Hm, even if I try to be a good critic (a tough bastard, sharpened, impartial but merciless?) I feel a bit helpless on this job.
This would be a city - but there are so many in RL too - where I would get lost. A nice grown town but where are the landmarks, the points of reference to help me for orientation? If I was a tourist in the north and I would ask for the way to the city center, how to describe in an easy way? Where is the city center? Is it the roundabout on the left? My verdict probably would be: nice but anonymous. But, well, compared to so many cities one could say: that's realistic.
In Heidelberg for many years there was an adults shop quite in front of a church. And the adults shop wasn't allowed to have a sign towards the church or to advertise in front, so the sign was only readable when approaching the church but was blacked out for those leaving the church - I think for not distracting the worshipers?
Funny thing is - all tourist guides would point out this feature, so at the end - restricted advertisment gave even more advertisement. The discretion in public caused even more attention.
On the other hand - when you are asked about the 'Jesuitenkirche' in Heidelberg and all you know to say: once there was an adult shop in front of it, this isn't really flattering. A church being a landmark because of the adult shop in front of it, it's a little absurd.
Why am I telling this?
Maybe to explain - it is something quite complex what makes up those points of reference in a city. As for many tourists visiting Heidelberg it was 'that church with the adult shop in front' - which strangely they could easily remember, much easier than the name of the church.
Strange thing.
I guess - most sc4 player make structure with the network layout, making parts, districts etc. by using main streets like dividers/separators of different parts. But one of the philosophical more interesting discoveries is: structure is made by meaning.
In the city where you live you may have completely different 'landmarks' than a tourist. Because there are certain buildings or structures or parks they have a meaning to you. The hospital where my daughter was born ... it became a more important point in the city than that church every tourist knows about.
It would be an interesting challenge to make up a city in sc4 with meanings. A city where certain buildings have a story - a city telling something.
The best lotters, the best batters - if you have a close look on what they do, imho, they do exactly this. They do things with a story, with a meaning. Structure isn't only geometry, only numerical proportions. They express something with their work.
Well and that - with many words - is my ungiving critics: that's what I miss on your city - like some people, very beautiful to watch, to look at, but boring to have dinner with them. Only talking about work and money, nothing funny, nothing interersting. A little bit, I guess, your city reminds me of those people. A lack of personality perhaps?
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