i would love to do an in-depth city journal, but i don't have much time and didn't start this city with that intention per se, so here's a CJ light, along with my planning notes.
i originally wanted to do an African-type city (formerly colonial,) so i started on this city, a play on my old city of Birmingham, Alabama's nickname "the Ham." Birmingham has a lot of hills, was founded on industry in the late 1800s and boomed in the early 1900s, so i also wanted that feel. then i got back from a visit to the United Kingdom and wanted to recreate a dense, Victorian city feel, so i combined the two and incorporated ideas from my business organizations class to make up a basic story to explain the city's existence:
Cape Hamilton was a struggling French port in Africa bought by a British-American company from Napoleon III during the Franco-Prussian war; the governing conglomerate would set up a city-state to bypass exporting minerals to the UK and U.S. for manufacturing, thus "outsourcing" the work. a very business-friendly (some might say corrupt) atmosphere was also set up.
a provisional army, navy and police force were recruited from veterans of the recent United States Civil War. their former equipment was bought cheaply as it was no longer needed, especially of note being naval ships, submersible research and automatic weapons.
recently-freed slaves from the United States were also recruited, and money siphoned from the religious in wealthy countries to spread the gospel to "savage natives." in reality, this money went to promoting industry.
the new owners of the colony were so money driven they forced personal racial hatred to be repressed, and opened the country up to qualified immigrants from everywhere. if you had money, a marketable skill, or were willing to work to death, you were welcome. the wealthy, talented and educated members of oppressed minorities worldwide were even actively recruited to relocate to Cape Hamilton.
the ruling government wasn't entirely evil, corrupt, or exploitative though; after reading Carnegie's "Gospel of Wealth" in 1889, a trial program was set up to see if the rich man's philosophy would work. the results were very productive, and a massive program was set up to "give back" to the new country's citizens...because this would result in a happier, more productive, and ultimately more-educated work force.
a more educated work force was desireable, after seeing modern inventions such as phonographs, motion pictures, and electric devices. strong universities were established for research that would benefit industry...this lead to a continual tech-boom.
so much for the story, i liked how the city turned out so i've kept it looking pre-1950, and i'll make the "modern African city" later.
Stats:
Largest City - Cape Hamilton (480,000)
Region population - 995,748
region view - i'm just doing it as i go along
aerials
Le Vieux Arondissement - the oldest part of the city, although storms, fires, and a lack of quality old buildings have replaced much of it
big houses on what was in farm land, now encircled by denser developments...
one of many such neighborhoods in the city
the edges of le vieux quartier
the old fort on the mountain overlooking the bay, now a major tourist attraction
Central Square - home of government offices; the first capitol is on the right end of the square, while the new one looks remarkably like Buffalo's city hall
new capitol
buildings near the square
palaces on founder's hill...big business leaders need big houses
the old university campus
typical terraced/row house neighborhood
tenement housing
slum housing sandwiched between le vieux quartier and an industrial zone; council estate slums of the future are also seen
city centre
an older view of the city centre
central station area
naval yard, currently leased to NATO
large commuter rail system
miscellaneous pics
that's it for now.
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p.s. THANKS TO ALL THE CUSTOM BATTERS AND SIMTROPOLIS!!!
p.s.s. no cheats used
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