New Level (Advanced) - Road Construction

sfseaman · Post by **sfseaman** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:27 pm

Some people believe that Wisconsin is blessed with all four seasons. Those of us that live here know that there are only two seasons: winter and road repair.

This is a Wonderland view of my trip to work each day. This level should work ok in terms of the puzzles even if you don't load the extra content, but much of the "meaning" will be lost. In order to play the level property you will need to have Popo's excellent hospital/clinic which is available at:

http://www.pcpuzzle.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1197

if you don't already have it. It should be loaded into a directory labeled POPOH1HOSP in your CustomHouses directory.

You will also need custom objects title Construction Objects, located at:

http://www.pcpuzzle.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1260

the zip file will automatically create a subdirectory titled sfsconst1 if you unzip it into your CustomModels directory. If your zip file does not do this, you will need to manually create that subdirectory.

Please let me know if you have problems with this level or the custom content.

Steve

malcdelsol · Post by **malcdelsol** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:43 pm

Hi sfseaman,

I already had popo's hospital built

so downloaded as said and played the level no problems at all

Good little level and REALLY GOOD custom stuff

Malcdelsol

janetgalle · Post by **janetgalle** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:05 pm

Steve:

Another great level. All the custom models looked great!!

You have been working too hard....Take a dip in popos pool!

Thanks,

jg

sfseaman · Post by **sfseaman** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:13 pm

Yeah, I really like that pool. I'm already trying to think of how I want to use it. Thanks for the nice comments so far.

Steve

Carolyn · Post by **Carolyn** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 10:44 pm

Great level, steve..... I downloaded the models and the hospital... they looked very good... I of course took the wrong detour and got trapped... So I checked the ice over good to see which one I should take... Finally made it... I liked the new models... they were fun to look at...

All in all very good level!..

jperleevt · Post by **jperleevt** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 11:17 pm

I love the way you are using the custom models. Great level and storyline too.

Jen

popo · Post by **popo** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 8:29 am

I really loved this level, Steve. The models and the messages were great. And I liked the use of my 'clinic'

I'd really like to know where you're getting your models from, they look so much better than mine

About my pool, I was going to wait until I'd got some garden furniture to go with it, but if you can find some furniture you can have the pool now.

PS. I have got a gazebo that I'm having trouble skinning if you'd care to have a look. It looks like a brown blob at the moment, it's supposed to be wood. Your expertise would be more than welcome.

sfseaman · Post by **sfseaman** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 3:16 pm

I also ran across an unskinned gazebo. I have very little experience with skinning, so probably wouldn't be of much help, although I am trying to learn. So far I have mostly downloaded stuff and resized, or rotated it.

I have found these two sites helpful, you may already know them:

http://www.3dcafe.com/asp/freestuff.asp
http://the3dstudio.com/models.aspx

I'm really enjoying the things you have been doing.

Steve

popo · Post by **popo** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 4:03 pm

Yes, I've been to both of those sites. I've also downloaded tons from www.turbosquid.com They have thousands of free models but they aren't in categories so it's a bit of a trawl to find what you want.

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 4:20 pm

This is VERY weird. I've downloaded the house & models for this level. For some odd reason the hospital shows up as the default house. I've checked & rechecked - everything correct, correct directories, etc. - even tried deleting & starting over - went into the editor, and the correct directory is selected. I even opened up the hospital file - and can see the way the sides, etc., are supposed to look. I've tried putting this house into another level - with no other houses except the hospital; still comes up the default house. The road construction items are working fine. I've downloaded Popo's general store house - that works fine; MS custom houses - work fine. I'm TOTALLY confused!!!

This is the first weird thing I've had happen since I've been using the deluxe. I can't think of ANY reason this should be happening. Not a major issue I guess, just VERY frustrating!

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 4:28 pm

BTW - before moving to Arizona, we lived in Wisconsin for several years. Yes, TWO seasons - only we called them Winter & the 4th of July! Road construction was NEVER-ENDING & the roads were still bad!!! Still, once in awhile I miss living there! Until Winter comes - then I'm glad I'm here!

