Massive empty space between cities?

[astondb9 7]

In almost every zoomed out picture Maxis has released it shows a sizeable gap between cities with no development.

All they've shown you can do with this space is build big builds together like power stations and airports... but if transport is predetermined.. no suburbs or buildings up to the next 'city'? Just a massive green space inbetween?

Is there anything to disprove this? If the cities are so small its just gonna end up a few skyscrapers in a field.

[Tarkus 6,932]

They've confirmed the open space between cities.

-Tarkus

[Sandis_van_Great 346]

hahaha , yup, with every news update i step back more and more from SC5

[Bepi__ 54]

Okay, wow. I read this: http://www.simcity.com/en_US/blog/article/Community-Interviews-Maxis-Part-1, and holy crap, from what is stated here, Simcity 2013 sounds, like a repeat of Societies: a disgrace to the city simulation genre. From everything I've read and seen, I am not going to buy this new game. I mean, not being able to control transportation? That's bull crap and Maxis knows it! I think that they are just trying to pull in non-experienced Simcity players who took one look at sc4 and loved it. The trailers really had me going for a while, but now after reading more about it, even the crap answers here:http://www.simcity.com/en_US/blog/article/Community-Interviews-Maxis-Part-1, I'm not falling for it! Bull crap!

[Bepi__ 54]

I don't know. I'm surly not baying 50 bucks plus tax just to play a failed attempt at making a better simcity 4! Maybe I'll wait until the price goes down or if I hear that it really is good and that Maxis and EA are really bad at answering questions and making trailers. How dumb do they think we are?!

[Selphy 69]

Okay, wow. I read this: http://www.simcity.c...ws-Maxis-Part-1, and holy crap, from what is stated here, Simcity 2013 sounds, like a repeat of Societies: a disgrace to the city simulation genre. From everything I've read and seen, I am not going to buy this new game. I mean, not being able to control transportation? That's bull crap and Maxis knows it! I think that they are just trying to pull in non-experienced Simcity players who took one look at sc4 and loved it. The trailers really had me going for a while, but now after reading more about it, even the crap answers here:http://www.simcity.c...ws-Maxis-Part-1, I'm not falling for it! Bull crap!

This is actually already being discussed in another threat but for the sake of having educated people talking about the game, I will address your concerns.

You still control transportation. Within your city you can do whatever you want. The issue that people have is the transportation links between cities. In this case, you can't choose. They are preset at the creation of the region.

For example: You have City A tucked away in a corner. It will always be connected to City B through a highway of some sort. City B connects to City C with a highway and a railroad system, you can't change that. City C is the major city and links to City D, E, and F. It will connect via highways, railroad and subway, you can't change that.

With all this in mind, if you still hate the game, so be it. But at least now you know more about the system they are building.

[Bepi__ 54]

That's what I mean. It would be ridiculous if you couldn't control your city's actual transportation, I am just against the empty spaces and how you have no control of your city's connections. Wow, now that I read what I wrote earlier, jeez I was really freaking out!

[IL. 1,043]

Simcity Societies, Cities xl, and Simcity 2013, are all crap.

Simcity 4 is the best in it's principles, it may need some additions like curving roads and stuff, and maybe a 3d camera but also keeping the current graphics, or maybe alittle better, without that stupid 3d stuff like in cities xl.

But a 3d camera and building will make making models and exporting them a pain in the ass.

[iamihop11 19]

I'm really beginning to hate this cycle of

"Oh wow, they're coming out with a new city sim."

...a few weeks later ...

"Oh, they're more concerned with trumped up graphics than actual simulation"

...a few weeks later...

"And the actual graphics look like a cartoon, anyway"

...a few weeks later ...

"I'd only have roads, highways, and bus stops?"

... a few weeks later...

"I have to have a constant internet connection and risk ruination at the hands of casual gamers and 10-year-olds?"

... the day it's released ...

"...Well, let's see what's new on the Stex. Hello, again, SC4, ol' buddy ol' pal."

This looks like it'll be the third time my little heart gets been broken.

