EA canvasing player feedback on offline mode and content for future expansion packs

the guys stating they are ok without offline mode are kidding right? You know one of the most fun things in SC is to destoy it with disasters completely when its not doing what you wanted and then just reload it. The cloud ruined that completely! And as for the crash save feature. Word has a backup system for documents, i'm sure that can also be used in games and afaik some actually have it like Black&White2 actually, autosave in the background every 2 mins.

And lastly, good that they finally do something but.. I dont think this is what tipped them of. EVER comment or picture posted on FB has tleast 1 person say "BIGGER MAPS" "Lacking bigger maps" best one today: "In before comments on bigger maps!!... of $%&^! too late" They know, they just dont care, they want money.

 

If I was kidding, would I post my thoughts?

 

For lots of people, the most fun is when the disaster comes, wipes out the city and forces you to do something different with the city. Does the cloud remove the ability to restart your city after a disaster? Yes it does. There are times I wish I had that SC4 function to go back and reload - however, I don't. It forces you to be strategic in your actions. 

 

You don't think their social sites tipped them off about wanting bigger maps? Or did I misunderstand you?

 

Your last sentence is somewhat comical. EA is a business, and a for-profit one. Yes, yes they are in business to make money (like all business).

 

the guys stating they are ok without offline mode are kidding right? You know one of the most fun things in SC is to destoy it with disasters completely when its not doing what you wanted and then just reload it. The cloud ruined that completely! And as for the crash save feature. Word has a backup system for documents, i'm sure that can also be used in games and afaik some actually have it like Black&White2 actually, autosave in the background every 2 mins.

And lastly, good that they finally do something but.. I dont think this is what tipped them of. EVER comment or picture posted on FB has tleast 1 person say "BIGGER MAPS" "Lacking bigger maps" best one today: "In before comments on bigger maps!!... of $%&^! too late" They know, they just dont care, they want money.

 

If I was kidding, would I post my thoughts?

 

For lots of people, the most fun is when the disaster comes, wipes out the city and forces you to do something different with the city. Does the cloud remove the ability to restart your city after a disaster? Yes it does. There are times I wish I had that SC4 function to go back and reload - however, I don't. It forces you to be strategic in your actions. 

 

You don't think their social sites tipped them off about wanting bigger maps? Or did I misunderstand you?

 

Your last sentence is somewhat comical. EA is a business, and a for-profit one. Yes, yes they are in business to make money (like all business).

 

Indeed, wiping out the city is fun... but even SC4 had the ability of rollback, even a cheat rollback. If you wanted to burn down the city, all you had to do is plan ahead, save now, and then destroy and wreak, when you were done, you just exit without saving. THAT is called saving. Not autosave, or "cloud" saving.

 

Nope, SC4 is not really a "enforcer" in its strategy, most of the time its either money, or demand the name of the game. 

 

Bigger maps eh? DLC fo dat, EA is a business, so its a merchant, looking to make money, except that EA is the kind of merchant which looks for the easy money, and gives no thought to the client or the product.

 

One ending thought, if you like back everything that EA does, why are you defending its actions with "excuses". If you can tell me why is the sever trade bug not fixed yet, or why in the first place the maps were small, then maybe you can ask why are we discussing it in the first place.

Offline mode is a really good first step to making the game better, the second step is to increase the city size considerably. If those 2 criteria are met and they work flawlessly then I would purchase the game.

No disrespect, but this again looks like another ask for SimCity 2013 to be SC4. I agree with you on the city size thing, but couldn't disagree more on offline mode. I'm pretty happy my cities are still there when I have to restart the computer, or when the game crashes. You can see on this site how many people have lost cities in SC4.

To answer your statement, I no longer play SC4 or 3000 or 2000 because city size is too restrictive, i.e. small and 2) because it doesn't have freeflow roads like 2013. However, if EA had reintroduced SC3000 or SC4 and simply added freeform roads and huge maps I would have bought it because the graphics were good enough for me to enjoy and I don't care about 3d. SC4 as with most games is an offline mode game since it doesn't require a constant connection to the server to play it. Obviously, if a game is multiplayer then it requires a constant connection. I've played SC4 for years and never lost a city once.

