Ernestpkirby's Diary

Recent diary entries

QUARTA getting redrawn on maps

Posted by Ernestpkirby on 25 October 2015 in English.

QUARTA redraw project

For the next two weeks-month or so, Quentinsburgh’s subway system will probably look somewhat weird and unkempt on the maps. I have undergone a project to redraw all of the lines with more realistic and more uniform design, more elevated tracks and different rendering so that it appears more like it does in Gobras City and other cities with a well designed subway network. For a while you’ll see both the old ‘messed up’ tracks and the slowly appearing new uniform tracks next to each other- I plan to delete the old tracks after the entire system has been redrawn.

This project should make more express lines possible, make it so that you can tell what trains stop at a station just by looking at the map, make more extensions of track elevated (It’s unrealistic to have a train completely underground all the way into the suburbs) more realistic station platforms (side instead of center), eventually marked station entrances and less sharp curves. It should also allow for better designs of developments alongside the railway and better stations, especially for places like the Geolympiad complex. (The tram will likely be redrawn as well.)

Fixing proportion as my next project

After/alongside this project, my malls and retail may change quite a bit as I try to create more realistically sized retail in more locations. Similarly to the issue with my fast food restaurants a while ago that is also still in repair, most of my buildings were far too big and it will take work to size them down, especially at larger malls. However, this should also help open up more space for more parkland, more schools and more walkable neighborhoods.

Some of you probably saw my news article from a little over a month ago talking about Freedemian computer giant QuinTech going out of business and newer company Stepstone Technology taking over the market by storm. According to the story, Stepstone was allowed to buy out what was left of QuinTech.

However, it left me with a very empty market. I wanted to have it where the commission or whoever that approved the merger did it as it being approved, but ONLY if the computer market was opened up to more international and domestic technology companies.

Looking for other companies to enter the Freedemian Market

So far, Freedemia only “officially” sells 3 domestic companies’ phones and computers- Stepstone (and what was left of QuinTech) for personal computers, smartphones and tablets, Megamer Games with a single gaming phone, and Zenergy, (a fake Zenith for Freedemia) with a very beta smartphone, tablet and computer line with good hardware but a developing operating system. I wanted to be able to gain more international competition, especially by having other competing companies like the ones listed here like Catpaw Group, Saehan Group, Real Creative, and the Khaiwoonese companies not listed there KhaiTel and Bipjarat enter the Freedemian market to compete against my domestic companies.

Looking for other countries to sell Freedemian products

I was also hoping to find countries willing to partner with Freedemia’s Stepstone Technology and at least the gaming side of Megamer Games so that we could sell more products in an international market. I’d love to see Megamer Games especially become a more internationally known and enjoyed company, and Stepstone was already supposed to be selling internationally, but without any responses from other nations I wasn’t sure where to start.

… See full entry

For those of you who remember when Quentinsburgh was just starting out, you may remember that other than downtown Quentinsburgh itself, one of my earliest edits was the creation of Quentins State International University, then simply Quentins University, and work on the surrounding areas, such as having Unionway 304 going through the center of the campus.

However, like I said, those were some of my first edits. They certainly showed that as well. Buildings were huge and randomly placed, and when I had attempted to fix it before, it had just made the campus even bigger and made it look even worse.

However, I decided to make it a project of mine to redesign the entire campus to make it more realistic. Looking at OpenStreetMap to see examples of urban American-style universities, I think I finally was able to redesign it to look somewhat realistic. The buildings look about the right size, the freeway exits no longer have sharp jagged curves and the paths and parking actually make sense now.

http://opengeofiction.net/#map=15/-3.3648/-2.5175

The north part of campus still needs some work, as do the surrounding areas like the harbor, but I’m pretty proud of how far i’ve gotten at making this campus look better. Any thoughts?

Location: Lentie Nobo, Lethia, Parable District, TA221

Are any of the nations surrounding Freedemia, Narghana and Nature in both Tarephia and Antarephia interested in joining a free trade/border agreement? The details so far are in the wiki page below.

We are especially hoping to hear from the manager of Omniville due to the nation’s vicinity to the charter nations, although it was unclear who he or she was or how to contact said individual.

http://opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/Tarephia-Antarephia_Free_Trade_Agreement

Nation based section of amusement park?

