The Diary of World-Builder - Cypress Lakes

[Frey]

If you create custom terrain paints for CAW, do they export correctly? I have created a few patterns (in-game patterns) of my own and used them in Edit In Game mode, but when exporting it everything with that patterns turns white. Wouldn't it be the same for terrain paint and maybe rabbit holes too?

[samoht04]

There is a Photoshop and Gimp plugin that allows you to edit .dds files. Although you can also add PNGs etc. as long as they are the right size I think? Also I'm sure you can download a Terrain Paint (CAW Texture) to use that are exact matches to the Sidewalks.

[DeLouche]

Chuckles, your attention to detail is awesome. I've been having real problems getting terrain paint to look the way I like it - it's not a technique thing, just trying to make it 'look good'' (or look closer to the way I want it to). So I'm really impressed with the more advanced stuff you're doing - I don't think I'd know an opacity map if it jumped up and down in front of me, and I certainly couldn't use the more advanced tools you mention. It looks absolutely fantastic! This world is going to rival any EA-created world, I reckon.

Frey, I'm pretty sure you can package the terrain paints somehow, so people don't have to download them seperately, but I'm not sure... 

[samoht04]

Frey, I'm pretty sure you can package the terrain paints somehow, so people don't have to download them seperately, but I'm not sure...

If you put them in a folder and then Zip the folder they should come as a package in one download, then you just have to extract the file to unlock the folder.

[Frey]

Oh! I see! Then I might try to create some 

Thanks!

Btw, Chuckles, I totally agree with DeLouche! Your attention to detal is awsome, you seem to think of everything! I actually find it really inspiring, I might just try to build my own world from scratch just because I find yours so amazing that it makes want to try 

[Chuckles_82]

05/09/2012

Yesterday I didn't really get much done. I got the shell done for a house, but not much more than that. I did spend a lot of time trying to work out a configuration for an apartment - and what style I wanted it to be - whether one big building, or more like townhouses. I think I'll go with townhouses, but I've left the idea on the backburner for a little while.

Today has been slow progress, but I am really pleased with what I have so far. Wall paper is hard!!! I don't mean covering walls in general, I mean the idea of papering walls in an actual pattern, rather than painting them. I don't know how many different patterns I have tried, moved around, adjusted colour combinations... it takes forever!! No wonder I prefer modern.

I have remodelled Sweet Chateau from Hidden Springs, and this is what I have so far:



















I'm trying hard to keep the decor to a minimum, but this is one of my two 'mansions' (ie, Altos and Landgraabs) for this world, so I'm picking the most expensive items I can that will match with the decor.

Sadly with the size of the house there is no room for a garage, but the owners will have a Margaret Vaguester for sure!! There isn't room in this world for more than one large lot - it's the 'dynasty' lot - 60x60 like the one in Sunset Valley.

[Gogowars329]

That looks really good Chuckles! Much better than the original.

[Chuckles_82]

13/09/2012

With the acquisition of Supernatural, my town is going to undergo some significant changes as far as completed buildings. So, it will be the third time that I build the business/bistro. However, there are quite a few of the rabbitholes in Supernatural that fit my town so much better. Not to mention the doubling up of the theatre and the criminal base! Excellent! Fortunately the theatre is exactly the same size, so there won't be any major changes to that lot.

However, the lot with the science lab/hospital will be replaced with the Wellness Centre from Supernatural, and will swap locations with the Business/Bistro. Also, that lot, which was 40x40 is now divided into 3: One 20x40, and 2 20x20 lots. I made a minor adjustment to the road and a couple of lots to allow for that pesky 1 square strip that I have to leave in between. The Bistro will take the 20x40, and then behind, on the 2 20x20 lots will be the consignment store and the "Alternative Medicine and Health Foods" store. Thankfully these adjustments give me more lots, meaning I'll be able to fit in the new things from Supernatural.

