1930s New York Build

Trying to make a 1930s New York. Ive got one block done and it will be a pretty sizeable chunk once the map is done.

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Feel like I got he basic feel down but its missing something, just cant tell what. Suggestions wanted!

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This 1930s New York build looks great! I recommend adding things on the roof and adding more decorations around! Nice job on this! How long did it take to create? Will you use it for anything?

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Maybe thats what its missing. Doesnt feel lived in. Ill throw some smoke stacks on the top of some buildings with smoke. Maybe some carts and such around too. Thank you! Currently 5 hours into this build so far.

I think you have the basic idea of trying to make it feel lived in (love the posters, maybe repeat a few posters especially if theyre ads (makes sense why they would be spammed out)
Buildings are way too short, you could not conceivably own a 2 story building in NYC, even in the 30s. Make them at least 3 stories as a minimum.
Lack of inconsistency with trashcans, might be annoying to implement but would really help with the lack of “humanness”. Maybe add a few presets like ones where the lid is misaligned (too much trash) or non-existent? Maybe even topple a few over but dont overdo it.
Building windows are wayyyyyyyy too flat, windows are typically thinner than their surrounding walls, even if just by a bit.
Generally it seems like you know what youre doing, just you need to do more of what youre doing. But really the biggest issue with a New York build is probably the really short buildings unless youre modelling it after a specific street in which lack of background is probably the issue.

Trash can idea is also good. I dont think im trying to go for a downtown Manhattan with huge skyrises. More of in the surrounding boroughs with shorter building. I can try and implement more taller buildings for sure. Also it might be hard to tell but the windows do have a little depth. But maybe not enough. Thank you for your feedback!

idk if it’s too early for this but maybe consider lighting. new york is kinda associated with its good night life and bright, colourful lights so may make th lighting in ur game reflect this.

so far so good tho, keep it up!

whats its missing is good lighting and more detail on the street, maybe add smoke/fog, grey lighting and a dirtier street, the street feels empty and too clean

Definitely need to figure out how to dirty up the street. But since then we have added more details


Heres some more photos of what we have done. Now we are going to go in and add the rest of the fine details. Any recommendations for lighting?

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I would try adding some variety to your textures, your structures look good but look rather bland since they all share the same brick texture.

1930 new York was hit pretty hard with the stock market crash of 1929 with widespread poverty and unemployment, so you could try and resemble that by making it look dirty, rough the place up, add some grime and dirt, chipped paint, cracked walls, roads, sidewalks and concrete, etc, this also helps with my first critique by adding more variation to each structure, there’s lots of beauty in imperfection.

lastly, I would give it a more gloomy atmosphere (after all the 1930’s NY was a particularly gloomy place) I’d give it a cloudy or rainy atmosphere & lighting.

Overall the build is good but I definitely see some room to improve :+1:

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