Simtropolis, rejoice! This is not SC5!!!

[schm0 27]

Hidden in the IGN article, which provided the first non-fluffed criticism towards the release of SCS, was a short snippet:

"SimCity: Societies isn't SimCity 5 for a reason. It's a new direction, not the next iteration."

The worst part about it, we'll have to wait several more years to get what we've been waiting for. Personally, with all the disappointment surrounding this game, it actually inspires me to have patience and hope for the next revolution in the SC series. Now, all we have to do is get EA to release the original code so we can start modding the game seriously. What are your thoughts?

[Explodingsims 3]

Is this really true, this is not part of the simcity saga, or are they trying to say they didn't just call it Simcity 5? But even If this is NOT a sequal to SImcity 4, I still won't buy it...

[elle_driver 2]

I think they meant they were talking about why they didn't call it Sim City 5, not necessarily that it isn't Sim City 5...

[Spinmaster 75]

Originally posted by: elle_driver I think they meant they were talking about why they didn't call it Sim City 5, not necessarily that it isn't Sim City 5...quote>

That's what I thought too. Unless it flops I don't think there will be a "next iteration" that isn't based on SC:S. I'd so love to be wrong about this, but I haven't seen anything to give any official hope EA's even thinking about making another "realistic urban simulation" - they seem to think SC:S is it.

[Poetic 0]

That doesn't automatically mean that SimCity 5 will be released ever, nor does it mean that SimCity Societies isn't a replacement for SimCity. It's just IGN talking about why it wasn't called SimCity 5 - I don't think IGN has gotten word, nor was it trying to imply, that SimCity 5 will be out years from now.

[Hanson784 165]

I also think the article meant why it wasn't named SC5, because it's not like the previous SimCity titles.

Maybe EA is taking SimCity in two directions. SCS for the general gamer and SC5 for the long time SimCity players. Only time will tell.

[Ntq€310 1]

i think they mean, that it's not going to be a normal simcity

[Cleaner475 150]

Sorry to ruin your hopes guys but EA have already said that this is Simcity 5 when they released news about the game.

[Gridlock 9]

The New Haven Fleet was on route to the land of the mimes, when the good news came through, The Carriers Dallas,New Ark  , Justice  and Defiance accompanied by 17 battle ships , 43 crusiers , and the formidable Type -P nuclear subs were approximately 2 days of the coast  with orders to attack on upon there arrival at mimesville ,when mayor gridlock gave the order for the fleet to return to port .

Amid growing concerns and pressures from the sims of New Haven , Mayor gridlock was given little choice , but to declare war on the mimes. They Threatened to burn sim nation to the ground i nor the sims of New Haven were prepared to sit back and watch the destruction of Sim Nation , we had to protect them at whatever the cost .

It appears now that mimesville has eased the pressures it was placing on sim nation to jion its collective which is good news . -)

[nealos101 20]

It is probably the replacement for Simsville.  Thus, one issue is resolved but another is appeared... Would you rather not have Simcity 5 at all than wait a little longer for it?

You are still on a Simcity 4 Fansite.

Neal.

[Gridlock 9]

If thats a ? to me neolos , my answer is if real SC5 doesnt come thats fine , but when and if it does come it should be a game that ,this community accepts as a true replacement for Sc4 . I do look forwards to sc5 , i played sc games aslong as anyone else , but im new to custom content, id kinda told myself , that i would wait , until sc5 and possible new ways of making things appeared , im way behind you guys on knowledge for making custom content , it would take me that long to learn in sc4 that by the time i start to release stuff , that youve all moved on to 5 anyway, i did see the release of a SC5 as the time i seriuosly start to try to make real good content for the game .

[schm0 27]

Originally posted by: cleaner475 Sorry to ruin your hopes guys but EA have already said that this is Simcity 5 when they released news about the game.quote>

Um, no they didn't.

Here's the EA Press release on the EA website. There is no mention of this being SC5.