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 4:35 pm

OKAY - HOW'S THIS FOR STUPIDITY??? I had the hospital file in the Custom MODELS directory instead of the Custom Houses directory. HOW DUMB CAN YOU GET? I said I "checked & rechecked" - obviously NOT GOOD ENOUGH! I was going to just delete the entire post, but decided to leave it in in case someone else does the same stupid thing I did - then they won't have to post & look stupid like I did!!

Everything's looking good now! VERY good!!

Carolyn · Post by **Carolyn** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 4:44 pm

Are u looking at the rite house majic?... At first I thought I didn't get it either... but then I realized I was looking at the wrong house... I did get the hospital... when I looked at the rite house... its really cute... Steve did a good job with this...

Ohh by the way... continuous road construction is called.. 'Job Security'... we have that here with the bridge between Kentucky and Cincinnati... They have been working on it for 20 years...

... Then when they get it done... (which is never).. they tear it down and work on it some more...

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 4:49 pm

Oh Carolyn - looks like you posted this before you read my last post - probably posting at the same time or something. You can see I've solved the problem. Just a matter of being temporarily brainless. Uh-Oh "Dunce of the Day" award - oh no - I don't want that again!!!

Carolyn · Post by **Carolyn** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 4:58 pm

hahaha.... yes majic... I noticed that... And I think I get the dunce of day.. cuz I was looking at the wrong house...

... And that was really .... STUPID!

sfseaman · Post by **sfseaman** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 5:05 am

Majic --

I think it actually is something weird with this level, I was doing the same thing for a while when I was designing the level. Took me quite a while also before I figured it out. I prefer to think of it as brain semi-retirement.

Steve

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 5:27 am

sfseaman wrote:I prefer to think of it as brain semi-retirement.
Steve

Thanks for making me feel better anyway! Being in "brain semi-retirement" sounds LOTS better than DUNCE!!! I LOVE your construction models - I can't wait to use them in a new level - however, I will wait until a few more people have the hang of this. Your palm trees and construction saw horses are SO COOL! I MUST be patient!! (Very out of character for me)

eeyore31 · Post by **eeyore31** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 11:53 am

OK.....I'm ready to suffer the concequences----I'll be DB (dumb blond) for the WEEK if someone helps figure this out. I downloaded ALL the custom houses and objects (I believe in the correct folders now) and (no more folder in folders) and I cannot see ANY of the custom stuff. I just looked at Road Construction, no hospital, and a lot of PILLARS around so I know that's not right. sfseaman's Lichinuts ---the same, all pillars. Oh boy, I guess I'll go grocery shopping and I hope while I'm gone someone smarter than me (which seems to be most of you) will help.

sfseaman · Post by **sfseaman** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 12:33 pm

Yikes this is hard! First of all, can DGB (dumb graying brunettes) join the club. I have misled some of you who were foolish enough to believe what I say. I have said in other places (I will try and find them and correct them) that if you have the option to hide extensions if the file type is known (which is the default), that you can see the extension if you try to rename the file. THIS IS WRONG! I was thinking that might be the problem eeyore was having, but before saying this I thought I should turn that option back on -- when I did this and tried renaming a file, the extension remains hidden.

So anyway, a possibility is that if Windows recognizes the file type (.lev, .lv5, .3ds, .jpg, etc) the file name will not show the extension when you look in the directory. In this case IF the extension is showing then the actual file name the system is seeing would be something like

"filename.jpg.jpg" which would not be recognized by wonderland.

I don't know if that is what is happening with eeyore, but you seem to have done the right things to eliminate other possible problems. You can check this by opening the directory. Then in the top menu choose

View ... Folder Options (Windows 98)
-OR-
Tools. . .Folder Options (Windows XP)

then choose the View Tab

There should be a line that reads:

Hide file extensions for known file types

If has a check mark, if you remove the check mark and then go back into the directory, you will be able to see what the full file name, with extension, is.

This may all be an unnecessary diversion if this is not the problem. Anyone else have any ideas?

Steve

popo · Post by **popo** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 1:43 pm

After you mentioned this the first time, a week or so ago, I went and unchecked the box so my extensions show now - they didn't before as I have XP.

I have never had trouble with the files in the past as I am used to having no extension showing, and you can see what type of file it is if you put your mouse pointer over the file.

