SCS a Disappointment?

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

Is EA's CFO Warren Jensen a Motley Fool?

In the article linked above, Jensen talks EA and the gaming industry... it's successes and... uh, failures.

"...Of course, Jenson also pointed to some disappointments, like Hellgate London and Sim City Societies..."

It's in interesting read and it proves that at least one top dog at EA was unhappy with SCS.  The article also criticizes EA for pushing its tried-and-true franchises over new franchises like Spore.

[Deathtoall 28]

Well atleast somebody in EA doesn't like it.  Maybe this person will however realise that many people don't want it?

I hope they have plans for a proper SC5, one that actually moves the series forward, in the right direction and not spin-offs.

[mrbombit 1]

Great. I am very happy to hear they are disappointed.

[John-SJ 13]

Disappointed does not mean "doesn't like it".

It means the game has not performed up to their expectations, i.e., on a par with other similar games.

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

Originally posted by: John-SJ Disappointed does not mean "doesn't like it".

It means the game has not performed up to their expectations, i.e., on a par with other similar games.quote>

 

You're right.  His disappointment could be due to low sales or lackluster reviews... not the concept or the game itself.  After the praise previous SimCity games have gotten from websites and fan communities, SCS seems like a failure in a way.

[MrCinatit 30]

If it is the CFO, then there is a huge chance it has not performed they way they expected financially. The chances he has looked at more than screen shots is pretty slim.

Yes, the game was in the top 10 during the first week of release - but that is expected, especially with the named attached to it. (I have a feeling The Sim 2: This Is An Empty CD would make the top 10). But, already the game has dropped of the top 10 - which presently includes more than a few games which were released before Societies was released (Orange Box, Bioshock).

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

Originally posted by: MrCinatit (I have a feeling The Sim 2: This Is An Empty CD would make the top 10). quote>

 

Probably, but I'm almost positive it would be named The Sims 2: No Stuff.

But yes, you're right.  SCS doesn't appear to have staying power despite the brand... so it's now dropped off the charts.

[mrbombit 1]

Thank god.

[emeg23 0]

Yes I am very dissapointed in the newest Simcity version. I am afraid that Simcity is offered forever to the kind of game players who like shallowness and don't care about realism. What the heck is wrong with a realistic city building and deep going city management simulator?

Why was last year the Simcity community made happy with messages and announcements that Simcity 5 was in the pipeline? EA is the juridic owner of the name Simcity, but that doesn't mean that it is fair to snatch Simcity from the faithful and loyal Simcity conmmunity to serve another kind of game players. The English have a nice proverb, what EA has done have nothing to do with playing cricket.

I have let EA know my opinion about this matter, I sent the following e-mail to their piracy-online mailbox.

**

The most disappointing piracy happend this year is done by EA self.

 

Snatching Simcity away from the faithful Simcity community, who made that game also during the last 10-15 years by paying and playing and modding etc. because they like to play with a *real* city *simulator*... that is also piracy.

Simecity is morral also owned by the huge faithful Simcity player community and they feel in large majority that EA has robbed their Simcity away. Not bringing out the real Simcity 5 developed by Maxis, but a city societies game under the name Simcity, that is not different from devastating a renowned city building and management simulator. Shame you EA! you deserve the outcry from the Simcity community and the many low rated reviews for the newest so named Simcity version.

**   

[CityNut_607 5]

AMEN!!!!

[Simcitytrainer 3]

Well put Emeg23 well put.

EA has made a mess of Sim City.

Maxis should have the rights to it and make a true SC5.

Whats worse is that EA has lied about "A SC5 in the pipline."

Maxis made SC right.EA screwed it up.

[Hahayoudied 3]

I think EA company put too little effort and money on their new games, too much on their profits, installed deactived technical support softwares on some their games so they don't have to deal with all the trouble their customers are facing, and ignored their customers.

[purpledaddy 6]

Originally posted by: The_Dalai_Llama

Originally posted by: MrCinatit (I have a feeling The Sim 2: This Is An Empty CD would make the top 10). quote>

 

Probably, but I'm almost positive it would be named The Sims 2: No Stuff.

quote>

 

That's actually why I no longer buy Sims Stuff Packs anymore!

[SimRabbit 48]

SCS is like George Bush, a failure, everybody knows that. XD

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: The_Dalai_Llama

Originally posted by: MrCinatit (I have a feeling The Sim 2: This Is An Empty CD would make the top 10). quote>

 

Probably, but I'm almost positive it would be named The Sims 2: No Stuff.

