Will you buy Simcity 2013?

[cirugo 1,889]

Oh I don't disagree with you one bit. The thing is, personally, I just don't care whether it's a losing fight or not. The alternative is just to give up and accept something that I don't want. I'll keep poking that elephant with my pin until it's dead or I am.

Edit: well email it to someone at EA then. It's very good.

Something to keep in mind though, there are groups of players out there that like the direction that Maxis is going with this latest installment (though I can only speak in anecdotes here, I actually have a group of friends that the sole reason they are buying the game is it's online multiplayer component).

I think there's room for the fresh approach of SimCity. SimCity4, CitiesXL and their respective modding communities seem like they're bearing the torch of the traditional city builder fairly well. Even more focused games like Tropico and Anno2070 still retain the spirit of the single player experience.

there is no one that has a problem with the online mulitplayer component. The problem is that's the only component. And by doing that to an IP with an established and entrenched set of fans with a lot of investment in it they are simply creating hostility and enemies from many people who would otherwise support them. Can they succeed? Probably. Should they? I definitely don't think so.

[jacksunny 741]

I actually have a group of friends that the sole reason they are buying the game is it's online multiplayer component).

Same here, and that's the main reason I'm probably going to buy it.

[g3inbloom 13]

Have been a huge fan of this series, ever since my dad bought a PC that came with SimCity 2000 and MechWarrior 2 (another series which has gone online only, with the newest one being underwhelming by the looks of the beta) and I was hooked on the game, even though I had no idea what I was doing. As I got older and wiser, the game opened up even for me. I skipped 3000, and picked up SC4. I was completely addicted to the game for several years, and still play it here and there.

When I saw the gameplay for the new game, I was excited, but after reading more about it, the more depressing it seems to get. I probably won't be buying the game, but after reading around on numerous gaming forums, even if a chunk of the hardcore fanbase of SC don't buy the game, it probably won't even put a dent into sales. People are just jumping on the hype train, and most don't understand the issues at hand.

There isn't a company I hate more than EA (Maxis deserves blame too). They've already run a couple other franchises I love into the ground.

[snick25 384]

There isn't a company I hate more than EA (Maxis deserves blame too). They've already run a couple other franchises I love into the ground.

Yep. This is what happens when a small company slowly devolves into a heartless behemoth. Their franchises devolve with them.

[LegacyID 7]

This is not what I been waiting 10 years. Plus I don't like Origin on my PC

[champloo08 16]

I'll wait a few years before I purchase it. I won't to see what the mods will do, because the tiny cities and spaces between them is whats stopping me from purchasing the game.

[Xenocity 343]

Yes I plan to pre order the PC digital download tomorrow via Amazon.

Sadly the Mac version is only available and playable through the Origin Desktop client, this forced me choose the PC version.

(You still have to log in via the game to play)

[macvirt 361]

Yeah, I kinda had hopes for a Mac version via the Mac Store which had more potential of addressing issues like remote save game and online play requirements

[thiagomoraesp 0]

I'm sure many of the people who complain about the online mode, as a child playing SC3K dreamed precisely in being able to interact with other mayors of truth in a multiplayer game and now complain on the Internet because everyone loves to complain about everything.

Having several mayors actually playing in the same region as mine is a dream I had as a child and now im happy That It Became true, and all this comes at the cost of being connected all the time but definitely do not see a problem with that, I live in Brazil, an emerging country and I have internet connection all the time, I believe that people in developed countries also have, then there is no reason for all this whining.

I already pre-purchased my copy and im very excited about this game =D

Sorry about my bad english, bye o/

[bergerrunner 41]

Its a shame that Sim City has omitted so many of the features we (or at least I) loved in Sim City 4 because the visuals from the screenshot thread look fantastic, albeit a little too shiny. For me, I'll buy this game but not now, maybe not even next year. I don't want to speak for anyone else, but I find it a little ridiculous to spend $60 on a base game plus more for the features that we're used to and feel like Sim City deserves based on Sim City 4, plus DLCs. I'll wait until a dramatic drop in price before I even think about buying it, then I'll have the conversation with myself around if the features included (in the base game plus expansions) justify the money.

For me, SC4 was one of the best and most fun $20 ive ever spent. If Sim City isn't comparable as far as features go and more expensive, then there's really no conversation

[Hoipus 292]

Its a shame that Sim City has omitted so many of the features we (or at least I) loved in Sim City 4 because the visuals from the screenshot thread look fantastic, albeit a little too shiny. For me, I'll buy this game but not now, maybe not even next year. I don't want to speak for anyone else, but I find it a little ridiculous to spend $60 on a base game plus more for the features that we're used to and feel like Sim City deserves based on Sim City 4, plus DLCs. I'll wait until a dramatic drop in price before I even think about buying it, then I'll have the conversation with myself around if the features included (in the base game plus expansions) justify the money.

