Hello everyone, I’m REV0, and welcome to the Developer Diary of the brand new creator pack - Skyscrapers. In this post, I will talk in detail about the process, features, and development of this project.
Skyscrapers features 15 Signature buildings, inspired by different buildings and landmarks around the world. The majority of these buildings feature upgrades, allowing you to add the function of a service building. 23 Upgrades are added on top of 15 Signature assets, and 2 unique service buildings.
Concept
When I pitched Skyscrapers, I aimed to achieve two primary objectives. The first was to convey a profound sense of scale. From the outset, the pack was designed to showcase a diverse array of buildings that could give the feeling of landmark structures, redefining the skyline of urban landscapes. The second objective focused on the concept of vertical use.
The notion of using land for multiple purposes has become increasingly prevalent in modern urban planning and architecture. Skyscrapers are no longer constructed as single-purpose edifices; instead, they are designed as multifunctional complexes. This shift reflects broader trends in urbanisation and the need for efficient land use in densely populated areas. Modern skyscrapers often combine residential, commercial, and recreational spaces within a single structure. This integration allows for a vibrant community atmosphere, where people can live, work, and play in close proximity. Vertical use also promotes sustainability by minimizing the urban footprint. By building upwards, cities can preserve green spaces and reduce the need for extensive transportation networks. Focusing on these themes with the Skyscrapers Creator Pack was only possible by using the upgrade feature in Cities: Skylines II. This mechanic allowed me to create multi-purpose signature buildings that can contain one or multiple service buildings, amenities, or recreation areas in a single footprint.
Art
The rise of skyscrapers began in the late 19th century, driven by advancements in engineering and construction techniques. The introduction of steel frames and elevators made it feasible to build taller structures. Iconic examples like the Sears Tower or the Empire State Building not only transformed city skylines but also set the stage for the modern skyscraper movement.
Skyscrapers have become symbols of economic power and innovation. They represent the aspirations of cities and their inhabitants, often serving as focal points for cultural identity. As someone who made a theme-specific content pack, ‘Mid-Century Modern’ for Cities: Skylines, the International Style felt a natural progression from the 1950s to 1970s, where I personally think the design of skyscrapers and office space reached one of its highest points.
It was an architectural movement, flourishing from the 1920s to the 1970s. Defined by its functional and utilitarian design language, it truly shone in the realm of skyscrapers. This minimalist yet elegant approach transformed city skylines worldwide. The style's practicality and widespread use of steel and concrete, which also symbolized industrial progress, facilitated its global adoption. As a result, many skyscrapers and corporate headquarters were built in the image of the International Style.
You will find some skyscrapers in this pack that pay tribute to some of the iconic landmarks representing this elegant style, which shaped the look of many modern cities around the world.
The form of International Style also allowed me to tackle and artistically solve two technical challenges of Cities: Skylines II, shader and polygon count. Most of the contemporary skyscrapers are covered with glass curtain walls and feature parametric designs in modern days. While they look breathtaking in real life, they can also be very heavy on polygon count, which is not ideal for most games. The existing parameters of the glass shader and parallax interior shader were also important technical challenges, as curved surfaces increase the poly count greatly, and rendering curved faces on parallax interiors distorts the room. Adopting the International style and its rectangular design through the art design also solved the polygon and shader question elegantly.
Technical Features and Decisions
Mesh Optimisation
Keeping the triangle count well optimised was important for a pack featuring hundreds of meters high structures, covering entire city blocks. In order to keep some level of detailing on buildings, and triangle count acceptable, I decided to model elements of the building, instead of modeling the building as a single mesh.
This prefabricated approach allowed me to create a high-poly version of these components with modeled edges, framing, and details that can be baked down into a low-poly model, which is used to construct the building mesh. Details such as window frames, which are generally modelled, are baked down to conserve triangle count.
The combined approach of modelling by components and baking them allowed large assets, such as Tower of Commerce, to go from 2 million triangles down to 150,000.
Color Variations
The assets in Skyscrapers try to utilise color variations as much as possible. The color scheme was aimed to be consistent across all assets, with specific orders of colors being assigned to specific parts of the building at all times.
Balancing
The signature and one-time placable nature of skyscraper assets required a bit of balancing. For this purpose, I created a separate sheet where I added values from base game assets and region packs. I then looked into my own service building upgrades and aimed to find a balance when it comes to their size, intended function, and price tag.
