MountainView

[samflashjr]

I need a 'no building downgrade mod'.

Actually there is one.  I remember seeing it on the STEX awhile back.  It prevents property from being abandoned and downgraded.  You'll have to search for it.

[Paeng]

Mountainview Region expands

Farmington Area has grown to 25.000, here is a look at the pretty much developed subdivision 'Canal's End' (developed to me means stable on money, jobs, utilities, transpo etc.)







Sugarcane has become a major crop, and more rum distilleries have set up, keeping mountainview well ... er ... spirited.



So it's time to get rid of the dirty industries and redevelop those properties for commercial offices. There is a new tile (called 'Riverside') now to the east of Farmington, where for the moment all kinds of industries develop nicely in a small rudimentary area (this will change later, so I'll spare you any pics of that). The main point right now was to establish that area and to reroute the Sims. No big problem with the big new Railwaystation and WT-Landing connecting to the industrial zone via a brandnew busservice.



Here our river connects with the main stream ultimately leading to the open sea.



Table of Contents

[tamorr]

Is that a toll booth arch near the taxi dock... Everything is looking great... especially the housing...

[abcvs]

Ah yes...  the avenue draw bridge...  need a PPond version of that...  for a minute I thought you had something new...  but then I spotted the old pond texture...   oh well I am sure it is on 'the list'... 

[Paeng]

Is that a toll booth arch near the taxi dock

Ah, you have a good eye :-)
Actually it is an overpass in the first place, one of my favorites (good proportions, nice stairs), and secondly it serves as an unobtrusive (electronic) tollbooth indeed :-)





Just wish it didn't have that horrible pink stuff beneath, whatever that is supposed to be. Lots of pieces I don't use because of this "texture", I simply hate it.

It's made by 'Goldiva', should be easy to find.

[tamorr]

pink stuff? the arrow? or ... confused. hmm...

Yeah I'll defiantely have to look for that in a moment, as it is definately a good design.

[Becca]

Just wish it didn't have that horrible pink stuff beneath, whatever that is supposed to be. Lots of pieces I don't use because of this "texture", I simply hate it.

He means the texture the lot is sitting on. It is an easy fix in the LE. It would not be hard for me to make a patch for it with a new texture.

[tamorr]

now come to think of it... yeah that tile does look a bit pinkish... odd, since it hardly matches up to the left side where it is more white... And yeah that would be an easy fix in LE, just choose a different texture for it... which wouldn't be hard considering there are definately better ones out there... Oh I just got that one and the other toll thingy, although I think this one looks a lot better as the other one looks like a highway interstate overhanging sign, with a couple of cameras attached. Nice for maybe and avenue, but not sure about road... hmm... oh well STEX is kinda' slow for me, but I managed....

[Paeng]

It is an easy fix in the LE.

Well, to me those progs (LE, Reader etc.) are just intimidating :-) I tried a couple of times (not very hard), but they might as well be written in sanskrit, it wouldn't make a difference to me =:-}
They are not intuitive at all ... Though the possibility of easyly changing the basetexture of a certain piece does have a lot of appeal.

@tamorr

yeah that tile does look a bit pinkish... odd, since it hardly matches up to the left side where it is more white

I believe the pinkish stuff is the default 'Maxis Sidewalk', while the more white-ish tile beside the diner is the first option of PedMalls from the NAM. Considering the many sidewalk mods out there I think it's the first thing everybody wishes to get rid of. Unfortunatly this wish is seldom considered, so many custom-buildings have that default texture beneath and no option to change it (except by knowing how to directly change the programming).

Again, I'm no programmer, but it seems to be no big deal to reference a number of different textures (at least those three or four that are preferred for Sidewalks), from which I can choose one during installation, i.e. like BSC-Parks and related items, or various Sidewalk mods and so on ...

[Becca]

Yes, there is a learning curve with LE, however there are many good tutorials on how to use it on Simtropolis, SC4D, and even here on SimPeg, I believe.

I am offering my help in any way I can. If you want me to make a patch, just ask.

[tamorr]

Truly you don't have to be a programmer to use LE, I'm not a programmer, even though I do know a few basic things of it... So that is why the reader doesn't look so daunting to me, but the reader is more difficult than LE, as you defiantely would have to know values in reader. In LE you mainly just have to know recognition, as in when you select the prop menu, and click the add button for the most part you would have to select from a list that roughly at least has a considerable name. From that you prolly end up going back n forth to find the prop you want.
   Actually LE is simple and not so complex if you think about what one does with it. Easy to use for the most part, but not for everything. It does have its' advanced features granted like any other program. But easy to use, even though it takes a bit to get use to... Me I am an adaptable sort like a wolf to winter. But that's me. To selet a new base Texture is simple enough as it actually provided a preveiw, well of course it has a number beside it, but what doesn't in the computer world...

[Paeng]

I am offering my help in any way I can. If you want me to make a patch, just ask.

Oh, that's a really nice offer, thank you! Though I fear that would be like opening a can of worms, I'll surely find another piece to patch every five minutes 

So first I'll go hunting for the tutorials you mentioned, maybe then I can pester you with occasional questions about it 

[Paeng]

Yippie - I did it ;-))
Don't ask me how, pure trial and error, as I couldn't find any tut on LotEditor ... but here it is - my very first ... er ... what? fix?

Before


After


Of course, it's just approximated - how would I now get the proper "MTP-Avenue"-Texture into this thing???

[tamorr]

   maybe in the overlay section, I beleive, as that is where many of the various stuff like rails and such are... I think. Sometimes though they can be in the texture section, but that is a whole lot to look through.... Hmm... Unless there isn't one with that avenue on that texture... I do have to say it looks kinda' like HT hits MTP, the fancier part of town, no?

    Otherwise if it is not in either of those section it will prolly have to be made... I haven't really looked at the road stuff yet in LE, for obvious reason, if you've seen what I been working on... Canals and CDK3 Lots for the most part. Hmm.... at least it looks better than that off pink colour..

[Becca]

First let me say, you did a great job for a first time out. Secondly, HERE is one of the tutorials I was speaking of.

And, yes, the roads, ect, are generally overlay textures. One note, you should delete the original base texture before applying a new one, or you could get bleed through.