Monte Cristo is at it again...

[Poetic 0]

It looks like Monte Cristo is seeing things our way now (let's hope so!).

http://www.will2real.com/?author=1

Some highlights:

A quarter of a million units sold later (and still going) we have a much better understanding of what players are asking for.quote>

Based on these contributions, I must say I’m not that surprised with the Simcity 4 community reaction to the announcement of Simcity Societies. As I do, city builder fans place simulation depth and realistic environments as key for their enjoyment… as well as content (buildings, landmarks, etc….quote>

I am working on a really ambitious City Builder project here at Monte Cristo (big $$$ being spent) with tons of new features coming from the initial community feedback on City Life.quote>

Thanks to le pirate for bringing this to my attention.

[Godzillaman 21]

WOW this looks better than scs! when is it coming out? i might get this instead of scs

LOOK AT THE SUBWAY! it looks so coool! and look at the minis the car beside the red mini looks off a bit though.

[fledder200 5]

OH MY GOD!!!...well i'm not saying what everybody is thinking right now ...this look gooooood!! the buildings are amazing!!

i think i'm gonna like this

[Kevin 101]

You know, a city building game is just about the only place where in-game advertising actually helps the game look more realistic

Anyway, that screen looks great!

[gadgetfreak84 0]

Now this is what I pictured the next SimCity would look like. Go Monte Cristo!

[ILL Tonkso 1,239]

My only problems, the London Underground is not elevated in that part of London, and Citypoint and 30 St Mary axe arent that close (Yup thats the two skyscrapers and thats District Line Underground Rail Stock)

[Sunil 3]

Wow this has left me breathless. This is exactly what I had in mind for the Simcity Franchise to lead to.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, it has to be fake.  Thats just too good to be true.

[GMT 389]

ok, to be honest, this is what I expected the new sc title to look like...

but, on the other hand, the first city life installment already was loads of eyecandy and stuff...

but I think we shouldn't forget that both games (cl2 and scs) are both kinda just learning to walk...

this looks way better than the first scs shot published, but what counts (to me) is the overall final result, and not just the look

[nerdly_dood 26]

Heeey...that's a british street!

Wrong side of the puddle.

Subways?what subwaze?

[Poetic 0]

GMT - I would normally agree with you. The thing that has me pretty excited, though, is what the guy had to say in the blog. Let's just say I think City Life 2 (assuming that's this games title... didn't say) is going to be as much like City life as SCS is like SC4, based upon what this guy says. The fact that he said:

city builder fans place simulation depth and realistic environments as key for their enjoyment... as well as content (buildings, landmarks, etc...quote>

shows that it'll be a big step from City Life.

nerdy_dood - Monte Cristo is french. That could be why

[Explodingsims 3]

Wow, this is amazing, this is for a New City Life game? These Are great!

[gadgetfreak84 0]

The same developer also hints at the upcoming game on Monte Cristo's web site (translated from French).

[JanYpe 17]

This is completely hilarious. Most of you wouldn't even have given a 'new city life' picture and game more than a passing glance if it had been shown even one week ago. But now that there's a new great satan: Shazam, Monte Cristo is showered with confidence.

[Glenni 1,447]

Screw SCS city life 2 is what i'm gonna get, man!

[mikeseith 469]

You know you need 3dsMax to make new buildings for City Life.  A program costing thousands of dollars to make custom content for a 30 dollar game seems odd to me.  I hope if they make this thing, they at least let us import old .3ds or .obj models.  If not, then there will be almost no custom content for this game. 

I still have hope now...

Please Monte Cristo make it easy to mod...

[patriots_1228 51]

wow they musta seen the reaction to SCS and seen the oppurtunity to steal some of the community. i might try this game!

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

you know, this is probably me speculating, but I think this game is going to be very good because it'll be based upon a big budget. i bet that coca cola, jaguar, and the mini cooper companies are spending much money to get their things in the game to advertise their products because, you know, there are a few million city building players that will buy that game, so that is what it getting me excited. this is really what i wanted to see in simcity societies.

