SimCity: Transit and Roading Networks

[VeritaScientia 150]

I don't know....subways aren't practical in cities of only 200,000.....purportedly the max. population of a city.....Maybe they don't make it.

There's nothing concrete about that being their upper limit.

[Haljackey 17,385]

I don't know....subways aren't practical in cities of only 200,000.....purportedly the max. population of a city.....Maybe they don't make it.

There's nothing concrete about that being their upper limit.

And even still, there are cities with Subways and rapid transit with populations of 200k or lower. Although I don't think any cities in North America have this... (they should! )

[VeritaScientia 150]

I have been tweeting back and forth with the designer for SC13's transit system for the past few hours and I've gotten some possible new info out of him.

Here's the convo so far:

Me: idk if it's been suggested directly to you, but is there gonna be a way to connect all rail networks (aside from monoa new rail)

Him: @PTPLauthor What do you mean? Like if a tram can go on the same track as big trains?

Now, being unfamiliar with Trams, I replied:

@MaxisGuillaume well, not trams, but like El/Subway/Ground Rail all possibly being one continuous network?

@PTPLauthor We've only announced trams (which is pretty much GLR in the NAM)

Okay, acknowledging NAM is something positive IMO, because NAM basically filled in a missing hole in the network. I pressed him to elaborate:

@MaxisGuillaume are there going to be other rail networks though? Imo without more depth than sc4 it'd alienate past fans

@PTPLauthor Didn't SC4 only have heavy rail? You're thinking SC4 with RH + 10 years of mods!

In my opinion that is dodging the question, but I clarified:

@MaxisGuillaume I meant 4+ rh, idk what came w/sc4 as I have the deluxe ed. Id still like to see all the options from sc4 in sc13

@PTPLauthor There's more options than SC4

Okay that's......better.......as long as he didn't mean plain release-day SC4.....so I pressed him again

@MaxisGuillaume but compared to what SC4 evolved into?

and that's where the current situation stands.

Feel free to follow me on twitter @PTPLauthor (its the same as my forum nick) or tweet him with suggestions.

Twitter really sucks for this kind of thing though because I'm only meaning subway, elevated rail, or ground rail. I'd also like to see rail stations upgradeable to handle an HSR network.

[Megaopolisbuilder54 7]

I actually curious about the new Sim City's transpartion system because I saw a tram in avenue in one of the trailers. Or is it a teaser to make the game look good only?

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Megaopolisbuilder54  

[VeritaScientia 150]

I actually curious about the new Sim City's transpartion system because I saw a tram in avenue in one of the trailers. Or is it a teaser to make the game look good only?

According to what I'd posted in the reply before you, there are going to be trams in the game.

I'd like to see a cohesive mass-transit system:

Buses (intercity and intracity)

Heavy Rail

Light Rail/Trams

High Speed Rail

Subway/Elevated Rail

Monorail

Ferry

[RoseCityAlive 9]

I actually curious about the new Sim City's transpartion system because I saw a tram in avenue in one of the trailers. Or is it a teaser to make the game look good only?

According to what I'd posted in the reply before you, there are going to be trams in the game.

I'd like to see a cohesive mass-transit system:

Buses (intercity and intracity)

Heavy Rail

Light Rail/Trams

High Speed Rail

Subway/Elevated Rail

Monorail

Ferry

I think in some of the footage from E3 or Gamescon that you can see one or two busses on the street from behind. I think things that have been confirmed are

• Buses
  
• Commuter Trains (including High speed Rail)
  
• LRT (trams)
  
• Ferrys for Cities on the water
  

Rapid Transit (subway/El Trains and Monoral) are still the mystery

[Megaopolisbuilder54 7]

I think there will be monorails and subway el trains

[tofutart 2]

What about bicycle infrastructure? I'd love to have my sims commute by bicycle!

[Haljackey 17,385]

What about bicycle infrastructure? I'd love to have my sims commute by bicycle!

Good idea. Many countries are building bicycle 'highways' and other infrastructure for cyclists.

