Author Topic: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis  (Read 4323 times)

Offline cheesey

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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #45 on: October 07, 2012, 02:15:18 pm »
Here's the second issue of NewsWhitewater.



Offline simlink ♔

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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #46 on: October 07, 2012, 11:33:25 pm »
I look forward to finding out how the conservation decision goes. Hopefully they decide not protect it, looks beautiful. :)

Offline cheesey

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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #47 on: October 08, 2012, 02:55:17 pm »
A new project has been started within the journal, which will "unify" the appearance of older updates, integrating them with newer ones. Also, many of the updates will be "decluttered" (removing any unnecessary graphics, etc). In addition the "cross-commenting" in the replies section of each update will be cleaner and easier to read. Replies from other sites will be posted in a smaller font, and quotes from previous updates will be removed. Also, the twitter page, which never really got anywhere, will be removed from updates and will be retired.

The "decluttering" stage will remove the main journal banner from each entry (meaning it will only be present in the introduction entry), leaving just the replies banner. Also, pictures larger than 1024x768 in previous updates will be scaled down.

In future updates, larger photo sizes will be used (1280x1024 or higher), and will be posted in high-definition PNG, with an 1024x768 posted on the forums linking to the larger version, each photo will also have brightness/contrast adjustments as well as bump-mapping to improve the quality, but will usually not have any more photoshopping than that, as I don't believe that excessive photoshopping actually makes a photo look worse. Also, over time, NewsWhitewater will be refined to look much more professional and less "rushed".

My aim for future updates is also to make them much more interactive, by retiring "the reader's opinion" and integrating off-site polls (since polls here can only be deleted by moderators...) into most issues that arise within the region. Also on occasion readers will be able to choose what happens in future updates. Finally, more integration within the three sites which this journal is posted on (cross-linking each site, for example) will happen.

Many of these operations will also be performed on the journal's web-site. There will be no more updates until the project is complete, but afterwards the next  mega-update (a thirty picture one), as well as the start of the Whitewater Run Mayoral Elections will take place.

You'll see that a few updates have already taken place, and more will gradually happen in the future. Also, I'd like to thank my readers for keeping this journal alive, especially since it isn't very well known, not being posted on the "big sites".


Offline cheesey

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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #48 on: December 10, 2012, 03:40:16 pm »
Here is some climate information on the region to keep this going until I can get an update done.

Whitewater is situated to the north of the continent of Durham. It is the fourth-largest region and least populated. The population surpassed 60,000 in December 2012. It is approximately 75% land and 25% water. One major river, two small forks and a very large floodplain which has been completely saturated for many years. The waters of this floodplain continue to rise every spring and autumn as large amounts of rain sweep across the area from the north coast.

Whitewater experiences long, very cold, wet, but highly variable winters and short, warm summers It receives, on average, nearly 65 inches of rain every year. It rains approximately 1/3 days during the year, most of the time usually in a slight drizzle, but often during the spring torrential downpours can last all day.

Climate Data for the city of Whitewater Run
Temperatures are indicated in F and C

January
Record High: 57 (13)
Record Low: -53 (-47)
Average High: 24 (-4)
Average Low: 12 (-11)

February
Record High: 68 (20)
Record Low: -54 (-48)
Average High: 30 (-1)
Average Low: 16 (-9)

March
Record High: 73 (22)
Record Low: -42 (-41)
Average High: 49 (-9)
Average Low: 30 (-1)

April
Record High: 80 (26)
Record Low: -30 (-34)
Average High: 57 (13)
Average Low: 40 (4)

May
Record High: 87 (30)
Record Low: -21 (-29)
Average High: 65 (18)
Average Low: 45 (7)

June
Record High: 92 (33)
Record Low: -10 (-23)
Average High: 70 (21)
Average Low: 55 (13)

July
Record High: 96 (35)
Record Low: -2 (-18)
Average High: 73 (23)
Average Low: 56 (13)

August
Record High: 94 (34)
Record Low: -5 (-20)
Average High: 71 (22)
Average Low: 61 (16)

September
Record High: 88 (31)
Record Low: -18 (-28)
Average High: 60 (15)
Average Low: 50 (10)

October
Record High: 72 (22)
Record Low: -24 (-31)
Average High: 60 (15)
Average Low: 50 (10)

November
Record High: 64 (17)
Record Low: -35 (-37)
Average High: 49 (9)
Average Low: 30 (-1)

December
Record High: 58 (14)
Record Low: -47 (-43)
Average High: 34 (1)
Average Low: 20 (-6)

Agriculture thrives during the summer due to frequent rains and warm temperatures. The climate is not suitable for farming starting in September and ending in either June or July (except for some cold-weather plants). July is the warmest month of the year (with high temps anywhere from the upper 60s to mid 70s, often higher or lower). January is the coldest month of the year (with high temps anywhere from the upper teens to the upper 20s). About 15 days out of the winter, temperatures are lower than -20F, and about 10-20 days during the summer, temperatures can be 80 or higher, beginning as early as May and ending as late as November.

During the winter months rain often turns to sleet and snow. Snow has happened on a few occasions even in July before during especially cold years, and there was one occasion where there was no snow at all for the entire year. This is due to Whitewater's extremely varying climate. During the summer, a sudden cold snap may occur, bringing high temperatures into the thirties or lower, and during the winter there may be little to no cold fronts, keeping temperatures around the 40s or higher.