From Merriam-Webster's dictionary:

Main Entry: it·er·a·tion

Pronunciation: "i-t&-'rA-sh&n

Function: noun

1 : the action or a process of iterating or repeating: as a : a procedure in which repetition of a sequence of operations yields results successively closer to a desired result b : the repetition of a sequence of computer instructions a specified number of times or until a condition is met -- compare RECURSION

2 : one execution of a sequence of operations or instructions in an iteration

3 : VERSION, INCARNATION <the latest iteration of the operating system>

Originally posted by: nealos101 It is probably the replacement for Simsville.  Thus, one issue is resolved but another is appeared... Would you rather not have Simcity 5 at all than wait a little longer for it?

You are still on a Simcity 4 Fansite.

Neal.quote>

I will wait, even if it takes another 4 years.

[MarcosMX 222]

Dude, they aint gonna make another SC5 simply because it was too "hard". Remember that article at 1up.com, there was a question that said, if scs was the next sequel to SC4 and it said yes.

[Giligone 10]

IGN was clearly referring to the naming of the game. Its not called SimCity 5 because its not a sequel to Sim city 4. Its a new game in a new direction. That said. It is still the next Sim City game. There will not be a direct sequel to sc4. EA has said that in several news articles.

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

I'm not sure whether to believe that SCS is a direct sequel or not, but I think in most people's eyes, this is a spinoff... Final Fantasy, Mario, and Dragon Quest are notorious for this. Even The Sims has their Stories series.

Hopefully we see a true SimCity 5 soon because Societies doesn't appear to be the game to hold us over until then.

[Skyfire2275 23]

Originally posted by: Hanson784 I also think the article meant why it wasn't named SC5, because it's not like the previous SimCity titles.quote>

Agreed.. although it would be nice to see a real SC5 one day, I doubt it will happen for a long time (several more years) if ever. Let's hope City Life 2 fills the void.

[Ijouhassei 0]

I had this revelation yesterday. I knew this couldnt be Sim City 5. They are probably just keeping us in suspence.

[Artman94 2]

Look at SimCity DS. It isn't a sequel to anything. It's just a spinoff. So maybe SCS is a spinoff, too (but I highly doubt it).

[schm0 27]

Originally posted by: MarcosMX Dude, they aint gonna make another SC5 simply because it was too "hard". Remember that article at 1up.com, there was a question that said, if scs was the next sequel to SC4 and it said yes.quote>

"But what's the deal with the "Societies" bit? Is this or is it not the fifth installment of the series? The answer is a confounding "yes." It definitely continues the SimCity line, but this absolutely is not the same old SimCity...for better or worse."

The next "installment" of the series that continues the SimCity line, but not in the "same old" way means spinoff, not SC5. Perhaps they'll jump the number (SimCity 6?), or rename it something completely different . Either way, this is a social engineering game, not an urban planning simulator. The very nature of the game has been so fundamentally altered that it can only be considered as a spinoff, not a true "sequel."

Someone in some other thread posted that SCS was like The Sims: Life Stories... a game with the same name and basic theme, but a completely different type of gameplay. Another example would be Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus. These two examples are not sequels, but spinoffs.

[schm0 27]

Originally posted by: MarcosMX Dude, they aint gonna make another SC5 simply because it was too "hard". Remember that article at 1up.com, there was a question that said, if scs was the next sequel to SC4 and it said yes.quote>

"But what's the deal with the "Societies" bit? Is this or is it not the fifth installment of the series? The answer is a confounding "yes." It definitely continues the SimCity line, but this absolutely is not the same old SimCity...for better or worse."

The next "installment" of the series that continues the SimCity line, but not in the "same old" way means spinoff, not SC5. Perhaps they'll jump the number (SimCity 6?), or rename it something completely different . Either way, this is a social engineering game, not an urban planning simulator. The very nature of the game has been so fundamentally altered that it can only be considered as a spinoff, not a true "sequel."

Someone in some other thread posted that SCS was like The Sims: Life Stories... a game with the same name and basic theme, but a completely different type of gameplay. Another example would be Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus. These two examples are not sequels, but spinoffs.

