St Simeon Island

[aesacos]

:!: Test Version: https://rapidshare.com/files/393150653/St_Simeon_Island_Test.Sims3Pack :!:

I got St Simeon Island polished enough to release a test version. I created it using every EP's and SP's (the EP's should be mandatory, for the SP's I don't know exactly how many objects from them I've used so you're free to check with what you have) + the spa from Hidden Springs (not having it will probably leave a big empty lot near the beach) + the Eco Pack (not having it should only remove the windmills and solar panels around town).

I'd appreciate any suggestion on possible improvements and feedback on bugs you might find.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-2-4.jpg

I'm still very new to it so it might seem a bit rough, terrain sculpting and painting in particular.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-23.jpg

As you can see, the main town takes the overall road layout of Bridgeport. I've moved several buildings around, which I thought were in odd locations (School, Offices, Hospital, etc) to get a more logical feel and more activities in town than just clubbing.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-4-4.jpg

To contrast with the busy skyscrapers-filled town, you'll have several sandy beaches, hiking trails, remote fishing spots, etc.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-5-3.jpg

Any comment or advice would be appreciated. I know I still have a lot to learn, looking at some of the amazing work I've seen around here, and I can't wait to start.

More pictures available at:
http://photobucket.com/StSimeonIsland

If you need pictures of a particular area to get a better idea, just let me know.

[scoopy_loopy]

It's pretty! But I feel the island is too flat, it's unrealistic. Otherwise, really great job. :D

[armiel]

The world is filled very nicely and looks logic too, so I don't mind the actual livable terrain to be so flat. But I would love to see some variation in the grassy terrain paint. Your mountains/cliffs look very nice, great to see you use multiple paints.

A question: I don't spot too many residential lots, apart from apartments. How many are there?

[aesacos]

About the terrain flatness, I didn't feel confortable enough with CAW to go with hills in the main town area, but there are plenty of them in the rest of the island, though the screenshots don't really render it. I'll try to add some more here and there in the flat areas.

About the grass, I wanted to add a second paint but I'm already at 8, I read that's the maximum I should have. Since I can't really get rid of any of them, I'll try to play around with the dirt and sand paints to get some variation. I'm also considering changing the grass paint for something a little darker, I find the base one from CAW too yellowish.

About the non-apartments residential lots, right now there are 12 houses. But they are just the 2 wealthy neighborhoods I've built on the hills. I want to add more basic ones around the city to flesh it out. There're already 22 apartments so I'm not sure how many houses I should add to have something balanced.

[simsample]

For the terrain paints, the recommended limit is eight paints per chunk, but you can have more than eight in the world.


I like the look of this island very much, I like the rock/ dirt textures you've used. Are the lots all EA lots, or did you build some yourself?

I quite like the sculpting, it's fun that you have a lot of little trails for your sims to walk around, to get to some of the beaches. I like that you have a wharf and airport too, as I get twitchy if there doesn't seem to be a logical way for sims to trade or leave the island! :lol:

In this picture here:
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-3.jpg
I feel that perhaps those trees look a little out of place, I don't know if it's because of the shape/ colour of the trees or the terrain that they are on. Perhaps it's because you usually see deciduous trees like that on grass/ green areas.

For this picture:
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-5.jpg
Are you aware of the 'River Side' objects that go with those canal walls? Using those might look a little tidier next to the bridges, you can see here in France how EA have used the objects (the part of the wall right next to the bridge- you can see that I have placed one of them in the river, too, so that you can see what the object looks like):
http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/img/5/2/8/4/8/MTS_simsample-1265610-Bluefunk_0116-Jan-1213.50.jpg
Those objects are called 'Fence-River Side- Lower Post' in Metadata.

Overall I love the layout and look of the world! How many lots total are there, and how many total residential?

[aesacos]

Well for the paints, I could try to add a ninth for another grass texture, since the concrete paint is just used for the airport, the wharf and here and there in town.

About the lots, they are mainly EA's, though I reworked many of them (the decoration being often quite hideous). I created 10 of the building shells from scratch to fill the gaps (though it's not really demanding to arrange apartments in them). I also created the lots for half the rabbitholes. And there are a few original creations (a club, a plantation, a couple houses). For your last question, there are 84 lots, 34 residentials and I plan on adding a dozen small houses around town.

