Synekism - A New City Simulation Game

[Synekism 19]

January 2013 release: Linux support, bug fixes, graphics update, and some other things.

Update: http://www.synekism.com/index.php?update=49

Download: http://www.synekism.com/downloads.php

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

I noticed a bug. I was able to plop residential and commercial lots over industrial (and they all grew). I'm not sure if you are aware of it, but I feel I should at least try to let you know.

[Yelmond 19]

I noticed a bug. I was able to plop residential and commercial lots over industrial (and they all grew). I'm not sure if you are aware of it, but I feel I should at least try to let you know.

Yep, that's not really a bug - it's more the result of my validation code being less than optimal leading me to disable it by default. Basically, the validation code that's supposed to not let you build things on top of each other is very inefficient and slows down the game too much - so I disabled it by default. You can enable it if you wish by pressing F3 + V and then the game won't let overlap things anymore.

This will be "fixed" when I re-write the validation code. Until then, overlap all you want.

[The_City_Builder 299]

I upgraded to the new version and now I can't launch Synekism.exe, as apparently I don't have permission to do so? What happened? It worked before...

[Yelmond 19]

I upgraded to the new version and now I can't launch Synekism.exe, as apparently I don't have permission to do so? What happened? It worked before...

That shouldn't be. Please email support@synekism.com, including the version of Windows you're running on, and we'll try to figure out what happened.

[simcity4deluxe 95]

Check it out, made a video of your game lol

[Yelmond 19]

Check it out, made a video of your game lol

 

Sweet. Thank you!

 

You've pretty much touched on all the major bugs currently plaguing the game and I agree that I probably massaged the residential ratio a bit too much. I'll see if I can release a patch to return that ratio back to sanity.

[simcity4deluxe 95]

So I decided to make a second one, thanks for watching.

[simcity4deluxe 95]

Check it out, got a new video for you gies!

[Synekism 19]

Thanks for the videos, simcity4deluxe. They were a good indication that the RCI ratios needed some calming so I released a minor update to address this issue.

 

You shoud no longer need so much more residential compared to industrial and commercial lots. Also updated the demo city in the installer to account for the new ratio.

 

Update: http://www.synekism.com/index.php?update=51

Download: http://www.synekism.com/downloads.php

[ReeceF11 0]

This game looks very interesting I'll give this a go when I get back home.

[nankura 0]

all i can say is, cant wait until the graphic's engine is released and this game has graphic's, because right now for what it is, good work man, top notch and im excited, im just excited

 

frankly im one who is quite upset with simcity's 5 always online deal. and even if i could afford the game, which i cant right now. its just a deal breaker, if im on my laptop on a trip, i want to build a city without needing to be online!

 

But needless to say. its looking excellent, so excited to see some graphics soon xD

[Taivass 1]

Hey, I wondered, if it is possible to design other buildings instead of those polygons? I mean, I can design them in Sketchup, just outlines, but I wondered, can you put them to randomly pop up instead of polygons, can you even import them into game, I mean files from sketchup? If yes, then I can help you with that? 

I have idea for scaling, so I can design plenty of different buildings with different plot sizes, so, for example, when I zone residential zone, there might be a plenty of different sizes of plots right? So, in case that plot is 5x5, game can randomly put all the buildings with plot smaller than 5x5 and so on. Can you see into this? I think the biggest problem might be importing anything into game, right? 

[Yelmond 19]

Hey, I wondered, if it is possible to design other buildings instead of those polygons? I mean, I can design them in Sketchup, just outlines, but I wondered, can you put them to randomly pop up instead of polygons, can you even import them into game, I mean files from sketchup? If yes, then I can help you with that? 

I have idea for scaling, so I can design plenty of different buildings with different plot sizes, so, for example, when I zone residential zone, there might be a plenty of different sizes of plots right? So, in case that plot is 5x5, game can randomly put all the buildings with plot smaller than 5x5 and so on. Can you see into this? I think the biggest problem might be importing anything into game, right? 

What you suggest will most certainly come in some form once modding in Synekism becomes relevant. Unfortunately, the game's architecture is not yet in a state in which it can accept and use external models. Creating and importing models are only the first steps with additional work being required to properly populate the city with them. Given my current development priorities, such functionality will not come for some time. I'm afraid you're stuck with boxes for a little while longer.

Additionally, keep in mind that Synekism is meant to be procedural in nature so the first step will be to create buildings procedurally at runtime instead of static model plopping.

[pressure 2]

Came here after a post on the official Simcity forum asking about kickstarters for citysims that are NOT the bucket of crap known as Simcity 2013/Simcity Societies 2/Simplicity/P.O.S.  I'll post a link to your game there (including, of course, that your game is at a very early stage of development).

