Palm Dunes, CA [Archive] - SkyscraperPage Forum

foxmtbr

Oct 21, 2006, 8:26 AM

So, I guess I'm following the fad of photo-real cities. :yes: I've started work on Palm Dunes, another city to be in California. Here's a sneak peek:

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2702/previewag1.jpg

(Thanks to STR's advice, I saved the image very large, to capture the quality, and then compressed it on Imageshack. I think I like it! :P )

Patrick

Oct 21, 2006, 8:28 AM

Ooh finally a new City! Cant wait to see more :)

Boris2k7

Oct 21, 2006, 8:28 AM

Palm Dunes! so are we going to go for a Las Vegas/Lost Angeles kind of thing...?

Glad to know that you are producing something new. I'm going to get into the whole photo-realism thing at some point myself...

foxmtbr

Oct 21, 2006, 8:38 AM

Thanks guys! I'll have more stuff up pretty soon. :D

Patrick

Oct 21, 2006, 9:02 AM

So Where is Palm Dunes Located?
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8656/ghjtu9.jpg

foxmtbr

Oct 21, 2006, 9:10 AM

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/3620/untitledpp9.png

Just a short drive from Sun City. Palm Dunes is not an uber-megalopolis like Sun City, it is smaller, with more 400'-500' towers. (Similar to Sacramento.) The current tallest, the one in that picture, is only 335'.

Bergenser

Oct 21, 2006, 9:20 AM

Looks like a good start, I see photo-real cities is the new "thing" ;)
can't wait for more.

foxmtbr

Oct 21, 2006, 10:24 AM

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/21/update1fv8.jpg

CGII

Oct 21, 2006, 1:38 PM

Wow. This is looking absolutely fantastic. Take your time on the details and smaller buildings, I found that when I rushed to do my downtown it ended up being a little awkward in juxtaposition with the rest of the city. But seriously, this is exponentially better than Sun City.

FlyersFan118

Oct 21, 2006, 3:05 PM

WOW! I love it!

NYRican

Oct 21, 2006, 4:58 PM

Looking real good, and I like how you have some storefronts up on the base of that building in the backround. Keep up the good work, if this city gets large enough it'll be better than Sun City!

foxmtbr

Oct 21, 2006, 6:44 PM

Thank guys! That's what I was aiming for, Sun city is "quantity," while this city will be "quality." :)

Patrick

Oct 22, 2006, 4:05 AM

^Thats good to hear! can wait to see more :)

Bergenser

Oct 22, 2006, 11:44 AM

Wow one of the most realistic cities, in Google skechUP ever! I you can keep the good quality and make a big city like Sun City, it would be great! :tup:

Eigenwelt

Oct 22, 2006, 7:33 PM

I like the curved building!

foxmtbr

Oct 23, 2006, 3:38 AM

Thanks for the comments! :)

Another update, I've added a new 290' hotel.

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/2961/update2tb6.jpg

Patrick

Oct 23, 2006, 4:15 AM

Wow! I like the detail! Where do you get those textures!?

foxmtbr

Oct 23, 2006, 4:36 AM

Google! I just search: "building textures" and there are a few good ones on there. I wish they had more though... :shrug:

Patrick

Oct 23, 2006, 4:48 AM

^Thanks for the tip :)

ThreeHundred

Oct 23, 2006, 5:13 AM

How do you put textures on your buildings?

Bergenser

Oct 23, 2006, 4:04 PM

wow in that latest picture I could not belive my eyes! I thought:
"this city is NOT made in Google SkechUp! You have to be using 3d programs with value over 5000 NKR(715 US$) for making that!"

it's shockingly good work on that city and I hope it continues. :D

mthq

Oct 23, 2006, 10:53 PM

thats looking pretty damn good there, foxmtbr :tup:

foxmtbr

Oct 24, 2006, 3:31 AM

Thanks guys!

How do you put textures on your buildings?

You click the paint bucket on the left, to paint a surface, and when the windows comes up, you hit the little button that looks like an open folder to load textures from a file on your computer. You can go to google to find textures.

foxmtbr

Nov 9, 2006, 7:16 AM

Well, long time no updates. I never find any time to work on it, but today I did. I think you'll like my new additions, including a major one that isn't a building, but rather a very nice surprise... :)

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8730/update5xp4.jpg

cur_sed

Nov 9, 2006, 8:19 AM

hooray, light rail!
I feel guilty for not including any public transport in Arcadia, so I just pretend there's some kind of vast subway system :P
Glad you're goin' for the clean green look.

