SC4 Devotion Forum Archives

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Without further ado, let's get this thing started...

By way of introduction, here's what the textbook says:

QuotePort St Claire is an urban region located on the Atlantic coast of the (fictional) US state of New Brabant. It is the state's largest metropolis in surface area and population, as well as its economic and cultural center. The region is coterminous with King James County, and has a long history of administrative consolidation and reorganization.

That's all you need to know right now - the textbook has a tendency to ramble on about details. First, we'll go back to a time when Port St Claire (hence "PSC" for brevity) didn't even exist.

A personal note, maybe. What's been holding up this MD all the time is my indecision on the topic of history. I'd love to recreate the area historically, and build it up the way it happened. That's impossible, sadly, as that would entail an even more enormous work than what I currently plan: the same, save the historical settings. Therefore, no historical BATs, horse-drawn carts, or candle lights, instead we'll plunge right in as if the 1780s looked a lot like today. I'll try to stick to serving the eggs before the chicken, but don't expect it to look the part. Anyway.

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0.1. Barton, 1780s (part 1)

Click for streetmap:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fth_barton1780.jpg&hash=c596d2cc29aa0f4fd09e4462c15fa11f5ced12c5) (http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb419/swm666/PSC_2012/Chapter%201/barton1780.jpg)

(http://)

0.1.1.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-01.jpg&hash=d4a5bddeb6b0db22ffd95be955e207b2b9f736e0)

Textbook:

QuoteEuropeans first surveyed the shores of King James Lake in the 1660s, but were scarcely impressed by the lowlands that hugged the Atlantic Ocean. The area was susceptible to regular flooding, and disease was rampant during summers. Only the settlement of Barton (1784) prospered, situated on the banks of the river Thunder, further inland than the other ventures. The first settlers were farmers from Barton-Upon-Humber, Lincolnshire, after which they imaginatively called their new home Barton-Upon-Thunder (although the epithet fell into disuse as people from other areas of England and Wales arrived). Until well into the 1840s, their main economic interests remained agricultural, with a variety of crops that grew well on the fertile soil.

Facing west:
0.1.2.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-18.jpg&hash=4904fe34d81cadef89077d041d257ada120d197e)

As shown here, Barton had a population of around 2,700, and was very much the only center in the region that offered some services. Here town hall and the post office:
0.1.3.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-02.jpg&hash=6ed6495ef6b97d41a831de7d012d3718767be190)

Main street facing south, with some businesses. Bottom left is an early clinic:
0.1.4.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-03.jpg&hash=91bb24fc67610a7417f528f9e46ece534b62c63a)

The eastern part of town, with one of the city's two water towers:
0.1.5.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-04.jpg&hash=f7107fefbf7b2deacd9a64f9bb38297642ecfe36)

Facing east, on Independence Ave. The building on the left was the first educational institution of the region; the building on the right was an early industry.
0.1.6.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-06.jpg&hash=eeaf99c62bad872ba34227d996bfdb93d7956f4d)

St Germaine's Church, on the south end of Main Street. Named after a French saint. Only recently completed, with much of the square still under construction:
0.1.7.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-25.jpg&hash=430c92ac965c0ef3ecbb4604c2e7f72762c64e1c)

Facade, facing south:
0.1.8.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-26.jpg&hash=6a4d2ed2daa4f3730df35e9e514b45708aee6c28)

Facing east. Bottom left is the New Market. No idea where the old one went:
0.1.9.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-27.jpg&hash=7dcb70103dd5bcc446249100e3d62d71b7bb5d9c)

Buoyed by stories of succes, immigrants have kept arriving. One farmer cashed in and sold off some of his land for housing. This part is off-map:
0.1.10.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-19.jpg&hash=ca8f8410e50ac33bfafdc6a203d15f13c0083a19)

This is the oldest house in Barton, on Maple St. Old man still grows his own lettuce. Facing east:
0.1.11.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-24.jpg&hash=3ec933c978c0975cc1f27335a3fc6d3b80a3e9e0)

To close off, some seasonal pics. In winter, you can actually see the streets from the air:
0.1.12.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-20.jpg&hash=39801a624d346faef0aef3689d96932ee082fa33)

0.1.13.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-21.jpg&hash=66f8fceee24b4f11701ce2a90a8a6ed14f0de425)

0.1.14.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2F001-22.jpg&hash=45082911f53f5033f642b8e80622f2137089bf79)

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Next time, we'll take a look at the outskirts of town. After that, we might visit a couple of other upstart settlements before we return to Barton to see what the 19th century brings.

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Whew. One doesn't realize all the hard work everyone needs to put in to get these kind of things going - until you have to do it yourself. So, this one's dedicated to all of you on these boards who made this possible in the first place. Cheers to you.


Willy

Oh, this is great. I was hoping you'd make an MD one day and I am not disappointed at all. I don't want to put too much pressure on you but we expect some awesome railroad scenes.  :P

The Textbook is a very clever way of telling the history of the region. I like that.

Fantastic start Willy  &apls &apls  I'm really glad you've decided to "take the plunge" and start up your MD. You've come up with a great variety of detail and overview, and nice selection of BATs, a grid-busting road layout, a great amount of fall colors and green from all the flora, and a uniue and nice style of presentation! I admire you for being able to create such a nice small town feel. Keep up the great work and I'll be following very closely  :thumbsup:

Very good Start !  &apls

Nice first entry!  &apls

Great little town already and the trees, omg the trees, they're everywhere! Especially the second to last shot is amazing, the trees and farmfields go together so well.   :thumbsup:

Quote from: Swordmaster on October 07, 2012, 05:19:58 PM
instead we'll plunge right in as if the 1780s looked a lot like today.

Hehe, funny because it's true.  :P

Looking forward to the next update.  :thumbsup:

Very nice start!
The village near the big meander of the river is very pleasant. Good distribution of fields, forests and  village &apls

Great start!!! I really like those overviews, the layout, the old-american-town feeling...
Hope to see a lot more of this...
PS: Are those telegraph lines in 1.1?

Nice town. And I enjoy the seasonal trees.  :thumbsup:

And I'm just seeing your update MD now... Shame on me~

Very nice start Willy. Love the feels of this town. It has a lot of charm in both autumn and spring.

Looking forward to more.

Great start of your MD. Church looks very nice.

Quote from: RickD
Oh, this is great. I was hoping you'd make an MD one day and I am not disappointed at all. I don't want to put too much pressure on you but we expect some awesome railroad scenes.  :P

The Textbook is a very clever way of telling the history of the region. I like that.

Thanks, Raphael, but... be careful what you ask for! ;)

It's certain that the railways will spearhead regional development, and thus will get a load of attention. At the same time, I explicitly want to avoid turning this into a niche MD (nothing wrong with them, though). I'm trying to keep everyone on board, and maintain a broad horizon on city building.

PS: I'm thinking about what bonus I should give you for being the first replier. :thumbsup:

Quote from: noahclem
Fantastic start Willy  &apls &apls  I'm really glad you've decided to "take the plunge" and start up your MD. You've come up with a great variety of detail and overview, and nice selection of BATs, a grid-busting road layout, a great amount of fall colors and green from all the flora, and a uniue and nice style of presentation! I admire you for being able to create such a nice small town feel. Keep up the great work and I'll be following very closely  :thumbsup:

Good to know you're coming along! I'll try to keep the ride smooth and bump-free. ;D

Quote from: namspopof
Very good Start !  &apls

Merci!

Quote from: vortext
Nice first entry!  &apls

Great little town already and the trees, omg the trees, they're everywhere! Especially the second to last shot is amazing, the trees and farmfields go together so well.   :thumbsup:

Hehe, funny because it's true.  :P

Looking forward to the next update.  :thumbsup:

Thanks for stopping by! I agree spring is the nicest season in town. And indeed, custom farms, something which I've started to dabble with only recently, have contributed more than anything else to the atmosphere.

Quote from: Kergelen
Very nice start!
The village near the big meander of the river is very pleasant. Good distribution of fields, forests and  village &apls

Thanks to you as well. Beware, though; Bartonians don't like their place to be called a 'village'! A town, sir! A town! There's some sensitive folks there, you know. ;)

Quote from: MTT9
Great start!!! I really like those overviews, the layout, the old-american-town feeling...
Hope to see a lot more of this...
PS: Are those telegraph lines in 1.1?

You'll get some more, but not a lot more. There's indeed a ton of rural communities like this spread around, but urban development will get the better of them soon enough, so the rural character will gradually fade.

About those lines... they were a little... premature if anything – you didn't see that! $%Grinno$%

Quote from: Schulmanator
Nice town. And I enjoy the seasonal trees.  :thumbsup:

Thanks. I'm trying to keep it all-seasonal here. Now all I need to do is to get PSC as far as Schulmania (small effort, right?).

Quote from: art128
And I'm just seeing your update MD now... Shame on me~

Very nice start Willy. Love the feels of this town. It has a lot of charm in both autumn and spring.

Looking forward to more.

It's nice to see you stop by, whenever – I can't count all the updates I missed from your MD.

Quote from: Piterdaw1
Great start of your MD. Church looks very nice.

Thanks!

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0.2. Barton, 1780s (part 2)

Continuing our exploration of the early settlers, let's take some time out in the countryside.

0.2.1.  Across the Thunder, all is still left to the jaws of nature:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0013_zps73324367.jpg&hash=8e47191a242870ec0692ae2e841d72dfdca527b8)

0.2.2.  View in summer:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0014_zpse60b3c56.jpg&hash=0ff1641c02fe6c1c699ac49a4e174dc1f742d832)

0.2.3.  You might see a clear rock line between water and trees, what with the low river level at times.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0015_zpsc62a8a5f.jpg&hash=43ff872379e9f447c35f63cfe63df046d8717366)

0.2.4.  The only regional road, so far, running to the southwest: Scarborough Road, which connects to a hamlet some six miles south.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0017_zps82d27fd1.jpg&hash=fc664565b8caca82764bf675c60cddc59a740f1f)

0.2.5.  It's quite a scenic journey in fall, but that's for some other time.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0016_zps86012069.jpg&hash=287ab1a0c8960922129d421688f0b61890ede273)

0.2.6.  This is the second water tower (south is up):
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0018_zps4959f07a.jpg&hash=a5da52b8761b9dd1b215779d2ec59001260a41bb)

0.2.7.  Further down the road, Barnie's house (south is up):
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0009_zps86343745.jpg&hash=501a01c2f1594e2fd4657b8fdcbcbc3a1336590b)

0.2.8.  Barnie's livestock:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0029_zps6d901f8c.jpg&hash=e72e4c61688c5ef00616f4b32209c42f7633f760)

0.2.9.  Like much of the region, this area used to be marshland. Canals were an important measure of flood control at the time. Pumps were wind-powered (east is up):
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0000_zps8127e04e.jpg&hash=21162aea1ae106b6462d2af5e6468e0e72af1181)

0.2.10.  Looking for fish?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0001_zps311ec603.jpg&hash=9ddad2698dc33859473997c6c663d48fb9ea452a)

0.2.11.  You, too?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0005_zpsa9ae90fd.jpg&hash=d31792b7fb8afd508be0d94c1be304f8c0f77bcd)

0.2.12.  Different methods, same thing, I guess.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0006_zps0c07ffd3.jpg&hash=38d9f5bc3608a50986b42a548ab9ef6acd122fad)

0.2.13.  More canals (east is up):
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0004_zps16f4e392.jpg&hash=c3d2980057c07eec1903ffeaf9059cfaa81d431e)

0.2.14.  Out into the river (east is up):
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0008_zps53c82fdd.jpg&hash=2b6f901dc5a02ca83fee61ed6d1b1573d5bef154)

0.2.15.  At least, it's still clean water now! (Yes folks, enjoy the blue water while it lasts.)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0007_zps59f894e8.jpg&hash=9c3f86e9247c741e1de3e10ae28e98cef2111371)

0.2.16.  Fire and water, then. Several square miles of forest land stretched out west and south of Barton, and each summer posed a threat. Early warning was key (south is up):
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0003_zps5a81f4b3.jpg&hash=2103ce3bc3fca095074afea5035b245d0e6429a1)

0.2.17.  Some folks don't mind the risk as they prefer solitude:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0012_zps963e3ee0.jpg&hash=ca32bb73c962fe37050c96444a4c9bc8a6de0dc4)

0.2.18.  Here the western end of town (west is up):
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0011_zps9fd72359.jpg&hash=2c6e1d87144d25865673a1b76885bf3d7526e803)

0.2.19.  A trail path that leads all along the river. At the time, there was no direct land connection to the interior of the state (west, where the state capital is). All trade happened (or would happen) over the waterways.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fimg0010_zps8ae87bce.jpg&hash=5997e46ec64691aaa830385674a93585067f232e)

0.2.20.  Closing off this chapter, an overview of Barton. Click for full size!


(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25201%2Fbarton_overview_zpscf73d5b5.jpg&hash=ccf68ef5032da5d331f1b40e258ae22bd8b49cbe) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1644/23866736569_175b48a30f_o.jpg)

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Next up, we'll take a look around the wider vicinity.

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Thanks everyone for viewing. Leave a comment if you like, whatever your thoughts are.

Cheers
Willy

Some very nice rural areas. I like it! :D

Love that overview and can't wait to see the wider vicinity! The regional road looks great and the canal is a nice addition.

Wonder what will happend to all the farmland and the forests...

Quote from: Swordmaster on October 13, 2012, 04:03:50 PM
.... Thanks everyone for viewing .....

No, thank you for sharing. I enjoyed looking at the pictures and reading the captions. I wish that I played rural as well as you do.


- Jim

Very impressive rural scenes!  I'm looking forward to see how the town progresses through the ages  :thumbsup:

Very impressive my fellow Belgian, I really like what you're doing here.

Xander

Fantastic work Willy  &apls  The countryside here, particularly all the farms, are just excellent. It's also very nice to get the variety of zoomed shots. Keep it up  :thumbsup:

Very nice!love the countryside! &aplswhich street tree mod are you using just for curiosity? :thumbsup:

Nice town and nice rural areas. A very good start for your MD.   :thumbsup:

I love the way you ended the canal with the pipe - unique approach.

Quote from: Schulmanator
Some very nice rural areas. I like it! :D

Thank you!

Quote from: MTT9
Love that overview and can't wait to see the wider vicinity! The regional road looks great and the canal is a nice addition.

Wonder what will happend to all the farmland and the forests...

Thank you! I wonder, too. I have a certain idea how the region should develop, but not how it really will develop. The great thing about SimCity is that if you stick to some basic rules of realism, you don't control nearly as much as you think you do.

Quote from: jmyers
No, thank you for sharing. I enjoyed looking at the pictures and reading the captions. I wish that I played rural as well as you do.


- Jim

Well, that's a wonderful comment, Jim – for you to say this is really all I could hope for! Anyway, what I personally like most of what I've shown so far are your farms, so still, thank you.

Quote from: Simcoug
Very impressive rural scenes!  I'm looking forward to see how the town progresses through the ages  :thumbsup:

Thanks. Me, too! Although this town will not even be the center of the region – it's simply the oldest. The industrial age will shift the center of gravity from farming (which Barton is excellently located for) to the actual port the city will be known for and named after.

BTW, you should get your MD over here, too. I've had a few glances over at SimPeg, and it's excellent!

Quote from: WC_EEND
Very impressive my fellow Belgian, I really like what you're doing here.

Xander

Bedankt, Xander! Great to have you here, too! I may be going for American style, but it'll likely end up with a lot of European influences, some deliberate, some probably not.

Quote from: noahclem
Fantastic work Willy  &apls  The countryside here, particularly all the farms, are just excellent. It's also very nice to get the variety of zoomed shots. Keep it up  :thumbsup:

Thanks, Noah. Well, I guess SC4 players primarily fall in two categories: those who zoom in and those who zoom out to observe their creation, with the resulting difference in emphasis. I'd consider myself naturally in the latter category, as I prefer maps, transit networks, and the region view over detailing mini-scenes. Then again, I'd say MD'ing brings a certain pressure to diversify. Still, MMP work is not my natural habitat, so the zoomed-out part might as well come to dominate. But who knows, really?

Quote from: Gugu3
Very nice!love the countryside! &aplswhich street tree mod are you using just for curiosity? :thumbsup:

Thanks! I made my own street mod, but this one's (http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/19764-seasonal-farm-street-for-sam-cp-trees/) a good basis.

Quote from: feyss
Nice town and nice rural areas. A very good start for your MD.   :thumbsup:

Thank you, too!

Quote from: benedict
I love the way you ended the canal with the pipe - unique approach.

Thanks! Just some playing around, you know.

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0.3. Scarborough, 1780s (part 1)

I've had a heavy week at work, and didn't do as much as I had planned. Still, I'm commited to doing regular updates, so here we are again.

Early may – the nicest month – and we're taking a little trip south, to the nearest village. We're still in the same era, so don't expect much development beyond farming.

0.3.1.  Facing north. The gravel road on the left leads to Barton. The canal is not for irrigation, but a measure of flood control. (Droughts are rare in these parts.)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0000_zps48a42656.jpg&hash=47074222b69c38b0e2bdd9876d277cc2c7bd6355)

0.3.2.  Taking a little sidetrack, we're in the real countryside here.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0002_zps05a39951.jpg&hash=630ffdd30fdf225227d6dbba7bbbb560b36ff4f3)

0.3.3.  Taking a sidetrack of the sidetrack, this isn't even a road. . . yet.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0003_zps0a0c8fc3.jpg&hash=50679209b51e9e7ae814672764c15e475cb77a29)

0.3.4.  We arrive at the St Claire river. Does not flow in the Thunder, but. . . we'll get to basic geography in the near future.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0004_zps5e119d14.jpg&hash=db2b92f9b73028775391af7653fe9253c278fd33)

0.3.5.  The canal ends near Scarborough Bridge, one of the oldest in the area. (Hall of Fame viewers may know the fall view of this one.)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0005_zps57f450aa.jpg&hash=0c6c8bf2e03fe191eadca4baed9a26068d8895d6)

0.3.6.  Not very wide, though. This is facing south, looking onto the Scarborough side.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0006_zpsee31fe94.jpg&hash=50c96e66059b67082071f5474aaa24cf868dbc82)

0.3.7.  Scarborough, facing north. Population at this time is 157. (The lots might need a little more work. . . but that's time-consuming. The basic look is there, though.)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0010_zps03e9462e.jpg&hash=aa2af8aed1bb54d8b11b47abdebcf1c873d82817)

0.3.8.  Scarborough chapel. Religion was very important for the pioneers.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0008_zps9f950608.jpg&hash=85435fc4d58dcfd45b06d7e71d10d4be3d42972c)

0.3.9.  A look at the levees. With most of the riverside lands in the region being floodlands, these are fundamental infrastructure, the lack of which has prohibited the land from developing sooner. But that, too, is a history lesson for later.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0011_zpse2bd48c9.jpg&hash=2fc50e2546415de760f7ef59e7d053b7663253f4)

0.3.10.  Stairways for access to the water.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0012_zps546d8fa7.jpg&hash=e94075a45ea83bd81a5e487fee3789dd49d73737)

---

There, that's all for this week. Thanks for stopping by and if you will, leave a comment.

Also, if you like, tell me what you think of the two types of shorelines (rural and levees). I like them, but I feel they can be improved further, especially the texture of the levees. I also may leave a little strip of "beach" at the bottom, see what that gives.

I've always found the waterside hard to present properly in SC4, either in developed areas or rural, and most of the available seawalls annoy me in some aspect.  But since there's hundreds of miles of riverside, lakeside, and oceanside in the region, it's vital to get them right. So, let me know.

Cheers
Willy

Very nice rural pictures! I like the lots with the diagonal houses and fences. &apls

The stairs to access to the water is a good idea. Great use of MMP too.

About this walls in the shoreline it's a little strange for me to see walls in a rural areas. I prefer "natural" shorelines and yours are really good.

Fantastic work  &apls  Your meadow MMPing and those diagonals really stand out as well done. I'd recommend against seawalls for these rural areas and your MMP shores look quite nice. At least while the area is small I'd stick to different styles of MMP shores and trying out some beach areas as you mentioned. The best thing you can do is continue to experiment until you figure out the styles and techniques you like most  :thumbsup:

Very beautiful pictures. I am wondering which of these small roads and trails will once become a huge freeway?  :D

I wouldn't use too many seawalls in a rural area. Maybe on some selected places where it would be built to reduce erosion (under the bridge for example). If you want to achieve the look of a straightened river, I would use MMP stones instead of the repetitive wall textures.

Quote from: Swordmaster on October 21, 2012, 02:15:07 PM
The great thing about SimCity is that if you stick to some basic rules of realism, you don't control nearly as much as you think you do.

That's quite an interesting concept... have never thought about it that way, but it makes a lot of sense.
Love this new update, looking foward to explore the rest of the region :thumbsup:

Quote from: KergelenVery nice rural pictures! I like the lots with the diagonal houses and fences. &apls

The stairs to access to the water is a good idea. Great use of MMP too.

Thank you! I've spent some more time on the lots, so they've changed a little.

Quote from: noahclemFantastic work  &apls  Your meadow MMPing and those diagonals really stand out as well done.

Thanks!

Quote from: RickDVery beautiful pictures. I am wondering which of these small roads and trails will once become a huge freeway?  :D

Hold on! Freeways are a long way from here. We've got rails and docks first. . . lots of rails and docks! The expressway system is slated for the 1920s/30s. Interstates late 1950s. Huge freeways are 1970s at best. So try to enjoy the wilderness while it lasts! :)

Quote from: MTT9That's quite an interesting concept... have never thought about it that way, but it makes a lot of sense.
Love this new update, looking foward to explore the rest of the region :thumbsup:

Well, I have to admit: there is a SuperPLAN™, so it's not entirely true that I don't know what will happen. But it's flexible, so who knows. And I'll introduce the region map soon enough.


On the seawalls:

Quote
About this walls in the shoreline it's a little strange for me to see walls in a rural areas. I prefer "natural" shorelines and yours are really good.

QuoteI'd recommend against seawalls for these rural areas and your MMP shores look quite nice. At least while the area is small I'd stick to different styles of MMP shores and trying out some beach areas as you mentioned. The best thing you can do is continue to experiment until you figure out the styles and techniques you like most  :thumbsup:

QuoteI wouldn't use too many seawalls in a rural area. Maybe on some selected places where it would be built to reduce erosion (under the bridge for example). If you want to achieve the look of a straightened river, I would use MMP stones instead of the repetitive wall textures.

Thanks for the tips! I admit those walls were not exactly what I was aiming for. . . but natural shores everywhere aren't true to the facts here either. Let's see. . . the region, although on the East coast, is still sparsely populated in this era primarily due to the geographic conditions. The main rivers produce major flood risk every spring, the lake area (we'll explore that soon) is mostly marshland, with the lake itself very shallow, and then on top of that there's the risk of flooding from the sea as the ocean is right behind the door. These parameters combined make for quite an effort that had to be made from early on to withstand the forces of nature and protect property and estate. Only the successes of the coming generation enable PSC to exist.

You can tell I'm from the Low Countries, can't you? :D

But I'll keep your hints in mind and continue to experiment.

---

0.4. Scarborough, 1780s (part 2)

I've spent most of this week in the Reader, so an add-on to last update: some scenes from Scarborough and surroundings.

I've made changes to the beach textures; Lowkee's originals were a little too bright for my purpose. They mostly represent sometime-floodlands, so they need to be muddy and grimy. Actual beaches will use something else.

I've also darkened the water textures, but that was already in the previous update.

After/before
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0059_zps9446c1ef.jpg&hash=02f473facf7ac8cdc9ecc255d16148086712c0cc)

Even better: I've made my own seasonal tree controller with some of CP's newer models. It's tailored to represent the typical beech-maple forests in the region, although I didn't actually use the beech models. They're all-deciduous and grow on the dry ground of the lowlands, so a different controller with conifers will be used for the mountainside.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2Fimg0019_zps15777b50.jpg&hash=eed231ca37a6c05b7df6d31bfe94eba0ce64d9ee)

Tell me what you think.

---

Now, on to the good stuff.

0.4.1.  First, here's a little floodland west of Scarborough. This thing is inundated about once every two years:
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1519/23607703043_1e9fa52b5b_o.jpg)

0.4.2.  After heavy rainfall, there's a little creek that comes from inland. You can tell by the flora in the middle:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0050_zpsc68515b6.jpg&hash=0cfc48372a13d912f441a783142d5bf7d94e5517)

0.4.3.  Ideal spots for lillies:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0040_zpse37dea30.jpg&hash=094347bf0991befdfb1aa44b77ceb9a9e2e5a51d)


0.4.4.  Misty days are for fishing. Wait. . .  I know this guy! Didn't know he had a dog, though.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0041a_zps0d294ca4.jpg&hash=2cc23ad0c3bdbfa81355118880e59a11097943b1)

0.4.5.  In case you're wondering, I've also got a God mode brush with the VIP pampas grass and the MJB flowers.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0042_zps37947d8a.jpg&hash=1b9cc4ed3434c318d5454ac54916906a3de2d221)

0.4.6.  The tree line is defined by elevation due to the flooding.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0051_zpsef8d2467.jpg&hash=4d365642bbbc0299c8e7b7110c11361c4c29bf2a)

0.4.7.  Now, if you don't like a bunch of grass, here's some of the lots I've worked on earlier. This is the same area from last update, the few streets that make up Revolution-era Scarborough:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0001_zps04280ea4.jpg&hash=109e08f2ae2255f1065d657579db785312d98b67)

0.4.8.  Not much of the Revolution to see here, though:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0004_zps4428d95c.jpg&hash=821fa3d835fcb46a7fd7429f988d55a60bda7c7a)

0.4.9.  Most of the folks here have their own plots where they grow the real good stuff:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0003_zps638f7c06.jpg&hash=0c81cb7f322d2d7400e9ef9c04e652b4676e9505)

0.4.10.  Horse and cattle, too!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0005_zpsa592bbd4.jpg&hash=7f9a1f43580e074596063d48d817dd4ab51d4333)

0.4.11.  Compare next two pictures. The second one has some effects. Been playing with that, but I've not mind to judge it actually. Good/bad? I'm looking to get some more subdued colors.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0000_zpsa291ebad.jpg&hash=3b364aa7ed05948216d01f917b2e3826f694342b)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0060_zpse4b51a4e.jpg&hash=890dd025ea39669fffe60d3e8391e39852037407)

---

That's all, I hoped you enjoyed it. Make a reply if you've got some spare time.

Next up, I'm continuing this introduction with some views of Concord, and finally we'll move to 1796, which is the founding year of St Claire.

Have a nice weekend!

Cheers
Willy

Great landscape and village. &apls

I really like the job done with the remplacement of old trees by more realistic ones.

Is it your private modding for example for street sidewal?

Anyway good job  &apls &apls

This looks great!  Your 19th Century CP lots fit in well together.  I understand the time consuming part - sometimes I wonder if I spend more time in the LE than the actual game...

Awesome update Willy  &apls  The water texture change and the flora controller work is really outstanding  :o  Also very nice work with the lotting.  It took me a minute to find the dog  ;D  Keep up the great work!

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25202%2Fimg0041a_zps0d294ca4.jpg&hash=2cc23ad0c3bdbfa81355118880e59a11097943b1)


That picture man, that picture.  &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls

Impressive! Great quality pics. They look so real!

great rural shoots!  &apls

Fantastic Work, I love the many little Garden  :thumbsup:

The reworked water texture is great, it makes the flora mosaic all the more impressive!  &apls

The lotting is a bit sparse and I spotted a few empty lots, some missing dependencies perhaps? Still looks nice though, as do the rural shots from the previous update. Keep it up!  :thumbsup:

Wow, I am out of words. Fantastic detailing.

Wow,  i seriously can't compliment you enough on all the work you have put into this CJ.  Also, a tree controller with season trees!!  I have been trying to figure out how to make one for a couple weeks now.  If there's any way you could upload that somewhere I would be quite grateful! as far as i know there is not a god mode seasonal tree controller, and yours looks wonderful.

I just love that floodland and picture 6. They're really good.

Looking forward to the next update! ;)

Hi Willy,

An outstanding MD with really beautiful images.
The green atmosphere of all images fits together. Although it is possible to comment that the lots of the houses are a bit empty this is not really bothering. Somehow the lots look convincing, which is something else than realistic, but is a more important property of fictious work.
A Science Fiction novel isn't realistic either, but it has to be convincing, otherwise it is a bad novel. In that same way an MD has to be convincing. It should give a feeling of the details fitting together, the elements being part of the same reality.
You do this very nicely.

I am missing a small railroad with relalistic textures though....  :D

Wow! Lots of comments! I'm a bit taken aback by the popularity of this MD so far. I haven't even started yet! ;D

Quote from: nbvcGreat landscape and village. &apls

Thanks!

Quote from: GirafeI really like the job done with the remplacement of old trees by more realistic ones.

Is it your private modding for example for street sidewal?

Anyway good job  &apls &apls

Merci, Antoine. The only thing left now that I haven't touched are the farms. Terrain, water, trees, streets, lots. . . all have some form of modding. I'm obsessed :D

Oh, and I hope you're getting by in RL – I read your comment in AntigOne. Wish I could help. Keep well!

Quote from: SimcougThis looks great!  Your 19th Century CP lots fit in well together.  I understand the time consuming part - sometimes I wonder if I spend more time in the LE than the actual game...

Thanks! I'm sure you see I took a little page out of your book there. How you recreated Civil War-era Atlanta is exactly my idea for early St Claire, which will be quite obvious when we get there.

Quote from: noahclemAwesome update Willy  &apls  The water texture change and the flora controller work is really outstanding  :o  Also very nice work with the lotting.  It took me a minute to find the dog  ;D  Keep up the great work!

Thanks again, Noah. Great to see you making the effort to reply every time so far!

Glad you found the dog – you know they tend to hide when you want them!

Quote from: art128That picture man, that picture.  &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls &apls

Thanks, Arthur! Just a cheap effect in GIMP, though.

Quote from: SchulmanatorImpressive! Great quality pics. They look so real!

Thanks a lot! Good to see returning customers! And I'm really glad folks like my style.

Quote from: nas-tgreat rural shoots!  &apls

Thank you! I just realized your username is a pun! (A bit slow on these things.)

Quote from: DantesFantastic Work, I love the many little Garden  :thumbsup:

Very humbling to hear this from one of the great MD'ers in the house. Thanks! I hope you'll stick around to watch the railroad development that's around the corner.

Quote from: vortextThe reworked water texture is great, it makes the flora mosaic all the more impressive!  &apls

The lotting is a bit sparse and I spotted a few empty lots, some missing dependencies perhaps? Still looks nice though, as do the rural shots from the previous update. Keep it up!  :thumbsup:

You've a good eye – the lotting is a little unconventional, yes. I've kept them more open than what I would have in modern suburbia. These folks are farmers with only space in abundance. There are no empty lots, but there are quite a few empty plots:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2Flots_zps0f2dddd6.jpg&hash=f5d6c569e0bb52ec0fd83c243afc09beca727a74)


Just some of them. Cattle appears in the bottow right one. I don't think these are too empty to be realistic. They're are all stage 1 lots; the stage 2, 3, and 4 versions of them will have more buildings.

Quote from: RickDWow, I am out of words. Fantastic detailing.

Thanks, Raphael. And thanks for your patience, too. Rails are coming!

Quote from: eldaldoWow,  i seriously can't compliment you enough on all the work you have put into this CJ.  Also, a tree controller with season trees!!  I have been trying to figure out how to make one for a couple weeks now.  If there's any way you could upload that somewhere I would be quite grateful! as far as i know there is not a god mode seasonal tree controller, and yours looks wonderful.

Thank you very much. Now, I made this controller specifically for myself, without an eye towards uploading it. Both epicblunder and vortext are working on seasonal controllers, and well-rounded ones at that. My controller is much simpler and plainer than theirs, taking no advantage of height or moisture variations. So my advice is to have a little patience and be on the lookout for their work.

Quote from: sunv123
I just love that floodland and picture 6. They're really good.

Looking forward to the next update! ;)

Thanks and welcome!

Quote from: FrankUHi Willy,

An outstanding MD with really beautiful images.
The green atmosphere of all images fits together. Although it is possible to comment that the lots of the houses are a bit empty this is not really bothering. Somehow the lots look convincing, which is something else than realistic, but is a more important property of fictious work.
A Science Fiction novel isn't realistic either, but it has to be convincing, otherwise it is a bad novel. In that same way an MD has to be convincing. It should give a feeling of the details fitting together, the elements being part of the same reality.
You do this very nicely.

I am missing a small railroad with relalistic textures though....  :D

Hi Frank, good to see you here! I like science fiction :) Concerning the lots, see my reply to vortext. Some of these lots contain small pastures or empty, unused plots. This is, after all, a place that will grow once more immigrants arrive!

And no railroads yet in the 1780s ;)

---

0.5. Concord & vicinity, 1780s

Not a particular focus this time, just a few pictures to bridge the gap with the end of the introduction. Yes, folks, this has been an introduction so far. We're moving slowly but surely towards the good stuff, which will start sometime this month with a look at the region, some maps, some history, some plans.

But until then, some rural localities. First, four pictures from the area between Barton and Scarborough. Just a couple of families live here, nothing to declare.

0.5.1.  If there's no town, there's only three things: canals. . .
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25203%2Fimg0000_zpse449bcd4.jpg&hash=4ec599a7a3b799d8e95b23449edf9e63bf65319d)

0.5.2.  woods. . .
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25203%2Fimg0001-1_zpsda79e9f3.jpg&hash=a65debd3e63fa470d53a55894307a87aa5a68a7d)

0.5.3.  and/or farms.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25203%2Fimg0004_zps842af5f1.jpg&hash=416e0515df6603870a66b20aaa84a98538f78ae5)

0.5.4.  Not quite the industrial logging operation here. . . just stocking for winter.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25203%2Fimg0005_zpsad08fe2b.jpg&hash=982819c8319d876ac433435b7a3dba706b0fda3c)

0.5.5.  Upstream from Scarborough, the town of Concord. Original name unknown to me, but sometime after 1775, a number of veterans from the famous battle moved here and brought the name. So they say.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25203%2Fimg0021_zps57293bd8.jpg&hash=ac30db78f0574ecd86047ce749552cb5eb3e5181)

0.5.6.  Church of St Helen. Image is from October 31st, but I see no pumpkins here?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25203%2Fimg0014_zps8d77322a.jpg&hash=1b58876d21ef4b98d3aca166ef0d5abd81f04b85)

0.5.7.  Population: unknown. I guess no more than 200.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2FChapter%25203%2Fimg0018_zps3a131082.jpg&hash=38f23e959b13a64569b4c9dc1f11cd10662a7125)

---

Next, founding St Claire, lakeside. See you there.