For me, SC4 was one of the best and most fun $20 ive ever spent. If Sim City isn't comparable as far as features go and more expensive, then there's really no conversation

Imagine how the world would be today if more people followed this piece of sage advice:

[Xenocity 343]

Its a shame that Sim City has omitted so many of the features we (or at least I) loved in Sim City 4 because the visuals from the screenshot thread look fantastic, albeit a little too shiny. For me, I'll buy this game but not now, maybe not even next year. I don't want to speak for anyone else, but I find it a little ridiculous to spend $60 on a base game plus more for the features that we're used to and feel like Sim City deserves based on Sim City 4, plus DLCs. I'll wait until a dramatic drop in price before I even think about buying it, then I'll have the conversation with myself around if the features included (in the base game plus expansions) justify the money.

For me, SC4 was one of the best and most fun $20 ive ever spent. If Sim City isn't comparable as far as features go and more expensive, then there's really no conversation

For us who bought Simcity 4 at launch for $50 back in 2003 have no issue in buying Simcity 2013 for $60.

Simcity 2013 has more features at launch than Simcity 4 did.

Simcity 4 was originally a barebones game that took 7 years to get tons of content.

Hell we had to buy the Rush Hour expansion for $20 just to get the patches that fixed many issues.

EA then released Deluxe version along side Rush Hour expansion in 2004 for $20 as well (that was less than a year after the original launch).

Also you had many opportunities to buy Simcity 4 for less than $10 over the past few years.

[Urban Cartographer 601]

Yeah, I kinda had hopes for a Mac version via the Mac Store which had more potential of addressing issues like remote save game and online play requirements

I share your pain. You see, Firaxis was kind enough to have Apple users the choice to play Civ V legally without Steam. I will have to wait for an Apple App Store version of SC2013 (even if it takes years). It would have been a good way for SC2013 players to have a 100% offline single player mode (complete with the ability to reload previous save states and have fun with disasters (and reloading the pre-disaster city)). So sad.

[Xenocity 343]

Yeah, I kinda had hopes for a Mac version via the Mac Store which had more potential of addressing issues like remote save game and online play requirements

I share your pain. You see, Firaxis was kind enough to have Apple users the choice to play Civ V legally without Steam. I will have to wait for an Apple App Store version of SC2013 (even if it takes years). It would have been a good way for SC2013 players to have a 100% offline single player mode (complete with the ability to reload previous save states and have fun with disasters (and reloading the pre-disaster city)). So sad.

Well it went like this:

1. Apple wanted EA games on Mac.
   
2. EA told Apple, they'd only support Mac if Origin was allowed as the sole store for EA games.
   
3. EA told Apple if they said NO to Origin, EA would stop all Mac support (No more Aspry versions).
   
4. Apple said fine.
   
5. Now EA's Mac games are only sold thru Origin shop.
   

[Superbacon 380]

No.

[Urban Cartographer 601]

Yeah, I kinda had hopes for a Mac version via the Mac Store which had more potential of addressing issues like remote save game and online play requirements

I share your pain. You see, Firaxis was kind enough to have Apple users the choice to play Civ V legally without Steam. I will have to wait for an Apple App Store version of SC2013 (even if it takes years). It would have been a good way for SC2013 players to have a 100% offline single player mode (complete with the ability to reload previous save states and have fun with disasters (and reloading the pre-disaster city)). So sad.

Well it went like this:

1. Apple wanted EA games on Mac.
   
   
2. EA told Apple, they'd only support Mac if Origin was allowed as the sole store for EA games.
   
   
3. EA told Apple if they said NO to Origin, EA would stop all Mac support (No more Aspry versions).
   
   
4. Apple said fine.
   
   
5. Now EA's Mac games are only sold thru Origin shop.
   

Well then, the answer from me will have to be no, until I can play SC2013 legally with a 100% offline single player mode.

[ccecill 52]

I was optimistic at first, but...

In this interview with Telegraph, Maxis was asked how they planned to re-invent the game without upsetting hardcore gamers. They said:

"Nobody wanted a re-hashed Sim City 4."

This just isn't true. The few people who did care about the game through the 00's basically wanted sc4 with curvy roads and 3D - no mickey mouse embellishments or middle school pandering. If Maxis was coming out with that right now, we'd all approve and they know it. They're sweeping their nonchalance about pleasing the "base" under the rug. Its like those politicians who cut medicare and grin in old peoples faces.

Also, that whole "you get to micro-manage!" thing was tried with cities xl, and it was the most annoying thing ever. I dunno about you guys, but I just wanna plop and watch, plop and watch. There's a reason they call it a "sandbox" game.

That's why I won't buy it unless mods make it awesome.