[UltraGIR XL 3]

Don't we all wish, though?

It would be grand if this was as The Sims Stories was to the Sims, but, sadly...

...I think not.

[UltraGIR XL 3]

Don't we all wish, though?

It would be grand if this was as The Sims Stories was to the Sims, but, sadly...

...I think not.

[fpxmedia 0]

From Joystiq:

Joystiq spoke with EA and confirmed the rumor that the next version of SimCity is on the way. Currently dubbed SimCity Societies, EA says that's merely a "working title" at this point. We've been told "it's completely different from SimCity 4, so they're trying to come up with something different than just calling it SimCity 5."quote>

It seems obvious here that the only reason they're not calling SimCity 5 "SimCity 5" is that it's such a departure they want to give it a unique name, hence "SimCity Societies."

From Gamespot:

An EA rep would only say that the title will move the series "in a new and exciting direction" that would "take the franchise back to its roots, and create an accessible, flexible game that will continue to appeal to avid SimCity fans, as well as attract new players to the franchise."quote>

The emboldened text seems telling: this isn't a spin off as the game is moving the entire series in a new direction.  A spin off doesn't do that -- it adds to the series.  Here we're told the series itself is being reimagined.

@schm0: While any ambiguity seems hopeful and could lend to this being SCS1 instead of SC5, it seems that EA/TM wants to break it to us easy that this is SC5.  I'm certainly not trying to change your mind, and a great deal of us here are hoping you're right, but to me this is the next installment/version/incarnation/iteration of the series.

[fpxmedia 0]

From Joystiq:

Joystiq spoke with EA and confirmed the rumor that the next version of SimCity is on the way. Currently dubbed SimCity Societies, EA says that's merely a "working title" at this point. We've been told "it's completely different from SimCity 4, so they're trying to come up with something different than just calling it SimCity 5."quote>

It seems obvious here that the only reason they're not calling SimCity 5 "SimCity 5" is that it's such a departure they want to give it a unique name, hence "SimCity Societies."

From Gamespot:

An EA rep would only say that the title will move the series "in a new and exciting direction" that would "take the franchise back to its roots, and create an accessible, flexible game that will continue to appeal to avid SimCity fans, as well as attract new players to the franchise."quote>

The emboldened text seems telling: this isn't a spin off as the game is moving the entire series in a new direction.  A spin off doesn't do that -- it adds to the series.  Here we're told the series itself is being reimagined.

@schm0: While any ambiguity seems hopeful and could lend to this being SCS1 instead of SC5, it seems that EA/TM wants to break it to us easy that this is SC5.  I'm certainly not trying to change your mind, and a great deal of us here are hoping you're right, but to me this is the next installment/version/incarnation/iteration of the series.

[spa 970]

Well for all intents and purposes it's Sim City 5, saying it's not is just arguing symantecs. This is the next game from the publishers (in this case the publishers corporate conquerer who farmed it out) and how Societies does in the market will influence what EA decides to do with the series four or five years down the line. In every way that counts from the corporate creator's perspective, it's #5.

[spa 970]

Well for all intents and purposes it's Sim City 5, saying it's not is just arguing symantecs. This is the next game from the publishers (in this case the publishers corporate conquerer who farmed it out) and how Societies does in the market will influence what EA decides to do with the series four or five years down the line. In every way that counts from the corporate creator's perspective, it's #5.

[Spinmaster 75]

One must separate wish from reality. Wish is clear from most of the SC fans here and elsewhere, as to the question "sequel vs. spin-off." Reality, not so much - even EA, I would not be surprised, isn't really sure. My theory - based solely on their own statements and various articles (and thus not a reliable theory by any means, I know): EA thought SC:S would become the "new way of things" for the entire franchise, intends SC:S to indeed be the next sequel, and the next next one will be based on SC:S if it's successful.... with a possible return to "the real deal" (the wish) if it's not. Basically, they hope SC:S *is* in effect SimCity 5, but they're taking away the sequencing solely as a realization it's not keeping anything from its predecessors, except the base franchise name.

