SimCity: Transit and Roading Networks

[DCMetro34 577]

Okay, so I used a photo viewer to zoom into the road more, and it looks as if the road does in fact connect to the main asphalt road, but you can't see it because the building is blocking where the connection would be.

Also, notice how the crosswalks slant in towards the dirt-like road? I don't think that would happen on anything else other than something that could support traffic in some fashion.

[dman10257 2]

Apparently there is supposed to be a lot of green transportation. The theme for the upcoming SimCity is the environment. I heard they were hiring environmental workers and researchers to implement green aspects, like bikes, bike lanes only, ped walks, and more.... However, traffic jams are a BIG part. Now the cars will not appear and disappear at random, but they will actually be like real life. They will go from home to work, all the way, and you'll be able to follow them without them disappearing into thin air. The traffic and transport system will be a lot more real like, along with all the other aspects of the game. My only thing is the cartoon graphics... why would they take a step into fantasy land with the graffics when the outline of the game is so real? Also there's no u-driveit mode?

[fredrik001 9]

I saw this picture where there is a sign saying "HIGHWAY", only, the so called "highway" intrersects on single level with another road. It CANT be so hard to create multiple level intersections, I do not even demand being able to customize them like with RHW, BUT PLEASE! IF THERE IS ANYONE FROM MAXIS REDING THIS, PLEASE create REAL highways.

[Moonraker0 193]

Apparently there is supposed to be a lot of green transportation. The theme for the upcoming SimCity is the environment. I heard they were hiring environmental workers and researchers to implement green aspects, like bikes, bike lanes only, ped walks, and more.... However, traffic jams are a BIG part. Now the cars will not appear and disappear at random, but they will actually be like real life. They will go from home to work, all the way, and you'll be able to follow them without them disappearing into thin air. The traffic and transport system will be a lot more real like, along with all the other aspects of the game. My only thing is the cartoon graphics... why would they take a step into fantasy land with the graffics when the outline of the game is so real? Also there's no u-driveit mode?

Yeah, I like the game's graphics, but I would have preferred something more photorealistic, like the Enodo Urban Life System.

I saw this picture where there is a sign saying "HIGHWAY", only, the so called "highway" intrersects on single level with another road. It CANT be so hard to create multiple level intersections, I do not even demand being able to customize them like with RHW, BUT PLEASE! IF THERE IS ANYONE FROM MAXIS REDING THIS, PLEASE create REAL highways.

Highways can have intersections, driveways, etc. Where I live, there is a road designated as a state highway, which is five lanes including a center left turn lane. Freeways/motorways are the kind that's free-flowing.

[fredrik001 9]

Apparently there is supposed to be a lot of green transportation. The theme for the upcoming SimCity is the environment. I heard they were hiring environmental workers and researchers to implement green aspects, like bikes, bike lanes only, ped walks, and more.... However, traffic jams are a BIG part. Now the cars will not appear and disappear at random, but they will actually be like real life. They will go from home to work, all the way, and you'll be able to follow them without them disappearing into thin air. The traffic and transport system will be a lot more real like, along with all the other aspects of the game. My only thing is the cartoon graphics... why would they take a step into fantasy land with the graffics when the outline of the game is so real? Also there's no u-driveit mode?

Yeah, I like the game's graphics, but I would have preferred something more photorealistic, like the Enodo Urban Life System.

I saw this picture where there is a sign saying "HIGHWAY", only, the so called "highway" intrersects on single level with another road. It CANT be so hard to create multiple level intersections, I do not even demand being able to customize them like with RHW, BUT PLEASE! IF THERE IS ANYONE FROM MAXIS REDING THIS, PLEASE create REAL highways.

Highways can have intersections, driveways, etc. Where I live, there is a road designated as a state highway, which is five lanes including a center left turn lane. Freeways/motorways are the kind that's free-flowing.

Thanks, always wondered what the difference was, but not enough to find it out myself

So what I am talking about is apparently a motorway. Interstate highways have multiple level intersections, right?

