SimCity: Terraforming

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

Half of the gameplay I grew to love is chopped out. I usually spend days and sometimes weeks terraforming. To be honest, I have more respect for Monte Cristo and Tilted Mill now and that's saying a lot. Maxis is supposed to know better. I would feel better about this whole thing if they change the name and the name of their company. Who the heck are they making this thing for? Certainly not the same ones who fell for a very similar game design called CitiesXL. Doubt if those who already have a hole in their pocket will fall for this crap again. Are the developers of SC so arregant as to think they will not suffer the same consequences as MC doing the same thing not even 3 years later? Who hired this lead designer? As i said before, long lives SC4 with its crashes and all

[Odainsaker 2,134]

Ouch!

I actually spend more time collecting custom maps and terraforming than even running the simulation. Amusingly, I do that with the Civilization series, too, and I even had more terraformed SC2000 maps than I did built cities. Yeah, I'm a big advocate of physical geography defining the design and form of cities.

This really hurts. I am not interested in the pushy haggling of multiplayer resource trading--I don't even do that on more typical MMORPGs--but, I still saw myself sculpting fully 3D landscapes for SimCity 2013.

  Edited July 24, 2012 by Odainsaker  

[Nevets13 27]

What's really annoying about this is they clearly have the tools to terraform in this game (as is shown in previous videos), but they are choosing not to put these in.

CitiesXL didn't really have terraforming, because for some reason it wouldn't work with the way they made maps. But, dammit, Sim City does have these tools, they just wont put them in.

I just hope someone can come out with a single player mod that has terraforming.

[Mark Waybill 242]

Okay. First we have to always be online, which I was cool with, even though I don't have the sort of money to always be online, but I did accept that as inevitable progress. Then we are informed we can't control intercity infrastructure, and our cities are 2 by 2 km minimunicipalities scattered on a plain of emptiness between them, with a few select spots for airports. Now Maxis has told us we can't even terraform, and so we are playing Cities XL 2013, not SimCity 2013. Listen up, EA/Maxis, this just isn't SimCity.

I am tolerant of progress, but this is just limiting unecessarily the player's control. If I wanted to play Cities XL I would.

[aparrot7 82]

Okay. First we have to always be online, which I was cool with, even though I don't have the sort of money to always be online, but I did accept that as inevitable progress. Then we are informed we can't control intercity infrastructure, and our cities are 2 by 2 km minimunicipalities scattered on a plain of emptiness between them, with a few select spots for airports. Now Maxis has told us we can't even terraform, and so we are playing Cities XL 2013, not SimCity 2013. Listen up, EA/Maxis, this just isn't SimCity.

I am tolerant of progress, but this is just limiting unecessarily the player's control. If I wanted to play Cities XL I would.

Huh? Cities XL? Not even close. The Cities XL maps aren't connected at all- but they are MUCH bigger than the SC2013 maps claim to be. And there is terraforming, and terraforming mods for CXL, but honestly i don't even use them- I like to build around the terrain.

As for terraforming, i hope they include at least a terrain flattener, for those bumps here and there. But honestly, i like building around the mountains, and rivers in my cities. It makes it look nice. And I'm sure maxis will make a bunch of maps to use. There are 20 ish maps on CXL, and I still haven't even gone through a fourth of them.

[Mark Waybill 242]

Well yes, my apologies. SimCity maps will certainly be much smaller than Cities XL maps. So allow me to rephrase. This game will be like Cities XL, only worse.

[Evillions 552]

They didn't put terraforming because EA wants to make it a DLC.

[snick25 384]

Well yes, my apologies. SimCity maps will certainly be much smaller than Cities XL maps. So allow me to rephrase. This game will be like Cities XL, only worse.

Nope, this will be nothing like Cities XL, as CXL + mods is a pretty darn decent game. It's certainly a hundred times better than this game will be. In fact, if it continues going in the same direction it will not be a game, but a monstrosity.

Sure, CXL didn't allow you to terraform and that's still the case but at least they gave you 100 sq. km instead of a measly 4.

