Zoning Improvements underway following beta feedback

[mapboy 106]

Good to see they're addressing this, but I still wished they'd revert to the zoning shown in the gameplay video, or even to how it was shown in the glassbox previews where you could determine the depth of the plot.

[l_rubbo 34]

Awesome. This gives me great hope. Keep going Maxis!

[Charizard 284]

Wow I'm surprised they actually listened and fixed that. At least it won't be as hard now to make grid-style cities without large gaps in the middle of city blocks. I just want them to fix the city sizes, allow terraforming, and allow cities to be next to eachother in the region and I'll be satisfied. This can easily be implemented in the single-player mode. There is hope since they did fix this zoning problem.

[Catchin22 299]

Uh, this doesn't really fix the issue? Okay now I can see depth but how does that help post zoning? If I zone and go to lay road behind the zone how do I see the depth of the already zoned area?

[macvirt 361]

Uh, this doesn't really fix the issue? Okay now I can see depth but how does that help post zoning? If I zone and go to lay road behind the zone how do I see the depth of the already zoned area?

We'll have to wait whether it is a mere visual approach fix, or whether it actually focuses on the root issues.

[Hoipus 292]

I never really delved that far into the data layers, was there an option to show zones without being in the zoning panel?

[guitarmatt99 27]

I tweeted Ocean about this a few days a go and he said many people didnt like it, including me, and he said they would probably change it and i'm so glad they are.

edit: just watched that video and I still prefer how it was in the old gameplay video!

this?

or that?

In my opinion it just looks more interesting.

[jcarlilesiu 37]

Wow I'm surprised they actually listened and fixed that. At least it won't be as hard now to make grid-style cities without large gaps in the middle of city blocks. I just want them to fix the city sizes, allow terraforming, and allow cities to be next to eachother in the region and I'll be satisfied. This can easily be implemented in the single-player mode. There is hope since they did fix this zoning problem.

I agree, those few changes would make my list nearly complete.

With a couple of expansion packs... BAM! no complaints from me.

Keep it up Maxis!

[zuesian 4]

I'm really glad they are listening, maybe they will listen to more of the complaints? Either way I am still very undecided on this game.

[Ocram's Razr 963]

What would be really good would be if they could modify the original alpha zoning so that we can not only see the full size of the zones but also chose how far back they extend so we can get sprawling mansions or pencil towers at the two extremes.

--Ocram

[ItsShane 18]

Really, really happy about this. Very helpful, great feature.

[Dewm 177]

What would be really good would be if they could modify the original alpha zoning so that we can not only see the full size of the zones but also chose how far back they extend so we can get sprawling mansions or pencil towers at the two extremes.

--Ocram

This would be good!

[fiver 306]

You know, if they now kind of promise to return to what they advertised in their previews, that's not really like an "improvement", don't you think?

[commanderkai 38]

I honestly like the improvement they're making for the zoning. It looks pretty awesome.

[mapboy 106]

You know, if they now kind of promise to return to what they advertised in their previews, that's not really like an "improvement", don't you think?

It's not like the previews though. I've read that the reason they switched from that is because the corners glitched with that system.

[Xenocity 343]

Good this will make it easier to place roads and zones.

[Don Bananos 28]

What would be really good would be if they could modify the original alpha zoning so that we can not only see the full size of the zones but also chose how far back they extend so we can get sprawling mansions or pencil towers at the two extremes.

--Ocram

Absolutely, it should be possible to make the lots like this if you want to:

Nobody needs a squared garden, they could just make code it so a fence would follow the lot minus fence width, and not in the front.

I would do it like that, or at least give the possibility

[guitarmatt99 27]

I've read on Dan's twitter that they are doing different shades of green/blue to show what density can grow in that zone.

[Nique 291]

This is a huge boost. Next i want be able to take control of the density and also the depth of the zone.

[Conny 7]

As I mentioned in my beta feedback before I dont like the zoning very much. I miss the control a of debth and hight which is essential in modern city planing. I also miss the abilty of creating blocks filled with wall2wall buildings. I'd love to see a more procedural way of filling zones, as seen here:

 

 

I found out about this by stumbeling over Train Fever today, which uses a similar way in creating a dynamic city (note: this is a pre-alpah version):

 

 

EDIT: This shows it even better:

 

[Sunfighter 186]

Im curious about the decision to change the zoning in the first place? was it a mechnical engine reason or something? If it aint broke dont fix it seems to come to mind to me. Sucks to think that there is wasted DEV time on this not only to change it, but to either revert the change, or to expand on the change to make it resonable again.

[nhgriffith 179]

It's not like the previews though. I've read that the reason they switched from that is because the corners glitched with that system.

Im curious about the decision to change the zoning in the first place? was it a mechnical engine reason or something? If it aint broke dont fix it seems to come to mind to me. Sucks to think that there is wasted DEV time on this not only to change it, but to either revert the change, or to expand on the change to make it resonable again.

Sounds like it was broke.

[ZiZiL 7]

This was in FQA for the new beta which will be released in Feb 16th. Seems like they have listened the users.

 

 

Is this the same experience as before?

We have implemented changes based on user feedback from our first Closed Beta. Players who participated in the first Closed Beta will notice improvements in the game when they use the zoning and road tools, alongside the hundreds of bug-fixes as well.