Bergenser

Nov 9, 2006, 5:53 PM

nice shot! Glad to see an update. :)

foxmtbr

Nov 10, 2006, 3:12 AM

The facade on this tower has been redone, and there's a new residential tower next door:
http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/9154/update6dp4.jpg

FlyersFan118

Nov 10, 2006, 3:41 AM

lookin good!

Patrick

Nov 10, 2006, 4:06 AM

Wow! Incredibly realalistic!!

foxmtbr

Nov 10, 2006, 8:16 AM

When the city constructed the light rail system in the early 90s, they utilized the historic waterfront railyard as the main transit station. Notice the spare LRT train and buses behind the station:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3673/updateagainup6.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2532/update8af9.jpg

rbowk

Nov 10, 2006, 8:50 AM

how do you make your textures turn with the building

foxmtbr

Nov 10, 2006, 9:10 AM

^When painting the curved faces, I usually have to click it a second or third time to get the texture to line up correctly.

Patrick

Nov 10, 2006, 9:37 AM

This is such a huge improvment from Sun City! The detail is just amazing! :)

Bergenser

Nov 10, 2006, 6:43 PM

You guys have taken the Google SkechUP cities to the next level.
in the beginning the most inportant was that it looks like a city...
But now the cities looks frantastic, and Palm Dunes, is a great example
on that. :D

Good to see some updates BTW.

foxmtbr

Nov 10, 2006, 8:19 PM

Thanks guys! :)

foxmtbr

Nov 11, 2006, 2:17 AM

New tallest, at 400':
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8632/update9dy4.jpg

foxmtbr

Nov 11, 2006, 4:57 AM

I fixed the tallest one, it was far too skinny to be 400'. Now it is over twice as fat, and 450'. :P It's my new favorite. I also changed the tower across the street from it.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5628/update10qg1.jpg

cur_sed

Nov 11, 2006, 7:53 AM

I love that you've got so much lowrise in here, mate. It's nice to see a city with buildings under 10 stories. (as spectacular as the uber-tall cities are) :P

foxmtbr

Nov 11, 2006, 8:09 AM

Thanks! Yeah, I'm trying to make it more realistic with the smaller buildings. Sun City was like Dubai times 10 :haha:

Boris2k7

Nov 11, 2006, 11:18 AM

I like the level of detail in this one. The LRT is a nice touch. :)

foxmtbr

Nov 11, 2006, 7:36 PM

^ Yes, I corrected the mistake the countless cities have made, and I put the LRT down the biggest street, where people might actually use it.

navyweaxguy

Nov 12, 2006, 12:15 AM

Very very very sweet!! I bow down to thee. :D

foxmtbr

Nov 13, 2006, 5:41 AM

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/6978/update11foreditcopyib2.jpg

Patrick

Nov 13, 2006, 5:49 AM

Holy Shit, amazing how you can go from Sun City, To this!

foxmtbr

Nov 13, 2006, 5:59 AM

:haha: Thanks! :)

Patrick

Nov 13, 2006, 6:02 AM

Do those cars always stay there? If they do wouldnt they slow down the whole model?

foxmtbr

Nov 13, 2006, 6:27 AM

Yes, they slow it down quite a bit. And then I get pissed off and want to throw my computer out the window. But I am too lazy to take them out when I'm not taking pictures. :shrug:

I know, I'm an idiot, lol.

FlyersFan118

Nov 13, 2006, 4:07 PM

Holy crap.

TWAK

Nov 13, 2006, 11:19 PM

such good work foxmtbr-you have come a long way. Light Rail, holy shit!
When are you going to make a city in the better part of California....NOR CAL!

foxmtbr

Nov 14, 2006, 12:48 AM

Thanks!

When are you going to make a city in the better part of California....NOR CAL!
:cheers:

foxmtbr

Nov 14, 2006, 6:53 AM

Another block filled in:

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9414/update12foreditcopygn9.jpg

navyweaxguy

Nov 14, 2006, 10:20 PM

I bow down for thee... f-ing sweet bro!!

Tony

Nov 14, 2006, 10:40 PM

Damn these are nice.

