Urland - a (mostly) rural Coastline

[metarvo]

There is a really good variety of rails in this update.  This is proof that roads are not the only way that people make their commutes everyday.  I also like the industrial pics, particularly 7.04.  Keep up the good work, Bernhard!

[Nardo69]

*takes a deep breath*

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okay. As I posted in the "Did You Already Know That ..." - Thread here is a new update. Not my best one as I have to warn you. But sometimes fools have to pay for their jokes ... 

But as allways before we start:

@WC_EEND: Indeed, my friend, indeed! (Sorry, had to put my friend The Banning Smiley in here - he complains about being completely unemployed these days ...)

@metarvo: Well, I would like to say that I'd do my very best but sometimes  ... Anyways - at least some rail-based traffic infrastructure can be seen today!

Update Nr. 8: A Fool, A Joke, Mediocrity And The A-word

Want a fairytale? Well, here's one for you:

Once upon a time there was a old, experienced and long time SimCity player. In years of citybuilding he gathered himself a reputation as rather good Simcity player. He collected Gigabytes of cusrtom content, even changed some of them to fit his specific needs. However he refused to use any custom content for airports because he hated airports. All kind of. He just plopped the ingame airports from time to time for demand cap reasons.

One day a young SimCity had the idea of making an airport competition over at the German Simforum. From time to time old people tend to be old fools, and so it happend that long time experienced asked as a joke in that airport competition if the ingame airports were allowed, too.

If he just kept his mouth shut! Because sometimes foolishness is punished immediately ...

To the shear terror of that experienced long time Simcity Player that Joke was the approval to take part in the airport competition ...


Well, for those who understand German you can read the (hi-)story here - the others might use a translation service or just enjoy the (other  ) pictures ...

Let's begin with an overview of my region. As you can see I changed the config.bmp and moved the cities more to the center:


Region view.


Traffic view.

I don't like regions that have an airport on every map. So I placed the region's airport at the corner of three maps in order to have a positive demand cap effekt at least on the two most dense maps - Neustadt and the blank map that shall become the captial of the region. The third map - Flughafen - is a middle map that shall become something like an I-HT center somewhere in the future.
I plopped the international ingame airport on the two developed maps and will do the same on the blank map as I regard them being one huge airport. If I ever puzzle myself an airport there I have at least a little bit of space there ...

I'm not satisfied with it - especially not with Neustadt - but deadline means deadline ... 


Overview over the airport area at Flughafen. The amount of empty spaces indicates it - map under construction.


The airport area. Honestly I was mostly interested to connect the differen t traffic ways (like Rhein-Main-Flughafen at Frankfurt/Main). The airport is indirect connected to the Highway by two avenues.
I am not sure if I let the station like it is now or if I redo and relot it to a GHSR / Railway hub.


From another angle. The Tram becomes subway in order to cross the GHSR and railway and connects the airport to a mixed commercial / industrial quarter.


Parking lots are behind the airfield. They are connected to the terminal by tramway. The tramway ticket for up to four persons is included in the parking fee - which reduces its expensiveness from "WHAT THE F@&%" to "THEY ARE JUST MAD!" 
I like to use Simgoobers Irrigation kanals for kanalized creeks and I did it here, too. The small kanalized creek runs through the whole map. It runs a bit parallel to the GHSR untill it crosses GHSRm railway line and the parking lot underground ...


... and emerges behind the big parking lot again to daylight and to the neighbour map.


The other railway station head. The layout of the avenue made quite some headaches but I regard this as the least evil as I need to cross the GLR only once.


Again the transit hub. On all lines it handles 15-20.000 Sims per rushhour.


The airport in Neustadt. Lots of empty zones - I plopped the airport on the edge of the map, developed the other areas and now with >600k inhabitants the map brings my old Pentium IV to its limits and beyond them ...


The transit hub. Behind the parking lots ...


you find the convetion centre (a bit inspired by the airport Stuttgart-Echterdingen and the convention center Stuttgart).


