SimCity: Gameplay

[RedMist 10]

Hi,

Gamestar said Maxis is developing a new SimCity with a new graphic engine and a multiplayer mode. The game should be released in 2013.

The official announcement was done in GameStar.

Source in german : SimTimes

http://www.simtimes.de/2012/electronicarts/bestaetigt-maxis-arbeitet-an-neuem-simcity-10292/

Source in french : SimCookie

http://www.simcookie.com/2012/02/27/maxis-travaille-sur-un-tout-nouveau-jeu-simcity-5/

  Edited February 29, 2012 by RedMist  

[BIWDC 2,296]

Well if so thats great then.

[vivapanda 422]

Great! I hope we'll here something new from them soon

[emperordaniel 1,281]

My hopes are high for this

For those who point to the SimCity Societies failure, I'd just like to point out that SCS was made by Tilted Mill + Electronic Arts, NOT Maxis + Electronic Arts

[mntoes 271]

Here is the English translation (thanks Babelfish)

I hope that the fans of SimCity as me will be charmed to learn that Maxis works on very new SimCity! Forget Sociétés and to dream as of today of very new SimCity which await us! Thank you with our friends for Simtimes to have informed to us. Its infos was found in stores German Gamestar. The play will have a very new graphic engine but also a Multijoueur mode! Appointment next Wednesday for the advertisement of play which announces the most waited since glosses!! Of course Will Wright does not make leave the adventure, it works on its next play! Thank you once again in SimTimes

[Jack³ 291]

I wonder if it is Buggi's SC5... If not, I guess he'll have to wait a while if he wants Boomtown to be part of the Simcity franchise.

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

I thought they were making an announcement on March 6th and not tomorrow. I really hope it is a SimCity 5 with the gameplay of SimCity 4 and more. I will pay $70 for it no problem.

[His Divine Hand 244]

Well, I guess it has been too long since everyone had something to get all pissy and up in arms about.

[Cob92 360]

Praying that this is a real SC5 and not yet another port of an old SC game.

[Tarkus 6,933]

Look at the primary sources here . . . two European sites dedicated primarily to The Sims, likely with not too much of a direct connection to EA/Maxis. SimTimes does seem to be tangentially related to SimForum (the major German site), but that's about it. (And SimPlaza is the "official" Sims part of SimForum). I think a bit of skepticism is in order. They seem like implausible places to break the news.

That said, EA has some smart folks on board who are well aware of the fact that computer specs could not do what the market was ultimately demanding--a full-3D next-generation city-simulator--until sometime in the mid-2010s. Paul Pedriana (lead programmer/engineer on SC4, Spore and most recent iterations of The Sims) said this back in 2003:

A conservative estimate would be that the game would require about 4-8GB of disk space, the video card would need to have about 1-2GB of RAM, and the video card would need to be about 10-20 times as fast as a current GeForce 4 card. And AGP is going to have to get 4-8 times as fast is it currently is.

As I've stated many times, including this post 2 years ago, in 2010, regarding the failure of CXL's "Planet Offer" and Monte Cristo's demise:

With regards to the specs end of things, in order to reliably pull it off a full-3D SC4-type experience and get enough market, the "low-end" of the systems market will most likely need to have quad-core or even hex-core processors, 8GB of RAM and 2GB of graphics memory. This will likely happen by 2013 or so, +/- 1 year.

The city simulator market is an extraordinarily tough one--one that, right now, no one can win. 3 years from now, maybe, but not now.

Anyone who thought SC:S was going to be SC5, or that the original iteration of CXL would succeed was not remotely realistic in understanding just what is involved in making a game in this genre, and the technical leap necessary to go from fixed-angle orthographic projection to true 3D with a full-on simulation engine.