[Moonraker0 193]

Yes, the interstates in the U.S. are freeways with "free-flowing" interchanges. "Highway" can be used for normal roads (usually large or faster ones) or freeways, but "freeway" is non-ambiguous. There's also "expressway", which varies by the country to mean either limited access with interchanges or just a large road with fewer driveways and intersections.

[BlackVenomSC 0]

I'm sure Maxis has payed attention to what the modders & CXL has done. I just hope they stay far away from anything resembling SC:S and I hope EA has little input.

Will there be roundabouts like in the NAM?

Yes but they will have really bad public art in the centre, this might be fixed in a mod.

Is the highway in SC5 modular like the RHW, or is it like SC4 without the RHW?

The highway system will not be modular, but will be based on a new "quantum" highway placement system.

What is the minimum intersection angle? 45 deg like CXL, or less?

exactly 23.56 degrees, 24.3429 on hard mode.

Hope that clears things up! If you have any more very specific questions to ask feel free!

Lmao. Hopefully they implement roundabouts all around; they're used a lot more in the US these days... much cheaper and safer than stops.

This is very nice, and I like it. However, let us say that it will be for a future release, and simply ask that the hooks be placed in the initial game so that this could be an expansion pack at a later time. I think we want this game to be released sooner rather than later.

The new pack could be something called, for example, 'Roads in SimCity'.

Being EA I'd fear them making much use of expansions (or as they are these days, DLC). However, if the game is mod friendly, I can see them only sending out a pack (like Rush hour) and leaving us to our own devices.

  Edited July 2, 2012 by BlackVenomSC  

[dman10257 2]

Apparently there is supposed to be a lot of green transportation. The theme for the upcoming SimCity is the environment. I heard they were hiring environmental workers and researchers to implement green aspects, like bikes, bike lanes only, ped walks, and more.... However, traffic jams are a BIG part. Now the cars will not appear and disappear at random, but they will actually be like real life. They will go from home to work, all the way, and you'll be able to follow them without them disappearing into thin air. The traffic and transport system will be a lot more real like, along with all the other aspects of the game. My only thing is the cartoon graphics... why would they take a step into fantasy land with the graffics when the outline of the game is so real? Also there's no u-driveit mode?

Yeah, I like the game's graphics, but I would have preferred something more photorealistic, like the Enodo Urban Life System.

I saw this picture where there is a sign saying "HIGHWAY", only, the so called "highway" intrersects on single level with another road. It CANT be so hard to create multiple level intersections, I do not even demand being able to customize them like with RHW, BUT PLEASE! IF THERE IS ANYONE FROM MAXIS REDING THIS, PLEASE create REAL highways.

Highways can have intersections, driveways, etc. Where I live, there is a road designated as a state highway, which is five lanes including a center left turn lane. Freeways/motorways are the kind that's free-flowing.

Wow, the Enodo Urban Life System looks amazing. I think that because of all the advanced, sophisticated, new features such as climate change, resources, and global warming, that they had to somehow appeal to the young ones.... hence the graphics. I think as the audience matures so should the way the game looks though...

[Tarkus 6,932]

While they've not really officially answered any questions regarding what all will be included as far as transit networks go (aside from what's been seen in screenshots), this quote from this article, coupled with what we saw in the E3 trailer, makes me wonder if the game will have highways beyond the auto-built ones between cities in a region (through the enforced open space):

Is there any definition to the space between the cities? Is the region something with landmarks you can see?

It’s a map, and we create the maps. Every city is placed. You’ll have an area, a playspace, that you’ll be able to build up, but you won’t be able to build into the region. The region is visualized; you can pop out to the region view, and you’ll see your city alive, and highways connecting the cities, and traffic flowing back and forth, so the region feels like an extension of your city. You’re going to look out from your city into the region and see other cities off in the distance. You’ll be able to see a great work if it’s close to your city. You’ll see your sims traveling to work. You’ll see airplanes landing at the airport.

It'd be nice to get some clarification on this.

-Tarkus

[NCGAIO 562]

I honestly do not think will have to wait for answers to this or other topics as the ability to change the game since everything seems clear at least for me.