At the terminal the parking lots can be used for the stadium, too.

OK, that's it. Rather mediocre.

Bye Bye reputation ... 

- Thirteen pictures full of mediocre crap? Do you REALLYthink you could get away that easy?

- well ... I did something there along the highway, too ...

- then don't held speaches and show it!


- okaaaaay ....

Except for old military airports that are out of use for years it is not a really clever idea to put trees on an airfield ... So I played a bit with the green stripes next to the Highways. Like all highway (Autobahnen) in SW Germany they are generelly not fenced in.

The thing was to keep the sides of the highway clear for guarantee a sufficient visibilty range and not to overdo the bushes and trees behind that green stripe.


That small wood just isn't visibale on picture 8.2. It is found at the intersection of the avenue with the highway. The kanalized creek is the same that we saw at the GHSR line and at airport parking lot.







You can find such trails running parallel to highways and mayor roads rather often in Germany in order to let the farmers do their business on their fields since the highways / mayor roads are most of the time off limits to them.



That's the last one, it is the continuation of the green area at the highways which becomes the border of the agricultural and industrual area here.

That's it for today - hope I haven't made a complete fool out of myself ...


Bernhard ( )

[sithlrd98]

All I can say is , I don't feel that you made a fool of yourself...you have "Broadened" your game play by attempting the unfamiliar!  I truly applaud you on this as I have yet tried to even create an airport that is anything more than just Maxis...and even then , I think your accomplishment was better than mine! I don't think that any of what I saw was bad , not as glamorous as what the airport pros can do , but nonetheless it does get the job done!

Jayson

[meinhosen]

I agree with Jayson - we've seen so many airports recently that the standard has been raised very high.  I'm scared to death to open my now swollen airports menu, but like you I have a city that is in need of an airport.     I do love the confluence of different rail lines in and around the airport.  I guess that while your airports may not be up to par with the pros, your rails definitely put almost everyone else on SC4D to shame.    
Those final pictures around the highway... perfect.  Well worth the wait.

Oh, and just because the MetEEndo69 entity appeared here...    

[RickD]

I like the overgrown farm track in the last couple of pictures and the highway surrounding. Looks very realistic to me.
Would look a lot better with the RHW, though. 

[TheTeaCat]

A Fool, A Joke, Mediocrity - where I don't see it.

What I see was some trying something out of their comfort zone and doing a pretty good job of it.
It is not easy by any means to try a different style or to concentrate on aspects of the game which you are not used to and I like what you have achieved. 
Plenty of different styles of rail (which you are famous for ) and getting the infrastructure to blend so seamlessly is a feat in itself

I would not call this a mediocre update  In fact I'd say it was fascinating to see just how well you did  using just the maxis  airport and making it fit so well.

And the overgrown track beside the highway nicely done my friend and so true to RL -  well lets just say you gave me some ideas

hope I haven't made a complete fool out of myself ...

Far from it - I think you did very well
worth one of these I think for trying something new.


till the next time

regards
Derry


PS don't forget to make backups.
gee long time since I said that

[WC_EEND]

the only "mediocre" thing I see here is the fact that one of your airports is a bit dilapitated 
other than that it's one great update

PS: I understand and totally agree

[metarvo]

At times, something different is nice for a change.  So, it's a small airport, but it's still an airport.  Many places have small local or regional airports that are about the size of this one, and I have seen some that look quite similar, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.  In any case, there are still plenty of rails in this update, including a transition from Rail to GHSR.  The trails that run along the highway seem to serve a similar purpose to the frontage roads that I see in the States, even though ours are usually Roads or OWRs.  Nice update, Bernhard.

[Battlecat]

The airport doesn't look bad at all.  Good choice adding all those additional details around it!  I like what you did along the side of the highway.  Very nice indeed!

[Tomas Neto]

Great update, fantastic use of trees on the side of the highway!! I like very much this way to use trees!!