I haven't built anything on those lots yet, but I have decided what it will look like, at least. I placed a bunch of rabbitholes to get the feel for how it will look, and will decorate later (it's getting late, and I've not been getting nearly enough sleep lately)



I didn't have a whole lot of time to build today - my little ones are getting more and more demanding, so I'm not getting anything done during the day, really. But that's ok. That's what they're meant to do

So, for a couple of quick builds, I have done "Flashing Fetlocks Raceway" and "Galloping Shoes Training Park"



For the training park I plonked down the Pumped Pony Training Grounds and erased and deleted everything but the jumps and hay-bale race, then made it all matching to how I wanted it. If I can edit the rabbitholes in photoshop or gimp later on when I get an add-on, I'm going to change the colours on the equestrian centre a bit. I'll have greyer stones on the wall, and a lighter coloured wood on the walls, I think.

[saltpastillen]

It's good to hear that the addition of Supernatural didn't give you too much trouble.

[Chuckles_82]

14/09/2012

Well, as I think I mentioned I would, I have included another of one of my previous builds, only updated for Supernatural, with a bit more expensive decor since it no longer needs to meet competition requirements, and resized to fit to a 20x30 lot. I'm not saying I resized the lot, mind you. I built the whole thing from scratch again. I certainly wish I could have resized.

Presenting The Chetwin II



If anyone is interested, you can see the original on my builds thread (link in signature).

Despite needing to get to bed earlier last night, I still wanted a cuppa before bed, and of course, while I drank my cuppa I decided to do more building. Here is the Bistro, take 3:





I've updated both lots and used the long flower boxes instead of the Aggies. It looked better, and also works out as less objects. I'll be placing the tardis LLAMA on a few lots too. Behind the Bistro will be the Health Food Store, so there will be a street entry one side, and an entry from the bistro lot on the other side.

Plus, I updated the main park with a couple of mushies and a fairy castle.

-----

Lately I've found it almost fun thinking up descriptions and names for my lots. Many of them now have names and descriptions that are meaningful to me, so it will hopefully give the town more background and make it more cozy. I'm thinking my supernatural hangout will be a fairy garden or something like that. It will be Fairy's Garden: Fairy, Fairy, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? with ghost chillis and porcinis and white caps all in a row!

[Micler]

I can't believe that I didn't see this until today. Cypress Lakes is beautiful! The government houses look great, and I love the main street area.

[Chuckles_82]

Thankyou Micler, and others who have posted encouragements thus far. A collective decision saw it moved to the CAW board - which I don't mind, so that may be why you didn't see it before.

Nothing new today yet. I might do some more tonight, but I'm taking some time to just play. No challenge, no building, but just play. I'm loving the new fairies for gardening and gathering. My 'nice' quality harvestables went to 'excellent' when planted! Very exciting.

[DeLouche]

It's looking awesome, it's really coming along beautifully - it looks really coherent, easy to navigate, and I know that with your attention to detail, it will play really nicely and smoothly...

The Chetwin II in particular is lovely - deceptively simple architecture - the underground garage and surrounding flowerbeds look realistic and well-designed, but the method of building them is not one I've seen before... Really impressive world, think it's going to be amazing when it's finished! Hope it gets approved for challenges!

[Swirl-Girl]

This is wonderful! It is really pretty.

[Chuckles_82]

27/09/2012

Well, after an extended break, simply playing (rather than working on a challenge or anything), I'm back and inspired. When I installed Supernatural, there were quite a few features in Moonlight Falls that seemed to have been taken straight from my imagination and plans for this world, so in a way it is good that I have those ideas solidified into something helpful.

Anyway, without further ado, here is my Elixer Consignment Store (aka Health Food and Natural Remedies) - Vita Vite (pictured in Moonlight Falls)





Without game-play only objects:





With game-play objects added:




I have a feeling that the game-play objects won't export with the world, so I may upload the lot separately as well with those items. Not only that, it may not be allowed to be included for a challenge, because upon testing, my sim can just walk in and pick things up

I hope it's not too heavy on decorative items, but it's rather hard to build a 'store' without a tonne of decorations.