Take a video bus ride

[ACEH 0]

 MC published a video which shows how buses will work. Take a look:

 http://www.citiesxl.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2484&Itemid=128

[SimCityFanatic 0]

This looks really good.

Since the game came out, I have been on the sidelines.  I didnt buy it, I have been waiting to see what MC would do.

I also didnt bash the game or pump it, since I know they would be working to make the initial version much better.

So far I like what they seem to be doing.  I want to see MC work on more features like customizable airports and subway transportation.

So far I am impressed by this Bus feature addition.  Hopefully they let us name the lines.  That would be great.

I like what they are doing so far, not convinced as to buy it yet, but its in the right direction.  If I keep seeing them moving in the right direction, then I will probably buy it and subscribe online. 

[Stef42 0]

It's looking great!

I like the function to build the bus-stops at the place you want and the bus-line becomes clear.

The showing of the influence area etc. looks also very cool!

The expanses will be big, because one lane costs more than 4000C (in the video)

[Mathew_MC 0]

You've been faster than I, ACEH

Indeed, a bus lane is quite expensive. The cost depends both on the number of bus stops on the lane (up to 40) and the size of the busses used on the lane. And the one on the video is only using minibusses

[ACEH 0]

I refresh the site very often Mathew, waiting for news The truth is that buses looks very well and the way you manage the lines is all you need from a city building game. The only thing is to hope that they will be available for solo mode too, but that's up to you MC

[masochist 111]

Wow...

Hahaha, I always thought that the folks calling for individual bus line control were being too picky. I never thought MC would actually DO it .

[GlobexCo 33]

Fantastic! Finally a working bus system (not like in SC4...).

Unfortunately I won't play it...

[soltangris 42]

You might, in time. Who knows?

I also loved what I saw in the video! It promises to take a lot of pressure off the streets. and speaking in terms of realisation, it looks really great!

[xannepan 513]

It looks fantastic. Despite my concerns with the bugs and conceptual issues in this game this is really nice progress.

[arca 0]

Now, that is a bus system! I like how you have complete control over where the buses run. I'm looking forward to that.

[gabry85 2]

Counting # of times people said the word 'look' (or 'looking forward') above this post... 7

It's always all about the *looks.* Nobody wonders about what's really under the rug (hint: subscription) when they're dazzled with tempting videos for a while. Typical.

[slickster79 0]

Buses look great. If they behave.as well as the video suggests, I think this game is well on its way. I will more than likely take up the PO on the back of this.

[CZAR ALEKSANDER 0]

looks great can not wait to try it in the game

[Sainty 0]

eh, expensive... when Mathew said expensive yesterday, I thought that it will cost 200k or more. 5k isnt really a big deal.

[bluespottedhorse 49]

The graphics and tools look really well done Matthew. Are buses and transportation going to be an updated patch to the game or part of a paid module?

[citynerd 0]

Looks great, but I thought that passengers pay for a ticket, and then it would be income instead of expences ? And maybe the possibility to manage ticket prices.

The same for trains, metro's and so on.

Where I am living nothing is free. You either pay or walk.

[danny_1990 0]

I'm so hoping buses will be for SP as well!

[GlobexCo 33]

Originally posted by: gabry85

Counting # of times people said the word 'look' (or 'looking forward') above this post... 7

It's always all about the *looks.* Nobody wonders about what's really under the rug (hint: subscription) when they're dazzled with tempting videos for a while. Typical.

quote>

Let's imagine you're MC and you want to remember to players that the bus system is in developement: what you'll do?

It can be only eyecandy, it can be an advertisement... but it "looks" good (counter: 11)!

[soltangris 42]

Verno li be kolega? Kude to4no jiveesh? Az taka i nqma da se dobera skoro do metro, taka kakto sum v Goze Delchev.....

Sorry for the bulgarian, guys

And I might add that the busses not only look good, they seem to have good mechanics as well (specific lines, for example). Again, I won't mind paying for a job well done. At least for a time, that is.