[wafgking 22]

This has to be the worst news I have heard about this game. Its like they haven't even paid attention to the cities created by most users in SimCity 4. If I want green space in my cities I will create green space. I want full control of my cities including where and how to connect the roads thru borders in solo regions. In multiplayer mode it would make sense for majors to make a joint decision on any borders they share. Or have a region wide effort on highways or other projects of regional significance. And yes they confirmed on their website that users don't control connections between regions and there will be green space between them. I'm seriously considering not getting this game. Sadly it appears that SimCity 4 is still the best game in the genre.

[kwetzel345 101]

Yeah, same here. I'm decided to not get the anymore. And about simcity 4 being the best in the genre, well that's okay. I love the game anyways.

[maddogmark25 58]

I mentioned this in the other thread, but I guess this one is the active one, I was the one who asked the question that wound up getting posted (MKareha) and it looks like I've created quite the uproar. Very, very disappointing that it seems there is nothing we can do to fill in the open area's between towns...doesn't seem possible to create the sprawling metropolises we can do in SC4. There goes my sale, I'll be sticking with Simcity 4 instead, unless the uproar caused by this Q&A is enough to change their region design last second.

At this point, if it meant a redesign of the region philosophy to be more open-ended and realistic, I would welcome a delay.

[cirugo 1,889]

I mentioned this in the other thread, but I guess this one is the active one, I was the one who asked the question that wound up getting posted (MKareha) and it looks like I've created quite the uproar. Very, very disappointing that it seems there is nothing we can do to fill in the open area's between towns...doesn't seem possible to create the sprawling metropolises we can do in SC4. There goes my sale, I'll be sticking with Simcity 4 instead, unless the uproar caused by this Q&A is enough to change their region design last second.

At this point, if it meant a redesign of the region philosophy to be more open-ended and realistic, I would welcome a delay.

All of these limitations have been made to serve the multiplayer and always-online game models.

[maddogmark25 58]

I mentioned this in the other thread, but I guess this one is the active one, I was the one who asked the question that wound up getting posted (MKareha) and it looks like I've created quite the uproar. Very, very disappointing that it seems there is nothing we can do to fill in the open area's between towns...doesn't seem possible to create the sprawling metropolises we can do in SC4. There goes my sale, I'll be sticking with Simcity 4 instead, unless the uproar caused by this Q&A is enough to change their region design last second.

At this point, if it meant a redesign of the region philosophy to be more open-ended and realistic, I would welcome a delay.

All of these limitations have been made to serve the multiplayer and always-online game models.

Oh I completely know that. Multiplayer is the focus, and it is making the core solo game suffer in comparison. Bad business move by EA (because I can't believe Maxis really wants to do this multiplayer stuff, I have to think that EA is sticking their nose where it doesn't belong)

[cirugo 1,889]

I mentioned this in the other thread, but I guess this one is the active one, I was the one who asked the question that wound up getting posted (MKareha) and it looks like I've created quite the uproar. Very, very disappointing that it seems there is nothing we can do to fill in the open area's between towns...doesn't seem possible to create the sprawling metropolises we can do in SC4. There goes my sale, I'll be sticking with Simcity 4 instead, unless the uproar caused by this Q&A is enough to change their region design last second.

At this point, if it meant a redesign of the region philosophy to be more open-ended and realistic, I would welcome a delay.

All of these limitations have been made to serve the multiplayer and always-online game models.

Oh I completely know that. Multiplayer is the focus, and it is making the core solo game suffer in comparison. Bad business move by EA (because I can't believe Maxis really wants to do this multiplayer stuff, I have to think that EA is sticking their nose where it doesn't belong)

Cities XL redux...which I'm actually quite enjoying now that there are all kinds of mods available. Still miss the region-play and terraforming options of SimCity 4 though.

[Haljackey 17,268]

lol, you guys need to realize that this game is in development. Things can be changed, even things deemed 'final',

Perhaps this 'empty space' could be a good buffer to house some resources your city needs to use. Perhaps power or garbage?

