Works from an Urban Design/Planner

[starrdarcy]

Works from an Urban Design/Planner
Done in Sketchup, shown in SimCity 4

Note: i wasn't sure the proper place to post this, please move to more suitable place if need be, thanks!

A word from starrdarcy
Hello SC4D community, this is my first official post, other than the introductory post in the newbie forum. Before I begin I would like to say thank you to the Admins and mods of these forums, as they have created an impressive website and have worked hard to create this community. I think more people should learn about this website, there is lots of imagination and potential here!

About
For about 5 years, and even before SimCity 4 came out, i have been creating custom content for the SimCity series. The main difference between me and most custom content creators for SimCity, also known as "BATers", is that I use a different program other than GMAX to do the bulk of my modeling and texturing. The program is called Sketchup, most of you have probably already heard about this program, and how it can be used to create buildings for SimCity.

I use Sketchup mainly because it is a more visually interactive and engaging program to plan and create custom lots for SimCity. Though GMAX has its advantages, and I still have use the program to export my building to SC4, I have always have and always will prefer Sketchup to do my modeling in.

Anyways, I thought it might be useful and inspiring to beginner BATers and even experienced lot creators to see what can be achieved by using SKP to create custom content for SC4. And at the same time, I just wanted to show people what kind of design concepts and lot types I mainly create and use.

Now for the pictures!
To start off, I would like to mention that all the following custom lots shown in the pictures have been modeled in SCP and then exported to GMAX, then to SC4. These lots are all used for conceptual purposes only.



Here is the first picture of a cityscape I created for a "new urbanism" demonstration, this was actually one of the earlier models that I created to be view by the SimCity 4 Community. Most of my work until only recently has been created for research and visual purposes, and not meant to be used for the simulator. Most of my work, is for planning and design testing.





Like I mentioned before, a great deal of the work I do that involves SimCity is for design and planning purposes. Right now, I am actively pursuing a career based  in the urban planning and/or design fields. In this picture, I designed an "open" mini mall, with back alley/lane enabled lot. As you may have noticed the texture work is not up to par with SC4 standards... but this lot was done for conceptual purposes.



Before the render, the Sketchup side of the modeling





Some row housing I created, to visualize what "skinny" lots and residential would look like, and the best way to lay them out. In a lot of my work, I have been focusing my attention to small lots and spaces for my work. I think the future of urban housing for cities will be around using small spaces for infill and better utilization. As you can see in the second pic, I still use GMAX, to do some texturing work and of course to export to SC4.





I'll be upfront, I am not a fan of huge towering buildings that dwarf the surroundings and more important, do not serve the human scale. I look at Burj Dubai, and shake my head... though I do get the urge to draw up a tall building, or two, or three. The following picture is of "Trend Place" towers, one of few high rises over 20 floors I have created. It was inspired by the concorde pacific towers that are located in Vancouver BC.



Along with Trend Place, I created a few parks to compliment the set, of course as usually, it ends up turning into another set altogether. I have a bad habit of turning little add-ons into full fledged projects!




These next few pictures, I was experimenting with lot configurations, and more back alley development. It eventually ended up becoming a project to find out what back alleys would look like in SimCity 4. Today, most of my lots involved some sort of use of the back alley/lane, since I think it is a brilliant way to keep cars away, and encourage pedestrianism.






Around 1 year ago, I began to create more detailed work with models for SimCity, this building called "Ceder Place" was intended to demonstrate a "master planned" mid rise residential complex. It was made complete with townhomes and private park in the back. Though the full creation never became into full fruitation, it was an interesting project to work on regardless.




The next pictures show what I have nicknamed, the "houses in nowhere" and are the result of many hours trying to explore smart growth concepts, and to see what it would look like. Unfortunately, the results didn't really live up to what I wanted, and instead became an example of what NOT to do in smart growth. The roads go nowhere, and non of the houses had garages for cars, so what was the use for roads? Oh well, it showed that smart growth is not as easy as it sounds!






