Lets put all those Multiplayer worries to bed...

[BurroDiablo 222]

In Reddit Ocean Quigley just replied to a question with this...

[Ocean] Yeah, like SC4, you can build out a region by yourself, and make all of the cities serially. There are lots of players who just want to control their own world, and they don’t want anybody to interfere with it. But even those solo players are going to be participating in the flow of resources that constitute the core of the games economy – the economic landscape that they’re operating in will be shaped by the actions of other players, even if they are only playing solo. In addition, there will be regional challenges and opportunities that you’ll be competing against other regions for. So you can play by yourself. More social players can play with their friends and accomplish more, faster, but that’s their choice.

As for custom content – think back to SC4 - first we just need to get the game out, and make everything work robustly.

So there is most definitely a solo mode, and there is NO forced multiplayer.

[rweather5 22]

Well that's good, I'll still be waiting for its release to see some reviews before I buy it, but I'm sure it will be great.

[KeanoManu 42]

Okay. That's good. At least we have a confirmation that SP will work.

I wonder how the global economy will work in relation to money cheats?

I usually just want to build my cities without money problems. I like to make beautiful cities rather than economically stable. Dubai-style.

Wouldn't it be better to have a fixed economy for single player?

  Edited March 8, 2012 by KeanoManu  

[croxis 150]

Most games disable their global linkup/achievements/stats tracking when using mods. I am sure this wont be much different, but that is just an assumption.

[Gamma Stardust 50]

Also caught that Ocean's quote, and it is surprising how you can interpret the following snippet as offline not required: (or as you put it "NO forced multiplayer")

(...) But even those solo players are going to be participating in the flow of resources that constitute the core of the games economy

so far so good but... it proceeds:

the economic landscape that they’re operating in will be shaped by the actions of other players, even if they are only playing solo.

I am sory... but I can't figure how the "landscape (...) will be shaped by the actions of other players" if not by being forcefuly Online (emphasis is mine)

Am I missing something?

  Edited March 9, 2012 by Gamma Stardust  

[Daytripper 41]

the economic landscape that they’re operating in will be shaped by the actions of other players, even if they are only playing solo.

I am sory... but I can't figure how the "landscape (...) will be shaped by the actions of other players" if not by being forcefuly Online (emphasis is mine)

Am I missing something?

Those were my thoughts exactly. According to these quotes,

1. my city will be affected by other player's actions and

2. I will be required to be online the whole time I play this game - how else can #1 happen?

And if #2 is the case, I'm certain I will be required to download and run that crappy piece of spyware Origin the whole time I'm playing, just as is required in Mass Effect 3. I passed on ME3 for this reason and will pass on this game if this is the case. This is unspeakably disappointing.

[tomfoolery_79 85]

My interpretation/assumption from the two quotes above is that, when you are playing solo you are competing for resources even with yourself not other people. How so? Region play. If you the player in solo mode have one city sucking up all the water, that means YOUR neighboring city over will have that much less water to utilize. Very much like in CitiesXL where, if your city needs oil, you have to go to another one of YOUR cities to find it and supply it.

To have a single player mode (Offline) influenced by people playing online is illogical and technically sounds like a lot of extra work. Give Maxis some credit they aren't that stupid.

[Gamma Stardust 50]

@Tomfoolery

Take into consideration that this was an answer given when asked specifically about offline play. In that context I really can't figure why choose the wording "other players" while refering to your other solo made cities...

But hopefully, you are right, I am wrong and we both will be sharing city resources later on while in multiplayer mode. Because from where I am standing we won't if we happen not having the ability to play stricly offline too, in which case I'll be out.

  Edited March 9, 2012 by Gamma Stardust  

[jacksunny 741]

Like the rest of you, I don't understand that quote about other players in solo mode either. Perhaps it means that what happens in other cities in the region affects yours?

[Hamish 1,369]

what I think when I read it is...

But even those solo players are going to be participating in the flow of resources that constitute the core of the games economy – the economic landscape that they’re operating in will be shaped by the actions of other players, even if they are only playing solo.

This one isn't as clear as most of his other quotes, but thats just because we haven't been told enough about the game to know what he is referring to. What I get out of it is that there may be parts of the game, a resource (which could be money, coal, oil, YellowMustard) that maybe the price of acquiring, or selling, increases/decrease. Maybe there is a global trading system of resources, you buy from a real player that is selling, but the price changes.

