New Expansion Pack in November - Cities of Tomorrow

[spa 970]

This is the next logical step for EA: Sim City 2013 doesn't allow you to build a realistic looking contemporary metropolis so the only thing to do is to jump forward into the unknown future.

[DmainEvent 195]

This looks really exciting! If I discover that I have enough free time on me with Organic Chemistry and Multivariable Calculus this quarter, I might just get SimCity and preorder Cities of the Future EP. The likelihood of me having enough free time is, well...

 

--Ocram

 

 

Multivariable Calculus isn't a big deal at all.  Its just single variable calculus where the other variables are considered constant while  you integrate/differentiate over the first variable.  Go to the first three classes and you should be able to get all the rest of the work done easy.  Now Organic Chemistry...

Is hard as hell.

 

But now you will one less class to worry about while you play this lousy expansion pack

 

[/My_attempt_to_make_myself_feel_smarter_by_bragging_about_how_much_I_know_about_a_class_I_got_a_B-_in]

[GeometryMath Algebra 614]

I want EA/MAXIS to release a program that lets us mod SC13 with RUL codes. And oh: "0xBADB57F1".

[Xenocity 343]

This is the next logical step for EA: Sim City 2013 doesn't allow you to build a realistic looking contemporary metropolis so the only thing to do is to jump forward into the unknown future.

To be fair no Simcity game to date has allowed us to build a realistic city without mods.

[ebalosus 19]

As for the expansion itself: Nice to have (like the road raising/lowering), but still not what I want (bigger maps)

[northfly 5]

bigger map for free! no negotiation

[SAGGG 47]

This is the next logical step for EA: Sim City 2013 doesn't allow you to build a realistic looking contemporary metropolis so the only thing to do is to jump forward into the unknown future.

[NCGAIO 562]

Until someone can actually find out why there were no bigger maps (with actual proof and not some made up horse hockey) then maybe the gloop that was the bigger map dead horse may get some peace..

 

Very simple ... just  search through the presentations of the game to the great public (GDC E3 etc. ..) and you will  see that Maxis & EA gave them exactly what they described.

 

A  "M.M.O." game save in cloud  with a simple learning curve and easy porting to run on multiple devices (Reason for limitations)

 

The exception to O.Q. (Which is already gone) no one said the game was a simulator looking for reality then those who bought the game expecting something more have failed to read and be more informed before buying.

 

 

This sounds like an expantion I'd like to buy...

 

in about 5 years of so when the price is down and i already got the things I REALLY want.

Well .. telling it to last all this, of course!

Maybe it was good time for EA try to get rid of the age restriction as a lifeline for low utilization of the service    .... maybe be reaching a larger audience of children and teenagers as they will have been doing with schools and thus keep the game out of the cut list.

 

 Who knows the next expansion is not something like Elysium film_ to settle once and for all the problem of space and traffic advantage that the space above the maps is infinite simply scroll the screen up.

 

note: Regarding a certain comparisons that are made with SC4...    seems completely unaware of the history behind the development of the simulator and its construction... so one sugestion , web now!

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Personally, I may buy the expansion pack in the long-run if it fixes the map size and other problems with the game; however, it if doesn't, than I will probably back off from buying it....

[simcopops 37]

That's funny so we can't fix the ambulances fire engines police getting stuck in traffic so we will make them fly. Waaaaheyyyyy guys what a genius idea! Seriously this has officially sealed it this game is intended for kids. Now we can have super skyscrapers and a block down the road there can be a trailer house which manages to home 50 sims. Hymmmmm

[max2 0]

bigger map for free! no negotiation

 

So does this expansion actually have bigger maps ?

 

I agree though bigger maps for free!

[Noobi-Wan 22]

bigger map for free! no negotiation

So does this expansion actually have bigger maps ?

I agree though bigger maps for free!

It doesn't mention it from what I have read.

[max2 0]

 

 

bigger map for free! no negotiation

So does this expansion actually have bigger maps ?

I agree though bigger maps for free!

It doesn't mention it from what I have read.

 

 

 

It does for me.

 

https://www.origin.com/en-us/store/buy/182095/mac-pc-download/addon/simcity-cities-of-tomorrow-limited-edition

 

It says: "In addition to expanding outward"

[eburress 267]

 

 

 

bigger map for free! no negotiation

So does this expansion actually have bigger maps ?

