The SimCity 5 Thread (Formerly "Is SimCity 5 Ever Coming Out?").

techman64 · June 15, 2009

you got that right...games should befun and to learn some thing ....Ea should go into games that give you insight and evolove into a true games that has fun and education

killercereal0104 · July 17, 2009

well sc4 is educational. it teaches economics and.... anyways its educational in many ways. the game is very productive and it also alows someone to look at a situation and make the right decision. For instance if your city needs a new power plant and you don't the extra income to fund the new power plant you might have to raise taxes or lower the funding on something like schools so you can fund that plant. See all that thinking into one little situation. Sc4 can be very educational and create logic. If sc5 was ever created it could be placed in high schools as an educational game for students to learn with.

SomeRandomAmerican · July 18, 2009

Does EA even have any plans for a new SimCity? I would imagine that big execs there wouldnt want to invest too much in the franchise after Societies didnt pan out as well as they projected.

Aro0w · July 18, 2009

well, hopefully for them they'll figure out what made SC4 so great, and they'll stick with those guidelines...

but... I'm not entirely done with SC4

chasespncr · July 20, 2009

there will most likely not be a simcity 5...

deathtopumpkins · July 20, 2009

...as for one thing, the company that made it (Maxis) doesn't truly exist anymore, and we've all seen how bad EA (who owns the rights to the SC franchise) did at making one.

Just stick to SC4... it's just as active as ever, and frankly, I think it is almost impossible to top, especially if you include all the custom content.

araveugnitsuga · July 20, 2009

Not only that, but what would you add? (3d set aside)

Only thing I can think is things related to modding the exe file

SomeRandomAmerican · July 20, 2009

Now that you mention it, there really isn't anything else to put into an SC5 that the modders haven't put out already. Trams, roundabouts, new buildings, and (thank God) curved transit systems. When you think about it, there really isn't anything more to put in. Perhaps some graphical bug fixes and better graphics would be all that you could do. That and maybe, now that I thought of it, customizable bridges, where you could have a curve in the middle or a large height increase in the middle. Great, now I'm rambling. Someone else take over please.

Cob92 · July 20, 2009

Originally posted by: trainguy4449

Now that you mention it, there really isn't anything else to put into an SC5 that the modders haven't put out already. Trams, roundabouts, new buildings, and (thank God) curved transit systems. When you think about it, there really isn't anything more to put in. Perhaps some graphical bug fixes and better graphics would be all that you could do. That and maybe, now that I thought of it, customizable bridges, where you could have a curve in the middle or a large height increase in the middle. Great, now I'm rambling. Someone else take over please.quote>

Actually there are things. For example, all the things the modders have done, except without having to use cumbersome puzzle pieces and that are designed to work with the game from the outset. Customizable transit networks, where you can adjust things such as numbers of lanes and speed limits and freely build your custom networks within your cities. Real, functional airports that players can customize to their heart's content. Easy to build (don't have to have programming and 3d modeling experience to make) custom interchanges where you can make anything from a simple diamond to a 5 level stack that integrates two freeways and their frontage roads, and the player can lay the interchange out as he sees fit. Tunnels that can dive beneath your downtown and snake about freely. A program that can generate random building designs (such as Procedural's City Engine), thus eliminating repetition. Cities of unlimited size.

The list goes on and on.

jabezscratch · July 30, 2009

Originally posted by: City2TheMax

I don't know why they think it's so hard to create a Simcity 5

All that would be nice to see would be improved graphics, simple fixes to the game engine itself, expanded traffic control, and I would be happyquote>

I agree 100.00% -- in the words of Captain Jean Luc Picard: "Make it so."

Wiecher · July 30, 2009

Originally posted by: Schlichtinator

You know what I want? Culture. My cities in Sim City 4 all felt the same after a while. They all had stadiums, universities, science labs.... all of the rewards, and they didn't have any strong visual or game-changing effects.

How about adding a culture system? We all know that there's a huge difference between, for example, Orlando and Silicon Valley. Orlando is ripe with tourism money, hotel chains, theme parks, etc. Silicon Valley is packed with cutting edge technological industries. Huge differences between these two cities in real life, and changes that could be represent in Sim City 4, but not truly emulated.

