shot that illustrates the larger radius when using the cycledogg tree controller.
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here's another shot of water. I love the way the tree controller lays the vegetationin these areas.
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Next Update will be dealing with one of a terraformer's least favorite challenges. Seams
Thanks for checking Teton out!
Those mountains are so well terraformed and the overall look of your region is amazing! It's simply great! Well, those mountains do look like the Rockies! maybe not grey enough but they have a similar look! :)
Great job!
LP
This is a very beautiful and well forested region. I especially like the way that your trees don't extend up into the snowy part of the mountains; that has always bothered my when I look at CJ's.
OK OK!! I missed this one, as I have been kind of away over the last little bit...
Where to start on this one! pvarcoe you've outdone yourself immensely on this one. dedgren made a point earlier about the game being called SimCity..., not SimForest, or SimRuralArea, etc. etc.
I worry about these things myself when I try to make a map like Grand Teton National Park. After all, there is a lot of wasted space being taken up by mountains where a perfectly good city would fit. I assume that many people are drawn to SimCity to make cities, not scenic vistas for cities. I try to combine both!
Thanks to members like dedgren and yourself (jacqulina deserves a mention here too!) I get to see things done on SC4 that I could never have imagined. The terrain features and flora mods/rock mods/water mods simply add to the amazement.
Reading your posts brought me back to a time when I had to discover all of that stuff. To me it was frustrating. We followed a similar path, and share a similar line of thinking. All it takes is a map that you really want to look perfect, and not being able to find a way to make it so.
Also, must have taken hours to drop that many trees on all of those tiles..... how about an estimate of time on that? I bought some new PC equipment recently, and can fill a tile in about 30 seconds.... however with my old stuff (similar to yours) it took awhile.
A map is just a map... This end result is... fascinating! You'll hear from me again on this one.
That second pic is spectacular! So if I understand you correctly, this was done with cycledogg's tree controller without any fine tuning? If so, that is just amazing. I'll have to go back and see which controller and terrain mod you are using because I am really impressed with the results. I'm still using the Columbus mod and have yet to check out some of the new ones that have been released.
You are doing amazing work Pvarcoe :thumbsup: Awesome mountains ;)
Fantastic work pvarsoe. Looking forward to your next update.
I am kind of new in these things, but do I understand correctly that the computer chooses what tree to grow under what condition, not you #?¿?¿?$ Where is this world going ;)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg486.imageshack.us%2Fimg486%2F4338%2Ftitlefinaljj6.jpg&hash=abfef9ccfbc7a1542dceeaee3e969dbe72f2bb2c)
Seeing as I've completely lost track of what update I'm on.... Should I include just my actual updates, or my replies sections too. To look like I know what I'm doing I will include any update that uses the title bar. That makes this:
Update 5 - Seams seams seams.
I suspect anyone who has worked on terraforming regions has to deal with seams showing between city tiles. The become evident when looking at the region views. If your elevations don't match, you can always use the reconcile tool, but that's pretty much a nightmare (at least for me). Fortunately, using NHP maps has solved the "matching elevation" issues for me, as I won't do much terraforming by hand. I'm pleased to say I haven't had to use the reconcile tool even once in Teton.
But... Trees and forests are another story. If you've plopped trees in adjacent city tiles, you must have had to deal with getting those density of trees to match. And then even when you get the densities close, you end up with visible seams between city tiles when viewing them in region views.
The Cycledogg tree controller(Olympic) that I have been using is very helpful in this regard. The controller determines, based on it's preset parameters, the type of tree and the max density of tree in a given area. So when I used the god-mode floral brush to forest a city tile and used it long enough, a maximun density of trees are laid. Adjacent city tiles were done in the same way, and as a result adjacent tiles looked pretty good next to each other.
But in region view, these awful seams would appear between tiles.
This shot is a shot taken in the Sim City 4 region view of a darker treed area
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg135.imageshack.us%2Fimg135%2F2149%2Fseams3hf9.jpg&hash=bdf0d0bbbad834b13b9de690bffaa6492db6ccc9)
Plus, in the area close to the southern lake, the trees were lighter and I didn't populate them at full density, and as a result I had density issues as well as seams. You can see the result in the next screenshot.
This shot is a shot taken in the Sim City 4 region view in a lightly treed area.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg184.imageshack.us%2Fimg184%2F6369%2Fseams4ks4.jpg&hash=d21134806715c80c063837ad4063dd9a975b30f1)
I really liked the look of the lighter density. It's proximity to the lake makes it a natural spot for the largest city in the region.
But, I came to the conclusion, if I wanted to do a reasonable job at getting the densities to match without taking a year to accomplish it, I would have to compromise a little(*gasp* no). The decision was made to tree these areas to maximum density using the god-mode flora brush. The tree types are smaller at least and should produce the consistant results I desired.
This screenshot shows the original density and size of the trees in the "lighter" area.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg367.imageshack.us%2Fimg367%2F6479%2Fbefore1kf5.jpg&hash=bb0cf7f81428f2266d02359e2d92b5a47a8311ad)
Here we go a zoom level in, and see the types and density of the trees quite well.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg396.imageshack.us%2Fimg396%2F4839%2Fbefore2fp2.jpg&hash=74b394ae0fd8e1dd97299b0ac2f6614607d68085)
I fired up the god-mode floral brush and went to town.
This shot show the difference between a partial density area on the right, versus a complete density on the left.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg219.imageshack.us%2Fimg219%2F5027%2Fbeforeandafter1xf7.jpg&hash=a7c405cb811c4bc0a412f2bea241ca02678e29ab)
Here is a real close in pic of the trees at full density in the area. Compare it to the shot, 2 pics back.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg367.imageshack.us%2Fimg367%2F2115%2Fafter1at0.jpg&hash=bdd1dc290a404de913df7e8288ca78d85004c791)
So, backing out to the region view, we see the correct density (or at least improved), but of course the old seams as well.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg217.imageshack.us%2Fimg217%2F8161%2Fseams2zc5.jpg&hash=e511718310c7db7b9149e9fde966e81211aa5c6a)
And the seams are evident in region view right up to the base of the mountains.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg62.imageshack.us%2Fimg62%2F3039%2Fseams1pb9.jpg&hash=f298b0532c85df880a2c54fc1a274849545bca45)
Now, if you are working in a region, and opening and saving multiple city tiles at a sitting, you know this takes a bit of time. I don't go closing down Sim City 4, and firing up Region Census between each saved city, to see what it looks like. But I happened to open Region Census right after one of these "treeing sessions" and noticed something which had not previously caught my eye. The majority of the seams were gone.
This is exactly the same region, but the shot is taken in region census. Compare it to the shot 2 pics back. So for the most part, the seams issue for me is solved. I'm not sure why, but obviously Region Census creates a superior screenshot to the in-game region shot.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg217.imageshack.us%2Fimg217%2F9812%2Fnoseams1uy1.jpg&hash=b42317a11d10e579723d91266eedc443667089f5)
Voila Here's a final and full look at the region to date. Most seam issues have been cleaned up. A little more density tweaking, and then onto water.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg217.imageshack.us%2Fimg217%2F5268%2Ffinaltodateaq0.jpg&hash=6507d0ad22e836294aa87f72f8adef86f1ca35e9)
Thanks for checking Teton out.
Hope your continuing to find things of interest.
Next update (er, not including feedback updates, yikes!) will focus on the southern lake area.
Note to self: I've got to get it in gear and start putting names to prominent areas of Teton.
Well, this is another educational update. Using the region census to get better boundaries between squares is a great idea! Thanks! The different densities of trees look good, too. I'll be back for the next update, looking for the names you give some of the places as part of your "note to self."
Wonderful update! And I like this region!
Great pictures ! Can't imagine the time you spent on planting trees
One note about loading time etc.., just remove everything from your plugins ( save it somewhere else ) and just leave the texture/terrain mod and the trees and water mod. This will lead to a less than 50 Megs plugins something quite small for SC4 that you won't notice a loading time ( comparing to the vanilla game ), and will speed up the loading time when swapping between 2 cities
I've really enjoyed reading this diary. I've been playing around with the Meadowshire Terrain mod and the Meadowshire River Tree Mod for the last few weeks and as I posted in another thread here, it's brought back the love for SC4. I liked 3000 better than the vanilla SC4 and gave up on it quick to play 3000. But one day I found Simtropolis and it was on. Had to spend a thousand bucks to upgrade my slow old 'puter just to play with all the plugins I liked. Got bored with it again, but lately it seems to me great strides have been taken by the SC4 Mod Gods, and I for one am greatful.
I am looking forward to the next update, superb work pvarcoe.
&apls Great work.
I love the look of the snow on the peaks, bare slopes and then the trees.
Keith
That is insane :D Keep it up mate :thumbsup:
amazing patience you have just to get rid of the seams! but what an improvement for the resulting pictures &apls &apls &apls
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg486.imageshack.us%2Fimg486%2F4338%2Ftitlefinaljj6.jpg&hash=abfef9ccfbc7a1542dceeaee3e969dbe72f2bb2c)
Update 6, replies and some water shots.
Thanks folks for the kind replies!
LP_Green - Thanks LP, I have a mountain based update coming soon!
your_adress_here - The trees too far into the snowline was always a concern of mine too. Thanks for checking in.
beskhu3epnm - Very very kind comments, thank you! I've been giving your question some thought, and I would say , including saving the city tile, about 10 minutes per tile.
Ajax - Heya Ajax, welcome back. I'm using the Meadowshire terrain mod, and the Olympic tree controller.
Alfred.Jones - Thanks Alfred!
sebes - Welcome to Teton sebes, thanks for the kind words.
thundercrack83 - Thank you thundercrack83. I'm working on names as we speak.
bat - Good to see you here again bat. Thanks for the compliments.
wouanagaine - Hi and welcome here. I have actually done just that and emptied my plugins folder (except terrain and tree mods). It hasn't run this fast in ages.
petercintin - Welcome petercintin. I know what you mean. Some of these new mods are just great. Thanks for the kind words.
keithsed - Thank you. The terrain and tree mods allow me to achieve pretty much exactly the look I was hoping for.
Alfred.Jones - Welcome back, more pics coming!
TheTeaCat - Hmm, I've never thought of myself as patient, but thanks. The end results are worth the effort.
Jackson lake dominates the southern end of my Teton region.
Many of my updates are rather "text heavy", so this one has a little more emphasis on pictures. The lake is created with game water and uses the water mod called "the SMP Paradise Blue Water Mod". You can find the water mod at this link (http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=17136).
Enough about building the game for a moment(and only a moment). Let's lay out the background for Jackson lake.
The lake is the major body of water in the region. It lays at the southern end of the region. It sits at an elevation of about 1800 meters above sea level. It didn't exist in the area until the major global warmimg catastrophies of the 2020's (cmon, cut me a little slack, I had to come up with something). With previously developed land now unusable all over the country, the government opened up this area for unlimited development (hey this is starting to sound plausible).
Most existing development in this area from the twentieth century is gone. What's left is the town of Jackson, which with sits right on the shoreline of Jakson lake. And perhaps a transportation link to the outside world. A north-south highway used to run right through this valley. I will probably try to follow it's original route with a railway to start.
Jackson Lake runs right up to the mountains' base to both the east and the west. The numbers on the map correspond to the sets of following screenshots.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg53.imageshack.us%2Fimg53%2F2958%2Fjackson2ho8.jpg&hash=c3067a4636457aa7c43abf2a1042ddba12022507)
# 1, Jackson Bay, this area will be a spot we regularily visit as it is the spot where the town of Jackson meets the lake. The upper bay in this shot is East Jackson Bay and is the spot where the real day town of Jackson lays. There is no such thing as a flat spot on this map so any development is going to be a challenge. The lower bay is called uhhhh, how about West jackson Bay.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg77.imageshack.us%2Fimg77%2F8476%2Fbay1qs2.jpg&hash=e8b2cfc601c709a253ee4021514f9d97884fcaaf)
This shot is similiar to the previous shot, flipped around. It gives a good perspective of looking down over the townsite area.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg77.imageshack.us%2Fimg77%2F6301%2Fbay2ju3.jpg&hash=5c896485a25daff01b47088b05b843efafe2074f)
Moving in a little closer gives us a good idea of shorsline vegatation in the area.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg65.imageshack.us%2Fimg65%2F238%2Fbay3pk6.jpg&hash=36f27b18a391c0d0a0ad179347f30bd42d1a0449)
We're looking here at an area that will eventually have mostly roads and concrete. It will be a challenge to retain some of the natural look.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg69.imageshack.us%2Fimg69%2F4799%2Fbay4li6.jpg&hash=9b7e6e99b8583eb62bc19c8e87467bea23185423)
We are looking here at the West Jackson Bay. I think eventually the townsite will spill right over the top of the central noll and fill into this bay area too.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg65.imageshack.us%2Fimg65%2F7492%2Fbay5qj5.jpg&hash=b2d9dba0e9b4cc06f9f4dc20f13146cc21f90911)
# 2, Not Far from Jackson bay is Boyles Hill. It's distinct hook-like shape makes it an interesting spot to study.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg128.imageshack.us%2Fimg128%2F6905%2Fboyle1qp5.jpg&hash=ea7da10830befbba611ca44ba9e1327a2399db11)
Zooming in, we can see an nearly attatched island point.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg77.imageshack.us%2Fimg77%2F8374%2Fboyle2ft7.jpg&hash=8da3eecde544c037dac2449327e1a32717f984d2)
An interesting mix of vegetation populates the un-named island.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg77.imageshack.us%2Fimg77%2F5452%2Fboyle3ns5.jpg&hash=b2cba39dfd7864d093324724d5db4e3e5d85a1ef)
The neck of this peninsula connects to the mainland where stands of pine dominate.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg77.imageshack.us%2Fimg77%2F8907%2Fboyle4au4.jpg&hash=5d35df5e5c2310f470f4d48e26c9099048410f91)
# 3, Elk Island sits out in the middle of the lake. I can't see ever developing this spot except perhaps as a park.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg69.imageshack.us%2Fimg69%2F3577%2Fisland1hn5.jpg&hash=4dc10cf586074a46c5d8857d5cfbeffed2c9085b)
Shale Bars appear even in the middle of the lake. Part of the final water color look in this lake is created by the shallowness of the lake itself. That gives a rocky look under the water, which I think is fairly realistic to actual mountain lakes and streams.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg69.imageshack.us%2Fimg69%2F4278%2Fexit4ob0.jpg&hash=f8a5abc4a08909193478fda26aeda6c3609e3cf7)
# 4, The Southwest corner has several feeder rivers to the lake.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg261.imageshack.us%2Fimg261%2F7286%2Fcorner1pe6.jpg&hash=bb1bf15a7dda964e9dae8e224c4c63567a50ad70)
A lot of low elevation area exists here and has some pretty neat trees and shrubs.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg233.imageshack.us%2Fimg233%2F9008%2Fcorner2sh8.jpg&hash=860c9e623e0b18af59cd87e205fc514c56b3df8d)
Here's the mouth of one of the largest rivers in the region. It's name is still pending.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg233.imageshack.us%2Fimg233%2F9061%2Fcorner3tr6.jpg&hash=9bbfe5c02dbf06993b47b7b013f4997be511d8b2)
Little bays and inlets dot this stretch of shoreline. The terrain mod creates a pretty unique look.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg76.imageshack.us%2Fimg76%2F953%2Fcorner4yl6.jpg&hash=f11a2005575f9d8a922f3e3afee97bd1c0642541)
# 5, The West Shore slope quickly up the mountains to the west. Dense forest is typical in this area.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg159.imageshack.us%2Fimg159%2F7471%2Fwestwater1ny3.jpg&hash=e451903b1a3ea8ee45afe4013ee23b895d555fc8)
# 6, Across the lake lays the eastern shorline. From the top of the first ridge we get a good view looking backwards to the lake.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg76.imageshack.us%2Fimg76%2F1092%2Fview1gt7.jpg&hash=f7d73cf6a7c620eae3e908c0a53b72dbe284464a)
# 7, Last stop in our tour of the lake, takes us to the southestern corner. Here the mountains rise quickly from the surface of the lake.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg70.imageshack.us%2Fimg70%2F6137%2Fexit1gi5.jpg&hash=fa8251bb0bd0b6e4e1afe2434309615a74cbbb31)
In the shadow of the eastern mountains the forest is extremely thick. That might be an indication of plenty of moisture and shade.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg159.imageshack.us%2Fimg159%2F6840%2Fexit2zp0.jpg&hash=45e24a756b09acbc92517d6359bfe308cf14c2c2)
In this view we get a good picture of this portion of the shoreline. The existing highway mentioned earlier, runs along the bottom of this mountain. It looks like this will be the route I run the north-south railway. It will be a challenge to grade the rail line appropriately and keep it looking realistic.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg70.imageshack.us%2Fimg70%2F5779%2Fexit5xa1.jpg&hash=44b0ee193d6155ea74d8370c93825262863ae671)
That's about it for this update, hope you enjoyed the fresh pics. Next full update I plan to bring some mountain shots.
