Just a random question(s)......

[TheArabGuy 6]

I have been playing SimCity 4 for a couple of years now but no where near as long as many of the people on this site. I have noticed the giant amount of criticism of this new SimCity. That is why i would like to ask these question for those veterans out there who have been playing this franchise for the decades it has existed: How was the criticism for SimCity 4 like when it first came out? How would you compare the new game with the vanilla version of SimCity without it's expansion?

[Cyclone Boom 16,829]

With the new SimCity, many people have been aware of the online requirement from the outset. It's not like this has just been revealed to us at release. We have learnt (and tried) to accept this fact, and the implications it creates.

It's fair to say that so far, SimCity's release has been a severe anticlimax. The main reason is due to widespread server overload, causing connection problems for many players. As the game is so dependant on this element, it's rather unplayable without it being consistently reliable.

Of course, SC4 never encountered a problem like this. Sure, it did have its faults, but many improvements were later made in Rush Hour. Now EA / Maxis have the task of balancing server capacity to meet demand, even before bug fixing can commence. Clearly this has been underestimated.

Although they're technically part of the same series, both are vastly different games. If the server problems aren't addressed soon, the game's reputation will rapidly become depleted.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

SimCity 4 got reviews of 8 or 9/10 from most major reviewers.  As compared to 4 and 5 for the new game.  And you could actually play it as soon as you bought it.

 

SC4 was, however, criticized for stability issues and being a little difficult for the casual gamer.

 

Also, I think that comparing the new game to vanilla SimCity 4 is irrelevant.  I did not buy SC4 until years after its release, and I wouldn't play it without the Rush Hour expansion pack, the NAM, and other custom content.  I would be happy to buy the new SimCity once a few patches and updates come out for it (and the once it becomes more affordable).

[TheArabGuy 6]

I did the same as you and I have been aware of the problems and information on the game for some time now because like all of you I at some point was awaiting this game. However, I do not agree with you that the two games should not be compared; the new SimCity is the spiritual successor to SimCity 4. I honestly believe that after a year or two when all such problems are fixed the demand for the game will increase. I have heard from others that SimCity 4 when it first came out was plagued with dozens of issues, some of which were fixed by the community not the company itself. Because of this i feel that this criticism is a bit exaggerated when players have been dealt with similar situations before in previous editions of the franchise. I also feel that because of this exaggeration, the game will be unrelentingly dismissed as something it isnt or at least after a year or two wont be; this is unfortunate.  

[Nielsen 10]

I have not played SimCity but I have checked a few YouTube gameplay videos and I find it hard to compare these two games. Sim City 4 is a city simulator while SimCity appears to be a society simulator. I know this is not an answer to your question but I'd say that the old game has not received a true successor with SimCity, at least not in its vanilla state with mini tiles and simplified region connectedness.