  Edited July 27, 2012 by snick25  

[Buggi 684]

From a technical perspective I understand the desire for static land. It cuts out a serious amount of headaches in the game. But to ax it completely?

Yet another strike to the game, IMHO, that's already been out 10 strikes ago. At least I'm trying to include terraforming in Boomtown.

[Mark Waybill 242]

I can actually understand why they might have chosen to not have terraforming but pre built XL style maps, due to the whole technical consideration. However, having said that, if they have the technical capacity to handle 200,000 Sims in full 3d, I'm pretty sure the ability to make hills and rivers shouldn't be that much of a pipe dream in comparison. And it's not like the graphics so far have shown terrain textures that would give reason and credibility to the technical excuse.

[The_City_Builder 299]

I've never really been into terraforming in the Sim City games, so I can't really knock off points for the newer one for not having it. I think that we should be happy that we're even getting varied landscapes; at least, I think that's what I read. Something about pre-generated regions? Who knows, maybe in Solo-Mode we can regenerate a bunch of regions until we find the perfect one.

[Mark Waybill 242]

I think one of the main reasons this decision detracts from the game is their resource focused angle this time round. Resource distribution is highly influenced by topographical factors, and having pre layed out maps of resources limits the amount we can utilise this new aspect of the game.

Also I know many people who love terraforming, and having unique landscapes for their cities. Just look at all the city journals out there. A city's terrain is as much a part of its identity as its street layout or parks or what have you. To take away power over that aspect in the way they have limits the playability of the game for me and many others.

Not only have they removed terraforming, but it sounds like they are using prebaked maps rather than a random generator, which further decreases the potential of the game.

[fatbuster 44]

The removal of freeform terraforming still strikes me as an odd choice, and one I'm not happy about either. It's obvious form their glassbox video that their engine already supports in-game terrain modification. If their reasoning is because of resource allocation then I think that is kinda fishy as well. All they would have to do is at least allow regional terraforming at creation and have it locked afterwards. This way, it wouldn't matter how much resource you would give yourself, eventually you will run out of coal, oil or whatever other non-renewable resource they would plan on adding. This would also open up a method for allowing custom regional highways and rail. Unless there's something else very important to regions they are not telling us yet, I see no reason not to allow some kind terraforming into the game.

[Mark Waybill 242]

Yes a good point is made fregarding the GB videos. They obviously have the capability. I'd personally settle for lower texture quality but having the ability to terraform than vice versa. Resources could be randomly placed according to the terrain, or indeed without regard to it. While it is more realistic to have resources affected by, say, mountain upheavals and thus exposing a seam of coal strata etc, the resources could still be randomly placed and then mefrely their accessibility to mining corporations could be based upon topographical distribution.

[aparrot7 82]

I think the biggest concern about terraforming is not only resources, but how it effects other regions. They probably have pre-baked regions with resources, that way water isn't up in the mountains, and iron [or some other metal, its just an example] isn't down under an ocean. Obviously were these resources go takes careful consideration, and large-scale terraforming would make it awkward.

On the other hand, think about how it would effect your neighbor, especially in multi-player. You decide you want a mountain ski resort city, while your neighbor wants a nice city nestled in a valley. Its true that you could use the old SC4 tool that continues it somewhat to the other city, but think about how strange the maps would start too look in full scale multi-player. The other alternative is that the regions are separated, and not controlled by the player [its seems this is how it is], in this case the "computer" would choose how the mountains flow down to the valley, which would be quite inconvenient. This was ok in SC4, but with the introduction of resources AND multi-player, it makes it hard to allow players to generate their own terrain.

A solution is if Maxis would make God-Mode for Solo play only, as well as the option for premade terrains. And just premade terrains for Multi-player. This would be much better as in solo mode, you don't have to worry about how your neighbor is making his terrain, although resources may still be an issue.

I'm ok with the idea of God mode being thrown out, but i'm not happy. But compare the maps is CXL. Because they were professionally made, many of them are much more impressive than what we could make. By this i mean that the ground has textures that matches the climate and style of the city much better, and even the vegetation and color of the water match this as well. This means that Maxis could create a wild west terrain, and it would have a dusty colored ground with cacti as vegetation, while if we created the exact same map, it would be green and grassy.