Using Skyscrapers Assets
To maximize the impact of the assets in the Skyscrapers, I adopted a realistic approach to urban planning. In the real world, skyscrapers are typically subject to strict planning regulations, such as air rights. These regulations often limit the proximity and density of super-tall structures to preserve ground-level flow and maintain a balanced skyline. Consider air rights when designing your districts, and integrate skyscrapers into a gradual height progression compared to the base game zones and buildings. This approach will enable you to create an aesthetically pleasing and believable skyline.
Building Roster
The Skyscrapers pack includes 17 distinct physical buildings. In addition, there are 23 upgrades available belonging to a range of the buildings, which add further customization options. These upgrades include 5 additional buildings that can be placed around the main building and 3 extra skyscraper structures that can be plopped directly onto the main lot. The rest of the upgrades are designed for extensions of the building's design or function.
Westmont Tower
Westmont Post Office is a functionally-designed structure perfectly suited for a high-density urban environment. This building offers two key upgrades: the first enhances its core postal functions, while the second transforms one of its rooftops into a restaurant. This rooftop dining establishment provides meals and promotes well-being within a 2-kilometer radius. Standing as the shortest skyscraper in the pack, Westmont reaches a height of 105 meters at its tallest point, and is found along other Post and Communications Service buildings in-game.
Arroyo Seco
Arroyo is an International Style skyscraper designed to provide extensive office space, making it an ideal location for businesses. As a Signature Office building, it stands at a height of 110 meters. It is designed to be surrounded by a substantial green space.
Arroyo offers a unique modification: its lower levels can be converted into a police headquarters, complete with a sunken parking lot for both public and law enforcement vehicles. This dual-purpose design enhances office efficiency while simultaneously reducing the city's crime rate. Furthermore, the rooftop features two helicopter pads, exclusively available when the police headquarters upgrade is implemented.
Bell Creek
Bell Creek is a residential signature building, soaring to a height of 120 meters. It offers an upgrade that incorporates a police station within a secondary tower, along with dedicated parking for service vehicles.
Emerald Towers
Emerald is a Mixed Signature complex, distinguished by its contemporary design. The base of the building is dedicated to commercial activities, while its two towers are exclusively for residential use. Emerald offers a service building upgrade, which integrates an elementary school within the building's footprint. Standing at a height of 130 meters, this signature building provides valuable bonuses related to entertainment, well-being, and indoor recreation for its residents.
Seaworth
Seaworth Building is a quintessential International Style office skyscraper, characterized by its elegant design and modest footprint. Towering at approximately 150 meters, it features inviting public spaces at both the front and back of the structure, enhancing accessibility and community interaction.
As an upgrade option, the Seaworth Building can be transformed into a fully functional city hall, offering the same benefits as the base game city hall building. This versatility not only reflects modern urban needs but also pays homage to the timeless elegance of its architectural inspiration.
The Docklands
Docklands is a 150-meter-high mixed-use skyscraper, blending residential and commercial spaces with a contemporary design. The building is distinguished by unique pockets of green spaces, “carved” into the tower's structure. These accessible areas are connected to the main entrance.
Docklands can be upgraded to incorporate a functional fire station HQ on the ground floor. The number of fire trucks for the station module was carefully determined, using real-world dimensions for apparatus bays to ensure balanced gameplay. Additionally, the rooftop is equipped with helicopter pads, supporting fire suppression operations all over your city.
Long Wires Tower
Long Wires is a brutalist-designed office signature building. Engineered to withstand any natural disaster events, it functions as an indestructible structure even within the game.
The building offers three distinct upgrades, each adding valuable features. The first upgrade enables Long Wires to function as a substation, accepting both above-ground and underground high-voltage lines. The Communications Relay upgrade transforms the building into a Telecom Tower, providing essential internet connectivity to its surrounding area. Finally, the third upgrade converts the parking lot into a functional disaster bunker, offering refuge during disaster events.
The Coruna
The Coruna is a slender, International Style skyscraper, serving as a Signature Office building. Its upgrade path offers a unique transformation into a comprehensive university complex.
The first functional upgrade converts a portion of the 160-meter-high building into a university, unlocking both an auditorium and the research wing. The auditorium can be placed multiple times to incrementally increase the building's total student capacity. The separate, specialized Research Wing upgrade enhances the efficiency of the electronics industry while simultaneously reducing the city's overall waste output.
