CXL2011 Screenshots & More

[jim 546 43]

 For all those who have anxiously awaited CXL2011, good news!  The company who have bought CXL from Monte Cristo has been announced as Focus Home Interactive.  See the news at their website.

PLUS:  New Screenshots of the game:  http://www2.citiesxl.com/citiesxl2011/scr/

I'm particularly excited to see a train in the bottom left of one of the pics.  What's everyone's opinion on this announcement?

[jeremy12 0]

FYI... This is the publisher that sells the game through steam

Looks like the game is coming out this year, the release date is set to Q4 (last 3 months of the year)

The Press Release (www.focus-home.com/index.php)

2010-06-25

FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE ANNOUNCES CITIES XL 2011

 

With this press release, we'd like to inform you that Focus Home Interactive acquired Cities XL and the current developments of the game.

 

This fall, Focus will launch Cities XL 2011, an enriched version which will meet all the expectations of City Builder's fans.

 

"It's important not to leave Cities XL without a future, declares Cedric Lagarrigue, CEO of Focus Home Interactive. Though the game may not have reached the ambitious objectives set forth by Monte Cristo, it has been successful in Europe and via online platforms. There's a community that's developed around the game, hopes and expectations that we cannot leave without a future. We are convinced that the game must make its mark and become a reference as promised during the pre-release announcements of the original 2009 game. We will therefore release Cities XL 2011 in October and will do so with the intent to please those who bought the earlier version. Moreover, we are working on a special offer for the game's release which we will soon reveal. As for the other City Builder and management game fans, Cities XL 2011's content, options, and features should give them great satisfaction."

 

 

- See the first images of Cities XL 2011

 

- Download the images (4.54MB) 

 

- The official website of Cities XL

 

 

About Cities XL 2011 :

With Cities XL 2011, build and develop gigantic cities on realistic 3D maps, thanks to an incredible collection counting more than 700 buildings and unique structures. You are the virtual mayor and as such, you will need to find the right balance between economic development for your city, public transportation, housing, social services, leisure activities and even special events in town. Realism has been pushed a little bit deeper with larger cities, more realistic and more sophisticated than ever before!

 

Widen your horizon!

Cities XL 2011 pushes its limits further: hundreds of new buildings and structures appear for a total of more than 700 constructions, leading the way for new building and combinations options never seen before in a City Builder. Many new maps are also available, for a total of 45 buildable maps. City management will offer the full experience thanks to the addition of public transportation (subway, bus) which will decongest downtown traffic while lowering pollution levels and increasing the population's satisfaction. A more elaborated tax system will let all apprentice mayors adjust personal and local business taxes. A new commercial user interface will permit trade between cities in single player mode if a player decides to develop several cities.

 

Thanks to these big novelties and to a lot of inspired improvements, Cities XL 2011 truly reaches a whole new dimension to please all City Builders’ fans

 

quote>

[IntoxiNation 0]

This is awesome news. From the release:

Cities XL 2011 pushes its limits further: hundreds of new buildings and structures appear for a total of more than 700 constructions, leading the way for new building and combinations options never seen before in a City Builder. Many new maps are also available, for a total of 45 buildable maps. City management will offer the full experience thanks to the addition of public transportation (subway, bus) which will decongest downtown traffic while lowering pollution levels and increasing the population's satisfaction. A more elaborated tax system will let all apprentice mayors adjust personal and local business taxes. A new commercial user interface will permit trade between cities in single player mode if a player decides to develop several cities.

There's a few items in there I really wanted to see, so I'm extremely pleased with that. Another thing is that Focus does a lot of titles. MC basically put everything on CXL, so everything regarding its future depended upon reception. Focus will be able to afford some wiggle room here. If the game takes awhile to take off, then they can continue to work to improve on it and update it to get it to a point that will attract more users.

The only thing missing that I really wanted to see was more focus on modding. There's a chance it could be in 2011 and they aren't just announcing it, but we'll have to wait and see.