We're just about there on the hardware now--Intel and AMD have had hex-core offerings since the end of 2010, which are gaining market penetration, and quad-cores are starting to be come standard, and laptops are now getting quad-core CPU. Graphics seem to be making a bigger leap forward, and 4GB of RAM is commonplace, with 8GB becoming a more frequent spec (especially now that we're in the era of 64-bit OSes that can use all of it). AMD is discussing octo-core and deca-core processors (albeit these are Opteron CPUs intended more for server/enterprise use). I think between this information and all the other recent activity (e.g. the scaled-down port of SC4 to iPad, the Herman Cain 9-9-9 promotion, the other recent rumblings), it would not surprise me if they are, at the very least, considering a new offering.

That said, at this point, anything is simply speculation. We won't know anything for certain until there's some sort of announcement, and even then, it might create more questions than it'll answer.

-Tarkus

  Edited February 28, 2012 by Tarkus  

[RedMist 10]

Tarkus, it seems the first source is the german magazine : GameStar

http://www.gamestar.de/community/gspinboard/showthread.php?t=411270

Google Translate

For premium customers now have the new GameStar available and behold, Maxis is currently working on a new Sim City real part.

This sounds simple in the name of Sim City and is developed without Will Wright. But the game is to appear until 2013. All other information do I add gradually one.

All the facts:

Developer: Maxis (without Will Wright)

Release Date: 2013

new graphics engine: Glassbox engine

modern info-graphics, dreary place tables

Buildings are upgraded (eg police station after ten criminals can be caught enlarge)

curvy (!) Roads

detail in love Urban

Local newspaper "Sim City Wire," which reports on city events (fires, etc.)

Extensive multiplayer mode including ranking (for finance, raw material production, etc.)

complex game depth

Disasters: avalanches, volcanic eruptions, explosions, etc. confirmed

  Edited February 29, 2012 by RedMist  

[UsmanMS 10]

The suspense just keeps on growing! Just saw this link. Can't wait till March 6th!

http://kotaku.com/5889104/what-does-an-academy-award-winning-director-have-to-do-with-eas-next-game

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

Will their be 3D, and when will the game be announced? March 6th or later on today?

[mrroco300 0]

Have you guys seen these pictures of SimCity 5 yet? http://www.simcookie.com/2012/02/29/2-images-de-plus-pour-simcity/

[Jazzmaster 716]

^There's been plenty of alleged SimCity 5 pictures and screenshots before, including one I remember seeing at least a few years ago. All it was, was a random 3D rendering of a beachfront with the 'SIMCITY 5000 SCREENSHOT' text pasted on there...

I honestly don't give a darn about 3D or whatever, if it means sacrificing even a third of the detail we're allowed to render in SimCity 4 right now. Even today I get comments from people about how good the SimCity 4 graphics are while I'm playing it (of course I explain that most of the stuff shown is third party content, but still..).

If all they would do is provide a proper fix to end all the stupid crashing on newer machines for SimCity 4, I'd be perfectly set. It'll sound so cliché, because it's been said so many times, but it's very true:

With the truly enormous variety of custom content available, we the community have created SimCity 5.

And after seeing the screenshots from P57 and the new NAM, the Toronto Dominion Project, and projects released previously like the UN building and Manhattanville I'm not inclined to think that this game will be succeeded anytime soon.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

^ I agree. A new engine? So what? Pretty much guarantees none of the current custom content will work or even be available. This community has made much more of SimCity 4 than an army of paid developers ever could. As for all the wishing for 3D, I don't. I don't care if it was 4D and had hyperdrive. I don't think I'll be putting any more of my poor current account into EA's pocket. And if the new edition requires more machine than I have, I can't use it anyway because a new box of tricks is not on my horizon.

All this hype is fine for those of us who wish they had an improvement or two, but it amounts to throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

  Edited February 29, 2012 by A Nonny Moose  

[taliz81 19]

^

I honestly don't give a darn about 3D or whatever, if it means sacrificing even a third of the detail we're allowed to render in SimCity 4 right now. Even today I get comments from people about how good the SimCity 4 graphics are while I'm playing it (of course I explain that most of the stuff shown is third party content, but still..).

