SimCity: Multiplayer Discussion

[jdenm8 362]

If you play in the region where nobody is playing, then this is single player, whatever you like it or not.

I've replied to your post here:

As it is largely off-topic and the mods have been focusing a real lot on that.

  Edited August 1, 2012 by jdenm8  

[Rokugatsu 126]

Or you can just play alone in your region and then noone can mess up anything...

[jdenm8 362]

If you play in the region where nobody is playing, then this is single player, whatever you like it or not.

Or you can just play alone in your region and then noone can mess up anything...

You are still being influenced by external factors determined by the behaviour of other players. Therefore it's impossible to have a properly single-player experience.

Even in regions where you control all the cities, you still contribute to and are affected by the global economy.

In a true single-player mode, the global economy would be completely replaced with static values or a randomisation created by an economic curve generator like that found in Railroad Tycoon or Transport Tycoon Deluxe. SimCity is grabbing them from a real-time monitor of the worldwide economic status of all players' cities. Real-Time Monitor != Economic Simulation.

  Edited August 1, 2012 by jdenm8  

[Sandis_van_Great 346]

If you play in the region where nobody is playing, then this is single player, whatever you like it or not.

lol, so let me get this straight - if i play a game (team fortres, conter strike,l4d or whatver thats multiplayer) and i join a server that is empty, im actually playing single player? -_-

[aparrot7 82]

If you play in the region where nobody is playing, then this is single player, whatever you like it or not.

lol, so let me get this straight - if i play a game (team fortres, conter strike,l4d or whatver thats multiplayer) and i join a server that is empty, im actually playing single player? -_-

When you start a region you get the options to lock it [play solo], or go into multiplayer with friends or random people. In solo, you play alone- but you are still included in the leaderboards, and you can build on any city tile you want, and start another one. You also have the option to invite 1-2 friends if you decide to later.

[Jokurr 175]

I wish people would stop saying it has a single player option. It doesn't! It's an MMO, and the "solo" option just means you can play online in a region where nobody else is playing. Single Player has been ditched. The reason? Profit.

Having no single player does not make a game an MMO. Do you even know what that stands for?

[Sandis_van_Great 346]

If you play in the region where nobody is playing, then this is single player, whatever you like it or not.

lol, so let me get this straight - if i play a game (team fortres, conter strike,l4d or whatver thats multiplayer) and i join a server that is empty, im actually playing single player? -_-

When you start a region you get the options to lock it [play solo], or go into multiplayer with friends or random people. In solo, you play alone- but you are still included in the leaderboards, and you can build on any city tile you want, and start another one. You also have the option to invite 1-2 friends if you decide to later.

not only leaderboards, all the pricing goes global, even your save files is saved on theyr servers. Lol its not single player.

[aparrot7 82]

If you play in the region where nobody is playing, then this is single player, whatever you like it or not.

lol, so let me get this straight - if i play a game (team fortres, conter strike,l4d or whatver thats multiplayer) and i join a server that is empty, im actually playing single player? -_-

When you start a region you get the options to lock it [play solo], or go into multiplayer with friends or random people. In solo, you play alone- but you are still included in the leaderboards, and you can build on any city tile you want, and start another one. You also have the option to invite 1-2 friends if you decide to later.

not only leaderboards, all the pricing goes global, even your save files is saved on theyr servers. Lol its not single player.

Huh? Just because your saving your game on their servers doesn't mean your playing multiplayer. Online only =/= No single player.

World English Dictionary

multiplayer (ˈmʌltɪˌpleɪə) — n a mode of play involving more than one player at one time in a computer or video game

Just because it's online doesn't mean your playing with anybody.

[jdenm8 362]

Just because it's online doesn't mean your playing with anybody.

I might suggest that you read my post toward the top of the page.

The word "Involving" in that sentece also doesn't exclude factors like the Global Leaderboard and the Global Economy.

[Selphy 69]

Just because it's online doesn't mean your playing with anybody.

I might suggest that you read my post toward the top of the page.

The word "Involving" in that sentece also doesn't exclude factors like the Global Leaderboard and the Global Economy.

How does a global leaderboard affect your personal enjoyment of the game? And as of right now, we have no idea how the global economy will work.

It could work like in SC2000 where you bought resources from a "neighbor" except this time you buy it from the "market" which is the server. The only difference is the price is influenced by the amount of resources each region contributes.

Or it can be the stupidest dumbest thing in the world. But in the end we don't know what it is yet.

[cirugo 1,889]

Just because it's online doesn't mean your playing with anybody.

I might suggest that you read my post toward the top of the page.

The word "Involving" in that sentece also doesn't exclude factors like the Global Leaderboard and the Global Economy.

How does a global leaderboard affect your personal enjoyment of the game? And as of right now, we have no idea how the global economy will work.