Posted by Ernestpkirby on 30 September 2015 in English.

I’m currently working on a large Disney world- sized amusement park in Freedemia called Thrill Planet, or officially, since it’s partially linked with my movie company, Betterview Pictures’ Thrill Planet. It’s going to have affiliations with my movie companies, video game companies, and Plega blocks (pretty much Legos for the fictional world :P ).

However, that’s still a lot of space I have to fill upwith original stuff. I wanted to have a section of the park called Intercontinental Crossroads, where the different sections are based off of different nations around the world.

Could some people who would like their nations to be featured in that section of the park let me know by either replying here or by contacting me through messaging? I just need to know a little about what you’d like featured there for your nation, the characteristics of your nations you want included, etc. I’m already designing a Woolonia section.

Thanks!

http://opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/Thrill_Planet (wiki page)

http://opengeofiction.net/#map=13/-2.9593/-2.3931 (map of the park so far, intercontinental crossroads may be in the bottom right

Did the admins ever come to a decision about the future of the city Las Ovejas in Woolonia? I noticed that like they had said originally, it looks every similar to real life L.A. and I remember talk of eliminating it off the map altogether.

I had the idea of having it be mostly abandoned and the idea of making a portion of the downtown area into a new eco friendly development, but I’m not sure, since it depends on the decisions about the city itself. I am open to the idea of its elimination (as for the actual city as it currently exists). However, i just want to make sure I understand what’s going on with it before I start working with it.

http://opengeofiction.net/#map=11/-33.1002/27.6663 (map of Las Ovejas)

Info on collaborative Woolonia

Posted by Ernestpkirby on 15 September 2015 in English.

Hey, guys! A reminder that Woolonia (http://opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/Woolonia) is a collaborative nation that is open to productive edits by all users. I’m the manager, but due to not having access to JOSM and spending most of my time on Freedemia, I haven’t made much progress. (Backstory here at new article link below).

https://ognnews.wordpress.com/2015/09/14/while-woolonia-has-stabilized-rebuilding-process-moving-very-slowly-concerning-woolonian-and-freedemian-leaders/

Anyone interested in working on Woolonia, please go ahead! Just contact me as you begin, so I can have an idea of what’s going on.

A couple particular projects…

  • Government Buildings in downtown New Wooley

  • Fixing certain parts of the road network in New Wooley

  • Figuring out the subway system in Woolport (it looks great, but I can’t tell which lines are which)

  • Fixing up/ actual creation of Centerport (the users that take on this job have almost full creative licence since it is currently just a spot on the map!)

  • Creating a new eco-friendly dense community in the center of the Abandoned Las Ovejas, deletion of most of Las Ovejas. (Contact me for details on what I mean.)

  • Fixing up the road network

  • The creation of small herding towns across the nation

Thanks to anyone who is interested in making Woolonia a fully developed nation.

As some of you know or have likely noticed, while some of my images I use on the wiki are public domain or hand-drawn, most of my images are produced using autoshape functions on either PowerPoint or preferably Keynote (both are slide show applications, one for Windows, the other for Apple). That’s largely because I often find it hard to find images that reflect what I am imagining, and, well, because sometimes I don’t feel like handdrawing something really intricate :P

But it wasn’t till today that I stopped to reflect on some of the things I’ve managed to make with autoshapes and realized…Wow. You really can do a lot with a powerpoint app and some time.

A couple of the examples that came to mind…

… See full entry

Hi, guys! I’ve been trying hard to make Freedemia realistic, from fixing rivers to working on cities and towns. However, I have one problem.

I do most of my edits on school computers (an iPad and a Chromebook). Due to this, I only have access to Potlach 2 (which is very helpful to me) and iD (great for close up edits) since they both work in the browser. In other words, I have no access to JOSM. However, this has made it nearly impossible for me to properly make good forests and mountain ranges in the central east of my country.

I in no way want to take anyone from their own projects. However, if there is someone who uses JOSM who would be interested in helping make some large scale edits, it would be greatly appreciated. I could make a sketch or map of where I hope to place the forests. Thanks ahead of time to anyone who is willing to help, if not I perfectly understand.

http://opengeofiction.net/#map=8/-3.124/0.456

Freeway Organization

Posted by Ernestpkirby on 3 June 2015 in English.

