romualdillo's little BATs & Problems

[romualdillo]

Thank you! 
At first, I didn't understand you were talking about really restrictive zoning. I must confess I was tempted of doing so at first, but then I realized it was unnatural. My intention is to limit heights, not restrict heights, just like it was (and it is) usually done in Spain.

[bombardiere]

Yeah the game does have a few preferences when it comes to lot density, stages and upgrading.

Another one which you want to keep in mind is the game prefers to upgrade the oldest zones first, the rational being that a city grows from the center out. Since you start with low density zoning which cannot upgrade you may find it difficult to get medium density lots to grow, as these are newer zones. And again, if you rezone the low density with medium density in the center, you only exacerbate the problem because it'll destroy low density, thus the population takes a hit and you still have new medium density zones in its place. So it kinda forces you to build from the outer parts of a city inwards, with the overall growth being sluggish because it goes counter to some of the core principles of the game. Honestly, it's not practical, nor worth the effort imho.

Thank you Vortext. That is interesting information. That made me think.

If I want to create an European style old city centre, then perhaps I should zone medium density from early on, even though it would be unneccessary extra money during early play stage.

[Dantes]

After I explained myself a bit more with GMAX, I still have much greater respect for you and your great work! Mi amigo que eres un gran artista! 

[romualdillo]

As my last post might have been lost forever, I'm going to upload again all the pictures I made of the new 1- and 2-story R$ buildings I've been working on, but first I want to reiterate my gratitude to vortext and bombaridere for their help and advice.
And Dantes, thank you too!! 

The R$ buildings:
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Now some randon shots of R$ and R$$ buildings:
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And now, the new 2-story R$ buildings:
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I hope you like them! My plan is to complete the set with other two conversions and two new models.
See you! 

[korver]

Looks fantastic! Looking forward to when you release the entire set, would love to put some of these beautiful models to good use in one of my upcoming MD updates

[manga rivotra]

I am totally amazed! 
Your next set will be a wonderful gift for us !  Thanks you very much

[Themistokles]

Beautiful! You have made so many variations that one could fill a whole tile with these houses without any problems with repetition 

[metarvo]

Nice stuff there!    You can't go wrong with variety.

[11241036]

I'm amazed, too. Can't await to build some houses for my Spanish immigrants in Calidores. Amazingly detailed and high variety.

[Dantes]

For me it looks like a finished portrait!  I love your city! I look forward to large and small squares with fountains and statues. Will you use churches of debussyman? He has spanish or brazilian churches!
You are amazing artist!

[noahclem]

Outstanding work on these! Can't wait for the release of this set 

[Simmer2]

Your work conveys an atmosphere of antiquity. Its like looking at paintings from world famous artists 

[Mandarin(a)]

Love the backyards! And roofs! And everything! Amazing work 

[romualdillo]

Wow! How many comments!! Thanks to all!!

Dantes: Thanks!! In fact, im planning to model a church and other religious buildings. Debussyman's models are magnificent, but most of his churches are just too big for the scale I'm building now. Let's see what I'm going to do... 

Simmer2: Thanks!! But I fear that most of this atmosphere is achieved thanks to vortext's cobble stones and MandelSoft's light cones. Without them, all this atmosphere would be lost. 

Well, I think it's the last time I do such a big set. Sometimes I get really bored of doing the different versions of my models. Supposedly I'm doing this because I like doing it, but you know what I mean... You just want to end a project, because you want to start another one, and I have plenty of ideas I want to test in-game. After all these houses are released, I'm going to finish my basic civic pack: Schools, Police and Fire Stations and Clinic, and make a full set of 1910's vehicles. But first I'll finish this project, because I find necessary to have a good stock of buildings as background. I know that my work is too specific, but it's something I really want to do, and this is my contribution to the community. 

Now, one of the last original models of this set... Last week I took a Sketchup book out of the library and learnt a few new things about texturing and modelling. They're nothing too special, but I didn't know them.
This house is modelled after a house in León, Spain, and its style is called Neo-Mudexar (I don't know how to write it in English, in Spanish is written Neomudéjar). None of the textures has been photoshopped yet, that's why they all look so clean. As a curiosity, this style was often used in Spain to build industrial facilities, like electric power plants.







This is supposed to be the facade of the R$$ building. I hope you like it!

EDIT: I changed the expressions "to end with some project" and "to start with". I translated them directly from Spanish without thinking twice. I noticed something strange when I read Bombardiere's post. My apologies to all native English speakers, I try to do my best! 

[bombardiere]

I certainly like it.  Yes, your style is very specific. Well Spanish. Would work in South America Latin environent, but not in Northern Europe. Or US, but I like the charicter on these houses. Makes my imagination to flow.