FlyersFan118

Nov 15, 2006, 2:32 AM

unbelievable.

Bergenser

Nov 15, 2006, 9:34 PM

Truly amazing, some of the best I've seen in 3d, ever! :tup:

foxmtbr

Nov 16, 2006, 1:46 AM

Wow, thanks! :D

foxmtbr

Nov 19, 2006, 2:39 AM

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5263/update13foreditcopyrz7.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2755/update14foreditcopyqv8.jpg

FlyersFan118

Nov 19, 2006, 3:38 AM

amazing. what a city.

foxmtbr

Nov 19, 2006, 3:42 AM

Thanks!

BoiseAirport

Nov 19, 2006, 7:23 AM

Aww, damn, this is discouraging! Well, not really, but your cities are way better than mine! But this is a good thing, as you do well in inspiring others, like myself! Your incredible cities make me want to make more.

Anthony

BTW how do you make the streets so perfect? That is my biggest problem so far.

foxmtbr

Nov 19, 2006, 8:16 AM

What is it that you need help doing with the streets? ...Textures? Size?

Patrick

Nov 19, 2006, 8:48 AM

Wow, your really improving, the city is so detailed.

Derek

Nov 19, 2006, 9:10 AM

buses, yellow porsches and silver bmws...now thats my kind of city!!! i love the detail in the buildings!

Derek

Nov 19, 2006, 9:13 AM

o and dont forget the light rail!! very nice and clean city!!

BoiseAirport

Nov 19, 2006, 10:51 AM

What is it that you need help doing with the streets? ...Textures? Size?

LOL, sorry, after rereading my question, I didn't mean to sound so vauge.

Anyway, it was more the textures, and how you seem to be able to line them up so well...do you fill the texture in with paint, or do you just import as a jpg?

Anthony

Bergenser

Nov 19, 2006, 2:54 PM

Good looking, can't wait to see this grow even more.

FlyersFan118

Nov 19, 2006, 6:04 PM

Streets are a pain in the ass. You just get used to it after a while.

foxmtbr

Nov 19, 2006, 9:00 PM

LOL, sorry, after rereading my question, I didn't mean to sound so vauge.

Anyway, it was more the textures, and how you seem to be able to line them up so well...do you fill the texture in with paint, or do you just import as a jpg?

Anthony

I have 3 road textures(up-down, left-right, and intersection) that I use. Alright guys, here's a freebie:

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/1406/roadua8.jpg http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/2621/road2mh5.jpg http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/6352/roadintersectionge5.jpg

(I think some of you guys already have these same textures.)

FREKI

Nov 19, 2006, 9:08 PM

Awesome job mate!

foxmtbr

Nov 19, 2006, 9:16 PM

Thanks!

Boris2k7

Nov 19, 2006, 9:19 PM

Yeah, setting up streets is an experiment in itself. BTW, you've got that regional look down man (the architecture I mean).

BoiseAirport

Nov 19, 2006, 10:01 PM

I have 3 road textures(up-down, left-right, and intersection) that I use. Alright guys, here's a freebie:

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/1406/roadua8.jpg http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/2621/road2mh5.jpg http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/6352/roadintersectionge5.jpg

(I think some of you guys already have these same textures.)

Alright, thanks man! I appreciate it!

Anthony

FlyersFan118

Nov 19, 2006, 11:04 PM

I have different textures that Patrick had sent to me.

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8545/road2aj6.jpg
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9152/roadyopm1.jpg
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9953/concreteyorj6.jpg

foxmtbr

Nov 19, 2006, 11:31 PM

^ Do those repeat well with the yellow lines? It seems like they would be shifted off-center.

foxmtbr

Nov 19, 2006, 11:38 PM

http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/2615/update15foreditcopyxj9.jpg

FlyersFan118

Nov 20, 2006, 12:24 AM

they work very well. the only thing that gets a bit shifted is the white lines on the very edges, but they're hardly noticeable.

the skyline shot is SICK.

foxmtbr

Dec 21, 2006, 9:46 PM

Could it be? Now way! Is it??? Why yes, it is!! An update!!

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/2909/update16xu7.jpg

Not much new, I just redid the building on the corner (towards the right-middle of the picture).

Bergenser

Dec 21, 2006, 10:17 PM

wow, what a city! :D
and there is place for even more grow! :)

Patrick

Dec 23, 2006, 6:28 PM

Wow, so nicely planned out and clean! Nice!

