VeTram's L.E Project with your Help!

[VeTram]

-Well , well , well here i am once again , after a long time  ( since Nov 19 2008 my last post , of course just in this thread ) of absence from my L.E Project..
many , many reasons kept me away from project , and most of them i think that you even dont care to know...and that's logical.. but some reasons really concern some of you , and mostly those friends who are still looking to find their way into the game..
-I will just mention a very few words about those reasons , as i do not really want to get you tired..
....well , i am an old player of the game since the early beginning that came out , and i dont hide you that i am still looking to find the best way to express myself in this game..of course there were some long periods that i had leaved the game , and played other strategy games like Civilization , championship manager  .....but i always returned back to SC , and if the period of absence was long , i had to start from the beginning , because simply had forgotten everything....
-I am not sure , what is in the game that always attract my interesting..perhaps most of you dont know either...anyway , the fact is , that i always returned soon or late ( forgive my english, hope you understand me)...I am a member here , since Nov 2007 , but i started to deal seriously with the game and the site , since only last summer.. I was coming from a long period of abscence again , and i really had forgottern almost everything....I wanted to start enjoy a new game , and built a big region , with plenty of cities of all kinds , but very soon i realised that this is very , very difficult when you are a member in SCD..You know why...There are so many informations here , so many custom content , so many great MD's ..etc etc ...no way to escape , and just play the game with an empty plugin or even a few Mod's or a few custom contect generally.. ... You read and learn something , and when you say to yourself that its o.k now and i can continue with my project adding whatever i have learned , you suddenly discover that there is something new the same or more interesting , and you can't overtake it...so , project can wait , the game itself can wait , and back to Forums again..
-So, start learning and reading around the Forums , and learning , and learning , and still learning and reading....oh! my poor eyes...( hey! i am not so young ..) ..i will only say that , and may be great artist Dedgren   may read it....I started reading his great MD , 3RR , in Simtropolis first , and i thought when finished reading it , continue with his MD in SCD...Dear Dedgren , i am still in page 10 in your MD in Simpropolis , and i am trying to read it the last 2 months.!!..., and when i look at the pages here in SCD , i think i will never manage to follow .....This is a simple example...as another one is Antigone's Fantastic Project from great artist also , Badsim...IMO , there must be a way to found , in order to become all those fanstastic best sellers , readable by every new member , or anyone start to reading them..
oh! ...i am afraid i have already written so much , and i promised not to get you tired...But i dont want to start writting from the beginning , so i will let it , and continue in my next post ...so sorry again for getting you tired ( whoever read the above..) , but i felt that i had to explain some things...
...to be continued
thanx

[VeTram]

O.K now Prologue part 2 and maybe last..

-To continue from my previous plologue , i was writting that i have started to deal seriously with the game , and being active member of SCD , since last summer , (although i always owned the game on its earlier versions )  ...difficulties? problems?..many , many ( read previous post )
Summer in Greece ( my country) turned things even more difficult , with the temp. to climb over 40 degr. of Celcium , but as a member of SCD , I tried hard to be as devoted as i could..I even took the game with me on my vacations.....( not a great idea..)
-The more i was swimming in deeper waters of the game and site , the most i was understanding that if someone wanted to involve seriously , should deal with Modding , or Bating , or Lotting , or even better with all of them...ALL OF THEM?....are you serious?.....I dont hide you , that i had already made some efforts on Batting , some time ago , as i had opened a similar thread into Simtrop..I really was in a good road , but my hard efforts , finished one day , when i realised that i had not the support i was waiting for , in Texturing ...Yes, Texturing!...
At this point , i would like to comment something important ( IMO ) ...As known , there are friends from all over the world , which of course english is not their mother language.. So, please all of you friends that english is your mother language , please DO NOT forget when writting mostly a tutorial or giving some support , that you must write english as simple as you can . Be sure that all of outside english language , will very much appreciate that!
-back to prologue....Trying to find my way , i discovered here at this site , Antigone's by great Badsim...i then said to myself ...Lotting , perhaps this is the key!....and very soon i opened a thread here ( this one ) , on last September and i named it ...with your help on purpose , because i wanted to show you , that i really need help and anything i may create , i will create it with your help...I also thought , perhaps it would be a nice guide for every other friend who interested about Lotting , and have the chance to express his/her thoughts in the project...The project is about a big , really big seaport , and if you ask me if i like seaports , i would answer yes and no, just thought it would have a lot of interesting such a project , as a seaport has so many varieties , as container seaport , passenger seaport , and so on , plus my country is surrounded by the sea and seaports of course ...i hope you understand me...surely a difficult project for starting..
-O.K , already written so much , and have some more to write...so , once again STOP here , end of Prologue 2 , and wait very soon for part 3 and surely last..I will repeat once again. Most of all i dont want to get you tired ...ok , ok and myself...

