SC4 Devotion Forum Archives

SimCity 4 Devotion Custom Content Showcase => Independent Development Projects => Independent BAT (Building Architect Tool) Projects => Topic started by: Frankie on April 07, 2007, 09:02:22 AM

Title: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: Frankie on April 07, 2007, 09:02:22 AM
Well, I was playing SC4 the other day, when I realized, I hate wig-wag style crossing gates. They are cool for older cities from the 1930's-1950's, but not for those of us with modern cities. Here's what I went for:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi91.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk294%2FFrankie_117%2FHefferman.jpg&hash=a305b65b72cdd227fddd6e46dcec3cb1307ff5b1)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi91.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk294%2FFrankie_117%2Fcover.jpg&hash=fbe8b8a0b6b0bef0e4236090d51cce9199293c7c)

It looks good for urban areas no?

Here's what I got:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi91.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk294%2FFrankie_117%2Fwigwagsucks-Jan.jpg&hash=4d6cda87a4d94b9640b6d6f992bbf860ad1fad72)

Fukuda was kind enough to mod the test models for me:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi91.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk294%2FFrankie_117%2FCrossingTest1-Jan.jpg&hash=e0f6334c3189de80b2863f5a205d9c65ab152829)

and now it looks like:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi91.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk294%2FFrankie_117%2Flightedcrossingtest1-Feb.jpg&hash=14cc9de17b8e2728e664d1d206767f2e3d529942)

I was wondering if I could get some suggestions on how to make it better, or any other criticisms you may have (feel free to be as critical as you want, I want to hear it). I'm still a BAT beginner though, so have a little mercy :P

I have absolutely no idea how to animate, so I just made the lights static, same with a crossing gate if I do add one eventually.

Let me know what you think.

-Frankie
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: meinhosen on April 07, 2007, 09:18:57 AM
Frankie,

those crossing arms are looking pretty good.  I've seen (have) a mod that changes those wig-wags into the regular crossing gates, and I'm pretty sure that you could make those show up on RR crossings.

One suggestion: add in a gate.  No need to animate it, but it would add to the already excellent model you've produced.

Great work!  I'll be keeping an eye on this  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: wouanagaine on April 07, 2007, 09:19:38 AM
Looks good to me
Maybe you can put an underground passage for sims ?
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: BigSlark on April 07, 2007, 11:46:22 AM
Great start Frankie! Now from the depths of my memory...

In the RHW thread on ST someone had made AMAZING models and there were plans to have them as Type 21's on the RHW. Unfortunately, I don't remember what happened to the project. I'd say its around page 35 or so if you want to check it out.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Kevin
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: Frankie on April 07, 2007, 11:50:30 AM
Meinhosen: I too have seen such a mod. However, usually busy city crossings have the gantry too  :thumbsup:

wouanagaine: please elaborate, do you mean a small pedestrian tunnel?

BigSlark: lol, I was posting an update when you posted. I recall pics on the RHW thread of these such gantrys, however I made my own anyway. I will look at the thread, if you find them first, feel free to post pics here :P If the models are still floating about, then they can modded onto the avenue network tile.


Anyway, i made some gates, static of course, but they are gates none the less. Besides, most SC4 tracks are more empty than occupied anyway :P

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi91.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk294%2FFrankie_117%2FGate2-Feb.jpg&hash=69e2bda3e2a164d0ae18e2200e5cfe8df64ce13c)


I hope it's what you meant, meinhosen.

Now, with that, I believe these are already finished, they still seem to be missing something though...

-Frankie
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: sebes on April 07, 2007, 11:51:54 AM
They look goooood  :thumbsup: &apls
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: Frankie on April 07, 2007, 08:46:05 PM
sebes: Thanks!

Oh, and progress:

Here's what I have (with thanks to fukuda for modding them :) )

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi91.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk294%2FFrankie_117%2FTennille-Nov.jpg&hash=6f9e543fb1b51f70c838f61a71388e418e10ccc8)

They also look quite good in a suburban setting:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi91.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk294%2FFrankie_117%2FTennille-May.jpg&hash=819a0cccd6568e21d152b9b28b99d4087da13ca9)

Well, what do you all think?
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: derek_pearce on April 07, 2007, 09:10:11 PM
wow great job frankie perfecto
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: EDGE4194 on April 07, 2007, 09:17:54 PM
Frankie- I hadn't realized these were missing, you are so right! They look great- good job &apls
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: Bobbo on April 07, 2007, 10:00:11 PM
I agree Frankie, I think this is excellent - great job!
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: Gecko on April 07, 2007, 10:10:30 PM
it is very nice, but shouldn't there be a striped bar that extends out when a train is coming, so the cars don't just drive out in front of the railcars? :P
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: Swamper77 on April 07, 2007, 11:19:02 PM
Gecko,

BAT models can't be animated. They are fixed (static) models.