[MarcosMX 222]

WOW looks much better than SCS.... But City Life is so hard to find, I have looked on every store on my city and I can't find no freakin City Life. I can't wait for the next city life,,, hope they have it in stores this time XD

[JanYpe 17]

but I think this game is going to be very good because it'll be based upon a big budget.quote>

As opposed to SCS being very bad because of EA's big budget behind it? Do Coca Cola, Jaguar (Ford) and Mini Cooper (BMW) care more about the best interests of the fans than about dollars?

[Poetic 0]

Originally posted by: JanYpe

but I think this game is going to be very good because it'll be based upon a big budget.quote>

As opposed to SCS being very bad because of EA's big budget behind it? Do Coca Cola, Jaguar (Ford) and Mini Cooper (BMW) care more about the best interests of the fans than about dollars?quote>

The main difference, to me, seems to be the combination of $$$ with direction. You can have as much money as you want and still make a crappy game no one wants. Based on the blog alone it looks like Monte Cristo is headed into a new direction with this next game. It's a mix of optimism, granted, but a large amount comes from what the guy himself is saying in the blog. If it was just the picture alone, I wouldn't be happy about this game at all, because I would assume it was just the same old City Life.

[mikeseith 469]

Originally posted by: JanYpe

but I think this game is going to be very good because it'll be based upon a big budget.quote>

As opposed to SCS being very bad because of EA's big budget behind it? Do Coca Cola, Jaguar (Ford) and Mini Cooper (BMW) care more about the best interests of the fans than about dollars?quote>

Ah...Both big budgets.  Just different philosophies.  Nothing wrong with product placement as long as it adds to the game-play.

Just give me big highways and many ways to tinker with the commute.

[edd17 1]

Originally posted by: JanYpe

but I think this game is going to be very good because it'll be based upon a big budget.quote>

As opposed to SCS being very bad because of EA's big budget behind it? Do Coca Cola, Jaguar (Ford) and Mini Cooper (BMW) care more about the best interests of the fans than about dollars?quote>

Well the money combined with their witnessing of the backlash against SimCity Societies should mean that something good is on the way. This will probably have the same social engineering aspects as the first City Life but (hopefully) more of the realism and variety in city planning from the SimCity series.

[RooRocz 0]

Big budgets mean nothing. Look at Open Transport Tycoon. Look at Rigs of Rods. And Linux. All made with a grand total of $0.00.

[simzebu 20]

Yeah! There we go! Still leaves some to be desired, and still not sure it's my thing, but that is more like what we want!

[Imprezza05 1]

---

this looks amaising atleast monte cristo might understand that we want a proper sc5... seeing what they did with CL hpefully this will be even better

edit: oh and city life had the ability to not use grid at all... =) yuppy

[JanYpe 17]

He really doesn't say a lot in the blog though. An admission that City Life sold crap, some platitudes about how they now know what SC fans want, and the statement that he's working on something new. Something new with "big $$$ being spent", which has "tons of new features" based on "initial community feedback". I can sum up his blog post quite succinctly in the form of a cutesy dialogue:

Gamers: Your game blows! We won't buy it!

Developer Oops, apparently we suck.

Gamers: Yes, yes you do. Now listen to our crazy feedback before you starve to death.

Developer: Hallelujah, we've seen the light! We will now implement everything you say, as long as you promise to buy it!

Gamers: YAY, lolz!!!11!!einz!1

Developers: Oh also, we will capitalize on the disappointing reception of a rival game as best as we can. We're relying on you to stay objective though, wink wink nudge nudge.quote>

Marketing 101: All is fair in love, war and suckering gullible fans in the name of PR.

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

janype, why do you have to be so negative? give us a break

[Micah 16]

I'll have to keep an eye on this one!

[AngKH1982 1]

Wow! Jaw dropping graphic..check...Realistic buildings..check...Street view, animated citizens, variety of cars, AND IN-GAME ADVERTISEMENTS!!! This looks freaking cool. What an irony, Simcity became Citylife and Citylife turned into Simcity....

[JanYpe 17]

Oh come on, all I'm doing is pointing out inconsistencies. His blogpost is high on words and low on content. And two weeks ago, 65% of this forum would have answered 'No' if they were asked the question "Would you Better word choice please.--hym the developers of City Life in order to save them from burning to death." Why should we be overjoyed with what could just as easily be a render and some pleasing words, simply because SC5 isn't what we'd hoped it would be?