Hi, guys, I’m just trying to figure out if I need to reorganize my Unionway numbering in Freedemia. As of right now, there is no real numbering system among main roads, although loops usually match the main unionway they connect to. I know in America, even numbers go east-west and odd numbers go north-south. The issue started with Unionway 4, which runs north-south between Quentinsburgh and Laneston/Vandover and east-west from Quentinsburgh to Anneitasburgh. From that point, numbers have been kinda funky, with 3, 7 and 8 running east, 12 and 10 running north-south, etc. Is this actually an issue that needs to be resolved or is this not really a problem? Thanks.

Location: TA202

QUENTINSBURGH- President Rosenthal met with Ferdinand Sealy, the leader of Woolonia on Monday. She announced that the future of relations between the two nations was on its way.

Embassies of Woolonia are coming soon to Embassy Square in Quentinsburgh, Freedemia. Direct flights to and from Woolport via FreedemiAir recently began, as well as the acquisition of WoolMedia by Freedemia’s Betterview Pictures.

Woolonia is in the midst of rebuilding after some internal issues resulting in the break off of the largely undeveloped East Woolonia. However, stronger relations between Freedemia and Woolonia has large benefits for both sides- help to further stabilize Woolonia and new and more abundant resources for Freedemia.

More to come as we get the information.

Stay tuned to WQTN News for the latest.

2016 International Foosball World Cup has last team- Thanks

Posted by Ernestpkirby on 13 May 2015 in English. Last updated on 14 May 2015.

OK, guys, we have 31 teams. We only need one more. See here for the list right now. http://opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/2016_International_Foosball_World_Cup#Participating_Countries

On a side note, beginning for the 2018 IFWC, other countries can bid to host the next IFWC. I was thinking we’d do an abbreviated bidding like is being done for the Geolympiad (see here: http://opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/Talk:2016_Summer_Geolympiad).

(Don’t forget to vote for your favorite bid for the 2016 Summer Geolympiad at the above link as well!)

UPDATE- Nucia has been listed as the last country. Thanks to everyone.

== UPDATE == New current roster:

  • Akinakya
  • Arcania
  • Ardisphere
  • Ataraxia
  • Belgravia
  • Belphenia
  • Beaudry
  • Brasonia
  • Cariocas
  • Drevet
  • Forrintië
  • Freedemia
  • Hoppon
  • Jørpenilands
  • Karolia
  • Lallemand
  • Latina
  • Mahhal
  • Meilan
  • Meridonia
  • Orinoco
  • Paxtar
  • Qugia
  • Tarrases
  • Tircambry
  • Wiwaxia
  • Woolonia
  • Zylanda

28 teams so far- we only need 4 more for a full tournament!!!

Thanks to all the teams who have signed up.

The International Foosball World Cup is a biannual tournament that takes place in Quentinsburgh, Freedemia.

More information about the upcoming tounament in 2016 is listed here.

So far, we have commitments from:

  • Belgravia
  • Brasonia
  • Cariocas
  • Freedemia
  • Latina
  • Woolonia

However, in order to have a full tournament, we need 16 or 32 teams. We are looking for 10 or preferably 26 more countries to send teams to this tournament, preferably those who are also active on the OpenGeofiction wiki. Please reply to this entry if you would like to send teams to this international sports event.

More information about the sport of foosball can be found here.

== UPDATE == New roster:

  • Belgravia
  • Belphenia
  • Brasonia
  • Cariocas
  • Freedemia
  • Latina
  • Woolonia

We still need at least 9 more teams. Please- message me or reply if your country is interested in participating.

WQTN News- Express Service QUARTA Lines 1, 4, and 7 begins

Posted by Ernestpkirby on 4 May 2015 in English. Last updated on 7 May 2015.

QUENTINSBURGH- It’s official. QUARTA has officially finished construction of express tracks on subway lines 1, 4, and 7. Express service will begin running on Wednesday, May 6th. Passengers should make sure they check the screen at the front of the train. If there is an X after the number, ex. (1)x, the train is running express and will skip many local stops. This is the first service of it’s kind in the QUARTA system, as routes were built with local capacity only.