Cheers
Willy

Quote from: Swordmaster on November 01, 2012, 09:52:04 PM
3.3.  and/or farms.

Wow, is this a great idea or what? I often try to set my farm buildings away from the main road. But I never thought to use a curved puzzle piece until now.

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- Jim

Great update! &apls

Willy your CJ is simply amazing!love all the details which can be found in your rural landscapes!
&apls &apls &apls &apls
cheers
Gugu3

This MD has a rather unique rural feel to it which I like a lot!

Your work with the Lots may be time consuming, but wow don't hey make a difference! I really like your misty, marshy views too!

I figure a break from the unbearable rurality would be in order, so. . .           mapping time!  &dance

---

On a sidenote, I've finally got some sort of structure going:

0.   Introduction

• 0.1.  Barton 1780s, pt 1
  
• 0.2.  Barton 1780s, pt 2
  
• 0.3.  Scarborough 1780s, pt 1
  
• 0.4.  Scarborough 1780s, pt 2
  
• 0.5.  Concord & vicinity 1780s
  
• 0.6.  History of New Brabant
  
• 0.7.  St Claire 1791
  
• 0.8.  Introducing Port St Claire anno 2012 (part 1: State & City)
  
• 0.9.  Introducing Port St Claire anno 2012 (part 2: City (cont'd) & Counties)
  
• 0.10.  Introducing Port St Claire anno 2012 (part 3: Boroughs & Towns)
  

That should more or less get the job done. Starting from 1.x we'll be taking a more methodical approach.

---

Okay, so what's this Port St Claire thing this MD is actually named after? I've been showing a great deal of farms, but no port in sight. Well. . . that's because the big city doesn't exist yet.

You see, this project has been in the works for four or five years, possibly even longer than that because it's existed in many forms. The first time the name appears in my archives seems to be 2007, but I think it goes without saying that what I've shown so far doesn't look like five years worth of imagination.

As it stands, this city was developed in reverse. I first came up with a plan, an idea of what the region should look like with no thoughts of how it could have gotten there. Then I figured I needed a history of sorts, to have it all make sense. Much of the past couple of years has been spent – meaning the spare moments I had – ruminating the concept of PSC. Everything I've ever felt about city building, transportation networks, urban landscapes, social textures and what not, has been crammed in this city. The results of that are a ton of maps and documents – many of which are still in a rather incoherent state – and a couple of SC4 regions as well.

However, when faced with the prospect of starting an MD, I was cautious. I needed to remind myself of the fact that MDs are about SimCity, not geofiction. Lest I go on a rampage posting map after map with no building in sight (only David can do that well).

But there's little use in continuing without getting in the thick of it now and then, and this is such a moment. Nothing I could show further would make any sense to you the way it does to me unless I try to convey head-first what this place is all about.

So bear with me through the next few updates. I myself am rarely inclined to read a lot of text, so why should you?

Because this city, for the time being, thrives on context.

But before we get to PSC itself, we'll take on the bigger picture. I spent a bit of time the past weeks going through some older documents and putting everything together on the history of the fictional state PSC is located in. Most of this text doesn't even discuss the city itself, so decide for yourself if you want to delve in.

To seduce you, however, I snuck in some maps.

---

0.6.  History of New Brabant

Note: in advance, I apologize for the bad quality of the maps. Looks like they've got work to do on those archives in Maynard.

1. Beginnings

The history of New Brabant begins in the early 17th century. Traders from the Spanish Netherlands were the first to settle the fertile northern banks of the river Dyle, and by the 1640s, they had set up several outposts across the valley. Until the 1680s, the majority of pioneers coming to the colony were indentured servants, escaping conflict and poverty, many of them from areas in the Duchy of Brabant, whence the original names.

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In 1672, the English took possession of the region during the Second Anglo-Spanish war, and made it a royal colony. Due to the support they received from the settlers, they allowed the territory to retain its name, and designated it the Province of New Brabant. The first English governor was Sir Edward Hamilton. On his order, the counties of Brabant (1674) and Flanders (1677) were set up. During this time, the prosperous colony continued to attract immigrants from the Low Countries, but a growing influx of Britons and Walloons diminished its initial Dutch-speaking characteristics.

The establishment of the County of Hainault (1709) north of the Province sparked tensions with neighboring colonies, who disputed possession of the areas. A compromise was reached, chartering the lands south of the 40°50' N parallel and east of the 73°80' W meridian to New Brabant. This expansion made the colony four times as large, and gave it access to the largely untamed wilderness of the Thunder and Pine valleys. This territory was opened up for settlement in 1721, and organized as Northwest County.

Click to enlarge!
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However, there was virtually no immigration to these parts during the 18th century, as most of the development was focused on the more accessible Dyle valley, becoming famous for its tobacco culture. The original two counties were each split up a number of times to accommodate higher population numbers and new settlements that sprang up.

During the 1750s and '60s, the colony experienced an age of growth and prosperity, and the number of counties rose to twelve. The following decade of turbulence, however, marked a reversal in New Brabant's pattern of development.

Click to enlarge!
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2. Revolution

Although late to support the First Continental Congress, New Brabant leaders were foremost among the Patriots once the Revolutionary War broke out. During the Second Continental Congress ('75), the colony's delegation was led by Thomas St Claire, who was later elected the first state governor in 1776. To this day, he is considered one of the greatest statesmen produced by the state – a river, county, and city were named in his honor. St Claire was, however, never able to sign the Declaration of Independence due to losing his writing hand in a duel. Matthew Person, Daniel Harden, and John Maynard signed in his stead.

However, during the war, New Brabant's unequivocal support for independence was sourly retaliated for by the invading Britons and Hessians, who left a trail of destruction when they passed through the valley. The capital New Antwerp, which had become North America's foremost port, was ransacked in October 1781, and was denied a revival due to the naval blockade. A direct result of this was the displacement of people, with those who could afford it embarking on northbound adventures. This gradually shifted the demographic and economic center from the Dyle valley towards the previously unattractive woodlands of the northwest.

On February 9, 1788, New Brabant was admitted as the sixth state in the Union. Its government, temporarily housed in Belmont, was moved to a new capital named after then Governor John Maynard. It was located centrally in the state on the banks of the Thunder, as a measure to stimulate growth of the interior. This and the ensuing establishment of King James and Thunder counties were only the first steps on a path of growth that would last deep into the 20th century.

Click to enlarge!
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Now, guess where PSC is located :)

---

Quote from: jmyers2043Wow, is this a great idea or what? I often try to set my farm buildings away from the main road. But I never thought to use a curved puzzle piece until now.

- Jim

Thanks, Jim. I don't know about South Carolina, but here in Europe, it's hard to find a straight road for once.

Quote from: nas-tGreat update! &apls

Thanks! Just a few pictures to immortalize that area before it all turns to concrete.

Quote from: Gugu3Willy your CJ is simply amazing!love all the details which can be found in your rural landscapes!
&apls &apls &apls &apls
cheers
Gugu3

Thank you, that's very kind to say.

Quote from: wallaseyThis MD has a rather unique rural feel to it which I like a lot!

Your work with the Lots may be time consuming, but wow don't hey make a difference! I really like your misty, marshy views too!

Thanks, great to see you here as well! For your interest, Liverpool plays a big part in my region!



Cheers
Willy

Quote from: Swordmaster on November 04, 2012, 03:42:33 PM
Thanks! Just a few pictures to immortalize that area before it all turns to concrete.

I'm curios about that ;)  Great maps & great read. I want more!  :P

You have really put much thought into this MD. And the presentation of the backgroundstory is very well done. It is interesting to read but it is also not too much information.

Your maps are great. Hope to see more.  :thumbsup:

QuoteThanks again, Noah. Great to see you making the effort to reply every time so far!

I think you jinxed yourself  ;)  Sorry I missed the last one, it was a lovely update despite you describing it as a "filler". I particularly enjoyed seeing another Halloween theme! The old fashioned maps look awesome and the extra background is good to get as well. So where is PSC? I'm guessing somewhere on the lower St Claire River  :thumbsup:

Now that's some awesome maps there Willy! Although I prefer modern maps, I have to say these looks nice. The style is there, the names are here, perfect.

Woooh. Nice work. Beautiful maps and good historical background.  :thumbsup:

And the cities' names look familar to me. It's a little bit strange.  :D

What a nice MD! I really like your nature-shots!

Keep it up :)

Brilliant idea and setting :) I like the background story ... reminds me of the book I read recently. This MD promises to be one of the really interesting ones ...  :sunny:

I love your old maps. The style is well done and they are realistic in feel. Nice!

Your maps look very realistic, and you can really tell the difference when years pass because of the look and quality of each map. For that, I must give you an elephant. &dance

looking forward for more!  :)

The historical context and the maps are a great addition to your MD. It's been great to see how the area has developed over time politically. Initially I thought PSD would be on the coast where the river enters the sea, but thinking about it, I am shall agree with Noah. I take it the river is navigable quite far inland?

You've got me hooked with the Liverpool reference! Of course the city played a big part in trade. Interestingly the largest brick built warehouse ( reputedly in the world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Dock_Tobacco_Warehouse)) is the Tobacco Warehouse on the North Docks.

The region looks to be one of great promise. I look forward to seeing more!

Great background story. As usual, i look foward for more :)

Quote from: nas-tI'm curios about that ;)  Great maps & great read. I want more!  :P

Thanks! You want it, you'll get it!

Quote from: RickD7You have really put much thought into this MD. And the presentation of the backgroundstory is very well done. It is interesting to read but it is also not too much information.

Your maps are great. Hope to see more.  :thumbsup:

Thanks Raphael. Yes, maybe too much thought. But then, this is more than just a SC4 city for me.

Oh, and. . . you're in today's update. . . for being the first poster here ;)

Quote from: noahclemI think you jinxed yourself  ;)  Sorry I missed the last one, it was a lovely update despite you describing it as a "filler". I particularly enjoyed seeing another Halloween theme! The old fashioned maps look awesome and the extra background is good to get as well. So where is PSC? I'm guessing somewhere on the lower St Claire River  :thumbsup:

Thanks Noah. Yeah, I should shut up about getting comments. . . but it's great fun to read all of your replies. As for your guess, you're very close. You'll get the answer in the next couple of updates.

Quote from: art128Now that's some awesome maps there Willy! Although I prefer modern maps, I have to say these looks nice. The style is there, the names are here, perfect.

Thanks Arthur. You'll get a ton of modern maps in this MD. Maps are a passion of mine, and were the main drive behind creating this region. In fact, I consider playing SC4 an elevated form of map-making.

Quote from: feyssWoooh. Nice work. Beautiful maps and good historical background.  :thumbsup:

And the cities' names look familar to me. It's a little bit strange.  :D

Thanks! Yes, I'm sure it's strange because we're used to seeing little Belgian influence in the world outside of Congo. Although there are a couple towns in America named Antwerp.

Quote from: FramlyWhat a nice MD! I really like your nature-shots!

Keep it up :)

Oh, great to see you here, Framly. To get this compliment from you is great! Thanks!

Quote from: rambuckelBrilliant idea and setting :) I like the background story ... reminds me of the book I read recently. This MD promises to be one of the really interesting ones ...  :sunny:

And welcome to you, too, Theresa. Thanks for that friendly compliment!

Quote from: SchulmanatorI love your old maps. The style is well done and they are realistic in feel. Nice!

Thanks! Stay tuned for more!

Quote from: sunv123Your maps look very realistic, and you can really tell the difference when years pass because of the look and quality of each map. For that, I must give you an elephant. &dance

looking forward for more!  :)

Nothing beats elephants! Thanks!

Quote from: wallaseyThe historical context and the maps are a great addition to your MD. It's been great to see how the area has developed over time politically. Initially I thought PSD would be on the coast where the river enters the sea, but thinking about it, I am shall agree with Noah. I take it the river is navigable quite far inland?

You've got me hooked with the Liverpool reference! Of course the city played a big part in trade. Interestingly the largest brick built warehouse ( reputedly in the world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Dock_Tobacco_Warehouse)) is the Tobacco Warehouse on the North Docks.

The region looks to be one of great promise. I look forward to seeing more!

Thanks! Yes, the Liverpool-St Claire route was a very busy one during the late 19th century and up to the 1920s. One of America's major immigration routes. Even better, there's a town in PSC called Liverpool!

Quote from: MTT9Great background story. As usual, i look foward for more :)

Thanks Matt. You managed to post right in time before this update came!

---

0.7.  St Claire, 1791

Today is a big moment for PSC. . . ah, where's that dancing elephant again?

But let's take up where we left, shall we?

The first New Brabant state legislature passed the Northwest Settlement Act in 1789, which provided for the organization of King James County. The county was centered on King James Lake, where a suitable transshipment port needed establishing to provide a link to the new state capital in Maynard. The more or less stable southern shore was chosen for this purpose.

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There's some confusion about St Claire's founding date. Some take that of the county establishment, 1789. Some point to the first inhabitants' arrival in 1787, or even earlier. But the only date that really counts is 1791, when the first mayor was appointed. Edward van Dyke, Dutchman by birth, holds legendary status to this day due to his driving influence in getting the town running in adverse circumstances.

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Van Dyke was a wealthy trader from New Antwerp, who had seen his fortunes decline along with the city during the Revolution. He obtained the state's charter to found the port, and named it after the recently deceased Thomas St Claire.

The Raphael sailing up the King James river (facing south). The ship was one of Van Dyke's private fleet, and played an important pioneering role in PSC. ;)
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Van Dyke landed with his party in October 1790, when no more than a couple of farmers had settled the area. Most of the new county, whose exact borders we'll explore next update, was still a backwater with only a few thousand inhabitants, most of which in Barton. Despite the latter's seniority, the county was seated in the new city, which from the beginning grew at a rapid pace


0.7.1.  Whew. . . finally a view on St Claire. Includes the island of Arlington in the upper part. Population here, about 1,100. Facing north. (Click for larger.)
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0.7.2.  Closer. . . (Click for larger.)
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0.7.3.  Closer still! This part will later be known as the "Old Wharf", but as for now it is just "the wharf". It's the oldest port structure in the whole region, and being right at the heart of the city, will doubtlessly undergo many facelifts over the next two centuries or so.
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0.7.4.  You can see, even in the early days there was quite some business to be done. The Raphael would make many a return journey to bring goods and passengers to the region.
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0.7.5.  Wait. . . that guy again? He should take a break from fishing really. And his dog is harassing the dock workers!
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0.7.6.  Directly off the wharf, some shops and warehouses started to pop up. But as you can see, it's all in a very early stage. (Facing west.) (Click for larger.)
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0.7.7.  County hall, a block or two from the wharf. You may find this building a little high, but that's Van Dyke's influence. Dutchmen always think of possible floods, and the county archives are stored in the attic, not the basement! (Facing east.) (Click for larger.)
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0.7.8.  The Evelyn Browning School. Founded on the site of the Browning farm, by the farmer's wife. Work in progress, though. The main farm building has already been converted. . . the barn not quite. Looks like some kids are inventing a sport to play on that field. Can we lend some of those poles? (Facing south.) (Click for larger.)
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0.7.9.  A view facing east.
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0.7.10.  Finally, when you're tired of all the hassle and the work, you can always get back to where we used to be. The rural life, the woods, tobacco fields. . . the road to Barton.
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---

That's about it. I hope it wasn't too disappointing. It certainly wasn't for me. I built this tile up to the brink about three or four times in the past. But it's never looked this close to where I want it.

Coming up, we're rounding off this introduction with an unflinching disclosure of the region, the future, the plans. . . and of course a couple more pictures as St Claire grows over the next five to ten years. I'll be having a couple days off from work, so we'll make it a nice middle-of-the-birthday-month week. See you.


Cheers
Willy

I guess i should comment first now, as i almost miss the last update.

I really like the strories you add to every image, can't help but wonder what will happend eventually to Arlington Island...

Great rural pics! The detail and harmony between elements is very nice. Truly some great work here! :D

A very pleasant surprise to see historic era work here! Very much enjoyable with a nice, unique, and detailed feel. Of course my favorite part is the dog harassing the workers  :D  Really great pictures, lotting, etc and I'm looking forward to seeing what else you'll do with your extra free time  ;)

QuoteThat's about it. I hope it wasn't too disappointing.

I nominate this for understatement of the month.  $%Grinno$%

Very nice ship, by the way.  ;)

I think you should put a few more houses near the "downtown"  of the town, because it looks kinda weird, a few taller buildings, then nothing? It still looks good though, keep that in mind. ;) The forest and the farms are very nice too.

QuoteWait. . . that guy again? He should take a break from fishing really. And his dog is harassing the dock workers!

Poor workers! $%Grinno$%

Wonderful update once again Willy. Splendid pictures.

Missed a couple of great updates here!  &apls

The maps are pretty neat, living in Noord-Brabant some of these names sound familiar indeed. Did you hand drew these maps? Or let me rephrase that, how did you went about creating these?

The historic update is great, a shame really we'll be entering the modern age soon. Though I'm curious to see the transformation, keep it up!  :thumbsup:

Quote from: MTT9
I guess i should comment first now, as i almost miss the last update.

I really like the strories you add to every image, can't help but wonder what will happend eventually to Arlington Island...

Hello again :) and thank you. Arlington will be part of the historic center of St Claire. In a previous version of the city I had a bunch of Parisian buildings there, but I'm thinking of some more fitting ways to develop it. One thing I'm certain of is that bridge will become a tram-in-road.

Quote from: SchulmanatorGreat rural pics! The detail and harmony between elements is very nice. Truly some great work here! :D

Thank you! Very glad you're coming back here.

Quote from: noahclemA very pleasant surprise to see historic era work here! Very much enjoyable with a nice, unique, and detailed feel. Of course my favorite part is the dog harassing the workers  :D  Really great pictures, lotting, etc and I'm looking forward to seeing what else you'll do with your extra free time  ;)

Thanks Noah. Yes, I wanted to take a stab at it anyway. Despite my reservations, because it takes up a lot of time. But the border is hard to draw between what is acceptable (some cars on the roads) vs. what is not (power lines). This border has shifted considerably since the first update. I'll have to keep that under control because I do want to move forward with some pace. And as you'll see in this update, there's a lot of ground to cover. . .

Quote from: RickDI nominate this for understatement of the month.  $%Grinno$%

Very nice ship, by the way.  ;)

Thanks! Well, the ship will stay with us, in case you wondered. Museum piece some day.

Quote from: sunv123I think you should put a few more houses near the "downtown"  of the town, because it looks kinda weird, a few taller buildings, then nothing? It still looks good though, keep that in mind. ;) The forest and the farms are very nice too.

Poor workers! $%Grinno$%

Thanks for the input! You're right that it's a weird view, but it's a sign of St Claire's rapid growth. This is by no means any definitive kind of look, so stay tuned.

Quote from: art128Wonderful update once again Willy. Splendid pictures.

Thanks, Arthur!

Quote from: vortextMissed a couple of great updates here!  &apls

The maps are pretty neat, living in Noord-Brabant some of these names sound familiar indeed. Did you hand drew these maps? Or let me rephrase that, how did you went about creating these?

The historic update is great, a shame really we'll be entering the modern age soon. Though I'm curious to see the transformation, keep it up!  :thumbsup:

Thanks! Don't worry about modernity too much. It's a long way, and should be gradual as well.

About the maps: it's a hand-drawn base with vector overlays, then sent through a couple of GIMP effects (old photo, photocopy) a number of times. If you want to know in detail, let me know.

---

0.8.  A closer look at the region. . .

This and the next few updates will show what the plan is. To keep everyone on board, there will be some pictures from St Claire as well.

Two updates ago, I introduced the state PSC is located in. New Brabant will continue to play a modest role in this MD because the transit networks should be logically set up to connect with specific places outside of the city.

This map shows a New Brabant overview from the present, with PSC's municipal borders highlighted in yellow. As you can see, it spans several counties. Click to enlarge.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FAjZO7QI.jpg&hash=ff61d74ac62660e1c463a7c7c1a4e285b3dc2b95)

There are twelve MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Statistical_Area)) in the state, of which the Antioch Valley MSA and the Dyle Sound MSA have over one million inhabitants. The largest, however, is the Port St Claire MSA. It extends beyond the borders of the city proper, but not much. It includes Winchester, Phillipville, Eton, Pendaloosa, Stockton, and Williamsport.

The City of Port St Claire is the result of two major consolidations (1883 and 1952). The abbreviation "PSC" is widely used by its inhabitants, especially those born after '52. The adjective "metropolitan" is officially used by City Hall to refer to the whole thing. The terms "urban" and "regional" have some limited usage as well.

The term "city" has varying usage, with people from the suburbs, although actually part of the city, referring to the downtown areas as "the city". The previously independent cities of St Claire and St Mary may also refer to themselves as "cities", although according to official language, they are "towns".

This map shows the entire city (within the stripe-dotted line), with the rivers as reference points. Click to enlarge.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F8XBF8B5.jpg&hash=608d08c6f8e12fd46db56be9d3819574008d9f15)

The city's official surface area is 2,110.970 sq mi (5,467.394 km²). This may appear to be overly large for a municipality, but then, one quarter of that area is part of state or national parks. Moreover, PSC has some unique history on that part.

Two consolidations occurred in PSC's history: a "small" and "big" one.
- Prior to 1883, King James County was divided in incorporated cities and towns (municipalities), and unincorporated areas. (New Brabant counties don't have townships or similar subdivisions.)
- In 1883, all unincorporated areas were merged with the municipalities to form a number of cities (the "small" consolidation). These were in turn subdivided in towns. The two foremost cities that originated were Port City and the City of St Claire.
- In 1952, as a result of the exponential growth following WWII,  a second consolidation occurred in two rounds: Port City merged with the City of St Claire to form Port–St Claire (the hyphen was later dropped). In a second round, a limited number of city councils could vote whether to join the new city, or to remain independent. Circumstance, political manoeuvring, and blackmail, primarily concerning funds for the freeway projects that were slated, resulted in an all-out merger over a three-year period. The founding date of PSC, however, remains set on 1952. With this "big consolidation", the city obtained its near-square shape.

(To be continued.)

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Back to the 18th century, some views from St Claire:

0.8.1.  Housing on Palgrave Street.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2F0_8%2F0004_zps69ad73dd.jpg&hash=1fd2a42eab2b7422ecb12bcb8ba5d84e292bb5a3)

0.8.2.  Housing on Salisbury Road (St Claire's main street).
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2F0_8%2F0003_zps3b2b2bb4.jpg&hash=d090a292113a03d95d77a0e99bae1343d74a2543)

0.8.3.  A wedding party in McCormack Street.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2F0_8%2F0002_zps31b3727a.jpg&hash=867298c07ecac7c6458850f2756a3abce4ab4dbd)

0.8.4.  For he's a jolly good fellow. . .
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2F0_8%2F0001_zps88263a43.jpg&hash=7d91dbf31b5cba08dc7566a96f4ca7e417fa8d21)

0.8.5.  Housing on Gateshead Road, and some guy working on the school yard.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2F0_8%2F0005_zps1cacb4b9.jpg&hash=36e57e954e21402b0b3c551fe49ae16d8a874a76)

0.8.6.  Finally, a misty fall morning near County Hall. Click to enlarge.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1204.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb419%2Fswm666%2FPSC_2012%2F0_8%2F0006_zps2fd7bd67.jpg&hash=7d978488d0fbaa4cb0407c07bb77abbe2a6503d9)

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That's all, folks! I hope you've become a bit more familiar with what's going on here. Please leave a comment with your suggestions, remarks, or whatever you like. We'll be returning soon.


Cheers
Willy

Looks like you are making good use of props. These are nice pictures. I enjoyed looking at them.

- Jim

Great maps, very professional. And loved the misty fall morning, although the County Hall looks a bit lonely...

Quote from: jmyers2043Looks like you are making good use of props. These are nice pictures. I enjoyed looking at them.

- Jim

Thanks, Jim! It always surprises me how much time it takes to create a single lot.

Quote from: MTT9Great maps, very professional. And loved the misty fall morning, although the County Hall looks a bit lonely...

Thank you, Matt. I'm still working on R$$ lots and rowhouses. Expect the 19th century to start looking more urban.

---

0.9.  A closer look at the region. . . continued.

Something that might pique your interest, a map showing the design of the region. I'm using this as a guide to develop the city.

The names shown are those of the towns in PSC. "Towns" are the lowest administrative subdivision of PSC, organized in nine boroughs, which in turn form the City of Port St Claire. Some of these towns were independent prior to consolidation, some were organized later as suburbs/exurbs of the existing towns.

Of course, these are just names to you, but to me, I pretty much know how each of them should look and feel. St Claire, St Mary, and Frankfort form the core, and each have their particular CBD. There are the coastal communities by the ocean that are mostly tourism-based; high-wealth communities bordering the national park; inner cities with rowhouses just outside of the three CBDs; middle-class sprawl in the western portions; and so forth.

The yellow to orange colors are random; they simply show the town areas. Green is parkland that is not part of a town (there are many more small parks). Red are airports. Purple is the Port District. Grey is owned by the US Navy.
Click to enlarge!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FJDAo8Ty.jpg&hash=b402f189acae3ca79abf8355732770007542edeb)

This is what it's all about. . . King James Lake. Sorry for it being a little "naked", but I'm not planting trees in advance. There are 362 land tiles, so that would be a bit tiresome.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FADxXjXR.jpg&hash=89a18de59200783e167fa26e4870c2d463c4c3ec)

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Today, I went and bought a new monitor (resolution 1920x1080). I wasn't sold on widescreen, but that's all you find nowadays. After half a day, though, I'm already hooked on it. Firing up my laptop (1280x800), I was even annoyed by the small screen :D

It's a hassle to get colors right, though. They weren't perfect on the previous monitor, either, which is no big deal for private use, but a little problematic regarding the railroad textures I'm working on.

The result is, of course, that I can post widescreen pictures. Or link to them, that is. Let me know what you think of it, and whether the colors are looking right.

0.9.1.  An overview of what eastern St Claire looks like in the early 1790s.
Click for HD version!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FR0eEfhG.jpg&hash=22d8ac1f06bd307c92f49fdee606635be4d60448) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1611/23606140734_5e5ca24d4c_o.jpg)

0.9.2.  St Claire didn't have a place of worship until presbyterian Guy Brooks funded the construction of one. On any Sunday morning, it fills up to the brink. Looks like mass is just done here. One of these posh coaches is surely the doctor's.
Click for HD version!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbmsLcTZ.jpg&hash=74bd1a4ca2e6198767f1294b8985d170a1b50ec7) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1696/23938784560_09dc9f2a01_o.jpg)

0.9.3.  In 1796, mayor Van Dyke's mansion was finished. It also doubled as City Hall, previously housed in County Hall. That's why you'll always see a bunch of folks walking (or riding) up the lawn to do some business.
Click for HD version!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fx2rGzRM.jpg&hash=e3ee667b4f3254d87025eaca9777c81ef3006390) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1672/24126312582_7516e86065_o.jpg)

0.9.4.  Trying my hand at a rain picture. I'll need to get that right, because there's a lot of that in the region.
Click for HD version!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIz1WhI0.jpg&hash=eb59db69b58d09989d4ac97958703dc2e67e9103) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1455/23938786050_e3139d4db3_o.jpg)

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That's it for today. If you enjoyed it, don't forget to leave a comment. If you didn't. . . leave one, too! :D

Cheers
Willy

Beautiful two updates, Willy! The morning foggy picture of the county hall is wonderful.

Great updates again  &apls  Nice to see more maps, this time with more detailed plans for PSC's future as well as more details on its place within the region. The area is quite large--is it planned to be mostly urban? And are you sure you set enough land aside for the port area  :D  I guess it's called "Port" St. Claire for a reason! Nice work on the last scenes and the rain and fog effects are pleasant as well. I'll have to return after work when I have access to a monitor wider than 1024px. Speaking of which, congrats on your new purchase. My new laptop has a 1920x1080 screen and I just love it. Good luck with the colors  :thumbsup:

So much planning. I am impressed. This is my favorite style of MD.

What a fantastic start of your MD! The attention to detail is amazing! I'd eager to see more!

Amazing updates again! I really like your ideas!

Just when i was about to ask for a region view!!! Maybe you can add some trees just to the near tiles, even with photoshop. It would add a lot.

As usual, pics have great details Willy. Hope to see some more towns appear nearby :)

Can't believe how much I have missed! This just keeps getting better and better!

That is certainly a big region you have there, it will be interesting to see how it all develops over time. I like the setting in time.

The ship sailing up the sound was a great touch, furthermore keeping it in view shows consistency in the storyline which is always a plus. I like the changes in weather too!

Oh wow, those maps are just terrific! And your lotting skills are improving, too. :thumbsup:

Out of curiousity, which region are you playing on? It has quite amazing waterways, though a little too flat for my taste. Guess with all this planning ahead there's no change we'll see some mountains arise unexpected?!  $%Grinno$%

Anyway, I'm looking forward to see it develop, especially Port Anderson, that's gonna be huge!  :o

There are a just a handful of ways to provoke me into showing something unintended. Looks like our good friend Vortext hit the nail. . .

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F76mFW67.jpg&hash=9ef05f927b96ec604cc4ef5992a6206479c284c9)

Shows that you just can't assume anything in PSC ;)


Stay tuned folks.

Willy

Quote from: Swordmaster on November 18, 2012, 03:38:19 PM
There are a just a handful of ways to provoke me into showing something unintended. Looks like our good friend Vortext hit the nail. . .

Hehe, sorry 'bout that!  ;D

Looks great though! And I'm assuming you're making the region from scratch then?!

That some sexy mountains you got there, Willy!

Last update was wonderful! The overview is my favorite picture, nice autumn colors.

very nice!!!!! :P

Man that is realistic. :o Must be so much fun to build on that!

Can't wait for the next update! :)

Nice mountain range. I immediately envision a mining railroad or even a rack railway climbing one of those peaks.  $%Grinno$%

I like the atmosphere of your pictures. Please continue  :thumbsup:

Some serious (and lovely) lot-work going on here  &apls I really like how convincingly you have taken us back in time.

Fantastic historical-atmosphere  :thumbsup: I like it.  :satisfied: Awesome detailied.  :)

Quote from: Swordmaster on November 18, 2012, 03:38:19 PM
Shows that you just can't assume anything in PSC ;)

I think i'll like that...

Nice mountain and the previous update of St Claire was also nice. :thumbsup:

Thank you all for the comments! PSC will return shortly. Until then, a little message for our American friends. . .

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FjGiv4Zd.jpg&hash=b86604e8bd15546225235891199853b3c2a1abe7)


Cheers
Willy

Breaking nice picture there, Willy! That lighthouse looks nice, even more in this beautifully made environment...  :)

Happy Thanksgiving to you as well  :thumbsup:  Beautiful picture  &apls  I feel like you're being seduced by the dark-- I mean MMP -side of things  :D  Interesting to see some of the map as well. I'd always pictured Port St. Claire as a place along the North Carolina coast but that's obviously not quite the case  ;)

Beautifull postcard!
The MMP work is always nice in your region as well as the planning on the rural towns.  :)

It's been a busy week in SC4; I've been doing a whole bunch of things simultaneously, some of which were new to me. There are some interesting things coming up, but nothing's ready yet. I was thinking whether I should divulge some more plans here, but I'll leave it there. This is the last update of the 10-part introduction, which I hope has gotten you somewhat comfortable with PSC, what it's about and where it's going to.

The main purpose of this post is to respond to the 21 comments made here – you folks rule. But there's some goodies at the end as well ;)

Quote from: art128Beautiful two updates, Willy! The morning foggy picture of the county hall is wonderful.

Thanks Arthur!

Quote from: noahclemGreat updates again  &apls  Nice to see more maps, this time with more detailed plans for PSC's future as well as more details on its place within the region. The area is quite large--is it planned to be mostly urban? And are you sure you set enough land aside for the port area  :D  I guess it's called "Port" St. Claire for a reason! Nice work on the last scenes and the rain and fog effects are pleasant as well. I'll have to return after work when I have access to a monitor wider than 1024px. Speaking of which, congrats on your new purchase. My new laptop has a 1920x1080 screen and I just love it. Good luck with the colors  :thumbsup:

Thanks Noah! Yes, the map is large, way too large :). It started long ago on a 40x40 config, then 64x64, now it's at 80x80. I always felt I needed more room to create a sizeable rail and road network.

Mostly urban? A simple question with a potential for several pages worth of answers :)  But let me remain brief: apart from the green areas, urban sprawl will get the better of it, at least by the 21st century. Up till then, agriculture will continue to play a big role.

As for the port, no, I'm not sure ;D
Compare the scale with that of Antwerp's port:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F4pNhL0s.jpg&hash=71dfe0446605626652b45b78db30b0ec2ad901aa)
Granted, Antwerp has some of the largest docks in the world, but so does PSC! And apart from docks, a lot of space is occupied by rail infrastructure. Remember, a sizeable railyard occupies the length of a large tile. Like the one where I work (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=51.292063,4.392729&spn=0.022221,0.064588&t=k&z=15)!

I guess size matters after all :)

Quote from: RickDSo much planning. I am impressed. This is my favorite style of MD.

That's good to know! I'm always open for suggestions; you know that.

Quote from: io_bgWhat a fantastic start of your MD! The attention to detail is amazing! I'd eager to see more!

Thanks and welcome, Ioan!

Quote from: rambuckelAmazing updates again! I really like your ideas!

Thank you Theresa!

Quote from: MTT9Just when i was about to ask for a region view!!! Maybe you can add some trees just to the near tiles, even with photoshop. It would add a lot.