Besides being more than slightly paranoid about being on-line to any outfit during sessions, I find that EA's little ploys turn me off completely.  They are acting as if we owed them something when in fact we are the customers, not the employees.  They have the same attitude that a lot of software vendors have caught from Microsoft (it must be contagious) of "If you don't like it, lump it."

 

Well, I simply vote with my cash.  I won't give them any.  As for their buggy programs, thank you but I don't want some, I've already had any.

Indeed, wiping out the city is fun... but even SC4 had the ability of rollback, even a cheat rollback. If you wanted to burn down the city, all you had to do is plan ahead, save now, and then destroy and wreak, when you were done, you just exit without saving. THAT is called saving. Not autosave, or "cloud" saving.

 

Nope, SC4 is not really a "enforcer" in its strategy, most of the time its either money, or demand the name of the game. 

 

Bigger maps eh? DLC fo dat, EA is a business, so its a merchant, looking to make money, except that EA is the kind of merchant which looks for the easy money, and gives no thought to the client or the product.

 

One ending thought, if you like back everything that EA does, why are you defending its actions with "excuses". If you can tell me why is the sever trade bug not fixed yet, or why in the first place the maps were small, then maybe you can ask why are we discussing it in the first place.

 

Hey there. Firstly, I'm not defending everything EA does. SC is pretty much the only game I play, except Mario games with my 5 year old son - we either play Super Mario World or Mario Kart some times. The reason I stand defending SC2013 is because in my opinion, its not terrible game, though it is portrayed as one. It's a fun game, with new twists on city building. 

 

I don't work for Maxis. I'm don't own shares in EA. I don't know why the maps were small. If were really serious in your inquiry, perhaps it's best to ask Dirk to have EA designers have a Q&A session (granted individuals are able to be professional and civil). 

 

Can you elaborate on trade bug? All trade I've done works.

Backups should always be local and to an external medium.  I use a free-standing HDD.

 

The "cloud" is controlled by someone else, often unknown to you.  Such trust is not in me.

Agreed. The so-called "cloud" technology was probably invented to make hackers' life easier.

 

the guys stating they are ok without offline mode are kidding right? You know one of the most fun things in SC is to destoy it with disasters completely when its not doing what you wanted and then just reload it. The cloud ruined that completely! And as for the crash save feature. Word has a backup system for documents, i'm sure that can also be used in games and afaik some actually have it like Black&White2 actually, autosave in the background every 2 mins.

And lastly, good that they finally do something but.. I dont think this is what tipped them of. EVER comment or picture posted on FB has tleast 1 person say "BIGGER MAPS" "Lacking bigger maps" best one today: "In before comments on bigger maps!!... of $%&^! too late" They know, they just dont care, they want money.

 

If I was kidding, would I post my thoughts?

 

For lots of people, the most fun is when the disaster comes, wipes out the city and forces you to do something different with the city. Does the cloud remove the ability to restart your city after a disaster? Yes it does. There are times I wish I had that SC4 function to go back and reload - however, I don't. It forces you to be strategic in your actions. 

 

You don't think their social sites tipped them off about wanting bigger maps? Or did I misunderstand you?

 

Your last sentence is somewhat comical. EA is a business, and a for-profit one. Yes, yes they are in business to make money (like all business).

 

 

So you thing always online is a good idea? A very core part of disasters in simcity that cant be undone is a good point? I give it to you in the strategic aspect, but thats not it's 1st selling point, its the freedom of creating your own world. And disasters give you that extra feeling of control: http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6298426/sim-city-mayor

I was beeing sarcastic on the FB issue, they know, and thats my point. Its thievery making a game that is supposed to be a sequal sort to speak (reboot is an excuse for a name) Where you would expect there is MORE in the game. New generations would suggest something grows into something more, not les. I don't mind the online concept, and if anything i'd be playing it... if I had the choice to play an offline version if I wished, that was more like the previous versions of the game. The game just feels too empty for me right now.

EA might be a busines but that by no means gives them the right to treat there customers like crap by endles, upon endles idea MILKING for the sake of getting revenue up. If it wasn't for the IP i'd select a differant producer. If they actually listened to customers more, the effect of increased social corporate responsibility will do that for them. I'm sure that alot more sales would have happened if they actually did start of beter and the game would not have such a bad image amongst the SC/game community. 