I agree though bigger maps for free!

It doesn't mention it from what I have read.

 

 

 

It does for me.

 

https://www.origin.com/en-us/store/buy/182095/mac-pc-download/addon/simcity-cities-of-tomorrow-limited-edition

 

It says: "In addition to expanding outward"

 

 

My interpretation was that "expanding outward" was referring to the current (poorly conceived and executed, non-working) model of sharing resources across cities.  I would be delighted...and would actually buy this...if "expanding outward" meant bigger city sizes.  

 

For what it's worth, IF bigger city sizes are part of this expansion pack, what a horrible marketing job!  If they were marketing this correctly, they should be promoting "BIGGER MAPS" as the lead new feature, not something that's just vaguely implied.  

[specializedguy 193]

For what it's worth, IF bigger city sizes are part of this expansion pack, what a horrible marketing job!  If they were marketing this correctly, they should be promoting "BIGGER MAPS" as the lead new feature, not something that's just vaguely implied.  

 

If this pack has bigger maps (the previews don't show bigger maps), then the marketing person is on the hot seat (in my opinion). 

[Noobi-Wan 22]

For what it's worth, IF bigger city sizes are part of this expansion pack, what a horrible marketing job! If they were marketing this correctly, they should be promoting "BIGGER MAPS" as the lead new feature, not something that's just vaguely implied.

If this pack has bigger maps (the previews don't show bigger maps), then the marketing person is on the hot seat (in my opinion).

Let's hope I am wrong. It happens more than my pride allows me to admit!

[reReticulated Spline 69]

Nope, no bigger maps yet. IGN's trailer specifically mentioned there are no bigger maps or offline mode part of this EX. 

 

I think we can interpret 'expanding outwards' as either: zoning more or adding modules most of which are ground level. 

[Ocram's Razr 964]

The articles on MegaTowers and the Academy look very interesting.

--Ocram

[reReticulated Spline 69]

While I expressed my disapointment with the theme of the expansion, and I still don't like it very much, I think the developers are really thinking about strategy and such and I like that. It's not a 'here's some random stuff you may want' expansion but it has a certain gameplay. 

 

City evolves slowly into a futuristic city over time due to Academy: I like.

Academies require especially high wealth workers and increase tech and land value: I like.

The Omega resource and stuff: I like.

 

I sincerly hope there are going to be more expansions with theme's I like better, as I like they way they implement it. Then again, the fact that everything in your city interacts with each other in some way in a much more direct way then other simcity games have done before, is what I like about this game so much, so I'm not that surprised they keep this up.

[SAGGG 47]

Bigger. Maps.

[Rian Gray 12]

MegaTower is something I am completely against to. We already have arcology, and EA (or Maxis) failed horribly how the city in a tower is supposed to work. The basic idea behind building an arcology is to solve the traditional urban problems, then what's the whole point of having it in the Simcity?. Who knows how the future cities will work and what kind of new problems will it have. Maxis has aways drawn the line between contemporary and futuristic, and that fine line kept the games work more realistic. I don't know how will the megatowers will work in-game, but solely floating roads itself is a complete nonsense. 

 

Going back to the real world, many skyscrapers do exceed 20 floors, and many cities are filled with buildings that are taller than 20 stories, from apartments to office buildings. I really don't understand why the new simcity doesn't have building that goes beyond 20 stories. On the other hand, there is no building that connects a skyscraper with a hovering road that completely ignores city blocks.

[Xenocity 343]

MegaTower is something I am completely against to. We already have arcology, and EA (or Maxis) failed horribly how the city in a tower is supposed to work. The basic idea behind building an arcology is to solve the traditional urban problems, then what's the whole point of having it in the Simcity?. Who knows how the future cities will work and what kind of new problems will it have. Maxis has aways drawn the line between contemporary and futuristic, and that fine line kept the games work more realistic. I don't know how will the megatowers will work in-game, but solely floating roads itself is a complete nonsense. 