Snowfall is a very well known problem and is familiar to settlers in the region as well as natives, who are prepared for sudden, heavy snowfall during the summer and winter. As much as 15 inches may fall in 5 hours and continue snowing for up to an entire day, non-stop. Often times, it will then begin snowing again the following night. This sort of weather has the ability to paralyze the entire region, stopping all trade, transportation, and commerce, knocking out power, and freezing water pipes, effectively shutting down the region. Because of this, constant preparation and construction made to withstand prolonged periods of bitterly cold weather are absolutely necessary.


Offline simlink ♔

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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #49 on: December 10, 2012, 08:50:17 pm »
Some great info, cheese. Nice to see you back. ;D
Filler can sometimes actually be quite interesting, like this. :)

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coming soon....
« Last Edit: December 17, 2012, 08:25:53 pm by cheesey »


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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #51 on: December 17, 2012, 08:30:15 pm »
Awesome, look forward to the full update. Looks like it will be awesome. :D

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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #52 on: December 20, 2012, 07:11:18 pm »

NewsWhitewater on Christmas Morning

It's the most wonderful time of the year! And what would a Whitewater Christmas be without snow? Snow can happen as early as July, but this year it's been quite scarce. Many residents thought that it would be a Christmas without snow (a very rare occasion), but on Christmas Eve, a wide and fairly powerful snowstorm moved across the region. The region's children would be able to wake up to a white Christmas after all.


The snow began to fall at about 8PM. Around this time, all the neighborhood's Christmas lights were on - this particular neighborhood has some of the best scenery in the entire city.


At about 10PM, as snow began piling up, the power went out across much of the city. As the wind began howling and drifts piled up, it became obvious that it might be too white of a Christmas....

The low temperature that night was all the way down to -28F (-33C). Much of the river completely froze, therefore causing the region's ferry system to discontinue service indefinitely...



That's all for now, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, also Happy End Of The World! :P


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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #53 on: December 20, 2012, 10:23:35 pm »
Wow, cheese, that was well worth the wait. :D The newspaper and the Christmas lights and snow effects are very well done.

Very, very awesome. I don't know what else to say. :D

Offline Ceafus 88

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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #54 on: December 26, 2012, 08:22:25 pm »
Very Very Very Nice updates!!!!

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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #55 on: January 01, 2013, 04:34:32 pm »


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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #56 on: January 01, 2013, 11:12:00 pm »
Awesome power centre! And could that be hinting at 100000 population? :O

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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #57 on: January 05, 2013, 04:53:27 pm »
Update 15 - A Look at Whitewater Run

The city of Whitewater Run hasn't been seen in a while. Since then, it has grown. But the east side faces problems with abandonment. Many new arrivals have packed up and simply moved to White Settlement or Goldspire. Some say this is because of the lack of commercial. Others say a new bridge needs to be built across the Great Whitewater River. Still, others say the problem is pollution, while many are saying that it's from a lack of healthcare and education. Either way, all of these problems are serious and need to be fixed.

The west side hasn't been doing so great either. The unemployment rate is at 7.5% and traffic is a major issue. The city has lost 20% of its total population (down from 50,000 to 40,000) in recent years. Something must be done, and must be done NOW, to save the city.



A power centre was developed on the far west end of town. It originally started out as two big-box stores next to each-other, but this then grew into a large, disorganized power centre that's hard to get around. This particular area employs 45% of all residents on the west side and on the east side, it employs nobody, except a few people.


Sprawl has become increasingly unavoidable. As shown by this picture, the middle class is the largest group in the city. Included in the lower class are 25% of Whitewater Run's residents, 65% are part of the middle class and the remaining 10% are in the upper class.


The entire western island is nearly settled with some small wooded areas left to zone. All farms have been pushed back to the west, and a farm community has popped up not far to the west. This will be shown in later updates.

Meanwhile, in Whitewater Run...







We shall see...

REPLIES

simlink - Thanks x3 :P
Frex_Ceafus - Danke :P
simlink - Signs point to yes :O

More signs of things to come, coming later! :P

Also, an "award" goes to link, for being the only one to recognize the 100k in the previous teaser, and to know what it means :P
« Last Edit: January 05, 2013, 04:58:41 pm by cheesey »


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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #58 on: January 06, 2013, 12:37:00 am »


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Re: Durham V2 - Whitewater Territory @ Simopsis
« Reply #59 on: January 15, 2013, 06:26:01 pm »
Update 17 - Progress in the City

The population is beginning to increase once again as progress is made in the urban renewal project. Things are getting better - and this is made obvious by the various mid and high rise hubs popping up across the city, massive expansion of retail, and even a new shopping mall. Let's take a look.


Once nothing but farmland, this area has been approved for apartment and condominium development.
I realize there are boxes hanging from the cranes, this is NOT a dependency issue, it's meant to be like that.


The primary CBD is located on the west side. The surrounding houses will be converted to mid rise apartments and high rise condominiums in the near future. Ferry service has been stopped temporarily because of the new development and residents are encouraged to use RailLink until the new bridge crossing the river is opened.


An example of one of the high-rise pods across the city.


The abandoned suburbs of the east side are being redeveloped. New parks, sound walls, schools, and bike trails made the east side much more attractive.


Despite the unfinished road connector and RailLink dealing with increasing traffic amounts, people from all over the region visit this shopping mall.


That'll be all for now. Replies coming in the next update! :P