Why not limit which rewards players can build? For example, if you build a minor league stadium you unlock a major league stadium once your population gets large enough. Of course, building a minor league stadium causes a certain atmosphere to exist in the city; a certain culture, if you will. A major league stadium would have an even larger effect, and a small city with both of these could become sports crazy (See Green Bay). Or, you choose your first reward to be a renowned private school. High income sims arrive in the area surrounding the school, wanting to enroll their kids, and once the city is large enough / high wealth population is large enough, you can build a Private or State University. Obviously, these two have huge differences in city lifestyle/culture.

I mean, just think of the differences between Paris and New York; Sydney and Liverpool; Tokyo and Rio De Janeiro. Have any cities you've built in any Sim City been able to replicate the incredible variations in lifestyle and culture these real life cities represent?

I know, it sounds like Societies, in a way. And it kind of is, but without the bull*****. Societies was a really nice idea, in theory, if only they didn't destroy the essential principles that make Sim City great.

I think they can also revamp the region idea. I mean, you have suburbs, in a way, but again, you just end up building industrial cities and bedroom cities; you don't see any difference between them after a while, even with custom content, and you don't see any real affect of your main city on the suburbs (except that you get huge buildings if you place High Density zones...).

Maybe I'm just bitter. But even a system sort of similar to the culture system in Civ 4 would be nice. Your city generates a certain type of culture based on which major buildings you decide to place, and when you build them. I think it's obvious that a city which builds a major art gallery before a sports stadium has a much different personality than the opposite.

Does anyone hear me?quote>

yeah, that's a good idea, but it's too less to make an all new game...

Why don't you just manage those things yourselves? YOU must decide what kind of city you're building, not the game. If you want that sports crazy city, just don't build all the other rewards.

iGod · July 30, 2009

Well, personally, I would like to go in with the game camera way deeper into the city like you can in CitiesXL. I would love to see my cities from a pedestrian perspective, or what all the others suggested, to some extend sounds awesome, but anyway, this ain't a..."I wish for this..." thread by EA

I think there won't be a "real" SimCity anymore. As y'all said, EA now got their cash cows in terms of simulation games (Sims3 & 2, and SCS), so why bother developing a game which ain't for the masses, but just for some really interested people. To be fair, SC4 is more of a niche product, and it takes long to familiarise with the matter and until you get the possibilities of earning money, taxes, schools, hopitals, industry, etc... sorted out.

Whereas SCS is pretty self explaining and it's pretty easy to build a "massive" city (and is was the worst buy in my gaming history! SCS I mean...why I spend money for it, I don't know) but it simply doesn't really catch my attention because it's more the game you would give to a 6 year old or so, and that's not only from the graphic point of view.

But I really doubt that there will be coming a SC5, or at least not soon. Also, with all the custom contend, you can make your own game experience. Look at all the CJ's, not one city is like the other they all have just the main game in common. And for me that's what I really like about SC4.

It simply is what all (well, not all really) game-developers say that they try to archieve but no one wants to do. It is the game where you can do what you want. Were you get free content via the web, you can just decide what you want and don't want in your city and simply the freedom to do whatever you like.

So for me, in terms of city building, there is at the moment nothing better than SimCity4 + Rush Hour and I am not really sure if a SimCity5 can fulfill or even exceed the expectations of us fans!

My opinion about it:

I would be glad if SC5 came out, but I am not eagerly awaiting it.

RedImperator · July 30, 2009

Looking at the history of PC gaming, I'm not confident we'll see SimCiy 5 anywhere in the near future, if ever. SC4 was a disappointment for EA at the same time the Sims 2 was raking in the money. I'm not sure of the sales totals yet, but I imagine Spore was a letdown as well while Sims 3 is going like gangbusters. And the less said about SCS, the better. The lesson a lot of people are going to take from that is that large-scale simulations that don't have "Tycoon" in the title are a niche genre that don't warrant the investment of resources a new Sim City would require.