[FrankU]

Dear VeTram,

You write straight form the heart. There is a lot that I recognise.
1. Playing the game itself is great and time consuming.
2. Terraforming in itself can be as time consuming as the game and it can be a game in itself.
3. Lotting in itself can be as time consuming as 1 and 2, and it can also be a game in itself.
4. Batting: it is limitless! I even decided to never start batting, because life's too short...
5. Reading forums, helping others out, getting inspired by others... Endless! Satisfying!

There are 5 limit- and endless actions concerning this game. What to do, where to start and, most important: where to end? There is only one option: choose wisely, try not to get distracted and do what you feel like at the moment. Nobody asks anything from you. Is your thread sleeping for half a year? Your readers will get distracted, but will also hear from you when you write again. As you can see now. That is the advantage of SC4D forums.

And then, VeTram, I am not too young myself. I have a wife that I love very much, I have a gorgeous daughter that became just 5 years old, we expect our second child in the beginning of May. We have a house with a garden, we both have a job. There is hardly time for SC4. I am really jealous of what some people achieve in their projects and on this site. People like RippleJet, Dedgren, BarbyW or Andreas: do they really have a private life, is SC4 their job?

You know what? I play SC4 for four or five years now. I never had a city developed that far that I had skyscrapers growing. I get distracted, so the rural region I was working on is abandoned and followed up by an urban region. Then I find some really nice lots and bats and I feel like re-editing everything and I start again form scratch.
Did you ever play with a fixed Plugins folder? No, every two weeks I put something in. But my folders grow, my menus get overcrowded, my game becomes slower, loading time is almost five minutes. Do I need to begin again with a clean, neatly ordered folder? There is a new NAM, there is so much to use! Where to stop?

I don't know. I just go on and have fun. So, VeTram, If you want to show something: you're welcome! If you don't have anything: just a chat is welcome also. Lets have some nice time together.

[VeTram]

-Welcome again FrankU , and pls feel comfortable to call me,  by my real name that is,  Antonis , please this apply to all friends.

- Firstly thanks for your comments , and I really feel glad that there are people like you in this site.. ...This is another very important reason that kept me close to the game ...i have honestly astonished with a pleasant way , by the support and inspiration  from every member here..of course the same applies to Simpropolis ,where i first knew and became a member and as i have noticed most friends are the same there and here..
-I have never been abroad (!)  and so , i dont know much about people's mentality outside my country.  Are you all so nice people abroad?  ...this is a question i always wanted to ask...

Dear FrankU ,
- I completely agree with whatever you wrote.. I have come to a conclusion , since now , that Lotting is somehow essential , if you really want to built something nice and realistic at the same time. I think it isnt so much difficult ( like Batting for example) for someone to follow , but for sure it needs a lot of practice and time and ..devotion.. I think this is the road that i will follow..
-FrankU , i really wonder how many friends here or even players of the game outside of this site , have ever managed to had skyscrapers!.. As i can see i am not alone on this...although lately i finally managed to have some first skyscrapers in one of my regions!!  yes at last! ...and do you know how? ...just realised one day , that i had forgotten to play this game...everything is so nice and fascinating with Mods , custom content and so on , but there was no time left for the game to play...Now , i divide my free time for the game into two regions.. One of them (i named it MAXIS Region) has its plugins quite empty of custom content , and the second one is full of custom content.. that's how i finally was able to see with great pleasure , some first scyscrapers into my Maxis Region!.. ...it depends on my mood which one to follow..
-Dear FrankU ,
I will try to follow your advice and just have fun over all.. this is my intention also.. thanks for all your kind words that i can also understand that comes from your heart..thanks for the invitation also to chat and be friends i hope ...i am sure we are all having a nice time together here , and i also propose to meet oneday,  somewhere , just like a big , nice company of friends ... ....