[tooheys]

Hehe, I could have so much fun with this Bernhard, but for once I'll be a gentleman 

Despite your absolute hate of airports, you have certainly done a great job linking them to the transportation network. What else would we expect, you remain the master my friend 

And just to show you haven't gone totally insane, you finished off with some classic Nardo rural pic's. To tell you the truth, that is some of the best use of the standard hwy thru a rural area that I've seen. Very nice indeed.

Dave

[Nardo69]

Hello To All!

A bit earler then before (yep, sometimes wonders happen to be ) a small update. No airport this time  (but also no railway ...)

But as allways before we start:

sithlrd98: Glad you didn't completely disliked it. I must confess I played with the thought of doing a custom airport but you know, I am still Nardo ...   

meinhosen: Actually, my airport menu is  the only menu where I don't need the mousewheel ...  Glad you like the trails at the highway. I made them after having no clue how to improve Maxis airport so I moved on to the highway. At least some work and some satisfaction ... 

RickD: Glad you like the trails. With the RHW, well, you know, stubborn old donkeys need their time for new tricks ... 

TheTeaCat: Thanks for the cuppa, I did enjoy it!
Well, the railways are the most interesting thing for me on big airports like e.g. Frankfurt / Main with the Metro and the ICE Terminal (the ladder would be a nice addition to Sc4 with all the new offices etc. above it). And the trails, the idea came me while I was riding to the airport to see my wife and my son! Glad you liked them (and I am curious what you made out of your ideas )

WC_EEND Glad you like it!
The dilapation of the airports is something I don't like about Maxis airports: in fact it is not dilapated but reached appr. 75% of its capacity before the first upgrade. I would have understand it if it happened when its capacity would be >= 95% just before the upgrade but like this 
And for my fellow MetEENDo69 member:  

metarvo: Well, actually the two airports (together with a future third one inthe blank big map) should form a medium airport like e.g. Köln Bonn and increase the demad cap in two bigger cities. Maybe one day if I go completely insane I'll change them to custom airport but at the moment I really don't feel like that.
Glad you like the trails!
And for my fellow MetEENDo69 member:  

Battlecat: Thanks for the compliment!

Tomas Neto: Thanks for the compliment!

tooheys Phewiee ... but actually I was prepard for the worst! 
About my insanity see my reply to metarvo. Glad you like the trails; seeing German Autobahn it is always difficult to integrate them but on the other hand I haven't had the guts to try the RHW - see my reply to RickD ... 

BTW if you are interested in the airport competition (and into the airports of my concurrents):

You can see the airports here and vote (for the others) here (of course registration is required at SimForum.de). There are some other interesting threads, too

Now let's go into Medias Res and start:

Update Nr. 9: Rammelsbach I



Rammelsbach is both the name of a creek and the name of  a small village with some farming and wood (yet to do). The small map is still under construction. By now my focus laid on Ploppable Water and the river shore.

I chose PW instead of TPW because TPW made the whole creek look like highwater. I chose *cough*cough*'s PPond kit because of the extender pieces; with any kind of PW/TPW I had a gap under the NAM bridge.



The center of the village with the Church St. Ignatz.
The shores of the creek (that formed a kind of small canyon) have been secured by large rocks.



The Rammelsbach.
I used the Jagged edge mod but somehow I couldn't smooth out the edges ... 



The only "Industry" in Rammelsbach is I-Ag. The form of the farm follows the area; in general I prefer rectangular ones (like so often IRL)



From another angle it looks rather OK for me. The empty area will become a forest - later ...
What I really love is the small tree from Simfox's tree. IMHO it is the best bush modell by far available at the moment! 



The Rammelsbach flows into the Ihner, which I think ...



... I made rather nice here - at least I like it!



The passenger ferry. I experienced a bit with the different rocks - white above the water surface, green at and below water surface due to algae etc. I am not completely happy though and may redo it.



