102 replies to this topic

[Crass]

The October Contest Theme: MIDNIGHT EXPRESS


Your Sim has a secret wish to sneak onto the Midnight Express. It only rolls into Sim City once in a blue moon, under the protective cover of night. What will it look like? Where will it go? When will it return? And why won’t any of the elder Sims talk about it?


The particular rules for this month's building contest are as follows:


1. ALL lots permitted (residential, community, etc.), though this theme may be best for a community or business lot.

2. Your lot must feature a train (the “Midnight Express”). How you create it is entirely up to you. Be as creative as possible and interpret the theme/style as you wish.

3. Your lot(s) must be fully furnished and decorated.

4. You may submit your lot(s) until October 31, 2008. Judging will occur promptly on November 1, 2008.



The following rules apply to all of our monthly contests:


1. You may use custom content and game cheats to place objects. Due to the problem of Maxis recolors not packaging correctly, we are no longer requiring lots to be uploaded to TSR. Therefore, you may use any custom content you wish in your lots, as you are not expected to upload your lot to TSR.

2. Speaking of uploading, if you do plan to upload your lot to TSR, please do not do it until the winner has been decided. Whoever the winner is earns the right to list in their lot description that they are that month's winner of the S2HBAA Monthly Contest.

3. You may enter more than one lot, but remember that we judge based on quality, not quantity. Therefore, we recommend you only submit one or two lots per monthly contest.

4. You cannot submit a lot that you’ve previously built or previously entered in another contest. All lots must be original and made expressly for this month’s S2HBAA contest.

5. When you are ready to present your lot for judging, simply post at least 10 screenshots of different aspects of it. If you have special areas that you think we should look at more carefully, you may post as many additional photos as you find appropriate (we love photos!!). We prefer photos to be presented using a site such as Photobucket since it is very easy and fun to view the photos, but if you choose to use TSR’s photo attachment option, please post them all at one time so that they don't get separated between other entrants' photos. Also, take your photos carefully, as that's all we have to go by when we judge!

6. In your post, please also list the following information: Name of Lot and a Small Description of the Lot.



All right, that's how it goes! Extra special thanks to Pickle123, who started the monthly contest!

If you are interested in participating, please leave a comment to let me know so that I can determine how many judges we may need.

Good luck, everyone! I can't wait to see your lots!

Hyacinthe (Crass)

[Mirraaj]

Definitely me! I've already started. Looking forward to this.

Mirraaj.

[grandmajam_of6]

Count me in too. Will start this weekend.

GrandmaJAM

[Elut]

I might want to try this one.

[cfoley1215]

I'm in!

[grandmajam_of6]

Crass said:

I'm going to keep the title of the theme because I want the classic interpretation to remain---and especially the emphasis on the "Midnight" part, since October is always our month for a spooky, Halloween-type theme.

Thanks!

:)

I've built a beautiful victorian train station (yes I've been at it for HOURS!) and manage the train cars with no problem...it's the engine that's killing me at this point. It's a shame I don't know how to do custom contents.:( All I need is a sideways enclosed cylinder. <Sigh> I may just go with what I have.

This is supposed to be scary? I may have to go back to the drawing board for that.:eek:

[Mirraaj]

It okay to make custom content? Say - Like a whole train? Because I have a good idea.

Mirraaj.

[Goombac]

Finally. I've been waiting for a challenge like this.

[selina012]

At the risk of sounding totaly stupid, what am I actually building here? I am not familiar with the midnight express. Am I building a train station or a train? And how does the "spookyness" come into it?

[Mirraaj]

I'm going to pull out. I don't have time and it is really tricky.

Sorry.

Mirraaj.

[grandmajam_of6]

selina012 said:

At the risk of sounding totaly stupid, what am I actually building here? I am not familiar with the midnight express. Am I building a train station or a train? And how does the "spookyness" come into it?

Selina,

"2. Your lot must feature a train (the “Midnight Express”). How you create it is entirely up to you. Be as creative as possible and interpret the theme/style as you wish."

I was the one that added the rest. Mirraaj and I were discussing how to create a train engine. It was one of my stumbling blocks. The pookyness came out in a message from Crass about it being October and y'all always do spooky for Halloween, but then she did leave it up for interpretation. Sorry for the confusion.

GrandmaJAM

[selina012]

Thanks for the explanation GradndmaJAM :D It does sound a bit beyond my building skills, but I will have a go and see what I can come up with!

[grandmajam_of6]

selina012 said:

Thanks for the explanation GradndmaJAM :D It does sound a bit beyond my building skills, but I will have a go and see what I can come up with!

Selina,

I can relate. Still working on the train aspect. The cars aren't too bad considering they have wagon wheels for train wheels. The nautical wheels just wouldn't do. The main problem I had was with the engine. I think I worked that out. It's only taken me three days to do it. Now I just have to add some chaachees and take some pics then I'm done I think...UNLESS I think of some other hair brained thing to add.:) So far, I've spent 21 hours on this challenge. Most of that time was shaking my head and saying..."That ain't right." or "That would be neat and how can I do that?"

GrandmaJAM

[grandmajam_of6]

Goombac said:

Finally. I've been waiting for a challenge like this.

Can't wait to see what you come up with.

GrandmaJAM

[grandmajam_of6]

Mirraaj said:

I'm going to pull out. I don't have time and it is really tricky.

Sorry.

Mirraaj.

Oh NO! Say it ain't so Mirraaj! Come on honey jump back on the train. Let's go on an adventure. My imagination was overloading my capabilities. Simply. Simplify.

GrandmaJAM

[Mirraaj]

grumble.

You know how to twist me.
I'll see what I can do.

Mirraaj.

[2Questionable]

Mirraaj, right now I really wish I had your mesh making skills! I have an idea of what I want to do, and how I want to do it, but there's about three things that I can't seem to find... :( May have to alter my plans if I can't find one particular piece... this is definitely a tough contest theme!

[Elut]

I´ve done it, it´s 179.344 and it is a community lot and that´s all I´m going to say, just watch;):
http://s248.photobuc...mview=slideshow

..oh and read

Elut

[grandmajam_of6]

OMG Elut! Fabulous! What a concept great job. I was just coming to upload mine when I saw your post.

GrandmaJAM

[cadiva]

Elut said:

I´ve done it, it´s 179.344 and it is a community lot and that´s all I´m going to say, just watch;):
http://s248.photobuc...mview=slideshow

..oh and read

Elut

Elut once more I am staggered by your imagination and your building skills. Utterly fabulous.