 

Money or not, you don't screw over your customer base, they are the reason you exist.

 

Indeed, wiping out the city is fun... but even SC4 had the ability of rollback, even a cheat rollback. If you wanted to burn down the city, all you had to do is plan ahead, save now, and then destroy and wreak, when you were done, you just exit without saving. THAT is called saving. Not autosave, or "cloud" saving.

 

Nope, SC4 is not really a "enforcer" in its strategy, most of the time its either money, or demand the name of the game. 

 

Bigger maps eh? DLC fo dat, EA is a business, so its a merchant, looking to make money, except that EA is the kind of merchant which looks for the easy money, and gives no thought to the client or the product.

 

One ending thought, if you like back everything that EA does, why are you defending its actions with "excuses". If you can tell me why is the sever trade bug not fixed yet, or why in the first place the maps were small, then maybe you can ask why are we discussing it in the first place.

 

Hey there. Firstly, I'm not defending everything EA does. SC is pretty much the only game I play, except Mario games with my 5 year old son - we either play Super Mario World or Mario Kart some times. The reason I stand defending SC2013 is because in my opinion, its not terrible game, though it is portrayed as one. It's a fun game, with new twists on city building. 

 

I don't work for Maxis. I'm don't own shares in EA. I don't know why the maps were small. If were really serious in your inquiry, perhaps it's best to ask Dirk to have EA designers have a Q&A session (granted individuals are able to be professional and civil). 

 

Can you elaborate on trade bug? All trade I've done works.

And yet, now they are deciding on offline.

Does that mean they are losing money? Why give the customers what they have been expecting from the beginning, based on all previous versions, if something isn't inherently wrong with this particular version of the series?

Especially given how many times they denied it could not be played offline.

Simcity, based on all previous versions (which they heavily used to market this one), was a complex sandbox game, and once everybody experienced that, how could this new version even measure up to it - considering you have no control, as a player, and you used to have it?

What player wants to pay more for less of what they had before?

What type of business model is that?

Money or not, you don't screw over your customer base, they are the reason you exist.

Exactly.

*OFF-TOPIC*

Ah, how I enjoy arguments! <3

It's quite fun, no?

 

*ON-TOPIC*

Anyway, SC2013 can never be SC4. SC4 can never be SC2013. At least, in my very own opinion. Why? I'm sure you realize that already.

M-I-C-K-E-Y

^ wat

Someone asked why.  That's why.  The Maxis studio has turned into a branch of the Mickey Mouse club.

Honestly, I  was actually thinking of Dora  more than Mickey but that suits it too.

 

Yea, you're right.

I don't think they are losing money, so much as they are possibly not selling as many of the DLC packs as they expected to, given the number of people who purchased the new SC.  Remember, the new SC was supposed to be like The Sims - they could push out DLC on a regular basis and rake in the money.

 

And yet, now they are deciding on offline.

Does that mean they are losing money? Why give the customers what they have been expecting from the beginning, based on all previous versions, if something isn't inherently wrong with this particular version of the series?

 

I would love to see Simcity having a offline mode and a classic mode,if it happens it won't hit my internet usage limit but its all a dream at the moment

What is totally laughable to me is.... Didn't we already do this when the new Sim City possibility first made the headlines... didn't we offer our thoughts and hopes about what we wanted in this new game... EA .. Maxis.. didn't you get the memo.... Information about what people want in this game has been done to death, for God's sake look around your office... somebody's got to have a copy of what fans want somewhere... Let's not turn this into another endless list of "I want this" and I want that.   When clearly the only reason why your asking is because this travesty YOU, EA, Maxis,  yourselves created is just that. And let's be honest... Does anyone think that they'll listen now...  I sincerely hope so.. but i ain't holdin' my breath.. 

*ON-TOPIC*

Anyway, SC2013 can never be SC4. SC4 can never be SC2013. At least, in my very own opinion. Why? I'm sure you realize that already.

at least they can bring some past sc feature like offline mode and bigger map (free)