My guess is, if there's ever going to be another Sim City that actually sticks to the core city-building mechanic, it's some time off in the future and will be marketed as a "reboot" of the franchise (that is, no "5" in the title), and there will be at least one drastic departure in gameplay which will undoubtedly upset some portion of the hardcore fanbase.

Msprintz · July 30, 2009

Originally posted by: RedImperator

Looking at the history of PC gaming, I'm not confident we'll see SimCiy 5 anywhere in the near future, if ever. SC4 was a disappointment for EA at the same time the Sims 2 was raking in the money. I'm not sure of the sales totals yet, but I imagine Spore was a letdown as well while Sims 3 is going like gangbusters.quote>

If Sim City 4 was a disappointment for EA, then it was a fairly well selling disappointment. One needs only to look at the communities catering to Sim City 4( still thriving after 6 years no less), it most surely payed off quite well for EA. Comparing it to blockbuster titles like The Sims or Halo is equivalent to comparing apples and oranges, you're comparing two totally different things.

The only roadblock to a Sim City 5( or 6 if they think SCS is 5), is EA itself. There's more than enough of a market for any "true" Sim City game to pull it's weight in gold for EA.

That said cultures might not be a bad thing for a city building(as long as it doesn't dominate); if it's confined certain areas of the city it could work quite well IE: New Yorks Little Italy and China Town , and it shouldn't dictate the entire cities atmosphere. That and mixed used zoning is quite important.

Nihar1 · August 1, 2009

EA messes up any good series. as for simcity 5. They havent planned one. they havent even mentioned it. Since will wright left Maxis, even if EA was to make another simcity, i doubt it will be anygood in comparison to simcity 4. we just have to hope that he makes another one and that the series doesnt die out.

cabdriverchris · August 9, 2009

City Life MMO = Cities XL

citiesxlfan42 · August 10, 2009

Um... I saw at my local Target store (in Darboy, Wi.) that the price tag said SIM CITY 5 - $29.99. That scared me a bit.

cherub72 · August 10, 2009

I'd like to see mor realistic city limtis, how many cities do you see that are a perfect square? Also get rid of the tile system where each block has one use, (road, zone, park). Also, does anyone know when City life XL is coming out in North America?

Chewy 62 · August 15, 2009

I guess we will have to face it, SCS sold too poorly to make enough money for a SC5

Attila464 · August 15, 2009

LEAVE POOR EA ALONE *SOBBING*

earwax_man · August 15, 2009

Originally posted by: Attila464

LEAVE POOR EA ALONE *SOBBING*quote>

Caps.

EA probably won't make a sc5, as the learning curve would be too great if they were to add more to it. When I first started polaying sc4, it took me ages to play properly.

All we need for sc4 is a large patch to fix bugs and the ability to add custom networks

Attila464 · August 15, 2009

No. What we really need are for the Batters and Modders to turn themselves into computer AI so they can work endlessly and tirelessly on more awesome mods.

danholo · August 19, 2009

There is sooo much Sim City 5 could offer. I recently got Sim City 4 after only trying a few years back. This game is amazing and stands the test of... 6 years at least. Also, the community that has sprawled due to this game adds so much more to the content giving the product a longer lifespan. But as Schlichtinator points out, the game does get a bit repetitive. While I think the point of the game is to get your city to sustain as many people as possible, it gets very boring. I'm just building and managing, but there is nothing really in-depth about the game, which is fine, to a point. Of course, this is a constraint mainly because of technology. The cities need to be more customizeable, of course not to get all the way to every pixel, but building custom roads i.e. amount of lanes, curvature etc are all possible and necessary for a true "experience". What I've seen of Cities XL is promising but I'm not into virtual reality so MMO's don't appeal to me much. When the technology allows, a city building simulator will be so cool that I can't even explain.

Sim City 5 will come out in the future. If not, this genre is definitely not dead. Why? Because it's so cool and rewarding.

ecoba · August 22, 2009

I think we've truly made our SC5, the people who are new to this series will get SCS and SCC, but we will always have our SC5.

With all of our wonderful mods, we've truly changed the appearance of the game, we just open it as the SC4 application. If you have Terrain Mod, Tree Mod, Water Mod, and Custom Buildings, etc..., you can't even see the original game.