This week I got some UI work done:  

(Best viewed in HD)

What I did

Added tilt controls for the camera (birds-eye <-> flat view)

Added main menu with icons for categories and actions

• so far, only "Add Road" and the zoning works
• most of the icons are from a free-to-use icon set, some I had to do myself

Added zoning UI

• You paint zones like color with a brush.
• I went for a blueprint-style hatched rendering
• Feels very painterly and intuitive, but requires some dexterity.This could be improved by aligning brush strokes to streets automatically, for example.
• Gives the player detailed control:You can designate backyards, leave space for future road expansion and much more...
• Currently existing zones:Agriculture, Residential, Residential & Commercial Mixed, Commercial, Industrial
• Colors have been chosen with the colorblind in mind:

Regular vision:

Protanopia a.k.a. red-green-blindness (simulated)

Notice how you can still mostly discern different zones, both on the map and in the world. Maybe I will make it even easier by using different hatching styles.

Building density/height will be a separate tool(see rightmost icon in the zones submenu)

• I still have to come up with a good way to visualize that in the world

What I will probably hopefully do next

Next week will be busy, but I hope to get at least started with:

• Building generation according to zones
• Moving in of citizens, businesses and industry
• The first parts of the Needs & Resources framework (see last blog post)

See you then!