As usual, pics have great details Willy. Hope to see some more towns appear nearby :)

Well, it's only a tiny part of the entire region. . . if the most important one. And I only showed it to give you a bit of an idea what the lake looks like in-game. But that's about it when it comes to region views - I need to do a lot more work to make that relevant (362 city tiles, remember). We'll get to basic regional development in the nearby future, but for now, the focus will stay on the few individual settlements there are.

Quote from: wallaseyCan't believe how much I have missed! This just keeps getting better and better!

That is certainly a big region you have there, it will be interesting to see how it all develops over time. I like the setting in time.

The ship sailing up the sound was a great touch, furthermore keeping it in view shows consistency in the storyline which is always a plus. I like the changes in weather too!

You've not missed anything! PSC is always waiting here, until you have a little moment to visit. For which I'm always grateful :)

Quote from: vortextOh wow, those maps are just terrific! And your lotting skills are improving, too. :thumbsup:

Out of curiousity, which region are you playing on? It has quite amazing waterways, though a little too flat for my taste. Guess with all this planning ahead there's no change we'll see some mountains arise unexpected?!  $%Grinno$%

Anyway, I'm looking forward to see it develop, especially Port Anderson, that's gonna be huge!  :o

Thanks! I've surely spent much (too much) time on the lots, so it's great to hear that.

The map is a direct descendant from a BMP I made for SC3000 somewhere in 2001/2002. Anyone remember those? (http://www.sc3000.com/knowledge/showarticle.cfm?id=0057) :D

The basic principles are still the same: lake in the middle, ocean in the east, and a wide river that links them. One day I may delve into my archives and see if I can produce a picture from those days. . . looks like I still have a .sc3 file floating around.

However, the fact that it's 90% flat stems from that as well. Making realistic mountains in a grayscale is very hard, and by the time I got some terraformer skills, the map had already become too big to load it in the program.

Now if that really had bothered me, I would have found a solution, but it doesn't. The limitations arising from game water being impossible at elevations have been a long-standing debate on these boards, and I've never felt the need to change my region only to find those problems being in the way. So in the game, PSC is perfectly flat. In reality, it's gently sloping here and there, but you just don't see it.

My only remaining gripe was that the Pine Valley national park finds itself at the southern tip of a mountain range, so I needed to solve that using some peculiar tricks. I didn't really make those mountains; they're actually a simple copy/paste/rotate job with portions of dobdriver's Salt Lake City map.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMX4bTbJ.jpg&hash=332f73c6ae29b18bcf62620a8084757cf2f8020b) (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fx17aIoO.jpg&hash=b3fe93a0ee2aadaea18f28150b942b7e47f992dd)

Well, "simple". . . took me long enough :)

Quote from: art128That some sexy mountains you got there, Willy!

Last update was wonderful! The overview is my favorite picture, nice autumn colors.

Thanks Arthur! I see spending too much time in SC distorts one's idea of "sexy" :D

Quote from: Gugu3very nice!!!!! :P

Thanks!

Quote from: sunv123Man that is realistic. ()stsfd()Must be so much fun to build on that!

Can't wait for the next update.

Thanks! It is a lot of fun, but sticking to a plan and the rules of (attempted)  realism cancels out some of the liberty one might feel working with a big region. That said, it's still great.

Quote from: RickDNice mountain range. I immediately envision a mining railroad or even a rack railway climbing one of those peaks.  $%Grinno$%

Hmm, that'll be problematic. They're in a National Park. &mmm

However, there's an important rail corridor that leads through them, so expect some loops and horseshoes ;D.

Quote from: feyssI like the atmosphere of your pictures. Please continue  :thumbsup:

I will! Thanks :)

Quote from: mattb325Some serious (and lovely) lot-work going on here  &apls I really like how convincingly you have taken us back in time.

Thank you, Matt, and welcome! The further we get in time, the more of your fantastic BATs I'll be able to use! Unless you continue to make warehouses like your latest :) I've already found a place for it.

Quote from: DantesFantastic historical-atmosphere  :thumbsup: I like it.  :satisfied: Awesome detailied.  :)

Thank you! It's very good to hear people like my work :)

Quote from: MTT9I think i'll like that...

Me too :)  This should end up quite a diverse region. . .

Quote from: nbvcNice mountain and the previous update of St Claire was also nice. :thumbsup:

Thanks!

Quote from: art128Breaking nice picture there, Willy! That lighthouse looks nice, even more in this beautifully made environment...  :)

"Breaking"? I've just learned a new word – thanks ;)

Quote from: noahclemHappy Thanksgiving to you as well  :thumbsup:  Beautiful picture  &apls  I feel like you're being seduced by the dark-- I mean MMP -side of things  :D  Interesting to see some of the map as well. I'd always pictured Port St. Claire as a place along the North Carolina coast but that's obviously not quite the case  ;)

Heh, being a heavy metal fan, the dark side has always enticed me ;)  Even so, I don't think there's much more MMP work in this one than in previous pictures. I did use some Girafe material, though, which is what you might have noticed. I always found it hard to combine with the CP brushes I had, but the God mode controller I made is actually quite friendly to them.

But it's true, I've done things here I would never have done on my own, thanks to the influence of the great detail masters such as yourself. And I'm afraid I'm beyond the point of no return, now :D

On geography, well, even though New Brabant is a US state, it isn't actually located in the real world. That is, it doesn't border on existing states, and its geography doesn't make any sense with the exception of the Atlantic Ocean. It is, however, to a great extent related to the context and history of the real America. North Carolina is definitely close, but it's actually Maryland I'm taking most clues from. I'll still have to work out some kinks like interchange numbers and so, but that's a long way off.

Quote from: KergelenBeautifull postcard!
The MMP work is always nice in your region as well as the planning on the rural towns.  :)

Thanks! Very flattering to hear this from another detailmaster :)

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0.10.  1790 Census

Some folks in Washington thought the 1790 census data for New Brabant had been lost. . . Little did they know it was safely tucked away on my HD.

Click to see:

Page 1 (http://i.imgur.com/r1QMwWd.jpg) | Page 2 (http://i.imgur.com/AerMsiQ.jpg) | Page 3 (http://i.imgur.com/O2rdf4V.jpg)

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Got any pictures Willy?

Of course :)

0.10.1.  A couple of years onward, this is St Claire's waterfront in the summer of 1796.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FmsZoyEi.jpg&hash=061b3cb8f31938abc3e33d507e59301f0ca4e85e) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1691/24234125705_478e4f4a46_o.jpg)

0.10.2.  Around the old wharf, business is taking off. St Claire is overtaking Barton as the favorite starting point for pioneers, settlers, and trappers to begin their journey into the state's northern wilderness. And they need guns, wagons, whiskey. . .
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FPnkSmPM.jpg&hash=61b075abdcb0ca748f76c19ca42e6f08fe4148f3) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1624/24234126765_4a0885e588_o.jpg)

0.10.3.  The first eastward wharf extension was funded by George McCormack, a Scottish entrepreneur who set up shop in the young city. His plot was thus far the only one with paved surface. And with a small crane.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMmLdn20.jpg&hash=aa170a852e89e4283ae7eac8fc4a86dd5126e9e9) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1639/23607304943_7d7cdecedf_o.jpg)
   
0.10.4.  McCormack's main business was importing, stocking and selling wholesale materials – anything from candles to carts – and his warehouse was a constant hustle.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FYkwoJO7.jpg&hash=89d00bc0649165d09bfe7d8dc66a0984e5ef7742) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1466/23605884944_86910a33c3_o.jpg)

0.10.5.  A small city still, but one of the fastest growing in the whole US.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2iBuuUK.jpg&hash=7c3f6dbae4b5bb4ee7d05143b2c7633987e15df7) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1695/24151565441_dd5fb989b6_o.jpg)

0.10.6.  As a port city, it's home to a diverse crowd, with the inevitable goofs and loons among them. Folks chasing runaway horses? Nothing strange. Looks like St Claire wouldn't get the chance to be just an average town.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fb0ZBcie.jpg&hash=72c388e0b68d590cb10e179b7ccfb7b43ac77b9f) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1641/23866288619_9f700c7f6d_o.jpg)

And to close off, a map from 1796.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FtHi8n0R.jpg&hash=ba4ac18c69d6024fa27d6aa83dc4f34106def2d0)

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Thank you for reading. Next, update 1.0.


Cheers
Willy

Great town and waterfront.

That's one of the fastest growing ones? :blahblah: How much does it grow by per year, mine grows by around 40,000 per year, what about yours? ()stsfd() (My secretary says to me that it's in 1790) oh, sorry! &ops &blush hehe.....

Great job with this MD! :thumbsup:

Brilliant update again. I like all those little stories hidden in the pictures :)

Another excellent update! I really like the map :thumbsup:

A nice seaport, Willy!

I just love this historic stuff. I admire all the custom lotting you did for this. This is one of the things I was too lazy for in Empire Bay.  &ops

QuoteHowever, there's an important rail corridor that leads through them, so expect some loops and horseshoes .

Now that's what I'm talking about.  ;D

Real scale transport facilities as well?! I can't wait for update 1  :thumbsup:

Great historical pics  &apls  I love the way you used the new Old Timber Warehouses building. The map is very nice a well.

Interesting to see your workplace. Antwerp certainly has a fascinating transit infrastructure and effectively makes the point that you had the port scale correct!

On a vaguely related note, I was always told growing up that the town I was born in had the widest rail yard in the world at 130 tracks wide. I had to compare to your workplace for scale and it is indeed quite big. Kinda funny for a town in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, here's the railyard in North Platte (https://maps.google.fi/maps?q=north+platte&ll=41.149577,-100.833035&spn=0.025723,0.06536&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hnear=North+Platte,+Lincoln,+Nebraska,+United+States&gl=fi&t=h&z=15)

Quotebeing a heavy metal fan

Come to Finland, you'll fit right in  :D   But yeah, having an MD definitely influences playing style. I've really enjoyed it because it's pushed me out of my old comfort "bubble" and forced me to try lots of cool stuff. Also, Girafe flora is amazing!

The countdown to Best Sellers is ticking down...  Can't wait for 1.0  :thumbsup:

Another fantastic update here, I like how the horse and carts fit into the streetscape, they do not look as if they have been plopped for no reason.

I like the use of matt's new wooden warehouses, they look the part in this setting!

EDIT...where's the champagne?

Champagne is required indeed  :party:

Port St Claire most certainly has a bright future ahead and is very much deserving of it's new status as a Best Seller! Congratulations Willy and rest assured there are many of us eagerly awaiting the future of what you've created here  :thumbsup:

It should be obvious by now that we're building something big here. . .

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fd%2Fd2%2FBigest_champagne_tower.jpg&hash=395544a627306ffcab8ab08bfa3652908757eee4)

There should be enough for everyone, so pick away (please, start at the top). If you haven't commented here yet, you're free to join in! Maybe the liquor can seduce you. . .


A big thanks to everyone! :)


Cheers
Willy

Congratulations Willy! Very well deserved. Do i hear an OSITM coming?

Hmmmm, liquor fountain anyone? :D

There must be something coming up. ()meeting()

I'm thirsty!

Looking forward to seeing what you're building up to. On behalf of the OSITM Committee, welcome to the month of December.

Congratulations Willy!  &apls

Looking forward to see what you have in store for us!  :thumbsup:

Congratz Willy! Well deserved &apls

*takingaglass**sheers*

Looks like we're postponing update 1.0 until next year. . .





Welcome to my month in spotlight! According to the Mayas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_phenomenon), this will be the last OSITM ever, and I'm happy to go out with my boots on. Although I expect we'll all be around a little longer :)

What to expect here? Aside from a couple of goodies I have, I want to go a bit deeper into the modding end of what I'm doing. Maybe you've noticed that I've become a proud member of the NUTS (Nobody Under Thirty Squad (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?board=225.0) – though I expect I was invited more on grounds of nuttiness than age), and I'm quite excited to see what we can get going together. PSC has always been a modding playground from the get-go, and has driven me to acquire skills I would otherwise never have taken an interest in. I hope some of the things that show up in my MD might in some way or other become a little mod, or some kind of nutty project.

Though of course, all this will remain firmly rooted in the region I hope you've come to associate with me, and the pictures will remain within its context.

One other thing, though, before we start. I feel I've been dealt a terrible hand in having to succeed the eight MDs plus NAM thread plus Matt's interviews that celebrated our birthday month so well. They all did a terrific job, so let me thank them heartily for making happy memories. If we can have half as much fun over here, I'll be more than content!



To start off, I'd like to show something I've been working on for about three weeks. Do you remember those Chris Adams tree-lined dirt tracks that I plopped amongst the farm fields? I figured I didn't want to plop the entire region full of them. Moreover, I was annoyed by the transparent lot bug (which saves to region view and garbles it up), and they're not even a network anyway so they have no function.

I hate things that have no function, although that probably implicates many of my RL co-workers.

So I entered textureland and made a road mod. I wanted some kind of sandy track that only has the occasional traffic. Something like this:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2Fa%2Fa6%2FZandweg_Ratum_2.jpg%2F640px-Zandweg_Ratum_2.jpg&hash=a30498fbf78e56c7310d5166b976aee2f3758caa)

Their first use would be as farm roads, but there's also a bigger plan taking shape.

These pictures are from Barton as it is being largely reworked and expanded.

1.  Just a shed.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fd61IY6M.jpg&hash=483771ec04e1431f2c833c21e33d292b0b25588c) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1466/23937559080_f01f3af65a_o.jpg)

2.  Heh, looks like the milking's just done.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FLeEimvK.jpg&hash=cfc26a181bb07539daf0f76009011420b759ffa2) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1521/24125083712_651bf846ab_o.jpg)

3.  I'm also using different farm fields. These grow without a farmhouse, as a set of different fields owned by the same family. Looks like we're growing nuts here. ;D
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FhvLMPJr.jpg&hash=1bc89d6eebcb2443c02d60e012a0f849a192f777) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1521/23937557330_42ff426b70_o.jpg)


Why a road mod and not a street mod? Because roads can be dragged diagonally, and I won't need surfaced roads for another century anyway. These textures can be easily ported into an additional SAM network, though (I guess).

Also watch the T21'ing going on. Where I live, these willows are very common trees along farm roads and ditches, and I find their dimensions quite suitable. There's also a bunch of carts that appear on the tracks. The Girafe bushes are a test to make the diagonals work out. I'm not entirely sold on them yet, though.

4.  Drivin' down to Scarborough, for sure. I love how these carts drive under a canopy of trees. I seem to remember the Romans planted road-side trees to provide shadow. This should come in handy in PSC, as well, given its humid summers.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FEh4PGz9.jpg&hash=58bacb4aac2b6db4d683869195f63cfce3f7a10d) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1529/24150592131_c940fc91fc_o.jpg)

5.  This one is the same "regional road" I mentioned in update 0.2 (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=15156.msg436113#msg436113) (picture 5). I'm much more comfortable with this look, and it's not even a lot more work.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FAdrIfBe.jpg&hash=7db04bca207568db9e0b27e7d57e14459bcb9e6d) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1514/23865320229_8cf965d25d_o.jpg)

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Quote from: nbvc
Great town and waterfront.

Thanks!

Quote from: sunv123That's one of the fastest growing ones? :blahblah: How much does it grow by per year, mine grows by around 40,000 per year, what about yours? ()stsfd() (My secretary says to me that it's in 1790) oh, sorry! &ops &blush hehe.....

Great job with this MD! :thumbsup:

Thank you! Glad you have a secretary to remind you of things :D  In 1790, the largest US city was New York with 33,131 inhabitants. St Claire was founded in 1791 and had over 6,000 inhabitants by 1796 – not bad I think.

Quote from: rambuckelBrilliant update again. I like all those little stories hidden in the pictures :)

Thanks! I just make them up on the spot :)

Quote from: io_bgAnother excellent update! I really like the map :thumbsup:

Thanks! The map is just a temporary excerpt of the bigger one I keep, which is more of a tool to stay in charge of the network layout rather than a work on its own. It's just a basic map that can easily be expanded. It should become more interesting as we get more transportation options.

Quote from: art128A nice seaport, Willy!

Thanks! Just the humble beginnings, though. Get ready for some major expansion in the early 1800s.

Quote from: RickDI just love this historic stuff. I admire all the custom lotting you did for this. This is one of the things I was too lazy for in Empire Bay.  &ops

Thank you! I'm a little obsessive in that regard. This could get me in trouble, though, time-wise. Moreover, if I can get a town half as good-looking as EB, I'll be happy enough ;)

Quote from: MTT9Real scale transport facilities as well?! I can't wait for update 1  :thumbsup:

Yes, why not? There's plenty of space here and low taxes, so big business will love the big town. And big business needs big docks and big yards :)

Quote from: noahclemGreat historical pics  &apls  I love the way you used the new Old Timber Warehouses building. The map is very nice a well.

Interesting to see your workplace. Antwerp certainly has a fascinating transit infrastructure and effectively makes the point that you had the port scale correct!

On a vaguely related note, I was always told growing up that the town I was born in had the widest rail yard in the world at 130 tracks wide. I had to compare to your workplace for scale and it is indeed quite big. Kinda funny for a town in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, here's the railyard in North Platte (https://maps.google.fi/maps?q=north+platte&ll=41.149577,-100.833035&spn=0.025723,0.06536&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hnear=North+Platte,+Lincoln,+Nebraska,+United+States&gl=fi&t=h&z=15)

Come to Finland, you'll fit right in  :D   But yeah, having an MD definitely influences playing style. I've really enjoyed it because it's pushed me out of my old comfort "bubble" and forced me to try lots of cool stuff. Also, Girafe flora is amazing!

The countdown to Best Sellers is ticking down...  Can't wait for 1.0  :thumbsup:

Thanks, Noah! You were born in North Platte? That's funny because it has the largest railyard in the world, indeed. Not surprisingly in that location, actually, because these kind of yards don't need anything except space. It's used for sorting cars of incoming trains depending on destination, so it's not the kind of yard you see in industrial areas, where factories are served.

Yards in America are quite different from those in Europe, primarily because of train length, so it's hard to compare the two. I think Antwerp will be more or less around #1 in the world looking at number of tracks and number of yards. It certainly is if you count all the yards in the port itself along: 1,055 km of rail – twice that of North Platte! I'll be paying a lot of attention on railyard construction and will probably do a couple of tutorials on function and such.

Quote from: wallaseyAnother fantastic update here, I like how the horse and carts fit into the streetscape, they do not look as if they have been plopped for no reason.

I like the use of matt's new wooden warehouses, they look the part in this setting!

EDIT...where's the champagne?

Thanks for starting the party! The carts don't look like they're plopped because. . . they aren't :D  They're T21'd onto the streets, so that's one thing I don't have to spend time on anymore. (If you're not following, T21 exemplars control things like stoplights, street trees and streetlights appearing; of course you can also make objects appear on the streets/roads instead of next to them.)

Quote from: noahclemChampagne is required indeed  :party:

Port St Claire most certainly has a bright future ahead and is very much deserving of it's new status as a Best Seller! Congratulations Willy and rest assured there are many of us eagerly awaiting the future of what you've created here  :thumbsup:

Thank you! The future is long and should pass many an interesting point in history, indeed. But how much fun it is, that's what you folks are making!

Quote from: MTT9Congratulations Willy! Very well deserved. Do i hear an OSITM coming?

Thanks! Wait a minute. . . how did you guess that one? ;D  We were simply celebrating 100 posts! But here we are anyway.

Quote from: sunv123Hmmmm, liquor fountain anyone? :D

There must be something coming up. ()meeting()

There's always something coming up here. The anticipation towards something is always better than the final outcome.

Quote from: SchulmanatorI'm thirsty!

Have a go! Thanks for stopping by. :)

Quote from: threestoogesLooking forward to seeing what you're building up to. On behalf of the OSITM Committee, welcome to the month of December.

Thank you, Matt, and the whole committee. It's an honor! And I hope you'll stop by again. :)

Quote from: vortextCongratulations Willy!  &apls

Looking forward to see what you have in store for us!  :thumbsup:

Thanks! Some of the usual, and some of the unusual, I think. :)  You've certainly punched me in the right direction with your street geekery. :thumbsup:

Quote from: FramlyCongratz Willy! Well deserved &apls

*takingaglass**sheers*

Thanks Franky! Prosit. :)

---

We'll be back ;)

Cheers
Willy

Haha, i don't know how i guessed... I just think you deserved it ;)

I wouldn't have guessed however that you re-textured your roads. Very clever! They give PSC a great 1800's feel.

Keep it up my friend :thumbsup:

Congratulations for the OSITM award, Willy!

Very nice farming pictures around here. They all look wonderful !

Does dirt roads look fantastic!  :thumbsup:

Congratulations on that OSITM! &dance

Hehe, Willy's Willows! $%Grinno$%

Nice, it's on my Birthday! ;D

Congrats on your OSITM-award! And wonderful work on your MD. The rural images are nice. :thumbsup:

Congrats on OSITM! Your project looks fantastic!

Excellent pictures Willy  &apls &apls  You've really created some lovely scenes, with the shed ones being particularly enjoyable for me. The road override and T21ing are fantastic projects that I'm looking forward to learning more about. Congratulations on your OSITM, it looks set to be a spectacular month  :thumbsup:

I see I didn't post here  %wrd.

What beautiful rural landscape  &apls &apls

Hope to see more soon and congrats for the OSITM ;)

Love the new Dec 2 update!   Holy cow, PSC looks fantastic!  Great screenshots and love the road re-texture.  Keep up the good work!  The barn-scene is perfectly staged.

The road mod/T21 project looks very promising. :thumbsup:  Also, your town's 19th century look (on the previous page) is amazing.  Glad to see my little houses being put to such good use.  Looks like lots of very high-quality lotting going on there as well.

PSC is becoming more and more interesting. Great road mod and T21ing. The use of bushes in the diagonals is perfect for not leaving empty spaces &apls

Nice rural pictures and congrats for the OSITM :thumbsup:

Congrats on the OSITM award, having a double check on your work lately, you are clearly an obvious chioce! 
Your farming areas make me jealous, I really need to try harder I guess, but I'm never happy with how mine turns out.  I think I'm going to have a few of your pics open on my second monitor while I'm in game next time. ;)
Great work and I look forward to spending the month with you.

Robin &apls

According to the topic icon I didn't make a comment here. It's a shame, because this is an interesting MD. Now it's time to stop lurking and leave a comment. ;)

Your rural areas are great. The integration of the RRP tracks along the fields are particularly nice. Are you going to make that a road MOD? That would be nice. :) The background information about your region gives your MD a nice touch. The wooden shops fit in very well, but I can also spot some brick houses. Did they already have brick houses in the colonial period?
It's always nice to see an update by you. I'm looking forward to seeing some railways. ;D

-Matthijs

Careful readers may have noticed something last update that wasn't there before. I've been playing around with terrain textures. Let me show four incarnations I've had in PSC so far.

No HD pix this time, as I haven't fired up the game in full-screen.

1.  Let's use this shot of some cows resting in the shade. Here's the Appalachian mod. An obvious choice for my region, but a little hard on the pastures. It's a mountain mod, after all.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FvE7TadO.jpg&hash=480dd38ee73fa455cbc9427779cbf4e3c9e700d7)

2.  What if it gets a little lighter? Notice I've played with the TerrainTexTilingFactor. I was quite pleased with this version.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FD7JfmWl.jpg&hash=1b476ce18fd014e9c7c93ace2e4112a4a466d4d8)

3.  However, you have to check all your options. Let's bring in Gobias. Yes, too green. But a nicer texture for pastures.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fi9BdE3L.jpg&hash=f0ee951006d57ef4a0a59af5084f80d5ba712c64)

4.  So, let's give it the same treatment. Lighten it up, some different stretching factor. . . Well, I like this one. Goes well with fall colors, too. What do you think? It could get even lighter, more towards grass-green, but I enjoy this one for now.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FjKgzIKs.jpg&hash=2c3ce88d10529435951ba8fd223c1c1262395fe9)

5.  Heh, you're not the only one eyeing these ladies. . .
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5IJ2MKn.jpg&hash=785fe291ac38d850906a6829f6dbe53b765216dc)

6.  A summer view.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fzdlbxcc.jpg&hash=28f413b60584a8255e96e55485d5304a6868630b)

Also note that the tiling factor has an influence on the imaginary zoom level. Picture 1 appears to have a closer zoom if you focus on the terrain only. Picture 4, at least in my opinion, looks to give a better illusion of the height you're watching from.

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Quote from: MTT9Haha, i don't know how i guessed... I just think you deserved it ;)

I wouldn't have guessed however that you re-textured your roads. Very clever! They give PSC a great 1800's feel.

Keep it up my friend :thumbsup:

Thank you Matt. I hope PSC will continue to surprise you for some time to come.

Quote from: art128Congratulations for the OSITM award, Willy!

Very nice farming pictures around here. They all look wonderful !

Thanks my friend. I try to produce a nice result without having to do a ton of work. Let's see if it pays off.

Quote from: SerkannerDoes dirt roads look fantastic!  :thumbsup:

Oh, great to have you here, Erik. Fantastic to see you've returned to our favorite boards. I've been waiting for a return of 's-Gravenveen for a long time – maybe one day? I certainly hope you stick around to see the winding road PSC will take.

Quote from: sunv123Congratulations on that OSITM! &dance

Hehe, Willy's Willows! $%Grinno$%

Nice, it's on my Birthday! ;D

Thanks! And happy birthday!

Quote from: batCongrats on your OSITM-award! And wonderful work on your MD. The rural images are nice. :thumbsup:

Thanks, bat. Good to have you here as well.

Quote from: rambuckelCongrats on OSITM! Your project looks fantastic!

Thank you!

Quote from: noahclemExcellent pictures Willy  &apls &apls  You've really created some lovely scenes, with the shed ones being particularly enjoyable for me. The road override and T21ing are fantastic projects that I'm looking forward to learning more about. Congratulations on your OSITM, it looks set to be a spectacular month  :thumbsup:

Thanks, buddy! I'm having trouble finding more of these crummy sheds. Many barns and farms are a little too modern for my tastes. And I'd much appreciate any input (positive or negative) on the transit modding. I think it looks quite well, but maybe someone's got even better ideas. It's certainly true what you've said: a road mod gives the most options, but will only appeal to a niche public. A SAM mod may be more popular, but is less flexible. Next update or so we'll get to some more stuff I did with it.

Quote from: GirafeI see I didn't post here  %wrd.

What beautiful rural landscape  &apls &apls

Hope to see more soon and congrats for the OSITM ;)

Thanks, Antoine! Actually, you've already posted here on October 26 – yes, I keep stats ;)  But you're always welcome here, anytime – the stove is on and the soup should be ready in a minute.

Quote from: Gobias on December 02, 2012, 09:52:41 AM
Love the new Dec 2 update!   Holy cow, PSC looks fantastic!  Great screenshots and love the road re-texture.  Keep up the good work!  The barn-scene is perfectly staged.

Thank you! This update is all about you ;D

Quote from: c.p.The road mod/T21 project looks very promising. :thumbsup:  Also, your town's 19th century look (on the previous page) is amazing.  Glad to see my little houses being put to such good use.  Looks like lots of very high-quality lotting going on there as well.

Oh, to have my favorite BATer pay a visit! And what a great compliment on the lotting. I'm currently working on some R$$ lots and higher densities as well, so your houses will definitely stay our main protagonist here for a while.

Quote from: KergelenPSC is becoming more and more interesting. Great road mod and T21ing. The use of bushes in the diagonals is perfect for not leaving empty spaces &apls

Nice rural pictures and congrats for the OSITM :thumbsup:

Thanks! Still needs some work, though.

Quote from: rooker1Congrats on the OSITM award, having a double check on your work lately, you are clearly an obvious chioce! 
Your farming areas make me jealous, I really need to try harder I guess, but I'm never happy with how mine turns out.  I think I'm going to have a few of your pics open on my second monitor while I'm in game next time. ;)
Great work and I look forward to spending the month with you.

Robin &apls

Aha! Warm welcome, Robin! I'm glad you found your way to PSC. Thanks for the great compliments – though I don't believe for one second that your farms aren't as good as mine.

Quote from: mave94According to the topic icon I didn't make a comment here. It's a shame, because this is an interesting MD. Now it's time to stop lurking and leave a comment. ;)

Your rural areas are great. The integration of the RRP tracks along the fields are particularly nice. Are you going to make that a road MOD? That would be nice. :) The background information about your region gives your MD a nice touch. The wooden shops fit in very well, but I can also spot some brick houses. Did they already have brick houses in the colonial period?
It's always nice to see an update by you. I'm looking forward to seeing some railways. ;D

-Matthijs

Hello, fellow Low Countryman! Good to see you decided to make a post here – welcome. You've certainly made a good point. Brick houses, however, go back quite a while – in fact to the Romans. In recent times, however, they were introduced on greater scales during the Industrial Revolution. I'm not an expert on brick history, but one thing I know is that until much later, they were surely produced locally. As a result, they couldn't have been used on a large scale in PSC at the time, for sure. But some wealthier folks must have built brick places even back then.

On a different note: there aren't nearly enough BATs of that time period to keep it diversified enough. When I started this MD, I didn't even think about going historical. I think we're in a nice compromise position, though, somewhere half-way between historical and doable.

---

Thanks everyone. We'll be back in no time.

Cheers
Willy

I think this is my first visit to Port St Claire, but it won't be the last. I didn't know what I was missing. Your rural scenes are excellent, and your experiments with terrain textures are interesting. Noah, who uses several different textures depending on the time of year and other factors, has already proven that one size does NOT fit all.

I've tried several of them, starting with Meadowshire and going down the list to newer releases. It seems like there's always some little detail or two that I don't care for, though. Nevertheless, I'll try to find time to go back to page one and catch up.

Congrats on getting in OSITM. Obviously a well-deserved honor...
-Joan

Awesome terrain work Willy  &apls &apls  It's fascinating the changes that tweaking the tiling factor can create. All of the textures look just great. In the case of the BOTM I'm curious how the tiling effects the water as you've mentioned because it looks great on land. #2 is the most "ready to go", blending sublimely with the autumn colors. As mentioned, I think the BOTM-based ones may be just a bit too blue for what you're going for here.

The texture work is very literally only part of the picture though and the images themselves are excellent. The farm elements and flora and all the T21ing and network work is extremely impressive. And on a lighter note, there's something about cows I just enjoy  ;)  If I come across or remember any suitable sheds I'll be sure to let you know. Until next time...

Fantastic work here Willy and glad to see you messing around with terrain!  I'll agree with others that the Oberland, really a specialty mod and a tribute to the Alps in spring, is too bright/blueish to match any autumn flora scene and I like what you've done with your changes in pic #4 quite a bit!  Really suits the content well and the color palette is perfect.  One of these days I'll have to start a MD and showcase the BOTM as a European spring-time mod it's designed for.

Texture factor really can be a tricky thing to play with.  If your texture has detail in it then adjusting the tiling factor can easily kill the scale in the texture if something like rocks/flowers or even blades of grass are visible.  Get too close to the texture and those details look oddly huge.  Get too far away from the texture and the details smudge out and just become noise.  You've achieved a real good look here.

Can't wait to see more of PSC and congrats on OSITM.

Great pix! I think you found a very complimentary set of factors which make the picture look good - and of course nice composition. Well done.

Quote from: Swordmaster on December 03, 2012, 03:00:20 PM
...  What if it gets a little lighter? Notice I've played with the TerrainTexTilingFactor. I was quite pleased with this version....

An 8 digit decimal number. Intersting. Did you make a big change or small? What did you change it to?

- Jim

Poor little cow. &cry2

I like how that turned out, though, it could be a little less green.

Looking forward for this OSITM month!

Wow!

Nice job tweaking around with terrain mods. Gobias' mod modified sure fits your pictures in the shown season.

They look great Willy. The previews terrain mod give your images a certain sunset feel in my opinion... but i really like the new one :)

Amazing pictures Willy, I love the atmosphere ! :)

Looking good Willy, both your experimentations with the terrain and the street road modding!  :thumbsup:

We've had our first snow of the season here. Quite the flurry around 6AM, but by the time I got up this afternoon, it was gone already. At least it got me singing White Christmas again ;D
So, let's do something fitting and. . . go to the beach. (Maybe it can bring back those thoughts of summertime.)

I've always known that the ocean shores would be some of PSC's more difficult parts to represent in the game. If you are familiar with America's east coast, you'll know what I'm talking about.

From New York
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FkXJONmO.jpg&hash=3cdec3c41390c636353bae83b96442845148537f)

to New Jersey
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F52PnAeT.jpg&hash=7c61710b605f7e01e589581ed8efd11e81564cbf)

North Carolina
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FgUmcMJk.jpg&hash=e6206d588224412a1a5b3789da05cdfdc11756bd)

and Georgia,
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FlJi2ETj.jpg&hash=7e9a305a13d44b9b4034d015bed3ccae588f8845)

they're often scenes of natural beauty, usually characterized by barrier islands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrier_island). So, a simple straight shoreline is not an option for us.

Let's have a closer look at the area south of Ocean City, Maryland. This location is interesting because it's a natural park, untouched by building sprees.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FyYVXYHj.jpg&hash=a7007181d7b10d76c7f7516523e08eb31757a236)

You can see five different parts here: the ocean (1), the beach (2), dunes (3), the bay (4), and the mainland (5). It's as good as impossible to achieve an acceptable result using just the default terrain options.

Let's prove that:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FuHDgUed.jpg&hash=0be71c9fa4ff5de0b291a36b8d8082d1c462f067)

Not quite it. Even a bunch of flora can't bring it where I want it.

Here's what I want:
-  dunes off the beach with Orange's sand texture
-  bayside terrain needs to be green
-  bay water of a different color, but still game water (not ploppable)

I know I'll need to use a different terrain mod in coastal tiles, so let's not limit ourselves making a mod that's fully compatible with the inland terrain. We'll need a different beach texture, and tweak almost every other parameter here to get what we want.


Let's start with the dunes. If you've used Orange's Pyrenean terrain mod, you know there's an option to create these high beaches. This has its obvious limits, though, as all terrain under 280m will use the sand texture. However, there's a feature we can exploit here: moisture. Moisture is spread across the map based on heights and water, for instance on sides of a hill. The fun thing is we can use a different terrain texture in these spots. Let me explain that for a minute.