Also remember that they didn't deny that some tools will be available. Its most likely that Mayor mode tools will be available such as raise, lower, and flatten, just to smooth out the occasional lumps and bumps.

[MINIggy03 227]

We could definitely see a Region editor after release similar to Create-a-World for Sims 3.

[Mark Waybill 242]

As to 'Mayor Mode' terraforming they said civil engineering would exist, so I am assuming that indicates tunnels/cuttings/canals? Or at any rate a railway won't go up a slope at 90 degree angles.

They may release a terrain editor so you can make your own terrains eventually, and modding might be allowed in this area eventually, but I always took for granted free terraforming as an essential ingredient in 5.

[snick25 384]

I think that we should be happy that we're even getting varied landscapes; at least, I think that's what I read. Something about pre-generated regions? Who knows, maybe in Solo-Mode we can regenerate a bunch of regions until we find the perfect one.

Oh yes, of course! How blind of us potential customers not to realize how lucky we are that Maxis decided the new game would have any landscape variety at all!

You know, I also think we should be happy that we're even getting 4 sq. km cities instead of 1. Hell, let's just be celebrating that we got any room to build a city at all! Let's also be thankful that Maxis had the foresight to make each micro-city separated from each other, across vast distances of no-man's land, so that all those people playing multiplayer out there (and of course, EVERYBODY wants to play multiplayer!) don't run into each other. And, while we're at it, let's thank Maxis for laying down all the roads, railroads, and waterways connecting each micro-city, as we obviously are too dumb to do that ourselves!

Let's be happy about every single fact that comes out about the new game, and when others dare to criticize it, let's try to find some redundant silver-lining! Thanks Maxis, for everything!

[ThePear 0]

I'd say GodMode Terraforming isn't going in due to the focus on regional multiplayer, where someone could in theory just smooth out water to get at a resource, cut paths through mountains for the resources, and the like. It may also be something where being as the regions are all connected any huge terraforming can and would possibly affect a neighboring city's. I mean it'd kinda suck someone is have a good time terraforming their area to what they like, then your side just gets wrecked from what they did. Anything you planned or possibly even built is destroyed from terrain changes.

It's not to say terraforming won't be in, but it'll be in on the mayor's tools scale and from what it's said is 'civil engineering'. One can hope that could mean Sims acually perform the duties as a job to move the earth, yet I'd hold my breathe on that one.

It's also not to say that eventually once the game is released that a more classic single-player regional play will become available with the classic tools. I'd also hope that it'd be done for free as well.

[The_City_Builder 299]

I think that we should be happy that we're even getting varied landscapes; at least, I think that's what I read. Something about pre-generated regions? Who knows, maybe in Solo-Mode we can regenerate a bunch of regions until we find the perfect one.

Oh yes, of course! How blind of us potential customers not to realize how lucky we are that Maxis decided the new game would have any landscape variety at all!

You know, I also think we should be happy that we're even getting 4 sq. km cities instead of 1. Hell, let's just be celebrating that we got any room to build a city at all! Let's also be thankful that Maxis had the foresight to make each micro-city separated from each other, across vast distances of no-man's land, so that all those people playing multiplayer out there (and of course, EVERYBODY wants to play multiplayer!) don't run into each other. And, while we're at it, let's thank Maxis for laying down all the roads, railroads, and waterways connecting each micro-city, as we obviously are too dumb to do that ourselves!

Let's be happy about every single fact that comes out about the new game, and when others dare to criticize it, let's try to find some redundant silver-lining! Thanks Maxis, for everything!

Someone can't accept change. Don't like what you see? Don't buy it and don't complain about it, like SO many people are doing. It's starting to piss me off. What good is complaining?! Maxis can't change it because EA is using them like dogs on leashes.

Sorry the game isn't to your exact specifications.

