Synekism - A New City Simulation Game

[simcity4deluxe 95]

One question, Why is it that the demand and buildings pause it's self after not zoning for a little, I mean seriously, this is the reason why I won't play it, it's just pauses the building and demand, and still no new building types like hexagons and triangles and stuff.

[simcity4deluxe 95]

One question, Why is it that the demand and buildings pause it's self after not zoning for a little, I mean seriously, this is the reason why I won't play it, it's just pauses the building and demand, and still no new building types like hexagons and triangles and stuff.

[Yelmond 19]

One question, Why is it that the demand and buildings pause it's self after not zoning for a little, I mean seriously, this is the reason why I won't play it, it's just pauses the building and demand, and still no new building types like hexagons and triangles and stuff.

Hello,

The reason buildings stop growing and the demand stops updating is because our Simulator is currently a small child. All it knows is how to keep 2/1/1 balance between residential/commercial/industrial populations. Once the ratio is satisfied the Simulator is happy. So, if you stop zoning for a bit, once the ratio is satisfied, the City will stall until you add (or delete) more lots.

Now, regarding our simplistic architecture styles and the general lack of progress and polish, we apologize. We are working as fast as drive, time, and money permit us, of which time is our greatest shortage. I have a full-time job and the other two team members are full-time students.

Basically, this is not really a game, at least not yet. You have to approach it as a pre-alpha (so not even beta) software where stability, playability, and depth are just making their first baby steps. I mean, just recently we found a bug that would overwrite your saves upon a version upgrade. If you approach it as a finished product by a real team you will no doubt be disappointed.

That said, steady progress is being made and all these features will eventually see daylight.

Regards.

[Synekism 19]

The November 2011 update brings Data Views, Tooltips, and Goverment Lot Changes among bug fixes and some minor changes. Download and more info here: http://www.synekism.com/downloads.php

[Synekism 19]

December 2011 update improves the installer and makes Synekism.exe more independent but no new features are added in-game. Excuses contained in our release notes at: http://www.synekism.com/downloads.php

[motoryogurt2 0]

Wow just came across this thread. Currently traveling for work so checking out the actual engine will have to wait till I get home to my gaming rig.

However I just wanted to add a thought, early I was thinking about the idea Sim City 5 (day dreaming I should say). Anyway, it just came to mind that if Maxis (I know, I know, Maxis, is dead just play along) wanted to really blow SC4 out of the water in so far as number unique buildings, props, and just stuff in general that might spawn into a players city, it would be amazing if they (the now defunct developer) crowd sourced volunteer work out to the community (such as those of Simtropolis).

So i know, that even if Maxis was still around, they would likely not go this route, like I said it was just a daydream.

However, you guys (Synekism Devs) are in an entirely different boat, given the scope of your design, and limited time, people etc. It could be to your benefit, to at some point seek out volunteers to say simply contribute models, textures, or whatever. This would allow you to have a large amount of variety in cities without 3 guys spending years trying to get to the level of unique buildings, props, etc, that comes even in a vanilla copy of SC4.

Anyway, certainly I though for very far down the road, your basic game engine and play design, will have to be good enough that you could rally the simtropolis (and other) communities around it.

To me, it seems pretty clear that there is a strong thirst for the next level of city builder game. And it's nice to see the Devs communicating here with the strongly devoted city building players.

I wish you guys great success, as I for one am dreaming of the day a game comes out that is actually deserving of taking the crown from SC4.

And if it doesn't work out for you guys (knock on wood) and you just drop the project, please, please, don't let the code rot on an old hard drive never to be seen again. Open source it. =)

[Ocram's Razr 964]

@Motoryogurt: Synekism is the last community or volunteer driven city builder/simulator (not transport simulator) left. Urbs Urbis and Cities of World shut down.

There are also plans to making a new one with both Boomtown and Metropolis Project being at the stage of tossing ideas around.

[Yelmond 19]

However, you guys (Synekism Devs) are in an entirely different boat, given the scope of your design, and limited time, people etc. It could be to your benefit, to at some point seek out volunteers to say simply contribute models, textures, or whatever. This would allow you to have a large amount of variety in cities without 3 guys spending years trying to get to the level of unique buildings, props, etc, that comes even in a vanilla copy of SC4.

We decided fairly early on that Synekism would not be a weekend project. As such, we've invested most of our efforts in infrastructure (hence the feature drought). Among making it easier for us later on to add and modify core features, one of the our goals is to make it trivial to integrate custom content into the game. Aspects like zoning layouts, custom lot types, transit pieces, building models, and terrain types, to name a few, will all be amendable by design instead of by hacks. And, of course, we hope the procedural nature of our buildings will help accelerate the rise of variability in Synekism cities.

So, your suggestion has already been taken to heart. It will just take a bit more time for us to organize ourselves in order to efficiently accept outside contributions.

Also, there are now just two of use but the project is still healthy with no chance of sleep anytime soon.

And if it doesn't work out for you guys (knock on wood) and you just drop the project, please, please, don't let the code rot on an old hard drive never to be seen again. Open source it. =)

After more than a year of work on this (at over 25,000 lines of code now...) I can assure you we will not let the code rot any hard drive, not just an old one.

[Gringamuyloca 47]

After more than a year of work on this (at over 25,000 lines of code now...) I can assure you we will not let the code rot any hard drive...