And finally, the last pictures I will show here is of some of the work I have done in the past. As you can see, I try to fit as much into my lots, even if it looks really cramped. Hmm, would people really want to live here? This is the main reason why I use SimCity, as tool to test out urban design and planning concepts. However, I have been thinking more and more about actually starting a City Journal or perhaps a few custom lot releases to the SC4 community.

A small canal set, for irrigation uses.


Double level highways, used for eye candy


Some of the mid rise condo lots, with more double level highway work


Town homes and use of row housing


Calgary inspired suburban homes


Tenements for urban areas, kind of gloomy looking 


Use of the back alley/lane concept


To close off
This is small sample of the work I have been creating over the years, and most of it has not been published to the web. Though, over the next while, I will be working hard to introduce Sketchup as a invaluable tool in the concept process for larger projects, and even smaller creations. As well as a useful modeling tool for those who are new and old to modeling for SimCity custom content.

In my opinion, there is still a lot of uncharted territory when it comes to certain types of planning and design ideas for SimCity. While I do not use SimCity like most players, I have been using SimCity 4 more and more to demonstrate and visualize certain of my design ideas, to the point now that it has become an extension of my work.

I will be sharing these planning and design ideas to SC4D, and hopefully people can learn more about urban planning and design, so that they can use it for their own projects. Above all, I want to give people new concepts to work with, and of course, find some inspiration.

-starrdarcy

[rooker1]

You really have shown some very interesting things.  You should see if they are good enough to upload to the LEX.  You need to post in the LEX Candidacy thread.

Maybe this thread could be moved there.

Robin 

[paroch]

Hi Starrdacy,

First off, welcome to SC4Devotion.  This is a great community and I ma sure from your post you'll fit in well and will have the chance to discuss and explore a range of concepts.

I've loved the whole SimCity series from the original right up to SC4 and have run an MD here for nearly 6 months (which has helped me grow into a better city builder I think).

I really enjoyed reading your post and seeing what you've done - I'm very impressed.  I've always faniced trying to create buildings but just found GMAX baffling.  Maybe one day I'll really concentrate and get it.  But I do enjoy re-lotting buildings.  Your picture titled "Town Homes and use of Row Housing" really caught my eye.  I've created a couple of lots with houses clustered around a "green" and really liked what you've done there.

I also like the homes in no-where pictures.  The zoomed out shots look really interesting.

And Ceder Place looks magnificent.  I am sure that with the talented people here on SC4D you would find partners to take your buildings and lot them and mod them for the game, to be used and enjoyed by many others.  Indeed, I'd happily get involved with what I know.

Indeed, if sketch up is an easier tool than GMAX, I'd be interested to know more to see if it's a tool I could use (I have a head full of ideas but lack the confidence and skills to convert them to reality).

So, welcome, I look forward to seeing more.

Regards,

Paul

[Godzillaman]

You use sketchup? I was wondering if you know how to get sketch-up models into gmax?

[Meastro444]

man, i love the buildings you created, please, release them soon

[Krio]

I like your work much, but your textures aren't very good  they look too plain in game. Improve them and you're a winner.

[starrdarcy]

paroch Thank you, i have been working with Sketchup for quite some time, so it has allowed me to experiment with things and find the best possible export route to GMAX. As you probably already know, the sketchup file must be exported with the 3DS file format, however, at this time, the only was to do that is with the pro version, or export via another format, which i have yet to find. One of the services i will be setting up with SKlion, will be a 3DS exporting service for people who want to model in SKP but don't have the pro version, or just want to spend more time modeling.

Anyways, Meastro444i have been thinking for a while on whether or not release some of these BATS, as Krio mentioned, the textures will need working in order to meet SC4 standards. One reason for this is usually my work is for conceptual purposes. I have had much of feedback, from SimTropolis, and in the old days of SCC, there was demand for some of my work to be released, however, if i where to release them they would need to meet some basic texture and lighting standards.



Personally, in order to get some of these ideas ready for release, i would like to team up with at least one other person to do the lighting rigs and modding the files to make them functional. Both of which for the meanwhile, i have little knowledge of. Somehow, 3DSmax seems like a good route to explore too.