  Edited July 29, 2012 by The_City_Builder  

[aparrot7 82]

I think that we should be happy that we're even getting varied landscapes; at least, I think that's what I read. Something about pre-generated regions? Who knows, maybe in Solo-Mode we can regenerate a bunch of regions until we find the perfect one.

Oh yes, of course! How blind of us potential customers not to realize how lucky we are that Maxis decided the new game would have any landscape variety at all!

You know, I also think we should be happy that we're even getting 4 sq. km cities instead of 1. Hell, let's just be celebrating that we got any room to build a city at all! Let's also be thankful that Maxis had the foresight to make each micro-city separated from each other, across vast distances of no-man's land, so that all those people playing multiplayer out there (and of course, EVERYBODY wants to play multiplayer!) don't run into each other. And, while we're at it, let's thank Maxis for laying down all the roads, railroads, and waterways connecting each micro-city, as we obviously are too dumb to do that ourselves!

Let's be happy about every single fact that comes out about the new game, and when others dare to criticize it, let's try to find some redundant silver-lining! Thanks Maxis, for everything!

Someone can't accept change. Don't like what you see? Don't buy it and don't complain about it, like SO many people are doing. It's starting to piss me off. What good is complaining?! Maxis can't change it because EA is using them like dogs on leashes.

Sorry the game isn't to your exact specifications.

Thankyou! Its annoying to hear all this whining and complaining. I know the game has drawbacks, and I'm upset too, but there is plenty to love about the game.

[jontheactor 2]

I think that we should be happy that we're even getting varied landscapes; at least, I think that's what I read. Something about pre-generated regions? Who knows, maybe in Solo-Mode we can regenerate a bunch of regions until we find the perfect one.

Oh yes, of course! How blind of us potential customers not to realize how lucky we are that Maxis decided the new game would have any landscape variety at all!

You know, I also think we should be happy that we're even getting 4 sq. km cities instead of 1. Hell, let's just be celebrating that we got any room to build a city at all! Let's also be thankful that Maxis had the foresight to make each micro-city separated from each other, across vast distances of no-man's land, so that all those people playing multiplayer out there (and of course, EVERYBODY wants to play multiplayer!) don't run into each other. And, while we're at it, let's thank Maxis for laying down all the roads, railroads, and waterways connecting each micro-city, as we obviously are too dumb to do that ourselves!

Let's be happy about every single fact that comes out about the new game, and when others dare to criticize it, let's try to find some redundant silver-lining! Thanks Maxis, for everything!

Thank you snick25. I am thankful that Maxis isn't completely dead. I am thankful for a new SimCity. I am THANKFUL for whatever we will get in this release. 10 years. 10 YEARS PEOPLE since SC4!!! We are spoiled with all of the mods, and choices for city simulation. Want to play on a fixed grid system? Start up SC4. Want to have resources and "tokens"? Play CitiesXL.

Let's wait for the game to release before we start casting stones. I will play the crap out of this game, and I will LOVE IT! We few, we proud, we lucky SimCity fans should bow to Maxis and everything they are doing. I thought the genre was dead. I played SC4 for years before I knew what a mod was. Now I can't live without them. How many of you are still waiting for a "Seasons" type of expansion for The Sims 3, but play it anyway? If you have given up on the series, then, by all means, don't buy it. Forsake SimCity forever. But please, stop complaining.

I vote for a "complaints" section to be added to the forum. It should be pinned, "hot" topiced, and then when you complain about something, it doesn't post. Just sends you an email from Maxis that reads "shut up"

But seriously, a complaints section would be cool.

You nay-sayers make me sad.

Love what you have, and be thankful for what you get.

P.S. Sorry, I just love SimCity so much.

[aparrot7 82]

I think that we should be happy that we're even getting varied landscapes; at least, I think that's what I read. Something about pre-generated regions? Who knows, maybe in Solo-Mode we can regenerate a bunch of regions until we find the perfect one.

Oh yes, of course! How blind of us potential customers not to realize how lucky we are that Maxis decided the new game would have any landscape variety at all!

