Autodesk Maya “City Builder”

I was organizing directories on my computer and ran across what could be of some use to others: a Maya MEL script for procedurally creating a downtown cityscape.

Download the MEL script

It is pretty straightforward to use (GUI-wise) so I’ll just briefly go over how to set up the script.

1. First you must open the MEL script, select-all, then copy.
2. Open up Maya 2011 or 2012 (not sure if the script will work on lower versions) and open the script window by pressing the little square button at the far right-bottom.

Maya Script Button Reveal

Maya Script Button Reveal

3. Paste the scriptcode into the script box then press the run button

Maya Run Script Button Reveal

Maya Run Script Button Reveal

4. Now a GUI should pop up and you can start creating your own city!
5. Watch the following video for instructions as to how the city-builder works.

NOTE: This was a only meant to be a quick way to create a cityscape; so if you want more advanced materials or textures you will have to add them yourself. Please feel free to play with and modify the script as you like! As a heads up, though, I have the city objects layers locked so they aren’t selected when selecting the plane to create buildings.

Comments

  • Aron

    January 7, 2013 at 7:40 pm

    i love this script it is amazing

  • Naveen Sabesan

    February 8, 2013 at 10:00 am

    You are a life savior. Thank you so much. Cheers!

  • Anthony

    February 8, 2013 at 3:48 pm

    No problem! Glad you can find it useful.

  • JAIMIN Patel

    March 23, 2013 at 9:42 am

    # Error: SyntaxError: invalid syntax
    🙁

  • Anthony

    May 5, 2013 at 9:55 pm

    This is likely because you copy and pasted it into the Python tab. Make sure to paste it into the MEL tab of the editor/console. Otherwise I am not sure as it seems to work for me.

  • kevin

    May 5, 2013 at 10:44 am

    hi im very new to maya and have enjoyed your script very much. could you tell me how I unlock the building layer so I can edit materials and textures please?

  • kevin

    May 5, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    Thanks very much……now to export this beast to cryengine 3 🙂

  • Lavigne

    August 27, 2014 at 1:10 pm

    It’s great to read something that’s both enjoyable and provides prgmaatisdc solutions.

  • Tony

    November 9, 2013 at 7:41 pm

    I have the question the scrip is great and I like the textures on the building, but how to do you add textures to the windows. I am doing it individually which takes allot of time, is are their layer that specific to window or is it in the outliner.

    Thanks

  • Anthony

    November 12, 2013 at 7:36 pm

    Hi Tony, sorry this script was created as simply a modelling exercise. There is no easier way to texture that I am aware of.

  • Prappo Prince

    April 6, 2014 at 2:34 pm

    Nice bro . keep it up .

  • Bharani

    July 28, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    awesome bro .. very help .. thank u so muchhhhh

  • Shrini Reddy

    March 3, 2015 at 5:09 am

    thank you so much ..it awesome script
    yaa its worked good.

  • Stefano

    March 9, 2015 at 5:45 pm

    Great script Anthony! works fine on maya 2013 64bit

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