Wildcat Junction

[nedalezz]

I love the way you've designed your suburban style areas, and the shopping area is great. I love the nightshot!

The history you present for your region really brings it to life...infact, I think its my favorite part.

[Jmouse]

Over the weekend, my daughter, Julie, and I put the RL rat race aside for a little while and enjoyed the colors of fall here on the edge of the Ozark Mountains.

This is the country lane leading to our home.

It continues east to the top of the hill, and this is part of the view we see from the kitchen window.

Then it curves off to the south, so this is part of the view we see from the left side of the front porch.

Panning to the right, we can see this lake (watershed) built by the State of Arkansas in 1984. I even have a historical marker in my front yard describing the project. BTW, pay no attention to the lady in my front yard. She's a crazy old neighbor who stopped by to borrow my copy of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to City Planning."

And here's a closer view of the fall foliage across the lake.

Hope you are enjoying the change of seasons, too, wherever you are.

Until next time...
Joan

[Schulmanator]

What a great update! It looks so real... were you really using in-game pix or actual photos??!! 

I suddenly have an urge to go to Walmart and Food Lion....

[Pat]

Joan those are some awesome pics that you have there.... you have such an eye for pics my friend, great and fantastic job.... sooo yea ummm "The Complete Idiot's Guide to City Planning." hmmm lol anyways we will see you next time - pat

[threestooges]

Those are some very nice pics (especially that last one...picture perfect as the saying goes). As for the change of seasons, seasons in Los Angeles don't change too much...but it's kind of nice having summer in January. Hope things are well for you.

[tkirch]

Beautiful pictures Joan.  I agree with threestooges I love that last one.

[tooheys]

Another great update Joan. I especially like the suburban street layout, not a lot of grids, something I need to learn.

The shopping centres (or should I say malls) look good too. It's the small details that count and as Paroch pointed out, the small chapel is a nice touch.

Thats not a bad backyard you have, reckon we could have a great BBQ there. You spring for everyones airfares and we'll bring the meat 

Cheers

Dave

[nedalezz]

It reminds me of the 3 years I spent up in New Hampshire; brings back so many nice memories. Thank you for this wonderful update.

[Jmouse]

Replies

@ Matt (threestooges):Thank you. I'm really having fun making up the story as I go. But besides that, I think it helps me be more creative with building use. I doubt if I would have used a logger's shack as a "gourmet" café, a general store as a B&B or a warehouse as a dinner theatre if it were not for the story.
As for the curved streets, you would laugh if you could see how I used to build cities. It was all grids and no frills to say the least! Makes me cringe to think about it.
You're welcome for the link, and best wishes for success in what sounds like an exciting career.

@ Pat (patfirefghtr): Thank you. I'm enjoying my visits to your MD as well.
As for the tree tests, PP was virtually dead in the water and I imagine other players have experienced the same problem. Anyway, this is such a simple and effective remedy I think it deserves to be explored further and I'll start sending results ASAP. Just look for the radiation symbol in the subject line.
Thanks for stopping by.

@Paul (paroch): Thank you, my friend. Watching the neighborhoods grow is one of my favorite parts of the game.
The parts of Texas I'm familiar with tend to exhibit a wide variety of architectural styles in middle-class neighborhoods. It is not unusual to see a small older home next to a big and newer two-story house.
C 6-3 was inspired by the fact that I had a couple of stage roles and acted as backstage support many times in an amateur theatre during my late teen years. Then the city I moved from a year ago actually had a "Warehouse Theatre," so I just had to have one of my own!
You'll see some stats below in the update.
So glad you stopped by.

@bat: Thanks for your kind words, and thanks for stopping by.

@mauricio (figui): Glad to hear W.J. has provided some new ideas. I had never used ped plazas before, but I'm so bad about crowding the commercial areas I decided to give it a try.
Thanks for stopping by.

@nedalezz: Thank you, I enjoy designing neighborhoods now. For years, however, I believed I had stumbled upon a game-design secret which ensured success.
Lay out an entire quad in 5x7 grids, plop schools at predetermined intervals, etc. It's too awful to think about!
And I enjoy writing the story as well. I've always wanted to write fiction!

@Schulmanator: Those are actual photos of an in-game location. And if you do go to Wal-Mart, check out the snack aisle because that's where I'll probably be.

@Pat (patfirefghtr): My daughter took the pictures, but I taught her everything she knows!
Thanks for stopping by.

@Matt (threestooges): I've never been to California but have relations in Fallbrook (they had to evacuate recently). Anyway, I've heard the beautiful weather is one of the state's greatest natural resources!
Glad you stopped by.

@tkirch: Thank you. I will pass your compliment along to my daughter.

@tooheys: Hi Dave. Actually the non-grid streets aren't that hard to do once you get the hang of it. At first it took hours to lay out a neighborhood, but with a little practice, it isn't so bad.
As for the BBQ, you're speaking my language now and we'll do it next payday!

@nedalezz: We do have some pretty scenery here in the fall, but I've heard it's really spectacular farther north.
Anyway, I'm glad the photos stirred up some pleasant memories.

^ C 6a-1 The last area developed was this strip along the south bank shoreline.

^ C 6a-2 This is typical of the neighborhood which is a mixture of C$$ and C$$$.

^ C 6a-3 And here is an overview of the city. It turned out pretty much the way I'd hoped with mid-rise C and R fading into smaller homes toward the outer edges.
You can expect to see a little more development in P.P. as I pursue a specific regional appearance which I'll show when it is a bit more advanced.

