Full Winter SF - Constructive Criticism Sought

Iseen it before... In Petergreen's thread
Very nice, I don't see anything to improve, its simply stunning town
I like what did you do with crashed UFO (Halloween version- on the screen)
Xmas area, Halloween area..... beautiful.... and mental hospital behind the SP sign....

Pull_Up_A_Chair wrote:
I don't know how you have so much in your town without it looking cramped.

The only actual criticism (believe me, I'm only saying this because you asked) is the very back, top with all the steps by the Springfield sign... It's kind of like they are fighting each other due to the differing directions. BUT, please take this with a grain of salt. Others are going to disagree with me.

I'm always amazed by how you keep everything in order...but it's so elaborate. Quite a good balancing act if you ask me.

Thank you for your feedback. I think you may be right about the "too many" step hedges. I did it because of trying to traverse down each side from there making me have to use so many in that corner. Perhaps I could make more of a "dam" out of chain fences to alleviate some of that issue. Again thank you

simbass7 wrote:
Iseen it before... In Petergreen's thread
Very nice, I don't see anything to improve, its simply stunning town
I like what did you do with crashed UFO (Halloween version- on the screen)
Xmas area, Halloween area..... beautiful.... and mental hospital behind the SP sign....

Yeahs, I put it in the complete panoramas, but though I could get better feedback here. I thought it would be cool to have the crashed UFO becoming a "3D Drive In." Wasn't the Mental Hospital behind the SF sign being a "mountain chalet" your idea? or was that someone else? Either way it was a totally borrowed idea. Thank you for the compliment. I am always amazing when I go to your town as well (and I love the image you posted in the General Discussion thread about stacking fences)

I simply love it! Especially the cemetery area! Hope one day mine will look that impressive!!

brettolmsted wrote:

Yeahs, I put it in the complete panoramas, but though I could get better feedback here. I thought it would be cool to have the crashed UFO becoming a "3D Drive In." Wasn't the Mental Hospital behind the SF sign being a "mountain chalet" your idea? or was that someone else? Either way it was a totally borrowed idea. Thank you for the compliment. I am always amazing when I go to your town as well (and I love the image you posted in the General Discussion thread about stacking fences)

Yes it was, that's why I mentioned it ;)
I'm glad you liked it and was able to use it so well :thumbup:
Great stuff

Wow. What a beautiful town. Church and Drive-In is awesome. Also like the idea of turning the cracker factory into a hotel.

How long would it take to stitch a town?

Just a few thoughts...

Where is the Escalator, Popsicle Skyscraper and Magnifying Glass?

I feel the Kwik-E-Mart near the Volcano is out of place along with the Ice Rink.

IMO, Squidport needs more decorations. Sucks/Fit to be the Springfieldians that walks your Squidport, so much walking :-)

carpediem116 wrote:
Wow. What a beautiful town. Church and Drive-In is awesome. Also like the idea of turning the cracker factory into a hotel.

How long would it take to stitch a town?

Just a few thoughts...

Where is the Escalator, Popsicle Skyscraper and Magnifying Glass?

I feel the Kwik-E-Mart near the Volcano is out of place along with the Ice Rink.

IMO, Squidport needs more decorations. Sucks/Fit to be the Springfieldians that walks your Squidport, so much walking :-)

Thank you for your thoughts. First, it took about 2-3 hours to fully stitch the whole town (I used Adobe Illustrator). As for the other things. I agree with you on the KEM near the Volcano, but that is my ode to the "Who needs the KEM" episode where Apu and Homer climb to the top of a mountain in a failed attempt to get Apu his job back. I also agree with the Ice Rink, but haven't quite figured out where to put it at permanently and when I do, I will put the Pumpkin house in its place.

I do have the Escalator, Popsicle Skyscraper and Magnifying Glass and even recently brought the escalator out of storage (like yesterday), but they are all in storage as I do not want them blocking anything which tends to happen unless I have them on the top or right of town which is where I also have my terracing (though perhaps I could put the popsicle tower in place of the Mountain KEM).

I also agree SP needs more color and decorations. It is somewhat difficult with the way I laid it out with all the railings taking up an extra block of space meaning I can't put item up against them. That is what I think will be next on my redesigning as I try to make it more colorful (though I do love my long and mazed SP overall design)

Pull_Up_A_Chair wrote:
I don't know how you have so much in your town without it looking cramped.

I totally thought the same.

I think this is the first time I see a full panorama of your SF. I'm blown away!

:thumbup:

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you need to design my town! :P One of my favorite towns!

I love it! It looks terrific. Great work!!

I particularly love the quadrangle of shops, the waterfront, Christmas and Halloween land, and of course Rockefeller center. i.e., I love pretty much everything.

I agree that the hedges look a little busy, but the winter trimmings are contributing to that. And I think you're right, incorporating some straight walls (e.g., with chain fences) rather than stepped hedges in some spots will help with it. You could also add steps to the stairs, e.g., with boardwalk benches, though you've probably considered that already.

Awesome work again

One more general suggestion, when using step hedges / walls, I find that you can sell the 3D illusion better if there is at least one space of separation between the top hedge and any items on the top level. This makes the top level of hedges resemble another step rather than a wall that sits above the top level.

To better observe this, in front of the Kwik-E-Mart, see how it looks if you remove the 4th line of cobblestone walls.

And behind the church, try moving the 3 closest trees on the right left and back one space and compare how it looks to the to the trees farther down.