[croxis 150]

I was optimistic at first, but ...

In this interview with Telegraph, Maxis was asked how they planned to re-invent the game without upsetting hardcore gamers. They said:

"Nobody wanted a re-hashed Sim City 4."

This just isn't true. The few people who did care about the game through the 00's basically wanted sc4 with curvy roads and 3D - no mickey mouse embellishments or middle school pandering. If Maxis was coming out with that right now, we'd all approve and they know it. They're sweeping their nonchalance about pleasing the "base" under the rug. Its like those politicians who cut medicare and grin in old peoples faces.

Also, that whole "you get to micro-manage!" thing was tried with cities xl, and it was the most annoying thing ever. I dunno about you guys, but I just wanna plop and watch, plop and watch. There's a reason they call it a "sandbox" game.

That's why I won't buy it unless mods make it awesome.

So am I not a hardcore sim city player? So I am not a member of this community (even as just a lurker)? Because I am one of those folks who didn't want a 3d simcity 4.5. There is a reason I don't play Call of Duity, and that is because I like my sequals to be significantly different.

[Xenocity 343]

So am I not a hardcore sim city player? So I am not a member of this community (even as just a lurker)? Because I am one of those folks who didn't want a 3d simcity 4.5. There is a reason I don't play Call of Duity, and that is because I like my sequals to be significantly different.

I agree with this post.

I do not want a 3D version of Simcity 4.5.

Simcity 4 lacks the analytic and statstical data requried to accurately build and manage a city.

I hate playing Simcity 4 sometimes because their is an issue that is hindering my city that the data isn't showing.

I cannot wait to get this new Simcity and finally be able to manage my city accurately.

[fiver 306]

I was optimistic at first, but ...

In this interview with Telegraph, Maxis was asked how they planned to re-invent the game without upsetting hardcore gamers. They said:

"Nobody wanted a re-hashed Sim City 4."

This just isn't true. The few people who did care about the game through the 00's basically wanted sc4 with curvy roads and 3D - no mickey mouse embellishments or middle school pandering. If Maxis was coming out with that right now, we'd all approve and they know it. They're sweeping their nonchalance about pleasing the "base" under the rug. Its like those politicians who cut medicare and grin in old peoples faces.

Also, that whole "you get to micro-manage!" thing was tried with cities xl, and it was the most annoying thing ever. I dunno about you guys, but I just wanna plop and watch, plop and watch. There's a reason they call it a "sandbox" game.

That's why I won't buy it unless mods make it awesome.

Very well said . I totally agree.

[ccecill 52]

So am I not a hardcore sim city player? So I am not a member of this community (even as just a lurker)? Because I am one of those folks who didn't want a 3d simcity 4.5. There is a reason I don't play Call of Duity, and that is because I like my sequals to be significantly different.

I agree with this post.

I do not want a 3D version of Simcity 4.5.

Simcity 4 lacks the analytic and statstical data requried to accurately build and manage a city.

I hate playing Simcity 4 sometimes because their is an issue that is hindering my city that the data isn't showing.

I cannot wait to get this new Simcity and finally be able to manage my city accurately.

You took my point too far. By "sc4 with 3d and curvy roads", I don't rule out, say, changing the ridiculous pathfinding engine. I'm talking about FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THE WAY THE USER INTERRACTS WITH THE GAME... like, say, making it always online.. or having those ridiculous spaces between cities in a region, or, i dunno, making the cities ten feet by ten feet - that stuff is stupid (and isn't just an "update")... It fundamentally changes the way the game is played.

People got on simcity becase they wanted to re-create new york city, tokyo, london, their hometown, etc... NOT to pretend to be a mayor, to cypher with people online, or to "make great works".. I get that they want to make money, but what they've thrown out there is just plain garbage.

[CaptCity 4,913]

Some players do feel that the simulation/management aspects of the new game (which is the emphasis) outweigh some of the appearance aspects. To use an oldie but goodie "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder'"

[Xenocity 343]

So am I not a hardcore sim city player? So I am not a member of this community (even as just a lurker)? Because I am one of those folks who didn't want a 3d simcity 4.5. There is a reason I don't play Call of Duity, and that is because I like my sequals to be significantly different.

I agree with this post.

I do not want a 3D version of Simcity 4.5.

Simcity 4 lacks the analytic and statstical data requried to accurately build and manage a city.

I hate playing Simcity 4 sometimes because their is an issue that is hindering my city that the data isn't showing.

I cannot wait to get this new Simcity and finally be able to manage my city accurately.

You took my point too far. By "sc4 with 3d and curvy roads", I don't rule out, say, changing the ridiculous pathfinding engine. I'm talking about FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THE WAY THE USER INTERRACTS WITH THE GAME... like, say, making it always online.. or having those ridiculous spaces between cities in a region, or, i dunno, making the cities ten feet by ten feet - that stuff is stupid (and isn't just an "update")... It fundamentally changes the way the game is played.

