Haljackey Reviews SimCity (2013)

[Haljackey 17,385]

Hi guys, I think this is worthy of a thread since this is not a professional/official review of the game, just my own thoughts. If the mods think otherwise, feel free to move it to the official reviews thread.

 

I've been waiting for a while to talk about the game, but have held back until now due to the fact that it's constantly changing. The betas were nothing compared to the full game, and as we all know the full game is littered with bugs and has major server issues.

 

Anyways, here it is. It's audio only, but I think its worth a listen.

 

It's my first time doing this sort of thing, so please forgive the 'ums' and 'ands'

 

Anyways I hope you enjoy it and take some of my points into consideration as Maxis/EA continue to salvage this situation.

[YilmasRegin 7]

Off topic

Warning: Avoid clicking on the above link from "StayPlease", spyware warning from McAfee, Norton, Avast and MSE. 

 

 

Regarding the review.

Good review, like how you not only compared it to the other games, but also tried to look at it from a "out-of-the-box" POV...

However, I do believe that what in the end made SC4 so good was the additions(RH, NAM etc) that came later.

I personally feel that too many people are looking at SimCity 2013 as a followup, rather than a standalone game. Thereby biasing their views upon it.

And yes, those servers at first was annoying, but even though you dont like the mention of it. This has become something very normal, it shouldn't be, but it is, among all online game, full or not... And I really dont like using Maxis as for the statement, simply because of their legacy.

 

Personally I rank it 7/10, simply because it is a good game, and I dont mind the DRM at all... They need a proper weapon against hackers, and this solution is as good as steam's(renowned) DRM...

[mastorofpuppetz 199]

Sorry but don't agree with you. How does looking at previous games in a series make people biased? It's common sense to use those as a yard stick and see what they can do better, they failed You cannot ignore other simcity games and ignore everything they did it doesn't work that way. FAct is this game lacks a lot of what a 10 year old game has. The lack of regional options, no terraforming, horrid tiny maps limits player creativity. Its a fishbowl. This game has many issues that have zero to do with always online, this game is a big step back and is just to limiting on the player.

 

Im glad they took out cheetah speed, if you played cheetah you'd be bored of this game in a few days due to lack of space, options.

 

Its sad as there are some great ideas here, but they are ruined by flawed limited design.

[YilmasRegin 7]

No need to be sorry, different opinions among the players is very commen...

But exactly because the games are so much not like eachother, I feel that the only way to view it, must be as a new game, and not an addition to the story...

 

And therefor, as a new game or perhaps a competitor, it does contain valid points which can become great success... I dont believe that it is a stop back, nor forward... The ups and downs are equal... If we look past the already dead horse of the servers stability...

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

^^ Then it shouldn't be called "SimCity"!

[Board_Marshal 104]

^^ Then it shouldn't be called "SimCity"!

 

I'd say SimCounty is accurate but that's so damn un-sexy.  Plus there is stuff that goes on at the county level which if not included, people would say WTF, this is SimCounty and all I do is handle a bunch of small cities.  Actually, no "Sim____" is likely going to do but the Maxis- SimCity name recognition and legacy was needed to market, advertise, and sell the game.  Only a fool wouldn't use the SimCity title and all the glorious history that comes with it.  SimCity (2013) does simulates cities but the scale just seems so inadequate to the sprawling metropoli (plural metropolis?) SC4 produces.  Maybe my generation wont ever be able to let go of the scale of SC4 and will be defacto disappointed by SC2013 regardless of the mental tricks I play on myself to accept the new scale. /sigh.

[simmerboy 19]

It's called Simcity because it's from Maxis, and it's from the same family line, it's just a new beginning!!!!!!!!!!

 

/endrant /facepalm

[Jasoncw 11,946]

If how buggy the game is is part of the score you'd also have to lower SC4's rating.

 

Frequent CTDs, wonky pathfinding that results in abandonment, the opera house bug, ordinances that don't necessarily do what you think they should, buildings with missing walls, broken I-HT (R$$$ can't actually work there).

 

Then there are other things which should have been done better, like the distribution of lot sizes, stages, and tilesets being bad, or the modding of the lots being inconsistent. 

 

 

None of this makes SC2013 a better game but it does put it in context I think.

[Board_Marshal 104]

It's called Simcity because it's from Maxis, and it's from the same family line, it's just a new beginning!!!!!!!!!!