Thanks for checking Teton out!
**dies**
Ok, wow... umm, I dont even know what to say. That is beyond amazing. I found your old CJ on ST just a bit too late but this one is just starting and I found it! Mwahahah. That region is absolutely gorgeous. I agree with Dedgren, best mountains ever. I never thought a region in sc4 could look so amazing. At first when I read dedgren's rant I was like "so true" but now after seeing what you've done here I think, theres hope! haha.. at least for someone with great patience (that is not me). Just amazing. I think that whoever is responsible for opening the region up for development should be shot, thats too beautiful. Buuut having said that I eagerly look forward to seeing how this progresses. I'm definately going to be watching this. Keep it up!
Giligone
Quote**dies**
Yup, me too.
Oh, man, Phil...this is just fabulous!
Indexing the places by number to a larger view of the area really helps create a sense of place. Don't worry about the back story part, either. At first, it'll feel a little lame, but once you start fleshing in enough detail it will take on a life of its own.
TT's being watched...take that to the bank.
David
So good! So very very good! The choice of terrain/water/tree mods looks so perfect that it almost feels kind of wrong that you should build something on it.
Waiting with great anticipation for whatever this may turn into.
This lake is very fantastic! Looking forward to the mountain shots!
very nice work and excellent use of mods.
Wow! I love the names and the index map to go along with it. Everything is very well planned out, and, of course, your terraforming skills are fantastic! Also, I love the water you're using, too. I'm sure it's posted some in an earlier update, but could I prevail upon to tell me again which one you're using?
Phil, I just finished reading your thread....
One word come to mind...
Breathtaking!
Not only did you chose a gorgeous map, but you're really doing something great with it.
As I said to David in 3RR, I'll try to keep my tuesday mornings open for SC4 Devotion visits.
So far I really like what I saw, and I can't wait to see how you'll integrate human development in such a beautiful natural setup!
Take care my friend
-John
It is TERRIFIC as is without human developement! I guess I'm an environmentalist at heart when I see something like this.
I feel like telling the pilot to fly around again, I missed looking at something in the lake.
Your work Sim4 work is GREAT!
Keith
The pics are just beautiful! Very natural and inviting.
wow that is some real impressive work there, great updates and im looking forward to more... i assume you were using the terraformer for the trees???
Whoa, that's some great forestry there. I can't wait to see some more, so keep up the great work!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg486.imageshack.us%2Fimg486%2F4338%2Ftitlefinaljj6.jpg&hash=abfef9ccfbc7a1542dceeaee3e969dbe72f2bb2c)
Update 7, replies and finally some mountain shots.
Replies
Giligone - Thanks Giligone and welcome to Teton. Your comments are very generous.
dedgren - Hey David.Thanks for the comment on the indexing. And your encouragment on the storyline is much appreciated.
emilin - Hi emilin. Thank you! On one hand I almost feel bad building on it, but on the other hand I am just "chomping at the bit" to get going on development.
bat - Hi bat. Mountains coming up!
Alek King of SC4 - Welcome Alex. Thank you. Your work has always impressed me and inspired me.
thundercrack83 - Welcome back! The water mod I'm using is the "SMP Paradise Blue Water Mod".
Darmok - Hi John and welcome here. It's a wonderful site and it's growing by leaps and bounds. Thank you for your kind comments and drop in anytime. I'm looking forward to more updates in Anduin Valley.
keithsed - I hear ya Keith. It is almost a shame to develop on this land :).
Ajax - Hi again Ajax. Welcome back and thank you!
mightygoose - Welcome to Teton mightygoose. The trees are completely done using the god-mode flora brush. I am using the Olympic tree controller by cycledogg (which creates the types of trees and the patterns the occur in).
your_adress_here - Thank you, your_adress_here!
Mountains
Mountains run from north to south in the Teton region.
Several ranges sit on the western edge of the region and create a formitable barrier to the neighboring valleys.
I'll start with the most southernly range. These mountains rise up from the western shoreline of Lake Jackson.
We can just see the edge of the lake and moving west(up) immediately begin to gain elevation.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg263.imageshack.us%2Fimg263%2F7531%2Fteton6sk5.jpg&hash=de30ad3c88ab7865e8534d4006f11fa2ec7a738c)
This shot gives a good sense of how the snowline and treelines interact using the terrain, snow, and tree mods.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg207.imageshack.us%2Fimg207%2F4212%2Fmountains2tn3.jpg&hash=d8c46510124b7f03e6d36aca21de62ff0e459bd7)
The next few shot progressively zoom in.
We get to see the interesting mix of trees and textures.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg77.imageshack.us%2Fimg77%2F3200%2Fmountains1ub7.jpg&hash=3287126680a7faa3ceeee9abb84c181e8473bcd6)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg77.imageshack.us%2Fimg77%2F2940%2Fmountains3lb4.jpg&hash=4bf73ac3b07135b5deba66f42b5de102e818b575)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg134.imageshack.us%2Fimg134%2F8910%2Fmountains4qk8.jpg&hash=e6fe680fd3233f41c2e8e700f521544a6fa2bb8f)
Moving northward reveals a few more of the ranges.
In future updates we will take a closer look at these and start to put names to some of the peaks and valleys.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg77.imageshack.us%2Fimg77%2F9746%2Fteton3gw6.jpg&hash=794986a7e906e32531529bd0c5c48f5c1517f7f4)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg95.imageshack.us%2Fimg95%2F6784%2Fteton4vj1.jpg&hash=6f4d48f44140ba807104ce64d0dde74fc04b0ae9)
I like this screenshot. It is one of the highest elevation spots in the region, and has one of the densest areas of year round snow cover.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg95.imageshack.us%2Fimg95%2F9440%2Fteton5tt3.jpg&hash=a37ceab5534f6a1fa11176026c19e443f929d0da)
Another very cool range with some pretty unique shapes of mountains.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg77.imageshack.us%2Fimg77%2F372%2Fteton2kw3.jpg&hash=67ab303264a0abab2071d96c805e7460041be96a)
Last shot for today shows off the "Teton" range.
Peaks included in this range are the Grand Teton, the Middle Teton, and the South Teton.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg207.imageshack.us%2Fimg207%2F3219%2Fgrandteton1zk4.jpg&hash=8666605128fe68371d0a9c51bd479575794511e6)
That's about it for this update.
Next update will continue with detailing and more close-ups of mountain ranges.
And maybe we'll get into an introduction of rail back into the area.
Plus a map that will start putting names to places.
It's easier to follow along with names in place IMO.
Thanks for checking Teton out!
Edges of the snowpack- incredible! What snow mod are you using?
Same for the rock mod. Is that one of CP's newer ones? I've experimented with a bunch of mix and match CP files (it's actually quite fun to play with them and watch what happens), but I have never
...ever...
come up with anything that looked that good.
My brother did seasonal work for eight years (!) after he graduated from college on a railroad track gang so that he could have the winter off and be a ski bum in Jackson (his winter job was "housesitter"). Watching your region is doing a lot to sort that out for me 25 years later. What an amazing place!
David
wonderful mountains and nice snow! Fantastic using of trees!
Somewhere somebody said "Best mountains ever." I'm old and don't remember if it was in this diary or not. If not, it needs to be. I am amazed.
&apls Simply amazing! Can't wait to see the development!
Unbelievable! Thats soooo good! I'm blown away. Keep it up man! Looking forward to the rail line.
Question, which mountain is which in that Teton range?
Every time I check this place out, I am even more impressed with how great this is, especially the main Teton range. I'll be looking forward to your next update, especially the introduction of rail!
And thanks for the heads-up on that water modd!
Those are some incredible, majestic mountains! I gotta say my favorite is how you've done your valleys; it doesnt get anymore realistic than that.
A true masterpiece !!! :o :o :o
Truly great terraforming!
The peaks with the snow and where you've placed the trees, is OUTSTANDING :thumbsup:
Keith
The terrain of the map is one thing, the way the snow, trees, and water all mesh together is a work of art.
When I purchased SC4 back when it first came out, I could have never imagined that this type of work could ever be done.
Creds to the map makers, cycledogg for the terrains, and pvarcoe for the work of art that we can all see here! This is stunning, and development (after some more showcasing) is the logical next step.
It may be sufficient to say that you are playing SC5 over there. Amazing!
:o
Hi, Phil,
To describe your work, I have to think way back to something Mama used to say. Your region is "...purtier than a speckled pup in a red wagon." Believe me, that's darn purty, because I'm not at a loss for words very often. I do believe you have taken SC4 landscape design to a new level. Those who have modified the game to help you arrive at this are also to be commended.
I will be interested to see how your high standards carry over to the rest of the planning and layout--count me in--and I'll be taking notes all the way!
--Liv
wow...this is some impressive terraforming you've got going on here. It is all very realistic right down to the tree placement. Great job.
I remember snowboarding in Jackson hole 2 years ago and the grand teton representation is very nice. Also shot #2 is the best awesome loook at the snow in the ravines incredibly realistic.
Hey Phil,
Those are some of the best snow pics I've seen so far in SC4!
Simply beautiful! :thumbsup:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg486.imageshack.us%2Fimg486%2F4338%2Ftitlefinaljj6.jpg&hash=abfef9ccfbc7a1542dceeaee3e969dbe72f2bb2c)
Update 8, a mini update
Replies Thank you all who have left kind comments and questions.
Unfortunately, I have been extremely busy this week at work and home.
So I am unable to do a full update, or address the replies individually.
My next update will address all the recent replies.
Again, many thanks, you guys are great!
Next update I'll get to the promised mountain shots and a map with names.
Here's a few pictures of the new rail line into the region to tide you over.
This line will be critical, to physically connect the isolated towns to the outside world.
The line currently runs along the eastern shore of Jackson lake.
It was a very difficult rail line to lay, taking approx 7 months.
The rail line was built starting in the south and moving north along the shoreline.
The original two lane blacktop highway ran parallel to this rail, but now sits at about 20 meters below the level of the lake.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg110.imageshack.us%2Fimg110%2F1751%2Frail221wd.jpg&hash=2a9ff9bda2e3fdadfe99b9d1caa3bffa2c67844b)
Several bridges were required along this rail line.
The detailing is not quite finished yet, but you get the idea.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg110.imageshack.us%2Fimg110%2F15%2Frail234ej.jpg&hash=f23dd1b0165f10e0039af66e381f9b8d743113ae)
Even further north we approach another bridge.
This angle gives a good idea of the twists and turns in this rail line.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg144.imageshack.us%2Fimg144%2F5809%2Frail252ed.jpg&hash=259e392fe56e6574b7c0fd40c0852bc5a79607e3)
Zooming in a little closer allows a better look at one of the maxis rail bridges.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg110.imageshack.us%2Fimg110%2F4508%2Frail244xv.jpg&hash=cbe9c7e703b848ca0c1a21da1ef10e06ae83225f)
Thanks to all for visiting Terraforming Teton.
wow awesome work you have done beautifully done,awesome pics
Very beautiful pics.
Each time I check this it gets better.
Keith
Excellent detailing! All the downed trees and rocks and plants. Wow, so good! I guess the trains go pretty slowly through there huh? hehe. Excellent work. ;D
Beautiful job Pvarcoe, the transition from the snow line to the tree line, the little snowy canyons perfect. Those shots of the railway, awesome mate! &apls
wonderful railway!
Rail along the lake and through the mountains...I've died and gone to heaven.
Makes one wish we had single track rail available. It would be a huge undertaking (new bridges from scratch, all the crossings and such), but imagine a lone rail line snaking through the same area.
Ahhh, we can all dream...
Great work!
This is my first visit to Teton, and I must say I am very impressed what I have seen on the previous four pages.
You have managed to make a great looking map look even better. So far I agree with your choice of terrain modds as I use the Italy one myself as well ;D
Needless to say I am looking forward to the next update and the developement of the winding railroads.