You know, I also think we should be happy that we're even getting 4 sq. km cities instead of 1. Hell, let's just be celebrating that we got any room to build a city at all! Let's also be thankful that Maxis had the foresight to make each micro-city separated from each other, across vast distances of no-man's land, so that all those people playing multiplayer out there (and of course, EVERYBODY wants to play multiplayer!) don't run into each other. And, while we're at it, let's thank Maxis for laying down all the roads, railroads, and waterways connecting each micro-city, as we obviously are too dumb to do that ourselves!

Let's be happy about every single fact that comes out about the new game, and when others dare to criticize it, let's try to find some redundant silver-lining! Thanks Maxis, for everything!

Thank you snick25. I am thankful that Maxis isn't completely dead. I am thankful for a new SimCity. I am THANKFUL for whatever we will get in this release. 10 years. 10 YEARS PEOPLE since SC4!!! We are spoiled with all of the mods, and choices for city simulation. Want to play on a fixed grid system? Start up SC4. Want to have resources and "tokens"? Play CitiesXL.

Let's wait for the game to release before we start casting stones. I will play the crap out of this game, and I will LOVE IT! We few, we proud, we lucky SimCity fans should bow to Maxis and everything they are doing. I thought the genre was dead. I played SC4 for years before I knew what a mod was. Now I can't live without them. How many of you are still waiting for a "Seasons" type of expansion for The Sims 3, but play it anyway? If you have given up on the series, then, by all means, don't buy it. Forsake SimCity forever. But please, stop complaining.

I vote for a "complaints" section to be added to the forum. It should be pinned, "hot" topiced, and then when you complain about something, it doesn't post. Just sends you an email from Maxis that reads "shut up"

But seriously, a complaints section would be cool.

You nay-sayers make me sad.

Love what you have, and be thankful for what you get.

P.S. Sorry, I just love SimCity so much.

+1

[cirugo 1,889]

I think that we should be happy that we're even getting varied landscapes; at least, I think that's what I read. Something about pre-generated regions? Who knows, maybe in Solo-Mode we can regenerate a bunch of regions until we find the perfect one.

Oh yes, of course! How blind of us potential customers not to realize how lucky we are that Maxis decided the new game would have any landscape variety at all!

You know, I also think we should be happy that we're even getting 4 sq. km cities instead of 1. Hell, let's just be celebrating that we got any room to build a city at all! Let's also be thankful that Maxis had the foresight to make each micro-city separated from each other, across vast distances of no-man's land, so that all those people playing multiplayer out there (and of course, EVERYBODY wants to play multiplayer!) don't run into each other. And, while we're at it, let's thank Maxis for laying down all the roads, railroads, and waterways connecting each micro-city, as we obviously are too dumb to do that ourselves!

Let's be happy about every single fact that comes out about the new game, and when others dare to criticize it, let's try to find some redundant silver-lining! Thanks Maxis, for everything!

Thank you snick25. I am thankful that Maxis isn't completely dead. I am thankful for a new SimCity. I am THANKFUL for whatever we will get in this release. 10 years. 10 YEARS PEOPLE since SC4!!! We are spoiled with all of the mods, and choices for city simulation. Want to play on a fixed grid system? Start up SC4. Want to have resources and "tokens"? Play CitiesXL.

Let's wait for the game to release before we start casting stones. I will play the crap out of this game, and I will LOVE IT! We few, we proud, we lucky SimCity fans should bow to Maxis and everything they are doing. I thought the genre was dead. I played SC4 for years before I knew what a mod was. Now I can't live without them. How many of you are still waiting for a "Seasons" type of expansion for The Sims 3, but play it anyway? If you have given up on the series, then, by all means, don't buy it. Forsake SimCity forever. But please, stop complaining.

I vote for a "complaints" section to be added to the forum. It should be pinned, "hot" topiced, and then when you complain about something, it doesn't post. Just sends you an email from Maxis that reads "shut up"

But seriously, a complaints section would be cool.

You nay-sayers make me sad.

Love what you have, and be thankful for what you get.

P.S. Sorry, I just love SimCity so much.

be thankful?? they're not giving us charity you know...

I'll show my thanks by purchasing their product if they make something I want to buy...

