Online / Offline Petition: Please register to participate in the poll.

[Hanno 16]

Hi All

I see that most people here are already aware that they're intending SimCity 2013 to be an online-only game.

I have created a poll on the Sim City forum itself where you can state your own preferences. The question is:

How do you prefer to play SimCity

1) Offline only

2) Online only

3) A mix between the two

Hopefully, if we can get enough votes, we might get them to see common sense and not ruin this game. Please make the effort to register and vote. The more votes we get, the better our chances of succeeding!

You can get to the pole here http://forum.ea.com/...0.page#22617864

Thank you for your support

  Edited May 14, 2012 by Craig-Abcvs  
Removed ALLCAPS and title bias.

[samima 92]

I agree. I do not want online.

[bourneid 13]

Form what I have read... the game will have an always on or initialization connection to origins just to verify ligitiment copies.... they have said that there will online interactions... but not gone as far as to say that the game is online only. I dont think that Maxis/EA would limit their sales by making it online play only.

I thinks folks are reading to far into the info out there already... they pointed out the online play because that is a new feature to the series... that the game is updating to the same range as most current games.

[Hanno 16]

Form what I have read... the game will have an always on or initialization connection to origins just to verify ligitiment copies.... they have said that there will online interactions... but not gone as far as to say that the game is online only. I dont think that Maxis/EA would limit their sales by making it online play only.

I thinks folks are reading to far into the info out there already... they pointed out the online play because that is a new feature to the series... that the game is updating to the same range as most current games.

Form what I have read... the game will have an always on or initialization connection to origins just to verify ligitiment copies.... they have said that there will online interactions... but not gone as far as to say that the game is online only. I dont think that Maxis/EA would limit their sales by making it online play only.

I thinks folks are reading to far into the info out there already... they pointed out the online play because that is a new feature to the series... that the game is updating to the same range as most current games.

I hope you're right, but from their very own words, it seems pretty unambiguous:

"When you see the connection between your city and the larger world, your city is more real than it's ever been before.

That's why it's an online game. We'll be showing you more of this at this year’s E3 Expo in June. " ~ http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/8374852.page

Best to voice our opinion in the strongest possible way now, while there's still time for them to change their mind.

[bourneid 13]

just think about it though..... if I was on their development team.... how cool would it to be able to invite other friends form here or sc4 devotion to a mass region... then as you build it you can look at the region like looking at SimCity.maps (think google.maps).... so that you can play of each other....

and I dont think it would be that hard... if you think about it... each city tile has a png image of it.... the revion view is made up of those images grouped together... several regions together...... and so on... soon you have SimCity.maps showing the world view made by us builders

  Edited May 12, 2012 by bourneid  

[brynhyfryd 222]

Why not add the poll to this thread also?

I doubt Maxis/EA will be changing their stance on this as all they are intrested in is monetising this franchise to the casuals to gain as much profit as possible by produciing tons of DLC's to milk the gamer. They will do this no matter what, even if it means destroying the franchise. Single player games are dying due to the greed of the publishers and this constant push to an MMO model. The only way this will change is if gamers stop buying into this tripe. Look what happened to Cities XL. MMO city builders just DON'T work, unless you are a casual player.

I will not be buying this game and will be sticking to SC4. Just wish we could get curvy roads in SC4 as this is the main feature holding it back.

[Asheroo 53]

@ BourneID - Well, you may have not read too much then. It's been stated in numerous previews (and it's even on the Game Overview page - http://www.simcity.com/en_US/game/overview) that every player's cities and regions will affect everyone else playing the game - the whole entire global economy, and that's why you need to be online.

[Ocram's Razr 963]

I like online mode as long as it is free and has an offline alternative, like in Anno 2070.

[Mark Waybill 242]

I have nothing against playing online, as long as there is a single player mode. However if enough people wish to play offline I am sure EA could in future release an offline version, or have an offline sandbox style mode.

[MatlockMan 370]

There is already a poll on this site which makes online playing's popularity quite evident. Check it out.