 

/endrant /facepalm

I'm not being obtuse when I say this: I don't understand your rant.

[wags13604 11]

Where is your Ontario accent? It's barely distinguishable. You spending too much time down south. Good review. Have to agree. Disappointing release. Especially considering it's been such a childhood classic. Best we can hope for is patches.

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

The only thing I think I disagree with in this review is when it is mentioned that in SC4 the entire region wasn't influenced. I saw commuters travel through 2 cities in one of my regions and currently I have resources being shipped through multiple cities.

 

SC4 does/did have it's issues out the box like Jasoncw pointed out but it was still far more playable than what I'm seeing of SC13. The modders of this community pretty much stabilized SC4 to an extent but there are still core things that were never addressed from Maxis and so many of us feel there is still unfinished business with SC4 that was never addressed (like multi-core support and more stability). This is one of the reasons I think many of us always looked forward to a successor or at least minor improvements that can more than be done.

[syszone 2]

frankly speaking this simcity (they even don't dare to put version on it) is actually is an extension of simsociety... they really didn't learn from the past and had doomed to repeat it     

[Board_Marshal 104]

frankly speaking this simcity (they even don't dare to put version on it) is actually is an extension of simsociety... they really didn't learn from the past and had doomed to repeat it     

 

I liked SimCity: Societies because although it had the title "SimCity" the "Societies" did not deceive the purchaser.  True, the "SimCity" part was like a moth to the flame but after figuring out the "Societies" part actually had meaning I no longer expected it or measured it against SC4.  They shared title but not much else.  SC2013 has taken from SC4, SC: Societies, Anno, Tropico, and added some new stuff.  I can't decide if I like the Frankenstein beast they've patched together.  I take that back, I like 2013 but only in a vacuum of knowledge.  When I bring all of my experience and expectations into the mix my opinion is more mixed.

[Haljackey 17,385]

If how buggy the game is is part of the score you'd also have to lower SC4's rating.

 

Frequent CTDs, wonky pathfinding that results in abandonment, the opera house bug, ordinances that don't necessarily do what you think they should, buildings with missing walls, broken I-HT (R$$$ can't actually work there).

 

Then there are other things which should have been done better, like the distribution of lot sizes, stages, and tilesets being bad, or the modding of the lots being inconsistent. 

 

 

None of this makes SC2013 a better game but it does put it in context I think.

 

Actually I don't recall having many CTD problems with the out-of-the-box SC4/RH. I very much enjoyed vanilla SC4 and played the crap out of it for 3 years before I downloaded custom content. I still have many of my old regions intact before I joined Simtropolis and downloaded mods and whatnot.

 

Sure SC4 had its bugs, but many of them were fixed in downloadable patches just like they're doing for SC13. Still, seeing stuff like this all the time in the game just makes me yell 'oh, come on!'

 

 

 

10 years have passed, and our exceptions for quality and performance are much higher than they were in 2003. Most of SC13's bugs and server issues are inexcusable in this day and age, especially when it's developed by a company with vast resources and (presumably) enough know-how to eliminate or minimize as many bugs as possible for release.

 

 

If they fix all the bugs/glitches and server problems, I might give it a 7/10 (a point for each). In order for my rating to go any higher, they'd need to add more content like highways and larger tile sizes.

[Catchin22 299]

I would agree that a lot of the bugs are not excusable. The graphical glitches and some AI obviously need fixed. When I played Beta I was scratching my head as to why road intersections were so bad at times, I had 20 minutes of game play and it was obviously bad. I made the comment that these guys were being lazy, unprofessional and that the game was going to lack polish, and it does.

 

That said it's an awesome game, even with the glitches. They need to fix them though. I'm willing to give them time to do that. If they don't fix them 6 months out from now I may have a different view on the game.

For those saying they shouldn't have called this SimCity, you're wrong. THEY own the name THEY can do whatever they want with it. This game feels JUST like SimCity, it's exactly the feeling you want on a new SC game. Yes map sizes are limited right now (not game play) and I'm sure they are going to improve that in the future, hopefully within 6 months.

 

The MOST frustrating thing about this game is not being able to play. I paid for the game, I need to be able to play when *I* want. When I had server issues before I was put in a 20 minute waiting queue. After those issues were fixed I was able to play for 2 days or more straight with nearly zero issues. Now today I go to play and I am on a SIXTY minute waiting queue! 60!!! I thought 20 was ridiculous...