I have been lurking.. following your progress: if you and your cohort(s) ever take this to kickstarter.com or are looking for funding, please add me to the list of people to notify... I would love to be able to participate in some manner.

All the best in the New Year to you and yours, and the Synekism team!

[Synekism 19]

January 2012 update makes lower density buildings able to build on higher density lots but otherwise is fairly unimpressive. Expect more next month.

[Mark Waybill 242]

I am working on my own city sim Virtucity using Game Maker. It is good to see another such project. I wish you luck with it.

[Yelmond 19]

I am working on my own city sim Virtucity using Game Maker. It is good to see another such project. I wish you luck with it.

Yep, if it's anything this genre lacks it's competition (or choices). Thanks for the luck wish - same goes to you.

[Mark Waybill 242]

no worries

[Synekism 19]

February 2012 update brings a new zoning layout and buildings that don't take up the entire lot.

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

Once I get a new desktop computer I am definitely planning on downloading this.

Edit: Can I suggest mixed zoning? Such as Residential-Commerical mixes?

  Edited February 5, 2012 by Sirron Kcuhc  

[Yelmond 19]

Edit: Can I suggest mixed zoning? Such as Residential-Commerical mixes?

Yep, it's being worked on as we speak. It's coming.

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

Oh my bad. When are you guys considering about adding detail into the buildings (I'm not trying to be rude asking this, I'm just curious and interested ).

[Cob92 360]

Oh my bad. When are you guys considering about adding detail into the buildings (I'm not trying to be rude asking this, I'm just curious and interested ).

I can't speak for them, but I'd assume that they'd be more focused on getting the gameplay foundations in place at this point.

[Yelmond 19]

Oh my bad. When are you guys considering about adding detail into the buildings (I'm not trying to be rude asking this, I'm just curious and interested ).

I can't speak for them, but I'd assume that they'd be more focused on getting the gameplay foundations in place at this point.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Ya, it will be some time before we can compete visually with the more mature city sims out there. Until then, treat it as a work in progress.

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

Oh okay. Once I get a better computer I'm definitely planning on downloading and trying this.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

I have been very busy recently but the buildings that do not take up the full lots, are they low density?

[Yelmond 19]

I have been very busy recently but the buildings that do not take up the full lots, are they low density?

Low density buildings are the smallest, medium are larger but still don't take up the entire lot, and high density buildings continue to take up the whole lot. Industry zones may not respect this fully. We're still experimenting.

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

I want to ask one more question. Is there any buildings that are bigger than 1x1 or 1x2? The videos I've seen only had 1x2 but I don't know if the game may have been updated by then.

[Yelmond 19]

I want to ask one more question. Is there any buildings that are bigger than 1x1 or 1x2? The videos I've seen only had 1x2 but I don't know if the game may have been updated by then.

This picture should help explain:

The actual buildings will take up different portions of each lot type depending on the building's density type. Also, 1x1 and 1x2 don't have the same meaning in Synekism's gridless environment - unless they're meant as ratios. Even as ratios, the lots themselves are not particularly even ratios length:width wise and can vary from lot to lot within the same zoning.

Eventually Synekism will support lot merges so the initial lot size will matter even less.

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

That does help, thank you.

I really hope this game turns into a smashing success for you guys. I'll definitely be paying to get this game if it's finished version is for sale. Until then I'll enjoy the alpha.

[knighthawk75 56]

I'm digging the new build, thanks again for the monthly drop.

[moeom 1]

Hey guys, i downloaded the game and installed it. But for some reason it is not starting.

First, Windows asked me for the msvcp100.dll file. Once downloaded and placed in the IDT folder, it than asked me for the mscvr100.dll file. Than again, did the same by placing the file in the IDT folder. Once that was done, i started the game, but this time it just doesn't ask for any specific files with some error. I have tried to install and test both 0.4.4.40 and 0.4.5.22 versions of the game.

So i was wondering if there was some other way of getting it to work. Help please. Excited to try it out, but gutted it isn't working.

[Yelmond 19]

Hey guys, i downloaded the game and installed it. But for some reason it is not starting.

First, Windows asked me for the msvcp100.dll file. Once downloaded and placed in the IDT folder, it than asked me for the mscvr100.dll file. Than again, did the same by placing the file in the IDT folder. Once that was done, i started the game, but this time it just doesn't ask for any specific files with some error. I have tried to install and test both 0.4.4.40 and 0.4.5.22 versions of the game.

So i was wondering if there was some other way of getting it to work. Help please. Excited to try it out, but gutted it isn't working.

Ya, this is a pretty common problem we started seeing more of (for some reason...not sure why actually). The problem is Visual C++ Redistributable failed to install during Synekism's installation. I created a wiki page for this problem here:

http://wiki.synekism.com/wiki/System_Errors#MSVCP100.dll

Let us know if you still have problems.

[moeom 1]

Ya, this is a pretty common problem we started seeing more of (for some reason...not sure why actually). The problem is Visual C++ Redistributable failed to install during Synekism's installation. I created a wiki page for this problem here:

http://wiki.synekism.com/wiki/System_Errors#MSVCP100.dll

Let us know if you still have problems.

Perfect! Turns out that Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 32-bit Redistributable wasn't installed. Now the game started and time to test it out and see how it is. Thanks a lot for the fast reply.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

I think that by 1x1, he is using the width of the roads as reference.