The future of Simcity 4

[kccl35 83]

 As we all know, Simcity is already reaching its 7th year, which is about the age when SC2K was replaced By SC3000. I'm just a little concerned that with better technology on computers that SC4 might not be able to run on computers anymore, especially when other programs and stuff need faster processors, better graphic cards etc. Simcity 4 being designed for 2003 standards, it may not work on these souped-up machines of the future. This, to me, is very worrying as there will probably be no SC5 and SC Societies was a big fail, IMO.

In short, SC4 may go extinct.

Do you guys have any ideas? Solutions?

[Skimbo 304]

I do not think that it will not run on future PCs. It is able to run under a 64 bit system, so why shouldn't it work on a 128 bit one?

The processor will also be no problem, but maybe the graphics card.

But there is another very easy sollution: If your simcity does not work on your new computer, just keep your old one.

[drudruenos 0]

it's not a seasy as that. Old machines break and need replacing and you can't stay in the stone age just for 1 game. I have a 64bit pc with the latest graphics card and sc4 hardley plays at all so I have mostly given up on playing.

[jstn_brrtt 8]

I don't really think that it will go extinct, I mean, it's lasted this long and still has a rather large following of people still playing it, as long as we keep playing it, it will live on. I also don't really think that new technology will be the death of SC4 either. My laptop has all the latest graphics and processing abilities and it still plays SC4 great. Plus, Windows 7 has that 'Windows XP' mode to allow you to use older programs, so that's a plus.

[TekindusT 3,809]

Some users are now having issues with Dual Core processors and they have to adjust their computers to keep enjoying SC4, sometimes just some minor tweaks. In the worst cases, like Skimbo said; I guess there's nothing wrong on keeping an old computer just to play SC4 and other nearly abandonware games.

Staying in the Stone Age for SC4? Then, you can call me Neardenthal.

[Z77 3]

Well...you could always do what i have..not going into detail but i have enough computers to run anything i want. 5 computers with every windows operating system 95 on lol But that isnt always a feasible option. In my opinion, simcity will live on, people will just outgrow it and move to a new game before it comes impossible to play.

And like tekindus said...just call me a good ol club swinging cave man

[thingfishs 417]

it will only die when the equivalent of SC5 comes out, and I'm absolutely convinced that it will... in a few years or so.

[mattamillion 2]

I would be surprised if an emulation environment (a la Dos Box, SNES9X, etc.) isn't developed at some point, if it does get to the stage where late 1990s and early 2000s games aren't compatible with modern OS's any longer.

For my part, Windows 7 seems to do a pretty good job with SC4, so it's fairly likely that there are at least a few more years before we really have to worry.

[Nachtblitzer 0]

I have a brand new machine, and SC4 runs absolutely fine on it. If anything, any lag at all is caused by the inefficiencies of the software itself, and not the hardware. A large city that would barely load on my former (6.5 yrs) PC loads in a snap here. It may lag a bit when the game is refreshing/reloading the graphics due to zooming and rotating, but the simulation speed is unparalleled.

PS: System specs

2.8 GhZ AMD Phenom II x4

8GB RAM

Nvidia GeForce Video Card (I forgot if it is 256 or 512 MB)

1 TB HD

Windows 7

Sim City 4 Rush Hour, with approx 1.8 GB of plugins

19" Widescreen LCD Monitor

[Panda_Power 1]

I custom-built the PC I have now and I was a bit concerned that SC4 would struggle with it being created around oldish technology, but I'm quite happy with it. I've got an i7 920 overclocked to 4.2Ghz and I've set SC4 to just use one core, which it seems really happy with....at least it doesn't crash anymore by trying to use more than one! I've got 64 bit Windows 7 with 6GB of RAM and my GPU is an XFX 5870, which should be more than enough, but this is game is CPU intensive so I don't think the GPU plays that much of a role in it....I just set it to "performance" so it doesn't push the graphics too much.

Also got the game and my 2GB plugins folder all installed on an SSD, which really speeds up loading times, especially with all the plugins.

I'm currently playing on a large city map, which I've almost filled up, and it's been playing fine but I am starting to experience a lot of slow down now because I'm filling up gaps in my city with a whole load of seasonal trees...looks great, but not such a good idea!

As for the future of SC4, I would be happy if they just brought out a multi-core / multi-threaded version because if they changed too much then we wouldn't be able to use all of the amazing mods that people have created over the years!

[Tysons4 68]

i think we are still only discovering this amazing game... in the future this game will only run better as long as we all stick together simcity 4 will never die...

check out blue hope city journal... it is going to be the next wave of networked simcity 4

i believe in the future we will be able to see this game in true 3d with gmax... we just arnt there yet

it will be like the guy that did the ultimate simcity 3000 ... 7 years after simcity 5 is released you will see simcity 4's true potential

[Yonk 2]

I'm hoping before I die that I'll see a fully holographic version of Simcity. Something that will display 3D buildings and terrain and things, in a gigantic space the size of an airplane hanger or so. You'd be able to walk around (and through) everything, accessing menus that hover around you, and reaching into air to drag down structures and roads and zones "painting" them onto the ground with your hands. Everything is scaled down nicely so the tallest skyscrapers are about as tall as you are, and if you turn off the transparency, you can go on a rampage and demolish the stuff around you a la Godzilla.

Of course, until then, I'll just keep this old computer just to run SimCity until I can't find parts for it anymore, which will probably take 20 years. I see no reason why I won't be able to run it on newer models, either, especially considering that even crappy Windoze Vista has compatibility modes to run programs in.

-Yonk

[thecross21 3]

What is the link to the blue hope city journal?  I searched for it on simtropolis and coudlnt find it. 

[thingfishs 417]

www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm 

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Originally posted by: thingfishs

it will only die when the equivalent of SC5 comes out, and I'm absolutely convinced that it will... in a few years or so.quote>

It won't. There has beeen various topics on SC5...

Anyway, this website and others is the future.

[thingfishs 417]

I know there have been, and I've read most of them... and my view remains the same. I see it as inevitable but it clearly can't be stated authoritatively one way or the other and the last thing I want is to start THAT debate again. Simply in response to the opening post, that is my view on the future of SC4.

[boon1234 9]

It is unlikely that a game called "Simcity 5" as a direct successor to Simcity 4 will ever come out. Not in the way we would like it to. Maybe a game like Simctiy will come out, and our best hope is that it will be as open-ended and customizable as Simcity 4. Imagine Cities XL but with the custom options like BAT and LE that Simcity 4 has.

[Tysons4 68]

i dont want to imagine a game like cities xl...

i didnt like city life and i dont like cities xl...

monte cristo ties but they do not please...

i have most all city games and the one that keeps me most entertained and satisfied is simcity 4

i would rather play simcity 4 than a game that tries to mock it

there is also this link for the new region in blue hope https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=36&threadid=113084

and there is some talk of starting a page in the new cj section...

it's really fun to play on a map with other people... i call it simcity 4 network edition

[U.N.O.E 0]

How do you get into it? How do play the region with other people on it?

[Tysons4 68]

im working on creating a system right now where when you play on the network you can choose your play style with mods by other users so when you start it you have different versions you can play (simmars/futuristic, london, new york, eastern, western, and original unmodded) pm me for additional details