What I think would be really awesome is if SC could arrange some sort of "live chat" with people from Focus in the upcoming months so we could get questions answered. There are die hards, like me, who would pre-order today if I could, but there are others who were left with a bad taste in there mouth. Something like that could help put some minds at ease and help the sales meet their goals.

[barcasam7 185]

Looks really good so far and I think the game is in good hands, but as IntoxNation said is they need to focus on modding. Modding for me made sim city 4 from being a good game to becoming an amazing game. This game has so much potential with mods just look at the recent mod's coming out. Fingers cross the mods do get implemented into the game.

Cheers Sam

[jeremy12 0]

Originally posted by: barcasam7

Looks really good so far and I think the game is in good hands, but as IntoxNation said is they need to focus on modding. Modding for me made sim city 4 from being a good game to becoming an amazing game. This game has so much potential with mods just look at the recent mod's coming out. Fingers cross the mods do get implemented into the game.

Cheers Samquote>

I am going to guess and say that the current mod system will work (i doubt MC had time to re program their data file compression format) all that Focus needs to do is provide us with the tools or a list of tools needed to make models so we can add them to the game

and on that note i am going to guess that a lot of the smaller mods will work with 2011 (No Pollution, Water anywhere, Bigger Landscaping)

[The_City_Builder 299]

It looks to me that were going to be able to build Harbor Towns... Very good so far, but i would say Cities XL And 2011 look the same right now. But, thats right now. Who knows what it'll look like when its released. Hopefully, they will release a Demo some time before the actual game comes out. Looking forward to it!

[Hyronymus 56]

If Focus really wants to make CXL 2011 succeed they should have a look at Firaxis. The way that company 'opened up' their games for modders is a good reference. I.e. with basic XML you can do a lot and if you understand Python you can do even more to Civilization IV.

I like the mention of single player games and the oppurtunity to trade with neighbouring cities. Sounds like regions to me .

[Xidillon 0]

as long as theres support for Gddr5 memory and no memory leak, Ill be happier. Oh yeah, and more affordable trading. Dont forget better transportation either. Maybe multicore su....just dont let us down, thats all FHI. Fix it. and thanks.

[ACEH 0]

I cannot describe how happy I am reading these news

[kiwispanker 1]

Originally posted by: Xidillon

as long as theres support for Gddr5 memory and no memory leak, Ill be happier. Oh yeah, and more affordable trading. Dont forget better transportation either. Maybe multicore su....just dont let us down, thats all FHI. Fix it. and thanks.quote>

i think the memory leak was one of the reasons cxl failed (as it took up too much of their labor resources). this is a big fix item that i'm sure focus will take care of.

current cxl does have affordable trading with solo trading mod; or you can get free income in my money_bank cheat.

you can use multicore on cities xl now, you just have to change the affinity in your processes off from your first core and then back to all cores.

i really hope that they open it up to modders, then cxl will have some sort of a legacy.

[mentarman 14]

I wouldn't expect modding tools too soon. From their standpoint they want to sell us something first. Which is fine. So hopefully they will get this out, with bug fixes, various improvements, more buildings, etc. etc. (did anyone see the smoke coming from the volcano?) Then maybe a little bit down the line, modding tools.

[007 0]

EDIT: I think that the trains are going to be awesome! I can't wait to see what other content they have in store for us! 

[Bountytaker 0]

I think I called this a while back.  I seem to remember referencing this company as a potential buyer, since they already had a relationship with MC.  Hmmmm....

Anyway...did anyone else find some of the language in that press release interesting?  Particularly the end, with the reference to "single player MODE".  At least I thought it was strange.


I wouldn't totally count out another attempt at online play folks.....


EDIT:  Yep, called it in the "monte cristo closing thread".  QUOTE:  "-I'd guess the publisher was someone they already had a relationship with, such as Namco/Bandai or Focus Home Interactive."

*puts away personal vuvuzela after tooting it*

[Tzar Aleksander 1]

we need to wait nd see how the game moves on from beta phase to full release version

Tzar

Aleksander

[Heblem 600]

Now im interesting to purchase this game, but i have my doubts...

-Do we need the old cities xl game (the original) to play the new one? its cities XL 2011 a expansion pack or a whole new game?