[Tito85037 2]

Something disturbs me. SimCity is obsessed with sewage.

[BravoGreenONE 120]

If how buggy the game is is part of the score you'd also have to lower SC4's rating.

Frequent CTDs, wonky pathfinding that results in abandonment, the opera house bug, ordinances that don't necessarily do what you think they should, buildings with missing walls, broken I-HT (R$$$ can't actually work there).

Then there are other things which should have been done better, like the distribution of lot sizes, stages, and tilesets being bad, or the modding of the lots being inconsistent.

None of this makes SC2013 a better game but it does put it in context I think.

Actually I don't recall having many CTD problems with the out-of-the-box SC4/RH. I very much enjoyed vanilla SC4 and played the crap out of it for 3 years before I downloaded custom content. I still have many of my old regions intact before I joined Simtropolis and downloaded mods and whatnot.

Sure SC4 had its bugs, but many of them were fixed in downloadable patches just like they're doing for SC13. Still, seeing stuff like this all the time in the game just makes me yell 'oh, come on!'

10 years have passed, and our exceptions for quality and performance are much higher than they were in 2003. Most of SC13's bugs and server issues are inexcusable in this day and age, especially when it's developed by a company with vast resources and (presumably) enough know-how to eliminate or minimize as many bugs as possible for release.

If they fix all the bugs/glitches and server problems, I might give it a 7/10 (a point for each). In order for my rating to go any higher, they'd need to add more content like highways and larger tile sizes.

Haha that sign on that picture should read "clearance 5 feet". On a sad note Bradshaws response to the critism made no mention of the city size. Its as if the servers are fixed and the major bugs are squashed its business as usual

[Board_Marshal 104]

I would agree that a lot of the bugs are not excusable. The graphical glitches and some AI obviously need fixed. When I played Beta I was scratching my head as to why road intersections were so bad at times, I had 20 minutes of game play and it was obviously bad. I made the comment that these guys were being lazy, unprofessional and that the game was going to lack polish, and it does.

 

That said it's an awesome game, even with the glitches. They need to fix them though. I'm willing to give them time to do that. If they don't fix them 6 months out from now I may have a different view on the game.

For those saying they shouldn't have called this SimCity, you're wrong. THEY own the name THEY can do whatever they want with it. This game feels JUST like SimCity, it's exactly the feeling you want on a new SC game. Yes map sizes are limited right now (not game play) and I'm sure they are going to improve that in the future, hopefully within 6 months.

 

The MOST frustrating thing about this game is not being able to play. I paid for the game, I need to be able to play when *I* want. When I had server issues before I was put in a 20 minute waiting queue. After those issues were fixed I was able to play for 2 days or more straight with nearly zero issues. Now today I go to play and I am on a SIXTY minute waiting queue! 60!!! I thought 20 was ridiculous...

 

Consider the difference between "can call it SimCity" and "should call it SimCity".  You are correct that they own it and can do whatever they want with it but the rest of us can go on hypothesizing about if they should have done what they did.

 

You say "it just feels like SimCity, that it's exactly the feeling you want on a new SC game".  So its clear you feel that way and I bet a lot of people do.  Great, then it can only improve as Maxis makes it better. 

 

However, if I may draw an analogy to beer.  If SimCity has always been a top-fermenting "Ale" type beer and the various previous versions have been a Pale Ale, a Blonde Ale, and an American Pale Ale then SimCity2013 is a bottom-fermenting pale "Lager" beer.  Sure, they're both liquids, both contain alcohol, both are "beers" but if you've been drinking a "brand" your whole life, lets call it "SimCo" brand beer and its always been an Ale then you have certain expectations about flavor, thickness, mouthfeel, etc..  If one day SimCo brand again releases Simbeer2013 and you rush out to the bar and pop the top and take a big chug but find its now a Lager and not an Ale your going to be put off by the whole thing.  Sure, some may like the much different Simbeer2013 "lager" but a whole lot of people are going to say "what the heck, I've come to rely on Simco beer being an Ale and all the things that being an Ale beer entails.  Now what am I going to do.  Although I like the Simbeer4 I've been drinking for years and years, you led me to believe I was going to be impressed but you've changed it so much that I either have to accept it despite my experiences and preferences or go back to the same old thing.  It's kind of a let down."

 

Perhaps everybody's preverbal taste buds will change to appreciate SC2013 as much as SC4 but it may be hard and it may never happen, especially if there are some fundamental differences between the two.

