Comments made by Tilted Mill Staff Chris Beatrice...

[KnowitallSim 1]

Ugh, all 4 SimCity games have tried to be realistic. (And 3000 and 4 did pretty good with it in my opinion)

They are purposely trying NOT to be realistic.

Is that a step back or what?

[Goldfish4209 9]

Well, there you go. Let's start amassing angry mob supplies.

[Poetic 0]

I personally think it's positive , but i'll let the rest of you decide. I think it'll help clear up some confusion. I'm definitely glad they're willing to work with the SC community.

All,

Sorry for the length of this post, but I have a few different things to communicate. Once again I want to thank you for your participation in this forum, and especially for the few valiant attempts at self-policing.

REGARDING MY EARLIER POST IN THIS THREAD

First off, I want to say flat out that I am unfortunately not at liberty to say much about the game, and I'm sure you can understand how difficult that is for me and the team. The danger of course is that if I say anything, it is incomplete, and therefore likely to be misinterpreted. This also applies to partial information that has been made available by other sources. Please understand that neither I nor anyone at TMill can engage in any significant discussion about the game at this point.

There is one thing I must clarify or correct, though, because I have already apparently introduced some confusion with my earlier post. Some of you have said, in response to my post, things like, "...as they were quoted saying this is NOT a City Simulator...", etc.

For what it's worth I'll accept whatever responsibility there is for that misunderstanding. I should not have said, "this is not..." then listed a bunch of things, as if the game was not any of those things. I meant, instead, that that phrase in its entirety does not accurately characterize what this game is about, or what makes it unique.

So I must make it crystal clear that, like all SimCity games, this game is a city-building game. It is a city-building simulation. It is a city simulation. It is an urban simulation game. It is a game in which you build cities. Its focus is not on realism and detail (but that's not to say it lacks those things either).

Again, I wish I could go to the next step and say more about the new and exciting possibilities this game brings to the series, and to gaming in general… and especially to respond to the various comments that have been made regarding other games like The Sims and City Life, but I cannot at this time.

FOR THOSE WHO SAY WE DON’T CARE OR DON’T LISTEN

Oh please. I suggest that those of you who feel this way revisit your assumptions about the role developers play in the gaming industry, and how the process works in general.

ANNOUNCING A NEW SET OF FORUMS

Going forward I think it's going to be most useful for us, and I hope for you too, that we move this group of discussions to some dedicated forums, and, moreover, that we separate these forums into those interested in SC Societies for what it is, and those primarily interested in something more like SC4. We want to hear what you have to say about BOTH approaches, but it’s going to be most helpful to us to be able to easily distinguish between the two so we can focus on them separately.

For the SC4 and Simtropolis folks, and SC fans in general, I want to thank all of you for sharing your wonderful creations here, and for your thoughts and insights as well. I also want to welcome you to remain part of this community and continue to share what you have to say (and show) on our forums, and especially to keep letting us know what you are most interested in for your ideal SimCity game.

I understand many of you have hopes and dreams for the SC franchise that are not represented by SC Societies. As I have said already, the gamer in me understands and respects that very much. I know what you’re going through. I feel your pain, and we want to hear what you have to say, so please visit the SimCity Franchise - General Discussion forum which will be opened shortly, and let us know what you think.

For those interested in (and we hope excited about) SimCity Societies, whether existing SC fans, TMill fans or potential new players, we want to hear everything you have to say about this game so we can integrate your feedback into the development process. To that end, please visit the SimCity Societies – General Discussion forums, soon to be opened.

Of course I am aware that, right now, with so little actual information about this game available, your input may be limited, but as time passes we hope this forum will continue to grow.

Thank you all again for your enthusiastic participation in these discussions.

-Chrisquote>

http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13032&page=14

[Korwen 0]

He sounds like a nice enough guy, I just hope he and his development studio do not turn in to another EA toolshack. I'm waiting for more information, and to see how he responds to serious questioning from the community.

I'm hoping that this community and Tilted Mill can develop a professional relationship, as information and communication could be mutually beneficial for both parties.

Either way I'm going to see how this all pans out. I will say this, I'm going to play Caesar IV just to get an idea of what to expect from this company, and to hopefully let them know the positives and negatives of their previous title to avoid from a SimCity player's perspective.