 

Going back to the real world, many skyscrapers do exceed 20 floors, and many cities are filled with buildings that are taller than 20 stories, from apartments to office buildings. I really don't understand why the new simcity doesn't have building that goes beyond 20 stories. On the other hand, there is no building that connects a skyscraper with a hovering road that completely ignores city blocks.

Many cities in the world's most populated cities from NYC, London, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo etc... have skycrappers, especially the tallers ones containing  both residential and commercial zones in one building.

 

Many very tall buildings also use sky scrappers to allow people to cross between buildings at certain floors, especially hospitals with tall towers.

Some cities have miles of them to streamling car traffic by having all the pedestrian traffic above the roads.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyway

 

Singapore one the world's most populated cities (nearly 6M people on half the land of NYC [NYC has 8M people]) has a rail system which is at least 5 stories above street level that doesn't follow city streets.

They also have roads (not freeways) which run a few stories above the existing street level city roads.

 

My uncle spent two week there a few months ago and was telling me about the city's infrastructure.

 

 

Many heavily populated cities that have run out of land have three tiers of roads/rails:

 

• Underground roads and subways
• surface level/street level roads and rails
• skyways/upper levels which are a few stories above street level

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoTblcQuMB4

 

The above video is the Sega Saturn version of Simcity 2000 with the futuristic buildings.

None of them look realistic back in the 90s or today.

Despite that, this version of the game was the best version of Simcity 2000

[Rian Gray 12]

The above video is the Sega Saturn version of Simcity 2000 with the futuristic buildings.

None of them look realistic back in the 90s or today.

Despite that, this version of the game was the best version of Simcity 2000

I totally forgot about Simcity 2000 had arcology! Thanks for bringing it up again. 

 

I still have to make the point about the "floating roads" in the new expansion. I am well aware of skybridge, it is, even with the current technology, is well possible to connect two different buildings without having any columns. But the skybridges don't jump couple of blocks at once. It is usually used to connect when two or more buildings are operated or built by the same company. Quite simply, it's building's own mini-infrastructure, like elevators, working horizontally. And those skybridges usually do not interfere or benefit the city-wide population. It's up to the owner to build one, it's only used by the tenants of the building, not the entire population of the city. At least at the current point, skybridge is a skybridge, not a city infrastructure. They don't function as a terminal.

 

Singapore's example makes more sense. The city designs and takes full control of infrastructures. It doesn't necessarily have to follow Manhattan-like block styles; there are more than one ways available in civil engineering. We can always build 2 or 3 stories street roads and avenues. What I'm really asking is, is there any city that utilizes a road between the skyscrapers that connects beyond a single block? There are many Arcology designs that suggested building a skybridge-like roads that will function just like any other roads in the city. Japan has couple of examples, buildings that contain a huge hole within to let the traffic go through. Many of them are built on top of railroads, utilizing the lands around the railroad that would have end-up being wasted. Anyhow, many infrastructures, unless for aerial transports, are not built high-up. And even if it is off the ground level, it usually doesn't go right through the building itself.

[Xenocity 343]

 

The above video is the Sega Saturn version of Simcity 2000 with the futuristic buildings.

None of them look realistic back in the 90s or today.

Despite that, this version of the game was the best version of Simcity 2000

I totally forgot about Simcity 2000 had arcology! Thanks for bringing it up again. 

 

I still have to make the point about the "floating roads" in the new expansion. I am well aware of skybridge, it is, even with the current technology, is well possible to connect two different buildings without having any columns. But the skybridges don't jump couple of blocks at once. It is usually used to connect when two or more buildings are operated or built by the same company. Quite simply, it's building's own mini-infrastructure, like elevators, working horizontally. And those skybridges usually do not interfere or benefit the city-wide population. It's up to the owner to build one, it's only used by the tenants of the building, not the entire population of the city. At least at the current point, skybridge is a skybridge, not a city infrastructure. They don't function as a terminal.

 

Singapore's example makes more sense. The city designs and takes full control of infrastructures. It doesn't necessarily have to follow Manhattan-like block styles; there are more than one ways available in civil engineering. We can always build 2 or 3 stories street roads and avenues. What I'm really asking is, is there any city that utilizes a road between the skyscrapers that connects beyond a single block? There are many Arcology designs that suggested building a skybridge-like roads that will function just like any other roads in the city. Japan has couple of examples, buildings that contain a huge hole within to let the traffic go through. Many of them are built on top of railroads, utilizing the lands around the railroad that would have end-up being wasted. Anyhow, many infrastructures, unless for aerial transports, are not built high-up. And even if it is off the ground level, it usually doesn't go right through the building itself.

