Will you buy Simcity 2013?

[Zpike 79]

Har! Had to laugh at the option for only buying if Maxis removes the online only feature.

Every single person that checked that box is still going to buy the game and Maxis is not going to remove online only. Well, there may be some that hold out for "honor" or something.

I also predict that the game will be a huge best seller with a huge following. They will add features in the next release with mods in mind and they will have a Sims like exchange for mods to the game in the future.

[Eshy 2]

I'm going to buy it from this point i think they might listen to us and they might have some tricks up there shirt but not right away im listen to some player reviews first. After it comes out

[acr11thcav 4]

Here are my concerns. I love to build a city and I am not that interested in play the build process. Give me unlimited funds and buildings and let me build it the way I want to as I want to. I'm a single player and hate online games and this comes from all of the other problems of playing this type of game with others, Viruses and sabatoge. I do not see the possibility for others to create and add to the game as with Sim City 4 so this make me reluctant. After the disaster of the last Sim City game where they limited the possibilities and the same for the other rival type games, all I am seeing is another one of those games just more up tech'd. I would hope that the building of a region in land forms with the capabilities of putting in rivers or streams and ponds, putting in mountaines or hills and etc would be better and not require downloading someone elses program and a million of dependency programs to make it work. I don't see that capability here. I also do not see the capability to grow style of buildings from a p[articular region type to develop over time. This would be a great option if one wanted it. I just think of all the advancements that have been started through sites as Simtropolis, PEG, SC4Devotion and others that this game would incorporate these notions and build them into the main game and didn't with this one. I also feel I need to scold Simtropolis on during there interview with the makers on why they allowed them to beat around the bush on not answering questions directly or showing more of the capabilities of the game in response to those questions. It makes me cautious when it seems that a question is being avoided when not answered directly. Like the last game, I do not see myself buying this game until full production and only if it is going to make a Advanced Sim City 4 or the next stage upgrade to Sim City 4 rather than coming out with another game that does nothing more than the first Sim City game.

[Spinmaster 75]

If not for the online-only requirement, 100% yes.

Because of the online-only requirement, 100% no.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

I still have not changed my mind enough to say that my choice will be "only at a discount." If I cannot legally buy the game at a good discount, I simply will not play the game and will not feel in the least bit tempted to play, especially since I have no Real Life close friends who care about it.

--Ocram

[Metalpuritan 161]

As to the comparison to The Sims game and if I like that then I will like Sim City, I hate The Sims, I have a hard enough time trying to take care of myself in reality that I don't have to worry about some sim's life as well. I could really care less if some digital entity is hungry, for real? Hungry? Need to take a bath? Are you serious?

Now comparing Sim City to Sim City. No terraforming? Always Online? Less world creation options and less building varieties? Yeah, I will pass on this until they can get back to what makes Sim City Sim City.

Some have said that modding it will not be possible or constricted. This makes the new Sim City the most unapealing game coming out in the next year or so to me.

Per my understanding, this new game couldn't be farther from what we got now in Sim City 4. I will just stay with that until kingdom come. Besides I hate what EA has become, I no longer support anything they do until they can return to what made them great in the first place. EA to me is the big box mart of the video game industry. It has roots in sound business practices that appeal to botht he company's best intrest and the interests of the consumers, but has gotten so far away from that that thier reason for existing is now perverted into nothing but a money grab. People fall for it though so whatever... Not me in any case.

[MegaCitySim 68]

You're right the new game couldn't be farther from the former Simcities.

I'd like to add this thought..I noted this frequently said idea, that even core fans complain and say they hate the new direction 'they will still buy the game anyway'. I find that thinking kinda weird...and unjustified. I mean if people find something so not fun, of course they won't spend money or time on it? There's a huge difference between strong reaction and positive excitement I think? Well I for one mean what I say, if the game doesn't have my idea of fun factors, I'll just ask and give feedback, and if my wishes don't come true, I move on! I won't buy a recently reformed game just to try it, especially if it's a rent-a-game kinda scheme. I'm not even excited enough to find out where the beta sign up is, so why would I buy? Just saying...