People got on simcity becase they wanted to re-create new york city, tokyo, london, their hometown, etc... NOT to pretend to be a mayor, to cypher with people online, or to "make great works".. I get that they want to make money, but what they've thrown out there is just plain garbage.

The series fundemntals are still intact for the most part.

The cities in Simcity 2013 at launch are the same size as medium cities in Simcity 4, The city sizes could be expanded in the future.

Maxis made Simcity 2013 cities and region function like they do in real life.

All Maxis did was expand the template used in Simcity 2000: Network Edition bring the long standing goal Will Wright wanted to do.

They've wanted since Simicty 2000 to have cities and players interact in real life in a Simworld.

As for your second point, people do not play Simcity to recreate realistic cities, they never have.

People buy these series to recreate real cities and to make realistic cities:

• Utopia
  
• Tropico
  
• Ceaser
  
• Anno
  
• City Life/Cities XL
  

You play Simcity to produce your dream city provided the city is not based on realism.

You do realize Simcity has been known as the kiddy city game compared to the competiton for almost 25 years?

So if you want to play a realistic city building game, Simcity is not for you.

[Hoipus 292]

As for your second point, people do not play Simcity to recreate realistic cities, they never have.

People buy these series to recreate real cities and to make realistic cities:

• Utopia
  
• Tropico
  
• Ceaser
  
• Anno
  
• City Life/Cities XL
  

You play Simcity to produce your dream city provided the city is not based on realism.

You do realize Simcity has been known as the kiddy city game compared to the competiton for almost 25 years?

So if you want to play a realistic city building game, Simcity is not for you.

I disagree with the last part of your post. A lot of those titles aren't really suitable for creating realistic cities or recreating cities either. Anno is more about trade and putting together puzzles of cities together to optimise output to support said trade.

Caesar is arguably a reasonable simulation of Roman City Building.

Tropico is more of a "let's oppress the populace for ****s and giggles while trying to convince the US that we aren't." Game. I like it, but I wouldn't say it's used to recreate realistic cities.

I have not played Utopia and so cannot say anything about it.

To argue that nobody has ever used simcity to recreate actual cities or to plan out realistic cities is just wrong, as many of the documentation (the manuals) for the games indicates that a lot of research into urban planning theory was undertook during the development of the series. The developers even bothered to provide several real world terrains for aspiring city builders to construct their cities upon.

Parts of this very site are evidence that people use this game to create realistic cities, such as the SimCity 4 forum which contains the subforums of Architecture and Urban Planning Concepts subforum, not to mention the large amounts of mods that have been created for the game to enable to create more realistic cities.

[jamn69 5]

Simcity? It's the long awaited Simsville! LOL , In all I will probably get it when it first comes out!

I am just like that. BTW Thanks for having such a great site! I love Simcity 4 and when I discovered this site, It

made my day! Now I can't wait to try out NAM! Looks awesome!

[JPV789 2]

I'm in a wait-and-see mode. I might buy it down the line especially if they resolve the online issue.

[Hellken 1,658]

I'm sure many of the people who complain about the online mode, as a child playing SC3K dreamed precisely in being able to interact with other mayors of truth in a multiplayer game and now complain on the Internet because everyone loves to complain about everything.

Having several mayors actually playing in the same region as mine is a dream I had as a child and now im happy That It Became true, and all this comes at the cost of being connected all the time but definitely do not see a problem with that, I live in Brazil, an emerging country and I have internet connection all the time, I believe that people in developed countries also have, then there is no reason for all this whining.

I already pre-purchased my copy and im very excited about this game =D

Sorry about my bad english, bye o/

No one is complaining that the game has online features. We just want online to be OPTIONAL. The worst part of always - online is the "save cap" limit.

[Urban Cartographer 601]

I do not mind online features as well. What I do mind though is that online is mandatory. I am only asking for it to be optional. I do not want online-only DRM shoved down my throat, especially with city-building games.

[Xenocity 343]

I do not mind online features as well. What I do mind though is that online is mandatory. I am only asking for it to be optional. I do not want online-only DRM shoved down my throat, especially with city-building games.

Welcome to the new world of DRM.

This is brought to you buy pirates, cheap gamers, hackers etc...

(Simcity 4 was pirated more times than it was bought)

[Hoipus 292]

Every non-multiplayer-only PC game is pirated more than it's bought. It doesn't mean that all of those pirated versions are lost sales. Studies have consistently shown that pirates are among the best customers.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2010/05/file-sharers-are-content-industrys-largest-customers/

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110727/16233815292/another-day-another-study-that-says-pirates-are-best-customers-this-time-hadopi.shtml