-Finally , i think this is the suitable moment  to close this prologue , with those above last words . I had some more things into my mind to write , and end this prologue ,  , but i dont want to keep more this thread , away from the reason of its exist.  I think you have understood all of you that read this prologue from the beginning , the meaning of whatever i wanted to express..So , lets move to action and dont forget ....with a little help always from my friends ..
Antonis ( VeTram )..

[BarbyW]

I have been to Greece three times and love your country, VeTram. I have been on the classical tour and Delphi is my favourite place in the whole world.
Please keep lotting as good lotters are few and far between. Too many people think that everyting has to have a new BAT when there are so many things that can be done with what is available now.

[VeTram]

BarbyW , thanks for your nice words ...its nice that you like my country , and also been already three time here. I really admire and estimate a lot  your work.
It would be very nice to meet you , if you ever come again..  I also like your country ..In fact,  i have a good friend of mine that has born and grown in France , and now she is living in Crete ( big southern island , you know it ) . She decided to live there for ever , because she loves warm wheather...she has told me some things about France , but i also have relatives living in Massalia ( this is the Greek name )  in english is  Marseille , (i dont know if i write it right  , hope you know the city i mean )
-Perhaps early this summer i will go abroad for the first time in my life , and that is for France and Massalia. i want to propose to administrators , a meeting place for all the community , each time in a different place ...( i dont know if that exist so ..)...such like Olympic Games meeting every 4 years , but perhaps more often...and i propose to start from Athens. ..thanks again so much for your kind words...

ps: pls call me Antonis

[VeTram]

Hi to all friends !..

-After the necessary prologue a few days ago , now its time to return to some action.. ...i have worked on some things lately , and i think its time to share them with you all..I will try to write as simple as i can , as my english aren't so perfect , in order to understand me ( always feel free to ask me whatever you dont understand). Just a very few words first , about my project , just for a continuation to the first part of this thread..
-Well my project , is an attempt to create a big seaport with all kinds of ports ( like Passenger or Container or Bulk Port , Marinas , Shipyard, etc etc) ..It is based on a real big seaport ( one of the bigggest in Europe) that exist in my country ( Greece) and its name is Pireas. As i have many times repeat , i dont have any special interest about seaports , its just simple happened to start any serious attempt to create something nice , by seaports , perhaps maybe i was always impressed by big seaports , and perhaps because i like the sea  , as my country is surrounded by the sea everywhere..
-In the first part of this thread , i had attempted to create a Bulk Port in one of region's cities , and you can see the result in the previous pages of that thread. I was going to continue from the point that i stopped previous time , but at the meanwhile i discovered an excellent tool for the game that is SC4Terraformer by wounagaine ( Gongratulations , wounagaine , .. your tool is very useful and easy for me and i gain too much time on terraforming)..I suppose most of you already know it , but i have recently discovered it , and it really has helped me a lot making my regions , and terraforming land , very quickly. In case , someone is interested to know exactly how i use Terraformer , just let me know and i promise to answer with details.
My region as i said before is based on RL seaport . I have decided that this is the best way to create something that is close to realism ( i think noone of us really knows exactly how a real seaport looks like , except if he is working on a seaport , or something like this ) . Beyond that , i like to let my imagination free to do whatever i like , so i finally have a result that is mix of realism and imagination ... I have thought a lot about that , ( in fact i opened a thread in another forum here ) and as i realised you mostly also feel the same..
Well , with Terraformer , i have managed so , and so i decided to make my region again from the beginning , and continue from another area of seaport , just to deal with something different, and i will meet again my first Bulk seaport in the continuation ,as it exists in a city which is in the eastern part of region , as i am in the western city now that i have started working. It would be easier i know , if i had a region pic to show , but i dont have it , simple because i have not terraformed the whole region yet. The reason isnt because needed time , but i make so on purpose , because i might want to change anything in region terraforming in the continuation. If i wanted to comlete the whole region with Terraformer , i wouldn't need much time , believe me. With Terraformer its really easy..
-So , now we have a continuation from the first part of this thread , and i continue with more action...i am in a western area of the region , in a city where my ambition is to contain the Shipyard , a Ferry Terminal and a Marina...I am working first with Terraformer , in just a small area of the city where i want to start building , and continue just like a puzzle , piece to piece. So , i terraformed the Marina first which is near the Ferry Terminal , and as you will see in the following picture , i have started building from the Ferry Terminal Area. I decided to use [url=http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=7066.0][url=http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=7066.0][url=http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=7066.0][url=http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=7066.0][url=http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=7066.0][url=http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=7066.0][url=http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=7066.0][url=http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=7066.0]Pegasus[/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url][/url] Functional Ferry Terminal , with a very few changes in appearance , and i decided to continue building the surrounding dock , especially building a big parking area. For that reason i decided to use , NDEX Parking LOTS and in my case ADC_COM_ParkingTransit Lot....and the first problems started to arrive , and already opened two threads for that ..http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=7283.0 and this...http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=7210.0.....you can read in these links , just not to repeat them here , and i dont want to get you tired by writting same things..
-After all those questions and answers , i finally managed to finish my parking transit lot. I have only kept the building exemplar from the original lot , and i have completely worked on the lot from the beginning , lotting with different textures and many props. I will just post a few pics here , and i will let you watch it first and perhaps make your own comments , before i may write more details about it.  You will also notice that i have also made another custom lot , which is a simple sidewalk on the other side of the road between the parking which leads to the Ferry Terminal..

