SimCity: Gameplay

[The_City_Builder 299]

That Maxis logo was oddly convincing in that video.

[Walden95 8]

I found this on SimPrograms (Article). It has recently been posted (March 2, 2012), and looks somewhat similar when compared to the concept art. I do have doubts about the video, but it did give me many ideas of how that art could be applied to the game.

If the video is real, which I doubt, it looks like it will take a heck of a lot of processing and video card power not unlike that of SimCity 4 when it came out.

Youtube Video

Edit: Oops, looks like that video was already mentioned earlier. Nevertheless, the video is pretty cool looking, but I don't know if I can raise my expectations to that level of realism if a SimCity 5 were to be on the way.

  Edited March 4, 2012 by walden  

[Hamish 1,369]

It looks credible, and I really like the logo. Apart from the weird fact that it seems to only be still frames from the video, why would anyone just upload still frames, not the real thing. But he details, to me, look somewhat convincing. Then again, I only saw it using public wifi off my iPhone, someone else should probably be the judge on the details.

What grabs me is the use of roads, they look identical to the original SC4 roads, although these are only seen in some images. and the hills in the background look identical in most images, with both shape and, especially, color being the same. If these were real life images, the city would actually sprawl, instead of stopping instantly. And some of the buildings lots lack the actual details that real life buildings a would have. I'm defiantly not saying this is real, it has every chance of being compleatly fake.

I'm still very sceptical though, of the whole thing. All this info at once does say to me that something might happen, but I'm going to wait for an official word on this, rather than getting my hopes up.

Also, I'll just point out this news article that was posted on the home page a while ago. sowing might want to go back through and see if anything has changed.

[K-os 30]

lol at people still being skeptical

The SC news will hit us all like a freight train soon enough. I hope they hit their 2013 target.

BTW in that video I noticed the buildings will still 'grow' out of the ground with scaffolding raising it up.

The shots are obviously renders or concept/in-development screens, but nonetheless the lighting is very impressive. Did not expect them to head down the ultra realism path.

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

Hamish: The video looked as if it used tilt photography. It this is legit, than I don't like it. Plus that's my point on the pictures only video, why would anyone want to just post that? But I am seriously digging the logo.

[Tarkus 6,932]

All the information that I've seen, including the original article where this first broke, is that the video is a "pre-vis". Essentially, it's an in-time storyboard mockup--it's an incomplete video, in other words. Again, I think we're looking at conceptual stuff.

The most striking thing I saw there was the mining equipment. Also, it's worth noting that the "crescent" in the Maxis logo has shifted. Instead of going between 0 degrees and 270 degrees counter-clockwise, it now goes between 180 degrees and 270 degrees clockwise.

-Tarkus

  Edited March 4, 2012 by Tarkus  

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

^ Do you think this in-game? It looks so unrealistic.

[Tarkus 6,932]

^ Do you think this in-game? It looks so unrealistic.

As I stated in my previous post, I think we're looking at conceptual stuff, not the real thing. Also, keep in mind, though--the engine is still in development.

-Tarkus

  Edited March 4, 2012 by Tarkus  

[City Planner 121]

I would think that Maxis and EA know what the winning solution is. It's only needed to take a look at SC4 to see what people like. If they trod too far off the path and make it some 'social' oriented game, then they've doomed the SC franchise.

Does anybody else remember when Societies came out and if you looked into some of the files they referenced SimCity 5? I remember that, and the buzz seemed to be (if not here at least at other forums) that somebody at EA woke up at the last moment and said 'HELL NO! We can't possibly put this game out as SimCity 5, let's give it another name'. Yet the references were still in the files themselves from what I remember.

[hittwice99 618]

Looks promising, but I'm far from convinced until the official announcement from Maxis is made!

Assuming the news is true, then hopefully the game can be customized to the extent of SimCity 4. This will be crucial to the longevity of the game, and is one of the reasons why SC4 is still popular to this day. We don't want to have another SimCity Societies on our hands, with little support for the modding community.

Maxis should learn from the success of SC4, and release some custom content tools (like the BAT and Lot Editor). By doing this, it has kept the community still focussed on expanding the game, while still having a passion for the series, and hopeful of a future SimCity 5. Other city-building simulators like SCS and CXL have failed in this regard, with limited customization options. Next-gen graphics are one thing, but without involving the community, the game will not last to it's potential.

Here's hoping..

[DCMetro34 576]

I really do think it will be like any city simulator besides it's predecessor, SC4. The reason why?

Well, SC: Societies was indeed created by EA and has the "SimCity" tag, but was not in any way, shape, or form a product of Maxis and company. Tilted Mill release that game, and what other games have they successfully made? I rest my case.