[jdenm8 362]

that even core fans complain and say they hate the new direction 'they will still buy the game anyway'. I find that thinking kinda weird...and unjustified.

That's just endemic of the Video Gaming Community as a whole. I've seen it everywhere to be honest, people just don't want to miss out on those experiences the games provide.

For the record, I will not be buying the game unless the modding community shifts wholesale, which probably won't happen for a fair while, if ever.

[Jayded1 26]

I might consider buying this new Simcity at gog.com (Good Old Games) in around 2025 for $5.99 once all the online nonsense has been patched out

[Jim14409 448]

My mind is the same, I will NOT buy SimCity 2013 or whatever they are calling it. At this time there is no true sequel to the Sim City that came out in 2003 or the game it has evolved into with the help of talented fans. What has happened is that another game has merely applied the name of a popular game (SC4) to a knock-off (SC2013) in a marketing ploy.

I'm not buying because It is a different game and not to my liking according to what has been revealed. SC2013 should rely on its own merits instead of trying to ride on the shirttails of SC4.

[CaptCity 4,915]

Nothing wrong with trying new things. First impressions or expectations may not always be accurate or the most important once something new is tried - you never know. Myself, it's not really a question of what SimCity has or does not have compared to other games, but is it something I can enjoy on it's own merit?

[mr woof 4]

I've been playing Sim City since my DOS days. I then (shamefully haha) owned the Sim City CD game (simcity + videos! who remembers this?), on to the super nintendo Sim City (still love this one so much), SC2k, 3k, the special/unlimited versions of both, and of course SC4 + expansions. Having seen the evolution of this game over many years, I'm sad to see the pile of poo its shaping up to be. Sure, the glassbox is boasting in depth simulation, but when my city is the size of a fishbowl, with features missing that have been core to Sim City for over 15 years... this isn't Sim City anymore. It becomes Cityville something that they've watered down so much, it doesn't even remotely resemble the original product. I had believed that the franchise died back after SC4, and now I see I was right.

I might pick up this game, but only after it hits $10, which, judging by the "features", shouldn't take longer than 2 or 3 months. I predict this'll crash faster than a new MMORPG goes F2P.

[Urban Cartographer 601]

mr woof, I share your pain. I have been a long time SimCity player since the original 1989 version (note that I was born a year before that). It is upsetting that the upcoming SimCity game is being gutted. SimCity Social should only be for social gamers, while the upcoming SimCity game should be for SC4 fans, with a 100% offline single player mode, large-scale terraforming, larger city sizes, and many other popular features.

[The_City_Builder 299]

I voted "only if they remove the map size constraint".

Complaining about the Online-only component is silly; you're browsing the internet to get on this website, which is online...why does connecting to the internet while playing a game "scare" you?

[JaceTwice 115]

I voted "only if they remove the map size constraint".

Complaining about the Online-only component is silly; you're browsing the internet to get on this website, which is online...why does connecting to the internet while playing a game "scare" you?

As far as we know the game requires a constant internet connection. Other games that have used this have the tendency to boot players out when their internet hiccups. In general the systems aren't very fun. Though the design lead for this game seem to be hinting that they're trying to remedy this. She's being very vague about it though.

Otherwise online only seems justified to me since it's an actual game mechanic rather than some draconian DRM scheme. And because of that I've switched from "I'm maybe buying this when it's on sale for $30" to "I'll see how the reviews are, but I'm optimistic."

[~Dee~ 215]

I voted "only if they remove the map size constraint".

Complaining about the Online-only component is silly; you're browsing the internet to get on this website, which is online...why does connecting to the internet while playing a game "scare" you?

Are you being serious?

Of course I'm online, that isn't the point, the point is that I have no choice in the matter, I'm forced to play it the way EA/Maxis want's me to.

I like options, if I want to play off line I like to have that option.

Server based only games are just to restrictive, you can't even save your game on your PC.

I'm not buying a game what will cost me $90 just so I can play it on EA servers and no other way.

Besides, my internet is slow, capped and very expansive and I can't afford to waste my allotet amount on a game.

I'm not 'scared' being online, I just object being forced on to it. That's the difference.

[Hamish 1,370]

Lets remember to keep any online discussion in the online only thread. Thanks

[SirLegoZach 17]

Will buy, but not immediately.