Also i have some critics, i hope it comes as like constructive comments of what i see in the pictures, overall it looks good, but some points to improve the realism in game...

The coast in red mark, are too simple... those need some more special details, such more large-wide beaches, rocks or maybe some trees (as like a lake) or something, but not quite sure if those islands are inside of a lagoon or at open sea, that depends... but maybe its inside of a lagoon, thats why you can see the dockyard there, but still need some more details...

The blue marks, again looks too simple, maybe some more details in urban areas, as like small constructions that goes well with the w2w buildings, but not just open grass next to a w2w building, also some more details in open lands as like grasses in different heights, different types of trees, rocks and terrain...

The bridges in green circles, doesn't look naturally, its way to short of what bridges like that type should be... in short words its not scaled properly, i think the bridge at bottom should use two suspension towers instead of six.. the birdge on right should be another type of bridge, but not suspention, maybe an arch or something different...

Also this picture explains something unnaturally going on in that bridge which make it looks odd....

Those are my suggestion for the game, i hope the new company can fix these issues to make this game more attractive and appealing to city building fans, but please dont take this in a bad mod, its just a simple constructive comment for the company, i do really wish they to success, which if they do theses fixes and more definitely i'll buy it...

Thanks!

[GlobexCo 33]

Originally posted by: Heblem

Now im interesting to purchase this game, but i have my doubts...

-Do we need the old cities xl game (the original) to play the new one? its cities XL 2011 a expansion pack or a whole new game?

quote>

This is what I know:

CXL2011 is a whole new game, people who bought the original CXL should have some discount (or maybe they can purchase 2011 as expansion pack).

They should tell us something more about prices and things like this soon.

About beaches, MC planned the GEMBeach expansion pack. From models they left inside the package, I can say they wanted to improve beaches with many items (beach umbrella and things like this). So everything is ready

[Heblem 600]

Originally posted by: GlobexCo

Originally posted by: Heblem

Now im interesting to purchase this game, but i have my doubts...

-Do we need the old cities xl game (the original) to play the new one? its cities XL 2011 a expansion pack or a whole new game?

quote>

This is what I know:

CXL2011 is a whole new game, people who bought the original CXL should have some discount (or maybe they can purchase 2011 as expansion pack).

They should tell us something more about prices and things like this soon.

About beaches, MC planned the GEMBeach expansion pack. From models they left inside the package, I can say they wanted to improve beaches with many items (beach umbrella and things like this). So everything is ready

quote>

Thanks for your response! hope they do it realistic possible

[mr-tom 2]

Yeah - your last photo - suspension bridge cables don't run parallel to the bridge - they're always falling from one tower or rising to the other.

Re focus - meh. Same old, same old.

But subways would be nice.

[jeremy12 0]

Originally posted by: mr-tom

Yeah - your last photo - suspension bridge cables don't run parallel to the bridge - they're always falling from one tower or rising to the other.

Re focus - meh. Same old, same old.

But subways would be nice.quote>

I WANT STONE BRIDGES!!!!

why there is no large ave as stone/concrete i dont know.... i dont like suspension bridges all over

[Asheroo 53]

Looks quite amazing, especially with the trains, the chinatown pack, and the harbour/wharf jetty path and buildings, can't wait to build a wharf town and build an elevated train system.

@ Mr Tom - Look at the other pictures and you'll see an elevated subway.

@ Heblem - Those things probably won't be fixed. They only wanted to provide a few technical fixes and a fair bit of new features instead of fixing up peoples' little critics on current features and bits of the game.

[easypeacy42 0]

Great news!!!

Honestly, I didn't believe that there would ever be a "Cities XL 2011". But it's good to see that it will come out, with buses and subways in solo mode. That's what I like.

Although I generally don't like the "simulation" concept of Cities XL at all (assuming that it will be the same concept in CXL 2011) I will buy this game in October, finally.