[FrankU]

Yes! Pictures!
This is really a nice parking area. Good detail.
I only think that the shoreline is a bit empty, but I guess that you will be working on that after this?

[VeTram]

Hey ! you want pics , you'll get more pics....have you noticed that something have changed? ..yes ! you're right! ...a little transform using sap23 sidewalk texture this time, and a little transform to the trees inside the parking...you know me , i am rarely satisfied and i always try to become better and better...i think looks better , what do you think?..pls feel free always to comment whatever you feel..
friend FrankU , just focus only to the parking and the ferry terminal , the rest about the shoreline will be added shortly ....thanks for your comment





for sure i would like to use EuroTextureMod by Andreas , but there is the known problem with the Uni-Density Roads , as Swamper77 mentioned in the link i posted in my last post ( it is the problem with grass appearing). ..here is a pic ..

[VeTram]

really what is gnome in L.E? ....

[Swamper77]

"Gnomes" are many different things. Maxis seems the have that same label on various props:

- There's a static gnome prop for residential backyards
- There's a gnome prop for each of the landmarks. They only appear at certain times throughout the year
- Some "gnomes" are props to indicate where UDI aircraft are supposed to park when they land, like on a helipad
- Some have a specific purpose for specific lots, such as the ferry terminals.

You will have to be more specific with your question to get a better answer....

-Swamper

[jmdude1]

hi antonis!
how are you? i see youve been busy with your harbour, its looking good. i havent been here on sc4devotions too much lately (real life issues), but ive been lurking,
i wanted to say that im still checking out your thread and pleased to see that youre still working on your port project. keep at it, you have some good input here
from other posters.
also, after reading the comments above, ive also been to greece, although only athens, and to france (barby), but only paris. hehe. unfortunately for me, i didnt
have enough time to explore either country more, although i do plan to go back some day.
anyways, keep up the good work antonis!

[VeTram]

Swamper77 thanks for your reply , lets say about the gnome in a Ferry Terminal..what does it means?

My friend jmdude1 , welcome again...thank you my friend for all your support  .... if you ever come to Greece again , dont forget to tell me first..

[Swamper77]

There are usually 3 "gnomes" on the ferry terminal Lots. These props act as a "transit switch" for ferry terminal Lots and their behaviors are hard-coded into the EXE. Other than being props, there are no visible properties as to how they function. Apart from the name of "gnome", they should have other names associated with them, which are their exemplar names.

- Tag1x1x3_ferryopp_2C54 is placed on the edge of the Lot that is in or near the water. This prop tells the game where the ferries should dock with the lot.