 

My point about Simcity 2000 was the futuristic buildings aren't realistic looking.

 

The expansion pack is set 50-70 years in the future, thus anything is possible.

 

Chicago has a elevated rails which connect skyscrappers.

I do believe the upper tier of roads in Singapore also interconnect with many skyscrappers.

 

I used Singapore as an example, because they have literally ran out of room to expand outward forcing them to build up.

There are other major cities in SE Asia facing the same issue.

 

Mexico has many cities where the main roads run under the cities in the old mine shafts and the residential streets are at surface levels

The exits take you up to the surface streets from the main roads.

 

Boston and most of the EU have buried the major freeways and highways beneath the cities to improve traffic flow.

Though it does force you to exit upward to reach the city roads.

 

Double decker bridges and roads also exist even here in the U.S.

 

With today's engineers anything is possible even more so in 50 years.

 

Maybe in 50 years the future will hit one of Maxis' versions, maybe it will be wackier, or maybe it will be disappointingly bland.

 

50 years ago it was predicted by government agencies that we would have overpopulation of the world (which isn't happening any more due to falling global birth rate), food and land shortages (not happening either), robots in every house, people easily living beyond 100 years, regular travels to the moon, deep space manned exploration and flying cars.

 

The point being, there is no reason to be bothered by a game/expansion pack set 50 years on how it looks because we don't know what the future will be in 50 years.

[Urban Cartographer 601]

There are also cities with vast underground walkways (and even underground cities) as well.

 

Toronto has the world's largest underground city.

[LivingInThePast 364]

Yeah, I think skywalks have kind of fallen out of vogue for vast underground networks. Houston in particular has dozens and dozens of blocks all linked together by an underground passageway with shops and restaurants. Theaters, malls, condominiums, office towers, hotels, etc...all very SimTower-esque, if you think about it.

[Rian Gray 12]

The point being, there is no reason to be bothered by a game/expansion pack set 50 years on how it looks because we don't know what the future will be in 50 years.

 

That's my point. We don't know what's gonna happen after 50 years from now. It's unlikely that simulations will possess any realism in it, rather idealism. I'm not saying Simcity should always aim for the realistic simulation. But having seen numerous games that tried to build its own world and failed, I can't just let them have their own way with the new expansion.

There are also cities with vast underground walkways (and even underground cities) as well.

 

Toronto has the world's largest underground city.

Completely agreed. I'd rather live with more probable feature, like developing underground urban network.

Yeah, I think skywalks have kind of fallen out of vogue for vast underground networks. Houston in particular has dozens and dozens of blocks all linked together by an underground passageway with shops and restaurants. Theaters, malls, condominiums, office towers, hotels, etc...all very SimTower-esque, if you think about it.

Precisely. 

[Noobi-Wan 22]

We are discussing cities of the future though which I think allows the developers some artistic license with floating walkways etc.

It may not be realistic by today's standards (or the laws of physics) but at least they used their imaginations and came up with an idea of what it might look like.

I personally don't object to it. I think this will look mental with a city tile fill of mega towers with inter connecting bridges going to different levels on each one.

I agree that underground connections are more realistic but you wouldn't be able to see them in game.

[Rian Gray 12]

I am not against it as esthetically. It's a question of how graphic designers want to put it, and honestly doesn't bother me at all.

 

The real question as a game should be whether the simulation is realistic. I don't care if EA or Maxis wants to put, say, alien mothership floating in the center of the city. But I do care about the mechanics, how the game will work out. Having an unrestricted theme can be a good place to start, but horribly bad place to end with. EA revealed the expansion without proper explanations, and that's usually the sign of "we have deus ex machina coming in" for EA. 

[chocolate_city 93]

I would think by now they'd know that many people are unhappy with the city map size, so a major selling point would be to plaster "NOW WITH BIGGER MAPS" all in front of this new cash cow. But I'm just not seeing anything or reading anything to that effect... To keep it secret would be stupid..