New resident looking for comments

Hi everyone,

I'm pretty new to SL and so far I think I like building the most, although frustrating at times. Here are some pictures of what will hopefully be a new store *sometime* in the future. The build is located on the new continent in Tuliptree (74,86). It's still a work in progress, however I would really love some constructive criticism so I can get better.

Thanks in advance!

Miko

Ok. I like the overall design and shape.

Now... On to tear it apart.


You need to put some random rotation and positioning on the plants, to make it more organic and less repetitive.

You need to find cycling textures that are not as obvious that they repeat.

I know you're not done, but I say this now: Don't leave blank textures on much of anything. Even glass can use a very thin random cloud texture to help it out.

A commendable build!

Or, if you do leave blank textures, make the prims shiny.

Mmmmm, shiny.

Yeah, shiny...of course a majority of SLers have objects set to low rez and shiny and bump disabled, so might not work out

A majority of users have shiny disabled!? What is the world coming to? Shinyness makes all things better.

Oh right, that build. I like the design, though it seems a bit too bland. I agree, textures would help. And of course when you fill it, it will look better. The patio reminds me of Sim Town, where I would always line everything everywhere with yucca plants.

for a store, i like that you are making it reasonably accessible (roof entrance, more than 1 door) and spacious (high ceilings are good with the current GUI-view system we have). And remember -- you can also make your glass panes phantom so that people who want to come in can get in easily (you may already be doing that).

You do not, however, need to feel like you have to put a texture/glass on every opening. An open-air feel can be nice too. After all, in SL, you only have bad weather if you WANT to have bad weather. (heheh I do like eltee's rain/snow system)

I like the shape and overall design.

Some comments:

Plants:
Less. You've probably spent twice as many prims on identical bushes as you have with the rest of the build. It's a waste of prims. You're better off downloading a new texture and just making the bushes a continuous square block.

Roof:
It seems every newbie build is flat-roofed. This is contruction style that we left behind in the 50s and 60s. Perhaps a sloped roof? A Second floor with a different shape?

Ambiance:
We all have this temptation to build the building and neglect the area. I would recommend stuff to really round out your property. Some ideas:
- Some flora away from the building
- A walkway to the entrance
- Decorative items out front: fountains, statues, even a nice stone tablet with your logo / sign for your shop?

Otherwise, remember you have the most difficult part done - a building's shape I always find the trickiest part, whereas the rest seems to fall into place more easily.

Best of luck!

It looks kinda TSO to me...don't be afraid to play with rotations...

Well I concur with the comments about plants. Looking at the waste of prims is painful. In SL less is always more. Particularly in residential construction where you canhave 37 prim beds.

Another glaring defect is the repetition on your stone work, It looks like a grid, not tiling. I would say that you should set your textures so that you have far fewer on a surface. I rule is usually 1-3 on the shorter axis and a consistent number on the longer axis: In other words if an object is twice ans long as it is wide, it should have twice as many prims lengthwise.


I like the overall shape of the building, its interesting and not boxy. Another poster mentioned a problem with flat roofs, and I disagree that the style was done in the 60's. There arr significant structures built now that emply a flat roof. What is important is that you use shape to make your building interesting. You have done that here. But rther than spend huge prims on bushes.. why not add exterior structural elements to make the building more interesting?

Now In SL we are not limited by physics, so we can have vast unsupported interior slabs. That being so, Why to we need to spend prims on well spaced exterior support, since a roof does not need a wall to keep it up. With no weather, roofs, walls and windows lose any fucntion other than defining the shape of the structure. Don't be afraid to explore. leaving space open is your freind, as it conserves prims.

I'm happy to see a newbie build that isn't a box, and an effort to get some more innovative store designs!

Don't listen to all these plant-rotation fastists who hate TSO. Put your plants in reassuring, predictable rows that defy Mother Nature. Many TSO refugees will come to your store finding it a soothing relief from all the chaos in SL.

Now, some practical considerations based on my experience renting and selling commercial spaces and the buildings on them, some of which I learned from Milo Bukowski's thread on malls:

-- make sure your textures are 512 or less to reduce sim lag, 1024 lags the sim 16 times more
-- have entrances on all sides, because people come from all sides, and they hate searching for all this in a building rezzing up around them creating obstacles
-- roof fly-ins are good if they will not be landing on a shopper underneath
-- have the vendor space clearly visible as an element of the build -- through floor tiles, stalls, walls, etc.

I really appreciate everyone taking the time to respond and offer their opinions and the helpful ideas! I'll see what I can do to polish it up!

Thanks again everyone!

Miko

*ahem*

Flat roofs are still around and are gaining popularity again in areas where there is little to no load placed on the roof by water or snow.


Overall, the build is very well done and laid out. I like the linear aspect of the plants, but maybe insert a different type to break up the monotony a bit while retaining the clean, modern feel. Maybe a similar plant, but taller...

Anyway.. nice job.

Hey! Some of us were anal and rotated our TSO plants for slight variation! I resent the fact you never noticed!

And Juro is right, Flat roofs are VERY in this season, don't you read Cosmo?

It does look strangely TSO... I like it!

Thanks again for the comments everyone, it's been really helpful.

The funny part is I have never played TSO! I have no idea what TSO looks like.

I agree that a bit of slope in the roof would be nice. Perhaps make it slope upwards toward the front. But I disagree with making an unsupported roof. Sure, it's possible to make things float in SL, but I believe that most people find floating things to be less visually appealing. I certainly do. Perhaps that is our silly-yet-prevalent sense of gravity kicking in.

I'd like to see a few carefully placed accents, such as red tile, or brass, or gold metal band in a very tasteful plan (your build is so NOT tacky!).
I really feel the "welcome" thing working

Oh, and maybe a sign inside under the roof ports saying something like "Caution -- Avators arriving", or "Landing area".


(Sighing.... Someday, I hope to have a store...)

I could be wrong, but I think if the sign you're going to make is bold-lettered, and in something spunky like bright red, that'd be a good way to attract customers...It will stand out. But it's up to you...just make sure it's not the same color as the rest of the build

here's what I look for in a store, wide doorways and an obvious entrance point, you have done good with that!!! It doesn't need to be a masterpeice but it must be ergonomic or rather avatanomic : things designed for the use and comfort of avatars.

It is so fustrating to teleport or fly to a store and not be able to get into it because there is a tiny door somewhere and no roof access (i always check for that if i can't find the door) and have the store not look like a house while your customers are rezzing in, as I might just not have the patience to wait until it rezzes if I think the store is gone and Ma and Pa Sexballs have a love nest there now.

You should check out Heart Wishbringers store, it is swanky with maximum access points, i am a repeat customer because I know I will be shopping shortly not searching for the store amoungst 5 other rezzing buildings...