Every terrain mod is based on an INI file with a table that looks like this:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fl1PHy7Q.jpg&hash=30e1bdb1b90fda0343b4916eb53a8493396a8b2e)

All these numbers are terrain textures. Every line corresponds to a different temperature (i.e. height). The last line here is the one ranging between 250 and 280m. Every column there represents different moisture. I put in the 0x38 number everywhere I want to use dunes. Basically, that is everywhere except on flat terrain (which will continue to use 0x56 and 0x50).

This is our 0x38 texture, with its IIDs determining the zoom level:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FeLaM2L8.jpg&hash=3a80e63b71c8bd7826140b904c4b7dc5ce04edb0)

This is the basics of terrain modding. As you can see, it's not very hard. You can slip in any texture, add it in the INI, and watch the results. Like this:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FqlqtqvK.jpg&hash=07c772feb767a684deaccb61e889afe8cb7c0963)

Or this, with the grid on to show you what I did:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Ffdg4449.jpg&hash=3f5356c78397b1bbf9876e877d7b6406b3335127)

That's a good start. The sand texture appears in "moist" areas (at least the ones that are not beach or cliffs – they override everything). But as you can see, the grass is still dominant, and the borders are tiled. Fortunately, there's another exemplar we can play with, namely the one that determines how the 0x38 texture behaves. (Note: if you add a texture to a terrain mod with a new IID, you also need to add such an exemplar for it.)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FfAxvxyg.jpg&hash=9188f03c847db989324a1630410450c7582d6478)

There's two interesting things here: the spread curve for each zoom level, and the blend strength. I've copied the spread curves of Z1 to all lower levels, and adopted blend strength 2.5 (the default is 1). We want the dunes to be more dominant than the grass when they blend. Let's see what that does:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FAgEEEN5.jpg&hash=39fb5452cfcae75ce7ba57aa05ef3f1dbffd05a6)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FJKj6dgy.jpg&hash=6e73f3ae09a2df240ec131bc8500fdc34285ff3b)

That's interesting. We'll check back later what happens with this experiment.

---

Quote from: JmouseI think this is my first visit to Port St Claire, but it won't be the last. I didn't know what I was missing. Your rural scenes are excellent, and your experiments with terrain textures are interesting. Noah, who uses several different textures depending on the time of year and other factors, has already proven that one size does NOT fit all.

I've tried several of them, starting with Meadowshire and going down the list to newer releases. It seems like there's always some little detail or two that I don't care for, though. Nevertheless, I'll try to find time to go back to page one and catch up.

Congrats on getting in OSITM. Obviously a well-deserved honor...
-Joan

Aha, a mousecomment! Looks like being OSITM is paying off! I know you've been busy, though, and that you like to make thoughtful comments like this one, but I'm really glad you decided to make a post here.

I've started to learn a lot more about terrain in the last couple of weeks, and I'd agree with you that no single mod available is really good for a well-rounded terrain. I know you've been fiddling with beaches as well recently, and maybe this update will give you some ideas. (You know I can help out with the reader parts ;) )

Anyway, hope to see you back!

Quote from: noahclemAwesome terrain work Willy  &apls &apls  It's fascinating the changes that tweaking the tiling factor can create. All of the textures look just great. In the case of the BOTM I'm curious how the tiling effects the water as you've mentioned because it looks great on land. #2 is the most "ready to go", blending sublimely with the autumn colors. As mentioned, I think the BOTM-based ones may be just a bit too blue for what you're going for here.

The texture work is very literally only part of the picture though and the images themselves are excellent. The farm elements and flora and all the T21ing and network work is extremely impressive. And on a lighter note, there's something about cows I just enjoy  ;)  If I come across or remember any suitable sheds I'll be sure to let you know. Until next time...

Thanks my friend! I'm very grateful for your help in making it even better – we'll get to the updated version soon. As for the water texture, you can see that in this update. The tiling factor was the same as in last one. You can see the waves are smaller, but at least when zooming in this makes for a nice effect.

And you should be lucky here in PSC – livestock farming will become the dominant economic activity over the next couple of decades ;)

Quote from: GobiasFantastic work here Willy and glad to see you messing around with terrain!  I'll agree with others that the Oberland, really a specialty mod and a tribute to the Alps in spring, is too bright/blueish to match any autumn flora scene and I like what you've done with your changes in pic #4 quite a bit!  Really suits the content well and the color palette is perfect.  One of these days I'll have to start a MD and showcase the BOTM as a European spring-time mod it's designed for.

Texture factor really can be a tricky thing to play with.  If your texture has detail in it then adjusting the tiling factor can easily kill the scale in the texture if something like rocks/flowers or even blades of grass are visible.  Get too close to the texture and those details look oddly huge.  Get too far away from the texture and the details smudge out and just become noise.  You've achieved a real good look here.

Can't wait to see more of PSC and congrats on OSITM.

Thanks! I don't know how many times I've fired up the game in those experiments – probably over a hundred times. But I think it's starting to pay off. I really like the Oberland texture, though. Bar the color scheme, I think it fits perfectly. All that's left is to find the right hue. As for the tiling, I'll keep testing that. I think I'm close to getting the right value for my purpose.

And please, do start an MD! It'd be great to see what you would do with it.

Quote from: SchulmanatorGreat pix! I think you found a very complimentary set of factors which make the picture look good - and of course nice composition. Well done.

Thanks! Actually, I don't pay a lot of attention to composition. I just pick out the nicest scene I find.

Quote from: jmyers2043An 8 digit decimal number. Intersting. Did you make a big change or small? What did you change it to?

- Jim

Hello, Jim. The factor in those last shots was 0.12. I wouldn't change it by more than a few 1/100s at a time. Higher values condense the texture, smaller ones stretch it out.

Quote from: sunv123Poor little cow. &cry2

I like how that turned out, though, it could be a little less green.

Looking forward for this OSITM month!

Yes, my (brand new) monitor is still slightly off. I've updated the texture since; we'll look at it soon. Thanks!

Quote from: art128Wow!

Nice job tweaking around with terrain mods. Gobias' mod modified sure fits your pictures in the shown season.

Thanks Arthur! The experiment continues. . .

Quote from: MTT9They look great Willy. The previews terrain mod give your images a certain sunset feel in my opinion... but i really like the new one :)

Thanks. Indeed, it was a little sunset-ish. My aim is to make one that goes well with both fall and summer, though, even if that sacrifices some quality. I hope not too much, though.

Quote from: Ol.S / BenoitAmazing pictures Willy, I love the atmosphere ! :)

Thanks, Benoit! Good to have you here; welcome to PSC! :)

Quote from: vortextLooking good Willy, both your experimentations with the terrain and the street road modding!  :thumbsup:

Thanks! I hope that road mod can find its way to some form of release some day. Though I'm not yet sure how.

---

Thanks for visiting. Back in a day or two.

Cheers
Willy

Great teraforming and texturing. :thumbsup:

Great work here, it must be hard doing this kind of work! :thumbsup: Can't wait to see what the final product will be like.

What beach is that in North Carolina? I live in NC and i might have been there! ;D

Quote from: Swordmaster on December 06, 2012, 11:19:29 AM
This is the basics of terrain modding. As you can see, it's not very hard. You can slip in any texture, add it in the INI, and watch the results.

Sorry, I can't see it at all. :o It's a much too complex concept for me to wrap my wee little mouse brain around. I'm glad someone has an adventurous-enough spirit to tackle terrain mods and other such mysterious elements, though. Truly, it is Maxis' customers who have kept SC4 alive and well for so many years, not the company's expertise at software design. The city-building concept has always been fascinating, but the overall eye appeal of the finished product definitely needed some work.

Interesting update this...
-Joan

Wonder how you will manage to get two different water colors...
I'll have to stay tuned to see if that can actually happen ;D

To see my neighbour here  ;D
Natural scenes are really great, your attempt of MMPing certainly turns out well. I'm also looking forward to see the way you deal with the seashore terrain.  :thumbsup:

Cheers,
Nick

That's far too high for me but the result is brilliant!!!!!!! I'm really happy that most of the Scottish shores fall steep into the sea =)

I wonder what will come next!!!!!!  &apls &apls &apls &apls

The terrain work continues nicely and it looks as though you might be able to tackle your project yet. This strikes me as something you must already have though of, but can the effect of sand on one side of the barrier island and vegetation on the other be created by having the shore on the bay side all rise immediately over the max beach altitude? That should stop any beach textures from popping up on that side and if your sandy hill textures aren't related to beach textures they should still work just fine above 252m elevation. I usually keep my max beach altitude at 2m or less to make it extra easy to stop beaches from showing up where i don't want them. The water color difference could easily be solved by having the depth of the bays around half of the water depth for max alpha property setting.

Keep up the great work  &apls &apls

Congratulations on your first OSITM selection. What an amazing start to the month - great updates, and some fascinating insights into how terrain is coded in the game. Looking forward to more.

Nice work experimenting with the different layers of the coast, Willy.  It looks pretty good already and seems ready to get load of MMPs. Though if you're going to get back at it later, that means we are in for more epicness!

Interesting stuff Willy. Though I'm wondering, as Noah, if a similar result couldn't be achieved with the beach width and hight and some additional terraforming. That's how I've gotten some nice dunes in the past.

And you're right modding is all well and good, getting things ready for release is another ballgame alltogether.  ::)

Keep it up!  :thumbsup:

Not that I'm letting you hang right here but. . . we're moving back to the country. The beach experiment is mostly finished, the report on the way.

Here are some screens from a new little town called Logan, after its founder Charles Logan. It finds itself midway between Barton and St Claire, on the increasingly busy highway between them.

I've made the terrain a little greener following suggestions. I think it's nicely in between summer and fall, and should fit both. Maybe you have a different opinion – let me know.

I have to thank Noah for pointing me to those VIP trees you'll see here and there (not Girafe's, the other ones). I don't think they're on the LEX, so you can't blame me for not finding them earlier. . .

These pics are HD again. Note, the small versions are not just resized, but also cropped a bit, so "click to see more" can be interpreted literally. There's actually more to see on the big ones.

1.  Let's see. . . a freshly drawn road. No frills here.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIzpXAed.jpg&hash=e3c62dcde07316367b671a09091af0aa209f299c) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1475/24148557881_f1230d90d7_o.jpg)

2.  The T21s develop with the seasons. Spring-time. I think the willows make a nice contrast here. MMPs don't have spring versions, unfortunately (or, more correctly, can only have three seasons, so usually spring is left out).
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2BxkRRv.jpg&hash=909b7fcc0493b9c7abde79c1a9ff8ef706718cf3) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1484/23604304673_9baa481851_o.jpg)

3.  Summer.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FgQbzHBD.jpg&hash=593647979f96d7170971d62a673a298e4a65d285) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1446/24231126055_c0c16a4315_o.jpg)

4.  Fall.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FL29nLG5.jpg&hash=ac3826d3c187a0a82be46891da824de14cc88080) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1675/23602887794_334d1d2c09_o.jpg)

5.  These pastures are on the east side of town. Facing west here.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FjMzC5Eh.jpg&hash=6744b24d1e26318fc7ecfb7d1fe478ac6882d080) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1480/24231124575_3a3750ded5_o.jpg)

6.  Different angle. Facing east, towards St Claire.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FwN05YjX.jpg&hash=ce10667b395811c307b309a2ecadc60e8e828e28) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1513/24148553951_da34222df3_o.jpg)

7.  One entrance to the pasture. I really like this scene, but no angle gives the best view.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FiEUmXq5.jpg&hash=7a6dcff4ea075e96ce1abe699e4da489b250d850) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1583/24231128445_e2db5bdce9_o.jpg)

8.  Further east. The willows don't appear in unzoned areas. That would be overkill.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FsNctd1C.jpg&hash=fc48dd585726b6a0961492cee740c54e3d4efbd2) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1645/23935524800_ec7faed82c_o.jpg)

9.  Overview, facing north. Barton is to the left, St Claire to the right. I was fiddling with the water texture again, this color is not quite right – sorry.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5QUU91f.jpg&hash=3b772d544c8f944d5443ef670f95e43af3c7b952) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1609/24148552451_961cacf5e8_o.jpg)

10.  But it fits this stream quite well, I think.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F3ZLv1iN.jpg&hash=dbe90ef7ecec04649cb01b6c63e9b1e8dbb2fa85) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1575/23863291019_f1a5f6efdc_o.jpg)

I have some more, but I'm saving those. :P

---

Quote from: nbvcGreat teraforming and texturing. :thumbsup:

Thanks!

Quote from: sunv123Great work here, it must be hard doing this kind of work! :thumbsup: Can't wait to see what the final product will be like.

What beach is that in North Carolina? I live in NC and i might have been there! ;D

Thanks! Probably somewhere just north of Hatteras. That was just a random shot I took. I wouldn't say it's hard, just frustrating at times.

Quote from: JmouseSorry, I can't see it at all. :o It's a much too complex concept for me to wrap my wee little mouse brain around. I'm glad someone has an adventurous-enough spirit to tackle terrain mods and other such mysterious elements, though. Truly, it is Maxis' customers who have kept SC4 alive and well for so many years, not the company's expertise at software design. The city-building concept has always been fascinating, but the overall eye appeal of the finished product definitely needed some work.

Interesting update this...
-Joan

Don't worry, I probably didn't explain it well enough after all. Your little mouse brain seems to be coping fine with things entirely lost on me (BAT, to name one). And with all these talents you've got I'm sure you won't even need these tricks to get your beaches right.

Quote from: MTT9Wonder how you will manage to get two different water colors...
I'll have to stay tuned to see if that can actually happen ;D

Magic. . . ! Erm, not really, just some fiddling. It's the easier one of the things I want to try.

Quote from: weixc812To see my neighbour here  ;D
Natural scenes are really great, your attempt of MMPing certainly turns out well. I'm also looking forward to see the way you deal with the seashore terrain.  :thumbsup:

Cheers,
Nick

Hello, Nick, great to see you paying a visit. Welcome! A nice month for us, isn't it?

Quote from: rambuckelThat's far too high for me but the result is brilliant!!!!!!! I'm really happy that most of the Scottish shores fall steep into the sea =)

I wonder what will come next!!!!!!  &apls &apls &apls &apls

Thanks! The terraforming was experimental, so the actual dune size will vary along the shore. No cliffs here, though. :)

Quote from: noahclem
The terrain work continues nicely and it looks as though you might be able to tackle your project yet. This strikes me as something you must already have though of, but can the effect of sand on one side of the barrier island and vegetation on the other be created by having the shore on the bay side all rise immediately over the max beach altitude? That should stop any beach textures from popping up on that side and if your sandy hill textures aren't related to beach textures they should still work just fine above 252m elevation. I usually keep my max beach altitude at 2m or less to make it extra easy to stop beaches from showing up where i don't want them. The water color difference could easily be solved by having the depth of the bays around half of the water depth for max alpha property setting.

Keep up the great work  &apls &apls

Thanks Noah. Like you know by now, the problem there is that the dune texture will pop up near the shore because of moisture, whatever the height. If only you could get a second type of beach that appears behind the first, the would be so much easier. I've explored a couple of simpler options than what I'm trying now, but this seems to be the best route still. As for the water color. . . well, you know that one, too. :) (Cliffhanger for the rest ;D)

Quote from: benedictCongratulations on your first OSITM selection. What an amazing start to the month - great updates, and some fascinating insights into how terrain is coded in the game. Looking forward to more.

Thanks. You're assuming there will be more OSITMs? :) One is quite the honor, already. Glad you decided the stop by again!

Quote from: art128Nice work experimenting with the different layers of the coast, Willy.  It looks pretty good already and seems ready to get load of MMPs. Though if you're going to get back at it later, that means we are in for more epicness!

Thanks Art. You're right on the flora, but MMPing beaches is not that easy. At least not for me. Heh, I'm no Framly.

Quote from: vortextInteresting stuff Willy. Though I'm wondering, as Noah, if a similar result couldn't be achieved with the beach width and hight and some additional terraforming. That's how I've gotten some nice dunes in the past.

And you're right modding is all well and good, getting things ready for release is another ballgame alltogether.  ::)

Keep it up!  :thumbsup:

Good point, Vortext. But that would only work if I used the beach texture to make dunes, like Adam in this legendary post (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=2157.msg98405#msg98405) – not sure if you ever visited that thread. (Should be obligatory literature for every SC4 player.)

And what I release would depend on interest and applicability. I don't think this particular beach modding is anywhere near that. Rest assured, though, there's some more fancy projects coming up (in my head at least).

---

Thanks for reading and commenting. Your support makes this thread what it is.

Cheers
Willy

Lovely pictures  ;)

Nice rural shots, I like the last two overviews the best!  :thumbsup:

WOW my friend !! why I have not seen this before ? Your region is fantastic, very realistic !! I like so much how you are doing every part of your region, the flora, the animals, the houses, the terrain...I think it's one of the best regions I've seen in a long time, congratulations my friend and keep up the good work !!

Groeten  :thumbsup:

PD: You've got a PM my friend  ;D !!

Sorry but the words are missing me for describe your awesome pictures. Continues like that. :thumbsup:

Oh, it seems pretty hard to me. :D North of Hatteras? I might have been there if i remember anything. $%Grinno$%

Great work, enjoyed every picture of it. :thumbsup: I think that the water texture could work in the river.

The American east coast looks a bit similar to the Dutch Wadden, except that the Wadden islands are inhabited. I've been trying to make a nice and realistic Wadden island for some time, but since the Terraformer and such programs are still a bit magic to me, I haven't succeeded yet. You're doing a great job on that terrain there. That RL photo was made at the same angle as SC4 does. Initially I thought, what!? is that in game?, but it wasn't. It would be nice to see something like that in the game, though. I think that might be possible, looking at other members' creations.
That road mod looks very great. Those textures are overriding the road textures, isn't it? Well, to me, it looks very realistic. Great work, as always! :thumbsup:

-Matthijs

very nice village!  &apls &apls &apls

So theres no magic involved? Interesting...
Loved pic 9, the little town next to the farms looks great.

Some nice new updates there. And your rural views are really beautiful. :thumbsup:

These latest rural scenes are beautiful, Willy, and I like the terrain mod you've used. It looks very realistic because it isn't "perfect." By that I mean, it has enough variation in the overall pattern to give it a natural look, and it seems to look good at all zoom levels. Just one little question: Is that bright green space next to the house in photo 8 a garden?

I really like the fifth photo because of the vibrant fall colors, and I like the uneven shapes of the fields, too. Even though I live in the shadow of the Ozarks, there is a lot of flat land around here, and boring rectangular farm fields seem to stretch on forever. Of course, farmers making a living off the land can't afford to concern themselves with aesthetics.

Very nice update. I hope there will be plenty more of your lovely rural scenes in the future...
-Joan

Delightful rural pix! A pleasure to read this one.  &apls

I WANT fields like that!!!  ;D

Stunning rural views in your last update, I could feel the atmosphere in a big way there.

Well done for achieving OSITM, It is very much deserved!

Excellent bunch of pictures Willy! Fall picture (#4) is awesome.

I've had a conversation with our good friend Jonathan (kelis). If you haven't read his wonderful MD (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=14130.0), it's high time for you to do so!

But he made me realize that even for talented folks like him, some of what I'm doing is much more of a mystery than I would guess at first. So, let me do a step-by-step approach to how I got my own little pasture-friendly terrain mod.

There are only three things you need in your life for this tutorial:
- the reader (http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=656)
- your favorite graphics editor (http://www.gimp.org/)
- a FSH plugin (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=8455.0). This allows you to edit FSH files in the GIMP.  You can also use Fishman to export and import FSH textures, but it's a hassle. I really recommend using the GIMP with this plugin. There's also a plugin for photoshop (http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=2623).

All the folks who've run away now, please stay. I've got candy.


So, you have this fine new terrain set made by your favorite modder. All is well, but you don't like this one texture there, or if only it were a little brighter. Or even better, you want to use parts of two different terrain mods at once. The great thing is that you don't need to be an expert modder to change things (I'm surely not). Let's see. . .


1. Nice, but a little green.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FnruHVVB.jpg&hash=6bedaa99262e73e23c222cc9e70e2215cfeee8d2)


2. How can we change this? First, let's find what we need. We need the two essential parts of any terrain mod, which are the textures and the INI file. This particular terrain is Gobias' Berner Oberland mod, but it applies to every other one out there.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FGesxa4W.jpg&hash=8ba0f8dd86e5eca353590582f20840db6b1ee546)


3. It's very simple: the INI file determines which texture to put where on the map. Let's open that file in the reader.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FNS5Eens.jpg&hash=5d8d54ef14c78dc76ddd26245f846172ca656298)


4. It's actually a plain text file with a bunch of tables in it. In the right hand pane, scroll down until you find a table called "[TropicalTextureMapTable]". This is the only one enabled by Maxis.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FuOWWwDg.jpg&hash=8de02a80098d07b2f11b1348523de52fe0df3d82)

There are 32 rows and 16 columns in the table. In each cell, a texture is named. For instance, in the first row, first column, texture "0xCE" is called. This is a shorthand for the full IID of the texture, 0x000000CE. In the IID, the third-to-last digit determines the zoom level, with "XX" being the shorthand:

[tabular type=4]
[row]
[head]Texture IID[/head]
[head]Zoom level[/head]
[/row]

[row]
[data]0x00000XX[/data]
[data]Zoom 1[/data]
[/row]

[row]
[data]0x00001XX[/data]
[data]Zoom 2[/data]
[/row]

[row]
[data]0x00002XX[/data]
[data]Zoom 3[/data]
[/row]

[row]
[data]0x00003XX[/data]
[data]Zoom 4[/data]
[/row]

[row]
[data]0x00004XX[/data]
[data]Zoom 5 & 6[/data]
[/row]
[/tabular]

So the shorthand 0xCE calls an entire family of textures that cover all zoom levels, this being 0x000000CE, 0x000001CE, 0x000002CE, 0x000003CE, and 0x000004CE. You get the gist.


Back to the table. What does it do in game terms? Well, each row represents a height range. The bottom row is the lowest terrain, ranging from 250m to 280m. The next-to-last row comes above that. So the first row is the highest terrain. Each column, then, represents a particular level of moisture. The first column is the driest terrain, the last is the wettest. Moisture, you ask? Yes, the game distributes moisture over the map based on not-so-clear principles. For instance, one side of a hill will be moist, the opposite will be dry. So the first cell refers to the highest, driest terrain on the map.


5. Let's check all of this out in less theoretical terms. Open the texture file. You see all textures listed in the left hand pane, and a preview on the right side.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FYkkfjhx.jpg&hash=a9f6b9e9632a7b6e8b48b1c46dafb3c810eabf7e)


6. Bring order in the chaos by sorting on instance. You probably need to click twice to get it right.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F1KcC7nF.jpg&hash=2160b81fd053d1b4c42dbe9542672d8dd365b0bc)

Aha, that looks familiar! You can browse through the textures and see if you find what you need. If so, that's easy. But mostly, you won't be sure. Some textures may look pretty similar. So how do we know which texture we're looking for? That's where the INI comes in.


7. Let me tell you exactly which two textures appear on perfectly flat land at sea level: the 7th and 8th textures called in the bottom row. #8 will dominate any flat plain, #7 will appear in a few spots that are slightly more moist. The neighboring textures to the left and right will appear in sloping places.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2JTXxLY.jpg&hash=e4908faec30e0d9b04ef254257c0e1789c1f164b)

But, they're the same texture! Yes, in this mod, the 0xC0 texture occupies both these slots. But in others, there may be different ones.

So, it appears that if we change the 0xC0 texture into something else, we will get that something else in our flat sea-level terrain, right? Well, let's prove it ain't just bluster.


8. Right click on the 0x000000C0 texture and save the texture as a file to someplace. Be careful to give it a full name, with extension. I always name my textures after the full IID, so this one becomes "0x000000C0.fsh". A file called "0x000000C0.fsh.tgi" will also be created. This contains the TGI (type, group, instance) information that gives your file a location for the game to find it, so just leave it alone.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSR5Zlac.jpg&hash=2e0b8c28e1821375ed8a4134beb542e16c3ff0b9)

Find this file. If you've installed the FSH plugin for GIMP, you should be able to open it right away.


9. Now, you're looking at the texture that appears at zoom 1 on flat terrain. Simple, eh? You can edit this thing any way you like. If this is your first time in the GIMP, take a while to find your way around. It's quite a good editor. One thing I need to say: don't use "save" or "save as". Instead, go straight to "overwrite" which will keep the same name for the edited file.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fb1Or9G0.jpg&hash=72f4b466a255653a7ef52c47922f631926c30f51)


10. This little dialog will pop up. Simply hit OK with these settings.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQrokMgn.jpg&hash=6a6dc4a099c9de5ad4d1dc8f9c7bf51e10994782)


11. Now, create a new blank file in the reader (file > new). Right click in the left pane and "insert & compress file". Select your edited FSH file.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FgIb2ydK.jpg&hash=89202d246f07c69ae27a633ee706c39bc17b7ea6)


12. The .TGI file that came with it will make sure that the new texture in the file automatically gets the correct TGI information, which is the same as the original texture. Because we want to override it.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FAdIV17n.jpg&hash=b9c5529372450fd9b2c1e143c6839e4262eb9164)


13. Save this file (file > save as...) with a clever name, like "zzz_test.dat". The "zzz" in front will make sure it loads last. Now put this file in your terrain mod's directory. Let's see. . .

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2uf2slX.jpg&hash=bdd8d5a777a281b8bdbcff6f9a8058e050b4c476)

Oh boy. . . this board is taking over your game. . .  This test should give you a good idea of how these textures go from being an image file to your game's terrain. You'll also notice that nothing changes at lower zoom levels. . . because you only edited the zoom 1 texture. Moreover, you're certain now that you've got the correct texture you want to edit.

Let's try to make a full replacement of this texture.


14. Go back to the mod textures in reader. Find the textures of all zoom levels of 0xC0.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F25Q9qrL.jpg&hash=a343e75166b3e81e4792bbabf15b8e6954ab7c5e)

You can save them one by one, which is easiest, or all at once, which is fastest but you may lose track of the correct names. That's not a big problem, though. In fact, you can give them any name you like, as long as the .fsh extension is present.


15. Now open any of these new files in the GIMP. Go to the "colors" menu and select the first option, "color balance". Play around with the settings. I did something like this:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6Mjpnw0.jpg&hash=842c19f19dac3f44314eb48fe27c039d1d2f3b42)


16. And in the fourth menu item, "brightness and contrast", I did this:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FErCYmao.jpg&hash=0cdbecdd718007e135f4f0bf5efba8c679a36068)

Save your file by overwriting again. Repeat this exact same process for the textures of the other zoom levels.


17. Then, like before, create a new file in reader again, and import these files. You should have this, the five textures for each zoom level:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FL84aiBh.jpg&hash=d5a22887b718cd1d76bd1c3ef37152f4f9e5365e)

Save like before, with a clever file name in your terrain folder and fire up the game again.


18. There, something new.

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1513/24148881191_ec1518f094_o.jpg).


You can edit the textures any way you want, of course. Play around with the options in the colors menu, or with the effects, or whatever. You can fine-tune your terrain exactly to what it is you want.

---

How about that candy, dude?

Okay, you've all been good. . . ;D   Some HD shots from the same scene. This is the western edge of Logan.

19. Facing east.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fsi8rUig.jpg&hash=fccd29e8a8523dec2b7a5ef1cc2401f7fc46ae2d) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1549/23604593883_0a73a01d49_o.jpg)

20. Facing north.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FDsb9X3z.jpg&hash=51f8e85d46e36c8f60ef80c5e8ab8f697738c73b) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1497/23603176944_e4f7d592fa_o.jpg)

21. Facing west.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FkvOkJCz.jpg&hash=51b5bc06f9b46fd715ac2a375f9012e9ace77961) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1606/24123342322_fba02b446f_o.jpg)

22. West again, up close.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Ff8gLuKx.jpg&hash=f1d918fc3aee54de040ed1fce2f7086c49f14879) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1575/23935813920_d05044c60c_o.jpg)

23. Facing south.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F9Jeq7Dx.jpg&hash=761ea707b7a89e6fe2cb51ec73967ca050115e7b) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1522/24231410845_dd27d35959_o.jpg)

---

Quote from: GirafeLovely pictures  ;)

Thanks! Lovely trees ;)

Quote from: vortextNice rural shots, I like the last two overviews the best!  :thumbsup:

Thanks buddy. I'm an overview guy by trade, but since going MD I've spent more time detailing things than I would ever have planned. It's great.

Quote from: kelisWOW my friend !! why I have not seen this before ? Your region is fantastic, very realistic !! I like so much how you are doing every part of your region, the flora, the animals, the houses, the terrain...I think it's one of the best regions I've seen in a long time, congratulations my friend and keep up the good work !!

Groeten  :thumbsup:

PD: You've got a PM my friend  ;D !!

Thanks a lot, Jonathan. Those are great compliments coming from you. Your questions gave me this idea; they were all great and I hope I've helped you out in some way. Thanks also for waiting a little so I could include everyone here.

Quote from: UzilSorry but the words are missing me for describe your awesome pictures. Continues like that. :thumbsup:

Thanks! I'll certainly try to keep it up. Comments like this give me most of the energy I need in order to do so.

Quote from: sunv123Oh, it seems pretty hard to me. :D North of Hatteras? I might have been there if i remember anything. $%Grinno$%

Great work, enjoyed every picture of it. :thumbsup: I think that the water texture could work in the river.

Thank you. I try to make it look hard, just to show off ;D   The water is way too blue for the rivers. It needs to be greener, and darker. I've tried a bunch of colors now, I'm not entirely sure yet. Please keep giving your opinion; it matters a lot to me.

Quote from: mave94The American east coast looks a bit similar to the Dutch Wadden, except that the Wadden islands are inhabited. I've been trying to make a nice and realistic Wadden island for some time, but since the Terraformer and such programs are still a bit magic to me, I haven't succeeded yet. You're doing a great job on that terrain there. That RL photo was made at the same angle as SC4 does. Initially I thought, what!? is that in game?, but it wasn't. It would be nice to see something like that in the game, though. I think that might be possible, looking at other members' creations.
That road mod looks very great. Those textures are overriding the road textures, isn't it? Well, to me, it looks very realistic. Great work, as always! :thumbsup:

-Matthijs

I'll have to check on this first, but I think the US east coast is also inhabited. Not sure, though.    :D

Jokes aside, though, thanks for the comment. I have a wall map of one of the Wadden islands, coincidentally. I should visit your country more often; a lot of interesting places so close to home.

I don't think terraformer is indispensable, though; the game tools should do a good job there as well. I, for one, haven't used terraformer on this map. It's surely possible to recreate that image quite perfectly, but I have a couple of other ideas I also want to include in my sea shores.

Yes, the road mod is simply a bunch of textures that override the originals. I'm in puzzle piece country now. FAR sandy tracks should be interesting.

Quote from: nas-tvery nice village!  &apls &apls &apls

Thank you. It should have an interesting history ahead.

Quote from: MTT9So theres no magic involved? Interesting...
Loved pic 9, the little town next to the farms looks great.

Thanks! No magic at all. Just a lot of love ;D

Quote from: batSome nice new updates there. And your rural views are really beautiful. :thumbsup:

Thank you; great to see you're coming back.

Quote from: JmouseThese latest rural scenes are beautiful, Willy, and I like the terrain mod you've used. It looks very realistic because it isn't "perfect." By that I mean, it has enough variation in the overall pattern to give it a natural look, and it seems to look good at all zoom levels. Just one little question: Is that bright green space next to the house in photo 8 a garden?

I really like the fifth photo because of the vibrant fall colors, and I like the uneven shapes of the fields, too. Even though I live in the shadow of the Ozarks, there is a lot of flat land around here, and boring rectangular farm fields seem to stretch on forever. Of course, farmers making a living off the land can't afford to concern themselves with aesthetics.

Very nice update. I hope there will be plenty more of your lovely rural scenes in the future...
-Joan

Thanks Joan! Credit for this amazing terrain texture goes entirely to Gobias – I simply changed the hues. What I'm trying here is to have terrain that is interesting enough in itself so that it doesn't require every pasture to have a ton of MMP flora in it to spice it up. While I'll continue to touch up some areas here and there, I'm hoping I can make acceptably nice pastures without having to spend a lot of time on them. That's why I started modding my terrain in the first place.

The downside with all this modding, of course, is that you make other elements in the game a bit out of balance. The bright green texture (I'd say it's probably some kind of lawn) may be getting a bit out of place. But you know, "perfect" won't build me my Port St Claire. . .

I believe PSC's farms will be old enough to precede the big industrialization of agriculture here. By the time farmers would really start to focus on efficient land use, most of the region's shape will have settled down.

Anyway, I hope this tutorial wasn't too hostile to folks who don't live in the reader all week. Let me know if you think of anything I should explain better.

Quote from: SchulmanatorDelightful rural pix! A pleasure to read this one.  &apls

Thank you, 'Nator. That's great to hear.

Quote from: wallaseyI WANT fields like that!!!  ;D

Stunning rural views in your last update, I could feel the atmosphere in a big way there.

Well done for achieving OSITM, It is very much deserved!

Thanks! Atmosphere is what I'm trying to build here. I always picture myself standing in one of those areas and thinking of ways it's lacking or how it could be better. On the fields, I hope this tutorial gave you some ideas.

Quote from: art128Excellent bunch of pictures Willy! Fall picture (#4) is awesome.

Thanks Arthur. Good to hear about your favorites, it gives me a good idea on how to proceed.

---

Thanks everyone. Any questions lingering? Ask away. We'll be back soon enough.

Cheers
Willy

The contrast between little paths and those (i'm guessing) sam streets is awesome. Those kind of details turn your MD into a great one. Keep em' coming!!

Fantastic job doing this great tutorial for all of us, my friend  &apls &apls !!

I think with the help of this fantastic tutorial we can do even a more personal region because we can do our own textures and this is a good way to create a more realistic regions, of course the terrain must be an important thing in our regions, so thanks for share it with all of us my friend.