[Mark Waybill 242]

Regions could be terraformed prior to alloting player slots within them. Case closed. There is no MP argument for not having terraforming. In sc4 one had to terraform before building if one didn't want problematic edge adjusting difficulties. I imagine they could easily allow us to landscape our regions and then invite friends to build on them.

[Helevitia 38]

Hey everyone. I'm usually the guy that sits quietly behind my computer and reads all of the threads of people freaking out. I laugh to myself because it's usually about nothing significant. The game comes out and then most people like it and the complainers get less and less as bugs get fixed, features get added, etc...

Sadly, I am the complainer today. One of the best games in history is being dumbed down for maximum financial gain. How sad the world has come to when corporations are just robot overlords of the employees to simply make lots of money. The passion is gone. Sure, you can tell that the developers are excited about the engine. It's a really nice engine and has lots of potential.

But seriously? No terraforming? WTF!? I keep hoping I wake up from my nightmare. I play CitiesXL just to pass the time, but sometimes it drives me insane because it's the same maps. After hearing there is no terraforming, it will get boring very quickly. I really hope EA is reading these threads because I will wait until the reviews come out and won't spend a dime on this game if it sucks. At the end of the day, it's just game and since I'm older, I have a lot more patience than I used to have, so I can go to my grave knowing I already played the best versions of the game.

I can't help but mention the other big problem, which is, everything in the cloud. EA will start to lose money and drop this game like a bad habit. What a shame. I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted you to pay for extra content. They have to support the servers somehow.

And last, no single player? wow...

I will continue to watch like everyon else, but it doesn't look good.

[Mark Waybill 242]

I would have bought it if they had random terrain generation, but I agree with the above post that having the same maps just gets boring.

[Nevets13 27]

Hate to be a cynic, but another reason I can see no terraforming is EA sees a market for selling map packs DLC. If people can terraform, why would anyone be interested with a map pack? But because people will get bored with the set maps they give us a launch, some will be sure to buy up more maps.

[aparrot7 82]

Hey everyone. I'm usually the guy that sits quietly behind my computer and reads all of the threads of people freaking out. I laugh to myself because it's usually about nothing significant. The game comes out and then most people like it and the complainers get less and less as bugs get fixed, features get added, etc...

Sadly, I am the complainer today. One of the best games in history is being dumbed down for maximum financial gain. How sad the world has come to when corporations are just robot overlords of the employees to simply make lots of money. The passion is gone. Sure, you can tell that the developers are excited about the engine. It's a really nice engine and has lots of potential.

But seriously? No terraforming? WTF!? I keep hoping I wake up from my nightmare. I play CitiesXL just to pass the time, but sometimes it drives me insane because it's the same maps. After hearing there is no terraforming, it will get boring very quickly. I really hope EA is reading these threads because I will wait until the reviews come out and won't spend a dime on this game if it sucks. At the end of the day, it's just game and since I'm older, I have a lot more patience than I used to have, so I can go to my grave knowing I already played the best versions of the game.

I can't help but mention the other big problem, which is, everything in the cloud. EA will start to lose money and drop this game like a bad habit. What a shame. I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted you to pay for extra content. They have to support the servers somehow.

And last, no single player? wow...

I will continue to watch like everyon else, but it doesn't look good.

Yes, its a shame to see terraforming go, but think of the alternative. In Cities XL, your not given large scale terraforming, but you are given an amazing map- that has its own water color, climate, plants and shrubs, and ground textures. It allows you to recreate a city in a dessert, tropical island, wild west, icy mountains, or in a grassy field. In SimCity, terraforming allowed your own mountians and terrain, but shrubs and bushes, climate, watercolor, and ground textures were generally all the same- green grassy lands, with oak forests, and light blue water. And i don't know about you, but those CXL maps last along time. I've only gone through about 5 after playing the game for 2 years. If Maxis made maps- I'm sure they will look much better than terraformed maps, just due to the fact that they are professionally made, and may include those aspects such as climate, water color, textures, etc.