I purchased a roundtrip ticket for the opening of the line. Hope the food is as good as the view!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg486.imageshack.us%2Fimg486%2F4338%2Ftitlefinaljj6.jpg&hash=abfef9ccfbc7a1542dceeaee3e969dbe72f2bb2c)
Update 9, replies, mountains, and a couple of extras.
Thanks folks for all the replies!
I am covering two updates worth of replies here, so your name may come up a couple of times.
It is pretty humbling to get such continually great feedback.
This SC4 community is super!
dedgren - Hi David, and thank you. I am using the higherSnowPatch file that is supplied with the meadowshire terrain mod. I am also using the MeadowshireCliff file, the MissouriBreaks Rock texture file, and the OlympicBeach file. And I agree, it's a lot of fun experimenting with cycledogg's files.
bat - Hi again Bat. Thanks for checking back in.
petercintn - Heya Peter. I appreciate that very much. I'm quite enjoying your diary too.
rw0381c - Welcome here rw0381c. Stay tuned for more.
Giligone - I have included a shot this update that should answer that question. And Thanks!
thundercrack83 - You are welcome, glad to help. Hoped you liked the first rail shots.
nedalezz - Welcome and thanks nedalezz. I am looking forward to developing the valleys a bit.
Badsim - Wow! Welcome Badsim. Your work is unbelievable, and I much appreciate the compliment.
keithsed - Thanks Keith.
beskhu3epnm - You are very generous with the praise. Thanks Besk.
Livin in Sim - Hi Liv and welcome here. heh, I've never heard that phrase "purtier than a speckled pup in a red wagon" before, but I like it. Thank you.
Yoder7652 - Thank you Yoder, and welcome here.
Alek King of SC4 - Thanks Alek. I have driven through the Teton valley, but never actually been into the mountains there. It's gotta be nice.
Darmok - Thank you John. Good to see you back.
A small update with railway shots occurred about here.
jacqulina - Hiya Jackie. Thank you for the kind words.
Air6 - Thank you Air6.
keithsed - Keith, you gotta be one of my most regular visitors. Thank you for taking the time, It's much appreciated.
Giligone - Thanks Giligone. To be honest, I struggle with the detailing end of things. I'm never quite satisfied, but as David posted a few pages back, sometimes you just gotta allow for some limitations in this game.
Rayden - Thanks Rayden. That rail line was quite a challenge.
bat - Hi Bat. Thank you very much.
dedgren - Thanks David. Yes, a single line rail would be just excellent. But I suspect, that one won't likely happen anytime soon.
Serkanner - Thanks Serkanner. I agree, cycledoggs terrain modds are great.
petercintn - Hehe, you better bring a bagged lunch, just in case.
Ok, on to the pics.
Giligone was asking about which Teton peak was which.
Hopefully you can tell by this next shot.
At the tail end of this update is a link to a full size region shot with names of peaks, valleys, and other notable points.
All the names are real and in the correct position, as much as possible. We will continue to develop this and refer back to it as the diary progresses.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg444.imageshack.us%2Fimg444%2F3425%2Ftetonpeaks1mb0.jpg&hash=44006575454b73a42246d20c84a222a72cd4eb4a)
Many of the mountains in this area are quite steep and jagged. The trees form interesting patterns up to the tree line.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg143.imageshack.us%2Fimg143%2F9453%2Fmount8bo4.jpg&hash=6a2196f7eb54e8eecc2985d0b2a5caacd6ade4ea)
The next two shots zoom in for better detail. I must admit I never get tired of seeing the results of the tree controller.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg444.imageshack.us%2Fimg444%2F7705%2Fmount10pj9.jpg&hash=583c552bc0fe28609cc5176470889d90f0ca29e4)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg143.imageshack.us%2Fimg143%2F5509%2Fmount9qe6.jpg&hash=26d202f48eff514d560c7c0bacc5cd5c35ab23bc)
Some of the eastern peaks are a little more rounded off, and the lack of steepness seems to result in more moisture and denser forests.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg444.imageshack.us%2Fimg444%2F8373%2Fregionmount3no8.jpg&hash=f794c5230c8bee28c51cf448f39fa7a3f5f3e840)
The next few shots show more detail again on the interaction between snowlines and treelines.
Not much dialog here, just enjoy the pictures.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg143.imageshack.us%2Fimg143%2F5500%2Fmount3td0.jpg&hash=7bac93d8157f89e0b20c8d54453097eba5342bef)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg143.imageshack.us%2Fimg143%2F4351%2Fmount2nv6.jpg&hash=6dd4a053b3a3520219ab655b4439c8238f761785)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg143.imageshack.us%2Fimg143%2F6020%2Fmount1ix2.jpg&hash=8778a3aeca19babec93785ab9d0b1faf3d63797f)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg143.imageshack.us%2Fimg143%2F8540%2Fmount4yv3.jpg&hash=92028e443423914001b2c4c6308fc89fa6ec6b3d)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg143.imageshack.us%2Fimg143%2F8130%2Fmount7ol7.jpg&hash=43002bb91efb3b5b05bec3be97a552ca82128eb3)
Back across the valley to the west, one of many mountains stretches in several directions.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg444.imageshack.us%2Fimg444%2F9884%2Fregionmount2yp5.jpg&hash=7318734d6ac3c815c4191e6b4cdb5663e8ab4576)
That concludes our look at mountains for the time being.
As we begin to develop the region further,
we will get plenty of opportunity to visit the mountains, and explore the valleys.
As you may recall, the last(although brief) update looked at the southern rail line.
After the global warming calamities of the 2020's, physical contact between this valley and the outside world was broken.
Flood waters formed Jackson Lake and completely obliterated the State Highway 89 south.
The rail line was built to reconnect the valley and the small town within.
Jackson was the only town of any size at the time, about 8000, and a full third of the town was destroyed by the flooding.
The map below shows the rail line and the location of the town of Jackson.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg444.imageshack.us%2Fimg444%2F5153%2Frailroute3oi4.jpg&hash=4cce48e7c71932a69dc811dff5d5c27308f54b4f)
The next shot is a satelite image of Jackson and area before the flooding.
The landform shapes are very recognizable when compared to the in-game region shots.
That's a real testament to the accuracy of the NHP maps.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg444.imageshack.us%2Fimg444%2F8291%2Frealmap1dg6.jpg&hash=83c8f4ba189dcfe40bf9f6cde61f9fda6c28ffb7)
Lets close this update with a small sized region shot.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg143.imageshack.us%2Fimg143%2F3463%2Fminibasesa6.jpg&hash=5dc1df1db6a1b9e80a0b62342612b27abfad7b31)
Clicking on this link (http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9571/bigmaplp5.jpg) will load a large regionshot with the names that I mentioned earlier.
Next update, we will continue with the rail, and ride it right to the town of Jackson.
Thanks for checking Teton out!
Wonderful using of trees! Great "snow pictures"! Fantastic update! Looking forward to the railway and the town of Jackson!
Yep, I'm convinced. You aren't actually playing sim city. Instead you are taking photos from an airplane then making them look just a smidge animated in photoshop. $%#Ninj2 hahaha, but seriously, wow. Beautiful, stunning. Those people of jackson are a lucky bunch. I would love to live there!! ;D I probably dont need to say it, but I will, keep up the stellar work! :thumbsup:
Great update Pvarcoe, I love your care for details, al those trees placed so well, the further ahead planning of infrastructures, naming places, shows that you are carefully planning before building like most people do. Keep it up mate.
Btw, if you want I can lend you my chopper to take some great aerial photos. It is equipped with 2 cameras, a fixed one and a rotating one, 5,000mm lens, infrared for night shots, and all the latest tech. [linkie (http://rayden.zftp.com/sc4/littleitaly/little_italy_upd2_1.jpg)] $%Grinno$%
yep some more beautiful examples of these awesome terrain controllers, these things are so intelligent in placing trees in just the right slopes, ravines to create such a insane look.
I have lurked five pages long, and I am getting emotional now. What an incredible wonderfull place this Tenton is. Darn, what a beautiful mountains and valleys. The water under the railway bridges is maybe a bit too blue, but I can live with that thinking the water must be freezing cold.
I love your work!!!!
Nik-Nik
Those are some beautiful mountains! Great choice of mods, they work really well together.
A beautifully wrought (and written) update. With pics this wonderful, some would be content to simply rely on them alone. Phil, you've crafted a piece that moves the reader along right from the start. Information is organized logically and never intrudes on the majesty of this visually stunning landscape.
Thanks for you effort on this great MD.
I am very glad I found this diary in time to keep up with the progress and feel the true thrill of anticipation when visiting the site to discover if a new update is available ...
Today I am not disappointed ... not at all, as we have been treated with yet another great update of this region. Thanks for a great set of pictures and the huge region shot ... it was worth the loading time.
:thumbsup:
QuoteThe next two shots zoom in for better detail. I must admit I never get tired of seeing the results of the tree controller
.
What tree controller are you using and how do you have it configured?
All I can say is MAGNIFICENT! &apls :thumbsup: ;D :o and all the other smileys that describe what you've done.
Keith
That region shot is insane! :thumbsup:
Excellent update ! I love your mountains &apls
Global warming ... that's ingenious! Could be the sad truth not so far in the future though. &mmm
Are those standard Maxis rail bridges??? I don't seem to recognize them!
Great work!
R
Outstanding job! I love the big map with all the place names labeled, as well as the map showing where the town used to be. Simply amazing! I'll be looking forward to the ride into Jackson!
man, i just checked out all your pictures and they're insane! it looks very realistic and your use of mods is great. awesome work!
MD's like this make that I have no time left to play the game myself anymore... This is awesome. Looking forward to see how you bring the railroad to Jackson &apls
Hey, Phil, yes, that expression is an old hillbilly saying, I believe, as my mom's kin were from the hills of North Carolina before they migrated to the Denver area. I haven't heard it much since myself, but it does paint a mental picture.
Speaking of hills, that is a "purty" map. I might check out some of the NHP maps. I forget; do you have to have the Terraformer installed to use a map made with it? (Found the answer--no, you just need SC4 Mapper, which doesn't require Direct X.) I just installed and ran Wouanagaine's Cleanitol (he must know Sim Goober :P) and I swear my game got a new boost. Your choice of mix and match mods really compliments the map. I am using the Columbus Lower Snowcapped that Jeroni did, but I can't get the snow to show, and I have high elevations. I've been poring over the readme, and maybe still have a remnant of the Olympic mod somewhere since they conflict. You inspired me to to DL a God Mode Cycledogg brush, I went with Columbus on that too. I was a bit afraid I'd mess it up, but it's working great, what a nifty invention!
The railroad is very well done--Nardo would approve I think. I am curious about the global warming calamities, do you plan to elaborate later? It is sad but intriguing to contemplate the loss of contact of this beautiful area. I have traveled through the RL area many times, and would be absolutely bereft to think of not being able to drive (or better yet be riding shotgun on) the breathtaking Teton Pass highway http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teton_Pass (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teton_Pass) ever again. Does your region encompass that pass? Or is it a bit west and south? I did spend the night in Teton Village, pulling in during one of the worst snowstorms mid May has ever seen. The sunrise the next morning was a sight indelibly etched in my mind. It was indescribable, and I was just so darn glad to be alive!
Anyway, thanks for triggering my memories of a lovely area, and I'm looking forward to the drive into Jackson. Barring any snowstorms, I bet we get there before the train.
--Liv
This is truly breathtaking work you are doing here. I adore these very scenic pictures ;D
Phil this is truly fantastic!
Those nature shots are breathtaking! I've downloaded the big one..... W*O*W !
Nothing more to say than nature simplicity and beauty! And that is not always easy to achieve!
Take care!
John
Absolutely stunning, my man. &apls
Hey pvarcoe,
Just finished with my first perusal of Terraforming Teton. It looks excellent! I can't even think of one particular paspect that blows me away. The mountains, water, and tree placement are all incredible and make your region one of the most realistically terraformed I've come across. Keep up the excellent work!
-Stephen
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg486.imageshack.us%2Fimg486%2F4338%2Ftitlefinaljj6.jpg&hash=abfef9ccfbc7a1542dceeaee3e969dbe72f2bb2c)
Update 10, Jackson, a town rebuilding
Part 1, Replies
Thank you to all who have left comments and questions.
bat
Thanks Bat, Jackson shots coming up.
Giligone
ahhh, you are too kind Giligone. Thanks for the continued kind feedback.
Rayden
heh, thanks Rayden. I may take you up on that chopper yet :)
Alek King of SC4
I agree Alex, the ravines and gullies look great with the tree patterns created by the controller. Thanks!
NikNik
I have wondering about the river colors too. Thanks for the feedback and welcome to Teton.
seemurray2
Welcome seemurray2 and thank you!
dedgren
Thanks David. Hopefully the storyline will continue to lead visitors through the pictures. That's the plan anyway.
Serkanner
Hi Serkanner. Your comments are very kind. This type of feedback is quite encouraging. Thanks!
Keithsed
Hiya Keith. I am using the Olympic controller by Cycledogg. No special configuration, but I had to set the elevation of the region quite low to achieve the desired tree patterns.
emilin
I really enjoy creating the region shots of Teton. Thanks for mentioning them.
Air6
Thank you Air6, good to see you here.
rw0381c
Yep, that is a standard rail bridge. But it is short enough that the upper steel framework doesn't appear, only the lower part of the bridge.
Thundercrack83
I'm a real big fan of maps myself. I'm glad you enjoyed them.
goin2chicago
Thanks and welcome here.
sebes
Thanks sebes. I know what you mean. There's tons of stuff to look at on this site.
Livin in Sim
Hi Liv. I'm hoping Nardo will like my rail, but it does have a lot of twists and turns. At least it doesn't have steep grades.
Your trip through the Teton pass sounds great. I believe it is on state highway 22, and I do plan to develop that highway.
The following is a screenshot of the highway as it winds westerly up into the mountain range.
I should be able to get right up to Teton pass before we hit the edge of the region. I will keep you posted!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg329.imageshack.us%2Fimg329%2F6035%2Fsh22ts4.jpg&hash=7883c15f215f7626f578a4550eaf1cf813c239d3)
matt325
Welcome. I am a big fan of scenery too, and that will always be the main focus of Teton.
Darmok
Hey John. Good to see you. Glad you like the full region shot. Take care as well.
petercintn
Hi Peter. Thanks very much.
exodus101
Welcome Stephen. Your comments are very kind and much appreciated.