[MandelSoft 2,775]

A very nice and well spoken (for the lack of better wording) review. I enjoyed it and I do agree about your points. I mean, I had alot of fun with the out of the box version of SimCity 4 vanilla and actually, I've had none of the issues mentioned by Jason for two years straight. Things like CTDs actually started to occur after I installed mods.

I can imagine that it feels frustrating that you still see bugs in the game after you've pointed them out numerous of times. At those times it seems that your input is not valued...

[Simsfan0213 4]

^^ Then it shouldn't be called "SimCity"!

 

I'd say SimCounty is accurate but that's so damn un-sexy.  Plus there is stuff that goes on at the county level which if not included, people would say WTF, this is SimCounty and all I do is handle a bunch of small cities.  Actually, no "Sim____" is likely going to do but the Maxis- SimCity name recognition and legacy was needed to market, advertise, and sell the game.  Only a fool wouldn't use the SimCity title and all the glorious history that comes with it.  SimCity (2013) does simulates cities but the scale just seems so inadequate to the sprawling metropoli (plural metropolis?) SC4 produces.  Maybe my generation wont ever be able to let go of the scale of SC4 and will be defacto disappointed by SC2013 regardless of the mental tricks I play on myself to accept the new scale. /sigh.

 

 

How about Simsville?  From Ocean Quigley's youtube:

 

[Board_Marshal 104]

 

^^ Then it shouldn't be called "SimCity"!

 

I'd say SimCounty is accurate but that's so damn un-sexy.  Plus there is stuff that goes on at the county level which if not included, people would say WTF, this is SimCounty and all I do is handle a bunch of small cities.  Actually, no "Sim____" is likely going to do but the Maxis- SimCity name recognition and legacy was needed to market, advertise, and sell the game.  Only a fool wouldn't use the SimCity title and all the glorious history that comes with it.  SimCity (2013) does simulates cities but the scale just seems so inadequate to the sprawling metropoli (plural metropolis?) SC4 produces.  Maybe my generation wont ever be able to let go of the scale of SC4 and will be defacto disappointed by SC2013 regardless of the mental tricks I play on myself to accept the new scale. /sigh.

 

 

How about Simsville?  From Ocean Quigley's youtube:

 

You must be the kind of guy or gal who tells jokes with a straight face and no tone.

[Simsfan0213 4]

 

 

^^ Then it shouldn't be called "SimCity"!

 

I'd say SimCounty is accurate but that's so damn un-sexy.  Plus there is stuff that goes on at the county level which if not included, people would say WTF, this is SimCounty and all I do is handle a bunch of small cities.  Actually, no "Sim____" is likely going to do but the Maxis- SimCity name recognition and legacy was needed to market, advertise, and sell the game.  Only a fool wouldn't use the SimCity title and all the glorious history that comes with it.  SimCity (2013) does simulates cities but the scale just seems so inadequate to the sprawling metropoli (plural metropolis?) SC4 produces.  Maybe my generation wont ever be able to let go of the scale of SC4 and will be defacto disappointed by SC2013 regardless of the mental tricks I play on myself to accept the new scale. /sigh.

 

 

How about Simsville?  From Ocean Quigley's youtube:

 

You must be the kind of guy or gal who tells jokes with a straight face and no tone.

 

How'd you know? 

[Board_Marshal 104]

 

 

 

^^ Then it shouldn't be called "SimCity"!

 

I'd say SimCounty is accurate but that's so damn un-sexy.  Plus there is stuff that goes on at the county level which if not included, people would say WTF, this is SimCounty and all I do is handle a bunch of small cities.  Actually, no "Sim____" is likely going to do but the Maxis- SimCity name recognition and legacy was needed to market, advertise, and sell the game.  Only a fool wouldn't use the SimCity title and all the glorious history that comes with it.  SimCity (2013) does simulates cities but the scale just seems so inadequate to the sprawling metropoli (plural metropolis?) SC4 produces.  Maybe my generation wont ever be able to let go of the scale of SC4 and will be defacto disappointed by SC2013 regardless of the mental tricks I play on myself to accept the new scale. /sigh.

 

 

How about Simsville?  From Ocean Quigley's youtube:

 

You must be the kind of guy or gal who tells jokes with a straight face and no tone.

 

How'd you know? 

I can sense subtlety in the code.