The only problem I've had since is when I rename a file, I used to just type the name with no extension as the computer put that on for me, but now I have to type the extension too or the computer tells me I can't rename it.

So, to cut a long story short, if you know whether your computer hides extensions or not there shouldn't be a problem. If it hides them you should just see the file name, if it doesn't then you should see the file name and extension.

Simple.

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 3:01 pm

I don't know if this will help or not, but here's a picture of what your Custom Models directory should look like WITH THE EXTENSIONS SHOWING. If extensions are hidden, you won't see .jpg, .3ds, etc.

This may not help, but I thought I'd try anyway!

sfseaman · Post by **sfseaman** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 5:59 pm

eeyore --

Is any of this helping or are we off base?

Steve

eeyore31 · Post by **eeyore31** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:13 pm

Yup, that's what mine looks like......the testhouse Patrick put up....I see it, but the testcar one, nope. Oh boy, I don't know why I can't see them. I will check that file show all files thing you were talking about, maybe that will help.............

EDIT: nope, nothing helps...I'm about to give up....I wish you could see mine, but I don't know how to do that.
Keeping it simple, I just looked again, both the houses and models folders are set up the same.....but the test house from Patrick I see the swirly colored house on the left and it says the words right on it.....but the test car show, I see 4 pillars. DB

Davimad · Post by **Davimad** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:37 pm

Eeyore, I was getting myself into a right state over this.

My files looked a mess, yesterday I took everything out and started again!

NOW I HAVE EVERYTHING!

For the first time I have cars, instead of pillars, I don't know if maybe I inadvertently typed the wrong file name or something.

It's worth checking, maybe you wouldn't want the hassle of doing what I did so, have a look again.

One thing I did notice, the file for sfsbeach1 level, had a folder within a folder.
Soon got that sorted.

I have to say Steve, a job well done, loved the palm trees.
Can I take the turtle home? HAHAHA.

This level was so well laid out, it's great to see the new custom models.

Keep up the good work.

M.A.D.

sfseaman · Post by **sfseaman** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:38 pm

Just double checking --

are the custom objects in a CustomModels dierctory, and not the CustomHouses directory?

Steve

eeyore31 · Post by **eeyore31** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:54 pm

Yup, houses are in houses....objects are in models dir.......I did just notice though........when I go into windows explorer, click into wonderland deluxe/custom houses(or models)/then click open a folder (like the sfsbeach folder).....I see the different items, but the ones with the extention .3ds I cannot see----it wants to know "open with what?"
ALSO one of the folders with 4 different houses in it(all seem to be the same ext....2 I can see, and the other 2 I cannot!!

EDIT: P.S. I just played the cabin level of jg's and DID SEE the cabin AND the outhouse.....so I am seeing some things custom.....apparently some are in a different extention??????? maybe I don't have the right program that sees certain ones?????

sfseaman · Post by **sfseaman** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 10:30 pm

When you get the message "Open with what?" Windows is letting you know that it does not have a viewing or editing program associated with file type .3ds

This should not be a problem as Wonderland knows how to use those files. If you want to view the object outside of Wonderland, then you would need a 3-D modeling program (such as Milkshape which can import .3ds files). However, until you start doing your own custom objects you should not need this. (I first wrote unless, but given the fun - and frustration - some of us are having doing this I figured it's only a matter of time until others do it too)

This is very puzzling. Another thought: you could right click on the problem files, click on properties and note the file size. Compare that to the file size listed in the zip file, perhaps they are not unzipping properly, although I think that's unlikely.

I wonder if you should also post this problem to the general discussion forum, as there may be some other very smart people out there who may not be following the discussion in this particular topic.

Let's keep discussing this, there has to be an answer.

Steve

eeyore31 · Post by **eeyore31** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 10:39 pm

Thanks for trying so hard to help me Steve.
It's very frustrating indeed!!!
I'll try to figure out any similarities to those I cannot see to those I can.
Back to work tomarrow.....so I'll have to put this on hold 'til next weekend probably......boy this work stuff sure does interfer with Wonderland-world

twohappylane · Post by **twohappylane** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 5:09 pm

I loved all of the construction models you made for this level! I played it before I could "get" the custom models and when I finally had them, I went back and replayed it so I could get the total effect! Awesome!!! Thanks for a great level!