The main difference between SimCity and this they want to push now for the fans (counting on them to boost sales) is in concept of development of game.

Will.Wright by its origins made a game based on a simulation engine that has been enhanced yourself by new paths in order to provide the various options available today. The secondary graphic part to represent the simulation has been developed along of the time with several techniques and different open solutions that today make up the system and exactly because of this the game became so modifiable.

What is being developed today goes in another direction with the glass box as graphics engine that brings obviously much more facility for the dynamic representation, but loses some flexibility to be dependent on the simulation since this is the basic principle of the game.

Now just read the various interviews and collect restrictions on things that would require more processing graph-dependent simulation (size of cities and their inhabitants for example) as well as the use of Tilt-shift to reduce the actual 3D rendering in screen and then realize clearly because all the EA involved are always quoting the return to origins (SimCity 2000) of the new game as more clean and easily.

EA has no interest about what the creators or same the fans wished for as continuation of the Simcity . What the company wants and certanly goes to market will be a game with a lower learning curve for more quickly exploit the content online what as all say clearly underpins the design of the new game (Multyplayer)

That is why I think it will be easy to conclude that no use waiting the things in the game what to go exactly in the opposite direction with the addition of more processing by to open up a wider range of options which in turn would increase the time to learn and use the game.

The fact is that we are at other times ... Today, the immediacy prevails because of technological advances and everything in the world has to follow it ( After all the goal is to make money ) then as we recently have seen this distributor do the same to other titles with this game will not be different ... unfortunately

[Simoleon.Ocha.Simtropolis 0]

It will be good than SimCity 5 have at least these transits, or I won't buy the game:

Single Lane Road

Double Lane Road

Triple Lane Road

Four Lane Road

Avenue

Highway and Expressway (Both are different: Highways are intersections free, they use interchanges and exits; Expressways are just normal roads without peds and traffic lights, but they may have intersections)

Bus and Busway

Metro/Subway

Light Rail

Intercity Train (Passenger and Freight)

Intercity Harbor

Intercity Airport

Ferry

and All of these (except intercity transport) should have a route planning like in CXL

  Edited July 10, 2012 by Simoleon.Ocha.Simtropolis  

[kirby636 0]

I think SC2013/SC5's roads should be a single button, but able to customize aspects like lanes, textures, speed limits, elevation/embankment and special lanes. I also think some customization such as street names, route numbers (provincial/state/country routes, county/reigonal roads) as well as lot numbering would be pretty cool.

[Endureth 37]

The maps in the new SimCity are the size of medium maps in SimCity 4. I can't imagine anyone having transportation issues on a map that size with pre-existing connections to neighbors.

Chalk up one more thing SimCity is losing.

[Mark Waybill 242]

2 by 2 km cities, without the ability to expand. Great move, Maxis. Not.

If all regions are XL style worlds shrunk down to local level that consist of overpopulated metropolises separated by savannah grassland or desert, then I definitely am not interested in this game. I wanted to create something like Sydney if I wished to, and Sydney's conurbation is much larger than 2 by 2 km which would barely contain half the CBD.

It is no consolation to hear we will have power over the infrastructure within our cities if they are not expandable and limited to such absurdly small dimensions.

[Markus J 242]

Can't change the landscape... can't change the neighbor connection... can't play on the city size of my choice...

This is madness! Madness...? THIS, IS, SIMCITY!!

But honestly those top three alone may kill it for me, I'll have to watch reviews after it's actual release. Am curious if their would be city building contest, for prizes... real prizes, not an EA napkin or Maxis mug either.

[Ltw 401]

Can't change neighbor connection and city tiles? I always use the big tiles, if that's true I wouldn't buy it.

They said it would be build for mods, so I think we don't have to worry about the road types in the city.