[WarhawkJAH 11]

Har! Had to laugh at the option for only buying if Maxis removes the online only feature.

Every single person that checked that box is still going to buy the game and Maxis is not going to remove online only. Well, there may be some that hold out for "honor" or something.

I also predict that the game will be a huge best seller with a huge following. They will add features in the next release with mods in mind and they will have a Sims like exchange for mods to the game in the future.

They won't remove it at or before release but I think it will die eventually but the game will live on in single player.. My prediction is that it ends up being like the first Cities XL. Online play was supposed a big part fo the game, and like SC 2013 it was very much an MMO. It didn't take very long for the multiplayer aspect to die due to lack of poplularity and a patched was released that made the game only single player.

Yes I will be buying it. I don't like the online only part either but it's not enough to keep me from buying the game. For the people who would buy on the condition of the removal, they might buy eventually but not at launch.

[peterkl 3]

I have discovered a 10% discount is offered in origin (HK). Seemed the pre-order figures are not too good

=]

Deluxe $495 -> $445.5

Limited Edition $340 -> $306

US$ 1 = HK$ 7.76

[Mystrelia 57]

Har! Had to laugh at the option for only buying if Maxis removes the online only feature.

Every single person that checked that box is still going to buy the game and Maxis is not going to remove online only. Well, there may be some that hold out for "honor" or something.

I've no problem with a possible new gameplay style, in fact parts of this new SC game look very enticing. What I do have a problem with is required internet access just to be able to play, plus the game saves not being stored on my computer. I know companies are pushing everyone to rely on "cloud" storage but I just don't buy into it. Internet access is not guaranteed for anyone, especially those of us who live in remote areas where our service can be spotty. Also, what if I had a portable computer with it installed and decided to take said computer on a vacation and wanted to play? The likelihood of that for me is pretty slim but it's a way of life for some people.

As has been mentioned before me, EA has a habit of yanking service from its games. This has been going on for nearly a decade. As soon as something isn't profitable they pull the plug. I am hoping at that point they would issue a patch to allow the game to save to a computer as well as not require internet access on start-up. If so I would definitely be interested in trying this.

I know many SC4 players anxiously snagged copies of SimCity: Societies when it was released and look at how that went. I decided to wait and see what happened and eventually picked up a brand new copy for $10 because after everything I'd read that was what I was willing to pay to try it. I enjoy that game very much but don't play it as often as other city building games because I can't terraform any of the maps and space is so limited that I run out of room way before I run out of the city I wanted to build. I love being able to customize regions in SC4 with plenty of large maps. Most of my cities will never fill a map because of the terrain features but if I decide I want to smooth out a hill and zone it I can. If I decide I want one or two mainly flat maps for large cities I can have those as well.

I've been playing SimCity since SC2000 hit the bargain bin (that was the point at which I got a computer that could run such things) and although I will take extended breaks from playing I always go back in the end. I've enjoyed the franchise for many years but I also recognize when it may well be time to get off the bus and just be content with what I already have.

  Edited December 9, 2012 by CaptCity  
Edited due to quoted post being edited.

[Morbx 16]

There are things that I don't like about the new SimCity, but I've truly been waiting half my life for a new one, and I could not stand knowing that somewhere a sequel exists. Not buying it would be crazy. I'm sure that most people feel the same way. I'm confident that this game will replace SC4 for me - at least for a period of time.

We - the SimCity community - are being held up on the little features of the game that might be leaving or being modified. These are little things that we loved (Terraforming and subways, to name a few). Those are the small parts of the game. But no other game offers the same core simulation aspect that SimCity does. And now it's being expanded on and revolutionized with the Glass box engine, and people are really saying that they won't buy it? They won't even give it a chance? I find that hard to believe. It might not be the same game as SC4, but just because it is different doesn't mean it will be worse. Yeah, I'm not in love with EA either, I don't think that this will go down in history as one of the greatest games ever, but I believe that it will at least on the same level, or close to, that of SimCity 4 (Which isn't very hard to do when you're a sequel to a 10-year-old game).

Yes, I will buy the game.

