FrankU's Lottery - Space Center update

[gn_leugim]

I like the opera  , but the center, I cant really tell why, but don't like it as much. maybe is the back of the lot, or the size/shape of it. it could be wider I guess. 

[FrankU]

Hi all,
And especially gn_leugim (thanks for your reply).

I have made some changes to the Opera and the Congres Center. I also show the first tryouts of the Space Pad/Launch Pad/Space Center (what is this thing called in the english game?)... and the Zoo.

The Congres Center
After gn_leugims idea I made the lot one tile wider and added a sidewalk with benches and trees. Is it nicer now?
While doing it I considered making the sidewalks as separate lots, so that you could add them anywhere in your cities where you like to have a Dutch atmosphere. And maybe I'll do that one day. But not now.


The Opera
I hardly changed anything. I addes some benches and some light poles, but wanted the square to be a bit empty and clean. OK, I forgot to add some people. I'll do that before upload. I could have made the lot wider too, but thought it would be OK like this. Maybe I add those separate sidewalk lots after all. You can parkify the lots to your hearts content then.


The Zoo
I simply improved the Maxis Zoo: I changed the base texture, replaced the trees, did some alignment of walls and props, added some benches, flower beds and lights. That's all. Better already? Good enough for the stand alone version?


The Space Launch Pad
Now this one was really an ugly lot. I only plopped it because of the IHT cap relief, which turned out to be not there......
So empty and boring.
I tried to make it better. There should be some kind of control center, I thought. For that I used the airport props. Some fuel depot.... And on the ground some futurist-space-age-like thingamajigs. I hope they look a bit convincing? I am not too sure about this lot.




Please comment! You will not offend me.
Now I have to check some first MFP props that Fred/mrbisonm sent me this morning!

[Catalyst]

haha, in that case I'll dare posting some comments;
I like the congress center a lot, especially the tree line and the nice big plaza in front of it. If I remember correctly the maxis one was filled with ugly parking spaces. Same for the opera, some modular plaza-lots would be great to get away from boring rectangular road layouts.
No comment regarding the zoo, hoping for some modular lots ;-)
As for the Space Launch Pad, it does look like something's missing, maybe if it's doable you could incorporate some bigger hangars and satellite dishes, etc. into the lot, also more props and space thingamajigs! And what about some hi-tech office building to accommodate all the experts and science apparatus instead of the tiny terminal?
Nice nuclear bunker!

[gn_leugim]

wow so many stuff to comment on 

Well, first, the center. I have to say it looks way better now, that single tile wider and all the stuff it brings improved it a lot! I also think you should do those sidewalks as a separate pack.

I'll skip right to the space pad now. Quite a good work given the limitations (I dont think you have a space launch pad there, am I right? :p) but I feel a lack of stuff around the lot. I guess there would be some around.

The opera is alright, and the zoo, well, I never play with it so I guess I dont have quite an opinion on it eheh but if there were more props zoo related I think it could be a bit bigger, as now is kinda small for a zoo 

[romualdillo]

Great work again with the lots! The Congress Center looks much better now. Relotting the Launch Pad is a great idea, but I still find it a bit empty. Perhaps adding some trucks or military vehicles on the explanade... 

[FrankU]

Hi Catalyst, gn_leugim and romualdillo,

Thanks for the feedback.
I took a look at the only RL space port that I could find: Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.
I have no idea where the Kazahkstan Space Center is located and I am not aware of Chinese, Indian or Iranian space ports. So we have to do with Florida....

Take a look. It's at least four large city tiles wide. The hangars and the offices are miles away form the heat producing launch pads.
Most realistic I can think of is just a small empty lot with the Launch pad and then it's up to you to make a nice space port around it with your own props..... But that is not a proper lotting job, now isn't it?

For the sake of scale I decided to use the tiny airport props: large buildings in a small scale. If I use the "normal" (what is normal in SC4?) sized props that we use in common city areas the space port will look even more like a toy.

So adding hangars might be a nice idea. I just could not fins some... I'll take another search.
Increasing the size of the lot.
Removal of brick textures behind the buildings.
Maybe even all the fences out....
I'll have a look at military props. I never touuhced these, so that is new terrain.

The Congres Center: maybe after all I'll add another tile to the right of the building with another tree lined sidewalk.

And I am working on the separate plaza, sidewalk and park lots....

I'll keep the small Zoo for those who don't want to fuss with Zoos and just want the Reward.
I will definitely make a modular one. But I don't know when.

[FrankU]

Dear friends,

You have seen my relots of the Congres Center and the Opera. These relots mainly consist of the addition of a plaza in front of the buildings.
As a kind of spin off I decided to make some stand alone plazas. I also put in some lots that can be used to make extra wide sidewalks and/or avenue medians.