Tanster

Dec 23, 2006, 6:45 PM

Wow nice how lond did it take you to make ????

foxmtbr

Dec 24, 2006, 2:30 AM

^ Who knows how long I've spent on this. Many, many hours deep into many, many nights. I've been working on it for about 2 months, but this week is the first time I've worked on it in about a month. Maybe 30 or 40 hours total...?

I'm building stuff right now, so anybody have any suggestions/requests (types of towers, special buildings, parks, etc.)?

foxmtbr

Dec 24, 2006, 8:17 AM

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7789/update20pf5.jpg
The new 34 story, 414' Hyatt Regency. My most labor-intensive building ever. About 4 hours spent on perfecting this puppy. :)

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/205/update17copyrd1.jpg
A new 400' black box, takes up an entire city block. Oh boy!

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/3538/update18copyer9.jpg
Yeah, the photoshopping is a bit cheesy. But you get the point.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/5497/update19yi8.jpg
And something new: an overhead shot.

I hope you enjoyed! Any suggestions or comments?

Patrick

Dec 24, 2006, 6:26 PM

Nice! The Hyatt looks great. My only suggestion Is I think the City needs to be spaced out more. Downtown seems to have a lot of buildings near the same height all bunched up together, so you cant really see most of them. You know what I mean?

Also it seems your shadows are floating over the ocean. I had the same problem with Staunton. Thats because the Ocean is under sea level, all you need to do is raise the City a few feet to make sure that the ocean is lined up with the sea level.

CGII

Dec 24, 2006, 6:30 PM

foxmtbr

Dec 24, 2006, 7:12 PM

Alright, thanks for the advice! I'll spread out the towers from now on, and CGII, I'll go fix the shadows.

Also, I'll try moving the black box elsewhere so that it doesn't block the rest of the skyline, as it is the city's 3rd tallest and overshadows everything behind it.

foxmtbr

Dec 25, 2006, 5:32 AM

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3568/update21copyjo5.jpg
New 312' Marriott, and the black box (which shall soon have a name) has been moved 2 blocks north and east.

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/6655/update22copyir5.jpg
A nice little sculpture and fountain.

FREKI

Dec 25, 2006, 6:27 AM

Awesome work - absolutely awesome work!

Patrick

Dec 25, 2006, 6:27 PM

Now thats detail, your pictures are so clear!

foxmtbr

Dec 27, 2006, 4:23 AM

Thanks! :D

Bergenser

Dec 27, 2006, 11:45 PM

I think, a supertall would be very nice now! :)

CGII

Dec 28, 2006, 4:34 AM

Schwing!

foxmtbr

Dec 29, 2006, 12:58 AM

I think, a supertall would be very nice now! :)

:haha: A supertall would be over twice as tall as anything else, it would look ridiculously out of place.

foxmtbr

Dec 29, 2006, 6:12 AM

New park! Here's a view from the park.
http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3771/update24copycq0.jpg

Patrick

Dec 29, 2006, 6:52 AM

Very Urban! Reminds me a lot of Downtown Los Angeles, good times :)

Bergenser

Dec 30, 2006, 12:51 PM

nice palms! :)

Boris2k7

Jan 2, 2007, 10:11 AM

Ahhh! Clones!!! :ahhh:

Nice park. ;)

foxmtbr

Jan 2, 2007, 9:01 PM

^ Yes, yes, I copied the same people over and over. :)

Right now I'm working on a historic sector along the northern coast (the undeveloped part). This is all one big 5 block chunk I'm working with, so it'll be a while before I update, but when I do, it'll be a biggun'!

foxmtbr

Jan 4, 2007, 7:12 AM

Uh oh! My computer is broken right now. :( Don't worry, I still have all my stuff, I just need to fix a part to get it to turn on. But it could be a while before any updates.

foxmtbr

Jan 5, 2007, 2:22 AM

Ah, I don't think anyone could possibly be more glad than I that I fixed my computer. :D I was installing new hardware, and accidentally switched around some wires, thus causing it to not boot when I hit the button. Silly me, I spent 3 days trying to solve it, and then consulted Google. I feel extremely stupid, yet extremely relieved. I'll continue work on the historic sector later, but I'm off to drum lessons now, see ya'!