For now, i will be just showing my conceptual work, and see what the reaction is, from there, we can figure out what do release.

[baconrocky]

I really hope someone teams up with you to help release these, it will be a HORRIBLE shame if they are not...

[Zaphod]

Those things in the pictures are incredible, you really need to release them.

Despite what you say about lighting I don't see much issue with most of those.

anyways just curious but where are you at in getting into planning? I am going to be starting a undergrad in Geography/GIS soon(doing the community college thing presently uggh). How it's going for you?

[dedgren]

There's some serious stuff here.  It's always great to know that, no matter how many talented folks you might think are in this community at any one time, there's always some that you don't even know are out there.  Thank you for showcasing your creations in this thread- I'd hope to see much, much more of the same.


David

[Pat]

starrdarcy I do have to say what everyone else has said and agree so I wont even say it again.... But you do have some good talent here and even going againts the norm and making that double decker Highway is just wow and the buildings to the parks....  I wish I could help in the lighting and all but I dont know a lick of bat, I just lot and modd....  So if you need help in those departments let me know and I would be more then willing to help out...

[starrdarcy]

Just though i would drop a few replies. And BTW, i made a special announcement today here on SC4Devotion, which can be found HERE

baconrocky
Yes, i would like to team up with several others who know how to create the lighting, and mod the lots so that they actually grow. Most of the examples that are shown here in this thread are ploped down, and not grown. This has been an issue, which i have not been able to work out, that area including lighting are the main areas i would need help in. There are a few details like an overview and project planning that need to be completed before proposing such a project.

Zaphod
Currently i am not in college, however, i am looking at all the options and seeing what is the best route for me, as i am not 100 percent what would be best for myself. Some people i should go for city planning, others say architecture  I have already went to business college a few years back though.

dedgren
Yes, and there is even more out there yet to be discovered, which i way i have setup this Blog so that more people can get there ideas and plans out into SimCity 4. I think if we can open up a new tool that is easier to use, we can get more people to create custom content.

Pat
Thanks, yes that lighting part i never really got a hold of, and the modding part is someting i am just learning. Thanks, i will be in contact with you soon!

Here is some more work (ugh, don't mind the color schemes  ), these few examples where part of a greater city that i was creating at the time, it had over 80 blocks of buildings i created for it. Unfortunetly, these are what is left of that project, as the disk that had the files are now lost 

I nicknamed this one the "green giant" seeing that it looks very big compared to the people on the sidewalk. Hmm, perhaps i should have added some details inside!


Another building from the same block, but this one was much taller. In most of my work, i do mid rise and low rise buildings, i find them easier to work with in my opinion.


Here is an overview of the lot.. it was big, and took me long time to fill with buildings. It eventually got to the point that i had to divide this model into several chunks in order to move and model the file without lagging to much.

[autoVino]

I have to say, these designs are very very interesting! 
Does sketchup pro have a raytracing engine of some sort?  Or are you exporting these into 3ds max or a similar program with built in ray tracing engines?

[starrdarcy]

I have to say, these designs are very very interesting! 
Does sketchup pro have a raytracing engine of some sort?  Or are you exporting these into 3ds max or a similar program with built in ray tracing engines?

These renders are done with podium, are actually done inside Sketchup, so now exporting. There are other options for which to export too if you want.

[bat]

You have here some really nice work, starrdarcy!

[mightygoose]

aah more from the unacreditted wonder (by unacreditted i mean you have not releaced any of them)

please release the green giant i love it.

[khoianh94]

Wow! 

It's very cool what you're planning. I hope they will be released soon, with some texture updates, of course.

[Heblem]

that all, is inspiring!!! and many good ideas are coming here, nice bats btw...

Looking forward for your work  keep on 

[Pat]

I do have to say this starrdarcy that the green giant does look wonderful and when you need me, just let me know!!!

[Zaphod]

damn...that's awesome. My computer blows up when I try to model anything that large in Sketchup, or apply too many textures.

Great program though. I am mostly BAT challenged but I have managed to make stuff in Sketchup that's presentable before...If I could get it in the game I might get into making stuff.