-Swamper77
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: jeronij on April 08, 2007, 04:32:53 AM
Frankie, the models are looking really nice and eye-candy. I like them. How do you plan to release them?. A TE lot?, a mod that replaces all the rail/avenue intersections?, just curiosity  ::)
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: Shadow Assassin on April 08, 2007, 05:56:05 AM
QuoteBAT models can't be animated. They are fixed (static) models.

However, there is a way, but it involves rendering multiple models (ie. gate up, gate down - lights flashing), and putting them as an animation.
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: Frankie on April 08, 2007, 06:30:40 PM
I'll go ahead and make some quick responses:

derek_pearce: thanks!

EDGE4194: i couldn't help but notice they were missing! lol

Bobbo: Thank You! Took a bit of work getting these right, especially with the scaling issue  &mmm but I think they turned out quite well  ;D

Gecko: Well I did include the gates, in the upright position, animation is not exactly easy...(for me anyway)

Swamper77: Well they can be to an extent, but it is no easy process

jeronij: Thanks, i'm glad you like these :) I plan to release them as a mod, completely replacing the default rail/avenue intersections  :thumbsup:

Shadow Assassin: Indeed, and rendering that many models is a slow and painful process, especially if one wanted to make it look good.


Currently trying to work out some kinks in the modding, should see some updates soon if all goes well.
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: bat on April 09, 2007, 02:39:30 AM
That is looking very great, Frankie! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: EDGE4194 on April 09, 2007, 04:58:51 AM
The only problem with a mod, is that all will be replaced. These wouldn't look right in the rural/farming areas. I would like to use these but only in the urban areas and only for more more modern time periods. A TE lot would make it easier to control where they appear- just a suggestion...  :)
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: Zaphod on April 10, 2007, 09:50:20 PM
Release these NOW!

now i say! nooowwwww!

lol

I wouldnt mind a mod converting all crossings to this type, though I understand some would want a TE lot
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: Swamper77 on April 11, 2007, 07:39:07 PM
Quote from: EDGE4194 on April 09, 2007, 04:58:51 AM
The only problem with a mod, is that all will be replaced. These wouldn't look right in the rural/farming areas. I would like to use these but only in the urban areas and only for more more modern time periods. A TE lot would make it easier to control where they appear- just a suggestion...  :)

Actually, Network Tiles (which are what the Type 21 exemplars are) can be defined for specific zones and wealth levels. So a separate version will need to be created to not replace every instance of the avenue railroad crossings with the new gantries.

-Swamper77
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: ussagus on April 12, 2007, 11:09:34 AM
Very nice Frankie...It's great... :thumbsup:


Saludos
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: rooker1 on April 13, 2007, 04:54:35 AM
I like them, I think they are great and would like to see TE lots.

Robin   :thumbsup: &apls
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: cammo2003 on May 01, 2007, 05:00:16 PM
These look much better than the standard crossings. IMHO these aren't overkill for even rural areas, at least, not on avenues, which is all they'd be replacing, right?

If so, they'll be fine. As I see it, avenues are significant enough arterial roads to warrant a consistent standard.
Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: 755 on May 21, 2007, 03:28:17 PM
Quote from: BigSlark on April 07, 2007, 11:46:22 AM
Great start Frankie! Now from the depths of my memory...

In the RHW thread on ST someone had made AMAZING models and there were plans to have them as Type 21's on the RHW. Unfortunately, I don't remember what happened to the project. I'd say its around page 35 or so if you want to check it out.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Kevin


(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg125.imageshack.us%2Fimg125%2F7377%2Frhwsignalagainhv1.png&hash=3ea5aa67f8d82719d26beec3782202413cce5eb7)
This model?

What happened to the models you mention is that they were going to be released on ST as a separate prop pack but could not get uploaded due to a pesky URL error.  Plus indecisiveness about going back and making further improvements such as putting some textures on the models also helped prevent any release.

Definitely a very nice design though, Frankie.  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:





Title: Re: Avenue Railroad Crossings
Post by: flame1396 on June 14, 2007, 09:30:16 AM
I have these already! MUAHAHAHAHA! unreleased!!! Muaahaahaaa ()flamdev()