[+Guest]

Well that makes me feel a little better. if I have my Urban Simulation, then I'll be loving it. As long as it's not a [Edited for language] game. I will not be inclined to judge the game until I see more screen shots and have better information. Thanks Chris for that post. I hope this game turns out well. I also hope the title is changed. Remember it is only tentative.

[simcity4crazyguy 24]

It was a good reply, more informative than I thought it would be. I like Tilted Mills already, they're actually posting on their forums and making jokes.

sc

[Saint Andrew 6]

Well it does sound more positive than just "it's not a realistic urban simulator", but I still don't like the distinction between SImCity franchise fans and then those that might potentially like SimCity Societies. Why change direction (cries) SimCity4 is the world's greatest game ever we just wanted you to take to a higher level not change the purpose of the whole SimCity franchise .

[Micah 16]

-Thread merged-

Well, that is certainly better news!

[+Guest]

But he is saying they aren't ruining that Sim City ideal now. And I for one don't know if the 3D model is the actual finished image. Image, when we get that preview in that Windows and we see that that feature is a new add one, and one we can use to see out SC4 looking like cities in another view. TM would really have he last laugh. Has anyone or thing confirmed that the entire game is 3D? So much has gone on as of the last few days, I may have forgotten/missed something.

[Ntq€310 1]

i was also on that forum, that's the heart of simcity, the screenshot looks like a cartoon, and WHO cares about the "societies" most people care about makig the city! But thanks for the honesty, [Excuse you...] !

[+Guest]

Ntq$310, name calling will get us know where. Please act accordingly. Chris didn't have to say anything. But he has. Wait until you see many more screen shots and information before you judge. TM deserve that in the least.

[Spinmaster 75]

Anyone have a hat I can borrow?

So I must make it crystal clear that, like all SimCity games, this game is a city-building game. It is a city-building simulation. It is a city simulation. It is an urban simulation game. It is a game in which you build cities. Its focus is not on realism and detail (but that's not to say it lacks those things either).quote>

Thank you, Chris... thank you.

As for those who suggested developers don't care... you may not realize it, but that is a very hurtful insult to a developer. Kinda like telling Da Vinci he sucks before he even finishes a painting. Will SCS rule? Whether or not it does, for sure the people doing the work will care, and telling them they suck or they don't care in advance certainly isn't gonna inspire them. Developers love to hear "wow, this is amazing" from a passionate audience, to whom their work is magic. They're equally hurt by "your work is crap" before they've finished. Note that most of the civilized complaints have been focused on the misunderstanding that the focus of the game had taken a terrible turn for the worse - not direct attacks at the development staff or their concern for a quality product. Maybe this whole board will quiet down a bit now - I will. Anyway, I have a hat to consume now.

Again, thank you, Chris. This is what I've been dying to hear (read).

[Jasoncw 11,933]

^

Definitely.  Imagine that TM is actually the NAM team, and that all of those things were said to them?  Or what if you were one of the staff people, who has been a fan of SC your entire life, and is really excited to work on it, and is working really hard, and thinks what you've got is something good, and then this is the response.

[sobol 1]

I don't know what the big deal is.. let them make the game, and we won't buy it.  It won't be the first time, or the last that a company sells out it's audience.

[Goldfish4209 9]

Great, thank you. Now we can kinda rest in peace.

[patriots_1228 51]

Im confused, where is this guy posting? Ive seen quotes in tons of threads but no posts lol.

[JanYpe 17]

He posts on their own forum.

http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=36

[Kevin 101]

I for one think thats its very cool that Chris and Tilted Mill have taken it upon themselves to respond to our reaction. They seem to be very open-minded... they are after all creating two distinct Simcity boards on their forums... and willing to communicate with us. Thanks Chris!

[Mulefisk 15]

It's nice to see that Tilted Mill aren't as bad as we inititally thought.

They definately didn't deserve all the remarks that've been thrown at them.

EA, on the other hand, deserves every bit of it.

So, why isn't anyone complaining about this to EA?

Clearly, if we want our voices to be heard in the future, it's the right thing to do.

[ianpaschal 77]

So if he says it's not actually a simulator, what is it? Just an eyecandy display case? Its the simulation part of SIMcity that keeps me from just making my whole city in BAT, which I get total freedom in and can go 10 times as realistic as what I've seen in SC5 so far.