If all they would do is provide a proper fix to end all the stupid crashing on newer machines for SimCity 4, I'd be perfectly set. It'll sound so cliché, because it's been said so many times, but it's very true:

Couldn't say it better. I don't care for 3D and honestly, I don't care if the graphics don't change at all. I want realism; more space; true scale; better "relationships" between neighboring cities and towns; more control over transportation...

But why do I have a feeling the coming announcement from EA would be very, very disappointing for us?

[GrimJr987 15]

2 words and 1 number.

Frost Bite 2

[brynhyfryd 222]

http://uk.gamespot.com/forums/topic/29060835/simcity-5-announced-artworkscreens-56k?page=1

Its looks official guys and girls.

[BurroDiablo 222]

It's sounding great, but I can't help but feel a little sceptical. Graphics and computer power is definitely here and able to handle such a game, and it's nice that they haven't forgotten about the core of the franchise, it's been far too long. However, if it divulges too much from the formula as Societies did, they might as well take the franchise round the back of the barn and put it out it's misery.

I'll be watching this develop with baited breath.

[GrimJr987 15]

This is Maxis we're talking about, expect a playable game, however, Being Maxis, that means we probably my be able to Mod it

Unless EA decide DLC is the way to go

[BurroDiablo 222]

I'll admit, Maxis' track record in creating Sim City games has been so far... flawless, but it's been 10 years nearly since they last delved into this area. The images may be concepts rather than actual screenshots since they all look quite different, but I don't see anything that should be a cause for concern. I can see elevated rail, monorails, trams, winding roads (taking a leaf out of NAM by the looks of it. w00t), dynamic lots (bigger w00t), awesome looking industry, road-through-buildings, W2W buildings, bridge-over-road, Regions?! (edge of the map visible on image #4)... so it seems in Maxis' mind, all these things are on the cards which is really quite amazing. I hope the game has some great modding capabilities, I'll be jumping right in there

  Edited February 29, 2012 by BurroDiablo  

[Cob92 360]

^There's been plenty of alleged SimCity 5 pictures and screenshots before, including one I remember seeing at least a few years ago. All it was, was a random 3D rendering of a beachfront with the 'SIMCITY 5000 SCREENSHOT' text pasted on there...

I honestly don't give a darn about 3D or whatever, if it means sacrificing even a third of the detail we're allowed to render in SimCity 4 right now. Even today I get comments from people about how good the SimCity 4 graphics are while I'm playing it (of course I explain that most of the stuff shown is third party content, but still..).

If all they would do is provide a proper fix to end all the stupid crashing on newer machines for SimCity 4, I'd be perfectly set. It'll sound so cliché, because it's been said so many times, but it's very true:

With the truly enormous variety of custom content available, we the community have created SimCity 5.

And after seeing the screenshots from P57 and the new NAM, the Toronto Dominion Project, and projects released previously like the UN building and Manhattanville I'm not inclined to think that this game will be succeeded anytime soon.

I'm the other way around. I'd gladly give up the custom content for SC4 if it meant a game with full 3D graphics, freeform building, larger maps, and deeper gameplay. The mods we have are nice, but they're little more than 5000 Band-Aids plastered over a gaping wound. The NAM will still require puzzle pieces and workarounds until the end of time, and I don't see the mod community coming up with a way to make the game run faster or have bigger cities any time soon. As much as the mod community has contributed to the growth of SC4, it is not and can never be SimCity 5.

[Dirktator 2,324]

Pretty sure those screens are purely conceptual, it will probably be a while before we actually see any real in-game screens.

[Jazzmaster 716]

^There's been plenty of alleged SimCity 5 pictures and screenshots before, including one I remember seeing at least a few years ago. All it was, was a random 3D rendering of a beachfront with the 'SIMCITY 5000 SCREENSHOT' text pasted on there...

I honestly don't give a darn about 3D or whatever, if it means sacrificing even a third of the detail we're allowed to render in SimCity 4 right now. Even today I get comments from people about how good the SimCity 4 graphics are while I'm playing it (of course I explain that most of the stuff shown is third party content, but still..).