About the trees in Screenshot-3 I agree they're just wrong. I like the way it looks in the kind of inner lake near the Canal, but apart from there it's not working. I'm gonna try something else on the cliffs areas.

And thank you for the tip about the canal walls, I completely missed that. I'm gonna add those right away.

[aesacos]

I've been working a lot on the flora to get the hills to a more natural feel. I also changed the grass paint for something a bit darker. Better?

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-14.jpg

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-18.jpg

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-20.jpg

I've also reworked the Canal.
@simsample: I tried the object you pointed me to but it didn't fit as well as it does in the french map. So I moved things a bit for a more polished look.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-15.jpg

More pictures available at:
http://photobucket.com/StSimeonIsland

[scoopy_loopy]

I whole heartedly take back my comments about it being "Flat"! It seems I was duped by the angles or terrain paint effect. The new screens are beautiful, that canal looks gorgeous!

[aesacos]

Hello again! St Simeon Island is currently on hold until next week, since I've seen some very nice rabbitholes coming with Starlight Shores which I'd like to incorporate in the town.

Untill then I have a few updates. I've added 3 small houses districts in town for the less wealthy. Since they are supposed to be social houses, they're a bit generic but still nice.
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-1.jpg

Thanks a lot to Atavera for the guide on how to unlock special features in CAW. St Simeon is now a proper town, with cabs everywhere and a working lighthouse.
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-8-1.jpg

I've also worked a bit on the city center, removing a couple apartments buildings. I'll probably remove even more to make room for the Starlight Shores rabbit holes.
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-7-1.jpg

And I'll leave you for today with a couple shots of the city at night.
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-9-1.jpg

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-10-1.jpg


More pictures available at:
http://s1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/

[aesacos]

After a couple weeks of playing around with Starlight Shores, I'm back to my St Simeon Island project.

I've been playing it for a couple weeks now without any lag or bugs. I was wondering if some of you would be interested in testing it? There are probably things to correct here and there that I don't see after spending so much time on it. So I could definitely use an exterior perspective.

I've picked most of the new rabbitholes from Starlight Shores to incorporate them in town.
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-22.jpg

The heavily revamped Harbour District.
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-2-3.jpg

I've switched a few things around here too.
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-3-3.jpg

And an overall view of the city skyline.
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p518/Aesacos/St%20Simeon%20Island/Screenshot-4-3.jpg

As always I'd welcome any comment, if you see something wrong or have any suggestion.


More pictures available at:
http://photobucket.com/StSimeonIsland

[SommarBlomma]

What a nice Island! The pictures are gorgeous, I like how it is not big, but has a real city feel combined with picturesque landscapes.
I have a few questions though:
What is the world size?
What EPs do you use?
Is it a suburban town or a city?

I see a lot of features from Showtime, that's cool.

[aesacos]

Thanks SommarBlomma. To answer your questions: the world size is Large, I use every EP's (and SP's to a lesser extent + the spa from Hidden Spring + the Eco Pack), and it's a city.

[levini]

Beautiful world, I really like that urban feel to the city.

BTW, if you are still looking for testers, I can test. Tell me what games are required and I will Test it out.

[aesacos]

I got St Simeon Island polished enough to release a test version. I created it using every EP's and SP's (the EP's should be mandatory, for the SP's I don't know exactly how many objects from them I've used so you're free to check with what you have) + the spa from Hidden Springs (not having it will probably leave a big empty lot near the beach) + the Eco Pack (not having it should only remove the windmills and solar panels around town).

I'd appreciate any suggestion on possible improvements and feedback on bugs you might find.

Here is the link: https://rapidshare.com/files/393150653/St_Simeon_Island_Test.Sims3Pack

[aesacos]

Hello again! I'm getting very close to submit St Simeon Island for release. Just a few things to polish here and there (fleshing out gardens and stuff).

I had a few questions for more experimented builders:
- How do you get the big light projectors (near the stadium and theater in Bridgeport) to work properly? The ones I put just stand there doing nothing unless a sim activates them. Is there a way to automate them like the ones from the EA lots?
- Can you automate regular lights on a lot to always turn on at night, and not just when a sim enters the lot?