Thanks to all and be sure to check back for part 2 of the update; as we roll into Jackson.
Well, I saw TT at the top of the list and hit the linkie thinking I would just sit back and enjoy some great pics.
Instead, I enjoyed some great words. I promise folks who comment that I'll be responding- you actually do it.
...do I sound jealous? Yeah, I am.
You've got a must see (and read) going here, Phil.
David
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg486.imageshack.us%2Fimg486%2F4338%2Ftitlefinaljj6.jpg&hash=abfef9ccfbc7a1542dceeaee3e969dbe72f2bb2c)
Update 10, Jackson, a town rebuilding
Part 2, the good stuff
As alluded to in past updates, this region was devastated by natural calamities in the 2020's.
Global warming caused massive melting of mountain ice and snow.
The cauldara under Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding area experienced severe trauma.
The combination of these events caused existing lakes to drain, new lakes to form, and mountain byways to be cut off.
Teton Valley was physically cut off from the outside world.
Jackson lake formed in the south and not only cut off state highway 89, but swamped a third of the town of Jackson.
Jackson was (and is) the largest town in the region with a population of about 8000 people.
At the north end of the region, highways that had extended towards Yellowstone park were badly damaged and abandoned.
Mountain passes east and west from the region experienced slides and were also cut off.
The national government was swamped (no pun intended) dealing with global warming related catastrophies across the nation, and Teton was low on the priority list.
A decision was made to reconnect the area to the outside world first via a new rail line.
Rail was the most effective method to move large amounts of goods in and out of the region.
We continue by following the rail line southward along the Jackson lake shoreline.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg464.imageshack.us%2Fimg464%2F4730%2Frail1yw3.jpg&hash=cdd629216dda6ce2646a6a50bc639bbe33a275bc)
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Looking out over the lake, when conditions are just right we can still see signs of the old state highwway 89, now laying many meteres deep.
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The lake narrows in the southeast corner to a river estuary.
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The rail turns and runs parallel to the river along state highway 89 just before the town proper.
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The river winds northward eventually running along the edge of town.
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As we enter the town of Jackson, let's pan back for a better view. Jackson is a typical western town, over a hundred years old. Not many towers or larger buildings. Jackson used to rely on tourism before the "trouble". The town has an older area adjacent the lake. The larger area across the river developed later.
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The next few shots give a little better look at the main areas of town.
The Jackson river cuts through the middle of town and seperates old town from new.
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Zooming in for a better look gives us a chance to see some of the beautiful detail in these buildings.
These are as tall as it gets in Jackson.
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Power comes to Jackson via restored power lines and is distributed from these transformers.
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A close look at the strip in the older part of town, shows many smaller shops.
This road saw plenty of traffic before the days of flooding.
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Most of Jackson reside in single homes.
Many were rebuilt in the eastern part of town after the floods.
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In later updates we will take a look at the part of town now under water.
Just outside of the original town borders sat a communication tower.
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We leave today's update with a couple of looks at the north enterance into town.
The regional hospital is positioned right on town's edge, allowing for easy access by all.
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Just before entering town from the north we pass by the old town welcome sign.
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Much More on the town of Jackson in our next update!
Thanks to all for checking out Teton!
Well , I was thinking It will be extremly hard to build something coherent on a so wonderful map ... You do it very cleverly so far .Jackson looks integrated to its incredible landscape . Original storyboard too , premonitory , that's sure now . I'll follow this with a great interest . &apls
Great job! That underwater highway is soooo cool! :thumbsup: I'm also blown away by how seemlessly you joined those 2 city squares . If not for the close ups showing the edge of the map, I never would have known that the overview shot was of 2 squares. Great work. Looking forward to more of the underwater city. ;D
Lovely update, I really enjoyed it, specially picture number 7, a general view of the town perfectly embedded on the mountains. On last picture, I can see some ski runs, isn't it? 8)
Great job! I love the backstory and the shots of the old Highway 89 underwater are very creative, too! But what impressed me the most was how, shown in the zoomed out pictures of Jackson, you were able to build a thriving town without doing any real damage to the surrounding landscape. The trees and the mountains look completely undisturbed by the town. Fantastic update, I'll be looking forward to more!
Excellent jobs so far. The story is progressing nicely and the underwater buildings look pretty good. I like your use of JBSimio's work for the old main street area. For whatever reason, the first pic of the update has a really good look to it: very realistic. Can't wait to see more.
Good one Phil,
Great work with the flooded road!
One thing worries me, though, that cemetary is kinda close to the hospital..... spooky! ???
Really like that small town atmosphere.
And I totally agree with Badsim about how well Jackson is integrated to the landscape.
See you!
John
Wonderful road- and railways! The town of jackson looks wonderful, too! :thumbsup:
Very organic. Very good looking. You really managed to build a nice town without hurting the environment around it. &apls
I have been following this diary in silence for 6 pages but this time I need to respond. You have done some excellent work on this region. In concordance with previous posters I have to agree that you managed to naturally grow the city within the restrains of the map in an fantastic way ... keep it up! :thumbsup:
Your city look realistic &apls
Good job :thumbsup:
Wow, this is soooooo good. One of the most beautiful and realistic citys I have ever seen ()stsfd()
Great update! The underwater stuff is amazing!! Love the small town feel as well!!!
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Update 11, Jackson, a further look
Replies
dedgren
Hi David. I'm just loving the 3RR journey so far. Thanks for popping over and being so supportive.
Badsim
Welcome to Teton Badsim. Thank you for the kind comments. It will be a challenge to grow this region without 'spoiling" it.
Giligone
Heya Giligone. Thanks, I was hoping some would like the water effects. The 2 piece overview shot was almost an afterthought. Glad you liked it. Thanks!
Rayden
Hi Rayden. Your eyes are correct. Those are the runs at Teton Village (about 10 kilometers north west of jackson). I really hope to be able to create some kind of alpine skiing area.
thundercrack83
Thanks for the compliments thundercrack83. One thing working in my favor is, because the region is so accurate to the actual, the Jackson town fits in there very naturally.
threestooges
Thanks threestooges. JBSimio's stuff is high quality work and fits so well in jackson. I hope he creates more, cause I will sure use it.
Darmok
Hi John, hehe I hadn't considered the spooky cemetary angle. Can't be any worse than that playground I build on the cliff edge in Bow River Valley. Thanks and take care.
Bat
Thank you bat. You are always very supportive!
emilin
Hi emelin. That was the hope. Non-intrusive to the enviroment and an authentic small town western feel. A work in progress.
Serkanner
Good to see you here Serkanner. Thank you for the kind words.
Antoine
Thanks and welcome Antoine.
urban
Welcome here urban. It will be interesting to see Jackson grow. Hopefully we can keep it looking natural.
rw0381c
Hiya rw0381c. The underwater shots will be show in more detail in a couple of updates from now.
Pictures
Two state highways meet in Jackson. The main highway in the region was and is state highway 89.
89 runs north south through the region and now ends in Jackson at the edge of the lake.
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A few blocks north of where the lake interrupts 89, we come to the intersection of 89 and 22.
State Highway 22 winds westward across the valley and then climbs up into the teton range.
A few restaurants sit near the intersection.
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As the intersection of 89 & 22 is in old Jackson,
most buildings on W Broadway ave(89) are smaller historical commercial buildings.
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Zooming out gives us a little better look at the intersection of the two highways.
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A closer look allows us to see the beautiful detail in some of these buildings.
Having such quality bats at our disposal makes creating period pieces a lot easier.
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As we take Highway 89 back towards the river and the newer area of Jackson,
we pass by the largest grocery store in town.
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Across the river into New Jackson, the first buildings we see are in the industrial area.
The largest single employer in town is the Domino Sugars company.
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The industrial park is no prettier than most, but the residents pride themselves on at least keeping the place tidy.
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The industrial park extends easterly, tucked between the town proper and Snow King Mountain.
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In the most eastern part of town a central depot for transporting goods was built.
This occured after the rail was connected into Jackson,
and most good and supplies flow through this depot.
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With the amount of jobs this depot created, housing sprang up close by,
quickly follwed by a few commercial stores as well.
A second passenger station was built here.
Quite a luxury for a town of this size to be able to support two stations.
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Back in the center of town we see the original passenger train station.
This station sits between the industrial park and the downtown.
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Along N Cache Drive (89), we come to the primary business district of town.
Several hotel are found here. Tourism was the one of the major industries here before.
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Here's a few more shots detailing some of the business in the downtown area.
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Backing out a zoom level, we can see that like most small towns,
commerce usually runs within a block or two of the main drag.
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The city hall and courthouse are combined in one building.
We can see it in the upper left corner of this next shot.
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Rumour has it that the federal government may build a whole new set of buildings.
They would be used to administrate growth in the proposed decomissioning of Teton National Park.
That's it for this update.
More on the town of Jackson in our next update.
Thanks to all for checking out Teton!
Another amazing update. Not quite as breathtaking as the mountain vistas but still very good. You have lots of unique bats that I've never seen before! Great historic downtown too. And really good factories. Well done once again. &apls
wow, I really like this town. Every building fits and it's so detailed and realistic. Well done :o
Great views of your city :thumbsup: I think really she looks realistic
Great update.
Your town is very beautiful. I would like to live there.
Wow! Fantastic downtown. I'm a big fan of the mix of buildings you've shown us.
I'll echo an earlier comment that your town absolutely fits into the terrain you've built it on. Looking forward to more!
ONE word;
MINDBLOWING
&apls &apls &apls
take care,
Great use of all the different buildings available to us ... makes me realize that the sheer number of buildings is mind boggling.
My personal favorite shots are the industrial ones ... really like those area's of the town.
See you next time.
What an update. Beautiful layout and wonderful choice of buildings. I've taken notes and some ideas for my own use ;)
Favourite part, the retail and business districts. &apls
Another great update! I love how we get to see the town in so much detail! The industrial parks, particularly the Domino plant, are my favorite part. Keep up the good work!
Hey, Phil, you've been busy. FOA, thanks for the map and orientation regarding direction of the pass; I am centered now. Next, from one who has been there many times, you are capturing the Jackson experience. That's exactly how Jackson is one with the mountain. Except part of it is gone--whoa. (Have you managed to keep your silly Sims from driving on the underwater highway??) Teton Village!! Pauses as that "darn glad to be alive" feeling comes over her... Oh, yeah.
The closeups are spot on, too. These are the small towns of the American west, thanks to the cream of the crop of BATs you've chosen. I, too, am a lifetime member of JB Simio's fan club, and every tourist trap needs tons of SG lodging and restaurants.
Well, I came here intending to comment on one update, and got lost in another one. &cry2 This smiley isn't crying--he is yawning. Thanks for making my lack of sleep so enjoyable.
--Liv
What a great small town feel you have created. Lovely mix of some of my favorite BAT:s (the bookstore with the ants on the wall is really awesome) and I nice selection of Maxis content. :thumbsup:
Great city and pictures! Looking forward to more!
Great update. There is a very nice feeling I get from these pictures. It's very realistic. The hieght of the commercial buildings isn't all over the place. Everything looks very well placed and the transit looks very well laid out. Great MD, I'll have to keep a watch on this one!
Phil- Another fine update! You have a great collection of custom BATs that, despite coming from so many different sources, you have organized into a unified whole. You've also accomplished something that is rare- your neighborhoods and different areas each have an individual ambience- I'd bet that you could mix the pics up and most folks could sort them into the general area of Jackson that each is located in.
TT's a keeper. I think you can take this down the road quite a ways.
David
That was a great shot of Jackson from high above. Pic 7, as someone pointed out. Really well done.
The scenery reminds me of British Columbian hinterlands - all trees and mountains with a city squeezed in there somehow. ;D
Coming from a small southern town where the main industry was the hugh denim mill, I felt as if Jackson was a second home town for me. Mind if I move in? Can't wait for more.
Outstanding ! ! !
A question... Where can I find the Olympic Tree Controllers because I'm unable to find them on the STEX and on the SC4D LEX... &sly
&apls &apls &apls
I'm totally speechless!
&ops With great hesitation, dare I ask... could you give me a list of "the total number of DAT and SC4DESC tree files is about 159." for cycledoggs tree mods?? Try as I might I still get the odd box here and there. :-[
Quote from: SIMMANIA on February 16, 2007, 06:39:25 PM
Outstanding ! ! !
A question... Where can I find the Olympic Tree Controllers because I'm unable to find them on the STEX and on the SC4D LEX... &sly
Look at Peg's site. I think it's there as well. ;)
WOW great work! &apls
Quote from: Rayden on February 17, 2007, 02:09:41 AM
Look at Peg's site. I think it's there as well. ;)
They aren't there too, Peg's site download section has like 10-20 downloads...
man the audubon building BAT is a perfect fit for this.
I love the town, its very old looking, but well taken care of and even lively looking.
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Update 12, Jackson, to date
Replies
Giligone
Thanks Giligone. I must admit, living up to the mountain shots is a daunting task. With Jackson, I'm going more for a specific feel.
urban
Welcome urban, and thanks!
Antoine
Thanks for the kind comment!
Air6
I think I could live there too. The pace of life would be slower, and you can't beat the views!
meinhosen
Welcome to Teton meinhosen. Thank you for the compliments.
ExiLe
Heya ExiLe, thanks for popping by!
Serkanner
Thank you Serkanner. It's neat how we are able to use buildings built by all sorts of folks and be able to build cohesive towns (we hope).
Rayden
Thanks Rayden. I'm enjoying your "diary" greatly.
thundercrack83
Good to see you back again thundercrack83. It's nice to have quite a few "regulars", all who are very gracious and kind. There are many here who fit into that category.
Livin in Sim
Hi Liv. Thank you for the kind words. It's great to know I have captured some of the "feel" of Jackson. I really wanted to portray the western small town experience. As for Teton Village, it's in the plans. I'm collecting ski runs and related stuff now.
The underwater roads and buildings posed quite a challenge as the sims did try to continue living there (underwater!). In the end I cut power to the area and allowed the buildings to become abandoned. Then I added a healthy dash of fire just to be sure. Got the desired results in the end. **Disclaimer** However, no sims were hurt in the recreation of this disaster.
emilin
Thanks emilin. I have to agree. That bookstore is a classic.
bat
Hiya bat. Thanks for stopping in again!
rooker1
Welcome rooker1. Building height was something I definetly tried to keep a handle on.
dedgren
Hi David. I'm not sure how you find time to visit with everthing else you got going on, but I sure appreciate it. Thanks for the observation about neighborhoods and their ambience. In my own mind I have a feel for each neighborhood, but wonder if I can succesfully translate that into the game.
