Not Concerned with Out The Box Quality

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

I am not concerned at all about how much detail will be given in the vanilla version of SC 2013. Let's look at SC4 Rush Hour out the box with no mods or custom BATs. I do not play it that way. In fact, I do not play any PC game in its out the box form. When I look for a server to play Call of Duty, I look for servers with custom maps. When I fire up Microsoft Flight simulator I rarely fly stock planes and I. Have a mod called REX that transformed the entire environment.

The point I'm trying to make is that the developers do not have to do so much work in an effort to please the Sim City crowd. I think what would please us is a solid foundation that supports custom content and many possibilities that let us have the creative freedom to evolve the game just as we did SC4. Not saying they should make buildings with lackluster graphics but many requests are being made that could perhaps be done by the community freeing Maxis to focus on getting the foundation right with no major bugs.

It always baffles me that SC4 is critisized based on how it is out the box but negate the fact that the modders and BATters turned it into something I will always have installed on my system. In my opinion, the future of this game will be decided based on what the creative minds of this community has access to do with it. So I give much respect to Maxis for making the king of city builders but I am looking more forward to what will come out the community.

Without this community, SC4 would've died long ago.

[Cob92 360]

Out of the box quality actually matters very much to most people. SC4 didn't become popular because it was moddable; it became heavily modded because it was popular. Also, out-of-the-box quality concerns much more than just graphics. You can have amazing graphics and still make a garbage game (Societies, CXL) and you can have crap graphics and still be more fun than everything else (every SC game except Societies). Plus, you may have things that are beyond the reach of modders that need to be done right by the developer if they're going to be done right at all.

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

Out of the box quality actually matters very much to most people. SC4 didn't become popular because it was moddable; it became heavily modded because it was popular. Also, out-of-the-box quality concerns much more than just graphics. You can have amazing graphics and still make a garbage game (Societies, CXL) and you can have crap graphics and still be more fun than everything else (every SC game except Societies). Plus, you may have things that are beyond the reach of modders that need to be done right by the developer if they're going to be done right at all.

I agree with everything you said. The most important thing is a solid simulator at the core. The failure of that is what limits those who want to mod it for specific purposes. I bought SC4 because I was a fan of SC2000 and 3k. I trust the brand and the popularity for me was the consistency of what came out of Maxis. Right now I feel like my favorite chef was on a long vacation and I had to suffer through these chefs I did not know to make my meals close to what I'm used to. One of them even told me to make my own menu. I asked for steak and they gave me chicken. But now the chef I know belongs in that kitchen is back and I am at ease. I don't have to tell them anything because I know they are talented. So I have no doubt that what comes out the box will be playable and even enjoyable because Maxis is making it with a lot of the same crew.

I must humbly go back on what I said about me not playing the vanilla version of SC4 because even that is better than what has been presented to us of late. The custom content just gives the experience a whole new depth. So as long as the core simulator is solid and dynamic, I will not moan if there is a lack of building variety at launch because I have no doubt that a lot more is to come with time as long as the custom content has the green light.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Out of the box quality is important, period. Every program must perform as advertised, neither more, nor less. This is just fundamental ISO9000 stuff that's been around for years.

This means it must run on configurations specified and must not crash, ever.

Because it is a game, it must also have the quality of graphics specified if the hardware meets the requirements.

It must also conform to the necessary communications protocols, without exception, provided it is connected as specified.

That's all.

No easter eggs, no undocumented features (bugs), no back doors. What you buy is what is advertised, without exception. The vendor must be very careful with his box art, if any. Misleading artistic impressions are not acceptable, and are actually illegal.

Oh, and one of the things that must be in the box with the media is a complete list of all of the command line options with explanations. One should not have to fly blind with a program.