There isn't really any logic behind saying it won't be like CXL, other than the fact that they are completely different games made by completely different franchises.

I really do think SC5 will do justice to SC4, and please the community in general. I do completely agree that modding tools are essential, and can speculate that we will see them, again.

[Cob92 360]

Looks promising, but I'm far from convinced until the official announcement from Maxis is made!

Assuming the news is true, then hopefully the game can be customized to the extent of SimCity 4. This will be crucial to the longevity of the game, and is one of the reasons why SC4 is still popular to this day. We don't want to have another SimCity Societies on our hands, with little support for the modding community.

Maxis should learn from the success of SC4, and release some custom content tools (like the BAT and Lot Editor). By doing this, it has kept the community still focussed on expanding the game, while still having a passion for the series, and hopeful of a future SimCity 5. Other city-building simulators like SCS and CXL have failed in this regard, with limited customization options. Next-gen graphics are one thing, but without involving the community, the game will not last to it's potential.

Here's hoping..

First, they need to get the gameplay down. The main thing that killed CXL, even more than its lack of mod support, was its lack of engaging and addictive gameplay. SimCity 4 was never dependent on custom content to make it fun; that stuff just improved a game that was already incredibly fun to play.

[GrimJr987 15]

I see Autosaurus Wrecks 30 seconds in.

All that is missing are UFO's

[hittwice99 618]

First, they need to get the gameplay down. The main thing that killed CXL, even more than its lack of mod support, was its lack of engaging and addictive gameplay. SimCity 4 was never dependent on custom content to make it fun; that stuff just improved a game that was already incredibly fun to play.

Absolutely, the game needs a solid foundation like SimCity 4. Modifications are meant to improve areas of the game, such as to improve variety and realism. But without the core in place, the game will become repetitive and boring, meaning people will loose interest in the game itself, as well as customizing it.

[simlink 1,098]

First, they need to get the gameplay down. The main thing that killed CXL, even more than its lack of mod support, was its lack of engaging and addictive gameplay. SimCity 4 was never dependent on custom content to make it fun; that stuff just improved a game that was already incredibly fun to play.

Absolutely, the game needs a solid foundation like SimCity 4. Modifications are meant to improve areas of the game, such as to improve variety and realism. But without the core in place, the game will become repetitive and boring, meaning people will loose interest in the game itself, as well as customizing it.

I couldn't agree more. Cities XL was incredibly fun to build pretty cities, but the core city simulatoin part of it was un-engaging, and at times difficult to manage.

If SC5 comes around, they really need to focus on gameplay, followed by all the pretty things.

[tSlater 134]

I chuckled at seeing the giant saw thing.

http://verydemotivational.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/129085956024354033.jpg

(Caution: cussing in the linked image)

Edit:

Also, the more I look at this shot: the more I'm convinced this is it. This one shot definitely looks like an in-game shot rather than a concept art and, more importantly, a shot of game in progress. There are places where the sidewalks aren't properly linking (bottom center), numerous buildings reaching out into or completely on top of roads (mostly around the sides of the image), lots of untextured areas (urban ground, some of the buildings), and odd light-grey shapes on empty areas which seem to suggest generated park space that isn't fully implemented.

  Edited March 4, 2012 by tSlater  

[jacksunny 741]

If that is an actual in-game shot, I still hope it is improved on. The graphics are horrible.

[DCMetro34 576]

Well, according to Tarkus, since the new game engine hasn't been developed, much less the game, I'd say that is another conceptual image, even if it looks like an in-game render.

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

^ It probably needs to be finished still, that won't be the final product ingame, and they don't usually do the graphics till the tail end.

[City Planner 121]

Are there really still employees at Maxis that worked on Simcity 4?

[squeaky024 14]

I REALY do not want a game that looks corny and squashed together like in most of the "concept" shots ive seen so far. CXL looked okay but one look at the "suspension" bridge made me puke. I want something that looks like sc4... but 3d. I don't want it to look cute, I don't want skycrapers with candycane stripes and architecture that resembles the Kremlin. i want the real and boring real world look. Please make everything to scale and proper.

By the way, I would be nice if they made industrial less "ultra dirty" in look, many modern manufacturing companies have large square white/grey buildings. Same with the high-tech stuff

  Edited March 4, 2012 by squeaky024  

[Tarkus 6,932]

Are there really still employees at Maxis that worked on Simcity 4?