Flipside
That's a good observation Flipside. I'm quite familiar with BC and that likely does influence me to a degree in building and terraforming style.
petercintn
Hi Peter. You're more than welcome to move in but I suggest you don't pick the old town area (can't say more than that right now though :)
SIMMANIA
Thanks SIMMANIA. I believe I got the controller from PEG's site. *edit* I see that Rayden had the same thought as I. Peg,s site has had some difficulties lately. Hopefully the downloads section can be fixed quickly.
greenbelt
Thanks for visiting greenbelt. Of course you can dare. I don't have them handy, but give me a day or two and I'll russle a list up.
sc4portugal
Hi sc4portugal. Thank you for checking Teton out!
Zaphod
Welcome here Zaphod. Thank you. I agree, that audubon building is a real beauty and fit in well.
Story and pics
It's not like there was no warning.
For decades the climatologists and scientists gave general warnings about global warming. I don't think the Teton region ever thought they would be directly affected. But starting in the twenty-teens the average temperature climbed steadily. The winter rains became a common occurance. The overall climate became much warmer and much wetter; almost like weather formally found on the west coast and Olympic peninsula.
At first the local climate change almost seemed like a good thing. The vegatation in the area benefitted dramatically. The lower valley, that at one time supprted mostly low scrub, now saw the trees and flora flourish. Over the space of about 20 years many varieties of trees grew to maturity. New varieties appeared in the valley, and Teton became even more heavily forested. Some commented that, if the forest could ever be cleared, the land could now support agriculture. That was not really a serious concern though, as Teton was a national park.
Early in the twenties the siesmic activity began, especially to the north at Yellowstone Park. The highways heading north had to be closed due to the constant tremors and potential for slides.
Several lakes in the northern portion of Teton park mysteriously drained into the subterrain in the space of months. Then the extensive upper snow pack and glacier melt began to pool in the lowest spot in the region. Several natural aquifers broke to the surface and combined with the snow pack melt. Water began to seriously collect in the spot we now know as Jackson Lake.
It's not that the town residents couldn't see the water coming. It took months to reach its final level. It's just that no one knew just how high the lake would rise (certainly not the experts). The one saving grace about the slow gradual lake rise, is that residents had plenty of time to get out. No one was killed or badly hurt.
Unfortunately, the highways heading south and west were cut off early by the lake's rising level. No gasoline or deisel was available in the town for months. Many vehicles were left parked in front of their homes, waiting for the water to swallow them up.
The lake finished(?) rising early in 2027. The lake bed was very shallow, only about 3 to 6 feet deep around the homes and buildings. But that was enough to make the buildings unihabitable. Power and other services were cut off to the submerged neighborhood. The roads were blocked off and most thought the buildings would be there forever.
But, without power and services the area could not be protected.
Fires could not be easily put out. Buildings would burn unattended.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg126.imageshack.us%2Fimg126%2F2500%2Fwater7lq8.jpg&hash=25255455bdec3d5abd717693d82c87d9fd8b7d91)
At night there was no light, and generally an unsafe area to even be just adjacent to.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg126.imageshack.us%2Fimg126%2F1686%2Fwater5ig9.jpg&hash=13af3a91a17aebe0a99857525236fabbc0c76865)
The people of Jackson slowly came to one conclusion.
This neighborhood, abandoned and unsalvageable, needed to be demolished.
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Rail had reconnected the town to the outside world.
Fuel was again available, and crews moved in and demolition began.
Homes and other buildings slowly began to disappear.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg126.imageshack.us%2Fimg126%2F2233%2Fwater2wg6.jpg&hash=67b72879d2a26b3ca0ed35edc28aa683f47d75a4)
Larger structures like the old school were removed.
Even the tennis courts were gone as residents were determined to remove the memory of that neighborhood.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg126.imageshack.us%2Fimg126%2F604%2Fwater1fq2.jpg&hash=fd59cbdd750a58a68829830e4f824980305ae28a)
After 7 months of hard work the submerged subdivision was almost gone.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg126.imageshack.us%2Fimg126%2F8476%2Fwater3hh8.jpg&hash=b5f5cfd4ccd7d444f1816488d8f2a8c39c6841a8)
The residents of jackson decided to leave the communications tower as one reminder.
The street to the tower was initially left intact, but later removed.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg126.imageshack.us%2Fimg126%2F1117%2Fwater4mb3.jpg&hash=e2c8acfeb69d6b029eea56424af64c1b8f9255ed)
One attribute to describe the character of Jackson would be perseverance.
The residents were determined to make the future positive and the town did carry on.
In response to the flooding and demolition a new subdivision was built on the eastern edge of town.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg300.imageshack.us%2Fimg300%2F4388%2Frs3vy6.jpg&hash=dac1c8028992b717632cb6119d388f78bb898eb4)
As well, a few apartment buildings were built to handle a higher density of people.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg127.imageshack.us%2Fimg127%2F1272%2Frs4rt4.jpg&hash=8c8ffb0e216696bc06e2379463e6238cbe87b8c4)
Right adjacent to the new shore line is one of the towns two elementary schools.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg127.imageshack.us%2Fimg127%2F5583%2Frs14gq8.jpg&hash=d4611cca8ccf031a68898ad280b64a87cced42de)
The middle years school is near the new subdivision.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg300.imageshack.us%2Fimg300%2F4371%2Frs2yq9.jpg&hash=0424c51dbb695231031d70892d95a057156cd0bb)
Here is a look at the other elementary school.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg127.imageshack.us%2Fimg127%2F8903%2Frs8ru0.jpg&hash=17bb0ab2b5f7f6c764d191821ad7628c38bcf22b)
The town has one high school and it is centrally located in town.
Students and teachers alike have been campaigning for a track and football field.
This school is yet another beauty by JBSimio.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg127.imageshack.us%2Fimg127%2F8158%2Frs13fp1.jpg&hash=5cfb21e97f7c9b2c50d7adad1674573d486053a5)
The next two pics show the typical homes we find in Jackson.
Many are approching 100 years old and have been heavily renovated.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg127.imageshack.us%2Fimg127%2F651%2Frs10xq1.jpg&hash=470fec096e5cf0937b35d42c92e167fc1809adda)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg300.imageshack.us%2Fimg300%2F5498%2Frs1ai9.jpg&hash=1368668a5b6308da25d8fc90310bb481b973d984)
Here's a shot of another residential area.
One of the many Jackson churches is tucked into this neighborhood.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg127.imageshack.us%2Fimg127%2F4296%2Frs12kt8.jpg&hash=f93d455122ac4eb7f0e9d82c57cfaf2ebcbe8e1e)
A few expensive ranch houses sit among the other homes.
Business owners typically live here.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg127.imageshack.us%2Fimg127%2F5418%2Frs5pl1.jpg&hash=d7e3ebb2621da889311e24a7bd38b45108ba52e3)
Back in the center of town we find some higher density upscale housing.
This is perhaps, a small towns version of condos.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg127.imageshack.us%2Fimg127%2F4903%2Frs15jz0.jpg&hash=384ce361033f70be32b9ccfbc902ed7841fc90ea)
Even a small town mayor likes to live in nice diggs.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg127.imageshack.us%2Fimg127%2F3165%2Frs7sp1.jpg&hash=6e52e96f9618ee9a87ce6c935079d008c3ea9e31)
Our tour of town is done for now. This next shot shows State Highway 22 heading west out of town.
The little spur to the left is the former street to the now partially submerged communications tower.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg300.imageshack.us%2Fimg300%2F4121%2Froad1ej5.jpg&hash=b02ba99143700038ef2b38cc75f043d64a2878c7)
State Highway 22 west was also partially covered by the lake.
A 4 kilometer detour was created to reconnect the highway.
It skirts along the lake for quite a distance.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg300.imageshack.us%2Fimg300%2F8819%2Froad2pw8.jpg&hash=60d75a29447bf92e640605afdcdb75c138b23d9f)
That's about it for Jackson for the moment. Future updates will detail the region transportation network, and the proposed decommisioning of Grand Teton National Park.
Thanks to all for checking out Teton!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg217.imageshack.us%2Fimg217%2F8097%2Fttblockedroadco0.jpg&hash=17d24eb6693439d81f85d857f1ddb40c1155d9f3) Well, Phil, it's details like this that make TT what it is. More great backstory, really fine-detailed pics- you've turned Jackson into a real alternative future place that you've got us all interested in.
I've seen a battleship decommissioned- wonder how you're going to do a National Park?
Back soon for more.
David
Magnifique, very interesting story and images. That LE has been very busy, isn't it? ;)
Once again, another fantastic update. Those underwater shots look great, and they contribute to the backstory very well. Keep up the good work!
Great underwater development! Fantastic pictures and update! :thumbsup:
Woah,
I thought the biggest excitement for this MD would be the scenery. I thought all of the excitement would blow over after all of the great shots using the terrain mods and tree controllers....
Little did I know, the best was yet to come. I'm checking out this town, and I'm amazed at the level of detail used to re-create this town. It looks incredible. The unrelenting quality is above and beyond anything I expected.
So tell me, if it's gotten this good, can it get any better? This is already one of my first visits when I get to SC4D!! Keep it up, Phil!
another great update! Those underwater shots were reeeally cool. It must have taken a long tim to edit those lots to be able to do that. Keep up the great work, and as always. I can't wait for your next update! ;D
I can only echo what others keep saying... The terrain is incredible! The story line is very engaging. The town of Jackson is so well laid out and realistic. &apls &apls
I also can't tell you how flattering it is to see so many pictures of stuff I made... &blush
JB
I find the first pic very interesting... it is a very rare occurance to find fire when water is widely available (and perhaps the cause of the fire). The story, the details (such as the little spur of road that had led to the communication tower), and the overall presentation of the content (custom and otherwise) is just astounding.
That was a really interesting turn of events for this MD. Looking forward to further development.
Great update and awesome story.
I'm realy stunned.
First i could see the most beautiful mountains ever followed by this awesome story of the sunken town with underwater ingamepictures (never seen before ::))
What's next? scenic high alpine roads - Keep it up! :thumbsup:
Phil, this is really quite unusual and interesting. How sad to see the flooded part of town going...going...gone. I've read in threads on stagnation in a Simcity, that sometimes a disaster or downturn of events can end the period and spur the sims on to growth. A real life town in our area had a horrible flood in the seventies in which over 200 people died. The town marshalled it's resources, pulled together and rebuilt with help from the government. Their perserverance paid off and now the town is very much viable and growing. I hope this will be the case with New Orleans as well, and I also think of the solidarity of New York after 9/11. Thanks for a thought provoking update, and I can't wait to see the ski area.
--Liv
Wow,Phil 9 pages of sheer joy and amazement. The story is very compelling and very possible. When living in The Netherlands I get reminded of the danger of flooding constantly. In fact my basement floods when there is too much rain (a matter of damage draining that will be fixed next week).
The flooding pics are great. I was amazed at the flooded road, but then the story began about the neighbourhood slowly being flooded. Amazing,let's hope this will never come true anywhere around the world.
That mayor house looks gerat.
Nik-Nik
More great stuff, Phil. (Hope you don't mind me calling you Phil) Compelling story, great shots and original work. What more could you ask for. I don't know, but I'm asking for more :D
I read through your last pages in this MD and looked at your fabulous pictures with joy, and, living 2 meters below sea-level, with lots of interest in your story about the flooding Jackson....
As follow up I moved my PC to the third floor of my house to safe my plugin-folder ;)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg486.imageshack.us%2Fimg486%2F4338%2Ftitlefinaljj6.jpg&hash=abfef9ccfbc7a1542dceeaee3e969dbe72f2bb2c)
Update 12.5 - Teton Pass Preview
A new update is coming soon. A transportation network overview will be presented.
It will detail the state of the regions road and highway network at the time of the reconnection, by rail to the outside world.
One portion of that network is highway 22 and it's route through the mountains up to Teton pass.
Here's a preview of that pass (my first attepmt at a mosaic).
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg183.imageshack.us%2Fimg183%2F1710%2Fmosaic5pb5.jpg&hash=1300e41ee635fff47eb40553e1b59688b36c9f52)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg183.imageshack.us%2Fimg183%2F8471%2Fmosaic6wm3.jpg&hash=d0c6a82f159e9a08743f1cbfc8e545c8c4552dd0)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg95.imageshack.us%2Fimg95%2F1586%2Fmosaic7uc6.jpg&hash=a33a743f63c42ab2ed4a085f6c40fcb61d879211)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg95.imageshack.us%2Fimg95%2F6868%2Fmosaic8jt8.jpg&hash=4f86fb08576f429beb1a4de973bc825d855f50e8)
The communnications tower sits at the top of the pass.
A climb of over 1200 meters.
Thanks to all for checking out Teton!
I don't know why, but all of the sudden I feel like driving.
This MD is a legend in my books. Awesome, Phil... just awesome.
Great preview! I can't wait to learn more about the transportation network!
This view is breathtaking ... perfect , just perfect .You're the one which motivate me the most to progress on natural scenes , I'm still so far from your mastery ... :'(
I suppose that the Olympic Tree Controler isn't sufficient to obtain this result , you also use different mayor tree mods to complement it ?
What a beauty ... I'm jealous . And not only a bit . ;)
The pass is drop-dead gorgeous :thumbsup:
I try to do a pass several times......but nothing is comparable with your skills :-[
Superb pass!
Good addition of the parking spaces -for all you viewers around have a look at the breathtaking view-
The snow almost hits the road, almost. very nice!
Great stuff.
Nik-Nik
The Teton Pass is looking fantastic! Great work! :thumbsup:
Breathtaking! Superb! .... hmm, I need to get a thesaurus to find more synonyms... I love it.
Very nice windy road through the beautiful mountains. I love it. Great mosaic. ()stsfd()
Wonderful! Thanks for the inspiration. &apls
Beautiful winding road, it blends very well within the scenery not carving it very much, resembling that way reality. ;)
Breathtaking.
The tranquility that shows of these pictures, the wonderful trees, the snowline and parkings spots to take a pass-photo.. all shows so much of your dedication and affection... I am starting to cry now and shut op :'(
Phil that last pic of the winding road to the communication tower on the mountain top!
WOW! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Breathtaking my friend!
I'd love to ride this one on my ol' Intruder....