I also wouldn't be surprised if they're rethinking this approach already though, given the extreme uproar here and on just about every other fan site. SC:S is too far along to change in any sweeping manner. The video shows it pretty much working already and they plan to release it by the end of the year, so most of the code is "in the can" now, leaving just bug testing, last-minute tweaks, and adding pre-modeled content (buildings etc...). It's not too late to change its marketing strategy though. And even if it is released as "the sequel" ... well if it doesn't do as well as they'd hoped, then perhaps a true SC5 (or 6) will come along someday - though I've a hunch someone else will have filled the niche they left behind by then. I see no reason to be optimistic about a true SC5/6 from EA within the next 4 years - SC:S has to flop first, otherwise the next SC after it will just be SC:S #2 (oh the horror...).

[Spinmaster 75]

One must separate wish from reality. Wish is clear from most of the SC fans here and elsewhere, as to the question "sequel vs. spin-off." Reality, not so much - even EA, I would not be surprised, isn't really sure. My theory - based solely on their own statements and various articles (and thus not a reliable theory by any means, I know): EA thought SC:S would become the "new way of things" for the entire franchise, intends SC:S to indeed be the next sequel, and the next next one will be based on SC:S if it's successful.... with a possible return to "the real deal" (the wish) if it's not. Basically, they hope SC:S *is* in effect SimCity 5, but they're taking away the sequencing solely as a realization it's not keeping anything from its predecessors, except the base franchise name.

I also wouldn't be surprised if they're rethinking this approach already though, given the extreme uproar here and on just about every other fan site. SC:S is too far along to change in any sweeping manner. The video shows it pretty much working already and they plan to release it by the end of the year, so most of the code is "in the can" now, leaving just bug testing, last-minute tweaks, and adding pre-modeled content (buildings etc...). It's not too late to change its marketing strategy though. And even if it is released as "the sequel" ... well if it doesn't do as well as they'd hoped, then perhaps a true SC5 (or 6) will come along someday - though I've a hunch someone else will have filled the niche they left behind by then. I see no reason to be optimistic about a true SC5/6 from EA within the next 4 years - SC:S has to flop first, otherwise the next SC after it will just be SC:S #2 (oh the horror...).

[Albatross Domain 2]

Ok, think back now... the last 18 years Sim City on average has come out with a consecutive successful sequel every 4-1/2 to 6 years... this SC is not on that current course..

-Sim City (Classic) 1989

-SC2000 1993 (+4yrs - considering not every had a computer, and Nintendo released not only one but 2 Sim City games- though SC2000 was a limited release mainly in Japan.)

SC3000 1999 (+6yrs - Deluxe vers followed sometime later)

SC4 (Vanilla) 2003 (although SC4:RH still sells for $19.99- $29.99) at Wal-Mart to this very day)

and with it only being 2007 (even with its release of Oct/Nov '07), it doesn't fit the pattern, especially with the price point for SC4, still being at $20. the Website is over taken by EA... in case some of you ppl that are new... www.simcity.com does not work, and has been assimilated as simcity.ea.com instead.

[Albatross Domain 2]

Ok, think back now... the last 18 years Sim City on average has come out with a consecutive successful sequel every 4-1/2 to 6 years... this SC is not on that current course..

-Sim City (Classic) 1989

-SC2000 1993 (+4yrs - considering not every had a computer, and Nintendo released not only one but 2 Sim City games- though SC2000 was a limited release mainly in Japan.)

SC3000 1999 (+6yrs - Deluxe vers followed sometime later)

SC4 (Vanilla) 2003 (although SC4:RH still sells for $19.99- $29.99) at Wal-Mart to this very day)

and with it only being 2007 (even with its release of Oct/Nov '07), it doesn't fit the pattern, especially with the price point for SC4, still being at $20. the Website is over taken by EA... in case some of you ppl that are new... www.simcity.com does not work, and has been assimilated as simcity.ea.com instead.