Mayor's Diary and Budget Book - Additional pictures!

[newsimaddict]

Mayor's Diary, dated 16-Mar 09

I have just been in a meeting with some heavyweights from Capitalia, Governor Freddy Bison and his colleagues Hank (from the Transportation Commission) and Pete (Grand River Rails). They have big plans for GRVII, some of which I believe can lead to great things for this region, whilst others could possibly lead to corruption and money cheats/deals.

I am fully behind their decisions in regards to the traverse across GRVII, given funds available to me are upwards of 6 million dollars. Who can argue with those sorts of funds?

With so much at stake, I have to prepare several plans as to how we are going to cross this Grand River Valley (II), not only in infrastructure but in town planning and development.

The tasks required:
To build Route 10 from tile A to M
To build a rail network from point A to point B - with logistical planning in writing for the future growth for GRVII.

With this in mind, I have in mind the idea to create a unique 'Scenic Route' for the future, using the route 10 given to me by the Governor. As time passes, I will be asked to build a freeway given the demand of the region. As freeways being the nature of straight, curveless and in time measurements – shorter, my scenic route will revel in its role as being the tourist drive for true motorists.

As such, I have put forward several plans to the Governor – each route specific for different purposes...
Idea1


Whilst the road is straight forward and time-efficient, I don't like the extra rail costs incurred with the stabilisation of the cliff edge in tile A. This may prove to be costly.

Idea2


Though vastly different in routes, the variety in network lines appeals. This kind of development puts the key growth area heavily in tile F (where the road and rail come together). Whilst we don't know when we are able to develop freely in the lower left of the region, I am coming more to more loving this idea...

Idea3


Although the rail and road almost mirror each other, the overall costs seem to be minimal. The networks work around the land, almost working with it if I may so myself. As like an exotic dish with many flavours, the road and rail here compliment each other. With the rail so close to the water in the middle section, the idea of river trade appeals to me. It also gives future small towns the room to grow as industry can quickly move from township to township with the rail being so close by. Yes, I nominate this to be my preference.




Mayor's Diary, dated 18-Mar 09
I've received word off my peers and they have gone with idea no.3. Whilst my town planners are waiting for budgets for the Governor to be implemented, I have no less guesstimated that we might hit around $190,000 for the road/rail traverse across GRVII. Whilst not a mathematician, I understand that some things can not simply be budgeted for...I only hope I'm not too far off what my planners are telling me.




Mayor's Diary, dated 22-Mar 09
It has been days and we are well on our way to crossing the grandiose GRVII. Although in real life, this would never be achievable – the computer land is much more forgiving. I have given consent to the construction of both the rail and road W-E traverse and it's with much please I present to you a progression of pictures showing the might of GRVII! We are currently in the middle of building the road and rail bridge crossing the Border River at Stanmore Bend.

With the bridges constructed, the construction crew's footprint was evident.





As mayor, my initial thoughts were of terrain reconstruction and the effects of heavy machinery impacting on the river banks.





After careful consideration, town planners and environmentalists estimated the damage on the north and south shores downgraded to minimal.



With considerable care to forward planning, the crossing of the road and rail bridges costed no more than $8,000 with the entire traverse of GRVII Route 10 and the Grand River Rails system costing just over $200,000. As mayor, I hope you've enjoyed my thoughts and ideas...because after all, they are just ideas until they are actioned by the greater good.

[Splime]

Wow, the choice of terrain mods and trees looks amazing, especially with the road and rail going through it all. 

[dedgren]

Outstanding!- and process, too.  This is great stuff.


David

[mrbisonm]

Great story, nice pics and excellent work, just as I remember seing from you the last time. Good luck.

Fred

[jmyers2043]

Hey there!

A story brings the pictures to life. I enjoyed every word.

[newsimaddict]

to be posted (just checking something)

does anybody know how to change the name of the topic?

rather than opening up a new topic for more pictures, i wanted to remove the 'challenge 1' from the title to

Mayor's Diary and Budget Book - Additional pictures!


...can anyone please help?

[Splime]

If you edit the first post, and change the subject field, then that should change the thread name. (Just be sure to click the modify button at the top of the post, not the lower right.)

[newsimaddict]

Thanks Splime! (never knew you could do that)

So as I suggested below, I wanted to have the one thread of my fav pics and to explain theories...but mainly pictures.



Have you ever had that feeling of darn, that just looks nice and you had to share it? Well Borderbank (tile E) has that small quaint little town effect on me that I just wanted to show it to you.



Used in Challenge 2 as the base for the water mains supply, the government support for freight growth has strengthened Borderbank's location as a target town to grow.

With fences built to keep 'the southerners' out, residents were delighted to hear that only non-eucalyptus trees were logged for the rail and powerlines.







With the closure of the Hiker's Hill rail spur (constructed and used for transportation of dirt for the rail and road ramps in Stanmore Bend), some of Borderbank's residents opened up shop - building cafés and gift shops on the newly tarred Route 10.







A local vote was made for a petrol station, post office, bank, general store and a decent place to buy takeaway coffee to be built first (the petrol station is up near the rail station so not seen in these pics).

Passing tourists (and government officials) loved the fact that the café didn't burn their coffee, so they moved into town so they could have one everyday. Residential zones were constructed and building commenced.





Locals also wanted a community building with the town's name printed on the roof for aerial navigation - the council thought it was a ridiculous idea so instead they built a church with a tennis court.

Cheerio! nsa

[newsimaddict]

So a quick update on what I've been doing over the past few weeks...tons!

A new farm built in LE with fields and pastures and fences and..well, you get the picture (well not yet but in challenge 3!)

The shopping strip in the last post.

Putting in fences and power poles across GRVII.

Ideally, the things I've LE'd aren't really that technical but man they take time! I made it, removed textures and then test it in-game...quit, re-nig, re-remove textures, re-test, quit...it just keeps going.

Does anybody have tips on how to make life easier when lotting? Or is it just a battle to keep the detail right at all times?

[soulchaser]

simply awesome