If all they would do is provide a proper fix to end all the stupid crashing on newer machines for SimCity 4, I'd be perfectly set. It'll sound so cliché, because it's been said so many times, but it's very true:

With the truly enormous variety of custom content available, we the community have created SimCity 5.

And after seeing the screenshots from P57 and the new NAM, the Toronto Dominion Project, and projects released previously like the UN building and Manhattanville I'm not inclined to think that this game will be succeeded anytime soon.

I'm the other way around. I'd gladly give up the custom content for SC4 if it meant a game with full 3D graphics, freeform building, larger maps, and deeper gameplay. The mods we have are nice, but they're little more than 5000 Band-Aids plastered over a gaping wound. The NAM will still require puzzle pieces and workarounds until the end of time, and I don't see the mod community coming up with a way to make the game run faster or have bigger cities any time soon. As much as the mod community has contributed to the growth of SC4, it is not and can never be SimCity 5.

I see where you're coming from but I can't really agree with you. For one thing, the community has made more than just mods; there's literally thousands of buildings available for download, and the new SimCity would have a few hundred at most. Quite quickly the architecture of the cities would become stale, repetitive and boring; just look at Cities XL. Yes Cities XL looks really nice and flashy with beautiful sunsets, what appears to be a weather simulator and such but beyond that there's no substance when it's not nearly as versatile in city style as SimCity 4 (it's much harder if not impossible to create something that isn't a generic American concrete jungle or European contemporary town). Even with free, open building tools it would take a long time to make as many buildings for this new game; even if not as long since the tools like BAT4MAX have already been developed...

Also, while the NAM does have workarounds and puzzle pieces, they're still fully functioning and after a while they do create things like diagonal bridges which were previously thought impossible. It took a very long time but they continue to surprise us and deserve a lot of credit for the amount of work they poured into so much free content.

I'm not sure how the game could possibly run any faster shy of upgrading a computer; if you mean loading times, well with the size of many users' plugin suites it's sort of expected to take a while to load the game. I'm willing to be patient since this is a very leisurely hobby type game, not a fast paced FPS or MMORPG type thing, after all.

Lastly on the topic of larger cities, well larger tiles would be nice but it's pretty easy to turn several tiles into one large city/metro area, it requires a bit of work but I don't really think it's a problem. I personally don't mind breaking down the metro area into tiles to work on them, though I suppose its all personal preference.

I guess this new SimCity, if valid, could show quite a bit of promise, but it's going to take more than simply being in 3D and having free drawn roads to make me want to accept it. If the gameplay was deeper and more realistic, with a traffic simulator that accounted for more than just commuters (this is one of the things I don't like about SC4, I will say), then there would be a worthwhile investment IMHO.

EDIT: I just found this article on Gamespot. The use of the word 'confirmed' stands out to me particularly, since it means a lot more than "Will Wright seen taking pictures of skyscrapers -- this must mean SC5!!11!!1!ONELEVENTEEN"

  Edited February 29, 2012 by Yoshiisland  

[Alejandro24 575]

Oh God, is this true? SC5 finally? Someone pinch me please, because I can't believe it!

[Dannibee 138]

As far as I see it, we have a forum, so I now expect to see something official regardless.

However, I am very afraid of it being childish or really casual as in Cityville, part of me hopes Maxis will go back to it's roots, but the other half is braced for severe disappointment.

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

As far as I see it, we have a forum, so I now expect to see something official regardless.

However, I am very afraid of it being childish or really casual as in Cityville, part of me hopes Maxis will go back to it's roots, but the other half is braced for severe disappointment.

It it's childish, cartoonish, or casual I will cry myself to sleep for the next 10 years. I really hope that they will give us what we want.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

What if this turns out to be no more than SimCity Social?

[Charlatanksk 4]

I just hope they get inspired by the developments done by users in SC4.