A mayor road on a dam, to its left farms, to its right some woods and the river - I just like that setup! And with this picture I close this fast and small update (at least for me  )

Have fun!


Bernhard 

[jmyers2043]

This is a very nice update. I like each and every picture. They are filled with details that kept me scrolling back and forth. I looked at each one time and again. I like the cobblestone base texture you used to create a seamless transition between the 'real' water and the small stream. That is very effective.

[Tomas Neto]

Fantastic work on this rural area!!! Great job!!! 

[threeswept]

Superb landscaping in Rammelsbach! What a great little village!

[Battlecat]

Great job!  You're really getting good at the plopable water rivers!  That transition to the game water worked out quite nicely!

[RickD]

Rammelsbach ... painful memories.  Used to go to the dentist in the real Rammelsbach years ago. 

Great update again. You really got the hang on those streams and creeks.

[Nardo69]

Hello To All!

I hope you are not too terrified but - your eyes don't lie, it is not my 4th OSITM, I am not ill but this is just my second update within a week. Seems to be that sometimes wonder really happen

But as allways before we start:

jmyers2043: I am really glad like it! For the transition I inserted an extra closeup for you in this update!

Tomas Neto: Thanks for the compliment!

threeswept: It is not yet finished - hope you like part II, too!

Battlecat: Well, you know, new things and an old stubborn donkey, they need some time to come together but then they stay friends ... 

RickD: Uh-Oh - now I hit the spot I think  ... Hope he wasn't the type of dentist Steve Martin  played in "Little Shop Of Horrors"! 

Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, here is:

Update 10: Rammelsbach II



For jmyers2043: I just modded the culvert so that it can be plopped on water - the base texture itself stayed transparent. The creek behind the street is a tad higher that the ingame water surface. Such small slopes aren't unrealistic.
Then I layed out some pebble stone textures and plants and ... eh voila!



I wasn't finished with the map last time. Today we are going to plant a forrest on that hill - more precise: a middle-european style mixed forrest.



Between the road / the houses and the forrest there's a HV line that needs to be kept clear off high trees etc. Here I just finished the primer.



I didn't want to have a forrest between road and HV line. Because of that I planted only some trees and bushes there. I began with this pine mono forrest but didn't like it so I continued with the mix treen. I didn't blast the pines to show the contrast.



From another angle. IMHO the most important part of a good forrest are the borders of a wood with their most of time different flora. No good border = no good forres ...

Right now the leaves of most trees have the same greyish green (they will begin to change colour in some days I think). But in May and June all trees show a different green and this is what I was trying to achieve so I used almost all trees from my plugins ...

BTW from that angle the jagged edge of the creek doesn't look too ugly ...



Another angle. The free area under the HV lines is covered by the trees. Love that shot! 



The last bend before the border of the map. I couldn't do anything underneath the NAM bridge that's why it is so empty there.



This is what we did today ...



... and this is the overview of the map. Love those different greens - just like a mixed forrest in June ... 

That's it for today. Next time I'll finish this little map - and if you want to I'll do a small tutorial ...

Until then:

Have fun!

Bernhard 

[metarvo]

Wow, this update is just beautiful, Bernhard.    The forests are detailed quite well, and even the land under the power lines is quite nice with the smaller trees and flowers.  In addition, the plant growth is small enough that there seems to be no risk of fire or power outages.  I tend to leave open space under my power lines, but after reading this update, I may consider planting some flowers under my lines.  On another note, I realize that my fear from earlier came true, and this update has no rails visible anywhere. 

Keep up the good work!

[threestooges]

Excellent detail for such a small area. I hardly notice any jaggedness in the creekbed, except for perhaps one spot up by Weatherwax's (best seen in 10.6) where the creek bends. Aside from that, nicely developed litte area. Everything blends so naturally (no surprise), but it feels a bit strange not to see any rails. Nicely done as usual Bernhard.
-Matt