[vonhaubitz 5]

Originally posted by: Mathew_MC

You've been faster than I, ACEH

Indeed, a bus lane is quite expensive. The cost depends both on the number of bus stops on the lane (up to 40) and the size of the busses used on the lane. And the one on the video is only using minibusses quote>

Congratulations, the way of setting up a bus line looks very comfortable! Looks very promising, I am impressed.

Now you only have to come up with tram lines, so, my mayor does not breach his promises during his election campaign :-)

[Ocram's Razr 964]

I like the buses a lot! I think that it is cool that the player can choose the size of the terminal, type of bus, and location of bus stops.

Rail (light, heavy, or high speed) would be extremely (if not prohibitively) expensive if it supposed to be proportionately expensive to bus lines. Rail would also be difficult to program because it would be like a highway (limited access, expensive, and high capacity) in a smaller area (size of small road) with only special (trains or trams) vehicles being able to go on them. I do hope, however, that these content packs will be available to purchase for offline soon.

[LBII 3]

Well, for the lack of micro-management, this bus system is filling the void! It looks great!

Althrough I have some interrogations on the bus system right now

- What about transfers between bus lines? Can a citizen transfer bus lines at the terminal? What about transferring when two lines cross each other and share a stop together?

- Can a line pass by multiple terminals to link terminals to each other?

I hope you guys at MC already tought about these questions...

[MINIggy03 227]

Busses: The first of many rental features that will go *poof* when you decide to stop paying them money. We're all being impressed by busses...haven't we had busses since Simcity 2000? Now you get to rent it! Yaaaay....

[EAGCE 2]

Originally posted by: MINIggy03

Busses: The first of many rental features that will go *poof* when you decide to stop paying them money. We're all being impressed by busses...haven't we had busses since Simcity 2000? Now you get to rent it! Yaaaay....

quote>

Show me where in any Sim City where you get the amount of control you see in that video.

[soltangris 42]

Busses: The first of many rental features that will go *poof* when you decide to stop paying them money. We're all being impressed by busses...haven't we had busses since Simcity 2000? Now you get to rent it! Yaaaay....

Some people never miss a chance to remind us of some things. I just hope there aren't too many in this thread, or it'll get hijacked again....

LBII, MC mentioned that their Q&A team is preparing to answer questions next week - that'll be a good time to ask ?

[YannickSHE 0]

This is just fantastic news! The new patch today, game runs smooth, my 3 cities are still hangin in there on Prospero. The buses will just be so fun to add in our own existing cities. It adds realism and concept to what we've built so far, and then we can renovate and upgrade our cities. All those new patches, packs we keep having is just gettin' better and better. I realize now that 5 cities to manage is way more than enough!

Those buses will be fun this holiday season between parties and work. No sleep for me for the rest of 2009 I guess!

[Mathew_MC 0]

No bendy buses. The three types of buses are: minibus, normal bus and double-deckers.

Transfert between different lines is implemented, both at terminals and when two lines cross each other: you just need to place the bus stop near enough from one of another bus line. Your citizens will consider the bus trip as a whole, including transfers. Which means that if the first half of their travel is fine but the second bus line they need to take is overcrowded, they will probably chose to take the car to work.

Currently, a line is linked to a single terminal.

[alexbieiniek 0]

5k can be quite expensive for a city just starting out...imo i think everything is to expensive in this game including resources.

[soltangris 42]

Well, you don

[LBII 3]

Originally posted by: Mathew_MC

No bendy buses. The three types of buses are: minibus, normal bus and double-deckers.

Transfert between different lines is implemented, both at terminals and when two lines cross each other: you just need to place the bus stop near enough from one of another bus line. Your citizens will consider the bus trip as a whole, including transfers. Which means that if the first half of their travel is fine but the second bus line they need to take is overcrowded, they will probably chose to take the car to work.

Currently, a line is linked to a single terminal.quote>

Thank you for the info!

I'm pleased by the first part of the answer, and I'll encourage you guys at MC to stay open to the possibility to link terminals together to create fully integrated networks! If you have two or more terminals in your city, It would be great if you can order a bus to link them and put a couple of stops between.