Right now I have a lot to study so I cannot prove the tutorial in this moment but I was reading all tutorial I think you did a great and easy tutorial, I think people will not have any problems to follow it  :)

Thank once again my friend !!

Holy crap, these are awesome  :o

You're definitely getting dialed in on the terrain textures and the scenes you create using them are nothing short of stunning. I may have to avert my eyes  ;)

Thanks you very much for the tutorial. It's funny how much more complex things can seem than they actually are. I've been lucky to learn a lot from you with regard to terrain in particular and modding in general. KP  &apls

Willy/Swordmaster,
It surprises me that you haven't used the Terraformer for your region, but hey, that's a proof one can also make a nice region by hand. ;)
The tutorial about editing a terrain mod is very great. It doesn't seem to be very difficult to me. I think it's less difficult than the building architect tool. $%#Ninj2 I will give it a try once I have a new computer. I already know how to work with GIMP, so that does not have to be a problem, I think.
You made things that seem to be difficult much easier. Thank you!

-Matthijs

I'm glad to hear that i'm actually useful in some way! :D

When you're looking at grass, you usually don't see many or any yellow stands of grass, just light tan or pale brown. I don't see yellow very often in the east coast, which is the place that i'm pretty sure you're doing. This pic might give you some ideas about the grass. The grass in the east coast is actually surprisingly green.  It looks a lot like this, much like the first one, but a little less, how can you call it, blue/turquoiseish.

(https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT-nUloWz-yJ2x7MN85xj4XTgL1L6ch3dJbzKhDbVYOcsSji7xQ)            (https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRtOW1fGUXAV0_ZJJ6BzO1k9llZWBK99P3ICeIvt9s9GpugnXciLg)

Quote from: mave94The American east coast looks a bit similar to the Dutch Wadden, except that the Wadden islands are inhabited.

Bunch of beaches, bunch of houses. ;)

Heh, it's 12/12/12 today. Kind of funny.

Continuing from #4, some more pictures of the Logan tile. I've now finished the southeastern tip. All fall colors this time.

11.  The pasture from picture 10, facing west.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Ffa1O1qs.jpg&hash=e1d798cd71c9304e8faa6eaba249e146034733e3) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1496/24204809966_8b37d78bd4_o.jpg)

12.  The little stream in its best dress. Notice how well Girafe's latest ash trees go with CP's.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbnWzSAJ.jpg&hash=b1d2ee47b1dc79911ed0d958a79413058b425f54) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1551/23863074459_afeb478898_o.jpg)

13.  Another pasture we've seen before.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FTdLCCw1.jpg&hash=66d7a3b204be751b3eeebf960df76948377c3aad) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1536/23863073709_e9fb004b3f_o.jpg)

14.  And another one. I'd be fun to get your opinion on the beans field. I'm not sure if I should continue to grow these. They don't look very good when harvested. (See picture 9 from #4 (http://i.imgur.com/5QUU91f.jpg).)
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FRIdz7mW.jpg&hash=0cd8d89f9efeb79d96fb75e0dfac56961f30c45e) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1576/23863072899_c29a34a307_o.jpg)

15.  Really? Again? This guy must have been a tourist ahead of his time. I wonder what his next fishing trip will be.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FEkqHfIt.jpg&hash=a11b07dad05c45d9e0df081720e90f4871358ab9) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1450/24148339621_1c8d0a4a7c_o.jpg)

16.  A bit of a wild plot, this one. Don't know what the owner wants to do with it. Should make a decent pasture, but I guess he's got different plans.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2v3pyr0.jpg&hash=a4257f99d53366c68208e92a9102d609739e3464) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1632/24148337861_9921757480_o.jpg)

17.  Same area, facing west.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fzc27dm3.jpg&hash=b44fd94f6a57d0e0d5362c27e8d6fc666a0243c3) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1611/24204804016_419503d0fe_o.jpg)

18.  Same again, facing south. Not far from the river, as you can see.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FYwvsSOd.jpg&hash=62950c661e3dd3425cfe09beb06f9ec7d4f6a2da) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1494/23602671354_412905019f_o.jpg)

19.  Further to the southeast. What's new in this picture? (Not the horses, no.)
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FqhYzdAC.jpg&hash=29a11f72d9f61b599562b13dca3d1dd4702812ef) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1590/24122836342_27548ee18d_o.jpg)

20.  Overview. This water color should be better. It's also a different texture, for what it's worth.
Click to see more!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F59Vmx7X.jpg&hash=25e739f7cc434a2eba5d3ff23aa9293231f833d7) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1716/23604089173_8ff3de616b_o.jpg)

---

Quote from: MTT9The contrast between little paths and those (i'm guessing) sam streets is awesome. Those kind of details turn your MD into a great one. Keep em' coming!!

Thanks Matt. Yes, they are the SAM 3 streets. Slightly busier, wider, better maintained roads in towns.

Quote from: kelisFantastic job doing this great tutorial for all of us, my friend  &apls &apls !!

I think with the help of this fantastic tutorial we can do even a more personal region because we can do our own textures and this is a good way to create a more realistic regions, of course the terrain must be an important thing in our regions, so thanks for share it with all of us my friend.

Right now I have a lot to study so I cannot prove the tutorial in this moment but I was reading all tutorial I think you did a great and easy tutorial, I think people will not have any problems to follow it  :)

Thank once again my friend !!

No, thank you for asking! That was helpful. You know where to find me if you've got any more questions.

Quote from: noahclemHoly crap, these are awesome  :o

You're definitely getting dialed in on the terrain textures and the scenes you create using them are nothing short of stunning. I may have to avert my eyes  ;)

Thanks you very much for the tutorial. It's funny how much more complex things can seem than they actually are. I've been lucky to learn a lot from you with regard to terrain in particular and modding in general. KP  &apls

Thanks Noah. I keep messing with them until I'm fully satisfied. Don't look away, though – I never did from your MD either ;)

Thanks for the K-point, although your comment (like everyone's comments here) itself is even more valuable to me.

Quote from: mave94Willy/Swordmaster,
It surprises me that you haven't used the Terraformer for your region, but hey, that's a proof one can also make a nice region by hand. ;)
The tutorial about editing a terrain mod is very great. It doesn't seem to be very difficult to me. I think it's less difficult than the building architect tool. $%#Ninj2 I will give it a try once I have a new computer. I already know how to work with GIMP, so that does not have to be a problem, I think.
You made things that seem to be difficult much easier. Thank you!

-Matthijs

Thanks, Matthijs. The region was made from a hand-drawn grayscale. I'm doing finishing touches in-game as I move across the map.

Quote from: sunv123I'm glad to hear that i'm actually useful in some way! :D

When you're looking at grass, you usually don't see many or any yellow stands of grass, just light tan or pale brown. I don't see yellow very often in the east coast, which is the place that i'm pretty sure you're doing. This pic might give you some ideas about the grass. The grass in the east coast is actually surprisingly green.  It looks a lot like this, much like the first one, but a little less, how can you call it, blue/turquoiseish.

(https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT-nUloWz-yJ2x7MN85xj4XTgL1L6ch3dJbzKhDbVYOcsSji7xQ)            (https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRtOW1fGUXAV0_ZJJ6BzO1k9llZWBK99P3ICeIvt9s9GpugnXciLg)

Quote from: mave94The American east coast looks a bit similar to the Dutch Wadden, except that the Wadden islands are inhabited.

Bunch of beaches, bunch of houses. ;)

I don't think a carefully trimmed lawn is a good example of what natural grass looks like.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldofstock.com%2Fslides%2FNEA1906.jpg&hash=f3932245aaef8c4db49ca86becb51a044e989c70)    (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F6%2F67%2FTallWildGrass.jpg%2F640px-TallWildGrass.jpg&hash=135c575e28244264945160b4085511e6d150d810)

I see a lot of yellow in there. I appreciate your ideas there, but I think the grass texture, minus maybe a little correction, is going to stay the way it is now. There's also game limits as to what looks good and what doesn't. Actually this picture from Shadow Assassin's MD (http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff288/foxteltv/CJ%20Photos/SF_Blackdelve_107.jpg) inspired me more than anything in this regard (linkie) (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=824).

---

Thanks for reading, folks! Stay tuned.

Cheers
Willy

Great work. This autumnal atmosphere is really amazing.  :thumbsup:

FAR maybe? Love that last overview. I just can't help it. I just like overviews the most  ;D

Good job with the pretty fall colors! I like it! :thumbsup:

Yeah, the water texture could be changed a bit, a tiny bit more brown is what my eyes say. Yours may say something else. ;) With the beans, I would stop growing them. Too neon green when they're growing and ugly little squares of plant and dirt when harvesting. ()sick() I hope i'm not going to overboard with my opinions. ::)


Is the new thing FAR dirt paths?

Beautiful Willy - you have captured the atmosphere perfectly.   :thumbsup:

great job!!!!love these rural scenes :thumbsup:

I've always been fond of vibrant fall colors, and you've done a great job of bringing them into Port St Claire, Willy. I especially like those almost-hidden little houses in #11. #15 is also very attractive. I like the way you softened the path to the lake with some sand, or whatever that is. The seasonal trees look really good in that photo also. I like them better when they're spread out just a bit rather than being a solid mass of vegetation.

You've done yourself proud again... :)
-Joan

The pictures on the whole are great, but what really caught my eye was the Reader tutorial. Thanks for taking a bit of mystery out of the numbers game that the Reader can be.
-Matt

This is an update well done, Willy.  :thumbsup:  The fall colors jumped out at me right away, particularly the brilliant reds and oranges.  Those were the dominant fall colors for my area this fall, although the leaves are gone now.

Nice landscapes. :thumbsup:

I was thinking of some fun things to do while in OSITM, stuff I normally wouldn't do. This coincided with me finding some old pictures of this city's previous incarnations. Bingo! This should also give a welcome break from the rural stuff. Boy, I'm a city guy.

I don't know exactly when I started putting together the stuff that became PSC, but the earliest picture I found goes back to September 2007. Seeing I registered here the month before that, I'm assuming PSC is about as old as my playing SC4.

Meh, I had a completely different life back then. Let's see if it shows in the game.

1.  The bridge spanning the river St Claire's mouth. I had a fetish for putting ships under bridges. I think I still have it.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F4brTAsK.jpg&hash=f7a1753a4af1bd3115475c2b650da43bdbaef0ff)

2.  The approach to the same bridge, in the 2008 version.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FaJeMHtA.jpg&hash=770cfc47a0309393204dbb9926a340aedef4d97e)

3.  Back to 2007, the river apparently turned into a canal a little further.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FY7QUgkA.jpg&hash=516ec55699a3a60ab6978074abb22f638dd57850)

4.  The same scene in 2008. Another bridge, another ship. This is the entrance to the port. Don't know what all these rich folks are doing there; it smells.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6Aoxi28.jpg&hash=6d609383808ffcefd53e9bfa8874e64020224a8a)

5.  I have no idea where this area was, but it's probably the least worst of my creations back then.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FpEvUwe3.jpg&hash=27faf92a8317183047999cc6b556b91cc4b45115)

6.  Pretty decent railroading going on, even though I didn't have that job back then, and I didn't know stuff about the topic. Docks are undersized, though.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FqXtUutR.jpg&hash=ecebcc353275975b9a080b6412222ad40505ee09)

7.  Another thing I loved to do was digging up the center of St Claire and putting a marina in there. Pretty crazy, so don't expect this to return. We'll have a marina in St Mary, near the CBD.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FX5oStTb.jpg&hash=158c53fcd2c23f89b9d61721d8d647f7b22704f5)

8.  This was more reasonable. Expect king rowhouse to return, at least to the east side of the region.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FKM2TNfN.jpg&hash=a2e5c76fabdae52b515f6bfc6ebca2fb6721bc42)

9.  Another necessary evil, housing projects. We just can't leave this one out, can we?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fainzmj3.jpg&hash=935b483250a95f709c3a0a31bbd379682d5334fd)

10.  The SCRaT (St Claire Rapid Transit). The old town will retain a pretty extensive streetcar network. Notice the town's name here. Also notice the OWR directions; still playing left-handed here.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fncz86K9.jpg&hash=fb91e2f9b7c9d96105000f913b3a5026c3b6e1ad)

11.  This one is a younger version. I'm not sure, but I think those trees in the planters were my first custom lot. From October 2008, it says.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FCRq2XYu.jpg&hash=209fa053addbe24995a760795806e33b45c81c70)

12.  Another favorite, the EL-over-road. Not sure if that will make a comeback.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIouhx01.jpg&hash=2e44de07c7bde1067fc4c1cd4e6ca76e6ca4e5d5)

13.  Of course, these will.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FmExRpR6.jpg&hash=41820c247d75c4a38628d6306fbfd1b9344447b9)

14.  This won't. No sunken highway in PSC. Problems with the water table. Not to mention crazy firefighters. What've they been smoking? I also don't know where "North Saint Claire" would be. In the lake?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FuW7pkMF.jpg&hash=26c72e0bc80ce13dbb0d40a1a48e99510fc1cc2d)

15.  I remember this one. It's a tunnel with the sunken highway pieces plopped across. Don't understand why the picture is the wrong angle to show it.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FtAXHcJO.jpg&hash=4d2b85d46a4ccb8afce63ae362601ae6682d2b17)

16.  A real "high" way. To my own surprise, already featuring seasonal colors. I'm still not sure if those levees will make a return. It's a hassle.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F20VxexS.jpg&hash=44e1b917fd8a8e0edd719d448610b073a1d5f6ed)

Most of the other pictures are pretty awful in several ways, so that'll be all of it.

---

Quote from: feyssGreat work. This autumnal atmosphere is really amazing.  :thumbsup:

Thanks!

Quote from: MTT9FAR maybe? Love that last overview. I just can't help it. I just like overviews the most  ;D

Thank you. Yes, FAR it is.

Quote from: sunv123Good job with the pretty fall colors! I like it! :thumbsup:

Yeah, the water texture could be changed a bit, a tiny bit more brown is what my eyes say. Yours may say something else. ;) With the beans, I would stop growing them. Too neon green when they're growing and ugly little squares of plant and dirt when harvesting. ()sick() I hope i'm not going to overboard with my opinions. ::)

Is the new thing FAR dirt paths?

Thanks. Mine say it's quite alright for now. We'll go for a polluted look later on. A good tip on the beans. . . I'll take them out. Like I said before, opinions are always appreciated. FAR paths indeed.

Quote from: SimcougBeautiful Willy - you have captured the atmosphere perfectly.   :thumbsup:

Thanks – good to see you back here.

Quote from: Gugu3great job!!!!love these rural scenes :thumbsup:

Thank you!

Quote from: JmouseI've always been fond of vibrant fall colors, and you've done a great job of bringing them into Port St Claire, Willy. I especially like those almost-hidden little houses in #11. #15 is also very attractive. I like the way you softened the path to the lake with some sand, or whatever that is. The seasonal trees look really good in that photo also. I like them better when they're spread out just a bit rather than being a solid mass of vegetation.

You've done yourself proud again... :)
-Joan

Thanks Joan. I would agree with the tree spacing, but it's tempting for me to just cover everything with them. I'll think of this from now on. The sand is from Heblem's tropical flora on the STEX. I think it fits well with this terrain.

Quote from: threestoogesThe pictures on the whole are great, but what really caught my eye was the Reader tutorial. Thanks for taking a bit of mystery out of the numbers game that the Reader can be.
-Matt

Thanks Matt. People usually go quite far to personalize their region, but leave the terrain alone. Maybe this will give someone an idea or two.

Quote from: metarvoThis is an update well done, Willy.  :thumbsup:  The fall colors jumped out at me right away, particularly the brilliant reds and oranges.  Those were the dominant fall colors for my area this fall, although the leaves are gone now.

Thanks, and welcome :)

Quote from: nbvcNice landscapes. :thumbsup:

Thank you!

---

That was fun. We'll be back in a day or two.


Cheers
Willy

Cool! I like your old pictures as much as I like the new ones. Don't hesitate to show more of them.  :thumbsup:

You are putting on an incredible OSITM, and it has pushed you to number one on BTT this week.

Tone it down a bit with these updates will you?! I can't keep up!!  $%Grinno$%

The past two rural updates are marvelous, the retextured BOTM is great. I hope Gobias takes note because this is kinda what I'm looking for as well. Great work.  :thumbsup:

If the previous incarnations of PSC are any indication, we'll be having plenty to look forward to. I'm wondering though when and why you decided to take a more historical approach - and consequently when the current iteration wil reach modernity. In any case, your OSITM has been good fun so far and the #1 spot is well deserved!  &apls

Now this is an interesting turn of events. A trip back in time is often an eye-opening experience. When I look at past photos of mine, I can't believe what I thought looked good at the time. I like #5 because of the marina, and #10 is kind of appealing, probably because the little park caught my eye. #11 is not bad – a good idea, but the trees lined up like tin soldiers look a bit odd. &mmm

Your vintage photos are much better than mine, and I really enjoyed looking through them. Excellent idea, and congratulations on being in first place on BTT...

-Joan

Liked the jorney through your old pics, it will be cool to compare them with whatever PSC ends up being. It's funny to see my own old pics from a couple of years ago too. I have changed and improve quite a lot, but still got lots to learn...
I'll be waiting for more :)

I like the marina. But the firefighters??? That made me LOL for sure!  :satisfied:

Nice views of the forest. And the old pictures are great, too!!
Looking forward to more... ;)

A great "blast from the past". $%Grinno$% I thought that you only built small towns, not actual cities. Guess i was wrong. Maybe later in this MD there will be highways, but that will be a long way to go.

LOL, the ship in pic 4 looks like it crashed into the bridge. :D

I don't have much time for Sim City and SC4D at the moment but I always check into PSC whenever I get a chance. There are so many great things to see. Keep it up. :thumbsup:

Awesome work on the latest batch of photos and the look back into the past is fascinating  &apls  Really impressive for its age and full of lots of interesting ideas. But no sunken highways in the current iteration of PSC? That's too bad, I've always preferred them to elevated highways because their aesthetic impact is much less negative, imo. Amazing OSITM so far  :o

Turns out my Christmas got ruined well before it started. On Sunday December 16, my grandmother of 88 years died unexpectedly. She was a wonderful woman who, like her late husband, meant a great deal to me.

I've learnt in recent years that I'm very bad at digesting these kind of events, so it may take a while until I'm back in any creative mood of sorts. Today I fired up PSC for the first time, but nothing happened really. Moreover, some of the new NAM stuff currently has my interest, so you'll get a second-hand Christmas card at best. Its wishes aren't any less sincere, though.

---

Quote from: SerkannerCool! I like your old pictures as much as I like the new ones. Don't hesitate to show more of them.  :thumbsup:

Thanks. I don't think the rest of them are worth it, though. Lots of empty spaces there.

Quote from: benedictYou are putting on an incredible OSITM, and it has pushed you to number one on BTT this week.

Thanks! I don't think I'll get back there any time soon, though :(

Quote from: vortextTone it down a bit with these updates will you?! I can't keep up!!  $%Grinno$%

The past two rural updates are marvelous, the retextured BOTM is great. I hope Gobias takes note because this is kinda what I'm looking for as well. Great work.  :thumbsup:

If the previous incarnations of PSC are any indication, we'll be having plenty to look forward to. I'm wondering though when and why you decided to take a more historical approach - and consequently when the current iteration wil reach modernity. In any case, your OSITM has been good fun so far and the #1 spot is well deserved!  &apls

Now, got what you wanted? ;)   Thanks, though. Got a pretty interesting question there. I moved away from trying to build the city as a finished product at once because it's simply impossible to give it any sense of realism that way. It just ends up being a collection of sceneries, which are nice, but don't constitute a real city. I first thought of building non-historically, with some form of natural growth or whatever. That gradually shifted towards a more historical approach around the time I started the MD. If you go back to the first post, you'll see I even got power lines in there at the time. I realized that was pretty ridiculous.

I've yet to evaluate the current approach. Maybe it won't get me there either, but at least it gives me things I can show as we go. As to when we'll reach a certain point, that's up for grabs. Seeing that PSC would already be pretty large even by the year 1900, I don't expect we'll get to the current date any time soon. Although I have to mention that without everyone's support here, I wouldn't even have made it here. :)

Quote from: JmouseNow this is an interesting turn of events. A trip back in time is often an eye-opening experience. When I look at past photos of mine, I can't believe what I thought looked good at the time. I like #5 because of the marina, and #10 is kind of appealing, probably because the little park caught my eye. #11 is not bad – a good idea, but the trees lined up like tin soldiers look a bit odd. &mmm

Your vintage photos are much better than mine, and I really enjoyed looking through them. Excellent idea, and congratulations on being in first place on BTT...

-Joan

Thanks Joan. Glad you enjoyed the journey back in time. Although we're always back in time here, right? :D

Quote from: MTT9Liked the jorney through your old pics, it will be cool to compare them with whatever PSC ends up being. It's funny to see my own old pics from a couple of years ago too. I have changed and improve quite a lot, but still got lots to learn...
I'll be waiting for more :)

Thanks! Even the best can learn something new any day.

Quote from: SchulmanatorI like the marina. But the firefighters??? That made me LOL for sure!  :satisfied:

Thanks, Bruce.

Quote from: batNice views of the forest. And the old pictures are great, too!!
Looking forward to more... ;)

Thank you. I'll try to get some more this month. . .

Quote from: sunv123A great "blast from the past". $%Grinno$% I thought that you only built small towns, not actual cities. Guess i was wrong. Maybe later in this MD there will be highways, but that will be a long way to go.

LOL, the ship in pic 4 looks like it crashed into the bridge. :D

Thanks. What? Shame! PSC will be a Big City. . . when it ever gets there. I have no idea on the population count, though. Might be two million, might be ten. Of course there will be highways. Way back, I started this city as an excuse to build lots of freeways. Looks like I got a little off track somewhere.

And I remember I measured that bridge out quite well. It was high enough to let these monsters pass underneath.

Quote from: RickDI don't have much time for Sim City and SC4D at the moment but I always check into PSC whenever I get a chance. There are so many great things to see. Keep it up. :thumbsup:

Thanks, Raphael. Great to hear that. I'll try to keep it up there.

Quote from: noahclemAwesome work on the latest batch of photos and the look back into the past is fascinating  &apls  Really impressive for its age and full of lots of interesting ideas. But no sunken highways in the current iteration of PSC? That's too bad, I've always preferred them to elevated highways because their aesthetic impact is much less negative, imo. Amazing OSITM so far  :o

Thank you! Yeah, it's becoming an old lady, huh? :D  I prefer sunken highways, too, but if you just build everything in every city, then what's their real character? There will surely be some other things that PSC won't have. . . though not many ;)

---

Thanks for reading, folks. I don't expect to be back before Christmas, but I'm confident I'll get something soon enough.


Cheers
Willy

I'm sorry for your loss Willy. Wish i had anything good to reconfort you, it's always hard when you loose someone you care about...

At least the pic is great :) Merry christmas to you and your family.

That is a nice Christmas card. Thank you. Please know that I am sorry for your loss   - Jim

Beautiful.  Absolutely beautiful.

I'm so sorry about your grandmother, Willy.


David

Nice picture and Merry Christmas.

I'm sorry about your grandmother. I also loss unexpectedly my grandmother one and half month ago (the last of all of my grandparents),
and know the feeling of not believing it until after some days.

We're all so sorry for the death of your grandmother, it is always so hard when your loved ones die. Like haljackey said in my signature, even when it's dark, light will come if you continue.

Thank you for the Christmas card, it's always wonderful to get one from my favorite MD. Thanks PSC. I'm glad that you're still continuing. Like i said, PSC is one of my favorite.

Beautiful Christmas card Willy  :o

My deepest condolences for your loss  &mmm

Lovely picture Willy!  &apls

Did you create a snowy terrain texture or is it all post-production, so to speak. Or both? Either way, it looks great.  :thumbsup:

Sorry to hear about your grandmother, my condoleances to you and your family.

I'm very sorry to read of your loss of your grandmother, and my sincere condolences to you and your family.

The images you have shown are really beautiful and what you've been working on recently is fantastic, a huge U-turn from your older work  ;).

I'm sorry you lost your grandmother, Willy.  :(  If you need to take time off, don't feel bad about doing so.

Thank you for the Christmas card.  SC4 has helped me get my snow fix this year since I don't really get to see any.

Sorry to hear about your grandmother.

This week your MD stayed on top of BTT, making it the Christmas number one - nice work.

Heartfelt condolences, Willy. You must have many pleasant memories of the times you spent with your grandmother, of the wonderful things she taught you and the love she shared with you. I hope you will be able to find solace in celebrating her life.

My condolences for your loss Willy. Take good care of yourself.

That's a wonderful christmas card. :thumbsup:

And I'm sorry about your grandmother.

Sorry to hear about your grandmother.


Hope you get a great Christmas all the same.

You folks rock. I'm feeling quite a lot better due in no small part to all of your wishes. I've passed them along to my mom, and you have her thanks and greetings.


But as they say on Broadway, the show must go on. Plus, I thought I'd give you all something more cheerful to go into the holidays, and what's more cheerful than a summer scene?


This area is roughly a mile directly east of Barton. It's known among the locals as Maddox' Pond, but that's not an official name.

I was first taking snapshots, then realized the only way to fully appreciate it was with a large overview. You can decide for yourself which size to view. The largest is the original, at zoom 5.

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Quote from: MTT9I'm sorry for your loss Willy. Wish i had anything good to reconfort you, it's always hard when you loose someone you care about...

At least the pic is great :) Merry christmas to you and your family.

Thank you, Matt. Reading your comment is quite comforting, actually.

Quote from: jmyers2043That is a nice Christmas card. Thank you. Please know that I am sorry for your loss   - Jim

Thank you, Jim.

Quote from: dedgrenBeautiful.  Absolutely beautiful.

I'm so sorry about your grandmother, Willy.


David

Thank you, David. And welcome to PSC. It's heart-warming to see you take out the time to comment here and while at it award a k-point for the railroad textures. To get your blessing on that means a lot.

Quote from: KergelenNice picture and Merry Christmas.

I'm sorry about your grandmother. I also loss unexpectedly my grandmother one and half month ago (the last of all of my grandparents), and know the feeling of not believing it until after some days.

Thanks for sharing your story; my condolences as well to you. I can't even believe my grandfather died and that's seven years ago.

Quote from: sunv123We're all so sorry for the death of your grandmother, it is always so hard when your loved ones die. Like haljackey said in my signature, even when it's dark, light will come if you continue.

Thank you for the Christmas card, it's always wonderful to get one from my favorite MD. Thanks PSC. I'm glad that you're still continuing. Like i said, PSC is one of my favorite.

Thank you. Of course we're continuing.

Quote from: noahclemBeautiful Christmas card Willy  :o

My deepest condolences for your loss  &mmm

Thank you, Noah.

Quote from: vortextLovely picture Willy!  &apls

Did you create a snowy terrain texture or is it all post-production, so to speak. Or both? Either way, it looks great.  :thumbsup:

Sorry to hear about your grandmother, my condoleances to you and your family.

Thank you. It's the antarctic terrain mod at work, with some snow added to the roof of that shed in the GIMP.

Quote from: mattb325I'm very sorry to read of your loss of your grandmother, and my sincere condolences to you and your family.

The images you have shown are really beautiful and what you've been working on recently is fantastic, a huge U-turn from your older work  ;).

Thank you, Matt. Great to hear you like what you see here.

Quote from: metarvoI'm sorry you lost your grandmother, Willy.  :(  If you need to take time off, don't feel bad about doing so.

Thank you for the Christmas card.  SC4 has helped me get my snow fix this year since I don't really get to see any.

Thank you. Actually, spending time here is a lot better than sitting in a corner with my arms crossed.

And we haven't had any real snow either :(

Quote from: benedictSorry to hear about your grandmother.

This week your MD stayed on top of BTT, making it the Christmas number one - nice work.

Thank you, Ben. I'm surprised, again.

Quote from: JmouseHeartfelt condolences, Willy. You must have many pleasant memories of the times you spent with your grandmother, of the wonderful things she taught you and the love she shared with you. I hope you will be able to find solace in celebrating her life.

Thank you, Joan. You're quite right. She and her husband made sure I had a wonderful childhood notwithstanding circumstances. There's a lot to reminisce about.

Quote from: SerkannerMy condolences for your loss Willy. Take good care of yourself.

Thank you, Erik. My best care is taken right here!

Quote from: batThat's a wonderful christmas card. :thumbsup:

And I'm sorry about your grandmother.

Thank you, bat.

Quote from: vesterSorry to hear about your grandmother.


Hope you get a great Christmas all the same.

Thank you, Arne. And welcome to PSC, too. You surely made a calculated entrance here with post #200!

---

Now I'm more comfortable going into Christmas. Back later.


Cheers
Willy

Love this rural scenes Willy. How did you get those little ponds? The way they mix with the grass surroundings is just fantastic!

Looks like a little resort. How much is each night? I might be able to get a deal at the airstrip. ;) (you should really make one.)

Have a merry Christmas, Willy!

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ft0.gstatic.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcSH45XksNG9u7VAfL1pUg-LRGFQv6erGYW-0nwfAUKjGcZj_NXL&hash=44104e17a892193b84d96203e60f389e64690f6f)

Beautiful picture  &apls &apls  The big version was very much worth it! I'm really liking the way the terrain mod looks and all the rural details are perfect  :thumbsup:

It's always a treat to visit Port St Claire and see your amazing rural scenes. There is so much going on in this one. First of all, I like the way you've done the fields – they are large enough to convince me that this is really a farming neighborhood, not a tiny 6x6 "garden." The houses are well placed, too, very much like they could be in RL. The ponds in the woods add a nice touch, and I love the covered wagon.

Overall, an excellent update, Willy...
-Joan

Willy, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. The memories will remain though, so in a sense, she will always be with you.

Wonderful little Christmas card. I like the snow effect. It's a Charlie Brown Christmas tree type of card: beautiful in its simplicity and from the heart.

This update/mosaic is stunning. My compliments on the pond. Would I be correct that the pond is game water? If so, very nice job on masking the edges. Is that the terrain mod, or did all the MMP flora cover up any beach that showed up? I also like the little marsh at the top left of the image. The heron standing there would have been completely missed in just the overview. Nice touch.
-Matt

I'm impressed with the pond. Transition from the forest to the water is amazing.
I love the detailing MMP, the use of chrisadams flowers and the green grass and nenufars inside the water. &apls

That's a beautiful shot there!!! Fantastic work on this farm.
Looking forward to more... ;)

Fantastic work on Maddox Pond- extremely natural viewscape.  I am worried a bit, though, that the farmers working the land in the pond's watershed might be overdoing the fertilizer- the greenish color of the water might be the initial stages of eutrophication.  Or not, but it's worth getting out in front of.  You don't want the EPA shutting you down.

Wonderful stuff, Willy!


David

Congratulations, you're number one again this week on Ben's Top Ten!

A final spurt to the end of the year. The remaining pictures are all from the same tile as Maddox Pond which we visited last time. This area, like the town of Barton, is among the oldest inhabited places in the region. I had a lot of fun building it; I hope it shows. As a reminder, we're still in our favorite time period (the 1790s).

Today's scene is Myers Farm. One of several who claims to be the oldest. In the northwest corner, it hugs Lake Valley Hill (the body of water to the left). Be sure to check the larger versions.

1.  Overview facing north.  (Larger version: 1665px) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1621/24147945891_70acac67cf_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMidHLQy.jpg&hash=319b38cb223e0d1da4ab87c341d6a3b28c94bf1f)

2.  Facing west.  (Larger version: 1920px – 1.3 MB) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1505/23934920590_46cdb1c8a0_o.jpg)  -  (Even larger version: 3236px – 3.8 MB) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1573/23862672839_a0ac0b60dc_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FfpR9uTL.jpg&hash=cca38404c553515ce91ea556e1911483117ea5d3)

3.  Facing south.  (Larger version: 1904px – 3.3 MB) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1676/23934917390_f5b78969e8_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FBWTIRei.jpg&hash=1e07e17f8d3aec791387049856106f52b6e8a26b)

4.  You guessed it. . . facing east.  (Larger version: 1920px – 1.2 MB) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1464/23934915630_91f09ae847_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FvE3Fq8y.jpg&hash=eb372cb13fc32e9ae851119d54fb872512120ef7)

---

Quote from: MTT9Love this rural scenes Willy. How did you get those little ponds? The way they mix with the grass surroundings is just fantastic!

Thanks Matt! There's nothing extraordinarily complicated about these ponds. Game water, some MMPs, done. Granted, the more time you spend with these tools, the better you get. Still got a lot to learn, though. . .

Quote from: sunv123Looks like a little resort. How much is each night? I might be able to get a deal at the airstrip. ;) (you should really make one.)

Have a merry Christmas, Willy!

Thanks! Hardly a resort, though. Nights are free if you help get in the harvest.

PSC will have two international airports, three regional ones, plus a couple dozen private strips. Not scheduled for next year, though.

Quote from: noahclemBeautiful picture  &apls &apls  The big version was very much worth it! I'm really liking the way the terrain mod looks and all the rural details are perfect  :thumbsup:

Thanks, Noah! The notion "perfect" worries me, though. I hope I've got some room to grow here.

Quote from: JmouseIt's always a treat to visit Port St Claire and see your amazing rural scenes. There is so much going on in this one. First of all, I like the way you've done the fields – they are large enough to convince me that this is really a farming neighborhood, not a tiny 6x6 "garden." The houses are well placed, too, very much like they could be in RL. The ponds in the woods add a nice touch, and I love the covered wagon.

Overall, an excellent update, Willy...
-Joan

Thanks Joan. It's always a treat to read your comments, here and anywhere else. . .  Glad you thought this scene realistic. To be honest, I haven't a clue what the countryside really looks like, apart from my scrutinizing aerial pictures and all that.

Quote from: threestoogesWilly, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. The memories will remain though, so in a sense, she will always be with you.

Wonderful little Christmas card. I like the snow effect. It's a Charlie Brown Christmas tree type of card: beautiful in its simplicity and from the heart.

