AC Functional, Upgradeable Airports, Support Thread

[k808j]

After I installed the BSC essentials my airport props and automata no longer show up.

[RippleJet]

Since BSC Essentials only contains queries, they cannot be blamed for props not showing up...

Have you recently updated SC4 (the fix for enabling nightlights in custom buildings for instance)?
Whenever you install one of Maxis' updates, the graphics settings are automatically reduced.

Thus, first of all, make sure you have City Details set to high in your Graphics Settings.

[k808j]

That was the ticket  thks

[Ra1n]

I love the work that's been done with this but have a few questions/ concerns.  Some of the terminals that are included have the road access arrow on the side or back of the lot.  Why wouldn't the road be in front of the terminal where the passengers would enter?  Also, why would you build a road in the back where the tarmac should be with airplanes taxiing across it?  This doesn't make much sense to me. 

Also, the towers that are available in the "eyecandy" file are also functional airports.  I use them as towers in the mist of runways so does this mean that I would have to build road access to them too?  Again, that'd be strange since the towers is across the tarmac by the runway.

When installing the eyecandy file it says not to use it if you've got updated files from the AC team.  I haven't found anything from the AC team except for the "AC Functional Airports"  and the "AC MEGA Props" found only on the LEX.  Is there something out there that I'm missing that would be a better option than the eye candy lots?

The SDP support file is still listed and downloadable on STEX but LEX says it's been included in the latest BSC essential file.  Is the file on STEX different?  Do I need both the STEX file and the BSC Essentials file to make the AC airports work?

I've noticed that Voltaire is part of the AC.  He's made some amazing tarmac, terminals, and jet upgrades as part of the RMIP.  Are these compatible with the AC stuff and will they be included in it as another support file or something? 

Finally, does anyone have any pictures of a constructed airport using the terminals, runways, and tarmacs from the AC Functional Airport pack in a city?  I've made a huge airport in one of my cities from guess work on how to make everything fit together (the fire station is cool but I have no idea how I should place the airport security lot around the airport) but would like to see how the AC as done it.  Since you all designed it, I'm sure you've got some brilliant ways to use it all.

PS:  This is a little... ok, way off the subject... but does anyone know what ever happened to Nealos101.  I know he was working on his latest casino but no updates for months now and torremayor has megaprops on the lex but where do you download his lots?

[RippleJet]

I love the work that's been done with this but have a few questions/ concerns.  Some of the terminals that are included have the road access arrow on the side or back of the lot.  Why wouldn't the road be in front of the terminal where the passengers would enter?  Also, why would you build a road in the back where the tarmac should be with airplanes taxiing across it?  This doesn't make much sense to me. 

Just as with all ploppable lots, the arrow does not have to face the road.
While plopping it, just press the Home or End key twice to rotate the terminal,
and plop it before you've moved the mouse and caused the terminal to flip around again.

Also, the towers that are available in the "eyecandy" file are also functional airports.  I use them as towers in the mist of runways so does this mean that I would have to build road access to them too?  Again, that'd be strange since the towers is across the tarmac by the runway.

The modern functional ATCT by Muzzy is a functional airport, providing jobs.
Thus, it will need road access.

However, in the SWAP package there are also two eyecandy ATCT's, the 17-story ATCT and the 8-story small ATCT.
These two can be placed anywhere.

When installing the eyecandy file it says not to use it if you've got updated files from the AC team.  I haven't found anything from the AC team except for the "AC Functional Airports"  and the "AC MEGA Props" found only on the LEX.  Is there something out there that I'm missing that would be a better option than the eye candy lots?

That refers to all previous packages under the names of RMIP and ACB/VLT, available on the STEX.
Both Voltaire and ace_bovenopdeberg are members of the AC Team.

The SDP support file is still listed and downloadable on STEX but LEX says it's been included in the latest BSC essential file.  Is the file on STEX different?  Do I need both the STEX file and the BSC Essentials file to make the AC airports work?

That file on STEX is identical with the locked one on LEX.
The one on STEX should be locked as well, as it is indeed now included in BSC Essentials.
Thanks for reminding us!