Excellent and very inspiring picture :thumbsup:
That's a beautifully scaled road to the top of the pass, Phil. Far too often (and I am among the guilty) folks will compress an elevation gain like that into a small space by using unrealistically steep grades. At 7-8%, which is about the steepest sustained mountain pass grade on U.S. highways, your roughly 1,000 meter elevation change (assuming game water level at 250 meters and using your figure of 1,220 meters as the highest point on the road) would take about 13 or 14 kilometers (about eight miles) of road. I'd be interested in knowing how long a road you actually have there.
Great work!
David
I second dedgren request. That sounds interesting. It does look very realistic and some kind of formula would be helpful I think. &idea
the amount of vegetation you used is absolutly wonderful, very realistic. thank you
Wow, Phil, you did the pass...
Sets laptop aside, grabs car keys, starts to car for road trip to pass, realizes the road may be a bit snowy--
http://www.wyoroad.info/highway/webcameras/Jackson/TetonPass.jpg (http://www.wyoroad.info/highway/webcameras/Jackson/TetonPass.jpg)--returns to laptop.
It looks right on. I don't know if you are doing an exact replica, but looks mighty close. If so, I believe David is also close for length in miles. I would guess it would be under ten from the little town of Wilson, WY to the top. There are, however, some brief stretches of 10 percent grades on this highway. It is remarkably switch back free for such a steep pass. It is a fun drive, but not if you are pulling any sort of RV. There are also stretches where "Old Pass Road" parallels the highway, and it was not switch back free. The Teton Range is unique in the fact that it is on a fault, was and continues to be pushed upward quite vertically with relatively few foothills. Hence the eye popping view from the mountainside down into Jackson.
Way cool mosaic, excellent depiction of some spectacular scenery. It boogles my mind to see how the new maps and tools bought to us by beskhu3epnm,cycledogg, the rural highway team, and others can be masterfully used. Bravo.
--Liv
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Update 13, Teton Pass
Replies
Thank you to all who have left comments and questions.
Btw, by all means, feel free to call me by my name (Phil)!
Before I dive directly into replies, allow me perhaps one moment to ramble.
In my opinion this site and the folks who visit it have succesfully implemented Jeronij's vision(as best I understand it).
The replies, opinions, and feedback are always positive and constructive. This is just a great place to share our hobby (or passion).
Thank you to jeronij for making this place possible. And thanks to all for making this site the great place that it is.
Replies to update 12.........
dedgren Hi David. That cropped picture is a real cool reply, thanks! I'm still working on how the decommissioning of a park might work.
Rayden I'm glad the backstory is grabbing folks attention. Believe it ot not, the LE was not used in that update at all.
thundercrack83 Thanks thundercrack83!. I've kept meaning to tell you, I love your nick.
bat Heya bat. Thanks, you're one of the folks I mentioned above who are a real source of encouragment here.
beskhu3epnm I really appreciate your opinions on this diary! You've created such a wonderfull foundation to build upon. Thanks buddy!
Giligone Thank you Giligone. I appreciate you always checking Teton out.
JBSimio Welcome JBSimio! I'm pleased that you approve of your buildings usage here in Teton. Your work is of the highest quality, and fits the mood I'm trying to create here perfectly.
threestooges Hehe, I've been waiting for that question. The subdivision including the school was heated mostly with natural gas. The fires you see burning are caused by ruptured gas lines.
emilin Thanks emilin. Future development is exactly what's in store for this region.
rooker1 Hi rooker1. Thank you for checking Teton out.
Nikopol Welcome Nikopol. Actually alpine roads are exactly what's coming next.
Livin in Sim Thanks Liv. I actually started having second thoughts about the flooded storyline. With Katrina and all, I figured I better play that storyline very carefully. Hopefully I didn't push past the boundaries of good taste.
NikNik Thanks NikNik. Stay dry :)
petercintn Hiya Peter. You bet you can call me Phil. Thank you for the continued kind comments.
sebes Thank you Sebes. A future stage will include a Jackson on the rebound, and expansion.
Replies to update 12.5.......
beskhu3epnm I hear ya. Makes me want to get in my car and drive too. Ah well, summers not that far away, and I'm getting back to the Rockies soon even if it kills me.
thundercrack83 Thanks, the transportation network update is coming soon. I plan to include past and future park boundaries, etc. too!
Badsim Hi Badsim. I've seen some of your nature based shots. They look great. The tree and flora results you see here are created by the Olympic tree controller only.
Nikopol The pass was a real challenge. I must admit. I'm still not 100% satified with it, but the game does have limitations.
NikNik The parking spaces was a natural. You gotta stop and take in the view :) I realized later, a couple of guard rails might have been a good idea too!
bat Thanks very much Bat!
meinhosen Welcome back to Teton meinhosen. And Thanks!
rooker1 Thank you rooker!. The mosaic was my first attempt at one. I think I'll use them more in the future.
petercintn The pleasure is all mine Peter.
Rayden Thanks Rayden. I tried to follow the actual course as much as possible, so that made it a lot easier to keep a natural flow.
sebes hehe, It's ok sebes, it's ok :) The way the snowline interacts with the hillside and road turned out pretty good. I got a little lucky with the elevation and how it affects the snowline in Teton.
Darmok Hi John! Thank you. Perhaps you got room in the Intruder for at least one more. Take care.
jeronij Thank you jeronij. I think of you as the master, especially with hills and winding roads. Your opinion is much appreciated.
dedgren Hi David. Thank you for your comments. With all the great feedback on the Teton Pass, I have decided to continue in that vein in this update and expand the "pass coverage", and answer a few of your question too!
rooker1 Hi rooker1. Hopefully this update answer some of the questions.
cali Thanks Cali. The Olympic tree controller and the Meadowshire terrain controller have been used to create the tree and flora effects you see.
Livin in Sim Hi Liv. Knowing that you have been there, your opinion on this matters greatly to me. Needless to say, I'm more than pleased with your feedback. I wouldn't go as far as calling it an exact replica, I believe I have one extra switchback. But it is pretty close, and I'll expand on that a little in the update. Thank you!
Pictures and descriptions
State Highway 22 runs from Jackson,around the lake and up through Teton Pass.
Our map of the southern third of Teton region shows the route of highway 22 as it heads west (up).
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg45.imageshack.us%2Fimg45%2F2711%2Fsouth1zg6.jpg&hash=b11fec92080ec00f4ba488ddcd139cf5105b99d3)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg45.imageshack.us%2Fimg45%2F669%2Fsouth2xx6.jpg&hash=c392bf749080105fed6e5bf6da0611a970e2739f)
David and others wondered as to the elevation gain, grade, distance, etc about Teton Pass. As Livin in Sim pointed out, the climb basically begins at the small town of Wilson. From Wilson to the pass itself is about 15 kilometers or just under 10 miles. Now the actual elevation of that starting point is around 1850 meters above sea level (about 100 meters above my lake level or about 6000 ft above sea level).
The climb peaks at the pass with an elevation gain of about 1000 meters from Wilson, over 1100 meters from the lake.
The real life Highway follows closely to the path I took. The one major deviation was a switchback below the observation area. Other than that it is pretty close. I have of course taken some creative licence with the buildings at the pass itself :)
Here's a overview shot tracing the highway's route from Wilson up and over the pass.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg67.imageshack.us%2Fimg67%2F5257%2Fbigacu5.jpg&hash=256ca973e163fb4122356b456ea35cbc587807b5)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg67.imageshack.us%2Fimg67%2F1586%2Fbigbmo1.jpg&hash=35248cb778b328745d39539f74659ab858bbb71f)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg67.imageshack.us%2Fimg67%2F2189%2Fbigceg3.jpg&hash=cc2a32e8bcb72bcfb86579d1c5d474773b0a17f2)
Moving in a little we can see in the next few shots how the highway runs along the back of the first peak, then jumps across at the shoulder, and continues back along the second and larger mountain.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg67.imageshack.us%2Fimg67%2F9629%2Fpass10yy0.jpg&hash=3d4f581322c6ce09f1284517ba918714f6fe96af)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg67.imageshack.us%2Fimg67%2F3047%2Fpass3jy1.jpg&hash=d27259ffa0de18769b1efb3fa1bbb01244294d4a)
The steep grade in places means having to reinforce the raod in spots. Maximum speed - about 20 miles per hour.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg67.imageshack.us%2Fimg67%2F4550%2Fpass4ha8.jpg&hash=d1ea1f6fdc0958bab4406ff035ee704c57cf9848)
The snowcapped Glory Mount looms aver the valley and highway. The highway cuts across the face of the mountain in an area known as Glory Slide.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg67.imageshack.us%2Fimg67%2F1152%2Fpass11ud6.jpg&hash=c22721f8df890d195d334e92b81b4d28d37730e2)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg67.imageshack.us%2Fimg67%2F671%2Fpass8ue0.jpg&hash=78bb78cd2793d01403e1aa146a6dad2f52f497c7)
Slowly the road winds up the face till it reaches the snowline (late sping snowline, in the winter it's snow all over)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg67.imageshack.us%2Fimg67%2F7287%2Fpass9md6.jpg&hash=c07447f1657166f211dd434536303f28c8fe2db8)
As we aproach the top of the pass we come to a lookout facing east.
From here we can see clear back to Jackson.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg67.imageshack.us%2Fimg67%2F7402%2Fpass7wf5.jpg&hash=95e6a3ae75a9afc407a7199ba90a239ce3f21cc8)
Livin in Sim has provided us with this wonderful shot of the actual lookout.
This shot prompted me to change the position of the parking.
Originally I had it on the inside of the corner, but have moved it to the outside, as in the "real" screenshot. Thanks Liv!
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Our final shot of the Teton Pass update is the pass itself.
A ranger station sits at the crest of the pass, across from the communications tower.
Not many miles west beyond this point, the highway was blocked by extensive slides cause by global warming.
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Thanks to all for checking out Teton!
Really cool region!!
I like the winding road up to teton pass very much :thumbsup:
Thanks for the beautiful work
Phil ...
If only you could speak french , or me better english ... I'm lost of words in front of this .Just can say I'm flabbergasted each time I take the road for Terraforming Teton .
Thanks for the information about Olympic Tree Controler , I don't obtain such variable trees ... must have something missing . %wrd
Usually we say "I can't wait to see more" . Sorry , I CAN wait to see more ; take your time & take care .
Well , now I have to change my desktop once more . ;)
Unbelievable! The Teton Pass Road is absolutely amazing! I love the maps, pointing how the path of the roads, but the in-game shots are simply fantastic. Great job!
Everything looks stunning! :thumbsup: The shot of the lookout stop by the road is simply amazing.
Excellent, excellent, excellent. I hope they actually took the time to cap off the gas leak at the former school (that could be bad). Again you continue to impress with your attention to detail on such a massive scale. The first shot (the map) is well done, but the real trick must have been making that highway to begin with. The closeups of the road remind me of when I lived in Reno, NV. There was a road that went up over the mountains to Lake Tahoe (and incidentally went past a ski area with a section also named after a landslide) and looking at your shots really reminds me of it. Have a good weekend, and I look forward to your next update.
i bet that is fun to drive in...White knuckle all the way..lol :D
Great update, looks like a fun drive. Very scenic and the out looks look perfect. &apls
Amazing. Wow. That shot of your version of the lookout is incredible. The forrest clad slopes descending below. I can almost picture what it would look like to be up there. I don't know how you do it or have the patience but those forests are by far, bar none, the best forests I've ever seen in sim city, nay, any computer game! I'm still suspicious as to whether you are actually just photoshopping street tiles onto actual photos ::) haha Its just that good. Amazing.
I said it before, and I'll say it again, very nice and well carved winding road. The scenery shots are fantastic. Well, I cannot say I haven't take down any notes! :P :thumbsup:
that flora is amazing! love the picture with the rouad trought the forest, is simply beautiful! :thumbsup: &apls
Wow! I don't know if I can say much more than that.
After looking at the pictures of the road winding through the pass, I think that it's about time that I went and rendered a small, mountainous region.
&apls &apls &apls Geez i pass over the 10 pages and i have to get back for make sure it wasn't real pictures that i saw. Wow ! First time that i post on your MD ( i never sawe before ... miss time )and i' m very stunned by your work. I' m sure you put the trees one by one . Speachless. Great MD Keep it up. :thumbsup:
great update and fantastic pictures and work! :thumbsup:
...
!!!!
I could never dream of creating such a masterpiece. I will also be heading to the "Rockies" or more specifically, the Purcells this summer. I've been inspired by you to work a mountain region of my own, but I don't have the gonads to share it with everyone here...
Wicked.
Thanks for the addition details on the pass, Phil. This is just marvelous stuff.
David
Phil, the Wyoming Tourism Department should be giving you a cut of all proceeds. Thanks to you I am going on that little road trip this summer. I just have to see it again. When I saw that map, and then the zoomed out view of the highway going up the pass, I couldn't believe it. It was sight I never expected to see in Sim City, that's for sure. I'm not sure I would have picked up on the extra switchback if you hadn't mentioned it. Now that I look closer, it looks like you used the street tool. Was that hard with the diagonals? And do you have the new NAM? I am working on a mountainous region, actually two, one for practice, and one for a journal/diary I hope to have ready by fall. I am going to use this for my primer. I do so appreciate your patience in reading and including my input. And about the flood, IMO, it is an inspiring story to chronicle a town's perseverance to overcome a disaster, and not in bad taste at all. Here are a couple more RL pics for those who are interested, and again, thanks for your patience. The first is a view from the pass toward Jackson, and the town is seen in the middle background in between two mountains. If you click on the "original" size at the bottom it enlarges, and this becomes more evident. You will see how faithfully Phil is recreating. (Unfortunately, you will also see some ravages of the pine beetle.) The second is the sign at the top of the pass. I wonder if someone could bat this for Phil? :D
Thanks for sharing your talent,
--Liv
http://www.pbase.com/jhales/image/63741301 (http://www.pbase.com/jhales/image/63741301)
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l252/simdiary/passign.jpg (http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l252/simdiary/passign.jpg)
Just spectacular, Phil! I shudder to think how long it took to plan that route and then perfect it all.
Sorry if I missed it elsewhere, but could you tell me which rock mod or terrain mods you use? The combination looks very much like what I've been trying to come up with, but I can't seem to find the right combination. *Edit: Nevermind... I'm a moron! ::)
JB
Running out of superlatives to describe this unbelievable set of pictures Phil.
