JBSimio Inc.

[RebaLynnTS]

It's looking great so far ... I think textures are probably the harest part of making BATs, and it is the single thing that makes all the difference.

[Diggis]

It's looking great so far ... I think textures are probably the harest part of making BATs, and it is the single thing that makes all the difference.

See I beg to differ.  I enjoy the texturing easily as much as the modelling.  Maybe it's weird.

[RebaLynnTS]

I did not say it wasn't fun or rewarding, it is ... I just find it harder to get right. I admire those that do it well, and seem to make it look easy.

[Pat]

Jon is one of them that makes the whole prosses of Batting to Texturing look so easy!!!

[TheTeaCat]

Wonderful progress there Jon

Love the sound of limestone and the details I can see at the mo look great.
Nice work

Laters
Derry

[JBSimio]

RebaLynn:  Thank you!  Textures definitely make or break things, I agree.  The only part I really have a hard time with is when I have to make textures from scratch (like I will for this one)... my imaging software is pretty limited so everything takes me a lot longer... 

Diggis:  I enjoy doing it... but it's something I have to be in the right mindset for I think.  There's no "maybe" about it when me and weird get together... 

Pat:  Again with the flirting... you're going to have to meet my parents soon at this rate!    But thank you!

Derry:  Thanks!  I'm glad you like it.

I made a bit of a push this evening to "top off."  It's still a bit rough and some things will certainly change, but the penthouse has taken its general form now.  I also managed to fit the tower portion of the back walls together now.  The base (which is a monster at 7 stories) is still nothing but a box right now.  There are still tons of details to do in back, but you can at least see where I'm headed now:



I'm not real happy with the roof pitch just yet.  I like the total height, but I think it slopes too far and gets too narrow at the top.  So that will change.  I still need to finish dressing the roof as well.  I'm also thinking about making that flat space around the penthouse into balconies or something, but I haven't decided that part just yet.  Sooner or later, I should probably go back downstairs and finish the front door too while I'm at it... 

Have a good evening!
JB

[Pat]

Oooooh psssst Jon you terrible OK so when is dinner lol    Sorry I couldnt resist!!!! Anyways lovin the progress there..

[figui]

wow
i like very much the overall look of the building, and agree with you about the roof.

mauricio.

[RebaLynnTS]

The roof reminds me of the Munsters' house

Not that it is a bad thing, looks great.

[bat]

Great progress there! And that building is looking fantastic, JBSimio!

[Diggis]

I don't like the small roof in back.  IMHO this could look better left flat.  Maybe a terrace?

[threestooges]

I like it. I like it a lot. I personally don't think the rooftop is too narrow and I think it fits the building quite well. The balcony idea would look good too. Fancy little decoration around the base of the roof (mind showing a close up?). The bush technique sounds like it makes sense, but a full description would be a good thing too.  Good work as always.

[pvarcoe]

Crappers, this is a really nice one Jon.
I really like the textures, and I agree, the top of the roof may be a little narrow.
Looking forward to this one!

[cammo2003]

As much as I'm looking forward to the University pack, I'm absolutely loving these "sidetrack" BATs...

I'm absolutely loving the details on these. Lots of little details that keep you looking but not ridiculously intricate. It's a very tight line to walk, IMHO, but I do believe you've nailed it. 

[JBSimio]

Pat:  Hehehe... I don't care when dinner is as long as I don't have to cook it.  I do enough of that already!   

Mauricio:  Thank you!

RebaLynn:  Thanks!

Diggis:  Something about that roof doesn't look quite right to me yet either.  The pictures I have do in fact show it as a hipped roof so I'm not sure what it is I dislike about it.  My guess would be that they went to the trouble of a sloped roof to enclose some elevator mechanics or something up there... but I don't really know.

Matt:  Thank you!  I'll get a close up of the roof details for the next update.  I'll also send you a PM later about the shrubs.

Pvarcoe:  Thanks!  So far, the green painted areas around the base are the only things with any textures... but I'm glad you like them!   

Cammo:  Thank you!

No update just yet.  I'm kind of on a "pack up the house" kick at the moment.  Knowing my attention span, that won't last forever so I though I'd better do some things while I have the motivation.    Unfortunately, for you that are wondering, this does not mean that I finally recieved any news  ... it just means that I feel the need to be prepared.

Anyway... I wanted to stop by and mention that I was browsing the LEX last night and noticed that I recently topped 20,000 downloads.  Also the Swan Majestic, which has been my most popular "single" building went over 1000 right around the same time.  So I just want to say thank you to everyone for your support.  (Sounded kind of like a campaign slogan, didn't it?  )  But I truly do appreciate it and thanks again! 

[Pat Riot]

those numbers must be pretty high for devotion, since theres what, 6000 members?

The roof of the latest BAT is awesome. Your BATs are so boston-esq 

[JBSimio]

Pat Riot:  Hmmm... I don't think I've even done anything from Boston yet...    But I'm glad you like it, thank you!

Actually, Pat made me curious about downloads here.  I don't normally pay a whole lot of attention to the download numbers, but I still have my math geek moments, so I averaged out the top four uploaders to see where I might fit in.  Quite frankly, I was a little intimidated to compare myself with the heavy hitters... and the results honestly surprised me.  Here's a look... just for gits and shiggles:

• 1. Colyn:  112 uploads ... 122,252 downloads ... average of 1092 downloads per item
• 2. BarbyW:  108 uploads ... 101,731 downloads ... average of 942 downloads per item
• 3. SimGoober:  98 uploads ... 145,562 downloads ... average of 1485 downloads per item
• 4. Jestarr:  84 uploads ... 106,087 downloads ... average of 1263 downloads per item
• 28. JBSimio:  17 uploads ... 20,178 downloads ... average of 1187 downloads per item 

I'm not going to lie... looking at that blew my mind.  So thank you all once again!

Now enough of all this "I'm not worthy" stuff... let's get to what we really came here for, shall we?  I got a fair amount done today in both the packing world and the BAT world.  I'm slowly creating an obstacle course in my living room so that I can have fun tripping over boxes the next time I wander into the kitchen in the middle of the night.  When I wasn't working on that, I focused on detailing the roof.  I made a few changes to the penthouse in general to make the setback from the front a little less.  This also changed the roof size enough that I no longer feel the need to really change the pitch anymore.  I added the dormers, ribbing, and most of the finishing details up there as well.  There will still be some roof junk and stuff eventually, but otherwise it's basically wrapped up.  I got some more of the windows in the back, but there is still a ways to go there.  I still haven't gotten back to the lower levels at all...



The roof textures are just place holders for now.  I'll probably change them a bit when I get to the other textures.  Also... at Matt's request, here is a close up of the detailing around the base of the penthouse roof:



It's really just a bunch of 4 sided lines and arches pieced together... then there is a smooth modifier thrown in to crisp up the edges which also helps with shadows.  Fairly simple when you see it like this, but it's small enough that it in game view, the eye imagines more detail than there actually is.  (Fun trick isn't it?)

Have a good night!
JB

[XiahouDun]

I would have never thought to do detailing like that... Looks great

[threestooges]

The download number don't surprise me that much. Quality sells and you do a great job. In regard to the detailng, you're nuts (in a completely good way of course). That detail pic really gives insight to what you put into your projects, and gives me ideas of what I can do with mine. You're right though about it making the eye perceive more detail. Thanks again for the pic, and I'll keep an eye out for the next developments. What you have so far looks great. Good luck with the move when it does happen, and good luck with those midnight living room navigations. Take it easy.
-Matt

[Pat Riot]

Im intrested to see what goes under that huge arch. good work JB, bet your glad i encouraged you to check your numbers eh?