[Titanicbuff 1,262]

I say just update SC4- SC 4 is perect- don't ruin our game because you think your improving it- i won't buy the game for several reasons- 1: The price is way to high-

2: Specs are to demanding- not everyone has a duel core like they want

3: online only play-- Multi player is not a good consept for Sim City

4: Screenshots- The game looks dumb with the screenshot consepts given- overly cartoony

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

I've already voted on that poll. But like I've said I'm not sure if they will even care about that post.

[Cob92 360]

I like the idea of online play; I hated that my cities in SC4 existed in this nice perfect little vacuum over which I had total control. In SC4, I couldn't end up with a Detroit unless I purposefully messed up the city to that point, and that strips out a lot of the fun factor. However, mandatory online play is a step too far in my opinion. It locks out that chunk of potential players that has less than reliable Internet.

[MINIggy03 227]

I'm in the pro-online group, but I can understand the frustration with Origin and the possibility of "always online". Let's hope concerns are eased at E3.

I personally cant wait to get together with around 5 people and build a region together. I've missed having those neighbors prior to SC4 and to be able to communicate and do business with real ones is going to be great. I definitely think SC is fit for multiplayer, SC4's region play blew the door wide open for it. I'm not too bothered by the global economy, I think it will add a nice new layer of gameplay without impacting our game as dramatic as people are making it out to be.

[meowza 230]

It's funny how you still have "online" as an option on that poll, when the topic tiltle clearly says "anti-online-only petition".

Talk about biased voting...

  Edited May 13, 2012 by meowza  

[HookerHeels 309]

I will say this once. "Online only" means you will have to be connected to the internet and have Origin running to start the game. This does NOT mean its 'online, multiplayer' only. I know this with 100% of my soul.

[Dannibee 138]

I will say this once. "Online only" means you will have to be connected to the internet and have Origin running to start the game. This does NOT mean its 'online, multiplayer' only. I know this with 100% of my soul.

So what happens to those users who don't have the internet or a very unreliable connection then?

[Asheroo 53]

Sorry RedScope but you're incorrect. The Game Overview on the official Sim City site, and several previews, clearly state that your cities/regions will always be connected with every other players' cities and regions and your cities will be affected by the whole game's global economy - which has every single player in it. That itself is still 'multiplayer' and the game is advertised as 'multiplayer', with no mention of some sort of true solo play.

Just some links...

http://www.simcity.c...S/game/overview

http://www.guardian....city-preview-pc

http://www.1up.com/p...classic-present

They have stated though that you won't always need to be online. However, you most likely, due to the nature of Origin, will need to connect when launching the game - and that will give you updates on the game's global economy.

  Edited May 13, 2012 by Asheroo  

[Hanno 16]

just think about it though..... if I was on their development team.... how cool would it to be able to invite other friends form here or sc4 devotion to a mass region... then as you build it you can look at the region like looking at SimCity.maps (think google.maps).... so that you can play of each other....

and I dont think it would be that hard... if you think about it... each city tile has a png image of it.... the revion view is made up of those images grouped together... several regions together...... and so on... soon you have SimCity.maps showing the world view made by us builders

just think about it though..... if I was on their development team.... how cool would it to be able to invite other friends form here or sc4 devotion to a mass region... then as you build it you can look at the region like looking at SimCity.maps (think google.maps).... so that you can play of each other....

and I dont think it would be that hard... if you think about it... each city tile has a png image of it.... the revion view is made up of those images grouped together... several regions together...... and so on... soon you have SimCity.maps showing the world view made by us builders

Yeah, and just think about it: how cool would it be if you DON'T want to be in a "community" with total strangers, messing up the markets that ultimately ruin your city, to have an offline mode where you can do what you want? Or if you just want to play without having to worry about your slow/unreliable internet connection interrupting your game, or not having to worry when you buy the game that they might switch off the server in 5 years - rendering the game unplayable. Just think how cool all of that would be.