The CAM had a bicycle clone for SC4, but it pretty much just sped up pedestrian traffic. Plopped bke paths on the STEX are eyecandy only.

[grugor 60]

One thing i havnt seen in ayn demo is overpasses. they do have bridges so maybe its possible. If not you are basicly restricted to a grid layout for your roads.

One way roads are nowhere to be seen in any demo either.

forget about roundabouts or subways or monorail. i dont see any of these making it in and your can be sure EA are holding something back for the expansion which will probably be a rush hour as it would be the most popular

[kgw_games 11]

What about bicycle infrastructure? I'd love to have my sims commute by bicycle!

Good idea. Many countries are building bicycle 'highways' and other infrastructure for cyclists.

The CAM had a bicycle clone for SC4, but it pretty much just sped up pedestrian traffic. Plopped bke paths on the STEX are eyecandy only.

On TV a while back they had an actual town with only sidewalks and canals.

You could access any home or business directly from the canal.

[uhcougar31 7]

New blog on Simcity website confirms that there are shuttle buses, large inter city buses, light rail and heavy rail.

[fatbuster 44]

New blog on Simcity website confirms that there are shuttle buses, large inter city buses, light rail and heavy rail.

Something I found even more interesting was the mention of taxis. I wonder how they will work into the game? I do like the idea of citywide and regional bus networks though.

[wtrtwnguy 3]

Since taxis are mentioned alongside garbage trucks and school buses, they might work the same was as they did in SC4. Schools generate school buses while airports and such generate taxi cabs. With the glassbox engine, taxis might actually take sims somewhere this time, say passengers from the airport to a convention center or such. That's anyone's guess though. We shall see.

What I am somewhat worried about is that the new SimCity will be even more finicky about commute time. The blog mentions that traffic jams will cause factories and houses to abandon. Considering the small size of SC2013 maps, commute time should not be much of a problem. Likewise, there should not be any need for subways or heavy rail (unless they include a rail network in the no man's land between cities). The announced streetcars will be perfect for small cities though.

[jacksunny 741]

I like how they have 2 types of buses. This was something that I hadn't thought of, and it's a good idea.

[MaxisGuillaume 289]

There:

http://www.simcity.c...eets-of-SimCity

(I also had a feeling that my exchange with PTPLauthor would end up here)

  Edited September 18, 2012 by MaxisGuillaume  

[gweed123 33]

There:

http://www.simcity.c...eets-of-SimCity

(I also had a feeling that my exchange with PTPLauthor would end up here)

Looking very good, thanks Guillaume! A few questions:

1) Don't see any mentions of subways. Is that grouped in with "heavy rail" (interchangeable with commuter trains)? Or is it not included (and hopefully included in a future expansion pack)?

2) Is there any type of customizable route planning, like for LRT or bus routes? Or is the route planning done automatically based on travel demand?

3) Are there any type of BRT options? Dedicated bus lanes, etc.

Thanks again for the sneak peek!

[VeritaScientia 150]

There:

http://www.simcity.c...eets-of-SimCity

(I also had a feeling that my exchange with PTPLauthor would end up here)

Looking very good, thanks Guillaume! A few questions:

1) Don't see any mentions of subways. Is that grouped in with "heavy rail" (interchangeable with commuter trains)? Or is it not included (and hopefully included in a future expansion pack)?

2) Is there any type of customizable route planning, like for LRT or bus routes? Or is the route planning done automatically based on travel demand?

3) Are there any type of BRT options? Dedicated bus lanes, etc.

Thanks again for the sneak peek!

I was just going to edit my post to ask about subways and el-trains, but since you already got to it, I guess i can just bump my post count by one *whistles*

Theoretically, these could be put into the GLR network, I personally wouldn't want a light rail right of way along an arterial that intersects another arterial, too high a risk for a train versus vehicle crash, so I would prefer a dedicated right of way for that, and the option for elevated to save space, or subway to save even more space.

[MaxisGuillaume 289]

I'll answer the one question I can talk about:

2) Is there any type of customizable route planning, like for LRT or bus routes? Or is the route planning done automatically based on travel demand?