Who knows, maybe even a park? Ever heard of the Garden City Concept? I spot some similarities.

[Selphy 69]

lol, you guys need to realize that this game is in development. Things can be changed, even things deemed 'final',

Perhaps this 'empty space' could be a good buffer to house some resources your city needs to use. Perhaps power or garbage?

Who knows, maybe even a park? Ever heard of the Garden City Concept? I spot some similarities.

This man speaks the truth.

[Rokugatsu 126]

I totally understand the empty space between the cites in multiplayer, but why the hell can't we have regions in single player like we had back in SC4?

[T Wrecks 10,209]

We have no idea whether "this man" (Haljackey) speaks the truth.

I'm not so sure about thruths of any kind, but I'm pretty darn sure about my experiences. I've been through two wannabe-SC4 successors and the entire marketing babble, and it was always the same:

They don't go out into the communities and gather ideas which then get implemented in the game. They don't invite long-standing communities to critique the game and make changes accordingly.

What they do is implement their own ideas (this is hardly surprising, I would do the same) and whatever their mother company predetermines as fundamental strategical orientation (here: go cloud, go multiplayer, go social).

Once this is fixed and determined, they go out into the communities to market their game and stir up some buzz - preferably constantly. They will also pamper the communities somewhat ("your opinion is important to us" yada yada) in an attempt to get some buy-in. And when faced with criticism, they will of course try to appease the critics, but don't be fooled into thinking that they will change any fundamental aspects of the game! All this is long since decided and determined. Communication is not the design & conception stage, communication is the marketing & selling stage.

In the forums, the result is normally like this:

Of course, the long-standing community members and longtime supporters of the franchise realise that they seem to hit a glass wall at some point: You don't get thrown out, you don'rt see open resistance, you just hit an invisible barrier, and all you do is futile and pointless. Needless to say, this creates some frustration. Imagine you see something go to hell (from your point of view), you get the pictures in perfect quality and cinerama format, presented to you with smug smiles and "Yes, we care about you", and you can't do anything but watch.

Next step is, all of a sudden the forum is full of users that have never been heard of or seen around the community, and these now tell the appalled members that have constituted this community for many years that they're basically just a bunch of narrow-minded, hysterical jackasses (sometimes dressed up more nicely, sometimes less so). This, quite logically, creates an even more "explosive" atmosphere and stronger opposition because things can get personal on both sides.

Solution: Just don't care.

They WILL make the game. They will make it the way THEY determine. You are NOT a factor in this equation. Relax. Live your life. Have a beer. Play SC4. Ignore the rest. Once the game is out, you can read some reviews or check out a demo. Whatever happens before is just a pointless huffing and puffing, a merry-go-round that spins faster and faster, but - not surprisingly - won't get you anywhere, no matter how many rounds you go on it..

[pyanodon 218]

Yeah, that is... they will make that game as they wants, and it will sell millions! most because all the migration from simcity social (it´s the FB game who have most players actually) probably 70% of them will buy the new simcity (if someone is dumb enough to play simcity social...they will fall easily in the EA´s claws). So, we "lose" mates, we, the hardcore fans will need to face a dumb forced online city simulator if we wanna play that.

[Moskva 75]

We do not lose, remember EA made a terrible mistake letting Maxis finish SC4 their way. SC4 is here to stand, not to fall. There are plenty of games that has a history of decades behind and are still played with an expanding community, i can recall OpenTTD.

[Haljackey 17,268]

Good points T Wrecks. The best any of us can do right now is remain optimistic and hope for the best. Knowing EA's track record, this is a stretch, but there is always hope.

This man speaks the truth.

Lies!

The only thing that will be true/factual is the game itself when it comes out. If it's not to our liking, perhaps we can try modifying it like SC4 or simply toss it out the window.

[Rokugatsu 126]

Yeah, that is... they will make that game as they wants, and it will sell millions! most because all the migration from simcity social (it´s the FB game who have most players actually) probably 70% of them will buy the new simcity (if someone is dumb enough to play simcity social...they will fall easily in the EA´s claws). So, we "lose" mates, we, the hardcore fans will need to face a dumb forced online city simulator if we wanna play that.