[veryConfused 1]

Truthfully, if we're getting a game that really is a true successor to Sim City 4, the bridges are only a really minor nuisance that I think most of us could live with. After all, there's the chance that a better looking bridge could be created to put in instead. Really from the coding side of things, this makes a bit more sense though, as it takes up less resources, by creating a model with less polys, therefore saving some on the resources that can be used in other places.

[jeremy12 0]

Originally posted by: veryConfused

Truthfully, if we're getting a game that really is a true successor to Sim City 4, the bridges are only a really minor nuisance that I think most of us could live with. After all, there's the chance that a better looking bridge could be created to put in instead. Really from the coding side of things, this makes a bit more sense though, as it takes up less resources, by creating a model with less polys, therefore saving some on the resources that can be used in other places.quote>

dead on.

@easypeacy42 what do you mean simulation?, Sim City 4 is more of a simulation game whereas id call this a city builder (well until the moders get ahold of it )

[kiwispanker 1]

Originally posted by: Asheroo

Looks quite amazing, especially with the trains, the chinatown pack, and the harbour/wharf jetty path and buildings, can't wait to build a wharf town and build an elevated train system.

@ Mr Tom - Look at the other pictures and you'll see an elevated subway.

@ Heblem - Those things probably won't be fixed. They only wanted to provide a few technical fixes and a fair bit of new features instead of fixing up peoples' little critics on current features and bits of the game.quote>

i am really excited but i still have some a lot of doubts. i don't think FHI have done much at all. in fact, during the time that MC had its largest patch and the time in which it closed, i'm sure they created and fixed tons of stuff. Asheroo even pointed this out on another thread.

the volcano smoke - a lot of the code is already there.

wharfs - the layout files are already there! this is what i'm been working on fixing with my boats mod

chinatown - i'm sure MC already had the buildings made; the buildingnames for chinatown are already in the original game.

i'm not saying i won't buy the game  (at a discount which we deserve - and they hint at), i just hope it's better by the time they release it. 

lastly, i really hope FHI focuses on the simulation aspect, e.g., transportation, population, management. i guess they shouldn't worry about creating new buildings; i'm sure there's plenty of people on simtrop that would love to see their old sc4 models in a 3d game. they could go from 700 to thousands of buildings.

[bixel 1,223]

Prolly the entire content artist group was ported from MC to FHI - so I am very glad for the new content - they really need to open the foot prints of the buildings and get some modding action in there.

[Ocram's Razr 963]

Yes! We need new footprints and statistics for buildings! Good luck Bixel (Pegasus, NDEX, BSC. ...)

[Aspire 3]

I think its great and all, but i hope that they will finally listen to the players thouroughly instead of going one route and rushing the game.

[warrior 169]

Is it just me whos not seeing that much difference between CXL 2011 and CXL? Based on the info in that post and the screenshots it sounds like they've taken CXL modified it and then are going to resell as CXL 2011. This seems to qualify more as an expansion pack. Sadly the graphics haven't been improved or the lot system (the gaps between the lots and the slightly curved roads in CXL were terrible. i suspect this will have a very similar fate to CXL. And won't be buying it unless further info changes my mind which I don't think it will. Here's hoping to CXL 2012

EDIT: and there much more than 700 buildings in SC4 and the community.So saying that the collection is like no collection before is a vast overstatement

[hotChocolate 95]

It's meant to be similar to CXL, trough improved. I always thought of 2011 as an expansion pack; homever, this may change my opinion. As for the edit, they want to sell the game. It may be an overstatement, but well, SC4 doesn't have 3D, and some other things that are in CXL.

I'll sit and wait for more screenshots before critizicing the game.

[mr-tom 2]

The way I see it, there's four things that could be included in CXL 2011:

1 Mod tools

2 Tech fixes e.g. memory leak

3 Significant gameplay changes e.g. trade between cities

4 Moddable changes

If any of the top 3 are in then yeah, I'll probably buy. If it's just stuff that we could mod (and already have to a certain extent) then why bother?

The one thing I won't do is pre-order. FHI screwed me over last time. I had to wait well over a month and they didn't do anything until British Trading Standards got their French counterparts involved and started an investigation, at which point MC got involved and sorted it out. It'll be Steam or a shop for me.