I say just update SC4- SC 4 is perect- don't ruin our game because you think your improving it- i won't buy the game for several reasons- 1: The price is way to high-

2: Specs are to demanding- not everyone has a duel core like they want

3: online only play-- Multi player is not a good consept for Sim City

4: Screenshots- The game looks dumb with the screenshot consepts given- overly cartoony

I say just update SC4- SC 4 is perect- don't ruin our game because you think your improving it- i won't buy the game for several reasons- 1: The price is way to high-

2: Specs are to demanding- not everyone has a duel core like they want

3: online only play-- Multi player is not a good consept for Sim City

4: Screenshots- The game looks dumb with the screenshot consepts given- overly cartoony

I don't care if the price tag is high. I'll buy it if the game is worth it. That means to actually LISTEN TO THEIR FAN BASE!!!

[Vahr 341]

Remember people, discuss the topic, not each other. I've removed an offending post.

[MINIggy03 227]

Sorry RedScope but you're incorrect. The Game Overview on the official Sim City site, and several previews, clearly state that your cities/regions will always be connected with every other players' cities and regions and your cities will be affected by the whole game's global economy - which has every single player in it. That itself is still 'multiplayer' and the game is advertised as 'multiplayer', with no mention of some sort of true solo play.

Just some links...

http://www.simcity.c...S/game/overview

http://www.guardian....city-preview-pc

http://www.1up.com/p...classic-present

They have stated though that you won't always need to be online. However, you most likely, due to the nature of Origin, will need to connect when launching the game - and that will give you updates on the game's global economy.

At the bottom of the second link refers to solo play,

It will also be possible for lone participants to take over and run a whole region by themselves, building an enormous mega city, far larger than the 2000m x 2000m allowed for single towns. "I'm not going to say that's crazy, but ... it would be a lot of work," says Farley. "It would be a really interesting way to play the game actually. I'm sure one of our QA guys will try it!"

I'm very intrigued.

[bourneid 13]

Listen... I am not a spring chicken... I joined Simtropolis in 2003 after learking for a while..(signed up when people started figuring out you could make your own custom maps. Did you know that at one time...SC4 reqired an internet connection to activate...during sc300o days.. when they started talking about a new version coming out...... called Simville..... people were making the same arguments you'all are making today..... SimVille would reck the series.... Maxis was dead.... EA had screwed the SimCity fan....... that game became the SimCity4 that we know and love today.......EA didnt kill the series...... Maxis still lives....... and ten years later..... we are still mod'ing, playing, and loving SimCity.

I rember the cries of foul when they anouced that sc4 would have a "DLC"...... "EA is scamming money outta us" " waaaaah" "boo whoooo"...... but we bought in to this little "DLC" called Rush Hour..... and along with 2 free "dlc's" called the BAT and LotEditor" 99% of the community contributions of custom content was created.... so when you complain about the "features" they say will be in the game...... I say... bring it on... well figure them out.... improve them.... and that the game even further then even they (or ourselves) could have imagioned.

10 years ago.... ( hell 3 years ago when I went away form the community) Diagonal Bridges were impossable..... Everbody gives says that SC4 is a product of the Community,.... and to a point they are right.... but without the foundation that Maxis put in there most of those things couldnt have happened. I mean.... Sc4 on windows 7 runs better then ever... with a few changes to where some of the files should be.... because of changes to the OS..... How many other games you were palying ten years run half as good (if they run at all).

For me... I will trust that Maxis and the crew there (many of which have been there sense SC3000 or before) will make a solid game that we will be mod'ing' playing' and loving in 2023 on GoogleOS7

note: by that time... well be walking around our cities talking with our sims

edit: I forgot to comment on some of the post..\

I will say this once. "Online only" means you will have to be connected to the internet and have Origin running to start the game. This does NOT mean its 'online, multiplayer' only. I know this with 100% of my soul.