I've noticed that Voltaire is part of the AC.  He's made some amazing tarmac, terminals, and jet upgrades as part of the RMIP.  Are these compatible with the AC stuff and will they be included in it as another support file or something? 

They are most certainly compatible.
If and when he finds time for it, Voltaire will repack them and upload them on the LEX as well.

Finally, does anyone have any pictures of a constructed airport using the terminals, runways, and tarmacs from the AC Functional Airport pack in a city?  I've made a huge airport in one of my cities from guess work on how to make everything fit together (the fire station is cool but I have no idea how I should place the airport security lot around the airport) but would like to see how the AC as done it.  Since you all designed it, I'm sure you've got some brilliant ways to use it all.

You might find some inspiration from the show us your airport! thread.

PS:  This is a little... ok, way off the subject... but does anyone know what ever happened to Nealos101.  I know he was working on his latest casino but no updates for months now and torremayor has megaprops on the lex but where do you download his lots?

Unfortunately, RL school is keeping Neal away.
So far nobody has taken up the challenge to make lots with Torremayor's buildings.

[Ra1n]

Thanks, RJ.  Appreciate it!

[Ra1n]

Do you guys at the AC plan on updating the pre-fab terminals that are in the AC Functional pack so that the planes aren't overlapping each other and appearing in awkward positions?  Or possibly creating some all new pre-fab terminals?  Any hints on what's in the works?

[RippleJet]

Do you guys at the AC plan on updating the pre-fab terminals that are in the AC Functional pack so that the planes aren't overlapping each other and appearing in awkward positions?

No, the old airports made by Joerg and Thalassicus will not be upgraded. They were included for backwards compatibility.

Or possibly creating some all new pre-fab terminals?  Any hints on what's in the works?

Most certainly.
Take a look at what Voltaire's up to, starting here.

[Ra1n]

Good to know.  Thanks again, RJ.  What are you working on these days?

[RippleJet]

What are you working on these days?

nycc06's CAMeLots and some other ports... those that require water...

And I'm waiting for Voltaire to send me his prefab airport to be included in an upcoming upgrade of the AC Functional Airports...

[Ra1n]

Cool, looking forward to seeing those.... and the updated AC Functional.

[allan_kuan1992]

(nudges it awake)

umm... any update on the prefab airport progress? I know Voltaire released the props just recently.

I'm guessing... a Christmas release? =O

- Allan Kuan

[BarbyW]

Maybe or maybe the props were relased for a seaport pretending to be a airport. Like this Cargo Handling Centre:

[allan_kuan1992]

OMG!

Perfect! =O

(drools) xD

any other developments and additions that you could possibly show?

- Allan Kuan

[BarbyW]

Nope

[suplado!]

wow -- cool cargo terminal!!

[RippleJet]

Just a teaser...



Yes, it's a functional airport bus stop, and a functional city bus stop, all in one.
And it upgrades!

[allan_kuan1992]

do you have an animation to see the stages? =P

- Allan Kuan

[RippleJet]

do you have an animation to see the stages?

Maybe I do...




The double functionality of this lot causes the capacities in the query to update rather slowly.
During testing I've had everything between 4 and 12 months between the updates.

You can also see that the city bus stop isn't working while it upgrades.
It even disappears from the city budget during the upgrade, which only takes 1 day though.

One month after each upgrade, both the airport bus and the city bus capacities are reported as 0 (see stages 4 and 5 in the animation).

The upgrade is of course dependent only on the airport bus efficiency.
As soon as its usage exceeds 95% it upgrades, as long as the airport funding is at least 100%.

After reaching stage 6 above, I bulldozed it and replopped it as a stage 1.
This time the airport bus load was distributed on the other 12 airport bus stops that I had built in this city, keeping the load below 95% on each of them... at least for a short while.
This provided a good chance of showing that the city bus service quality is reported separately from the airport efficiency:




Despite the problems with the query often showing a capacity of 0, the route query continues to update regularly though:

[Korot]

How come that the route query shows train usage with no rail in sight? Or should that read subway, as there are subway stairs?