This update/mosaic is stunning. My compliments on the pond. Would I be correct that the pond is game water? If so, very nice job on masking the edges. Is that the terrain mod, or did all the MMP flora cover up any beach that showed up? I also like the little marsh at the top left of the image. The heron standing there would have been completely missed in just the overview. Nice touch.
-Matt

Thanks, Matt! Glad you're liking my work. You're correct about the game water – I don't use ploppable water due to all its deficits (or my lack of skills). PSC's terrain uses height as a relative parameter rather than an absolute. This particular pond isn't exactly at sea level, even if the game engine thinks it is. So even though the map is completely flat, in our imagination it's gently sloping so the rivers do flow "downward". Mind-tricks.

As to the terrain mod, this one is the inland version, which has dark gray "beaches". They don't stand out on themselves, so any added MMPs hide it quite well. And I'm happy to see you catch all the details hidden in there.

Quote from: KergelenI'm impressed with the pond. Transition from the forest to the water is amazing.
I love the detailing MMP, the use of chrisadams flowers and the green grass and nenufars inside the water. &apls

Thanks Kergelen! Happy to hear this from you.

Quote from: batThat's a beautiful shot there!!! Fantastic work on this farm.
Looking forward to more... ;)

Thanks bat!

Quote from: dedgrenFantastic work on Maddox Pond- extremely natural viewscape.  I am worried a bit, though, that the farmers working the land in the pond's watershed might be overdoing the fertilizer- the greenish color of the water might be the initial stages of eutrophication.  Or not, but it's worth getting out in front of.  You don't want the EPA shutting you down.

Wonderful stuff, Willy!


David

Thanks David! Happy to see you catching some of my work here. However, PSC being in the 1790s now, our farmers are fortunate enough not to have the EPA among their worries. I don't know whether eutoprocation eurotrophocation eurpothrocidization this thing you mentioned occurs from natural fertilizer, and for that matter, when synthetic fertilizer was invented. Though I studied 3RR long and hard, I have to admit I'm nowhere when it comes to understanding rural matters. I do imagine the color results from this being standing water, which allows all kinds of plants to sprout up and cover some of its surface.

Quote from: benedictCongratulations, you're number one again this week on Ben's Top Ten!

Glad you liked the steaks ;)

---

Back tomorrow. (Or today? What day is today? Oh my, 7AM. . . )


Cheers
Willy

Fantastic work. &apls

Willy, these last four pictures are really impressive. They're like a piece of arts. I cannot even say which one is my favorite as I like them all the same.

Fabulous delta  &apls &apls &apls

Fantastics pictures, as usual  ;)
You are a master with this game now.

Amazing  &apls &apls
I love the way you deal with the riverbanks, sometimes you just cannot tell it's terran or water.
The scenes are so real  :thumbsup:

The Delta is magnificent. The flora blends in perfectly with the water, it's hard to say if the water is real or not. It's just amazing. Floraers will have loved it. :thumbsup:

So i'll have to wait until 2014 to see an airport? :o That..... :'(

Have you ever thought up of having a corn maze in the corn field? ;)

Great update Willy! That delta looks amazing ;)

Yes, this is art! &apls

I'm falling in love with your region ;D. What you have shown till now is amazing but I guess will be even better in the future.
Why? Because now you have a consistent combination of your own Lots, mods, water textures, and great MMPing...
And now every small improvement will add excepcional quality to your region.

As I've just read it, deepest concolences about your grandmother from me as well.

It's really high time for me to have a look at all those beautiful pictures that you've created since my last visit. They are so detailed and so lovingly arranged. I love the atmosphere they have around them.

I've already started New Year's celebrations. . . I'm a little tipsy, so disregard any trees that may have ended up out of line. 'Tis after all the only time of the year I allow myself a drink. (Absurd job. . .  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_engineer))


Today we're looking at another little tribute to someone who's contributed a lot to the game lately. Got some stables, got some horses. . . must be Theresa's Farm. Still the same area, this one is in the southeastern corner of the tile.


You're not getting tired of big pictures, are you? We're just getting started.


1.  Overview facing north.  (Larger version: 1920px – 1.1 MB) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1498/24190273316_db78de9c0e_o.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uO5Fz6E.jpg)

2.  Facing south.  (Larger version: 1920px – 2 MB) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1707/24108304582_f2cc4faeaf_o.jpg)  -  (Even larger version: 3646px – 8.3 MB) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1485/23848521369_ae6ca9cbf4_o.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ppZM65J.jpg)

3.  Facing west. As you can see, these big landowners have slightly more fancy houses than the sorry lot whose dwellings we usually get to look at. Not the Great American Ranch yet, though. (Larger version: 1920px – 1.2 MB) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1625/23848512519_952c216193_o.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jED7yL6.jpg)

4.  This must be her. Nice hat! I think she's going riding in the big enclosure. (Larger version: 1920px – 1.2 MB) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1710/24108291992_b4d65779b6_o.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jFKLuJA.jpg)

5.  Facing east. (Larger version: 1920px – 1.2 MB) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1701/23588130124_cb1488185b_o.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vUgWaat.jpg)

---

Quote from: nbvcFantastic work. &apls

Thanks!

Quote from: art128Willy, these last four pictures are really impressive. They're like a piece of arts. I cannot even say which one is my favorite as I like them all the same.

Thanks Arthur! I always look forward to you visiting.

Quote from: GirafeFabulous delta  &apls &apls &apls

Thanks Antoine! Not a delta, though – it's the opposite. The creek flows from the lake, not towards it. I'll bring a map if I find one.

Quote from: UzilFantastics pictures, as usual  ;)
You are a master with this game now.

The only thing I've mastered is the sword! Alright. . .  thanks!

Quote from: weixc812Amazing  &apls &apls
I love the way you deal with the riverbanks, sometimes you just cannot tell it's terran or water.
The scenes are so real  :thumbsup:

Thanks Nick! I'm sure you're referring to the mud that ends up on the banks. Sometimes, it's hard to tell in the real world whether it's solid ground at all.

Quote from: sunv123The Delta is magnificent. The flora blends in perfectly with the water, it's hard to say if the water is real or not. It's just amazing. Floraers will have loved it. :thumbsup:

So i'll have to wait until 2014 to see an airport? :o That..... :'(

Have you ever thought up of having a corn maze in the corn field? ;)

Thanks! The water is all real. . .  And yes, we'll have to wait for a whole lot of things besides airports. But we've got all the time of the world. Careful preparation will make the end result so much better. I hope.

A corn maze? Maybe one day. Like I've mentioned before, these people are trying to survive. Not much room for fancy stuff I'm afraid.

Quote from: MTT9Great update Willy! That delta looks amazing ;)

Thanks Matt!

Quote from: KergelenYes, this is art! &apls

I'm falling in love with your region ;D. What you have shown till now is amazing but I guess will be even better in the future.
Why? Because now you have a consistent combination of your own Lots, mods, water textures, and great MMPing...
And now every small improvement will add excepcional quality to your region.

Hold on, senor! If this is art, I may get subsidized. . . I'll petition the city council on that. As to what the future will bring: the more innovations, the denser the scenery will become. Rails, streetcars, freeways; and that's just transit. I hope to get there before too long.

If the combination were to become inconsistent, I trust you'll sound the alarm. I spend such a lot of time looking at it that things seem fine whatever I do. The dangers of familiarity. . .

Quote from: rambuckelAs I've just read it, deepest concolences about your grandmother from me as well.

It's really high time for me to have a look at all those beautiful pictures that you've created since my last visit. They are so detailed and so lovingly arranged. I love the atmosphere they have around them.

Thanks Theresa! I hope you catch this update ;)

---

We'll be back on the last day of the year.


Cheers
Willy

Wow, thanks a lot! These pictures are beautiful again. And you're right: If I had a farm it would probably look like this. It would surely have a lot of pastures around.

More beautiful farms pics, plus the beauty of fall! :thumbsup: Plus, shouldn't the crops be harvested already? The days are turning cold, so they won't survive.

Never knew you were a train engineer. Great job, eh? :D Talking about the airport, don't look at the Winding River Project for answers. Sorry mrbisonm, but they don't look too nice. ()sad()
It seems like NOBODY can resist Rambuckel's new horses. ()flamdev()

Final OSITM update. . . I'm missing it already.


These are the remaining scenes from the same quad. But a little extra here. I've been showing a great deal of pictures this month, many of which zoomed up close. That's all nice, but they carry more meaning to me than to any of you, if only due to the fact that I know their precise location on the map. With this update, I'm trying to make a start to improve on that problem. I hope that by including this nifty overview, some of the things you see make a little more sense.

But 19 pictures is a lot of numbers, and the result is that you can't actually see anything on this overview. So included is a clean version of it directly underneath.

One last word, I have to apologize for something I truly dread seeing in any MD. . . quad borders. I hope I'm forgiven for this singular occasion – I won't make a habit out of it.

0a.  (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FGGmLgdk.jpg&hash=ff464dbc6f2a77fb55c21ff235f9ebd6775f6dc5)

0b.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1515/23848317119_fbd9b56b50_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6CW7owN.jpg&hash=3b20c06716e6a8a17b49e0381e9e3336888a197a)

1.  The pastures to the west of Maddox Pond are all owned by James Bonham. This is the better part of his cattle, grazing in the summer sun.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1474/24190019116_9b5dba36c2_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FypxElBt.jpg&hash=0e62ff0c382dd0e29c4f00c85082074343dc46de)

2.  Bonham's old farm house.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1627/23848268179_0806fb5d21_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FhOheMpR.jpg&hash=0c88d5e76fb0d7e010bb4e463c84c2684f803e9c)

3.  Look what Santa brought me. . . rolling barrels! Thanks again, Jim.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1495/24133524841_02c2b9e52a_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FLIanpi7.jpg&hash=35324e484baa38c51c7b32453169e1b23cfe5d4d)

4.  The entrance to Billy Hennings' farm.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1486/23587892954_db87d9993e_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQ8dDJqp.jpg&hash=ca51cd00d277038e98540e227d0fbbc8eae7d862)

5.  Needs to expand if he wants to stay in business.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1595/23920580590_a6a1171757_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FVHQ1caq.jpg&hash=e3cbb7b0e3b87ffa4310a08c934806ab4c0459c0)

6.  Giddy up!  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1561/24190074926_cbac947072_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F9X6aqTH.jpg&hash=5c8d8c9571546b946771e9aaf297a3b40d5f9f7d)

7.  Lakefront real estate. Something for Joan?  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1595/23848325449_6327e7879b_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FBFWP1Pv.jpg&hash=13bbf3096f7395e2d85cfe3e82dddd952bff5a6b)

8.  Here's our main road again. We saw this one in Logan as well (#4 and #6 from this month).  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1505/23848324759_b24c1708a7_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F3zFGk5x.jpg&hash=377ab72d3ffc4f235ba87b14526148ea3e1e653a)

9.  Other side of the lake. Maybe a good fishing spot?  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1674/24216171165_236c260132_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FWoLTGjZ.jpg&hash=dd416a170caee29fb8d29591da274fd98761634e)

10.  You don't say, heh?  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1460/23587948174_effb3db1e5_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FHD8HxSg.jpg&hash=897c57c304d935719e74433685f52df2bff76d41)

11.  Myers Farm again, in summer this time.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1507/23848322989_ec29b86396_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FslyunXG.jpg&hash=e63d8515ae6b9c5e45e122a205b634117bb178e5)

12.  Did anyone say "main" road? Not exactly the heydays of the DOT yet.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1662/23848322389_b4013ebd17_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FNLlVsmM.jpg&hash=2dfc0a998bd4a19009d6b9576e902c0ddd713594)

13.  Hennings' property again. Looks like he took my advice.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1521/24190070586_9807165385_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fj2JKzCW.jpg&hash=f9c7fbe090dee21ebe45ef91774eadef9cd6270a)

14.  Barton sheriff's inspecting. No laws are broken here, I swear.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1709/24108101862_393e126828_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fwli0n6u.jpg&hash=d3d6aaca5695f1abc05fc75e7803be986110c649)

15.  Random site along Valley Hill Creek. The little pathway is a private iniative, of course.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1477/24190069166_46fc600e6a_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FcjWjRFc.jpg&hash=28a94608e6ec8d7ec4a17c6e6472744b9c1cf1f5)

16.  An as of yet unnamed hamlet.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1491/24133575071_4f8d2b0bdb_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMln6cAz.jpg&hash=8adbc0ffd21ee4828289e36354d03175a7bfadd0)

17.  Thomas Quigley's place, another Scottish landowner. Owns everything between Maddox Pond and Pryce Woods. That's 342 acres, if you please. Yes, I counted.  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1502/24190067746_e79c994578_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FBdAwqby.jpg&hash=6561decdf814b02f62655c12dd8f0a82bfaaba8d)

18.  Who lets the dogs out? (Don't look for dogs here, there aren't any. Silly me.)  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1652/23587942694_b51835f5ca_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIQZauJV.jpg&hash=049e6a51c72d11fce969e14337271831d8b4820e)

19.  Finishing where we were last time. . .  (HD version) (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1719/24190066536_ae0a73b0ee_o.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fz1AY3DV.jpg&hash=7c1586272cb013a2a2b26bf9a00417eb4513d1cf)

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Quote from: rambuckelWow, thanks a lot! These pictures are beautiful again. And you're right: If I had a farm it would probably look like this. It would surely have a lot of pastures around.

Thanks! You're in the top 3 of landowners on this particular quad  ;)

Quote from: sunv123More beautiful farms pics, plus the beauty of fall! :thumbsup: Plus, shouldn't the crops be harvested already? The days are turning cold, so they won't survive.

Never knew you were a train engineer. Great job, eh? :D Talking about the airport, don't look at the Winding River Project for answers. Sorry mrbisonm, but they don't look too nice. ()sad()
It seems like NOBODY can resist Rambuckel's new horses. ()flamdev()

Thanks, but . . . not sure about your reference to Fred. There's a lot you and I can learn from him. . .  If you've got criticism for him, please don't do it in my thread. That's unfair.

---

See you all around soon to fill up the remaining. . . er . . . ten million of these quads.


Cheers
Willy

Looking at these picture, I almost forget its from SimCity4.

Wow just one word: beau-ti-ful.

Quote from: Swordmaster on December 23, 2012, 09:58:47 AM
Thank you, Arne. And welcome to PSC, too. You surely made a calculated entrance here with post #200!

Leave that to other people. Pure coincidence that it was post #200.

Hope you have some plans for some more dens city, maybe even w2w.

These are great! Both the overviews and the little details. Such a beautiful scenary.
Happy 2013 to you too :)

Well, it looks like I've made a fine mess of things. I thought I had already posted, but obviously I haven't. I've been awfully busy the past few days, but feel like I haven't accomplished very much.

You're making a grand exit which rivals your grand entrance in OSITM six pages ago! I love the interesting shapes of the fields in 0b. This could easily be an aerial photo. The old farmhouse in 2 shows an excellent job of LEing, and your tree placement is faultless – that's a feature on which I often compliment Noah. As I soak up the details in the next several scenes, one thing especially catches my eye. I love the way you use the sand to soften fence lines, pathways and similar areas.

I also love the water mod you're using. It looks so real in 7 and 9 along with several more which follow these. And yes, Joan would love to live in that lakeside estate. :) A favorite? You've got to be kidding! Every single one of these little jewels is a masterpiece, but 18 and 15 would be mighty close to the top of the list.

Port St Claire has made a stunning impact this month, and I will, indeed, have a Happy 2013 if you maintain this level of quality which I'm sure you will.

Happy New Year to you and all who read this message...
-Joan

An incredible OSITM run, Willy.  This is the kind of MDing that brings all the aspects of what is possible with this game together.  It reads from start to finish like a good story, with the incredible pics doing the talking.

Count on Port St. Claire to be part of making 2013 a great year for playing SC4.


David

I'm sorry to hear that I had hurt your feelings, I want to smack myself for that.

The farms look great, the rivers look so complex, It's almost like i'm in a little Bi-plane swooping through. :thumbsup:

It was a great month with Port St. Claire and it is sad that it is coming to an end. &cry2 Still, we hope for a bright future to come!


Hope you have a happy new year! 2013, here we come! :party:

No 16 is my favorite - your play with our SC4-plants. Very nice rural pics!  :thumbsup:

Your rural pics continue to delight and impress. I wish mine were that good. :D

Willy, my habit of lurking has again gotten the best of me!  :P

I've been snooping around here throughout December simply being astonished by your work; perhaps I was speechless? The level of intricacy and detail and all-around perfection with which you play the game is something which I have been trying to achieve for years. All of your pictures look like they could be right out of someone's camera; you truly have mastered a rural American scene.

I will enjoy watching the seasons pass both in your MD and as Port St. Claire evolves over the coming four.


Happy new year!
Ethan

First comment here, from what I've seen I wish I'd been following this MD from the beginning. I love the rural theme and all the detailing, especially around the river. Makes me want to try my hand at rural areas. Nice work. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Your speed of updating is really amazing! I'd never be able to create that quality in such a short time!  &apls &apls

Brilliant scenes again!

Amazing stuff!!!! &apls

Such amazing rural scenes  &apls &apls &apls

Your farmlands are great. It's really impressive.  :thumbsup:

Wow, I feel like every time I turn around for a minute something amazing happens here! The level of perfection of these scenes is...I don't even know what to say. Just wow. I absolutely love the way the water, flora, and terrain look in these scenes. So many good ideas, so much excellent work.

Happy 2013 to you and PSC!!!

Great update!  I love that last far zoom pic - looking forward to what you will surprise us with in 2013  :thumbsup:

Catching up on the last couple of updates and it's just flat out amazing Willy! The farms look great and the flora detailing is about perfect!  &apls

Though I've to say it's kind of dangerous to leave sheep near water. If somehow they get stuck in the mud or get into the pond their coat soaks up water (it can hold 20 to 30 liters!). Once that happens it's awfully heavy and chances are the sheep can't get itself to dryland, or worse yet, ends up on its back because of it. If no help is offered immediately, the animal will probably die. So, to cut a long story short, better leave the sheep in a fenced of meadow, away from water.

Other than that, i've really enjoyed your OSITM and I'm confident your regular updates won't be less amazing! Keep up the good work!  :thumbsup:

Another great couple of updates to end your OSITM - fantastic work.

And it has kept you on top of BTT for a fourth week - congratulations and Happy New Year.

Amazing pictures. :o
I can even see just how a house is built!  ??? :o &ops
Your farms and landscaping is great. :thumbsup: I still have much to learn from you, to be more good.

Great pictures again.  &apls &apls &apls

I've read through this Diary probably four times, one of my favorites ever. I love your tree controller and T21 mods. Those are honestly what I've been trying to put together for a while. What are your thoughts on uploading those two?

I just read the latest updates. Your Farms look fantastic. Great attention to detail. In the overview I appreciate that you have some variety with diagonals and wooded areas but you did not overdo it.

This is quickly becoming my favorite MD.  Do you individually lot every building?  or is it some sort of creative system you have?  also, please keep showing us region views, they are spectacular in spite of being able to see edges.

For yet another week you're number one on BTT - well done.

I'm always late for birthdays (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=15457). . .

There's been a lot of non-communication here recently on my part. I have to apologize for not returning to your comments sooner – I enjoyed them all. I've been spending a lot of time testing the new RHW and learning some bits and pieces of RUL code. None of which, of course, is an excuse to send PSC into hibernation. But you all know when you get new toys, the old ones get dusty.

Of course, I'm not posting here without having something at hand, so here is another small stretch of that main road that connects St Claire to the rest of the world. (You do remember our little port town, don't you?)

I really enjoy Girafe's new lindens (http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=2869) – be sure to get them before stocks are depleted. I honestly give them an A+ rating.

I'll also note that there's some magic at work here; I'm not sure if you would catch it otherwise. Apart from the fact that I'm redoing the road textures yet again (let's call it honing my skills), there's a little goodie from NAM 31 in here, courtesy of Markus (memo): draggable FA roads (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=1138.msg444947#msg444947). In this stretch I've incorporated FA-2, both at the top and in those large S-curves. Sorry, what grid did you say?

---

Quote from: vesterLooking at these picture, I almost forget its from SimCity4.

Wow just one word: beau-ti-ful.


Leave that to other people. Pure coincidence that it was post #200.

Hope you have some plans for some more dens city, maybe even w2w.

Hey Arne, thanks. That was a joke about the #200 post. We will honor people here in slightly different ways.

Of course, there will be denser cityscapes, but all in due time. PSC will become a major rowhouse city like Philly and Baltimore, at least the East side. And with a ton of streetcars of course ;)

Quote from: MTT9These are great! Both the overviews and the little details. Such a beautiful scenary.
Happy 2013 to you too :)

Thanks! Hope your year has started well so far.

Quote from: JmouseWell, it looks like I've made a fine mess of things. I thought I had already posted, but obviously I haven't. I've been awfully busy the past few days, but feel like I haven't accomplished very much.

You're making a grand exit which rivals your grand entrance in OSITM six pages ago! I love the interesting shapes of the fields in 0b. This could easily be an aerial photo. The old farmhouse in 2 shows an excellent job of LEing, and your tree placement is faultless – that's a feature on which I often compliment Noah. As I soak up the details in the next several scenes, one thing especially catches my eye. I love the way you use the sand to soften fence lines, pathways and similar areas.

I also love the water mod you're using. It looks so real in 7 and 9 along with several more which follow these. And yes, Joan would love to live in that lakeside estate. :) A favorite? You've got to be kidding! Every single one of these little jewels is a masterpiece, but 18 and 15 would be mighty close to the top of the list.

Port St Claire has made a stunning impact this month, and I will, indeed, have a Happy 2013 if you maintain this level of quality which I'm sure you will.

Happy New Year to you and all who read this message...
-Joan

Hi Joan; don't worry – you can't really mess up here. There's enough places in life already where you have to do everything right. Here in PSC you can relax and fumble to your heart's content ;)

I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. That farmhouse in 2 was only a slight alteration of Jim's, so LE credits go to him, not me. And be sure that I've taken a lot of clues from Noah's tree placement (among other things).

The water mod is a modification of one by dobdriver. For some reason he didn't change textures between zooms, which means zoom 1 has the same wave sizes as zoom 5. . . I corrected that, and applied my own color palette to it in the process.

Quote from: dedgrenAn incredible OSITM run, Willy.  This is the kind of MDing that brings all the aspects of what is possible with this game together.  It reads from start to finish like a good story, with the incredible pics doing the talking.

Count on Port St. Claire to be part of making 2013 a great year for playing SC4.


David

Thank you David, that's a great compliment coming from the premier story teller you are. I certainly hope PSC will showcase some of 2013's cutting-edge in modding.

Quote from: sunv123I'm sorry to hear that I had hurt your feelings, I want to smack myself for that.

The farms look great, the rivers look so complex, It's almost like i'm in a little Bi-plane swooping through. :thumbsup:

It was a great month with Port St. Claire and it is sad that it is coming to an end. &cry2 Still, we hope for a bright future to come!


Hope you have a happy new year! 2013, here we come! :party:

Don't worry, my feelings don't hurt that easily (I'm a railroader, I'm used to getting abuse ;) ). Glad to see you liked it. OSITM may be over, but PSC has only just begun.

Quote from: tb7No 16 is my favorite - your play with our SC4-plants. Very nice rural pics!  :thumbsup:

Thanks, and welcome! It's great to know which are someone's favorites.

Quote from: SchulmanatorYour rural pics continue to delight and impress. I wish mine were that good. :D

Thanks Bruce! All of this only looks good because of the models our community has made over the years. I'm only using their talents.

Quote from: ecobaWilly, my habit of lurking has again gotten the best of me!  :P

I've been snooping around here throughout December simply being astonished by your work; perhaps I was speechless? The level of intricacy and detail and all-around perfection with which you play the game is something which I have been trying to achieve for years. All of your pictures look like they could be right out of someone's camera; you truly have mastered a rural American scene.

I will enjoy watching the seasons pass both in your MD and as Port St. Claire evolves over the coming four.


Happy new year!
Ethan

Welcome Ethan! Sorry to hear about your lurking but I'm glad to see you realized you were missing out on the best part of SC4D: contributing. Comments like this do a lot for an MD'er and for the community as a whole.

I'm also pleased to hear my scenes look American. I usually have aerial images from New Jersey or Maryland handy when I'm making this stuff.

Quote from: apeguyFirst comment here, from what I've seen I wish I'd been following this MD from the beginning. I love the rural theme and all the detailing, especially around the river. Makes me want to try my hand at rural areas. Nice work. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

No problem Alex, you can post here at your convenience; thanks for doing so! Welcome!

Quote from: rambuckelYour speed of updating is really amazing! I'd never be able to create that quality in such a short time!  &apls &apls

Brilliant scenes again!

Thanks Theresa. My scenes don't usually get made in one go. Today's mosaic coincidentally did.

Quote from: Gugu3Amazing stuff!!!! &apls

Thanks!!!!

Quote from: GirafeSuch amazing rural scenes  &apls &apls &apls

Thanks Antoine! Pretty barren had it not been for your flora.

Quote from: Piterdaw1Your farmlands are great. It's really impressive.  :thumbsup:

Thanks, good to see you visit again.

Quote from: noahclemWow, I feel like every time I turn around for a minute something amazing happens here! The level of perfection of these scenes is...I don't even know what to say. Just wow. I absolutely love the way the water, flora, and terrain look in these scenes. So many good ideas, so much excellent work.

Happy 2013 to you and PSC!!!

The lesson here: don't turn around. ;)   Thanks Noah, I've given my all for OSITM.

Quote from: SimcougGreat update!  I love that last far zoom pic - looking forward to what you will surprise us with in 2013  :thumbsup:

Thanks! If I get my way, plenty of stuff!

Quote from: vortextCatching up on the last couple of updates and it's just flat out amazing Willy! The farms look great and the flora detailing is about perfect!  &apls

Though I've to say it's kind of dangerous to leave sheep near water. If somehow they get stuck in the mud or get into the pond their coat soaks up water (it can hold 20 to 30 liters!). Once that happens it's awfully heavy and chances are the sheep can't get itself to dryland, or worse yet, ends up on its back because of it. If no help is offered immediately, the animal will probably die. So, to cut a long story short, better leave the sheep in a fenced of meadow, away from water.

Other than that, i've really enjoyed your OSITM and I'm confident your regular updates won't be less amazing! Keep up the good work!  :thumbsup:

Well, that's what happens when a guy who's lived all his life in the city wanders off in the countryside. Let me find an excuse . . . er . . . dumb farmer! Or . . . they've just been shaven! Or, well, I'll keep it in mind next time around. Thanks for the enlightenment!  :thumbsup: (And for commenting!)

Quote from: benedictAnother great couple of updates to end your OSITM - fantastic work.

And it has kept you on top of BTT for a fourth week - congratulations and Happy New Year.

Thanks Ben! What do I get if I make it to five?

Quote from: DantesAmazing pictures. :o
I can even see just how a house is built!  ??? :o &ops
Your farms and landscaping is great. :thumbsup: I still have much to learn from you, to be more good.

Great pictures again.  &apls &apls &apls

Thanks! I think I still have more to learn from you, actually. Although I won't go Asian style, I presume.

Quote from: TheReverendI've read through this Diary probably four times, one of my favorites ever. I love your tree controller and T21 mods. Those are honestly what I've been trying to put together for a while. What are your thoughts on uploading those two?

Thanks, and welcome! Good to see you've dediced to post. I don't intend to upload the tree controller, because both vortext and epicblunder are making good ones. Also, there's a lot of plopped trees in between them, so it's a bit of a mixture. The T21 is a bit too specific to my road textures I'm afraid; the maxis roads are too wide. And I'm not uploading things that aren't at 100% quality.

Quote from: RickDI just read the latest updates. Your Farms look fantastic. Great attention to detail. In the overview I appreciate that you have some variety with diagonals and wooded areas but you did not overdo it.

Thanks Raphael. I'll keep in mind what you said here; you're probably right that one can overdo it.

Quote from: eldaldoThis is quickly becoming my favorite MD.  Do you individually lot every building?  or is it some sort of creative system you have?  also, please keep showing us region views, they are spectacular in spite of being able to see edges.

Thanks! My lotting evolved from converting evergreens to seasonals, then I started removing cars and before I knew I was doing way too much work. For the farms I've mostly converted Jmyers' lots to large residentials so I can control where they grow exactly. The actual farm lots are identical to the field lots so you don't notice them. And then there's a handful of ploppables like sheds and things. I should also note that I frequently plop MMPs on the lots after they've grown, so they're individualized. This is one of Badsim's tricks (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=217).

Quote from: benedictFor yet another week you're number one on BTT - well done.

Thanks Ben! What do I get if I make it to six?

---

That'll be all for today, folks. On to the next 10 years!


Cheers
Willy

What a great pic Willy! I do believe that FA-2 and memo's draggable FA roads will change the game quite a lot. I look foward to using them myself...

Good job with the flora items  &apls &apls &apls

As usual this is an excellent shot! Though imho the roadtexture is too narrow and clean cut, you may want to extend the shoulders a bit. Other than that I can only echo Girafe, the flora is just gorgeous!  &apls

A mosaic of tremendous beauty  &apls &apls &apls   All the details look perfect but it's even better to know what's going on below. Your texture modding is just beautiful and draggable FAR speaks for itself. How much T21ing is involved here? Just excellent  :o

I believe someone said recently that good things are worth waiting for, and this update proves they were right. Port St Claire has become synonymous with stunning in-game photos ever since I first discovered your work. I especially like the bottom half of this newest shot. Separating the clumps of trees and allowing some weeds to grow in the empty spaces makes for a very realistic scene. And there's some more of that well-placed sand. I'll have to try and copy you. ;)

Really nice mosaic, Willy...
-Joan

That old dirt trail has some subtle bends and turns.  ???   ??? 

- Jim

Wow is that really SC4 !!!  :thumbsup:

Joan certainly hit the nail on the head when she said that good things are worth the wait. That scene is truly amazing!  :)


Ethan

Very impressive mosaic!  Love the amount of detail you have managed to jam into this area.

Robin

That's a really beautiful scenery! I wish I'd sit on that cart  &apls &apls &apls

Beautiful pictures. Who would have thought this would be possible ten years ago? Certainly not me.

I just can say amazing !!! Everything is perfect in your pictures, it's like looking at a painting, a work of art, everything fits perfectly.

Keep up the good work  :thumbsup:

Gorgeous as always, keeping you at number one on BTT this week.

There are no rewards for long stays at the top, but you'll get a special mention if you beat the current record. And you'll certainly be featuring in the year-end top 100.

The wetland with the beautiful autumn wood is a work of art!  :) I love the little way with the coach, very impressive and a great atmosphere.  :thumbsup:

Stunning views with the dirt path forging its way through the woodland around your open fertile plains. I hope this rural tranquility lasts a while longer!

Your work on the wetlands is awesome. What I love is that you use the not plopable water with an exelnt result &apls

The FAR path and the textures are fantastic too.

Oh, I think I'm a little late for this update... ::)

I love how you place the trees, none of them overlap and look like one is on top of the other one. That is something that i need to work on. :D And yeah, that water looks better than most ploppables waters. :P

Ooh, i can't wait for NAM 31!

Oh yeah, congrats on getting the picture into the HoF!

There's an insane amount of detail in there, very impressive. The dragable FAR is a massive breakthrough, and you've implemented it well here. It looks very natural. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Note: I've also retroactively added this to the previous update. I can't swim, I need structures to hold on to.

Don't worry about all that, it's a reminder of where we are and where we're going (someday).




There's obviously no city without people (or countryside, in our case), so from time to time there'll be a reference to certain somebodies. In this case, it would be fun to see where one of the more financially comfortable fellows is residing. Charles Dewitt was probably the wealthiest settler of the late 1790s and this little spot south of St Claire is where he put up his cabin.

You'll notice there's work to be done. Basically, it's just a wilderness surrounded by farms (his farms, of course). Let's hope he can soon hire a gardener, at least.

The next few updates will most likely zoom in and out hereabouts. There's some details in there you don't see in this one. You may notice there's one lapse here, which is the absence of a T21 mod for the FA2 & 3 tiles (coming soon).

So, I hope you have some bandwidth left. The full version is taken at zoom 5. (Note: I do not reimburse blown up browsers or image viewers.)

---

Quote from: MTT9What a great pic Willy! I do believe that FA-2 and memo's draggable FA roads will change the game quite a lot. I look foward to using them myself...

Thanks Matt! It's definitely a major change. I feel the grid has been dealt a final blow.

Quote from: GirafeGood job with the flora items  &apls &apls &apls

Thanks Antoine!

Quote from: vortextAs usual this is an excellent shot! Though imho the roadtexture is too narrow and clean cut, you may want to extend the shoulders a bit. Other than that I can only echo Girafe, the flora is just gorgeous!  &apls

I suppose I'd better listen to your texture advice! So, that's what I did. Tell me what you think of the current version. Thanks for commenting!

Quote from: noahclemA mosaic of tremendous beauty  &apls &apls &apls   All the details look perfect but it's even better to know what's going on below. Your texture modding is just beautiful and draggable FAR speaks for itself. How much T21ing is involved here? Just excellent  :o

Thanks Noah. Only one T21'd prop here: the cart. All trees were planted.

Quote from: JmouseI believe someone said recently that good things are worth waiting for, and this update proves they were right. Port St Claire has become synonymous with stunning in-game photos ever since I first discovered your work. I especially like the bottom half of this newest shot. Separating the clumps of trees and allowing some weeds to grow in the empty spaces makes for a very realistic scene. And there's some more of that well-placed sand. I'll have to try and copy you. ;)

Really nice mosaic, Willy...
-Joan

Thanks Joan. David once said a good mosaic gets better scrolling down. The bottom area is some of that marshland the region currently has a-plenty. The area around Barton is a bit drier, but the closer you get to the lake, the wetter it all gets. And you know what they say. . . copying is the biggest compliment.  :)

Quote from: jmyers2043That old dirt trail has some subtle bends and turns.  ???   ??? 

- Jim

Hey Jim, thanks. "Subtle bends" makes a nice title for this picture in the HoF, thank you.