So what happens to those users who don't have the internet or a very unreliable connection then?

something like 60-70% of computer owners are currently online.. greater then 59% of all US households have broadband connections ( see Cspan's Congressional hearings on Internet and broadband availability and nation investmemnt) among European nations those numbers are in the 80-90% ... among "gamers" that number is much higher..... 90% of current games have online involvment in some way or anouther... that is just the nature of being a game player. Among those 12-30 years of age... 4 out of every 5 play games online.

  Edited May 13, 2012 by bourneid  

[Cob92 360]

If people want a moddable game where they can sculpt cities to their hearts' content without any restrictions or online interactions, they should pick up Cities XL.

[bourneid 13]

If people want a moddable game where they can sculpt cities to their hearts' content without any restrictions or online interactions, they should pick up Cities XL.

that started out as online... was cried about how bad it was going to be.... but some have kinda taken a liking to it...

[SimMan_87 3]

I say 3) A mix between the two not all has internet on everytime some are just lucky to have internet on allot. :-)

[Mark Waybill 242]

If people want a moddable game where they can sculpt cities to their hearts' content without any restrictions or online interactions, they should pick up Cities XL.

^This.

Simcity isn't a paint program or a graphic design tool. The very name of the game shows that it is a simulation, and a global economy is a very real aspect of real cities.

Also I just can't see single player offline games having much of a future.

[Cob92 360]

If people want a moddable game where they can sculpt cities to their hearts' content without any restrictions or online interactions, they should pick up Cities XL.

that started out as online... was cried about how bad it was going to be.... but some have kinda taken a liking to it...

Now it offers what a lot of people here seem to want. Total building freedom. No money restrictions. No physical restrictions. Good, realistic graphics. Moddability. There is a movement within the CXL modding community to make mods that make the game more fun to play rather than just adding eye candy, but there are sufficient mods there to remove all limitations that were originally built into the game and make it a total sandbox.

  Edited May 13, 2012 by Cobhris96  

[Asheroo 53]

At the bottom of the second link refers to solo play,

It will also be possible for lone participants to take over and run a whole region by themselves, building an enormous mega city, far larger than the 2000m x 2000m allowed for single towns. "I'm not going to say that's crazy, but ... it would be a lot of work," says Farley. "It would be a really interesting way to play the game actually. I'm sure one of our QA guys will try it!"

I'm very intrigued.

Don't be, check out this link - http://www.pcgamer.c...ltiplayer-game/

Btw, also from that link, here's a good quote...

In fact, Tom asked whether the online-only restriction was an anti-piracy measure last week. “That’s not why we put it in,” said the producer. “It was really a developer decision. It was a design decision to do that from the ground up.”

He’s referring to SimCity’s online component where each city is part of a wider region. Individual cities can help or hinder their neighbours’ development. Even when playing alone, you’ll get the option to control a landmass of metropolises.

Also this video interview -

http://www.simprogra...city-interview/ - it further shows that there is no true solo play.

@ Bourneid - Cities XL was not a completely multiplayer game, but the Planet Offer was just advertised more. It had an proper offline mode where you could build cities without any other player effecting the economy and you could trade with Omnicorp - the AI trader.

  Edited May 13, 2012 by Asheroo  

[Ocram's Razr 963]

I don't mind online mode as long as there is an offline mode, even if it is not as fun. I will play mostly online but some people cannot.

[frdrcklim 139]

While the idea of online play seems pretty good, the idea that it has to be tied to Origin makes me a bit worried.

Now it offers what a lot of people here seem to want. Total building freedom. No money restrictions. No physical restrictions. Good, realistic graphics. Moddability. There is a movement within the CXL modding community to make mods that make the game more fun to play rather than just adding eye candy, but there are sufficient mods there to remove all limitations that were originally built into the game and make it a total sandbox.

CXL has made some gains, however, it still isn't able to deviate from American or European styled cities. Either that or they end up a mixed mess of a salad bowl. This is at least what I'm seeing in the City Journals. I'm not saying they don't look good though.