I'm sure I'm in the minority here but the lack of textures is no problem for me.  I love the minimalist graphic style of Frozen Synapse and Synekism doesn't look TOO far away from that right now.  And you can really end up with some cool looking textures of your own when you zoom out with the solid-colored block buildings as they are.

Let us know if there's any way other than testing that we can support the game.

[Yelmond 19]

Came here after a post on the official Simcity forum asking about kickstarters for citysims that are NOT the bucket of crap known as Simcity 2013/Simcity Societies 2/Simplicity/P.O.S.  I'll post a link to your game there (including, of course, that your game is at a very early stage of development).

I'm sure I'm in the minority here but the lack of textures is no problem for me.  I love the minimalist graphic style of Frozen Synapse and Synekism doesn't look TOO far away from that right now.  And you can really end up with some cool looking textures of your own when you zoom out with the solid-colored block buildings as they are.

Let us know if there's any way other than testing that we can support the game.

 

As always, the support is very much appricited. Thank you.

 

Though mentions of other games, especially links, on that forum seem to have a really short life span...

[doihaveto 22]

Unfortunately, the game's architecture is not yet in a state in which it can accept and use external models. Creating and importing models are only the first steps with additional work being required to properly populate the city with them. 

 

I'll say, I really like the abstract aesthetic of the current prototype. It gives it a very cool, minimalist feel - the board pieces are abstract, and don't get in the way of game rules...

 

Could there be an option to play in the current state, with just boxes?

 

All in all, very cool!

[Yelmond 19]

Unfortunately, the game's architecture is not yet in a state in which it can accept and use external models. Creating and importing models are only the first steps with additional work being required to properly populate the city with them. 

 

I'll say, I really like the abstract aesthetic of the current prototype. It gives it a very cool, minimalist feel - the board pieces are abstract, and don't get in the way of game rules...

 

Could there be an option to play in the current state, with just boxes?

 

All in all, very cool!

 

Apologies for the delay. I assure you that solid colored boxes will always play an important role in Synekism. Exactly how they will be used in the future I still need to figure out but I've started liking them as well.

[knighthawk75 56]

Keep on trucking foward Yelmond.

[JWL 52]

Such potential! Keep up the good work, I can't wait to play a 'finished' version of Synekism, whenever that will be!

[Yelmond 19]

Keep on trucking foward Yelmond.

 

Such potential! Keep up the good work, I can't wait to play a 'finished' version of Synekism, whenever that will be!

 

As always, your support is very encouraging! Thank you.

[Synekism 19]

September 2013 release is out! Been a while. I wish it was a bit more grand but the big stuff just didn't make it so it's just minor features and several bug fixes this time.

 

Update Details: http://www.synekism.com/index.php?update=58

Download: http://www.synekism.com/downloads.php

[pressure 2]

Glad I subscribed to this thread -- almost forgot about Synekism!  Still excited to see how the game progresses.  Keep it up! 

[KonstantinII 1,106]

Those are buildings you say? Nothing more than cardboard boxes to me.

 

This seems more of a portable tablet game app than a realistic refined designer program like sc4.

[Yelmond 19]

Glad I subscribed to this thread -- almost forgot about Synekism!  Still excited to see how the game progresses.  Keep it up! 

 

Thanks!

[Yelmond 19]

Those are buildings you say? Nothing more than cardboard boxes to me.

 

This seems more of a portable tablet game app than a realistic refined designer program like sc4.

 

Accurate observations but you've missed the best part. See, Synekism struggles so much to draw those simple boxes right now that it uses way more resources (RAM, CPU, GPU) than a realistic refined designer like SC4. Good luck running it on a tablet.

[__A 792]

I played it for a bit. Its quite fun but maybe a bit more flexibility with zoning would be nice. Seems like a good game for people who like Urban Planning

[catty-cb 4,412]

Those simple boxes can make for the city of your dreams, the program CityScape

 

http://citybuilders.co.nz/index.php/forum/25-city-building-games/8-cityscape-1-8-4-by-pixelactive-3d

 

came with a small number of created buildings, etc and you could import models as well, but most of your city was generated boxes of various shapes and sizes usually coloured white, but you could have them all red if you wanted to, it also had a menu where you could paint your buildings either using the textures that came with it or your own textures that you had imported

 

 

play around with building textures, which could be a bit of a disaster

 

 

or till you were happy with the results

 

 

you could even use a bump map and get a slightly 3d look about it to your building

 

 

-catty

 

PS: Its great that you are still working on Synekism

[simlink 1,098]

Glad to see you still working on this. One of these days when I don't have a pile of papers for a to-do list I'll download the latest version.

[Yelmond 19]

PS: Its great that you are still working on Synekism

 

Glad to see you still working on this. One of these days when I don't have a pile of papers for a to-do list I'll download the latest version.

 

I appreciate the encouragments. Thanks! I'll keep at it.