Route planning is done automatically by the simulation, based on current necessities, much like in previous SimCities.

[fatbuster 44]

There:

http://www.simcity.c...eets-of-SimCity

(I also had a feeling that my exchange with PTPLauthor would end up here)

Thanks for the article. That was a good read!....Now get back to work!! *cracks whip*

I really the idea that Sims can now actually drive and park at a station to take a different mode of transportation. I also love the fact that they will take multiple modes or transportation to reach their destination.

[MaxisGuillaume 289]

I really the idea that Sims can now actually drive and park at a station to take a different mode of transportation.

Yeah once I had the pedestrian side of things working, adding the park & ride was pretty straight-forward.

[zimmie 521]

I'm loving what I am hearing and seeing about the trams, park n' rides, etc. And especially the simulation and data. I am relieved that the trams are not only limited to in avenues or roads and that they can be placed independently. That's pretty good stuff. Still worried about the lack of a highway/freeway system or how simple of a system it might be.

[cocoabeeking 0]

Thanks Guillaume. When I read your blog post I was somewhat concerned with the lack of a subway system. In reading your comments here it seems that this has not been ruled out.

In terms of rail: since there is already an engine supporting how pollution affects the surrounding area, will there be the same rules built in for diesel powered trains as opposed to electricity powered ones?

Thanks again.

[daneoid 78]

There:

http://www.simcity.c...eets-of-SimCity

(I also had a feeling that my exchange with PTPLauthor would end up here)

Am I right in assuming that at the moment, all transport mediums are stuck to the ground?

[grugor 60]

Am I right in assuming that at the moment, all transport mediums are stuck to the ground?

this is probably the most important question of all and i have a horrible feeling that transport is stuck to the ground which will make it practically imposible to make direct routes with overpasses etc. More details coming friday so hopefully im wrong.

questions i would like covered friday are .

1. ^^^

2. oneway roads ?

3. subway?

4. roundabouts?

5. junctions without traffic lights. ie yield right of way ?

[pyanodon 218]

Am I right in assuming that at the moment, all transport mediums are stuck to the ground?

IM worried about it too. It seems the new engine cant handle things "suspended" or "under" the ground level. That explains why no mention for subway, el. rail, monorail road over/under passes and even highways.

[Simoleon.Ocha.Simtropolis 0]

Hope there are monorails and full subway network (underground, ground, elevated, and many types of stations.

[VeritaScientia 150]

Am I right in assuming that at the moment, all transport mediums are stuck to the ground?

IM worried about it too. It seems the new engine cant handle things "suspended" or "under" the ground level. That explains why no mention for subway, el. rail, monorail road over/under passes and even highways.

I doubt the engine can't handle it, the engine uses overlay layers, underground can be just a more detailed overlay layer, overpasses and other stuff don't need a separate layer, just a different way of handling them as compared to at-grade intersections.

[pyanodon 218]

I doubt the engine can't handle it, the engine uses overlay layers, underground can be just a more detailed overlay layer, overpasses and other stuff don't need a separate layer, just a different way of handling them as compared to at-grade intersections.

So, there´s must be a reason of why transport lines/modes who stay over or under the groud level (which i only saw flat until now), aren´t showed/said yet.

OR

expect a long run of DLCs to be able to do that. Each one by $30,00 hahaha.

[VeritaScientia 150]

I doubt the engine can't handle it, the engine uses overlay layers, underground can be just a more detailed overlay layer, overpasses and other stuff don't need a separate layer, just a different way of handling them as compared to at-grade intersections.

So, there´s must be a reason of why transport lines/modes who stay over or under the groud level (which i only saw flat until now), aren´t showed/said yet.

OR

expect a long run of DLCs to be able to do that. Each one by $30,00 hahaha.

OR

As I've almost had to say once a week (and I'm seriously considering making it my forum signature so I no longer have to say it) The game is still being developed.

they may be perfecting rail which can then easily be copied and manipulated into monorail, subways, el rail, etc, instead of having to work on ten networks, they can just perfect one pathing network and copy that for the others.