What level of game difficulty do you usually use?

[z1 566]

What level of game difficulty do you usually use when building your cities?  If you'd like to add a post explaining why, that would be helpful, but it's completely optional.  This information is to be used for some current development work that is expected to have wide interest, so your answers will be very helpful.

[whiteshade 4]

I learned the ins and outs of SC4 before the difficulty selection was available. So I just stayed with Hard. I heard ...somewhere... that hard is the equivalent to the original. Out of curiosity, is that correct?

[Tysons4 68]

Medium or hard because you get more rewards, less advisers, and less pop ups.

[A-Traxx 0]

Hard, just what tysons says..

Better rewards and harder and more fun to make an metropolis

[z1 566]

Originally posted by: whiteshade

I learned the ins and outs of SC4 before the difficulty selection was available. So I just stayed with Hard. I heard ...somewhere... that hard is the equivalent to the original. Out of curiosity, is that correct?quote>

Yes; before Rush Hour, there was only one difficulty level, and it was equivalent to what is now called Hard.

[Retep Molinari 68]

I never see any real change when I use different modes. Since I am generally trying to explore planning rather than do budget management, I use easy.

I liked the older games when you started out with a loan. That was some good stuff, and makes it much more realistic.

[local_authority01 3]

Live Hard, Play Hard.   I play on hard to get all the unlocks without the u-drive.

[Prophet42 1,500]

I always play on hard, because, quite frankly, hard isn't that hard.

[Yonk 2]

I play SimCity to enjoy SimCity and to create beautiful cities and regions, not to challenge myself by pushing the simulator's limits, so I always use Easy. Choosing hard just for the sake of choosing hard is like an artist choosing to use a five-pound depleted-uranium paintbrush instead of a normal one, just to make painting more difficult - it's kind of stupid in my opinion. If I don't feel like doing the U-Drive it missions (they're actually kinda fun, really... I like exploring my creations at ground-level instead of always lording over my city from the clouds, like a god) I can just cheat to get that reward.

- Yonk

[local_authority01 3]

Originally posted by: Yonk

I play SimCity to enjoy SimCity and to create beautiful cities and regions, not to challenge myself by pushing the simulator's limits, so I always use Easy. Choosing hard just for the sake of choosing hard is like an artist choosing to use a five-pound depleted-uranium paintbrush instead of a normal one, just to make painting more difficult - it's kind of stupid in my opinion. If I don't feel like doing the U-Drive it missions (they're actually kinda fun, really... I like exploring my creations at ground-level instead of always lording over my city from the clouds, like a god) I can just cheat to get that reward.

- Yonkquote>

Lol, playing on hard........kind of stupid???  It makes the game more challenging by tightning your budget and no u-drive is required.  Other then that its pretty much the same for all levels with optional cheating and no real winners or losers.

[SockoJr53 51]

I believe whiteshade is correct, before Rush Hour came out, there was only one difficulty, and it was the equivalent of "Hard" So I always choose that by default. And like most people here seem to agree, it isn't that hard anyway!

Also, I'm sick of that blasted Neil Fairbanks and his constant warnings of not having enough housing while playing on easy mode. Look Neil, the housing demand has been at 6000+ for 200 years. It's not going down, now shut up or I'm changing my mind about naming "Fairbanks Elementary School" after you!

[DCMetro34 576]

I normally play on easy, although I have tried hard.

I get my challenges in game from the different levels of Sim Z.

[YakieS1 1]

Originally posted by: Prophet42

I always play on hard, because, quite frankly, hard isn't that hard.quote>

Ditto, and it brings the desirability thresholds up a bit, so I can more effectively manage where those high-wealth sims show up. 

[hplovecraftian 1]

I like urban planning as much as the next guy, but I like having to plan it all around a budget. It makes for a more in-depth, rewarding, experience, IMO. You have to work for those new buildings and makes them seem more valuable to you.

[City Planner 121]

When I first started playing SC4 (when it was first released) I usually played on medium or hard for the initial challenge.