Well, I think it's the last time I do such a big set. Sometimes I get really bored of doing the different versions of my models. Supposedly I'm doing this because I like doing it, but you know what I mean... You just want to end with some project, beacuse you want to start with another one, and I have plenty of ideas I want to test in-game. After all these houses are released, I'm going to finish my basic civic pack: Schools, Police and Fire Stations and Clinic, and make a full set of 1910's vehicles. But first I'll finish this project, beacuse I find necessary to have a good stock of buildings as background. I know that my work is too specific, but it's something I really want to do, and this is my contribution to the community. 

I can understand this. I haven't done this big building packs, but even still some buildings have exhausted me. I feel that sometimes there is a time to stop fine tuning and release the building or there is a very real danger to not ever finish it. Batting is fun hobby and I have learnt a lot about architecture, but still the batting can be surprisingly tasking.

[romualdillo]

Thanks bombardiere! Well, I think this houses are not made to resist hard winters... 

I need some help, advice, criticism, feedback, comments, ideas, suggestions.... whatever. I don't know exactly what to do with the two-story R$ version of Casa Quaroni... I chose this house because I liked it and its elements, but they are really tricky to blend successfully in other combinations. I'll give you some options, and please tell me which of them do you prefer (and why). You can suggest other combinations, of course. Textures are to finish.

01. Asymmetrical, round window normal height, higher top
02. Asymmetrical, round window higher, higher top


03. Asymmetrical, normal window, higher top
04. Asymmetrical, round window higher, same height top


05. Asymmetrical, normal window, same height top
06. Asymmetrical, round window higher, same height top, switched textures


07. Asymmetrical, normal window, same height top, switched textures.
08. Symmetrical, round window higher, higher tops


09. Symmetrical, round window higher, scaled down tops
10. Symmetrical, round window higher, same height tops


11. Totally simmetrical, same height tops
12. Totally simmetrical, same height tops, all in red


13. Totally simmetrical, same height tops, switched textures


Thank you!

[peperodriguez2710]

Wow, they look marvelous, it's very hard to find flaws on them!
As a personal opinion, I prefer the rest over the #6 and #7; though they look fantastic too.  I think this model could go really well in the typical main town squares found in towns and villages around Spain where the church, town hall and most powerful families had their homes; but that town emptied eventually because people moved to big cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia and those families were a bit in decadence (and their homes too). I simply love your work, you really bring the spirit of our cities years ago.
Keep it up! 


PD:
Gracias a ti podré recrear el pueblo de mi familia, pues pese a estar en pleno siglo XXI, hay una barbaridad de casas que son exactamente como las tuyas. ¡Eres el p*to amo! Saludos 

[vortext]

So many options but. . . . . .  being a sucker for symmetry I think #11 with high round window and higher top would be pretty neat. In addition maybe an asymmetrical variant, like #5, would be nice too. Maybe even make the doors different from each other, or perhaps even just 1 door? And then switch textures for the two variants. . ?  Or for another symmetrical design have the round window in the middle, flanked by two ornamental windows? 

[romualdillo]

peperodriguez2710: Thank you!! That was exactly my intention, I wanted to reproduce the architecture and ambience of old towns in Spain avoiding the "Españolada". The most difficult part is doing it as "neutral" as possible, so you can use the buildings to build cities based in ones all around Spain and South America.
I'm glad you can use them! 

vortext: Yes, there are so many options. 
I did a lot, and I didn't want to leave any out. I didn't know which way to choose.
So, If I have understood you correctly, your options were #5 only with one door, and #8 (by the description, #11 with higher round window, higher tops is #8)
Result:
14. Asymmetrical, normal window, same height top, one door
08. Symmetrical, round window higher, higher tops


15. Asymmetrical, normal window, same height top, one door, switched textures
16. Symmetrical, round window higher, higher tops, switched textures


Perhaps I could use the asymmetrical version for 1x1 lots and the symmetrical for the 1x2...

Then you wrote about having the round window in the middle... *positive hmmmmm...*
17. Symmetrical, round window in the middle, higher tops
18. Symmetrical, round window in the middle, higher tops, switched textures

I hope you were referring to these windows.


Thank you very much for your help! More suggestions will be welcomed! 

[manga rivotra]

I apologize if you have already mentioned before, but I have some questions: is it that this house has only 1 unit, 1 apartment per level, or more? I would also like know what kind of room is lit by the round windows: a bathroom or interior staircase leading upstairs, or something else?
In any case, all are great but I prefer the '04 '06 and '12