Finanzturm
Finanzturm embodies peak office design from 1980s Europe. It is inspired by a similar building located in Frankfurt. This building serves as a tribute to the original Skyscrapers pack from Cities: Skylines (1) and its creator, Feindbold. This was his favorite skyscraper design, and as such, I decided to include it.
Standing at a height of nearly 200 meters, the Finanzturm offers city effects, reducing loan interest rates and enhanced import/export efficiency.
Lighthouse Pointe
Lighthouse Pointe is a residential signature building, characterized by its two towers, with the tallest reaching a height of 205 meters. Designed with a contemporary architectural style, it draws inspiration from recent developments in Europe.
Lighthouse Pointe offers a Wellness Center upgrade, which adds a recreational facility atop the rooftop garden.
Grandview Heights
Grandview Heights is the pack's largest building in terms of footprint, comprising a complex of five individual skyscrapers interconnected by green spaces and footpaths. This expansive footprint is largely due to the hospital upgrade, which is elevated above ground and connected to all towers. The hospital also includes a substantial parking lot upgrade, accessible to both residents and the public. One of the skyscrapers features two helipads for hospital helicopters. For players seeking to further enhance their healthcare capabilities, a sixth tower upgrade functions as a disease control center, providing additional helicopter capacity.
Kansai Tower
Kansai is a modern skyscraper designed to accommodate shopping malls and commercial spaces for retail and management operations. The building incorporates open spaces on various levels, including a rooftop restaurant.
As a commercial signature building, the Kansai Tower also offers a high school upgrade, seamlessly integrated into the existing building footprint to complete its design.
Aurum Spire
The Aurum Spire is a futuristic and sleek signature office skyscraper, reaching a height of 340 meters. I envisioned this building as a hub for engineering and research companies focused on cutting-edge technologies. This vision is reflected in its in-game functions: the Aurum Spire reduces pollution throughout the city while simultaneously boosting software usage.
Hurston Yards
Hurston Yards is a massive mixed-use urban redevelopment, featuring a large shopping mall integrated with two residential skyscrapers. The skyscraper complex can be transformed into a tourist attraction with the addition of an open observation deck. A secondary upgrade introduces a free, placable third tower, dedicated to commercial activities. This tower boosts import/export trade, with a minor increase in the city's garbage output as a trade-off.
Terminal City Bank
Terminal City is a state-of-the-art skyscraper, standing at a height of 350 meters. Designed to serve as the anchor point for any financial district in your downtown, it features a 4-platform subway station upgrade. For gameplay purposes, Terminal City functions as a city bank, providing interest rate bonuses to the city. It is located within the Administration tab of the game user interface.
The Great Tower of Commerce
As the iconic centerpiece of the pack, The Great Tower of Commerce stands as the second-highest skyscraper. This commercial signature building reaches a height of 546 meters, embodying the sleek lines and functional elegance of the International Style, reminiscent of iconic structures that have shaped city skylines.
The Great Tower of Commerce offers an upgrade path to enhance its commercial functionality. This upgrade introduces a vibrant shopping mall on the ground level, alongside a spacious public parking lot, further solidifying its role as a central hub for commerce and community activity. The greenspace on top of the building can be used by citizens for outdoor activities.
Silver Dragon
Inspired by contemporary skyscraper designs in China, Silver Dragon stands as the tallest building in the pack. Its name is derived from the observation deck's canopy design, which is based on dragon scales.
Silver Dragon offers an upgrade path to incorporate a college campus, and, like Coruna, this upgrade can be placed multiple times to meet your city's needs. Furthermore, Silver Dragon boasts a unique upgrade, the 'Geotechnical Institute,' which enhances the ore and oil deposits within the city.
Props
The Skyscrapers pack includes three in-game props and one editor-specific prop. The benches can be used independently by players to decorate any public space. To indicate the direction citizens will use the benches, I've included citizen markers on the sides of these props, as the benches themselves lack a backrest. For editor use, a separate cleaning unit prop is available, designed for placement on various skyscraper rooftops.
Conclusion
Developing the Skyscraper pack presented a unique challenge: creating compelling art while adhering to the game's technical constraints. Managing triangle counts, working with glass and grass shaders, and ensuring proper pedestrian pathfinding, all while maintaining an artistic vision, proved to be a particularly engaging aspect of this project. Stepping outside my comfort zone has always been exciting, and the Skyscraper pack was no exception. I extend my sincere gratitude to Paradox Interactive for entrusting me with this Content Pack.
Thank you for your time reading this Dev Diary, and I hope you enjoy the content as much as I enjoyed creating it.
