Green Dolphin Island: completed and uploaded!!

[DeLouche]

So, as might have been inferred from my frequent posting on this board in the last few days, I'm building a world. I'm enjoying the process so far, and wanted to record it in some way - hence, this thread. Feedback is obviously welcome, and I might well be looking for a beta tester in a few weeks, so if you like the look of it, let me know! I've just got a couple of screenshots of the island as a whole as it is now - I'm looking forward to seeing the changes as it progresses. I only started learning the CAW process on Saturday, and have been working on this town for a couple of evenings, so I'm very happy to receive constructive criticism and maybe helpful advice!

Here's the road map - not complete by any means, but the start...


Here's a better shot of some of the terrain - I'm trying to get a rocky coastline look, with a few sandy beaches...


And here's a sim's-eye view of the two lots I've started building - the Market Square and the Promenade (complete with bandstand).

This part of the island is supposed to have the feel of an old English fishing town.



Edited to add upload link.  -Pam

Link is HERE: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=6365245

[DeLouche]

Brief update with a pic: put some more roads down (roads mostly finished), played with the terrain a bit, added a shopping lot and civic centre to the old town part, started poolside club. Pretty pleased with the evening's work - the changes are subtle from map view, but things are taking shape.

[Chuckles_82]

I love the way you've done the bay with the break-wall (or whatever they call it). I like the variety in contour of the land - although you may want to put some flat lots in. If you move the lots anywhere else, or try to place flat lots on them, they will look funny. I think the majority of EA lots are flat, with just a handful of sloped ones.

[DeLouche]

Yeah, I found that this evening, trying to put a couple of premade lots in there :/  I'm building a lot of things from scratch, but it's a lot of work, and there's already plenty of buildings out there. Plus, I keep altering the terrain slightly, which plays havoc with the lot placement. So, I've built on the flat ones, and put some others in as placeholders. Learning curves...

[Micler]

The island looks great so far! I love the english look of it.

[DeLouche]

Thank you Micler! It's loosely based on the island I grew up on - not the shape of the island, but general geographical features. There are a lot of beautiful old buildings, but there's also a very modern side to the main town, which I'm hoping to bring out as I build more... It's technically a British island, and therefore has a very British 'flavour', but it won't be a stereotypically English town the whole way through... I do hope to keep the character of the old town part of the island though.

[MoMoll]

An Island is a great idea; but, you seem to have  lot of empty, unused space in one part. Are you planning it for all EPs? If so you need more lots and space.
I like trying different worlds, so I'm interested in you final outcome.

[DeLouche]

There is definitely lots of unused space, and many unfilled lots! I only started a few days ago, so it's still in 'draft' stage if you like - the final product will be much fuller, and will have, for example, things like houses for Sims to live in I've only just started building, and am adjusting terrain as I go, which requires a lot of replacing lots. If anyone else finds this tiresome, I picked up a good tip from Krrrank's tiptorials - delete the lot, then click undo - this will put it right back, moulded to the new terrain. I anticipate that the finished world will look anything but empty, to be honest.

I am planning on including all EP content (or at least, a condensed version so I'll see how it goes with space... I think I've got enough, but I've also tried to some space to expand, for example, when the next EP comes out!

[Deklitch]

Very nice work so far, DeLouche. I've always struggled with Create-A-World, so anyone who succeeds at it certainly has my admiration. Where did the name, 'Aston' come from?

[DeLouche]

So, the changes I made today were again pretty subtle - messing with the terrain (I'll do the proper terrain painting near the end of the process rather than change it back and forth as I go), flattening lots, placing more lots (taking everyone's advice on board!). So, instead of a nearly identical picture of the island again, I'm posting a sneak preview of the pool club. Again, there's plenty of furnishing and decorating to do, and I haven't fixed on a colour scheme yet, but it's my first go using friezes and the fog emitter, so I'm kind of pleased.

Welcome to the Starfish! The location is insurpassable, right next to a beautiful bay. Sit in a hot tub and watch the ocean, or dance under the stars (we are still locating a DJ, please bear with us).



We want our clientele to feel truly submerged in the underwater experience, so it feels natural to see someone swim past the window, as you blow bubbles next to our state of the art shark tank...



This magical seaworld experience is perfect for those who truly love the water... fitting for an island, it might be said!

(ok, couldn't resist - also posting day 5 of the island's geographical transformation. You may be able to see the school and pool club, and the criminal hideout is in plain view - something which the criminals are probably not happy about).

[DeLouche]

Thanks DeKlitch I was just trying to think of a working name for the place, and decided to call it after a nearby nature reserve - the name will definitely change by the time I've finished. Once I get to know the character of the place better, I can call it something more evocative.

[MoMoll]

I'll keep tabs on this to see how it's going.

[DeLouche]

Placed a few more lots - most rabbitholes done, and a couple of premade lots. It's invisible in this pic, but I've also laid out almost all the community lots now, and about 20 residential lots, two of which are filled. The island seems to be dividing into sections now, the main, modern part of town, with the professions and most of the rabbitholes (apart from shopping and theatre) and the old section, built around the waterfront, and set into a valley.

View of the new part of town, looking west towards the big beach in the background, which is where the big park/stage will be set out:

[ladydragon76]

It is really cool watching this come along for you!  Just want to thank you for posting & bringing us along for the ride.

[DeLouche]

I'm really glad you're enjoying watching - I'm having a lot of fun with this, and I started this thread just to record the process of making the world, and I felt a bit bad about the constant updates, so I'm very pleased that other people are liking it too!