Quote from: vesterWow is that really SC4 !!!  :thumbsup:

Of course it is, my friend, no tricks played here. It is not incredibly hard to achieve, just a bit of luck I think. Thanks for stopping by!

Quote from: ecobaJoan certainly hit the nail on the head when she said that good things are worth the wait. That scene is truly amazing!  :)


Ethan

Thanks Ethan. I think I needed some rest after that OSITM run. Glad to see you visiting again!

Quote from: rooker1Very impressive mosaic!  Love the amount of detail you have managed to jam into this area.

Robin

Thanks Robin, but that was just a warm up ;)   Hope you enjoy this scene as well.

Quote from: rambuckelThat's a really beautiful scenery! I wish I'd sit on that cart  &apls &apls &apls

Thanks Theresa. I'm sure if you ask politely, these folks will be happy to give you a ride ;)

Quote from: RickDBeautiful pictures. Who would have thought this would be possible ten years ago? Certainly not me.

Thanks Raphael. Ten years ago I was still playing SC3000 :D  (bad computer).

Quote from: kelisI just can say amazing !!! Everything is perfect in your pictures, it's like looking at a painting, a work of art, everything fits perfectly.

Keep up the good work  :thumbsup:

Thanks Jonathan, I'm glad you stopped by.

Quote from: benedictGorgeous as always, keeping you at number one on BTT this week.

There are no rewards for long stays at the top, but you'll get a special mention if you beat the current record. And you'll certainly be featuring in the year-end top 100.

Thanks Ben. I'm already looking forward to the next birthday month!

Quote from: DantesThe wetland with the beautiful autumn wood is a work of art!  :) I love the little way with the coach, very impressive and a great atmosphere.  :thumbsup:

Thanks my friend!

Quote from: wallaseyStunning views with the dirt path forging its way through the woodland around your open fertile plains. I hope this rural tranquility lasts a while longer!

Thanks buddy! Apparently, it will. I need to get all sorts of things sorted out before I can do some more "real" city building.

Quote from: KergelenYour work on the wetlands is awesome. What I love is that you use the not plopable water with an exelnt result &apls

The FAR path and the textures are fantastic too.

Thanks! Yes, I'm not a fan of ploppable water. Or better, I'm no good with it. That's why PSC is mostly flat (in the game at least).

Quote from: sunv123Oh, I think I'm a little late for this update... ::)

I love how you place the trees, none of them overlap and look like one is on top of the other one. That is something that i need to work on. :D And yeah, that water looks better than most ploppables waters. :P

Ooh, i can't wait for NAM 31!

Oh yeah, congrats on getting the picture into the HoF!

Thanks Victor. Don't worry, you're never late here; we've got all the time of the world. The overlapping issue depends on the model. The maples and birches have it very badly, the ashes and lindens much less. I do have to bulldoze now and then when it's too blatant. But if you look closely you'll see it's still there.

Quote from: apeguyThere's an insane amount of detail in there, very impressive. The dragable FAR is a massive breakthrough, and you've implemented it well here. It looks very natural. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Thanks Alex. I hope you can spend as much time with one of these as with ten smaller pictures.

---

Thanks for reading. I hope you had as much fun as those who didn't read.      &Thk/(


Cheers
Willy

Great work.  :thumbsup: I found the SC4D logo. ;D

Great pic once more Willy! Checking out the huge one is worth the waiting. Don't you forget, i'm still waiting to check out how those coasts and water colors turned out ;)

It's a real pleasure navigating around this monster admiring all the details. Call it "splashing MMPs around" or whatever all you want but you've got wetlands creation down perfectly. You've also done an unusually good job with your fauna. Details like boats and sheds, docks and tree stumps, as well as your new farming MMPs are pleasant additions, and of course your network retexturing with draggable FAR-2 is kind to the eyes. Keep up the great work  &apls

This is a beautiful photo, Willy. You do a wonderful job on your rural scenes. I really like the way you place your trees, too. They always look very realistic and not too crowded.

Even though the overall effect here is uncluttered, there are plenty of details to see. And there you go again using the sand very effectively. Unfortunately, I tend to end up packing in as much stuff as I can – it always seems like one thing leads to another and another and another.

Good job on this...
-Joan

Impressive Mozaik.  :o When I look at the picture of near-it's like I'm in the game.

Very, very impressive.  :thumbsup:  &apls &apls &apls

I have found your hidden message, awsome !  ()stsfd()

Outstanding  &apls

It is apparent that you take time to place each and every MMP - down to the last little weed.  Amazing details - bravo!

Unbelievably stunning - everything in the scene is perfect. The colours, water and flora are so detailed - just simply perfect! ;D

Outstanding mosaic   ::)

Your amazing attention to detail in that image has kept everyone interested in your MD. No surprise that you're number one again on BTT.

Congrats with another week at #1! Then again, it's not surprising giving your outstanding work!  &apls

The road texture seems about right to me, though I did notice minor flaws; stripes at the far T intersection (hope you understand what I mean) and the shoulder is uneven in the curves. But I'm nitpicking really because it looks great.  :thumbsup:

And what about maybe adding prop families to the T21s and/or different trees for different zones?! My two cents.  :)

That's such an awesome mosaic! There are so many details, like the birds in the swamps. I can hardly spot the grid. The only place, though, where you can see the grid is the edge of the farmfield. Perhaps some FAFs (Fractional Angled Farmfields) would help? Or maybe something like this (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=6976.msg345501#msg345501). Are those paths transit enabled?  It's always nice seeing some in-game pictures from you. :thumbsup:

-Matthijs

These swamps are one of the best things I ever seen in SimCity. Congratulations!  &apls

I can just second that. These swamps are awesome! And the transition from the lake to the swamps is brilliant! Very very beautiful!  &apls &apls &apls &apls

Hi Willy ,  :)

The use of Girafe's trees  ( instead of CP Trees from Vol01 notably ) and VIP Team's flora , has transcended your work . That said ,  it wouldn't have been  that much transcending without your impressive mastery for MMPs , sense of details and eagle eyes , qualities  we could see coming here since a long time . I spent long minutes studing that picture (full sizes) and , well , I love most of all how it's almost impossible to say where land stops , water starts ... and , with draggable FAR as icing on the cake ... that picture is simply breathtaking .

Finest landscaping work I have never seen ( mine included ) , have to say .

&apls &apls &apls &apls

Cédric.

Sneaking in an update between work shifts. . .


Hey, PSC is approaching 10,000 views. Our good friend David (dedgren) once argued how pageviews were more important than comments. However, views just don't say the words you all have been posting here over the past four months. You have my eternal gratitude for supporting PSC and furthering our little project here. A round of applause for you.



Of course, this project entails much more than just plopping scenes full of MMPs. It's just that I've been enjoying this aspect during the past couple of weeks and that I frankly haven't had the time to continue city building right away. I guess this is the downside of letting my perfectionist traits gain the upper hand.

However, if you want to enjoy some views on old American cities, you can always take a look here [linkie] (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=15519.0). These plates, like Matt (MTT9) rightly suggested in that thread, should give you a good idea where we are going. I am especially looking forward to what will be St Claire's "golden age" during the period between Civil War and Great Depression.

For now, though, we're staying 100% certified rural. These next images are upzoom (new word) snippets from the previous "monster" (thanks Noah) taken during fall season. Simple 1280 px images you can click to widen.



1.  We start at the mansion. Lotting trick by mrbisonm [linkie] (http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/4381-nexis-slayer-mansion/).
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FAVefEKx.jpg&hash=ba027354b4a85865e90339100dc94fbe0ac65971)


2.  You will realize I've been watching Bambi. Wonderful movie.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSOkTZ4m.jpg&hash=bc850fa58dffae88dc4281d6f51f982449c4cd1f)


3.  And who doesn't love birds?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5QniFSr.jpg&hash=de6b112ad46c745057c01b483bdeca2430d905ba)


4.  Introducing zoom level 7. Trick by Cédric (Badsim).
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FYNlaseF.jpg&hash=139c761f1e01291e2058cc064587b32302cfe4ce)


5.  You know our fisherman has featured in almost every update of this MD. I hope his kids will continue the trade when we move on through time.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fn5a6Vvq.jpg&hash=190f5566c8710234495d46dde784efa3b6f052e1)


6.  Don't you think these bushes grow in strange patterns and colors?
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSV37reY.jpg&hash=6b82f74946d1b0680d0b929300a27d6f18b02cdb)


7.  These pigs seem to enjoy the muddy marshland.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FPE6OmMV.jpg&hash=50beb20513138c7e26b46151baa11db94388f0cc)


8.  More Bambi.
(https://i.imgur.com/YQzcARa.jpg)


9.  Moving to the shore of that small lake.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FORvWce1.jpg&hash=da85301cf3adb8f8842352247abeae77863c7f50)


10.  Further down, a family of pigs and piglets.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FUFKsox6.jpg&hash=a9f0c86260bfd574be0ca3d9de76e7b8f6582849)


11.  Deer among tree stumps.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F4RwPb5p.jpg&hash=1d17202870fcbb19287e87d8daea72453d7dc1ce)


12.  More pigs.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FVzYdNMN.jpg&hash=102db9967a96a23ae7c824f47b50a78321b6814d)


13.  More pigs. . . er . . . no, this one's a different mammal.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FFpHGgms.jpg&hash=f5c7efc6f6b464fbcb130cec7ed7884d83cba0c8)


14.  Back to "civilization".
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FY9dYeN7.jpg&hash=fe039a8530be66008df913755094681e52385388)


15.  Finishing with a mosaic. Full zoom 6 version available HERE (https://www.dropbox.com/s/x8pqngzcw56m278/mosaic_1113_full.jpg?dl=0) (1920px - 3.3 MB).
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FiAKJstq.jpg&hash=35b9a483b69b32a94a16e56499ac49117bbd8358)

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Quote from: nbvcGreat work.  :thumbsup: I found the SC4D logo. ;D

Thanks! That was a test to check your attention ;)

Quote from: MTT9Great pic once more Willy! Checking out the huge one is worth the waiting. Don't you forget, i'm still waiting to check out how those coasts and water colors turned out ;)

Thanks Matt. I know, apologies for the delay. I haven't had the time to report back on that yet.

Quote from: noahclemIt's a real pleasure navigating around this monster admiring all the details. Call it "splashing MMPs around" or whatever all you want but you've got wetlands creation down perfectly. You've also done an unusually good job with your fauna. Details like boats and sheds, docks and tree stumps, as well as your new farming MMPs are pleasant additions, and of course your network retexturing with draggable FAR-2 is kind to the eyes. Keep up the great work  &apls

Monster, eh? I'll take it as a compliment ;)   Thanks Noah, but it's still "splashing". Now, help me get those MMPs out!

Quote from: JmouseThis is a beautiful photo, Willy. You do a wonderful job on your rural scenes. I really like the way you place your trees, too. They always look very realistic and not too crowded.

Even though the overall effect here is uncluttered, there are plenty of details to see. And there you go again using the sand very effectively. Unfortunately, I tend to end up packing in as much stuff as I can – it always seems like one thing leads to another and another and another.

Good job on this...
-Joan

Thanks Joan! I know exactly what you mean. Creating open spaces between the MMPs is challenging because planting them is so much fun. Practice makes perfect, though. On the sand, I just think it works surprisingly well with my terrain. Bit of an unintended but nonetheless welcome side-effect I guess.

Quote from: DantesImpressive Mozaik.  :o When I look at the picture of near-it's like I'm in the game.

Very, very impressive.  :thumbsup:  &apls &apls &apls

I have found your hidden message, awsome !  ()stsfd()

Thanks! Part of the reason why I wanted to make these big pictures is to convey what I see in the game directly into my MD.

Quote from: SimcougOutstanding  &apls

It is apparent that you take time to place each and every MMP - down to the last little weed.  Amazing details - bravo!

Thanks Matt! I wouldn't say I think very hard on where to place MMPs, but I do pay attention to the terrain and the overall composition. Sometimes I take a test shot of I want to show here and then decide which parts need sprucing up.

Quote from: sim_linkUnbelievably stunning - everything in the scene is perfect. The colours, water and flora are so detailed - just simply perfect! ;D

Thanks! I'm wary of the epithet "perfect". I think (and hope) there are many areas that I can do better on. But thanks nonetheless!

Quote from: GirafeOutstanding mosaic   ::)

Thanks Antoine! I like to think of it as a "mosarama" (mosaic + panorama) ;)

Quote from: benedictYour amazing attention to detail in that image has kept everyone interested in your MD. No surprise that you're number one again on BTT.

Thanks Ben! It's becoming a bit monotonous, isn't it? Let's hope someone can beat me this week.

Quote from: vortextCongrats with another week at #1! Then again, it's not surprising giving your outstanding work!  &apls

The road texture seems about right to me, though I did notice minor flaws; stripes at the far T intersection (hope you understand what I mean) and the shoulder is uneven in the curves. But I'm nitpicking really because it looks great.  :thumbsup:

And what about maybe adding prop families to the T21s and/or different trees for different zones?! My two cents.  :)

In the first take there were many flaws like that and I worked all of them out. In my last test I saw the T was still visible, but I thought "oh well, only Vortext will notice". Now what, am I good at predictions? ;D

The shoulders are meant to be uneven. They're not really shoulders but sort of muddy transitions to the grass side. I agree they can use another couple of touches, though.

On the T21s, I'd like to stick to the willows for farmlands, but everything else needs a bit of a second scrutiny indeed.

Thanks for your constructive comments once again fellow Brabander! ;)

Quote from: mave94That's such an awesome mosaic! There are so many details, like the birds in the swamps. I can hardly spot the grid. The only place, though, where you can see the grid is the edge of the farmfield. Perhaps some FAFs (Fractional Angled Farmfields) would help? Or maybe something like this (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=6976.msg345501#msg345501). Are those paths transit enabled?  It's always nice seeing some in-game pictures from you. :thumbsup:

-Matthijs

Thanks Matthijs! You're right about the edge of the fields, but like I mentioned they will be covered up by T21 modding there (like the diagonals). That solution used by Gordon is hardly applicable for me because all my farm fields are functional and grown, not plopped.

The "paths" aren't paths but re-textured roads (see OSITM update #1 (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=15156.msg441384#msg441384))  ;)

Quote from: Piterdaw1These swamps are one of the best things I ever seen in SimCity. Congratulations!  &apls

Thanks! I'm glad they stand out as swamps; probably means I've done my job.

Quote from: rambuckelI can just second that. These swamps are awesome! And the transition from the lake to the swamps is brilliant! Very very beautiful!  &apls &apls &apls &apls

Thanks Theresa; it's always good to see you visit!

Quote from: BadsimHi Willy ,  :)

The use of Girafe's trees  ( instead of CP Trees from Vol01 notably ) and VIP Team's flora , has transcended your work . That said ,  it wouldn't have been  that much transcending without your impressive mastery for MMPs , sense of details and eagle eyes , qualities  we could see coming here since a long time . I spent long minutes studing that picture (full sizes) and , well , I love most of all how it's almost impossible to say where land stops , water starts ... and , with draggable FAR as icing on the cake ... that picture is simply breathtaking .

Finest landscaping work I have never seen ( mine included ) , have to say .

&apls &apls &apls &apls

Cédric.

Wow Cédric, I'm very honored by these awesome compliments. None of this would have been possible without your pioneering work in AntigOne, so to hear you say this is really humbling. Thank you very much for stopping by!

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Take it easy folks!


Cheers
Willy

You are the master of MMP.

Amazing job with the landscapes and MMPs  ;)

Great pictures! It's clearly visible that all that MMPing was done with a large amount of passion and accuracy!  I love the colors although I'm really tired of that creepy weather outside ... about 5 - 8 °C, windy, rainy, muddy ... really nasty ;)

Great update Willy :) Can't believe i missed that SC4D logo when i checked that "monster".

The new mosaic is awesome. I can't wait to see what's next.

Very pleasant pictures. What is very well done is the smoothness transition between MMP and water/terrain textures &apls

The swans are MMP right? If so, the water must be very shallow. How do you do to get the water this way?
I guess with the smallest Mayor terraforming tool (ctrl+alt+1) and then flattering the terrain. Or another way?

At risk of offending an extremely talented player I may not remember off the top of my head (or the rest of the period since your last post) I'll go ahead and say you are without peer in your ability to create these types of rural and agricultural scenes. Just fantastic. I've gone ahead and filed your mosaic into the folder I have for exceptional SC4 stuff and look forward to returning to it in the future. And zoom 7?! It's beautiful--and in it's own way hilarious. I had to try the same thing out after I read your post and it's surprising what is possible. But it won't be me harassing the BATters to release ultra HD versions of their work  :D  Probably not anyway  $%Grinno$% 

I'll stop with superlatives and just repeat that I really like it. Super  &hlp

Delightful scenery! I love it!

The things you do with this game . . ..  I am always in awe.  every time I think I've seen the most realistic MD someone comes along and adds something fresh and exciting to the game.   thanks for doing such a good job at pushing the boundaries of realism in SC4!

Willy, these are some of the most magnificent in-game photos I have ever seen. My first reaction was that any one of them would be suitable for framing and hanging on the living room wall. Then it occurred to me that they actually look like quasi-realistic oil paintings that could grace the walls of a museum.

Every one of them is unique, yet they all fit together perfectly. And the vast amount of detailing defies belief. I'll be coming back to gaze in awe at these many more times.

Exceptional work, my NUTty friend... :)
-Joan

Congratulations - you're number one on BTT this week.

I don't think it is boring at all - each scene you have created is fascinating. I didn't notice the wild pigs the first time around, for example. They are my favorite!

What can I say? - - - Truly inspiring!

Another stunning update - and those plants really do grow in a fascinating pattern.  $%Grinno$% Very inspiring - you're definitely making me want to improve my skills with MMPing. :)

Perfect mix of your plant ！Just perfect ！  &apls   &apls   &apls

I think I got some inspiration here, thanks for sharing your work , Willy !  :thumbsup:

Oh, this is magnificent, Willy! :thumbsup:

I just love the animals there, especially Bambi. Oh, I love deers. ()stsfd()

Anyways, amazing work. The monster has grown quite fierce lately. :D Destroying what used to be "the limits" of Simcity 4.

PS: Thanks for the swans and the ducks. :)

Hi Willy

I don't expect that you have ever seen my MD but my favourite areas were rural. In this regard, I really like the work you are doing here. The use of farm buildings, your LE work, the use of available flora, fencing and other farm props, all nicely brought together to create some great farming and natural areas.

A pleasure to visit and I will be back.

Well done  &apls

Cheers

Dave

Every picture is art, art great-awesome art   :o
So good , so incredible  :P

Great work with all that MMPing.  The amount of realistic detail you have managed to add is mind blowing.  And it is a little strange the way your plants grow.....gave me a good chuckle, thanks.  But I like it all!!

Robin

Your rural scenes are always impressive Willy, great work ! :)

Where have the weeks gone?

Or better, the months. Let's take a look back at what happened here. So I started this MD when I thought my plugins setup was decent enough to keep growing and updating PSC at an acceptable tempo. Of course, that was all reckoned without people like our good friend Matt (MTT9).

Quote from: MTT9 on October 08, 2012, 01:12:58 PM
PS: Are those telegraph lines in 1.1?

Right. It made no sense to have historical development as a main theme and at the same time try to go the easy way and ignore inconsistencies. Feel free to go back to the first update and see if it looks anything like an 18th century town there. Maybe this would have been fine a couple years ago, but with people like Simcoug and Vortext going all-out creating historic environments, I couldn't stay behind.

So I started dabbling with custom lots. The results were mixed, which people like FrankU and Vortext rightly (and too friendly ;)) pointed out. Then came OSITM, where I realized I needed a sizeable number of updates to do it justice. In came a gazillion MMPs and some terrain mod sideshows. Easy tricks to circumvent the bigger problem that I still couldn't get around: lotting and the simulator.

Well, I decided to tackle that monster once and for all, or at least try to. It didn't hurt that Simcoug finally released his excellent lot pack [linkie] (http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/28426-simcougs-old-r-neighborhoods/). This gave me a good basis in addition to the lots I already had. I messed around in the lot editor and reader to get my way and have them grow where and when I wanted. Right now there are around 200 R$ lots in my plugins, all stages one through four. Of course I'm not Vortext, who controls his lots through telekinesis, but I can say this is the first time I'm relatively satisfied with R$ development.

Note that most of the credit for these lots should go to Simcoug. I only multiplied them by cutting them up, rotating, adding a shack, removing some, etc. Moreover, I brought along Badsim's technique of MMPing on lots to bring some additional variety.

So, after reading all of your kind and generous comments, especially the frequent use of the word "rural", I'm happy to return PSC to the urban stage. After all, this MD is supposed to revolve around a city.

That city in our case is still Barton. At the eve of the 19th century it counted almost 5,000 souls, which put it in the top 25 of largest American cities. Most of this growth was the result of the opening up of agricultural lands in the fertile Thunder valley. But since this is already way too much text, we'll go into details next update.

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Quote from: eugenelaveryYou are the master of MMP.

Thanks Eugene. If I am, then MMPs are not so hard to master. And welcome to PSC!

Quote from: GirafeAmazing job with the landscapes and MMPs  ;)

Thanks Antoine. Once more your models are a key part of this update.

Quote from: rambuckelGreat pictures! It's clearly visible that all that MMPing was done with a large amount of passion and accuracy!  I love the colors although I'm really tired of that creepy weather outside ... about 5 - 8 °C, windy, rainy, muddy ... really nasty ;)

Thanks Theresa. Passion, sure. Accuracy, usually not.  Lots of mistakes and then cover-ups that end up like it was all mean to be that way :D  Appearances is everything. Oh, and here are some spring/summer colors for you ;)

Quote from: MTT9Great update Willy :) Can't believe i missed that SC4D logo when i checked that "monster".

The new mosaic is awesome. I can't wait to see what's next.

Thanks Matt. Sorry you had to wait so long :(

Quote from: KergelenVery pleasant pictures. What is very well done is the smoothness transition between MMP and water/terrain textures &apls

The swans are MMP right? If so, the water must be very shallow. How do you do to get the water this way?
I guess with the smallest Mayor terraforming tool (ctrl+alt+1) and then flattering the terrain. Or another way?

Thanks! I worked quite a bit to get the water right for this setting. The swans are MMPs and the water is indeed very shallow, made with the god mode terrain tools. Come to think of it, I once made a mod to alter the terrain brushes to always use softer pressure. So I don't have to set the strength manually anymore.

Quote from: noahclemAt risk of offending an extremely talented player I may not remember off the top of my head (or the rest of the period since your last post) I'll go ahead and say you are without peer in your ability to create these types of rural and agricultural scenes. Just fantastic. I've gone ahead and filed your mosaic into the folder I have for exceptional SC4 stuff and look forward to returning to it in the future. And zoom 7?! It's beautiful--and in it's own way hilarious. I had to try the same thing out after I read your post and it's surprising what is possible. But it won't be me harassing the BATters to release ultra HD versions of their work  :D  Probably not anyway  $%Grinno$% 

I'll stop with superlatives and just repeat that I really like it. Super  &hlp

Thanks Noah. Without peer :D  I don't think you can compare players and call one or the other the best. We're all different in our own spheres, and I've been trying to define my own. Having a picture go into that legendary folder of yours is a great compliment for anyone. From what I've heard it's in great company there ;D

The zoom 7 was just something fancy that I thought fitted the detail of the scenes. Whatever other zoom levels have sprouted since then are more jokes and experiments than anything else ;)

Quote from: SchulmanatorDelightful scenery! I love it!

Thanks Bruce! Good to see ya.

Quote from: eldaldoThe things you do with this game . . ..  I am always in awe.  every time I think I've seen the most realistic MD someone comes along and adds something fresh and exciting to the game.   thanks for doing such a good job at pushing the boundaries of realism in SC4!

Thanks! I hope I'm doing something original, although I haven't deliberately tried to make it ground-breaking either. I don't think it is, actually; it's just building on what others have done before me (Badsim, Ennedi, Dedgren,. . .  ). I realize all this may be a little overwhelming to someone with little MMP experience, but in the end it's not the greatly different thing that people seem to suggest at times. As you can see in the first few updates, I've only started using MMPs after I started this MD, so it can't be that hard.

Quote from: JmouseWilly, these are some of the most magnificent in-game photos I have ever seen. My first reaction was that any one of them would be suitable for framing and hanging on the living room wall. Then it occurred to me that they actually look like quasi-realistic oil paintings that could grace the walls of a museum.

Every one of them is unique, yet they all fit together perfectly. And the vast amount of detailing defies belief. I'll be coming back to gaze in awe at these many more times.

Exceptional work, my NUTty friend... :)
-Joan

Thank you Joan. These are some serious compliments, maybe these should be framed instead of the pictures ;)  I hope you can get the same joy out of today's picture.

Quote from: benedictCongratulations - you're number one on BTT this week.

I don't think it is boring at all - each scene you have created is fascinating. I didn't notice the wild pigs the first time around, for example. They are my favorite!

Thanks Ben. I think I could show these pictures a couple times over in each rotation and maybe you'd find something new each time. But that would be cheap, eh? So here's a totally new scene.

Quote from: TandiniWhat can I say? - - - Truly inspiring!

Thanks, and welcome! What can you say? That apparently we inspire each other ;)

Quote from: sim_linkAnother stunning update - and those plants really do grow in a fascinating pattern.  $%Grinno$% Very inspiring - you're definitely making me want to improve my skills with MMPing. :)

Thanks! MMPing itself is easy; it's getting the best plugins that's challenging. I've changed and added to the existing sets in quite extensive ways over the past few weeks.

Quote from: Mr.LinPerfect mix of your plant !Just perfect !  &apls   &apls   &apls

I think I got some inspiration here, thanks for sharing your work , Willy !  :thumbsup:

Thanks, and welcome too! Your OSITM run is awesome!

Quote from: sunv123Oh, this is magnificent, Willy! :thumbsup:

I just love the animals there, especially Bambi. Oh, I love deers. ()stsfd()

Anyways, amazing work. The monster has grown quite fierce lately. :D Destroying what used to be "the limits" of Simcity 4.

PS: Thanks for the swans and the ducks. :)

Thanks Victor! This was all before Xannepan released his er. . . zoo. . . , so animals will continue to feature more than ever.

Quote from: tooheysHi Willy

I don't expect that you have ever seen my MD but my favourite areas were rural. In this regard, I really like the work you are doing here. The use of farm buildings, your LE work, the use of available flora, fencing and other farm props, all nicely brought together to create some great farming and natural areas.

A pleasure to visit and I will be back.

Well done  &apls

Cheers

Dave

Hello Dave, thanks and welcome! Like I've said, you're quite wrong if you think I don't know your MD ;)  Though I admit it's been a while since my last visit. Nevertheless, there are quite a few older MDs I draw inspiration from, especially when it comes to rural development. And please do come back.

Quote from: DantesEvery picture is art, art great-awesome art   :o
So good , so incredible  :P

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. (Sorry no rail lines yet.)

Quote from: rooker1Great work with all that MMPing.  The amount of realistic detail you have managed to add is mind blowing.  And it is a little strange the way your plants grow.....gave me a good chuckle, thanks.  But I like it all!!

Robin

Thanks Robin! I hope you get some ideas here, though it probably won't be as many as I got out of Mind Scape ;)

Quote from: Ol.S / BenoitYour rural scenes are always impressive Willy, great work ! :)

Thanks Benoit! Glad to see you return here, and to get such a nice compliment as well ;)

---

Have a great time, you all.


Cheers
Willy

Needless to say, but that is a MASSIVE mosaic indeed. I seriously wonder how much of the enormous amount of detail is 'hand made', and what is generated by the (astonishingly tweaked) simulator. But of course, I understand if that may remain secret forever ;) Great work!

QuoteI hope at this point that you have a browser that allows dragging images around. I know Firefox doesn't, which is also why I don't use it.

Holding the middle mouse wheel in Firefox allows you 'fly' through the image, which may ease the pain. It is not an ideal solution, however...

Just stunning! &apls

I spend at least five minutes looking at the big mosaic. I love all the details like the small patch of forest with wild boars, the T21ing, and the position of the church, town hall, and commercial street. Great MMPing and atmosphere as usual.

Oh, great town shot! :thumbsup: It's sorta awkward that you have done so well with the lots, when I have been experimenting with them since the minute it came out. (yes, i do refresh the stex quite often.) and still not have gotten as good as you have in that pic. Just got to keep on going, I think. ::)

Even though it's great to see more urban shots, I liked the rural updates a little more. Not saying that this one is any bad, I can still see some good MMP work going on throughout the city.(or town) The rural shots tend to give more "surprises, but the urban ones doesn't feel like everything is all alone. They both have their ups and downs.

Anyways, (sorta got into a mini rambling ::) ) love the mosaic, Willy, it's like you're in an airplane errr, hawk. ::)

lol, I searched up Thunder valley and got the homepage for a casino in California... ?=mad)=

19th century has gottten into me right now, don't know why... I just finished downloading a crap ton of SimCoug's MMPs. $%#Ninj2

So awesome! The first thing i did was open that masive mosaic and the one from your second update to compare the area. I remember back then, i was a bit scared that you might move foward in time way to quickly, guess i was wrong for good  :D.

The pics are great as always, espacially around the church. I can already imagine development through time, with those open areas turning into plazas.

The only thing i would be carefull about, are those umbrellas that appear in some lots. I'm not sure if they existed back then, but maybe i'm wrong...

Looking foward to whatever you have in mind ;)

Very nice! You have been busy working under the hood and made all sorts of great new things for us, Nice indeed! :D

Not really my style, but I do I can tell you have done it very well.  I like how c.p.'s LOTs fit right in with your dirt roads.  I especially like the the church LOT, great work on MMPs and I love the horse carriages.

Robin

Wow,  holy cow that is impressive.  You just keep outdoing yourself.  I have to ask, where are the carriages from?  I have been looking for something like this for a long time.  people seem to do tons of old fashioned buildings but old fashioned cars trains and ferries are hard to find.

I have studied your impressive mosaic and haven't found any real flaws.*  :satisfied: I am not so sure about the colorful umbrellas and the blue plastic barrels but this is real hardcore nitpicking.  :P




*not that I am in any way an 18th century expert  ::)

Great work Willy!  I especially like the town square and market, as well as your use of JBsimio/Spa BATs for the town center.  I'll take full blame for the umbrellas - the variety of 19th century props is pretty sparse, and I felt the lots needed a little sprucing up :)  I'm excited to see how this town grows up  :thumbsup:

You folks have obviously never read Robinson Crusoe, who made his own umbrella. Published in 1719 if you didn't know.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftrinities.org%2Fblog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Frobinson-crusoe1.jpg&hash=b256f5ab4fbb663b958355b6c903cfd9bb88fd17)


There's no blame to be taken Matt, the old times were not all dreary and bleak as some apparently want them to be.


Cheers
Willy

Really nice work, I love it ! :)

wow! nice work, willy! I am quite curious how this town will develop into a modern 21st century city.

Great pictures again, Willy!!!!  &apls I just read a story which played about the time you show with your pictures and your pictures really match the imagination I had while reading. And it's really similar to Tom Sawyer's time! I love that story so I have pictures of that little redhead in my mind letting his friends paint the white fence.

Thanks so much for these moments of most welcome memory!

Looking good there Willy!  :thumbsup:

The streets are so lively, makes me want to go back to streetside t21ing.  %wrd 

As for telekinesis, you forgot to mention the magical unicorn  (http://cdnimg.visualizeus.com/thumbs/89/59/real,humor,fun,perspective-89599651a3f0bdef6dec812b46eaa518_h.jpg)which actually does most of the work.  $%Grinno$%

Keep it up!

Wow - that overview is awesome! Every time I stop by here the quality is sublime. Nice work, Willy!  :thumbsup:

Hi Willy ,

Like Robin , not my favorite subject .... but I'm once more amazed by the sweep and precision of your work ...  &cry2



&apls &apls &apls &apls

Cédric.

Another amazing batch of photos, Willy. The first one is especially appealing to me because of the church. I never would have thought of putting that somewhat elaborate model in such a rural kind of setting. It looks great there, though.

Main Street is charming, and I love the covered wagons. The Town Hall and Post Office scene is laid out to perfection, and once again, the level of detail you include without making the scene look cluttered is astounding. I can only imagine how much work was – and is - involved here.

-Joan

Lovely work Willy  &apls  You're work with the lotting has really paid off and I love the period automata (or T21 props, not sure which). I can certainly see the amount of time that went into the update! I think the most special thing about this update is how unique it is in it's age and quality and for that I'd not shy away from calling it groundbreaking. The large-scale pictures, particularly the big one, make for great presentation and I can confirm that the big one made it's way into my aforementioned folder several days ago ;)  Long live PSC  /&HiPP/%

Apparently, this is the end of my MD, folks. I was going to take some snapshots today, but when I tried to load my city I got this message.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F7kVt9uW.jpg&hash=5ce90ec67eef908a66067b03a0c0dc9a3fd00292)

---

Okay, that's about all I'm gonna say about the new game. Move along. . .


Couple more snapshots from Barton. No one dare mention umbrellas or I'll . . . . . . . remove them okay.


1.  So they have a pier, yes. Does not qualify as port, though, so it's not gonna be Port Barton any time soon.
Widescreen version (http://i.imgur.com/GBwbiAf.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQsp23Ib.jpg&hash=4f8c6aca0a3cf752cea0b9ee44473d49e2056ee4)


2.  Notice these rocks? VIP material, but I modded the MMP so that it stops clustering into the big rocks. That way you can just paint some small rocks without being scared of ending up with those giant pebbles. I'll see if I can release something for those interested.
Widescreen version (http://i.imgur.com/ry5O8tW.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIvmBwg5.jpg&hash=512ed9d8ff45219331fe9ecba5f5326a5f152c0f)


3.  Makes these shores a lot easier. So you don't go thinking I spend hours on them – I didn't.
Widescreen version (http://i.imgur.com/5W5E5e4.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FPEJ95on.jpg&hash=b25f6edb5dd2836a0f41959e38c59534db16f58d)


4.  Maybe you also wonder what's up with them Girafe bushes? Well, there's two sizes. The normal ones and a second set of resized bushes. Side by side, pretty neat I'd say.
Widescreen version (http://i.imgur.com/oFZHtpo.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FC8YYhZ3.jpg&hash=999fc9c88985810e5cb456a374ec6edd53bc814f)


5.  Okay, I'll admit those purple umbrellas are probably out of style here.
Widescreen version (http://i.imgur.com/TglrNED.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F3EjxDpZ.jpg&hash=ca8f38d2a73061d518d7dae3372281ddf0f59e71)


6.  Cattails have been resized, too. . .
Widescreen version (http://i.imgur.com/o4znDTO.jpg)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5ecRKYS.jpg&hash=5f24a1ae4b618aff7f7a590eb6debf8e46ce32a5)

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Quote from: EarwhyckqueNeedless to say, but that is a MASSIVE mosaic indeed. I seriously wonder how much of the enormous amount of detail is 'hand made', and what is generated by the (astonishingly tweaked) simulator. But of course, I understand if that may remain secret forever ;) Great work!

