SimCity Societies Predictions

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

We all pretty much have our opinions on the game, but what do you think the general public feel about SCS?  Will SCS be a runaway hit with sales matching The Sims or will SCS tank and become a sales bust for EA?

I'm also wondering how you'll think gaming sites, i.e. GameSpot, IGN, 1-up, and other will feel about the game?  Will there be rave reviews across the board or will there be an overwhelming thumbs-down to SCS?

[John-SJ 13]

No offense, but if you were to ask this question 5 days before game release rather than 5 months there would be a whole lot more information to go on and people would have something better than their preconceived notions to guide them.

Asking this now offers little more than another outlet to vent.

[SimsPlanet2 7]

I don't like the style of the game. People won't buy this game...

[dvchronique 0]

in my mind, probably about the same thing as City Life...

dv

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

Originally posted by: John-SJ No offense, but if you were to ask this question 5 days before game release rather than 5 months there would be a whole lot more information to go on and people would have something better than their preconceived notions to guide them.

Asking this now offers little more than another outlet to vent.quote>

 

It might be a little too early to ask these questions, but based on the information we have, we've got a good idea of what this game is going to be based on screenshots, news articles, and the interviews given by various outlets including Simtropolis.  As long as the responses are polite, I see no problem asking these questions now.

This is not a place to vent your frustrations about the game, but whether the game will be... or will not be well-recieved by the general public, not just the SimCity community.

[Mr. Flibble 134]

The sales numbers category in that poll are really quite skewed. I don't think you realize how few titles actually make more than 2 million sales. By the categories in your poll only a couple dozen titles in all of PC gaming history have had "good" or better sales.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games#PC_2

[jabezscratch 159]

Wild guess at this early stage: I could see PC Gamer, for example, giving it a 70% (not great/not horrible).

In terms of sales, there is enough of a loyal fanbase to ensure that it will sell well even if the preponderance of reviews are negative (like a Rolling Stones record -- it could suck but you know it'll sell on name recognition alone).

[Pixelrage 34]

I don't think the big sites like IGN & Gamespot will care much about it.

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

Originally posted by: seanivs The sales numbers category in that poll are really quite skewed. I don't think you realize how few titles actually make more than 2 million sales. By the categories in your poll only a couple dozen titles in all of PC gaming history have had "good" or better sales.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games#PC_2quote>

 

Sorry, but Wikipedia is not a credible source of information.  The SimCity franchise as a whole has sold extremely well over its history so I think the sales number represent typical sales of the franchise.

Link from the official SimCity site.  This shows that "SimCity 3000 and SimCity 3000 Unlimited, an enhanced version released in 2000, combined have sold nearly 5 million units worldwide."  I didn't find any SC4 sales numbers, but it sold very well initially topping the NPD charts in January '03 and staying on the charts for quite a while.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, I would rerun your poll once a month until the game has been out for three months.  After the release, some changes will have to be made, but it would make an interesting study as to how opinions on this site change.

[Braxton 0]

It's too early to predict what the sales will be like. Most games don't reach 1 million copies sold anyway and the way your poll is setup doesn't seem very accurate anyway.

[SpecialEddie 3]

Sales will be off the charts (just because it's Simcity), but reviews will be wholly negative.

[Ntq€310 1]

these days some people will buy anything, so over a million copies will be sold, but smart gaming sites,G4,ect, will most likely give it a bad review, the fact it has simcity on the name will give it a quick million, but will take a turn for the worse in review as most people who played last simcities are dissapointed, newcomers quickly get board with it, and olny a minamal amount of the fans are happy, Ea makes there money and then it's up to them to leave simcity dead, give it back to maxis(I dont think there will be a spore 2) or make another one with tilted mill, if they do make a offical simcity after SCS and put what the fans wanted into it instant 10 mill plus, so lets see, and wait, for this "THING" to come out

[SimFox 800]

I bet that it will be having good reviews in the press (everyone is a sucker for EA advertising $ And unfortunately it play very important role when reviews are created (had personal experience with that). Plus most people who right reviews do so not to inform public with expert opinion, but to entertain. Plus it might be fun thing, I meant the game. It's just not what WE need and were waiting. But reality is that most people don't need game like we need. And game that runs strong for year and years and years on FREE upgrades produced by community is bad for business. Sales of new Simcity will be decent but nothing spectacular. Game is original only in marketing slogans and in reviews like in GFW (with is nothing but a covert advertising and at that one not following proper rules). In reality proposed game plan is assortment of unimaginative clichés and backward provincial thinking.

It is absolutely conceived as an EXIT PRODUCT, those who been studying economics and marketing will see it mile away. It takes bunch of existing concepts and brand names packages it together without any real innovation as it seen that those are at the end of its life and not warrant any major investment and development – so, only what left is to milk it dry with minimum extra investment. Hence this remarkably short development stage!