[snick25 384]

Yes, I suppose I am mistaken. Indeed, map size, terraforming options, inter-regional transport, subways, highways, tunnels, agriculture, etc. are all little features that have no big impact whatsoever on gameplay.

But wait.

All of those features do help contribute to the building of a realistic city. Not having any of them, or having severe limitations restricting them, would make this game not much of a "city"-builder at all. Since I want to be able to at least create an actual city with the $60+ this game would cost me, and the removal/restriction of these features would hinder or inhibit my ability to do so, I don't think I want to buy this game, regardless of what the name is or how long we've been waiting for it.

I guess I must be crazy.

[crowcreek 2]

Simtropolis has given us great things through the STEX. These should be incorporated in any new SimCity game. If not, it should be possible to do so yourself. If not it's not interesting to me. From what we're used to now it will be a boring game with too few buildings and other possible city building stuff that we know from Simtropolis. And I want to be able to play on my own just like SC4 and not online...

[Morbx 16]

Yes, I suppose I am mistaken. Indeed, map size, terraforming options, inter-regional transport, subways, highways, tunnels, agriculture, etc. are all little features that have no big impact whatsoever on gameplay.

But wait.

All of those features do help contribute to the building of a realistic city. Not having any of them, or having severe limitations restricting them, would make this game not much of a "city"-builder at all. Since I want to be able to at least create an actual city with the $60+ this game would cost me, and the removal/restriction of these features would hinder or inhibit my ability to do so, I don't think I want to buy this game, regardless of what the name is or how long we've been waiting for it.

I guess I must be crazy.

I'm trying to make the point that it's still a game and its still SimCity without those things.... It's just not as good.

[noahclem 262]

Probably would never buy it. 2kmx2km tiles would be fine if you could build them contiguously and I could get over the online only limitation if there could somehow be a guarantee there would always be a server. Considering SC4 is my primary hobby and how much hobbies can cost I can't complain about the cost. Even the horribly cartoon-ish graphics could, in a best case scenario, someday be overcome by quality custom content--though for an idea of just how big of a step down SCnext's graphics are compare a modern girafe or CP tree to those in the avenue median from the last set of pictures. Even if all these things managed to turn out for the best, and even though glassbox has very cool features, this game really wouldn't be a true successor to the SimCity series because of the economic, interactive, and mission-based requirements of the game. For some people that might be great but if I wanted to play The Sims 3 i would have bought that game.

[Ion_Cannon 677]

There are things that I don't like about the new SimCity, but I've truly been waiting half my life for a new one, and I could not stand knowing that somewhere a sequel exists. Not buying it would be crazy. I'm sure that most people feel the same way. I'm confident that this game will replace SC4 for me - at least for a period of time.

We - the SimCity community - are being held up on the little features of the game that might be leaving or being modified. These are little things that we loved (Terraforming and subways, to name a few). Those are the small parts of the game. But no other game offers the same core simulation aspect that SimCity does. And now it's being expanded on and revolutionized with the Glass box engine, and people are really saying that they won't buy it? They won't even give it a chance? I find that hard to believe. It might not be the same game as SC4, but just because it is different doesn't mean it will be worse. Yeah, I'm not in love with EA either, I don't think that this will go down in history as one of the greatest games ever, but I believe that it will at least on the same level, or close to, that of SimCity 4 (Which isn't very hard to do when you're a sequel to a 10-year-old game).

Yes, I will buy the game.

I don't know about everyone else but I really don't like it when people think they speak for others.

There are so many problems with this game that I could make a list several pages long if I wanted to, but I won't.

Ultimately though the main crux is the removal of freedom, there are so many things that are possible in SC4 (That were also possible in the base game) that are simply impossible to change or don't exist in the new simcity game. To me that isn't progress, it isn't moving forward, it's just worse. And if the new product is worse, what possible reason could there be to spend money on it?

[reemi 5]

I will buy if I can play without installing Origin.

Otherwise, I'm not going to buy it...

[monsterjamp 42]

I think the city limit is only for online and you can play offline only, so please buy people.

[snick25 384]

I think the city limit is only for online and you can play offline only, so please buy people.

And what fantasy world did that tidbit come from?