However now I just play on easy.  The reason being that I use the BSC Funding Mod which allows me to stop any money leaving my treasury, and I can turn it on or off as I see fit.  So I'll usually turn it off If I am going to do some huge highway expansion since my attempts at Massive highway expansions is usually trial and error and a huge waste of simoleans so the BSC Funding Mod prevents me loosing all that simoleans in trial and error.  So...

Theres little point to me to play on medium or hard if I am going to use a mod like the funding mod.  Plus I no longer really play the game as it was intended to be played by Maxis anymore.  I more play it to create cities that I wish to create instead of letting them fully develop on their own as the game plays in vanilla more most often.

Anyway, it's easy mode for me 80% of the time and medium or hard if I want a challenge and intend to play SC4 the way it was originally designed to be played.

[IonWind 3]

I play with hard, I don't think that the difficulty levels do much difference, though as Tysons4 said, there are less annoying popups and advisors, which is good.

The biggest difference is the starting money though; less money means you'll have to plan more carefully.

I think there should be also like very hard option which means you'll start on loan, like in SC2k.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

I always play on hard. The way I build, money isn't the problem usually, and I hate those advisors. They don't alert you of anything important anyway. A goldfish farted into its bowl? Advisor popup! Your "nucular" power plant is about to blow because it's running at 120% capacity? Meh, probably not interes- KABOOOM!

[TekindusT 3,809]

Originally posted by: IonWind

I think there should be also like very hard option which means you'll start on loan, like in SC2k.quote>

Well, you can start from this situation if you want. Just begin a city in "hard" level, use the moolah extra cheat to make your funding zero and take a loan from the bank.

[local_authority01 3]

Originally posted by: SockoJr53

Also, I'm sick of that blasted Neil Fairbanks and his constant warnings of not having enough housing while playing on easy mode. Look Neil, the housing demand has been at 6000+ for 200 years. It's not going down, now shut up or I'm changing my mind about naming "Fairbanks Elementary School" after you!quote>

Lmao, thats another reason I play on hard.  Those advisor pop-ups annoy the hell out of me.  There is a mod on the STEX that limits the advisor pop-ups if you like to play on easy.

I do wish there was more challenge to the game.  Though SC4 is a complex game and everthing is interconnected, it all ties you to maintaining a healthy budget and building profitable rather then realistic cities.  If SC5 ever comes out I hope it adds more to gamplay with things such as mayor elections, with economical, social, and demmographic challanges.

[NBAFAN1 28]

What is the difference between the levels other then the starting cash and popups?

[Korot 6]

What is the difference between the levels other then the starting cash and popups?quote>

With CAM 2.0: Starting Tax rates.

Vanilla (no CAM): Development will be slower, and you need to reduce tax rates sooner to keep up with development.

Anyway, I currently mainly play on Hard, because Tage (RippleJet) asked me for beta-testing the CAM. And personally, I don't think it is very hard, once you've got the hang of it. Having less money isn't the problem, 'cause that's why they've invented moolah.

Regards,

Korot

[The_Real_Sim_Shady 0]

I play on easy beacause I just want to build perfect cities, but I do agree, the constant advisor pop ups annoy me.

[Eggy 8]

Playing easy, I get about 10 advisers pop up when I turn on the city. That really annoys me!! But, what do you mean when you select hard, better rewards? Can't you do UDI Awards when playing hard?? I never played hard on rush hour.(Because of fast development...........)

[undo 0]

Originally posted by: Prophet42

I always play on hard, because, quite frankly, hard isn't that hard.quote>

Seconded.

I've always found it odd that Easy and Medium levels are so easy, and the Hard level is what I would call "Normal".

[Slashback 136]

Always easy. I don't play SimCity to get challenged, just to make some great cities!

[ChaosEmerald 0]

I play medium to get the best of both worlds (challenge and creativity).

[Aspirin4o 1]

Before I was playing on Easy, for the money, and because I could't even hope to balance my budget But since I started my City Journal I'm staying on Medium.