If I'm not paying for a simulator, then I surely hope I'm not paying for their craptastic models. It's not even like buying a nice looking car that doesn't run, it's like buying an UGLY car that doesn't run.

[Gridlock 9]

As chief whipp at TM chris had little chioce but to make some kind of statement ,but basically all he tells us is of a misunderstanding that should never of been as we are all aware sim city isnt realistic enough to call it realistic.That he cant tell us anything about the new game , and that hes happy to hear our views on a game we know nothing about .He then addresses the sc4 community with an apology  as our hopes and dreams for SC will not be represented in SC Societies .What dreams , wont be represented my dreams of a coruscant or others dreams of custom content and modability, and what about they rural city builder will the game cater for them also his statement is very open and can mean many things .

I suppose we are the hardcore of sc and we been spoiled by all the great custom content,i remember once stating it was only the custom content that kept me interested in SC4 and this still holds true ,cos in all honesty SC4 Vanilla was a lil sucky ,i remember i had opened all rewards and the game was classing my city as a major city at just 120,000 pop from a gameplay piont of view it was finished.Or the transport problems that completely ruined SC4,dupliacate buildings ect,ok so it happens you can build large cities in SC4 but the game was never designed to do so ,and you do run into uncurable problems when trying .We all hold Maxis high surronded by some kind of halo ,but it isnt maxis that made the game what it is today  its the guys that have spent many hours providing custom content and mods to improve it. Hopefully TM will give us a game superior in all ways to SC4 vanilla ,but i fear due to the resource requirements of the graghic engine  alot of the gameplay and possability for further expansion and plugins willl be limtied if available at all .The basic scs game requirement for an unmodified version is 1 gb of ram , so with your op system you will need a gig and a half ,add another 900mb of pluggins id guess you be needing over 3gb of ram to play the game .

[Imprezza05 1]

Chris Beatrice has now said

"So I must make it crystal clear that, like all SimCity games, this game is a city-building game. It is a city-building simulation. It is a city simulation. It is an urban simulation game. It is a game in which you build cities." and to be honest i think that is what most of us care about.

[MarcosMX 222]

He just recently said, his team is working with Maxis/EA, doesn't that sounds great!!

[Micah 16]

This is the reason that I'm glad I didn't sign that petition. It was premature and still is. We only know 1% of the overall imformation of this game.

[Alakazam 3]

Now that's better. I'm willing to listen more about it.

[BurroDiablo 222]

Wow... even after all that abuse the guy still keeps his cool...

I respect people like that, I hope you guys do to. I'm sure TM will make SCSoc to the maximum of their abilities...

Its also great that their will to hear from us inthe forums... i'll definitley be joining in with that.

[Braxton 0]

Originally posted by: Imprezza05 Chris Beatrice has now said

"So I must make it crystal clear that, like all SimCity games, this game is a city-building game. It is a city-building simulation. It is a city simulation. It is an urban simulation game. It is a game in which you build cities." and to be honest i think that is what most of us care about.quote>

Sounds like damage control to me.  I've read some of his other posts and frankly, I think he should shut up.  He's digging himself a hole with some of his comments and that's not exactly a good thing.  I've been around to places where people in charge of projects interact with fans and this guy is no where in the same league as those people.  This guy spouted his mouth off and in doing so is now in a position of having to put out damage control to try and win back the fans.  Not a good way of starting a relationship with the Sim City fanbase.

For just being officially announced, there's been A LOT of outrage/commenting on this new game by Sim City fans.  Which is good to see people get active in this.

[Goldfish4209 9]

If they don't fix it, let's just sit back and watch them wonder why they're not rolling in dough. Then they might come to the almost heretical conclusion that the fans don't like it.

If this keeps happening, I wonder if the programmers will still have the morale to continue making this.

[Pixelrage 34]

Chris seems like a nice guy and he's certainly in a pickle...

regardless, none of this should be a shock. If only someone could track down Buggi who supposedly has gotten SC4 source code. Then, the real fun can begin.

[screamingman12 30]

I currently have no oppinion, If they do, in fact, take input from the fans and develop something that can be appreciated, then I might buy it. However, if it turns out to be a total peice of crap with cartoony 3D graphics, then I won't. We need to wake up to the fact that this game is still in development and is nowhere near release, things can still change a lot. Edit: heck, if I knew anything about modding, I would help with both projects, making an open-source SC4 and mabey some on SCS.