Updated Puzzle Piece Models

[smoncrie]

I have been working on updating the models used in the road viaduct puzzle pieces.  I have attached the updated models to this message, and I hope that people will tell me if they are Ok, and how they can be improved.

Note: The picture shows a slightly older version.


The mod updates some of models used in road viaduct puzzle pieces.  The updated models now have shadows, and some of them have wealth textures.

The paths for these models have also been updated, mostly to shift the pedestrian paths.

To install this mod, put the zRoadViaductNewModelsV1.dat file in the NetworkAddonMod folder.

[joelyboy911]

Hey, it looks cool. I wonder if the textures on the railing are a bit too light though? I can't test it right now, but I will a little later on.

Does it help the diagonals?

[smoncrie]

Joelyboy911, I could darken them.  When I tried grey railings, I found that they did not stand out against the grey sidewalks.

I have tested diagonal models, but I have not yet finished any.

[j-dub]

Excellent job, Smoncrie.  From what I can tell in this picture, in comparison to real life  the railing is not the same color as the cement holding it. If anything, in reality, the railing would be a grayer color then the cement holding the railing up. Attached is a ps of what your guard rail could look like. Its not the best ps-ing in the world, but I am fine what with you already made.

[gardenwong]

Please also kindly add some fence or change the abutment of the rail viaduct

[adroman]

Now that's realistic!

awesome work, looks like the one I drive over every day!

Can't wait for a release.

[Tarkus]

smoncrie, these new models are looking great!  I think a lot of folks have been waiting for improved models on the elevated pieces for awhile now, so I have a feeling this is going to be a very popular project.  I've been trying out the attached file a bit and am very impressed!

-Alex

[SC4BOY]

I think they look GREAT.. its so nice to have those "cleaned up".. they have looked rather sad over the years... I think your model looks excellent! I can quibble over what tweak I want this way or that, but its pure personal preference.. The models you have look very nice!

[Meastro444]

The only thing I would add is a piece without supports. the old pieces had 2 thick support beams per tile, and I prefer once every 2 tile.

If you could add a supportless piece, that would be great!

[Andreas]

Very nice work indeed! And a piece without supports would be fine for canal bridges and ploppable water as well.

[tag_one]

magnificent work, smoncrie! The new model looks great and especially the concrete textures are wonderful   

[smoncrie]

Thanks everyone.   I am glad you like my models! 

I know that they are less realistic, but I choose light-coloured railings because I thought that they looked good even when you are zoomed out.  I will experiment with darker shades to see if I can find one that still looks good.

gardenwong, I plan to update the model for the elevated road and elevated "ground" rail crossing.  I was also thinking of replacing the animated rail gate with a new traffic light that uses animated rail lights.

Meastro444 & Andreas, I had planned to make road viaduct puzzle pieces that do not have supports (like I did with the high elevated rail and high monorail). Adding additional puzzle pieces requires changing the RUL files, and I did not want to add modified RULs to a public mod!!!  I plan to update all the road viaduct models I can before I start modifying the RULs.

Eventually, I intend to make a number of changes in the RULs to allow me to add wealth textures to some of the puzzle pieces that have IIDs that are too closely spaced. (In the picture you can see that the sidewalks continue under the road viaduct; these sidewalks are the wealth textures.)  Changing the RULs would also allow me to eliminate almost all cases were the road centerline is offset between two puzzle pieces.

tag-one, I am glad you like the cement textures.  I should probably mention that the supports are modified Maxis supports.

[Tarkus]

Changing the RULs would also allow me to eliminate almost all cases were the road centerline is offset between two puzzle pieces.

You might also be able to fix that by using David's (dedgren) improved Road textures on the models.  The pixel offset is fixed on them.

-Alex

[Pat]

smoncrie looking very good here sweet!!!!

[smoncrie]

You might also be able to fix that by using David's (dedgren) improved Road textures on the models.  The pixel offset is fixed on them.

-Alex

Tarkus, the way Maxis RULs handle rotations and mirroring is the reason why Maxis networks have few problems with their pixel offset. If puzzle pieces use the same rotation and mirroring, they will not have pixel offset problems either.  This means that these puzzle pieces can use other textures that still have a pixel offset, in addition to David's (dedgren) improved textures.

[Edit] This pixel offset fix is something I have wanted to do for years, but have not had the time to do.

[MAS71]

Thank you Smoncrie for a nice update, and I waited for it long time. 

I'm agreeable in an opinion of J-dub, too. (about color of gurdrail)
and I'm looking forward to next update for all of NAM's pieces with this goof model as well.

Thank you.

[just_a_guy]

I actually like the white gaurdrails. They seem realistic and more eye pleasing. In Guadalajara there are a lot of bridges with white railings and even white supports (the supports have an interesting design to them as well). The model looks great too though! No matter the color of anything, it will still be a great update from the old bridges.

[joelyboy911]

Would you consider doing a similar mod for the rail viaducts? I ask because I would like to see something a bit more modern-looking, with concrete instead of bricks.

I would be willing to help (possibly I could BAT some pieces even), but my experience of modding is limited at best, I mostly just understand changing prop exemplars, as far as iLive's Reader is concerned.

I've looked at these new models in game, and they are great. I haven't found any problems - but I haven't done any extremely rigorous testing.

[j-dub]

First, even though I did say darkening the color of the guard rail would not be a bad idea, at the same time, both a version where they are the same whiteness and a darker version as well, both seem to benefit different people. So maybe, if such a color change was done, this could just be another option, rather then straight replacement.

Second, in response to joelyboy's question, while that is great for some, if such modding was made to the rail viaducts, should be away from the updated road network guard rails, since I still like the gray rail viaducts, and other still do, the rail replacement would benefit being an optional dat file.

Where the guard rails stand already, I can not wait to see the same treatment replace the avenue and one-way overpass railings as well, I am not so picky of true colors, they are very good models. It was just good enough to finally see such realism in game as it is, especially when I tried to build this over a RHW. Again, excellent work, Smoncrie.

[CabraBuitre]

Great work!  Personally, I like the white color... I think it will show well from higher zooms, like you said. 

In terms of reality... this is a simulation.  Things aren't exactly as they are in real life... certain things have to be modified a bit to look "right" even if it isn't 100% like real life.  I think that this is ok... actually, sometimes even better, because they're more usable in the game world.