The Old New Babbage

[Rip Wirefly]

I’m not here to harp or complain, or anything of that sort, just bring something to everyone’s attention. Last night Greg Merryman led me into the beta grid and I was shown something quite amazing. New Babbage Square and Palisades, from around one year ago. The land was the same, as was the layout, but the builds were quite different then what is in babbage today.

The first thing that hit me when I teleported in, dirt, the place was far from clean, as an industrial place should be. I looked about, a few of the builds that are still here today were there as well, the Mason Horta hotel, the steam works, city hall, the Paleozoic Museum, though it was far larger than it is today. What struck me was not that those structures still exist today, but the ones around them that are not. So much industry, smoke was seen across the skyline, as should be in an industrial city. As well, the builds, they were not all the most detailed or well built, but what they all had going for them was that they all fit together. Builds did not look like they were different from the one next door, they went together, they fit. It did not look like a bunch of puzzle pieces from different puzzles thrown together. The stores were gritty, the atmosphere just felt like the air was dirty, the city appeared as if it was covered in a layer of dirt, and I loved it.

I am still relativly new here, in my opinion. When I came to babbage it was a completely different monster, the place was clean. Houses were everywhere, though there are no problems with homes in a city, but as well there were so many stores, and each one was pristine. The few factories remaining looked as if they were not in order. It was a different babbage then what I saw it had been. I think somewhere people stopped focusing on the concept of babbage and more on the commercial part of it. I am not saying we ban stores, and cafes, and houses, and bars, but instead attempt to try to recapture the essence of babbae. Learn what your sim’s purpose was, talk to the residents who have been around longer, and find out what babbage is really about. I have been chatting with some older residence as of late, and have been learning much more about what babbage is about.

There is a reason industria is in our motto.

[Greg Merryman]

I think the only reason Caledon is used is being as the yard stick is due to the fact that it does not have a strongly enforced covenant. That appeals to some Some of the builds in Caledon are awesome... but then there's a jarring out pf place build right next door. I think it's relevant to the part of the discussion that deals with how strict the covenant should be. Note to any Caledon residents reading this: I'm not criticizing your sims, but I simply hope New Babbage takes a different path.

[Edward Pearse, Duke of Argylle]

The enforcement of building covenants is a debated topic in Caledon as well. But there are ways of saying "here's an example of a place that does not strictly enforce the covenant".

Most of the criticism here seems to boil down to "Caledon eeewwww" which comes across as nasty.

[Artemisia Paine]

Caledon is Caledon. Some parts of it are really pretty, and I always enjoyed getting lost there.

But there's a reason I settled in Babbage. Same reason I love certain neighborhoods in Providence.

[Polgara Scribe]

Okay, so now that all the complaints have been voiced. Does anyone have a solution? A way to combine visions? Its very clear to me that passion and emotions are high on this subject but unless there are some solutions we are most likely going to have 15 pages of complaining everytime something changes.

[Artemisia Paine]

I think we're trying to work towards a solution by voicing our concerns...
Trying to figure out what went awry and when, and how we can tactfully fix it. One solution I have (and forgive me if someone said this already) would be to require new builds to adhere more strictly to the old guidelines. Explain nicely that we're trying to rebuild.

[Polgara Scribe]

I would agree with this. I think that the community guidelines should be strictly adhered to. I also think that there should be some sort of way that we can voice our displeasure with a particular build without overly offending anyone or causing a debate.

[Artemisia Paine]

Did I miss something?

[Edwardo Despres]

I didn't really notice that part of it, but I have to agree; a slight haze over a coal using city makes sence.

One thing I did notice is a more complex construction. Some of the buildings are the same as before, but there are lots of new ones, and many have a more distinctly steam feel to them compaired to the more Neo-Victorian feel of the old Babbage. Somehow, the new buildings and devices feel a little truer to many of the steam cities I see in books and such.

[Grendel Footman]

late to this thread, but just putting in my 2 cents, I came to babbage about not quite a year ago and really do like it, but yeah, would love to see it more dirty and industrial, the builds that really appeal to me the most are the steamed ones.
as for caledon, it's nice, i really haven't gone much further than their steamsky city, and greystoke when Miss Aya still had her cottage there, however

[Sir ArthurConan Doyle]

I am embarrassed to admit that I have never been able to understand Steampunk architecture. I was one of the original "founders" of New Babbage (albeit a clueless newbe founder). I have had Steampunk architecture explained to me many times, usually "Victorian + Science Fiction." I look at some buildings and I see something that does indeed look like the old photographs of 19th Century England. Other buildings look as if they could be illustrations from a Jules Verne novel. And I look at some buildings, like the current town hall, that do not seem to be Victorian nor Science Fiction, despite resembling a similar building in a recent steampunk movie.

When I decided to return to New Babbage I found a large prefab labeled "steampunk" by its creator, but I was well aware of my inability to really recognize the genre. Since we were between mayors, I invited some New Babbage old timers to examine my potential purchase to be sure that it would fit in. With their input I moved forward. Much to my surprise, after the new mayor was selected, he informed me that I had selected something that did not fit in the sim. What to do? The proposed solution was to place the building 1000 meters in the air. I found this to be acceptable because I am more interested in the people of NB than I am in the architecture.

I am still open to further instruction if someone can explain to me how our Town Hall is Victorian Steampunk and my new abode is not or vice versa.

In any case, perhaps as a community, we might take on the task of setting forth some clearly understandable guidelines for future citizens. I am not suggesting that anyone has to change their build, but with clear guidelines, the turnover in New Babbage will get us all on the same page over time.

[Kyle Oller]

Bummer on the build! I had to remove my prized (and expensive) airship, but no worries, I understand the reasoning and like the image we have going so far. I agree it could be a bit dirtier XD I haven't seen your build, but I'll check it out next time I'm in-world.

On the subject of the Town Hall.....I don't think it fits in Babbage at all, not to criticize the build itself, it's kinda an eyesore. And come on, flying up a shaft?? Anyway, I believe the current town hall will be condemned soon, and Mr. Clean will be buildin' a new one for us. Hows about an update on that? XD

[Baron Klaus Wulfenbach]

Sir Arthur, Herr Oller,

I have heard (or overheard) many complaints about the current City Hall, not merely for design but for functionality. There have been many calls for the previous building to be re-created, or something in its style.

I am appreciative that my building seems to be generally acceptable. Vice Consul Lowey's builds consider hardiness against lab accidents first of all, and overall functionality second.

Yrs.,

Klaus Wulfenbach, Baron