Help With Importing Real Life Buildings?

[mixedanthony]

I am having some real trouble with figuring out how to import Google Earth type buildings into the game. I've looked at tutorials but none that I've seen really touch on this. I've seen it done numerous times with a New York style world and I really admire the work done at http://lunasimslulamai.jimdo.com/. I know I could do this but I really have no idea where to start. Could someone please help me out? (My ultimate goal is to make the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, on a scale similar to Luna's. If someone could help me on how to create these, I'd be very grateful.

[KiaraRawks]

I believe you would have to create the meshes yourself by cloning an ea shell and importing it into a modeling software to create your own. You can find tutorials on object meshing under Create > The Sims 3 > Tutorials.

[mixedanthony]

Thanks man! I've been trying to test it out, but I havent had a ton of luck. The skin for a set of buildings I downsized are absolutely disastrous, but I believe I'm getting the hang of it some. I appreciate your help.

[simsample]

Some discussion and information here that might be useful:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/321648.page

[Yellow_fin]

get skecthup pro export .obj put in milkshake job done :) well no it wont be but having sketch up pro is a big help as it has more exports, you can get a plugin for free sketch up but that doesn't go to well

[High Plains Gamer]

Sketchup Pro is a pretty expensive program, and is unnecessary for doing a Collada to Sims 3 conversion. There are free programs which will do a better job. Read the link Sim Sample gave you very carefully. I think it tells you, in a very shorthanded way, how to do it.

[VanSnooten]

Google sketch-up 8 is so much easier than any other CAD software, I have found that the free OBJ exporter is fine as apposed to paying for the pro version. I have had to export to blender to convert to fbx though otherwise the UV map goes wierd in tsrw. Google 3dwarehouse has plenty of premade buildings from Tower Bridge to the Vatican and even a few Twin Towers models, most already textured though need tweaking.

Best sketchup plugins site is sketchucation.com does require registration but is full of the best plugs and all updated regularly.

[High Plains Gamer]

Google sketch-up 8 is so much easier than any other CAD software, I have found that the free OBJ exporter is fine as apposed to paying for the pro version. I have had to export to blender to convert to fbx though otherwise the UV map goes wierd in tsrw. Google 3dwarehouse has plenty of premade buildings from Tower Bridge to the Vatican and even a few Twin Towers models, most already textured though need tweaking.

Best sketchup plugins site is sketchucation.com does require registration but is full of the best plugs and all updated regularly.

Yes, but can you name even one cretor who has successfully used Sketchup to make a Sims 3 building?

The trouble with Sketchup is it is intended for one purpose and one purpose only: to make buildings for Google Earth. It is not designed as a tool for game making.

So, if you make a simple wall with Sketchup, don't be surprised if you end up with 50 faces, along with 50 textures.