Let's begin with a few current Pitchfork Pass stats:
Population: 160,000
Jobs: 31,500 I and  115,500 C.
Monthly income: §49,358
Monthly expenses: §34,027
C and R demands remain at or near the top for all levels.
Taxes: All but two are at or below 6.5% (high wealth) or 5.5% (Mid-wealth).
Traffic is still moving along well and the Sims seem to be content. The mayor rating has remained at 100% for quite some time now, and desirability factors in all areas are very high.

^ This night shot looked good, but starting off with a seaport and industrial area threw a kink in the RCI balance that never really corrected itself.

^ In the past, I've plopped things like libraries, schools and stadiums wherever they would fit with little thought of anything but functionality. So making civic necessities serve as park-like areas is a welcome departure from the norm for me.

^ I should have started out with farms and rural neighborhoods instead of ending up with them. Actually, this is a departure from my normal playing style as well, but turned out to be mistake which won't happen again.

^ I can proudly say griddy neighborhoods are a thing of the past. I decided to look back at this shot just because I like it!

^ The Wild West Town was a popular attraction created just for fun. I have included far more details in P.P. than I've ever put in a city before.

Now, let's fire up the wagon train!

^ In the beginning, you saw a region map, but I didn't show the quads before. I'll update this map as development continues.

Have you ever heard the classic expression, "Go west young man!" Well, that's just what we'll be doing in the next update. See you there, y'all.

Until next time...
Joan

[Emperor Stormont]

Fabulous update again, loved that region pic and the shorelines look so beautiful.

Truly wonderful work indeed Joan, always a pleasure to return and view the updates. 

[figui]

great update Joan!

i like how pp has turned out, and i must agree with you: i allways return to an already developed city when i want something specific from the regional view (well, normally i play with more than one tile simultaneously, so i'm allways returning to every city, then to the next one and back to the first.. and looking at the regional view as that zone of the region is being developed)
the last area developed is particularly great!
and nice one with the stats and the "travel through pp" in the rearview mirror

mauricio.

[threestooges]

The overview shot is pretty nifty, but I think the rearview retrospective is a really nice touch (especially since you explain what you did, why you liked/didn't like it, and what you would do differently). I also like the selection of pic for it. It really shows off some of the finer creations and details you have created. I hope your relations are alright and back in their home in Fallbrook. I didn't have to evacuate myself (fortunately) but it was interesting (I live in Costa Mesa) to see so many fires pop up so quickly within the time period. The weather has been nice lately though (about 80 degrees F today). Hope the weather was nice out your way today too. See you around the next update.

[Shadow Assassin]

A good update!

By the moving west, I gather you're doing what one could consider Pitchfork Valley.


Good luck, and hopefully you'll find ways to fix the little mistakes that you think you've made () in Pitchfork Pass.

[bat]

Wonderful new update there!
Great overview of that city! Fantastic work!
Looking forward to more...

[paroch]

Hi Joan,

An absolutely lovely update and a nice way to say goodbye to Pitchfork Pass.  It's been great following your first city and your presntation and story lines have made it a pleasure.  I like the way the city's turned out, as you intimated yourself, the way the higher rise buildings slowly turn into a suburban sprawl (if you'll pardon the expression) is very well done and realistic.

Nice round up and stats as well.  Interesting that you get such a positive cash flow.  I tend to leave tax rates pretty much alone and often scrape by until I build a few Helvetia plants which roll in the cash!

Send my regards to Hooter, and hopefully we'll meet another colourful character next time.

All the best,

Paul

[Pat]

Heya Joan and its good to come back to Wj its allways a great visit here!!! I'll be watching for the test reports  you are too amazing my friend and will see you around - pat

[nedalezz]

I loved the information given on Pitchfork Pass; it seems like the perfect midsized, midwestern town. I love the atmosphere of the place!

Come to think of it, its so pretty that even PP reminds me of the time I spent in New Hampshire!

[capo]

Very nice updates, Im particularely fond of the 3rd picture in your last update: the overview of Pitchfork Pass. It makes me wish that I could 'log in' to your city and have a look at it myself. I can already see myself being stuck to the screen for hours in a row, since you put in so much detail and thought with every small piece of this town.

Looking forward going west!

(Go West) Life is peaceful there
(Go West) In the open air
(Go West) Where the skies are blue
(Go West) This is what we're gonna do
From the Petshop Boys-Go West

[tkirch]

Joan,

Fantastic Update!!  I love seeing unique things in MD's and your Look in the Rearview Window is just that.  That is just a great idea.  I love the way you told us how you built this city and what your thinking was when you did that.  It adds a whole new perspective and it also helps people that are looking to build, they will know what works for them or not.  Just great!!!

[Ennedi]

Hello Joan,

I'm very sorry for such long absence!

Your RL pictures are really beautiful! I would like to live in such charming place, now I live in the large settlement, fortunately there are much trees between blocks and my house is located near the city border, I have only 5 minutes by car to the nearest forest (it's very important for me and for my dog ) I'm going to built a house outside of the city, but it will need some time
I love fall (in fact I like all seasons), the fall in Poland is beautiful too (we call this season "Polish Golden Autumn"), we have usually about 3 weeks of warm sunny weather at this time. I was going to make a trip around my city (it is surrounded by hills, they look beautiful in autumn) and make some pictures for all of you, but unfortunately I had a lot of work, so I must wait till the next year.

Your last updates are fantastic, I think you put much heart in making your cities and landscapes, all of them have a specific cheerful atmosphere.
And all your pictures are beautifully presented, it's a great pleasure to visit you here!

Thank you Joan for this nice while reading your MD!