It could work like in SC2000 where you bought resources from a "neighbor" except this time you buy it from the "market" which is the server. The only difference is the price is influenced by the amount of resources each region contributes.

Or it can be the stupidest dumbest thing in the world. But in the end we don't know what it is yet.

It's up to Maxis to explain to us why we should accept the emphasis on multiplayer which is being forced onto what has in the past always been a single-player game. So far they have failed. They have also repeatedly stated that even if you choose to have your own region, you are still tied to the global economy, leaderboards, whatever and must be online to do it. People don't WANT to be forced to play this way.

  Edited August 2, 2012 by CaptCity  

[Selphy 69]

Just because it's online doesn't mean your playing with anybody.

I might suggest that you read my post toward the top of the page.

The word "Involving" in that sentece also doesn't exclude factors like the Global Leaderboard and the Global Economy.

How does a global leaderboard affect your personal enjoyment of the game? And as of right now, we have no idea how the global economy will work.

It could work like in SC2000 where you bought resources from a "neighbor" except this time you buy it from the "market" which is the server. The only difference is the price is influenced by the amount of resources each region contributes.

Or it can be the stupidest dumbest thing in the world. But in the end we don't know what it is yet.

It's up to Maxis to explain to us why we should accept the emphasis on multiplayer which is being forced onto what has in the past always been a single-player game. So far they have failed. They have also repeatedly stated that even if you choose to have your own region, you are still tied to the global economy, leaderboards, whatever and must be online to do it. People don't WANT to be forced to play this way.

I asked how a leaderboard, which you don't even have to look at if you do choose, negatively affects enjoyment of the game. Specifically a leaderboard. Not the idea of being online or anything because we're forced online anyways. But when people say that online sucks, they always tack on "leaderboards."

A global economy (by the way we still don't know how it functions) I understand because you feel like you're tied to something but why pick on a leaderboard?

  Edited August 2, 2012 by CaptCity  

[cirugo 1,889]

Just because it's online doesn't mean your playing with anybody.

I might suggest that you read my post toward the top of the page.

The word "Involving" in that sentece also doesn't exclude factors like the Global Leaderboard and the Global Economy.

How does a global leaderboard affect your personal enjoyment of the game? And as of right now, we have no idea how the global economy will work.

It could work like in SC2000 where you bought resources from a "neighbor" except this time you buy it from the "market" which is the server. The only difference is the price is influenced by the amount of resources each region contributes.

Or it can be the stupidest dumbest thing in the world. But in the end we don't know what it is yet.

It's up to Maxis to explain to us why we should accept the emphasis on multiplayer which is being forced onto what has in the past always been a single-player game. So far they have failed. They have also repeatedly stated that even if you choose to have your own region, you are still tied to the global economy, leaderboards, whatever and must be online to do it. People don't WANT to be forced to play this way.

I asked how a leaderboard, which you don't even have to look at if you do choose, negatively affects his enjoyment of the game. Specifically a leaderboard. Not the idea of being online or anything because we're forced online anyways. But when people say that online sucks, they always tack on "leaderboards."

A global economy (by the way we still don't know how it functions) I understand because you feel like you're tied to something but why pick on a leaderboard?

Gaming and entertainment is the same way. People like what they like...it's not an intellectual thing. I play games online all the time. I've played World of Warcraft since it's initial release and several other MMOs as well. But I don't want to have to play be tied to anyone else in any way to play SimCity. I want it to be me and my computer and no influence from anyone else in any way that I don't choose to allow. The emphasis on making everything multiplayer is getting out of hand.

lest we forget...straight from the horse's mouth:

"This is true whether you're playing by yourself, or if you've invited a bunch of friends to come and play with you. Your impact on the larger world matters, and the larger world in turn influences your city. This will be visible in lots of different ways, from changing commodity prices, to leaderboards to global and regional opportunities."

http://www.simcity.c...u-and-the-World

  Edited August 2, 2012 by CaptCity  

[CaptCity 4,753]

Let's keep the discussion directed at the topic, not at each other or others. If something inappropriate is posted, report it. Don't add "fuel to the fire". Thanks.

Note: Some comments above have been removed or edited to keep the discussion on topic..

[alex macnamara 139]

lets just also keep this in check...........solo is like someone joining a counter strike server by themselves.........its multi-player GAME MODE but your SOLO. This game does not , I repeat ....does not have a SINGLE PLAYER GAME MODE! That should clear up all this fighting.

  Edited August 2, 2012 by CaptCity  
As requested, please don't add fuel to the fire...

[Haljackey 17,302]

...Yeah, we all know that. That's the main reason why many of us are disappointed.

[snick25 384]

Huh? Just because your saving your game on their servers doesn't mean your playing multiplayer. Online only =/= No single player.