As you know I am not the kind of guy that uploads one tiny file as a separate project. So I made 18 lots. They can be used as stand alones or, of course, in combination with each other. It's up to you.

Here they are

1. Four Square planters
The name says it all. The planters are from a Simgoober prop family, so you will see different shrubs at any plop. Actually I combined two prop families.


2. Tree in flower patch
The tree is from a prop series of four different rotations of two trees.
The flowers are the famous WildFlowers prop family by Simgoober. I tend yo use it everywhere.


3. Tree with round bench
Because I like the lay out of this bench so much you need the Swi Megapack vol1 for this set.


4. Monument
I put five monument props as a series on this lot. Every plop gives you one of them.


5. Round planter
The round planter is again a Simgoober prop family. On this lot it is combined with another prop family of round planters plus the Maxis street clock and the dog monument.


6. Sidewalk with benches
A boring looking lot, but it is meant as an addition to the 1x3 Sidewalk with benches and two trees (#10).


7. Sidewalk with benches and tree
Again an addition to the 1x3 Sidewalk with benches and two trees.


8. Benches and flowers
A simple lot for making avenue medians.


9. Benches and rose sqares
Another quite simple lot for avenue medians or extra wide sidewalks.


10. Sidewalk with benches and two trees
The main lot for the extra wide sidewalks. There is a prop series on it with a phone booth, a parking meter, a waste glass container and a post box by Wouter van Soethout (W_Swietwoot). You will also find obscure boxes with electrical wiring in them. They are placed on inconvenient locations, just as we will find in the Dutch public space. Very annoying, but realistic. These boxes are to be found on several lots.


11. Sidewalk with centered trees and rose beds
The name says it all. The same prop series as above.


12. Sidewalk with centered tree and flowers
More or less the same purpose as above, just different looks.


13. Tree and light posts
A relatively simple lot with not too much props. The charm is in the street work.


14. Diagonal flower beds
The name says all. Of course the diagonal flower beds are made as prop series: every plop gives a different lay out. You know I am not a fan of repetition.


15. Four trees and monument
Both the trees and the monument are made as prop series.


16. Rose beds and flower patches
I put the dog monument in the center. This is candidate for a better option. Otherwise I like the lot.


17. Four trees in flower patches
A nice plaza, isn't it?


18. Monument and some flowers
Again the monument. Combined with less fancy flowers for those who like a bit of open space.


Because the plazas are meant for high wealth areas I refrained from putting garbage and waste containers on them, but perhaps I will make some low wealth lots later.... 

The properties are derived directly from the Maxis plazas.

So... What is there else to say? Like it? Questions? Opinions? Criticism?

[vortext]

Nice intermezzo, lovely set! 

Though I take it all lots have some folks milling about and not just the larger ones?

[mrbisonm]

Wow, some very nice looking plazas that I will surely use in my cities. Wonderful.

Fred

[FrankU]

Nice intermezzo, lovely set! 

Though I take it all lots have some folks milling about and not just the larger ones?

Ah, hmmm.... yes... I forgot. I will add some.
Then it's just a matter of adding the icons and a read me. Set will be finished soon and then I'll finish the rewards.

Thank you Fred and Vortex!

[art128]

Reminds me of Marrast's set of sidewalks. Nice addition, would definitely use them. The ground is made of a base texture only or base texture and overlays?

[kelis]

Yep, another useful set created by FrankU ! 

[FrankU]

Hi art128 and kelis,

Thank you!

The Marrast avenue dividers set and the Nexis road center were indeed inspirations for me.
The ground is made with BSC_TexturePack_Cycledogg_V 01.dat and is a combination of base texture and overlays.

[FrankU]

Bump....

Some changes and some examples.

I changed lot #12 due to a texture mistake.


I changed plaza #16, because I disliked the dog monument.
It's now called Mausoleum and rose beds.


And I have two examples of what combining the lots can do.

Avenue dividers


A large 4x4 plaza, consisting of 1x 2x2, 4x 1x2 and 4x 1x1 lots.


Just some simple and quick combinations.

[FrankU]

Aaaaand...... Another Bump!

The files are finished, polished and shined, packed and uploaded.

Get them while they are fresh!

LEX
STEX

[gn_leugim]

a late reply but, good one, awesome set of plazas! I will only change the base texture for compatibility of my cities, other than that, awesome!

[art128]

Thanks!

As gn_leugim said, I'll only change the textures to fit my cities. 

[noahclem]

Great work on these    Very nice-looking lots 

[FrankU]

Hi gn_leugim and art128,

If you want to change textures then think about the overlays. I use the CP overlays extensively, so probably you can only work with CP's texture sets.
Otherwise the effects gets lost.
But of course it is allowed to do anything you like with the lots, so please go ahead!

Thank you noahclem!

[gn_leugim]

I've figured that out already, but once I open them in PIMx I'll see what I can do, surely I'll can manage something