[aparrot7 82]

I think I've figured out why Maxis has made the decision to pre-determine where intercity connections go. The whole thing revolves around the new addition to the game: Great Works. They've stressed them quite a bit in interviews and demos. The great works go in the "No man's land", or space between cities. This is probably to stop any disagreements onto which city the great work would be constructed- they decided to put them into a shared area, that nobody can control. This way everyone can benefit from the great work, and one person doesn't have bragging rights. Because this created the space in between the cities- they needed to figure out a way to get intercity connections. If your neighbor makes one, and you make one- who's gonna connect the two?That's the problem. So the solution maxis made is to predetermine where these connections are, to make it easier for them.

I talked about this in the SimCity official forums. [Click Here] Its annoying issue because to add the great works- they probably had to create the green space between.

Obviously it's only my guess on why this was made- nobody in Maxis ever said so, but to me it seems like the most logical reason why they would do such a thing in the first place.

[StanislausBabalistic 24]

Now that there's at least a pretty solid hint of ground light rail and/or streetcars in SC2013, I find that my dark mood as to the game's prospect has lightened. Ever so slightly, but...

[Jokurr 175]

I believe they already confirmed that LRTs will be in the game, and you can have them running down an avenue.

[chocolate_city 93]

If it can do anything like this... i'll get it

  Edited August 5, 2012 by chocolate_city  

[Gen. Hammond 7]

Apparently it's still up in the air whether subways are going to make it into the game. In case you needed something else to worry about with this game.

http://twitter.com/o...742086169849856

[parakompetisn 1]

It may just be my wishfull thinking but I understood that, if they dont get them in the initial release, it will come via the expansion, a la SC4 Rush Hour style.

[SparkleMagic91 23]

For some reason, I just have this feeling that this game will leave out highways.

Apparently it's still up in the air whether subways are going to make it into the game. In case you needed something else to worry about with this game.

http://twitter.com/o...742086169849856

Could it be that Glassbox takes up so much space that it's almost impossible to include them?

[Gen. Hammond 7]

It may just be my wishfull thinking but I understood that, if they dont get them in the initial release, it will come via the expansion, a la SC4 Rush Hour style.

Subways are such a basic thing it speaks volumes about the approach to the game if they're not going to be included in the initial release. Having trams/LRT but no subways just shows how this is more about Sim Town than Sim CITY, including in the transport networks.

[parakompetisn 1]

true. i always think that it is better to do something properly rather than rushing things (im not suggesting maxis and ea are being prudent here, im merely hoping).

[robloxkiller 25]

honestly by now they are just gonna tear out the idea of interstates and beltways and furthermore if everything is simplified where would all the mods be? and also THEY WOULD MAKE THE GAME TO WHERE U CANT MOD IT

[chocolate_city 93]

Honestly people, there not talking about highways is because they can't talk about something they don't have... what you saw ,, is what you're going to get. If and when modding is available, they'll let the community make it.. Initially Sim City 4 didn't have the NAM when i came out... Cities XL didn't have the superior Real Highway Network when it came out ... They let the community do it...The mods transcended the games and made them both more playable and more attractive.. and guess what, it didn't cost the company any money or man hours to do it.. they got it and we got it FOR FREE. You can bet ... and I honestly believe that it will be up to the community, (and again I say IF AND WHEN modding is available) to make any kind of significant highway or transportation improvements...

  Edited August 5, 2012 by chocolate_city  

[elavery 1,013]

Why would you need highways in SC2013 anyway? The city tiles are so small that highways are not needed, you can just plop away and build your little simvillage without a care in the world.

[chocolate_city 93]

And there you have it.. ladies and gentlemen... a tile size to small to support highways, and when you think of it.. The people that they're catering to (John and Mary Paycheck) could care less about how many lanes their roads and avenues have... That's the deal breaker for me

  Edited August 6, 2012 by chocolate_city  

[parakompetisn 1]

Why would you need highways in SC2013 anyway? The city tiles are so small that highways are not needed, you can just plop away and build your little simvillage without a care in the world.

That is one of the saddest things. This game is supposed to grow in scale and scope, not shrink itself into tiny pebbles. When you look at the best City Journals, they're always about a small country or a county/province with lots of towns and cities interconnected into a beutiful region. I hoped for the next Simcity to enhance this experience.