World English Dictionary

multiplayer (ˈmʌltɪˌpleɪə) — n a mode of play involving more than one player at one time in a computer or video game

Just because it's online doesn't mean your playing with anybody.

Uh... yeah, this game actually does fit in with that definition even if you're plying a region by yourself. Take some time to think about it. Every player influences the sim global economy, and every player is affected by it. So, even if you think you have a region all to yourself, you are in fact interacting with thousands of people, all online. All saves are online, on EA's servers. I don't see how this game could get any more multiplayer, except becoming an MMO, and that is where they're trying to steer the franchise.

So, the main point to take away from this is that your cities WILL BE IMPACTED BY OTHERS whether you want it or not. There is NO single-player mode no matter how you try to slant it, as you will never be playing the game without being affected by others.

[Helevitia 38]

Deleted by me

  Edited August 19, 2012 by Helevitia  

[Selphy 69]

I fail to see how you're forced to compete on the global market/world. If all you want to do is play co-op with your friends and do friendly competition, you can still do that.

As far as I know, they aren't withholding unlockables only for the people highest on the leaderboards. If you so choose, you can look at where your city/region places. If you don't want to look, I assume you can just not click the button that takes you to the ranking so you still have the choice to not care.

[Thony77 6]

I like to know if will be a monthly fee as in cities xl...

[Jokurr 175]

Maxis already stated there won't be a montly fee.

[Thony77 6]

Maxis already stated there won't be a montly fee.

really? I didn't read anywhere

good news!!!

[McDuff 1]

From what I can see, the only aspects of "multiplayer" that everyone will be necessarily involved with are the global trade stuff, which is optional. And as far as that goes, it seems to me that it's more like they've crowdsourced the simulation of a global commodities market rather than tried to model it entirely in AI. Which is, y'know, fine.

[Selphy 69]

A lot of games are going this direction. To my knowledge, Diablo, Starcraft, SimCity, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, probably Borderlands 2, Bioshock, Dead Space 3 to name a few.

I guess it doesn't matter to me since my connection is usually spot-on or I have other things to do when internet rarely goes down but I suppose you have reasons for not liking this model.

[Keigen Shu 17]

A lot of games are going this direction. To my knowledge, Diablo, Starcraft, SimCity, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, probably Borderlands 2, Bioshock, Dead Space 3 to name a few.

I guess it doesn't matter to me since my connection is usually spot-on or I have other things to do when internet rarely goes down but I suppose you have reasons for not liking this model.

What about the other part of the world having less than 5Mbps connection speed? I'm still stuck with 1Mbps here, and there's nothing I can do about it.

Keep in mind that this is SimCity here. If the simulation breeding is done on EA/Maxis' oases, you're going to need a very wide river for lots of boats to migrate those live simulation fishes to your fishery. It's either that OR Maxis breeding smaller fishes (downsizing the simulation model), which means more small glittering fishes (eyecandy) and less meaty salmon (simulation content, for us who hunger for it).

[Pardon me for the fishes, I find it hilarious]

[The_City_Builder 299]

If you play in the region where nobody is playing, then this is single player, whatever you like it or not.

Or you can just play alone in your region and then noone can mess up anything...

You are still being influenced by external factors determined by the behaviour of other players. Therefore it's impossible to have a properly single-player experience.

Even in regions where you control all the cities, you still contribute to and are affected by the global economy.

In a true single-player mode, the global economy would be completely replaced with static values or a randomisation created by an economic curve generator like that found in Railroad Tycoon or Transport Tycoon Deluxe. SimCity is grabbing them from a real-time monitor of the worldwide economic status of all players' cities. Real-Time Monitor != Economic Simulation.

You do know the global market is optional, right? It was mentioned in a recent article on SimCity.com I believe.

[snick25 384]

What about the other part of the world having less than 5Mbps connection speed? I'm still stuck with 1Mbps here, and there's nothing I can do about it.

You know, I find it interesting how Maxis and its supporters never want to address this issue.

It will sure be entertaining to see how the new SimVille will "solve" yet another problem of its own making.

[CaptCity 4,753]

What about the other part of the world having less than 5Mbps connection speed? I'm still stuck with 1Mbps here, and there's nothing I can do about it.

You know, I find it interesting how Maxis and its supporters never want to address this issue.

Probably don't see it as an "issue". They're creating and publishing a game with certain requirements that can be used by a high percentage of the market. Simply a profit/product decision. Cold-hearted maybe, but many business decisions can be...

[jdenm8 362]

You do know the global market is optional, right? It was mentioned in a recent article on SimCity.com I believe.

You just quoted a post of mine from four weeks ago, making a comment based on information released a matter of days ago.

Your comment is irrelevant.

[CaptCity 4,753]

Was just going to mention the same. Please don't pull up old posts to quote in these fast-changing topics where yesterday's "news" may be obsolete. Thanks...