This new service should greatly help if Quentinsburgh wins the 2016 Geolympiad bid, especially on Line 4. There are more venues on line 4 than on any other metro line in the city. The express service should make it possible to nearly double capacity on line 4, reducing overcrowding.

Lines 1 and 7 have also officially switched paths south of Freeman Rd/Mark St. Line 1 now runs to Quentins Point Beach, while line 7 now runs to Sean Bond International Airport and Geolympiad Village. This service also begins on Wednesday.

Stay tuned to WQTN News for the latest.

… See full entry

QUENTINSBURGH- The long awaited 1 train extention to the Sean Bond International Airport Rental Car center, Hotel Vilage Area and the proposed Geolympiad Village has finally been completed. This gives the Geolympiad village area a direct link to downtown Quentinsburgh via QUARTA’s QLine Metro System.

Said route should greatly help if Quentinsburgh wins the Geolympiad bid.

Ironically, however, in the long run the stations will not be serviced by line 1, but by line 7.

The 1 line is the longest subway line in the QLine system. It’s also the most crowded. For several years, QUARTA has looked at two main improvements to combat the issue:

*New Express Service on Line 1 (first express service of its kind in Quentinsburgh’s history)

*Switching lines 1 and 7 south of Quentinsburgh Union Station.

In light of the Geolympiad bid, QUARTA plans to finish the express service on Line 1 (and possibly lines 4 and 7) by July 2015. The switching lines idea is going to be tested during the Geolympiad if Quentinsburgh wins the bid. If it goes well, the change will be made permanent and Line 7 will loop back out towards the airport and line 1 will end at Quentins Point Beach.

This comes around the same time as many great improvements to neighboring Sean Bond International Airport. The construction of Hotel Village Square added over 1000 hotel rooms near the airport, and the construction of the new East wing of Terminal A, the West wing of Terminal B, and new Terminal D for charter-style flights have nearly doubled Sean Bond International’s capacity. (Terminal-wise only. The airport still has the same number of runways.) SBD can now support more international FreedemiAir flights, as well as many more airlines flying internationally to Quentinsburgh.

Terminal D would be especially helpful for athletes flying in as a country on private flights. They would fly in through Terminal D and get bused to either Geolympiad Village or the actual venues.

… See full entry

On March 30th, 2015, the Quentinsburgh Geolympiad Bid Committee introduced a new originally designed logo for the bid.

The Quentinsburgh Bid committee wanted a new logo that was original, yet true to the colors and design of the Geolympiad logo. The ring of diamonds represents a ring of unity, representing strength in numbers and teamwork, and the light green background diamond and the light blue background finish the color scheme created when creating Geolympiad Garret, the mascot.

The new logo can be found here. http://opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/Quentinsburgh_2016_Summer_Geolympiad_Proposal

New Official Quentinsburgh Bid Logo

Stay tuned to WQTN News for the latest.

Quentinsburgh, WQTN 13-
Quentinsburgh, Freedemia is currently one of (6? I believe) cities with a bid for the 2016 Summer Geolympiad. So far, things have been going well. The bid luckily came at the same time as many beneficial projects that were already planned, such as extending some QUARTA routes, building new stadiums at area universities, and the building of Hotel Village Square, which will act as Geolympiad Village if Quentinsburgh wins the bid.

A lot of projects are already near completion, such as the complex of stadiums surrounding (and including) Spectrum Geolympiad Stadium, pictured here, the expansion of Sean Bond International Airport pictured here, and the construction of a new stadium near the Quentins State University Campus, pictured here.

As work continues to prepare for the bid, the bid committee is hopeful. “As of now, Quentinsburgh seems to be strong competition for the bid. We believe that we have addressed- or are currently addressing- all of the facets.”

However, the committee knows they are not the only good city running. “There are several great proposals out there that have a good chance. There are lots of other great cities running as well. We just believe we have a competitive bid. We wish all of the other cities the best of luck.”

The full Quentinsburgh bid can be found here: http://opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/Quentinsburgh_2016_Summer_Geolympiad_Proposal

Users are encouraged to vote for their favorite bid here: http://opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/Talk:2016_Summer_Geolympiad Each user has one vote.

Stay Tuned to WQTN News for the latest.