Online play & the cloud is actually something that I really like. Its much more convenient. But- I always have that lingering thought in the back of my head "Servers down", or when EA turns them off for good- because it costs too much to maintain.

And Single player is in the game- but your still online. You can just lock the region, play by yourself- although you still will be included into the leaderboards [which I don't care much about]. They also said you have the ability to invite a friend later if you want to.

[Helevitia 38]

Hey everyone. I'm usually the guy that sits quietly behind my computer and reads all of the threads of people freaking out. I laugh to myself because it's usually about nothing significant. The game comes out and then most people like it and the complainers get less and less as bugs get fixed, features get added, etc...

Sadly, I am the complainer today. One of the best games in history is being dumbed down for maximum financial gain. How sad the world has come to when corporations are just robot overlords of the employees to simply make lots of money. The passion is gone. Sure, you can tell that the developers are excited about the engine. It's a really nice engine and has lots of potential.

But seriously? No terraforming? WTF!? I keep hoping I wake up from my nightmare. I play CitiesXL just to pass the time, but sometimes it drives me insane because it's the same maps. After hearing there is no terraforming, it will get boring very quickly. I really hope EA is reading these threads because I will wait until the reviews come out and won't spend a dime on this game if it sucks. At the end of the day, it's just game and since I'm older, I have a lot more patience than I used to have, so I can go to my grave knowing I already played the best versions of the game.

I can't help but mention the other big problem, which is, everything in the cloud. EA will start to lose money and drop this game like a bad habit. What a shame. I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted you to pay for extra content. They have to support the servers somehow.

And last, no single player? wow...

I will continue to watch like everyon else, but it doesn't look good.

Yes, its a shame to see terraforming go, but think of the alternative. In Cities XL, your not given large scale terraforming, but you are given an amazing map- that has its own water color, climate, plants and shrubs, and ground textures. It allows you to recreate a city in a dessert, tropical island, wild west, icy mountains, or in a grassy field. In SimCity, terraforming allowed your own mountians and terrain, but shrubs and bushes, climate, watercolor, and ground textures were generally all the same- green grassy lands, with oak forests, and light blue water. And i don't know about you, but those CXL maps last along time. I've only gone through about 5 after playing the game for 2 years. If Maxis made maps- I'm sure they will look much better than terraformed maps, just due to the fact that they are professionally made, and may include those aspects such as climate, water color, textures, etc.

Online play & the cloud is actually something that I really like. Its much more convenient. But- I always have that lingering thought in the back of my head "Servers down", or when EA turns them off for good- because it costs too much to maintain.

And Single player is in the game- but your still online. You can just lock the region, play by yourself- although you still will be included into the leaderboards [which I don't care much about]. They also said you have the ability to invite a friend later if you want to.

I honestly thought you were being sarcastic at first when you said, Cities XL "gives you an amazing map". The problem is, terraforming is just plain fun! That's what games are supposed to be about, right? FUN! No terraforming takes some of the fun away. One time I made a triple decker highway in Simcity. They ran on top of each other on the side a cliff. Why did I do this? Becasue I could! Because I was given the freedom to do as I please. I like to just sit and come up with crazy ideas with the landscape. So not having terraforming takes at least %30 of the fun out of the game for me. 30%!

And see, even you have concerns about the servers disappearing. EA is not above turning servers off. They have done it with other games. I refuse to install Origin. I didn't buy Mass Effect 3 because of this bloatware & Spyware(Origin). EA is jsut pushing everything to the limit to see how much the consumer will take before backing out. Well, I'm backing out. Screw them! I actually considered installing origin just for Simcity, but it's starting to become not worth it.

OK, when I say single player, I mean no internet connection where I can sit in my baement with the lights out with lots of alcohol, in my underwear, OCD'ing on Simcity. Being sarcastic I don't think my wife and kid would like to see my like that

The only possible saving grace would be they allow offline mode and terraforming at a later date. A promise wouldn't be good enough though. I'd have to see it with my own eyes. I don't see this happening since I think they need the servers to do some of the simulation and they set up the engine in a way where terraforming would break other parts of the game.