But yes, you're right.  SCS doesn't appear to have staying power despite the brand... so it's now dropped off the charts.quote>

 

The Sims 2: This Is An Empty CD in the EU... 

Well, that a top brass at EA thinks it's a disappointment, is good. That means one of two -- either close down the franchise, or change it. The success of SimCit, however complicated the game is, show us that we're not afraid of micromanagement, and that we're not into "playing and fun" like one does in kindergarten, but that we genuinly want a challenge or seven. Focus groups, trend researchers and others will always say "Yes" if asked if they want something new. I would say yes if somebody asked me if I wanted food presented as a pill -- that might save me some time in the morning -- but as long as I love making food, I wouldn't substitute it.

Maybe this bugger got it -- something have to stay the way they always has. In the city simulation business, that means presenting realistic or at least semi-realistic challenges, not allowing us to shape the city exactly the way you want with no regard to transit, power, demand etc.

[Bazkur 34]

I can't say I'm disappointed in SCS as my expectations were below the zero mark. So I guess I was a bit surprised that I've been playing it as much as I have. It's by no means "SimCity" and they should have just called it something like "The Sims: Society Life." As its own, stand-alone, game I like to play it. However I still find myself playing SC4 a ton. I'm looking forward to, what would appears to be easy to do, custom content. Cheat are easy to make but not needs for the most part.

[MINIggy03 227]

now watch them use this as a reason for why they wont be making Simcity 5.  "Well, Simcity Societies didn't sell well and that had the "Simcity" name, so why would "Simcity" with a number after it sell?" 

suits are stupid. 

[ManagerJosh 0]

I would take what the Motley Fool wrote with a heavy dash of salt rather than a grain of salt. Primarily what is written is just a simple one liner expression from the CFO saying he is disappointed. The context its written is pretty bad since it is written in a third party perspective as well as there was no further elaboration on his disappointment.

Disappointment in what? Game production? Sales? Being outsourced? Title name? Reception from the Community?

A single one line blurb isn't enough to draw a conclusion.

[purpledaddy 6]

Originally posted by: AmunRe I can't say I'm disappointed in SCS as my expectations were below the zero mark. So I guess I was a bit surprised that I've been playing it as much as I have. It's by no means "SimCity" and they should have just called it something like "The Sims: Society Life." As its own, stand-alone, game I like to play it. However I still find myself playing SC4 a ton. I'm looking forward to, what would appears to be easy to do, custom content. Cheat are easy to make but not needs for the most part.quote>

 

First of all, is this game really like The Sims?  And second of all why are comparisons to The Sims meant as a negative thing?   I'd love to a sequel city & region builder that actually does combine elements of both.

Originally posted by: MINIggy03 now watch them use this as a reason for why they wont be making Simcity 5.  "Well, Simcity Societies didn't sell well and that had the "Simcity" name, so why would "Simcity" with a number after it sell?" 

suits are stupid. quote>

 

Hey I resemble that remark!

 

[MrCinatit 30]

Originally posted by: MINIggy03 now watch them use this as a reason for why they wont be making Simcity 5.  "Well, Simcity Societies didn't sell well and that had the "Simcity" name, so why would "Simcity" with a number after it sell?" 

suits are stupid. quote>

If Cities Unlimited sells quite well, though, it could change their outlook very quickly.

Originally posted by: ManagerJosh I would take what the Motley Fool wrote with a heavy dash of salt rather than a grain of salt. Primarily what is written is just a simple one liner expression from the CFO saying he is disappointed. The context its written is pretty bad since it is written in a third party perspective as well as there was no further elaboration on his disappointment.

Disappointment in what? Game production? Sales? Being outsourced? Title name? Reception from the Community?

A single one line blurb isn't enough to draw a conclusion.

quote>

Perhaps. Perhaps.

However, I've seen a couple of instances where Motley Fool has been dead on about the company I work with, Home Depot. It appears he does his homework.

Because it is the CFO, I would bet quite a bit he is talking about the games performance financially, as he is basically the company's head accountant.

There are a couple of things which are of interest, though:

1) This game is still quite new. When the comment was made, it was still much less than a month old. For the game to already be deemed as a disappointment by one of the executives is a bit of a concern.

2) I don't believe the CFO would be throwing around a word such as "disappointment" so freely, unless the game is a rather large disappointments. Corporate executives usually play their cards pretty close, not being willing to admit their weaknesses to other companies.

3) This, combined with the sudden and (at times) drastic price reduction are showing some signs the game really is not doing as well as expected.

and, finally

4) The game has already fallen out of the top 10 list in PC game sales.