QuoteI hope at this point that you have a browser that allows dragging images around. I know Firefox doesn't, which is also why I don't use it.

Holding the middle mouse wheel in Firefox allows you 'fly' through the image, which may ease the pain. It is not an ideal solution, however...

Hello, and welcome! Thanks for visiting. Yes, it's massive, but so is my ego :D  What I've always wanted to do is transfer what I see in the game to your screen. These monster mosaics do it quite well, but I won't overload everyone's bandwith every update – I'll make do with small pictures mostly. You wouldn't want to know how much time it takes to stitch together 35 images.

There are no hidden wonders in PSC, it's just lots + MMPs. Most of the trees and all carts are MMPed on the lots. What I wrestled with was getting growth stages right, but you may not see anything of that in the pictures. It's only obvious to me when the simulator runs.

I tried that middle mouse in FF, but it's cumbersome. I still don't like that browser. Thanks for the tip, though.

Quote from: KergelenJust stunning! &apls

I spend at least five minutes looking at the big mosaic. I love all the details like the small patch of forest with wild boars, the T21ing, and the position of the church, town hall, and commercial street. Great MMPing and atmosphere as usual.

Thanks Kergelen, good to have you here again. I hope the atmosphere is about right. I see some people don't like the umbrellas :D

Quote from: sunv123Oh, great town shot! :thumbsup: It's sorta awkward that you have done so well with the lots, when I have been experimenting with them since the minute it came out. (yes, i do refresh the stex quite often.) and still not have gotten as good as you have in that pic. Just got to keep on going, I think. ::)

Even though it's great to see more urban shots, I liked the rural updates a little more. Not saying that this one is any bad, I can still see some good MMP work going on throughout the city.(or town) The rural shots tend to give more "surprises, but the urban ones doesn't feel like everything is all alone. They both have their ups and downs.

Anyways, (sorta got into a mini rambling ::) ) love the mosaic, Willy, it's like you're in an airplane errr, hawk. ::)

lol, I searched up Thunder valley and got the homepage for a casino in California... ?=mad)=

19th century has gottten into me right now, don't know why... I just finished downloading a crap ton of SimCoug's MMPs. $%#Ninj2

Yes, rambling indeed. But if anywhere, this is the place to do it my friend – I hope you keep rambling on. I have to admit the lots have changed considerably. So it would be unfair to directly compare. Like I said I made around 200 lots out of the pack.

Sorry to hear about the rural preference. PSC is definitely an urban area – it's just very early in its history. But it'll get better, I hope, through time. To make sure you don't run away I stuck some trees in today's pictures ;)

Thanks as well for reminding me that people may not always follow what I'm rambling about myself. The Thunder valley is decidedly not in California (https://i.imgur.com/GJQ8jRg.jpg). I'll try to get to mapping in the coming months.

Quote from: MTT9So awesome! The first thing i did was open that masive mosaic and the one from your second update to compare the area. I remember back then, i was a bit scared that you might move foward in time way to quickly, guess i was wrong for good  :D.

The pics are great as always, espacially around the church. I can already imagine development through time, with those open areas turning into plazas.

The only thing i would be carefull about, are those umbrellas that appear in some lots. I'm not sure if they existed back then, but maybe i'm wrong...

Looking foward to whatever you have in mind ;)

Aha, at least someone who remembers where we started ;D  Testimony to your consistent commenting here – this was your 25th comment in PSC. I owe you something!

Quote from: SchulmanatorVery nice! You have been busy working under the hood and made all sorts of great new things for us, Nice indeed! :D

Thanks Bruce. I'm gonna stay under the hood for a little longer. . . you'd be surprised at all that's brewing there.

Quote from: rooker1Not really my style, but I do I can tell you have done it very well.  I like how c.p.'s LOTs fit right in with your dirt roads.  I especially like the the church LOT, great work on MMPs and I love the horse carriages.

Robin

Not your style, not your style. . . you better make it your style cause we'll be stuck in the horse-cart era for a couple dozen more updates. ;)   But I'm happy you commented Robin, and please speak your mind as often as you want. (We'll get some industrials going once the railroads come rolling in.)

Quote from: eldaldoWow,  holy cow that is impressive.  You just keep outdoing yourself.  I have to ask, where are the carriages from?  I have been looking for something like this for a long time.  people seem to do tons of old fashioned buildings but old fashioned cars trains and ferries are hard to find.

Thanks eldaldo. The carriages are props in RT mega prop packs 1 and 2. You're right about the lack of old vehicles. I'll need to find a way around that before too long.

Quote from: RickDI have studied your impressive mosaic and haven't found any real flaws.*  :satisfied: I am not so sure about the colorful umbrellas and the blue plastic barrels but this is real hardcore nitpicking.  :P

*not that I am in any way an 18th century expert  ::)

Raphael, hardcore nitpicking makes us proud here. There can never be enough attention to detail. However, I won't remove the umbrellas :P  I have removed hundreds of props and added hundreds of others. We had plastic swings, chalk outlines, bicycles, paper-roll trees, and dozens more all over the place. If these two are the only ones that remain, I'm a happy man!

. . .

Okay, I'll give in. I was gonna break out the bulldozer anyway cause there's some other things I'm not happy about. Perfection is expensive. I'll take some more pictures first, though.

Quote from: SimcougGreat work Willy!  I especially like the town square and market, as well as your use of JBsimio/Spa BATs for the town center.  I'll take full blame for the umbrellas - the variety of 19th century props is pretty sparse, and I felt the lots needed a little sprucing up :)  I'm excited to see how this town grows up  :thumbsup:

Thanks Matt, your approval counts as something here. I'll give it away before the excitement kills you: Barton will be the first railroad center in the region.

Okay, you probably would have expected that already :D

Quote from: SwordmasterYou folks have obviously never read Robinson Crusoe, who made his own umbrella. Published in 1719 if you didn't know.

There's no blame to be taken Matt, the old times were not all dreary and bleak as some apparently want them to be.

Cheers
Willy

Hey Willy, thanks for commenting.

Wait a minute, I know you. . . &Thk/(

Quote from: Ol.S / BenoitReally nice work, I love it ! :)

Thanks Benoit!

Quote from: The Last Citybuilderwow! nice work, willy! I am quite curious how this town will develop into a modern 21st century city.

Hello Quinten, good to see you here. Welcome and thanks for commenting.

Hope I won't disappoint you if I say PSC won't reach the 21st century. I have fixed the end date on the year 2000. And I don't even expect to reach that anytime soon ;)  However, I'll try to speed up into more interesting times ASAP, for my own health.

Quote from: rambuckelGreat pictures again, Willy!!!!  &apls I just read a story which played about the time you show with your pictures and your pictures really match the imagination I had while reading. And it's really similar to Tom Sawyer's time! I love that story so I have pictures of that little redhead in my mind letting his friends paint the white fence.

Thanks so much for these moments of most welcome memory!

Thanks Theresa, good to see you, I mean read you :P  I read Mark Twain when I was a kid and I think it stuck. Our Mississippi has a different name, is all. I'm not good at thinking up stories, though, so I'll leave it to your imagination.

Quote from: vortextLooking good there Willy!  :thumbsup:

The streets are so lively, makes me want to go back to streetside t21ing.  %wrd 

As for telekinesis, you forgot to mention the magical unicorn  (http://cdnimg.visualizeus.com/thumbs/89/59/real,humor,fun,perspective-89599651a3f0bdef6dec812b46eaa518_h.jpg)which actually does most of the work.  $%Grinno$%

Keep it up!

Thank you sir, I hope it all doesn't look too amateurish. I did have on trick up my T21ing sleeve, though. Instead of making a ton of exemplars with "empty" spaces to alternate with the occupied ones, I made a couple prop families for those carts with a large number of blank props in them. So actually, almost every tile has a T21 prop on it, but they're mostly blank ;)

Quote from: sim_linkWow - that overview is awesome! Every time I stop by here the quality is sublime. Nice work, Willy!  :thumbsup:

Thanks! I do my best to do something nice here each time.

Quote from: BadsimHi Willy ,

Like Robin , not my favorite subject .... but I'm once more amazed by the sweep and precision of your work ...  &cry2



&apls &apls &apls &apls

Cédric.

Okay, I accept this from you. But I hope you won't stay away because of it ;)  Mediterranean landscapes are also not my style, but I thoroughly enjoy it when you do it. Thanks for visiting again!

Quote from: JmouseAnother amazing batch of photos, Willy. The first one is especially appealing to me because of the church. I never would have thought of putting that somewhat elaborate model in such a rural kind of setting. It looks great there, though.

Main Street is charming, and I love the covered wagons. The Town Hall and Post Office scene is laid out to perfection, and once again, the level of detail you include without making the scene look cluttered is astounding. I can only imagine how much work was – and is - involved here.

-Joan

Thanks Joan, I somehow thought you would like that church. I'll have some more pics of it soon but I need to do some things around it first. As for the effort, there was actually less work involved with those areas you would probably most suspect it from. It's an MD'ers aphorism that those things you spent most time on get the least attention, and vice versa. Although I suspect it doesn't really apply here cause folks like you have been very generous in their comments.

Quote from: noahclemLovely work Willy  &apls  You're work with the lotting has really paid off and I love the period automata (or T21 props, not sure which). I can certainly see the amount of time that went into the update! I think the most special thing about this update is how unique it is in it's age and quality and for that I'd not shy away from calling it groundbreaking. The large-scale pictures, particularly the big one, make for great presentation and I can confirm that the big one made it's way into my aforementioned folder several days ago ;)  Long live PSC  /&HiPP/%

Hello Mr. Clem, thank you sir. Props it is – automata are true 3D models, remember? Thanks for these great compliments. I'll not make too many "groundbreaking" big pictures or you'd need a new hard drive :D

Whether PSC lives long or not will depend on the work you and I and maybe some other folks are facing in the coming months. You know what I mean. . . ;) (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=15223.0)

---

I'll be back ASAP.


Cheers
Willy

 :o

Oh, Willy!  You scared the daylights out of me with the update title and the first pic, until I realized what they were about. ( ::) )

It's not always how long it takes to build something that counts.  The shores look very good even if it took you no time at all.  :)  The old-timey flavor of this update, with its horses and buggies, is quite pleasing in a game that is perhaps better known for skyscraper forests.  The dirt roads and the inclusion of plenty of diagonals creates a more natural feel, too.  What really makes this area stand out to me, though, are the umbrellas houses.  I haven't gotten a chance to use these homes much yet, but they look so much better in this type of setting than the Maxis ones.

Good job!  :thumbsup:

Don't you go around scaring us like that.

Same here. When I saw that title I was like "what.... :angrymore:" ;) Eh, but it was okay when I saw the SC2013 pop-up. Moving on. ::)

Wonderful idea you had with the VIP rocks, beats being scared to over-click when making clusters of pebbles. Just for that reason do I use nbvc's rock clusters a little more. (the small rocks, of course.) And also a very neat idea with re-sizing the bushes. I may as well re-size a few MMPs myself....(with your tutorial. ::))

Yes, those umbrellas... I took a look at a 19th century one and seems like there are strands of some thread (silk?) coming off the edges. Other than that, they are a lot smaller than the ones in those LOTs. And the purple one doesn't seem that bad concerning the fact that many things were a purple/maroon color.

Still a very nice job Willy! I'm glad that you added trees. :)

Now, those rocks look nice. I think you should release them. Not too many mossy rock clusters out there. (take your time, of course.)

(Whoa that was big...)

Naughty! It's too early for April Fool's!!!


Now that I have recovered... another round of fine pix. SC4>SC2013!

Well that was scary! After so many great CJs and MDs gone, i was already getting sad... but the joke's on EA for not listening to the players ;)

Your update is great as usual. The whole MMP's thing is still a mistery to me, but you have already mastered it :)

And those comments are just thanks to the many great updates (I think i missed one though...). Keep'em coming!

Hehe, classy opening there Willy. ;D

Though I do feel kinda sorry for the Maxis' devs with the negative press attention upon release. Then again, it's not like this wasn't predictable and I've to admit feeling a little schadenfreude as well. Let's just hope in about a decade from now, when EA has released an offline patch and there're some modding tools available, it'll be a decent game after all. . 

For now, well, I guess your MD just goes to show why SC4 still is the flagship title and probably will be for some time to come!  :thumbsup:

Quote from: Swordmaster on March 09, 2013, 01:22:30 PM
Instead of making a ton of exemplars with "empty" spaces to alternate with the occupied ones, I made a couple prop families for those carts with a large number of blank props in them. So actually, almost every tile has a T21 prop on it, but they're mostly blank

Another trick to add to your arsenal; convert to RKT4, add 'prop time of day' (value 0,24) and then add 'prop random chance' to the examplers. This allows greater control over the rate of occurrence for each individual prop and it completely eliminates the need for blank examplers.  ;)

I LOVE those shorelines! They're very well done.

Nice idea to resize Girafe's bushes and cattails. The result is impressive.

Honestly, if you didn't mentioned the umbrella, i would have never seen them. :D

Hey, I like those umbr... oh, never mind.  $%Grinno$%

Lovely pictures Willy  &apls  As I know first hand, your model-tweaking works wonders and I very much enjoy the resized bushes and cattails. The lot MMPing gives a unique and excellent character as well as I'm sure I've said before.

Oh, and good one on pic 1  :D

As my heart just sank into my boots when I read the headline, I was really relieved to see your new brilliant Tom-Sawyer-revival-creations!  &apls &apls &apls

Beautiful pictures, and great early April fools joke.  Poor EA  ::)

I really like how you perfected this theme  :thumbsup:. Maybe I'm a bit late with saying this, but that main street picture looks really great.

Cool pictures man :thumbsup:
Your comment for the new Simcity is awesome :D

Train Man, you are in a heap of trouble for scaring me like that. I was chatting with vester when I first saw it, and he can tell you I just about lost it until I realized  what was going on.

I would be very interested in trying out those rocks if I ever have enough time to even open the game. Mmmm...carnival-colored bumbershoots. I continue to be fascinated by the old-fashioned atmosphere you create. Every detail is perfectly crafted, and everything compliments the rest of the elements. I don't have a favorite photo this time because I like all of them, albeit for somewhat different reasons. And I'm not sure if I've asked you before, but what water mod are you using? Also, what shadow setting are you using?

Another great update – it seems like you've thought of everything, including a clothesline. Electric clothes dryers were scarcely heard of in the late 19th century... :D
-Joan

I love the forced perspective along man street!  The church is framed really well by the W2W buildings and their lack of setback.  Personally, I would have placed the church on a higher plane to really reinforce the "looking up to God" feeling.  I really admire your work and those MMP's are to die for!!! &apls

As always your meticulous attention to detail is very impressive.

And welcome back to the top slot on BTT this week.

Edit: And congratulations on a 2nd week at number one (March 23)

Whooo - - - The End . . .    :'(
You don't even think about it - please!  $%Grinno$%

---

I really like your rural scenes! Well done shoreline.  :thumbsup:


(I too would be very interested in your modded MMP's - would add more variety to my 'paintings'...)

Quote from: Tandini on March 17, 2013, 05:45:58 PM
Whooo - - - The End . . .    :'(
You don't even think about it - please!  $%Grinno$%

That was my first reaction as well.
Try to read his post again.


Amazing work as always, Willy. Keep it up.
Still looking forward for some big cityscape.  ;)

Quote from: vester on March 17, 2013, 06:19:09 PM

Quote from: Tandini on March 17, 2013, 05:45:58 PM
Whooo - - - The End . . .    :'(
You don't even think about it - please!  $%Grinno$%

You do make backups don't you?

Great work on the umbrellas! sorry, never can resist to make stupid jokes

But maily on the other props, of course. And indeed Vortex's advice on RKT4 is very useful. I have played with it too. Take a look at my upload here (http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/26500-franku-dutch-ditches/) for a functional example.

I think I vexed myself playing this joke. Time to get this "the end" off the title, lest you all start thinking it's true. Lesson learnt: don't joke about the end of your MD, it might just happen. (Not really true of course, PSC is immortal, just like me.)

So, what lousy explanation do I have for this overly protacted break? Couple things: I had an exam late last March to keep my licence to drive trains put my feet up in the big man's cab. It briefly felt like high school again, although this one was probably more arbitrarily graded ::)

After that two cheap thugs came around and coerced me into working on the NORO project (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=15529.0). Kidding! – they're not cheap at all.

And finally there's a rather interesting project I've been working on periodically. (Hint: it's not the train, and not the terrain either.)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FR09VD3d.jpg&hash=b0848309cc00d0474d1c44c46f8e132e244b1452)

HA! (First rail pic in this MD Willy? On page 17, really?? Oh shut up.)

But this is still PSC, so I'm contractually obliged to show relevant pictures here. And while I haven't spent any time furthering the cause of this great city, I did cobble up this little scene just for today.

Click to see all.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FisGSOp6.jpg&hash=23c6a8c53cc23f61f28970be065c096e5cc4f954) (http://i.imgur.com/07OHPtn.jpg)

---

Quote from: metarvo:o

Oh, Willy!  You scared the daylights out of me with the update title and the first pic, until I realized what they were about. ( ::) )

It's not always how long it takes to build something that counts.  The shores look very good even if it took you no time at all.  :)  The old-timey flavor of this update, with its horses and buggies, is quite pleasing in a game that is perhaps better known for skyscraper forests.  The dirt roads and the inclusion of plenty of diagonals creates a more natural feel, too.  What really makes this area stand out to me, though, are the umbrellas houses.  I haven't gotten a chance to use these homes much yet, but they look so much better in this type of setting than the Maxis ones.

Good job!  :thumbsup:

Thanks Metarvo. The skyscraper forests are slated to start appearing from update 3.513 onwards. According to my schedule I'll publish that one a couple days before the sun explodes in the year 715,652.

Glad you liked the various aspects of this update, though ;)

Quote from: sunv123Don't you go around scaring us like that.

Same here. When I saw that title I was like "what.... :angrymore:" ;) Eh, but it was okay when I saw the SC2013 pop-up. Moving on. ::)

Wonderful idea you had with the VIP rocks, beats being scared to over-click when making clusters of pebbles. Just for that reason do I use nbvc's rock clusters a little more. (the small rocks, of course.) And also a very neat idea with re-sizing the bushes. I may as well re-size a few MMPs myself....(with your tutorial. ::))

Yes, those umbrellas... I took a look at a 19th century one and seems like there are strands of some thread (silk?) coming off the edges. Other than that, they are a lot smaller than the ones in those LOTs. And the purple one doesn't seem that bad concerning the fact that many things were a purple/maroon color.

Still a very nice job Willy! I'm glad that you added trees. :)

Now, those rocks look nice. I think you should release them. Not too many mossy rock clusters out there. (take your time, of course.)

(Whoa that was big...)

It's my MD, I can scare you however much I want :P

But I won't do it again, promised. Instead I'll just annoy you with long pauses. Thanks for visiting Victor, and for voicing your ideas. Never too much!

As for the rocks, they're VIP's. I've only modded the MMP brush so that I only get the small ones. Release, maybe one day ;)

Quote from: SchulmanatorNaughty! It's too early for April Fool's!!!


Now that I have recovered... another round of fine pix. SC4>SC2013!

It's never to early for anything Bruce. That said, Merry Christmas and a Happy 2014! Thanks for stopping by ;)

Quote from: MTT9Well that was scary! After so many great CJs and MDs gone, i was already getting sad... but the joke's on EA for not listening to the players ;)

Your update is great as usual. The whole MMP's thing is still a mistery to me, but you have already mastered it :)

And those comments are just thanks to the many great updates (I think i missed one though...). Keep'em coming!

Thanks Matt. I've been thinking about doing a short video clip about MMPing, but I'm not sure there's any use for that. Anyway, it's mostly a matter of getting your hands dirty and getting used to the brushes.

Quote from: vortextHehe, classy opening there Willy. ;D

Though I do feel kinda sorry for the Maxis' devs with the negative press attention upon release. Then again, it's not like this wasn't predictable and I've to admit feeling a little schadenfreude as well. Let's just hope in about a decade from now, when EA has released an offline patch and there're some modding tools available, it'll be a decent game after all. . 

For now, well, I guess your MD just goes to show why SC4 still is the flagship title and probably will be for some time to come!  :thumbsup:

Quote from: Swordmaster on March 09, 2013, 01:22:30 PM
Instead of making a ton of exemplars with "empty" spaces to alternate with the occupied ones, I made a couple prop families for those carts with a large number of blank props in them. So actually, almost every tile has a T21 prop on it, but they're mostly blank

Another trick to add to your arsenal; convert to RKT4, add 'prop time of day' (value 0,24) and then add 'prop random chance' to the examplers. This allows greater control over the rate of occurrence for each individual prop and it completely eliminates the need for blank examplers.  ;)

Thanks Erik. I know you want to show off all your tricks, but remember that I also have a life. No, I mean, I'll try to do something along those lines, although I like to keep things simple. I'm a dummy, you know :D

Quote from: ShroudI LOVE those shorelines! They're very well done.

Thanks, and welcome to PSC! Hope to see you back.

Quote from: art128Nice idea to resize Girafe's bushes and cattails. The result is impressive.

Honestly, if you didn't mentioned the umbrella, i would have never seen them. :D

Thanks Arthur. I've always known you had no eye for detail.   *Runs*

Quote from: RickDHey, I like those umbr... oh, never mind.  $%Grinno$%

You are allowed to say it. No one else is! Thanks Raphael ;)

Quote from: noahclemLovely pictures Willy  &apls  As I know first hand, your model-tweaking works wonders and I very much enjoy the resized bushes and cattails. The lot MMPing gives a unique and excellent character as well as I'm sure I've said before.

Oh, and good one on pic 1  :D

Thanks Noah! Model tweaking is the easiest thing since blowing your nose (and even that was hard for me for a while).

Quote from: rambuckelAs my heart just sank into my boots when I read the headline, I was really relieved to see your new brilliant Tom-Sawyer-revival-creations!  &apls &apls &apls

Thanks Theresa. I think he's hiding somewhere in the bushes here ;)

Quote from: SimcougBeautiful pictures, and great early April fools joke.  Poor EA  ::)

Thanks Matt! No mercy for EA please. . .

Quote from: w_swietwootI really like how you perfected this theme  :thumbsup:. Maybe I'm a bit late with saying this, but that main street picture looks really great.

Thanks Wouter, and welcome to you as well. It's never too late to say anything here. For instance, Happy 1997!

Quote from: Terring7Cool pictures man :thumbsup:
Your comment for the new Simcity is awesome :D

Thanks Elias!

Quote from: JmouseTrain Man, you are in a heap of trouble for scaring me like that. I was chatting with vester when I first saw it, and he can tell you I just about lost it until I realized  what was going on.

I would be very interested in trying out those rocks if I ever have enough time to even open the game. Mmmm...carnival-colored bumbershoots. I continue to be fascinated by the old-fashioned atmosphere you create. Every detail is perfectly crafted, and everything compliments the rest of the elements. I don't have a favorite photo this time because I like all of them, albeit for somewhat different reasons. And I'm not sure if I've asked you before, but what water mod are you using? Also, what shadow setting are you using?

Another great update – it seems like you've thought of everything, including a clothesline. Electric clothes dryers were scarcely heard of in the late 19th century... :D
-Joan

Sorry mouse girl! :D  And thanks Arne for taking care of my casualties. I don't know about the shadow setting; I think it's just the highest. And the water mod is, like most everything else here, my custom one. Of course I can send it your way if you want. Or tweak it a bit, and then send it your way. Or make a new one based off it, and send it your way. Or . . . well, at your service, madam. (Like I said, you've got no excuses! None!)

Quote from: eclipticalstormI love the forced perspective along man street!  The church is framed really well by the W2W buildings and their lack of setback.  Personally, I would have placed the church on a higher plane to really reinforce the "looking up to God" feeling.  I really admire your work and those MMP's are to die for!!! &apls

Thanks for posting, and welcome! Good idea about the higher placed church, but there was no hill available :P  Hope to see you back.

Quote from: benedictAs always your meticulous attention to detail is very impressive.

And welcome back to the top slot on BTT this week.

Edit: And congratulations on a 2nd week at number one (March 23)

Thanks Ben. I hope to become a regular again in the BTT one day, but it might be a while.

Quote from: TandiniWhooo - - - The End . . .    :'(
You don't even think about it - please!  $%Grinno$%

I really like your rural scenes! Well done shoreline.  :thumbsup:

(I too would be very interested in your modded MMP's - would add more variety to my 'paintings'...)

To be honest I didn't think about it at all ;)

Looks like I'll have to get serious with releasing those MMPs, though. Thanks for posting!

Quote from: vester on March 17, 2013, 06:19:09 PMThat was my first reaction as well.
Try to read his post again.


Amazing work as always, Willy. Keep it up.
Still looking forward for some big cityscape.  ;)

Thanks Arne! The big cityscape will come. . . will come for sure. . . some day next millennium or so ;). Stay tuned!

Quote from: FrankUYou do make backups don't you?

Great work on the umbrellas! sorry, never can resist to make stupid jokes

But maily on the other props, of course. And indeed Vortex's advice on RKT4 is very useful. I have played with it too. Take a look at my upload here (http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/26500-franku-dutch-ditches/) for a functional example.

Of course Frank, I have everything backuped back-up'd back-upped backed up, dammit what a word. So, no worries. Thanks for posting!

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That'll be it for this time folks. I'll try to post a couple of updates over the summer, but that'll depend on the weather!


Cheers
Willy

Nice rail tracks. :thumbsup: I think they would also fit in a desert region, but will they be released soon?

I love your railroad  :)

Quote from: Uzil on June 02, 2013, 01:54:42 PM
I love your railroad  :)

That makes two of us! Take your time Willy, seems like it'll be well worth it.  :thumbsup:

Also, Frank happened to lead the way so it isn't exactly mine trick. Moreover, during your absence you coded rul for the streets, remember?! Don't sell yourself short!  ;)

Willy, your work is magnificent as usual. It's the attention to detail, and your talent for putting everything in the right place that makes your in-game shots a feast for the eyes. And I just now noticed the code - gotta' love it! :D

Love those rail textures....I can't wait until ther are done.
And that scene is perfect!, Love it all. You should enter that pic in the contest.

Robin  &apls

You know I'm a fan of the rail re-texture  :thumbsup:

Any hints as to what FAR angles may be included (if any).  ()stsfd()

Great to see you back updating PSC! I've been away from SC4D myself so i can't really complain ;)

Congratulations on being number 4 on Ben's Top MDs for this year.

A short message from your favorite retailer

It's still November here, and PSC is back. Turn on the stove and settle down with coffee and/or whiskey.


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Quote from: nbvcNice rail tracks. :thumbsup: I think they would also fit in a desert region, but will they be released soon?

Thanks! Soon! :-[

Quote from: UzilI love your railroad  :)

Thanks Uzil!

Quote from: vortextThat makes two of us! Take your time Willy, seems like it'll be well worth it.  :thumbsup:

Also, Frank happened to lead the way so it isn't exactly mine trick. Moreover, during your absence you coded rul for the streets, remember?! Don't sell yourself short!  ;)

Thanks Erik. If only I had the time I needed!

Quote from: JmouseWilly, your work is magnificent as usual. It's the attention to detail, and your talent for putting everything in the right place that makes your in-game shots a feast for the eyes. And I just now noticed the code - gotta' love it! :D

Thanks Joan. I hope you're back on board this time around.

Quote from: rooker1Love those rail textures....I can't wait until ther are done.
And that scene is perfect!, Love it all. You should enter that pic in the contest.

Robin  &apls

Thanks Robin! PSC should enter more familiar territory for you now ;)

Quote from: SimcougYou know I'm a fan of the rail re-texture  :thumbsup:

Any hints as to what FAR angles may be included (if any).  ()stsfd()

Thanks Matt! I assume at this point your question has been answered :P

Quote from: MTT9Great to see you back updating PSC! I've been away from SC4D myself so i can't really complain ;)

Thanks Matt! Now I'm back ;D

Quote from: benedictCongratulations on being number 4 on Ben's Top MDs for this year.

Thanks Ben. Let's see what happens this year. :thumbsup:

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Take it easy!


Cheers
Willy

Stop teasing!

We're going to the future, aren't we? :D

Coffee and whiskey isn't enough... I need champagne!

One photo. So simple, yet so engaging. And don't worry, I'll always be aboard this train. ;)

Welcome back PSC, I've missed you.

That's great news!!! I was hoping to see some trains here soon :)
By the way... you missed PSC's first birthday so... congratulations on that ;)

I'm ready... bring on the new stuff! :D

Quote from: Jmouse on November 30, 2013, 05:42:18 PM
I'll always be aboard this train. ;)

Thought you never had been on a train ?



Willy: Good to see you back in Port St. Claire and with some great pictures.

Superb pic  &apls &apls

Welcome back PSC  &dance &dance &dance

Beautiful picture Willy. Perfect details of flora and terrain and the diagonal bridge with RRW textures looks like a whole new bridge  &apls

Can't wait to see what's next!

Lovely work. That bridge really comes to life with those wonderful rail textures!

I'm so glad to see this treasure back!

This MD has been greatly missed, it's great to see it back up and going.
Amazing pic, but that's no surprise...it comes from you.

Robin

Just once picture but what a great one it is!  &apls

The water especially, is that one of Drunk's watermods?

Amazing to see you back Willy!
That RRW bridge looks simply amazing &apls

Some explaining. . .

Let's talk about what I'm up to. Folks who've been following this for a while will have classified PSC as a rural, historic MD. Right, that was fun. However, looking back through the years this was only an experiment. I've started multiple PSC regions since purchasing SC4, the last one being only the first where I tried a historical approach (something I had wanted to do ever since SC3000). The Jury is still out on whether it was successful (it certainly was from an MDing perspective) and whether it can continue under current circumstances. Regardless of the answer to that, this MD cannot follow that experiment exclusively. Otherwise, I would not update this until maybe 2041 (rough estimate). Therefore, there's a new PSC region and a new paradigm, which we will follow from now on.

Picking this model was non-trivial. There were, broadly speaking, three options:
- Option A: Continue the purely historic approach.
- Option B: Have historical development and expansion, but without historical settings (modern buildings, props. . .).
- Option C: Build up the city roughly to a current day situation.

Option A was what it had turned into over the past year. Option C is what I've always done before that, with varying degrees of pre-planned design. Option B has an air of goofiness around it, I'm gonna steer clear of that. So it must be C. There are a lot of people doing that already, so I'll bring on a couple things that should hopefully make this effort stand out.

More text later, some pictures first.

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Quote from: art128Stop teasing!

No!

Quote from: sunv123We're going to the future, aren't we? :D

Coffee and whiskey isn't enough... I need champagne!

Well, the future of the past is the present, I suppose. Unless it's still the past of the present, or maybe the future of the present. In any case, we're not where we used to be :D  As for champagne, I think there's a few bottles left from our Best Seller celebrations (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=15156.msg440897#msg440897) ;D  Thanks Victor!

Quote from: JmouseOne photo. So simple, yet so engaging. And don't worry, I'll always be aboard this train. ;)

Welcome back PSC, I've missed you.

I've missed it too! Thanks Joan.

Quote from: MTT9That's great news!!! I was hoping to see some trains here soon :)
By the way... you missed PSC's first birthday so... congratulations on that ;)

Thanks Matt, good to see you! Trains galore from now on! As for the birthday, thanks! Technically you're correct as far as the MD goes. However, PSC itself is quite a bit older than one year. I can trace its main concept back to somewhere around 2000/2001 in SC3000. I still have some .sc3 files laying about but I would need to reinstall that game :D

Quote from: SchulmanatorI'm ready... bring on the new stuff! :D

I'm ready too ;D  Thanks Bruce.

Quote from: vester

Quote from: Jmouse
I'll always be aboard this train. ;)

Thought you never had been on a train ?



Willy: Good to see you back in Port St. Claire and with some great pictures.

Thanks Arne! As per your request we'll see some denser development soon enough I hope ;)

Quote from: GirafeSuperb pic  &apls &apls

Thanks Antoine! First time using the newest flora, which you've managed to make even better than the previous stuff. Chestnuts are my new favorites.

Quote from: noahclemWelcome back PSC  &dance &dance &dance

Beautiful picture Willy. Perfect details of flora and terrain and the diagonal bridge with RRW textures looks like a whole new bridge  &apls

Can't wait to see what's next!

Thanks Noah! Apart from changing the rail overlays I edited the S3Ds a bit, but that shouldn't be noticeable; so largely the same bridge.

Quote from: BipinLovely work. That bridge really comes to life with those wonderful rail textures!

Thanks Bipin, and welcome here!

Quote from: rambuckelI'm so glad to see this treasure back!

Thanks Theresa. Keep warm!

Quote from: rooker1This MD has been greatly missed, it's great to see it back up and going.
Amazing pic, but that's no surprise...it comes from you.

Robin

Thanks Robin! Too much praise there :D

Quote from: vortextJust once picture but what a great one it is!  &apls

The water especially, is that one of Drunk's watermods?

Thanks Erik! I'll do some of our familiar terrain talk soon. You know I never use things out of the box ;D

Quote from: Gugu3Amazing to see you back Willy!
That RRW bridge looks simply amazing &apls

Thanks Guglielmo!

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I'll be back with stuff that's more interesting soon.


Cheers
Willy