This game is quite difficult, a lot of planning is necessary:

[kgpurrs 107]

The learning curve on this game is quite high, I like it.  I'm finding that an enormous amount of planning is necessary before you spend your cash.  By far the most important part of any specialization and strategy is mass transit and very carefully laying out your intersections.  Quite simply, you have to get those people off the roads by any means necessary.  All those useless in the way people (kind of like real life  ) severely interrupt almost every single service and specialization.  

 

Speaking of useless, in the way people, you have to manage your population very carefully as well.  Quite literally if you zone a ton of residential, sure your population with rise and your density will increase, but all those extra people might be totally useless and just get in the way.

 

I'm really enjoying the balance of this game, it's quite a nice change of pace, I'm actually interested in my population and I'll try and find out what they are truly up to and if they are valuable or just in the way of the population that really matters for my city.  Much different culture than SimCity 4 in than just doing whatever the hell you feel like doing and not worry about consequences of those actions.  There are real consequences (good or bad) in everything you do in this game.

 

Tonight and this weekend I'm going to concentrate on not using up my land so quickly, focusing on increasing wealth, tech, education and density in small patches, and only then will I zone more.

 

I'm finding that while the game has issues, I'm still in the learning phase of this game anyway, and I'm working around those issues.  

 

P.S.  Thanks for reading, vote me up I'll try and contribute as much as I can on strategy and success, and failures, that I have along the way.

[mastorofpuppetz 199]

The learning curve on this game is quite high, I like it.  I'm finding that an enormous amount of planning is necessary before you spend your cash.  By far the most important part of any specialization and strategy is mass transit and very carefully laying out your intersections.  Quite simply, you have to get those people off the roads by any means necessary.  All those useless in the way people (kind of like real life  ) severely interrupt almost every single service and specialization.  

 

Speaking of useless, in the way people, you have to manage your population very carefully as well.  Quite literally if you zone a ton of residential, sure your population with rise and your density will increase, but all those extra people might be totally useless and just get in the way.

 

I'm really enjoying the balance of this game, it's quite a nice change of pace, I'm actually interested in my population and I'll try and find out what they are truly up to and if they are valuable or just in the way of the population that really matters for my city.  Much different culture than SimCity 4 in than just doing whatever the hell you feel like doing and not worry about consequences of those actions.  There are real consequences (good or bad) in everything you do in this game.

 

Tonight and this weekend I'm going to concentrate on not using up my land so quickly, focusing on increasing wealth, tech, education and density in small patches, and only then will I zone more.

 

I'm finding that while the game has issues, I'm still in the learning phase of this game anyway, and I'm working around those issues.  

 

P.S.  Thanks for reading, vote me up I'll try and contribute as much as I can on strategy and success, and failures, that I have along the way.

 

Speak for yourself, found the game way too easy, especially compared to SC4. The problem is in 2 hours the map is full then all you have to do is upgrade roads and balance services, easy. Never had 1 issue, found the depth and gameplay lacking in many areas. Region play is nice in theory, but with pre-set regions, it gets old fast. The only issue early on is lack of money, but that goes away quickly, then it is just a matter of upgrading services and road. 2-3 hours map is full rinse repeat on a new map, very disappointed, regret buying the game/

[jpsurratt2005 4]

I agree.  Once I was actually able to get on and move from city to city without server issues I really had a blast with multicity bus, rail and ferry use.  Just dipped into specialization with a few Culture landmarks and some mining.  Speaking of failures, I didnt check my ore deposits until it was too late.  Downtown district plopped right on top of the largest chunk. 

 

Once everyone can get online and play this game smoothly I think it will be a winner.  At 1920x1080 maxed out with the "Warmer" filter on it really makes the game look amazing. 

[kgpurrs 107]

The learning curve on this game is quite high, I like it.  I'm finding that an enormous amount of planning is necessary before you spend your cash.  By far the most important part of any specialization and strategy is mass transit and very carefully laying out your intersections.  Quite simply, you have to get those people off the roads by any means necessary.  All those useless in the way people (kind of like real life  ) severely interrupt almost every single service and specialization.  

 

Speaking of useless, in the way people, you have to manage your population very carefully as well.  Quite literally if you zone a ton of residential, sure your population with rise and your density will increase, but all those extra people might be totally useless and just get in the way.

 

I'm really enjoying the balance of this game, it's quite a nice change of pace, I'm actually interested in my population and I'll try and find out what they are truly up to and if they are valuable or just in the way of the population that really matters for my city.  Much different culture than SimCity 4 in than just doing whatever the hell you feel like doing and not worry about consequences of those actions.  There are real consequences (good or bad) in everything you do in this game.

 

Tonight and this weekend I'm going to concentrate on not using up my land so quickly, focusing on increasing wealth, tech, education and density in small patches, and only then will I zone more.

 

I'm finding that while the game has issues, I'm still in the learning phase of this game anyway, and I'm working around those issues.  

 

P.S.  Thanks for reading, vote me up I'll try and contribute as much as I can on strategy and success, and failures, that I have along the way.

 

Speak for yourself, found the game way too easy, especially compared to SC4. The problem is in 2 hours the map is full then all you have to do is upgrade roads and balance services, easy. Never had 1 issue, found the depth and gameplay lacking in many areas. Region play is nice in theory, but with pre-set regions, it gets old fast. The only issue early on is lack of money, but that goes away quickly, then it is just a matter of upgrading services and road. 2-3 hours map is full rinse repeat on a new map, very disappointed, regret buying the game/

 

Okay, please show me a screenshot of your great work.  While you are at it, please let me know how many TV's or Computers you are making and trading in the Global Market, I'd like a screenshot of that too please.  I would like another screenshot of your Trade HQ and your Industrial infrastructure.