This is an anthology update. &apls That winding road is one of the best I've seen in SC4 period!
No frills, no bells and whistle, beauty, simplicity and subtlety all over the place.
They say the best special effects are the one we don't notice and this is one great example of that saying.
My friend I'm taking notes, and I'm seriously rethinking my next SC4 project...
Please show us more...
Take care my friend!
-John
Excellent work as always Phil, congrats on 200 posts.
WOOT!
Wow, reading your md made me register to this site "$Deal"$.
You have really done a good job in making this already great map even better. I like the lake you created, it has a very interesting shore line. I do have one question, i really like the trees you use but i cannot find them, the only i have been able to find are the new meadowshire trees (that seems to have some ugly trees in them) and some old ones from 2005 where you can only use one single tree. I understand you use the olympic tree controller?
Anyway it will be very interesting to see how you will develop the region :)
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Update 14, Highways, etc.
Hi all. Thanks for your patience and interest. Next update will be a full update,
and will include personal replies. The response to TT has been overwelming, to say the least.
This update will be fairly brief, but will bring us up to present day ?? (I'll explain more in a minute).
After Jackson and Teton Valley were reconnected to the outside world by rail, goods started flowing once again into the region. More than ever Jackson became the distribution hub for the Teton Valley. With the country in fairly rough enviromental shape, Teton was identified as one of the prime areas in the continental US for further agricultural and urban development. Several decisions regarding formerly "protected" lands were made by the federal government, two of which directly impacted Teton.
First, further extensive oil development in the Artic lands of northern Alaska was approved. This after many decades of lobbying to open up that area. This has an impact on Teton due to the relationship between the Republic of Alberta and the western USA. We will touch on oil's prominence in Teton in later updates.
Secondly, and most significantly, the existence of Grand Teton National Park, and other federally protected lands in the region, stood in the way of future development (in the opnion of the Federal Government). Effective May 2032, "permanently protected" statis was removed from all regional lands and a new department was created to administrate future deployment and development in Teton.
The government projected a sustainable population quota of up to 3 million people in Teton as well as an agricultural output supporting 40 million people regionally. The new department "NERO" (National Enviromental Response Organization) was set up close to Jackson, with nearly carte blanche given by the federal government, to facilitate the projected growth.
As mentioned, this was formalized in May of 2032, and we will consider that "present day" as we begin to move forward in Teton's development.
The region's highway and road system was pretty limited at this time. Only one rail line into the region existed, and it didn't extend much past Jackson.
We have broken the transportation maps down into three regions. Keep in mind that all maps in Teton are oriented a little different than normal. The top of the maps point west (rather than the usual north).
The first map shows the most southern portion of Teton. That is where we have spent the most time in our updates.
A - The town of Jackson falls in this area as well as the lake.
B - Teton pass and Highway 22 west are also in this area.
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The central portion of Teton is notable at this time for a couple of things.
C - Teton Village, a formerly popular ski resort is found here.
D - A small airport exists here, and has major expansion planned.
E - The national park headquarters is here.
It is now being converted into the NERO administration center.
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The north region map includes the scenic Teton Park road.
F - Camping and nature trails can be found around Jenny Lake.
G - State highway 89 leaves the region to the north but only extends a couple of more miles before being interupted by the Yellowstone devastation.
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That's about it for this update.
Next update will continue with backstory and the beginings of new development.
Thanks for checking Teton out!
200 comments- running stronger than ever! 'Grats, Phil!Quotefurther extensive oil development in the Artic lands of northern Alaska was approved.
I hate to say it, but it would be about time. I'm not for developing everything under the sun, but the Alaskan Arctic regions are a really, really big place. There's room for some reasonable energy development and, unlike many of the enviro types who have never been to Alaska but claim to know what's best for it- I've lived there. Spent four years living north of the Arctic Circle in Kotzebue [linkie] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotzebue%2C_Alaska). That "fragile tundra" stuff, btw, is a bunch of cr-pola.
...the tundra will eat you and then go looking for breakfast...
Arctic Alaska is just like anywhere else- its insensitive use by humankind will leave scars. Energy development- and I am no friend of Big Oil, believe me- is regulated and overseen to the nits. No development is perfect, but the degree of accountability for what the drilling outfits up on the 'Slope are doing, scare stories aside, is miles ahead of just about any other industry.
Back to TT- thanks so much for the overview. Once again, I feel like I've got a great sense of the big picture, and am waiting with a great deal of anticipation for your next post.
David
I've decided to christen pvarcoe with a nickname.
Uncle Phil.
Fabulous developments, it really does give it a "real world" flavor to the MD. You make some valid points that the human race will have to deal with at some point in time.
This is one of the best! I follow it exclusively (for obvious reasons!) ;D
OK, I'm glad to see some more development! I love the maps that you make, they are done very professionally, especially with the letters pointing things out. Fantastic work! I can't wait to see what you have to show us next!
David: Actually, when I first saw that you were from Alaska, I was curious as to your position on the whole drilling thing, but didn't ask because it was never even close to be relevant. Now I know, and from your explanation, I tend to agree with you. But that's a different discussion for a different time...
Hi Phil ,
I'm paying a visit to TT ... Great to have some news . Same point of view than beskhu3epnm , your MD has a real world flavor . Keep it up just like this . ;)
(I love your meticulousness !)
::)
Interesting features indeed. Looking forward to more closeup, but I quite enjoy these overviews too. They show an amazing dedication. Teton looks prefectly realistic from above. :thumbsup:
like beskhu3epnm and badsim, I really love the way you developed your region, it's so real, with big choices to make !
Wunderful CJ, can't wait to see more !
That was a fantastic update about possible development in the region. I like the overviews and all the different possibilities you brought up.
I'd like to add that your work with Teton has inspired me to start a mountainous region, thanks!
Great work!
Quote from: pvarcoe on March 17, 2007, 02:53:52 PM
First, further extensive oil development in the Artic lands of northern Alaska was approved. This after many decades of lobbying to open up that area. This has an impact on Teton due to the relationship between the Republic of Alberta and the western USA. We will touch on oil's prominence in Teton in later updates.
haha. Do I sense a bit of western alienation sentiment there? Republic of Alberta, hehhe. $%Grinno$% Amazing work on those maps. Looking forward to the full update!
Pvarcoe:
What snow mod and rock mod are you using? It looks GREAT along with everything else. &apls I really like to look and browse you pictures.
Keith
its been a while since i saw this, beautiful progress :thumbsup:
And by the way, I forgot to congratulate you on 200 posts! Better late than ever...
I remember a friend of mine posting in my CJ on "the other site" that he is a bit envious due to my smooth slopes ...
I just went through 10 (+1) pages of TT by stretching out my lunch break and I am breathless - that mountain highway is 11 out of 10 points - at least ....
I will reread your first pages again since I don't have much experience with the columbus mod (I am just a stubborn oldfashioned donkey that needs its time ... ) but your woods are like the woods I want to have ...
so it is seems to be it is my turn to be envious rigth now ... ;)
Bernhard :thumbsup:
a wonderful update you have made there! :thumbsup:
This is looking very spectacular, the nature you have created and this long winding road is sooo well done.
hello, Phil. (if i may call you that) i think its the first time for me to drop a reply here... so here goes... you are absolutely amazing with the hand you have in the progress of this MD. the story, the realism, the BATs, the network lay out, the foresight for development and even the smallest things like the road that went around the new lake and the connections from the old roads. absolutely amazing. will gladly follow the progress of TT 2032. :P will eagerly await the region's venture into agriculture and growing into the estimated 3million. ()stsfd() wow. :satisfied: i wish you all the best
Fantastic updates again Phil. They way you play with the map, and how you place your roads and highways is awesome. :thumbsup: Each time when I see the mountains on your pictures I actually feel like I am seeing them in real. If I only had a bit of your talent and patience....
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Update 15, Farming begins in earnest
Replies, gotta start with replies.
Feedback continues to be excellent, even with the updates coming at wider intervals. Thanks for the great support folks.
meldolion Welcome and thanks for the comments on the winding road.
Badsim (2) Thank you Badsim. I'm pleased to see that the backstory fits and helps the diary make sense to some.
thundercrack83 (3) Hi Thunder. Thanks for the congrads, and thanks for the most regular visits. You seem to be a real lover of maps. I am the same way.
emilin (2) Hi emilin. I am a big fan of closeups too. I hope you will like the shots in this update. Lots of closeups.
threestooges Thank you! I must admit, I quite enjoyed putting that mountain road together.
cali (2) Haha, hi cali. Yes the drive would certainly be white knuckle, at least in the winter.
rooker1 Welcome back rooker1, and thanks!
Giligone (2) Heya Giligone. Oh no, no western alienation here :) But an independent oil rich Alberta of the future, could make for an interesting side story line (perhaps).
Rayden Thanks Rayden.
HabLeUrG I love the effect the Olympic tree controller has with these elevations. Thanks for the kind comment.
meinhosen (2) If you are inspired from watching Teton, that's about as high as praise can get. Thank you.
kimcar Thanks for checking us out, and come back any time!
bat (2) You are a great encourager Bat. Thank you!
beskhu3epnm (2) Hey besku! Thank you for the great region. And be sure to drop me a line if you start one of your own. I know it will be great.
dedgren (2) Hmmm, what to say to David. Probably not much that should be said, hasn't already been said. But one things for sure, I really appreciate your support of TT. And as you have assumed (unintentionaly I am sure) the role as our unofficial fearless leader (jeronij doesn't count cause he's in a league of his own), be assured you have my full support. I think you are doing a great job as a moderator. 3RR is of course, a whole seperate and succesful story :)
Livin in Sim Hi Liv. I do have the new NAM. I'm not sure if it affected my mountain road or not. And thanks for the links to those great shots. One has been my wallpaper for a couple of weeks now.
JBSimio Heya JBSimio! Thank you for the kind words. I'm watching your development thread regularily, and waiting with great anticipation!
Darmok Thanks John. Coming from you those comments mean a ton. Still checking out Anduin often, but sometimes have trouble getting into the thread.
petercintn Thanks Peter! 200 is a huge number for me and TT, and the credit goes to the folks like yourself who stop by to say hi.
DarkLoki Welcome here Darkloki. The Olympic is the tree controller I use. The one thing to watch is that it is very fussy in terms of the elevation you are working on. In general it works best on low elevation. I had to modify Teton's overall elevation to achieve these results.
nova vesfalo Welcome and thanks Nova.
keithsed Hi keith. I am using the meadowshire terrain controller and the rock mod that is included with it.
Nardo69 Berhardt!! Great to see you here. And wonderful to see a version of Urland here too. Definetly one of my major inspirations!!
kwakelaar The road was a blast to create. Thanks for the kind comment!
Heinz You can call me Phil, for sure. Thanks for checking Teton out!
sebes Hi sebes. Thanks for the kind words.
Pictures
Last update was a little wordy. Neccesary for story development, but let's be honest, nothing beats a great set of pictures. Not sure if this qualifies as a great set, I'll let you be the judge.
As mentioned in the last update, farming and agriculture was to be dramatically expanded. An area just north of Jackson was identified as a farming specific region. A corridor about 12 kilometers long and about 5 kilometers wide was tucked in the valley.
This update will be short on words and let the pictures do the talking. The next dozen or so shots focus on farms that have grown in that corridor. Quarter sections have been developed within roads built in a half kilometer grid.
The farms are both Maxis content as well as custom content. The detail in the farms is just spectacular, and closeups are a must!
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Traffic on these side roads can be murder.
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Zooming in gives a even better look at the great detail.
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Even out in the boonies, you need good communications infastructure.
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The odd trail seperates the fields.
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Peg's gravel shoulders work well with the farm fields.
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Made some good use of Darmoks rural trails.
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This Christmas tree farm is one of the best.
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I love the look of old barns. Great textures.
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About 10 kilometers northeast of Jackson, the village of Miller has grown. Miller is named after the nearby Miller springs.
Local fields and vilage homes merge into one.
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Here's a really nice row of country homes.
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I love this little street.
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A couple of shops for groceries etc, is about all the commercial development found here.
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More cool homes and gardens.
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A lovely little nordic church (a Simgoober piece) sits at the edge of town.
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Panning back quite a bit gives a wider view of the north end of the corridor. Miller sits in the lower left corner.
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Next time we will have more maps of impending development and a continued look at rural development. Included will be a lumber mill, to make use of all this cleared timber.
Thanks for checking Teton out!
Pvarcoe:
All I can say is OUTSTANDING!!!
The mood you have created through your chose of farm buildings, country residences, small commercial buildings, rural paths, etc. is unmatched---totally spectacular.
&apls &apls &apls
Keith
Your showcase has made me realize just how much variety there is to be found in farms out there (I have some...but wow) and that tree farm is one of my favorites too. Pic 10 is quite well done. It reminds me of the farms in Ventura county, CA. They just run right along the road, few fences, just crops-road-crops. That short little street (with the curve right before the end) looks great. Its neat how you built it right into the farmland and maintained the fence around its perremeter. Plus, that garden in the corner is a great way to hide that more-or-less inevitable open tile. You've attained a fine sense of realism with the way the city is beginning to grow into the farmland. The grid of farms somewhat reminds me of David's farming history at 3RR. This is really well done and continues to improve.
I think this is quite exceptionally well done. Your farmland is interesting to look at, there is great varity of both farms and fields. The village of Miller blends into the farmland in a realistic way, adding some kind of urban center to your farming community.
Wonderful pictures!! REally nice rural setting :)
Oh snap, I didn't realize that farms could look THAT good. It looks amazing from every zoom which is very rare. Most often I find that you have to sacrifice detail to get a good overview but you just proved me totally wrong on that. &apls &apls &apls
You've gone from wild vistas to the common farm. But still its amazing. The detail on those farms (especially the christmas tree one) and how you've linked it all with gravel shoulders and trails. :thumbsup: Who's the rich guy in the massive house in Miller? Is he the 'Miller' beer brewmaster? haha :-[
Absolutley, superbly, outstanding farming update. I love it all. Great job. Maybe the best farming pics I have seen.
Robin :thumbsup:
&apls Great shots and great work you have to show.very good variety of farm and fields. Very realistic. keep going. :thumbsup:
Beautiful farmlands, pvarcoe! I love the trails separating the farms, but I do agree with you: The Christmas tree farm does look the best! Great job, my friend!
Very nice looking farms. I could watch them for hours, and still would not be able to make such job like that. &apls
Wow , I'm late this time ...