Societies does, indeed, have  a very faithful following. And there is the possibility of a silver lining on the horizon. But, as of now, the game does seem to be struggling, even to those at EA.

[ManagerJosh 0]

For the record, I'm not discrediting Motley Fool as an uncredible news resource. I'm just merely advocating that what's being presented is half-baked and therefore taking a single line blurb of "disappointment" on the part of a statement from the CFO is rather unreliable since the context of the statement can be taken in more than one direction. Without further details, it is hard to determine the actual statement and intent from the CFO's statement.

Your points are well thought out but I do see a problem with some of them

Point one is based on the premise disappointment is on sales figures. Again, its an assumption on the readers implying sales figures. I'm personally not going to make such an assumption unless there are more facts on hand to support that argument. Point two, Disappointment is used frequently in the corporate world. It's context varies though from disappointing earnings to disappointing sales figures. Basically it can be interpreted through a myriad of ways from "we met our target goals, but didn't surpass them" to "target goals weren't met and we're disappointed".

Point three, the price point is a curious one. I've been pretty much quiet on that one and basically I spent half of the day yesterday doing research with all my local retailers. Thus far, I don't see any major evidence of a price reduction. BestBuy, CircuitCity in my areas respectively have continued to set the price between 39.99 and 49.99. Fry's Electronics continues to maintain the price of 39.99. The only person I've seen who made a lower price move and I suspect it has to do with the Christmas shopping season would be Amazon and with a price reduction of 10.00.

My personal interpretation of the price reduction is that the game was being sold too expensive in the first place.

[Adonay 0]

I'm so dissapointed with scs that i really could cry...all that waiting...and they come up with such a joke of a game...as it has been said before...sc 3000 looks better from icons to graphics...maybe they'll eventually come up with another version...all we can hope now is that city life brings to us everything we ever wished but something tells me that only those at ea, after having really listened to the fans can make our dreams come true...hopefully they do it before those at urbsurbis (provided they're still working on it)...such a shame...such a shame...

[Silur 3,304]

30$ or 50$ - may be 100$ for quality game ...

I see now Russian version SCS about 41$ - but this is for one, who like it ...

And I see more - about 10 Addons for SC2 (about 40$) - this is blind way ....

And Thank for all Simtropolians, who told me about SCS !!!

[jail_guy 0]

A dissapointment for EA? Awww! The sad thing is they are still promoting and selling this "dissapointment". They should be recalling it. I am sure a LANDFILL somewhere would take them. I bought the game and returned it to Wal-Mart and got my money gack on this defective product. I went through a clerk, asked for a supervisor, then a manager--i asked the manager for the name and adresses and phone n umbers of the President and CEO so I could sue...So at that point the manager decided the game was defective and they would make an exception and i got my money back. I think of all the people who will get this game for Christmas and how "disapointed" they are going to be. Ea should just admit the game is defective, take thier lumps and recall the game. It would do them more good than to continue to promote and sell it.

[Garek Maxwell 1]

Originally posted by: jail_guy  Ea should just admit the game is defective, take thier lumps and recall the game. It would do them more good than to continue to promote and sell it.  quote>

Actually, it would be far worse to recall this game than to continue to sell it from a PR standpoint. They don't have to admit they did anything wrong, they continue to make a very small profit from it, and within a few months "no one will remember it" so to speak. It's obviously not popular, and even those who scream "EA KILT SC!" will eventually move on....hopefully. So in the end, continuing to sell it is a win for the company since there are people who will still buy it.

[purpledaddy 6]

Originally posted by: jail_guy ...I bought the game and returned it to Wal-Mart and got my money gack on this defective product. I went through a clerk, asked for a supervisor, then a manager--i asked the manager for the name and adresses and phone n umbers of the President and CEO so I could sue...So at that point the manager decided the game was defective and they would make an exception and i got my money back...quote>

I thought all you had to do was show a receipt  of purchase at Walmart.  

[Karybdis 34]

You do, but if you get upset enough anywhere, they'll give you your money back so they don't have to deal with it.

[purpledaddy 6]

Yeah I guess they can't all be as customer oriented as Walmart! 

Anyway, on behalf of Sims players who also hang around at Simtropolis fr time to time congratulations on your modthesims2 award!

http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=256172

Also see:

 https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=112&threadid=95478&enterthread=y  

[patriots_1228 51]

only way it would be a dissapointment to me is if it managed to not dissapoint EA. in other words: YAY!

[panthersimcity4 162]

Oh, sure NOW that they've wasted money on making the game they come to their senses...