[VikingPea 0]

I agree with thread starter. Once all the issues get ironed out I will love this game. I already enjoy the time I can spend on it

[Indiana Joe 1,751]

Every game in the SimCity series requires planning.  It's a strategy game, not some casual shooter.  It's the genre.  It's not easy to run a city in real life (however it is possible to make your city larger than 1.4 kilometers wide...)

[VikingPea 0]

Something that needs to be patched, I can't believe they thought that was a good idea lol. Just added to the server rage

[Spatzimaus 77]

The problem is in 2 hours the map is full then all you have to do is upgrade roads and balance services, easy.

 

Filling the map is where the game STARTS, just like how in many other games the game experience really only starts when you hit max level.  The initial period, when you're still just placing the basic civic buildings and zones, is just the prelude.

 

When you first fill your map, you'll have around 15000 residents in your town.  That's a small enough number that sewage outflow pipes don't ruin the environment, wind farms can supply all your power, the small clinic/fire station/police station are enough, grade schools are all you need for education, you don't need mass transit, a few water towers can supply all your needs, and your city dump doesn't need trash burners or a recycling center.  It's easy to make a nice profit at this level, and you can recover quickly from any disasters.  (Because of this, it's actually a good idea to get all of the cities in your region to this size and leave them there for a bit until things stabilize.)  If your city has any natural resources, this is a good time to stockpile them.

 

Then you start growing.  Once your high-density streets/avenues start spawning high-rise buildings, you'll get into the 50k+ range very quickly.  Suddenly, all of those things I listed aren't enough, and it takes a lot more work to keep things balanced.  Your income will drop (until you start adding the big money-maker specializations), and a disruption to your city will be harder to deal with.  Look at the threads about people complaining about a lack of water at 200k residents, or the damage done by a single natural disaster.  Keeping a city stable at 100k+ people is NOT easy.

[Trooth 22]

The guy who says he maxes everything out at two hours is either stopping at 15k to 50k and missing just about everything as far as mass transit, services, government buildings, etc, and just quitting. Post a screen shot of your great work. 

[mastorofpuppetz 199]

The problem is in 2 hours the map is full then all you have to do is upgrade roads and balance services, easy.

 

Filling the map is where the game STARTS, just like how in many other games the game experience really only starts when you hit max level.  The initial period, when you're still just placing the basic civic buildings and zones, is just the prelude.

 

When you first fill your map, you'll have around 15000 residents in your town.  That's a small enough number that sewage outflow pipes don't ruin the environment, wind farms can supply all your power, the small clinic/fire station/police station are enough, grade schools are all you need for education, you don't need mass transit, a few water towers can supply all your needs, and your city dump doesn't need trash burners or a recycling center.  It's easy to make a nice profit at this level, and you can recover quickly from any disasters.  (Because of this, it's actually a good idea to get all of the cities in your region to this size and leave them there for a bit until things stabilize.)  If your city has any natural resources, this is a good time to stockpile them.

 

Then you start growing.  Once your high-density streets/avenues start spawning high-rise buildings, you'll get into the 50k+ range very quickly.  Suddenly, all of those things I listed aren't enough, and it takes a lot more work to keep things balanced.  Your income will drop (until you start adding the big money-maker specializations), and a disruption to your city will be harder to deal with.  Look at the threads about people complaining about a lack of water at 200k residents, or the damage done by a single natural disaster.  Keeping a city stable at 100k+ people is NOT easy.

 

Cities do not exist on such small areas, its villiage size, this game it is IMPOSSIBLE to build a city, half the fun in the game is building. Also I never said the game was over, I just said the map is to small and fills up way to quickly, learn to read.

The guy who says he maxes everything out at two hours is either stopping at 15k to 50k and missing just about everything as far as mass transit, services, government buildings, etc, and just quitting. Post a screen shot of your great work. 

 

It is easy to fill the tiony maps in a couple hours, see IGN review he also said the same, thing. The maps are small, and the cities look horrid due to the big buildings next to empty space due to such limited areas and locked regions.

  Edited March 9, 2013 by CaptCity  

[mastorofpuppetz 199]

http://www.destructoid.com/review-simcity-248039.phtml

 

In this review note how he complains he ran out of space in just a couple hours, IGN also had the same issue, everyone does because the tiny space you cannot fit anything more then a small town.......YEs you can build up after, but the limited space means you go through maps way too fast, your forced to go to other maps and rinse repeat as the same thing again, the maps are crippling. To add to the issue, regions we have no control over, we are stuck with 1 ramp into the city, and zero ability to customize our own regions, they massively screwed up this game.

[GoldenShadowGS 0]

Show us your city then. Lets see how great you are at this game.

[Trooth 22]

http://www.destructoid.com/review-simcity-248039.phtml

 

In this review note how he complains he ran out of space in just a couple hours, IGN also had the same issue, everyone does because the tiny space you cannot fit anything more then a small town.......YEs you can build up after, but the limited space means you go through maps way too fast, your forced to go to other maps and rinse repeat as the same thing again, the maps are crippling. To add to the issue, regions we have no control over, we are stuck with 1 ramp into the city, and zero ability to customize our own regions, they massively screwed up this game.

No kidding. Yes you run out of space in an hour. I try to have roads laid out through city and residential and commercial and industry filled by then. That isn't the end of the game. That is just the beginning. This is a city simulator, not a city builder. You are doing it wrong.