There's no way that 70% of the people that plays SCS will buy SC13. Most of those people are not really a gamers (not core or hardcore gamers). They play some simple games on FB, smartphones; some small % of them play console/PC games, so most of them probably wont even know or care that SC5 came out. They are not interested in games that much, and surely not in strategy/simulation games.

And of course Im not talking about everyone, Im sure there are many core/hardcore SCS players and they may buy SC13, but not 70%... they will be lucky if 10% of SCS players will buy it

[Odainsaker 2,134]

Haljackey tells the truth, but, he say they are lies, so he cannot be telling the truth, therefore he is lying when he says they are lies, and so he is telling the truth, in which case, they are lies...which must be the truth...so they are lies...

...truth...lies...truth...lies...truth...lies...

Error! Error!

Malfunction! Malfunction!

Sterilize! Sterilize!

...Kablooey!

  Edited July 19, 2012 by Odainsaker  

[rbchaffe 9]

Good points T Wrecks. The best any of us can do right now is remain optimistic and hope for the best. Knowing EA's track record, this is a stretch, but there is always hope.

This man speaks the truth.

Lies!

The only thing that will be true/factual is the game itself when it comes out. If it's not to our liking, perhaps we can try modifying it like SC4 or simply toss it out the window.

Are you sure "modds" will be possible to eliminate the massive empty space between cities? Only if custom regions may be uploaded to their servers, I would imagine.

[Selphy 69]

We have no idea whether "this man" (Haljackey) speaks the truth.

Good points T Wrecks. The best any of us can do right now is remain optimistic and hope for the best. Knowing EA's track record, this is a stretch, but there is always hope.

This man speaks the truth.

Lies!

The only thing that will be true/factual is the game itself when it comes out. If it's not to our liking, perhaps we can try modifying it like SC4 or simply toss it out the window.

I hope most of you guys are joking but I'll bite.

I was mainly just going with his idea of "still in development" and "things can change." Because at this point it seems everyone is dead set that what we know (which is very little for that matter) is the final game. I just wish people would take a step back and calm down because there's plenty more information to be revealed.

Until the game is shipped to stores, things can always be changed. Negativity breeds more negativity and I just want sensible, open-minded people to discuss this game with.

[wafgking 22]

I just don't get it. If SimCity Social on FB is a success, why do they need to ruin SimCity. They are morons if they think casual FB gamers will pay $80-60 for a game. They play games mostly because they are free, don't need installing and are extremely casual.

They turn their back on the community, when they don't realize had it not been for Simtropolis, SimCity 4 wouldn't be half the game it is today.

[cirugo 1,889]

I just don't get it. If SimCity Social on FB is a success, why do they need to ruin SimCity. They are morons if they think casual FB gamers will pay $80-60 for a game. They play games mostly because they are free, don't need installing and are extremely casual.

They turn their back on the community, when they don't realize had it not been for Simtropolis, SimCity 4 wouldn't be half the game it is today.

They don't care about longevity. Forced obsolescence means you'll have to buy the next version. What better way than to tie the game to a server?

[Essex 322]

People need to pop their bubble; EA doesn't care about you, EA cares about EA and that means money.

Maxis is EA, stop thinking Maxis is some child of EA that can break free from the angry parent.

The new Simcity is going to be whatever EA has invisioned it to be no matter what, refer to T Wrex's post.

The reason why Simcity is going "social" is so EA has control over YOU, YOU need their server to play their game and when they see fit (in; when they release the new version of the game and you need to pay again 80 bucks) they will shut down their server.

So yeah, EA let Maxis finish SC4 the way they wanted... it means SC4 will be here for us with us forever, sites like Simtropolis will be the server for SC4, not based on money but on passion which pretty much means this server will last forever indeed. EA knows true SC fans won't bother with SC5, so EA will go all out making it casual to make it appeal to as many people as possible.

  Edited July 20, 2012 by Essex