Yes, many of them, in fact. Ocean Quigley's involved with the "Inside the GlassBox" GDC presentation, and he's been there since at least SC3000 as an art director. Andrew Willmott (also in on that presentation) worked on SC4. There's quite a bit of carry-over.

I REALY do not want a game that looks corny and squashed together like in most of the "concept" shots ive seen so far. CXL looked okay but one look at the "suspension" bridge made me puke. I want something that looks like sc4... but 3d. I don't want it to look cute, I don't want skycrapers with candycane stripes and architecture that resembles the Kremlin. i want the real and boring real world look. Please make everything to scale and proper.

By the way, I would be nice if they made industrial less "ultra dirty" in look, many modern manufacturing companies have large square white/grey buildings. Same with the high-tech stuff

Again, we're looking at "concept art". It gives a bit of an impression of the direction they're going, but it's not a complete picture by any means.

-Tarkus

[tSlater 134]

If that is an actual in-game shot, I still hope it is improved on. The graphics are horrible.

I did say "in progress." If it wasn't going to be improved on they'd be ready to release it already. Which they obviously aren't.

Well, according to Tarkus, since the new game engine hasn't been developed, much less the game, I'd say that is another conceptual image, even if it looks like an in-game render.

Has it not been developed at all, or is in development? I think I recall one of the articles mentioning the heads of sims not rendering as being a reason why we don't have in-game shots, so I'd imagine it's in development but has a long way to go yet, as that image I linked would also suggest. (Or could be using a temporary, basic renderer in the interim as they work on the game mechanics)

[Tarkus 6,932]

Has it not been developed at all, or is in development? I think I recall one of the articles mentioning the heads of sims not rendering as being a reason why we don't have in-game shots, so I'd imagine it's in development but has a long way to go yet, as that image I linked would also suggest. (Or could be using a temporary, basic renderer in the interim as they work on the game mechanics)

Here's my quote from earlier in this thread:

Also, keep in mind, though--the engine is still in development.

I should also add, Ocean Quigley and Dan Moskowitz have publicly commented about GlassBox on their blogs.

Curious to see what I've been secretly making since we shipped Spore?

If you're at the Game Developer's Conference, come to "Inside the GlassBox" at 11:00 on Wednesday to find out.

Andrew Willmott, Dan Moskowitz and I will show you what our new simulation engine can do. It's pretty much the coolest thing I've ever worked on.

Hope to see you there!

I'm excited to share the news that Ocean Quigley, Andrew Willmott, and I will be presenting "Inside the GlassBox" on March 7th at 11am during GDC 2012. It's been roughly two years that we've remained quiet about this simulation engine and the work we've been doing at Maxis, so we're thrilled to be able to present and share knowledge with the rest of the game development community. Looking forward to it, hope to see you there.

-Tarkus

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

since we shipped Spore

Which is a reasonable amount of time... so what ever they have been working on 'secretly' (for the last couple of years or so...) ... they have had plenty of time to work on it, and get it to a point where they have something of substance to show.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

I REALY do not want a game that looks corny and squashed together like in most of the "concept" shots ive seen so far.

Personally, I think most of the concept art we've seen so far (especially the stuff from the video) is just mind-blowingly awesome. Yes, some of the SC3kish shots we saw in the first leak... well they sucked. But a few of them were downright amazing. And then the video... wow.

If they can manage to make the game look even remotely like that... I'll be lining up to buy it first thing in the morning. Well as long as there's good gameplay, the possibility of modding and llamas anyway.

[tSlater 134]

The llamas are the most important part.

[Ocram's Razr 963]

The mining equipment looks like a [url=http://anno2070.wikia.com/wiki/Rotary_Excavator] Tycoon Rorary Excavator.

I don't know what tilt photography is but the pictures look vaguely like miniatures but could still be 3D renderings.

[Cob92 360]

Couple things I noticed:

At 0:25, there is a building that looks exactly like the Art Museum from SC4, and two more at the middle that look like SC4's malls. I also see a building in there that strongly resembles a high density high tech building that was built in one of my cities only a few minutes ago.

At 0:26, the building to the left of the SimCorp tower is an office building from SC4.

Mall from SC4 is visible again at 0:36

The building in the foreground at 0:42 is a high wealth commercial building from SC4.

There are more SC4 buildings in the video, but I don't have time to point them all out right now.

The fact that these buildings are all over the place in the video is, in my opinion, fairly strong evidence that the images in the video are real renders or concept art from Maxis (recall that early SC4 screens had SC3000 buildings before the SC4 buildings were implemented).

  Edited March 4, 2012 by Cobhris96  

[GrimJr987 15]

Good Point, though I hope the police cars don't return, The useless, ugly peices of crap.