- Tag1x1x3_ferrytermin_2C52 is placed on the edge of the Lot where it touches or connects with a roadway. Depending on the ferry terminal type, it converts different types of traffic to ferry traffic as they enter the Lot:
- For passenger ferry terminals, it converts pedestrians to passenger ferries.
- For car ferry terminals, it converts both cars and pedestrians to ferries.

- Tag1x1x3_ferrytermout_2C53 is placed on the edge of the Lot where it touches or connects with a roadway. Once the ferries arrive, they get converted back to local traffic as they exit the Lot:
- For passenger ferry terminals, it converts passenger ferries back to pedestrians.
- For car ferry terminals, it converts ferries back to cars and pedestrians.

Passenger ferries cannot dock with car ferry terminals and car ferries cannot dock with passenger ferry terminals. You need a pair of ferry docks to have a working ferry system. Passenger ferry systems work best if they have a bus stop or some other form of mass transit within walking distance of the terminal.

-Swamper

[VeTram]

Jan , thanks a lot for your very interesting informations. In my case i am using Peg's Ferry Terminal ( you can see it in above pics) ..so , the question is now , what kind of Ferry Terminal is the one i am using?  do you know? ...is it possible to be a pedestrian + car terminal?... if it is just a car ferry terminal is will be nice to put near a passenger terminal with a bus station near...
-As , for gnomes , i think i understand they have different meaning in different lots. I suppose it depends on the kind of lot and its functionality..as for Ferry Terminal gnomes , there are three gnomes indeed as the ones you have mentioned , and it is understood why they are there..thanx , Jan 

[Swamper77]

PEG's ferry terminals are all car ferry terminals. A ferry terminal Lot can be either a passenger ferry terminal or a car ferry terminal, but not both due to how they are handled. What you could do is make two Lots that are designed to be placed next to each other to simulate the terminal handling both. So one Lot would be a car ferry terminal and the other would be a passenger ferry terminal. The car ferry terminals also carry pedestrians with the cars.

-Swamper

[VeTram]

I thought that there were Passengers FT among Peg's FT , but in a quick research i realised that i couldnt find any custom Passenger FT.. so , how i will simulate the Passenger FT , next to Car FT , since they both use the same gnomes?... this is the question now..good morning from here!
Perhaps , i can make a .desk file in Plugin Manager for the Passenger FT ,and use the same gnomes?

[VeTram]

Dear friends... ... first of all....

...
and secondly....i feel very  , that i have finally returned back to my thread and SC4DEV , after a long period of absence due to RL reasons mostly...my intention is to continue my project in this thread , and who knows?  ....may be finish it , one day.. of course always staying calmly and cool....( at least i will try , following.. .. FrankU's advice.. )

-I decided to continue from another place of my region , just for making a new begining...I am already working on a marina ...i will always try not to get you tired with many words , i will mostly do so whenever i would like to ask something...whatever i will show on photos it will be under construnction , and i suppose that may be i will update whatever , when i feel i have to add something new to it... of course always with your help , dont forget it that this is not a MD , or a showcase , it is just a simple trial to create something nice using L.E

I think , you can get an idea from the following pics... ....dont forget it is NOT finished and it is UC..









of course this is just a part of the marina , next to come ( at least i hope so...) thanks and waiting for your comments always..

[FrankU]

Hi VeTram,

Welcome back! I was afraid you left the community.

The marina is nice, but a bit empty. I also see that you are working on that aspect. Good work.
You might try to use NOB's fishing port stuff. Do you know about it?

All the best fot 2010,
FrankU

[VeTram]

Hi FrankU my friend , ( pls call me Antoni )...nice to meet you  ...hope to find and other friends like jmdude1 ( where are you Jeff?)

FrankU , i just noticed your thread on LOT SHOWCASE PROJECT , very nice work indeed!....are you working on any project lately?

As for my project , of course the Marina is a bit emtpy , because i am still working on it , and it is Under Construction. When it will be finished (hopefully) i will post pics , and move on next to my city-port area. Whenever i will discover someth. nice i will return back to Marina or whatever else's temporarily finished and add it..

Of course i know NOB's fishing port , and in fact this is going to be the next step in Marina , as i need many , many boats for the continuation. Thanks for your advice anyway!...stay tuned , and pls let me know where can i see anything from a project from you.

All the best also from me to you and your family for a happy new year 2010