[Redhunt 0]

good sales numbers would mean the detour would be permanent but bad sales point to insufficient return of investment in the franchise. I can only hope for a great game that's in the vein of the series that offers a compatible, and wonderful, expansion on societal aspect. The announcement of SCS casts a grim outlook on the possibility of a real SC5.

[Intrepid 20]

It will get good reviews because the reviewers will look at from the perspective of the average dumb pleb who just wants to be entertained. I think the game will do well initially but after 3 months it will be in the bargain bins in my local game store going for a tenner due to its poor shelf life.

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

I guess I could chime in now.

I see this selling pretty well for a PC game, which is over a million... but SimCity is a quality franchise that ultimately sells pretty well overall, and I don't think SCS will surpass SimCity 4 in sales.  I don't have hard SC4 sales numbers, but I caught this and it says that SC4 sold more than 1 million copies its first fiscal year.

I'm guessing between 1-3 million copies of SCS will be ultimately sold... probably on the low end, and although it might be a success, it won't be by SimCity standards.

Reviews will also be hit-or-miss, I think.  Some will give it a good grade, mainly from reviewers that prefer more casual games, but some will be hard to recommend this game for the hardcore SimCity fan which will hurt many other reviews, in my opinion.

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

I guess I could chime in now.

I see this selling pretty well for a PC game, which is over a million... but SimCity is a quality franchise that ultimately sells pretty well overall, and I don't think SCS will surpass SimCity 4 in sales.  I don't have hard SC4 sales numbers, but I caught this and it says that SC4 sold more than 1 million copies its first fiscal year.

I'm guessing between 1-3 million copies of SCS will be ultimately sold... probably on the low end, and although it might be a success, it won't be by SimCity standards.

Reviews will also be hit-or-miss, I think.  Some will give it a good grade, mainly from reviewers that prefer more casual games, but some will be hard to recommend this game for the hardcore SimCity fan which will hurt many other reviews, in my opinion.

[KnowitallSim 1]

I expect sales of around 500,000.

Honestly, SimCity 4 didn't sell that well. I believe it was somewhere between 1 to 2 million sales. (Much less then SimCity 3000 and SimCity 3000 Unlimited)

So....considering SCS looks so much worse, 500,000 sales seems like a plausible amount of sales.

And I think it'll get mixed reviews....probably an 8 from one site, 7s from most, 6s from a few and a couple will give it a 5.

[KnowitallSim 1]

I expect sales of around 500,000.

Honestly, SimCity 4 didn't sell that well. I believe it was somewhere between 1 to 2 million sales. (Much less then SimCity 3000 and SimCity 3000 Unlimited)

So....considering SCS looks so much worse, 500,000 sales seems like a plausible amount of sales.

And I think it'll get mixed reviews....probably an 8 from one site, 7s from most, 6s from a few and a couple will give it a 5.

[Skyfire2275 23]

Looking at those polls paints a very pessimistic picture.

[Skyfire2275 23]

Looking at those polls paints a very pessimistic picture.

[Albatross Domain 2]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body Well, I would rerun your poll once a month until the game has been out for three months.  After the release, some changes will have to be made, but it would make an interesting study as to how opinions on this site change.quote>

I would have to agree with Moose, supposedly have another poll, say a month b4 the release, since we will definately have more information on it, more actual footage of the game, such as shown during E3, and then ultimately after its release...

couple of questions that will linger will be:

1- Will the game be MOD-able, without having to buy those worthless expansion packs, similar to the SIM's series.

2- Will it be somewhat (remotely) compatible with any of the current and past SC Series.

3- Or will it remain one of those games, that end up in the $10.00 or less barrels at Wal-Mart after only 6-months on store shelves?

[Albatross Domain 2]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body Well, I would rerun your poll once a month until the game has been out for three months.  After the release, some changes will have to be made, but it would make an interesting study as to how opinions on this site change.quote>

I would have to agree with Moose, supposedly have another poll, say a month b4 the release, since we will definately have more information on it, more actual footage of the game, such as shown during E3, and then ultimately after its release...

couple of questions that will linger will be:

1- Will the game be MOD-able, without having to buy those worthless expansion packs, similar to the SIM's series.

2- Will it be somewhat (remotely) compatible with any of the current and past SC Series.

3- Or will it remain one of those games, that end up in the $10.00 or less barrels at Wal-Mart after only 6-months on store shelves?

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

I'm sure there will be another poll much closer to the release date, but I wanted to see what people think about it now in the early stages... and right now, it looks pretty bleak.

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

I'm sure there will be another poll much closer to the release date, but I wanted to see what people think about it now in the early stages... and right now, it looks pretty bleak.