Beautiful farm scenes , the most difficult subject to master . :thumbsup:
It's also with farms we can see the most it's an american game ...It's almost impossible to create an european countryside like that . I enjoy this travel .
Like some others , I particurlarly love the tree farm and the little street .... &apls
Oh , and on the first pic it seems that this truck has got a serious problem with its trailer ... ;D
Quotenothing beats a great set of pictures.
Heh! Now there's the understatement of the month.
Farming appears to be going great guns in TT. You're absolutely correct about the great close-in detail. The last pic, which has you feeling like you are way up over that valley, is a stunner.
Great to see a new update in this wonderful MD.
David
great pictures of your farm area! :thumbsup:
you said we can be the judge if those were a "great set" of pictures... oh my man.. it is a GREAT SET indeed. if you have more of those to go with more rural updates... you've got me hooked. i'm definitely ()stsfd() keep em coming!
Hi, Phil,
%%Order?/ This judge's deliberation is concluded, I have heard Attorney Edgren's closing argument, and the verdict is in. I find Mr Varcoe "Guilty"--Guilty of producing great pictures that are unbeatable. Especially not by any of Liv's words. :)
I'm like a kid with his toys when I get to farmin' in SC4. The detail is indeed superb, even in the Maxis variety, and is best seen with closest zoom. You have come out with such popping detail without being "oversharp"--is it a certain adjustment technique you would care to share? I must say, if I were you I might keep it a secret. ;) I'm going to have to get that tree farm, looks like it might even work on slopes. But I think my favorite pic is the ninth, with the rail cutting through, the trees, crop variety, and a rural church--dead on countrified, my friend.
--Liv
Your landscapes are remarkable and your farming districts sit well on such beautiful terrain. I adore the detail in the farms and I really like the way you have presented them here. Thanks! ;D
I must say that your farms look absolutely delicious. Great job, Phil! As always, you never cease to amaze with your wonderful vistas across the Teton Valley (is that the right name for it?).
A couple of these farms look a bit too bright, but that's alright.
Nice work. TT is developing wonderfully! &apls
Thank you for all the kind comments.
Do not worry, Teton has not called it quits!
It has been slowed by RL, but I have continued to play the region.
I need to get the next few upates organized, and stay consistant with the developing backstory.
One thing I can tell you is a major discovery will drive new development in an area of the region currently inhabited by moose and beaver.
This will have a huge impact on the region.
Stay tuned!
Phil, that last update was simply.... yeah I know I'm repeating myself, but nonetheless it was (leafing through the thesaurus....) ah! here it is... brace youself here they come! "amazing, astonishing, astounding, breathtaking, colossal...." etc etc... and I mean it! I was about to ask you about the tree farm but had my answer when you showed it in greater details... that christmas tree farm is really beautiful! And I'm really honored that you've used some of my trails... I agree with you about the pic that you've titled "I love this little street" sometimes the little things matter more to us that the big and complicated setups.... and this small street is a perfect example of this... small but so true to life! remember me of lots of small streets in my hometown!
As usual the only complaint would be that we don't see enough of your work my friend... but I can relate to RL contingencies! (Oh boy! do I....)
Take care of yourself Phil, and I hope to see more of your pics in a (reasonably) close future..
-John
Quote from: pvarcoe on May 06, 2007, 03:45:39 PM
Thank you for all the kind comments.
Do not worry, Teton has not called it quits!
It has been slowed by RL, but I have continued to play the region.
I need to get the next few upates organized, and stay consistant with the developing backstory.
One thing I can tell you is a major discovery will drive new development in an area of the region currently inhabited by moose and beaver.
This will have a huge impact on the region.
Stay tuned!
This is great news! I'll be eagerly anticipating the next update, my friend!
Humina Humina Humina Humina Humina! :o
Its hard to take in all the detail.... I think the farms are too uniform (ie. realistic :D) for me.... BUT thats just me.... I am definitly downloading the Olympic Tree Controller (I've hung on to the maxis ones for ages)
And am going to purchase (yet another) copy of SC4 and continue rural development in my region. However, in a quite different style.
Few CJ's inspire me... And Jackson is a beauty *demolishes his town of Jackson for redevelopment*
Well I'm rambling so.... I'll close with:
Humina Humina..... :o
Well, well, well. I've been meaning to take a look at this MD for ages, and only just got around to it. Boy have I missed out! I've just read all 13 pages and have found everything about them absolutely fascinating, from your discussions on terraforming and terrain mods, to the story of Jackson and Miller. You have a real talent for this it seems, and your slow start at the stroy has really turned into something truly enthralling. You deserve every bit of praise you have got for this MD. I think you just inspired me! Keep up the great work.
&apls &apls &apls &apls &apls
Fred
Love it!
Nice wide shots, they put it all into perspective!
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Update 16, The Future of Teton
Well, time and the years march on in Teton.
This update shows a Teton divided.
What will the future hold for Teton?
Will a "Paradise Lost" prevail?
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Will the hope of new towns encourage hope?
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Will Teton become the new "Utopia"?
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Stay tuned this fall for answers to these questions and much much more.
Thanks to all for checking out Teton!
Woah! I almost thought Teton would go to the archives soon. How very very nice to see another update! And what an update it is. The industrial areas look amazing! And you haven't lost your small town touch either.
Welcome back!
&apls &apls &apls
Oh, yeah!!! I've been watching for a TT update- this makes my day. Fine teaser pics of things to come, my friend. See you this fall.
David
Right on Phil, thought you were out for the count there. The Rocky Balboa of MD creators!
Can't wait for your updates!
Great work, awesome pictures and the content is incredilbe. I see you have used the new Peg farms, very cool.
Robin &apls
Wonderful teasers!!
Can't wait for the next update...
&apls Luca
Whoa! Quite the cliffhanger you've got for us here, my friend! I'll definitely be looking forward to seeing what happens this fall! Until then...
UPDATE! YYYYYYYAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!
I thought this was dead.... thankfully no :D
&apls &apls Nice to see another update . Great industry zone. Keep it up. :thumbsup:
Good to see another update, and a great industrial one too. It's easy to go overboard with industry, but you have really nailed it. The lots seem to combine together to form larger industries (as opposed to many of my attempts which result in the lots looking like they are all separate entities just renting parcels of the land... no continuity... any advice?). I will certainly be staying tuned.
Nice to see you back!
Great update, pvarcoe! The industrial area is looking very nice! The new houses, too! :thumbsup:
Ahhh wonderfull - Teton is alive again! And how.. what a great update. Be sure I'll stay tuned to watch the developments!
The oil-drill area is absolutely great - the refineries gotta be showing like a fairy-tale in the night... so looking forward to a night-shot of the area ;)
Ooooooooh wow i cant belive i missed TT before i feel soo bad... wow i really love those oil tanks... where in the world did you get them? cant wait till the next update in the fall - pat
Well... I don't know how to start, Pvarcoe. This MD is completely AMAZING (and i'm already repeating other fellows' comments). I have never seen such realism in a SC4 landscape before. And that IS saying a lot... You have achieved a great success in your design. I really like what you have done. Your MD is a really inspiring one, and very well worth reading and enjoying. Thanks for sharing it.
I think I already feel sorry for the town inhabitants, with all the floods and now with the end of their clean air...
But I want to see more!! I'm here waiting for your next update
AND I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THE SNOW PIC FROM THE FIRST PAGES OF YOUR MD!!! IT'S INSANE!!
Congratulations
SANDOKAN
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Update 17... What to expect next.
Greeting to all! Thanks for checking out and/or returning to Teton.
As we dive back into the story and pictures, perhaps a little background info would be helpful.
I have continued development the region over the summer and fall. If you are anything like me, you get playing the game, and it is hard to stop and record your progress as you go along. So I don't always record the growth in a way that is presentable without gaping holes. Never the less, Teton has grown, and now is as good a time as any to dive back in.
For those who are interested, I am still using the Meadowshire terrain mod, with the Olympic tree controller.
I have installed the newest NAM. I have also installed the CAM mod. That mod has definetly affected the way my region grows. I have to plan a little more carefully, and balance my residential against commercial and industrial growth quite precisely.
But my first love in this game is still creating the terrain or rural work. I have recently installed Jeronij's transparent ploppable water and have begun working on rivers and streams in earnest.
So enough of an introduction. Let's take a look at what's is in store for Teton over the next few updates.
Here are previews of several of the next few planned updates.
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16 years have passed since the decommisioning of Grand Teton National Park. The year is 2048 and the population of the region has climbed to 130,000. Oil was discovered in the north end of the Teton valley, in the former lake bed of the original Jackson lake.
Very quickly after the discovery, the community of Donoho was built to service the oil development. The town quickly grew into a small city and now has the largest population of any city in the region. The last census put the population at just over 60,000, almost double that of Jackson.
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The growth grew, quite uncontrolled, and industrial development was often placed nearby commercial and residential areas.
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Several good sized hotels were built to accomodate the increasing number of business travellers. The oil business is booming in Teton.
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The majority of the Teton region is still wilderness and the Moose Wilson River highlights the rugged beauty to be found here.
The river was formed during the flooding that created the new Jackson Lake, and runs from Teton Village south to the Lake itself.
Tucked right against the base of the Teton mountains, the river is fed directly from the mountain ice packs. Swimming not recommended.
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The river itself is rather slow moving with few discernable rapids. The streams that feed it tumble down the mountain sides, and the upcoming river update will feature some of those.
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The area around the town of Jackson has continued to grow (although not at the pace of Donoho).
Farming was extended in the valley west of the town.
Both West Jackson and Spring Gulch are good sized towns in that valley and all three communities are within a couple of miles of each other.
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With growth in the region the highways needed to be upgraded.
Many small communities sprang up along side roads, wherever agricultural development was allowed.
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The main highway between Jackson and Donodo was expanded into a four lane highway.
Below we can see the intersection, not far from the old enterance into Grand Teton National Park.
Some of the old park fence is still visible beside the highway.
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Jenny lake was one of the original lakes within the national park that remained intact after the global warming catastrophies.
Some light development has occured along it's shores. The shot below shows two different shades of water.
I have been experimenting with the new transparent ploppable water.
So far I have had mediocre results (in terms of creating realistic looking lake water).
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The original enterance into Teton used to contain the park headquarters and services.
This became a spot where the government created a community to service the newely opend lands.
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In the lower right corner of town ,you can see where the original Park headquarters was placed.
The biggest decision with this area was, how large a military presence would be needed here. Stay tuned.
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So that's it for now. Hopefully these brief glimpses, give you a good sense of where this region is headed.
The updates will be a mix of terraforming/lanscaping, agriculture development, and of course more towns and cities.
Thanks to all for checking out Teton!
:thumbsup:
That's a wonderful update!!! Just a question, is that old winding road up to teton pass still there?
Good question Meldolion.
You probably noticed it isn't on the road map at present.
The road is in the midst of construction. I am upgrading it to David's nice curves.
I am probably about 2/3 done it, and when done it will show up on the map and in the transportation update.
Good catch and thanks!
Alright Phil, good to see this alive and kicking.
And stronger than ever. The entire region as a whole looks amazing. I could never have imagined that it could look so great, but you have done your homework on terrain mods and tree controllers.
I like where the farms are located and how it transitions into an urban area so nicely near the lake. Excellent work! Looking forward to those winding roads you have coming up, too.
The transparent ploppable water (the river especially) looks perfect. I feel I'm falling behind on all the cool stuff that has been developed recently! I think this is one of the ultimate regions, considering the terrain, and your building-style meshes so perfectly.
Keep it up, this has always been a favorite of mine, from the day it started!
Hi phil !
Your updates are always so longed-for ... :)
Great developments so far . The river looks beautiful with these erosion effects here and there ... nicely done . :thumbsup:
Maybe should you try Sorchin's dark blue with undulations water instead of a transparent water for the lakes . I don't find them proper for that use indeed !
Not enough closer views ! That's hard , I guess due to the size of this region (my "all times" favorite map ... ) , and without loosing the "can't get enough" effect of the surrounding Tetons ....Hope to see little forests scenes as well in the future .
Oh , have to come a few page back to see again this unforgettable Teton pass , even if I've already it since a long time in my personal album .... can't wait to see the result with roads curves . :)
&apls &apls &apls
I am glad that you have posted again. The farm lands that you made look very nice. I like how they are cut in two by the forrested hills, that is making it very realistic. &apls
Beautiful pictures of Teton!
Great to see you back!
Looking forward to the next updates...
Sweet! I was wondering when you'd come back with a new update! As always, your teraforming skills blow me away. That river is amazing!! :thumbsup:
Welcome back, my good friend!
I'm so glad that you've come back with this fantastic update, and I hope that it's the first of many! The region looks just as wonderful as ever, and your farms are beautiful, too! I'll be looking forward to seeing more from you!
Wow very nice region. Where did you get this police station? (the grey one)
&aplsI've been reading and re-reading your MD, soaking up the inspiration and I have a few questions. &apls
1. I haven't been back to this MD in ages, but a gentle reminder if you have the time.
QuoteNow, as I previously mentioned I am using the Olympic tree controller. ... by cycledogg. ... an extensive list of dependencies. A more than fair trade ... There are 13 dependencies in all. ... Just a note, the total number of DAT and SC4DESC tree files is about 159.
Quotegreenbelt
Thanks for visiting greenbelt. Of course you can dare. I don't have them handy, but give me a day or two and I'll russle a list up.
%confuso
I don't know how Windows works but it would be really helpful if I could see a screen shot of the Folder where you keep the Tree controller along with the dependencies(since as you mentioned you keep all of it in the same folder). That might help me figure out what I'm still missing. Or else it could be a issue of loading order. Something else is overwriting the tree files, maybe?
2. I haven't heard about this Mod before. Is it on STEX or LEX? Does it work with a Mac? BTW does SC4Mapper work on a Mac? I have the same problem along with the issue of missing trees. I use PEG's OPPS Mod so I just pretend those are some kind of weird flowers.
QuoteBut I happened to open Region Census right after one of these "treeing sessions" and noticed something which had not previously caught my eye. The majority of the seams were gone.
... I'm not sure why, but obviously Region Census creates a superior screenshot to the in-game region shot.
The beautiful pictures you've posted just leaves me itching to start a pastoral type region. I just went thru my plugins folder carefully setting up the CAM Farming downloads. Double checked all the readmes. I have to find a little more excess to trim from the plugins and then I can get started.
Thnx