I think its something like that, but not limited to, or including anything that I have said.

In addition, there will be regional challenges and opportunities that you’ll be competing against other regions for.

I think its been said somewhere that there might be a leader board of some sort. I can't remember if this was confirmed or not, but I think thats what he means by this.

[Daytripper 41]

I wonder why the devs were so cagey in framing their responses. They were asked if there would be an "offline mode" and answered only about "playing solo".

As Nawlins 34 posted on the ea forums:

"You can play solo in WoW, but it's still in a multi-player enviroment."

Did the devs think the whole, unvarnished truth would be SO badly received? Do they believe that players who dislike it now will change their minds in a year? Actually, I suppose some will but many will view this more reason to dislike EA (I blame Origin )

[Hamish 1,369]

I think they are so "cagey" is because there is still a long time to go through the development of the game. They can't specify whether or not something will be included because they don't really know themselves if they will get the time to include it, or if the game will suit including it.

And they probably just aren't allowed to say.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Yet again a example of how rampant speculation (that is we simply don't have all the facts yet) can cause some people to get in such a bunch.

Folks need to chillax until we do have the facts.

[z1 566]

Folks need to chillax until we do have the facts.

Agreed. If you go to the pre-order page and click on "Game Features", you will see the following:

Multi Player 1-16

Online Only

This applies to both the Limited and Deluxe editions of the game.

[meowza 230]

That quote is still open to many interpretations. And I'm still quite confused about it. What about the mods? cheats? It simply doesn't fit right..

[BurroDiablo 222]

Ocean already stated that Glassbox has been built with modding in mind, Maxis understand the modding needs of the community in order to keep the game fresh for a good few years. The 'the economic landscape that they’re operating in will be shaped by the actions of other players' quote could be attributed to some kind of in-game market element where you can trade resources with other regions even if you're playing solo. Of course, that just a guess, but as he has stated you can definitely build a region by yourself without any outside interference in your city building... I think whatever 'economic' elements he's talking about that carry over from Multiplayer will probably have minimal impact on the overall 'soloing' experience.

[nawlins34 0]

I wonder why the devs were so cagey in framing their responses. They were asked if there would be an "offline mode" and answered only about "playing solo".

As Nawlins 34 posted on the ea forums:

"You can play solo in WoW, but it's still in a multi-player environment."

Did the devs think the whole, unvarnished truth would be SO badly received? Do they believe that players who dislike it now will change their minds in a year? Actually, I suppose some will but many will view this more reason to dislike EA (I blame Origin )

And allow me to add to what I posted on the EA forums:

You can play solo in WoW. But it's better with friends. In the end however, you're playing on a server (environment) When Blizzard shuts them down, solo or group play will no longer be an option.

Bringing this back to the subject of the manner,

We all agree that you can do the following right now in the upcoming version of Simcity:

"You can play a region of cities by yourself."

As another post said and I agree, I think the "competing for resources" is basically your city competing with your other city in that same region, I'll agree with that.

Here's the $34,000 question:

Where is the "region" located?

On your local hard drive? or on a remote server?

From a PR standpoint, I thought saying "Yes, single player offline is supported with the upcoming Simcity" from a Maxis/EA official would be the first thing off of their tongue to re-affirm those who were disappointed with CitiesXL.

The fact that they won't answer a single-player question with the word "offline" in their response is making people (me at least) nervous.

While Maxis will go out of their way to not mention the competitor, they know why and how the competitor failed.

If you want to re-assure the fan base there is nothing to fear in that aspect, you quell that argument asap.

My opinion is just that; an opinion. But I'm sure I speak for a lot of people when I say the following:

I want to know when SimCity (2013) is no longer supported by Maxis/EA in the distant future, that I can still play that game on my HD in the coming years.

In fairness, we have a year at least to get more info, and that will happen.

But let's not get playing "A region by yourself" and "Single player offline" mixed up.

Let's understand that while Maxis "responded" to the question, they didn't "answer" the question.

CitiesXL has taught us we can no longer assume.

And until we get solid answers, we shouldn't.