Asheroo

Something I stated over on the official SimCity forums which I'll state here as well... To those questioning the 2x2km maps: if you look at regional view at about 53:09 in the official video of the broadcast, I think it definitely looks 2x2 to me. What may make it look smaller is the poor city building/planning by whichever developer made it and the lots (the lot shaping seems very restricted). It's still a shame though there is no tile-to-tile connection. I can see why they did that for multiplayer but they should allow single player-ed regions to have the tile-to-tile connection. The fixed railways/highways I don't mind too much but their intersections are ugly.

You see, here's a point I made back in the Cities XL development days with Monte Cristo - listening is one thing, taking in and understanding is another, and then taking action from what you have heard is another thing far off. I believe Maxis have listened. They have acknowledged the fan sites and did acknowledge before E3 that there were some fans who were upset about the 'online only' thing, but of course they won't do anything about it.

As much as I agree with Tarkus and Haljackey, I thought I might put in my current overall opinion. Of course, nothing is final, but this is it so far: 3 - Simply because despite it being amazing, I'd really like cheats/sandbox mode. So far they have said in an interview that they were trying to find a way to include it and then on a video interview at E3 they skipped that question.

Nevermind, I just watched the reply video, the developer didn't even answer the Sandbox mode question, he just talked about how great multiplayer and connectivity is. *sigh* Obviously not allowed to talk about. Still hoping this will eventually change. @City_Builder - Seriously? Don't be so paranoid. I very much dislike EA too but worrying like that is a bit overboard. The game is an online multiplayer game. You pay the price for the game and you play it, and the game is a multiplayer game therefore you play a multiplayer game. CitiesXL was a single player game with an added optional multiplayer mode, if you paid the price, that was overly marketed.

Did anyone catch the answer to whether there will be a sandbox mode or not? (I see in the replay that the question is present in the chat - which I believe only has the answered questions.

Jacksunny: It starts at 17:00- http://e3.gamespot.com/press-conference/ea-e3/?tag=Topslot;E32012PressConferenceReplays;EaBringsDeadSpace3C

I love it! But argh!....I really really really do hope they at least implement cheats/sandbox mode. There was hope in a recent article saying they're trying to figure out how to implement it. That will almost be my make or break. Even in the interview, the developer admitted using cheats a lot. Otherwise, awesome trailer.

Well, I just took a few comparison shots in CXL2012, here they are in order of the Sim City screens from that article (http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/7117/article/first-in-game-simcity-5-screenshots/).... My conclusion: They both have their advantages and disadvtanges. However, the graphics in CXL really do pull down the performance a bit. Also, do note the vegetation in the Sim City screens. For me, the Sim City style is for me the better one, as it actually has for me quite a good balance between cartoony and realism, particularly for a city building game, and the render is done very well. I'm very happy with the screens so far. It also looks quite level with some city simulation renders I have seen over the past few years. It for me is a good mix between Sim City 4, Tycoon City: New York and Cities XL. Also, I do however think that the material/texture of the buildings hasn't been so well rendered - the bricks don't really show well and look more like plastic, but it's a small thing and may look very much better up close (or maybe closer to the release period). A few things to note about the game itself from the screens... - The lot sizes, not all buildings are on a lot, and the buildings that are on lots are on small realistic sized lots - Vegetation! - Traffic/pedestrian simulation at traffic lights looks great with the people crossing (reminds me of TC:NY - which was actually quite a good simulation despite the small city building yet good customising) - Unrealistically building smoking heavy industry everywhere will cause overly-polluted skies, but from this it looks like we will have good pollution effects, and build some dirty-atmosphered cities like Beijing and Mexico City Overall, these screens, although I admit I did have a little disappointment at first impressions, looking at them more with further depth and analysis, I actually really like it. It's making me a little more excited for the game - however I'm still awaiting further official word about cheats/sandbox (something they have said they are trying to find a way to implement) and any offline mode.

I just want to say, for today's 3D Graphics, they look pretty good. You need to remember, it's 3D graphics, and not only that, but a city building game. City building games take up a lot of memory due to the simulation of the city, development of the city and of course the detailed graphics. The graphics here certainly look more detailed. The people and cars look much less cartoony than in CXL. The grass and trees are modelled very well. The shader is quite good and the colours. This is exactly what I pictured it to be like. Looking at it over and over again, it doesn't look that cartoony. Of course it will have a taste of cartoonish-ness, it's a 3D computer game (not a render or modelling application). Some of you probably just have way high expectations. I think once we see videos and maybe play a demo/beta we can then start making some better judgements.

I'm very intrigued. Don't be, check out this link - http://www.pcgamer.c...ltiplayer-game/ Btw, also from that link, here's a good quote... Also this video interview - http://www.simprogra...city-interview/ - it further shows that there is no true solo play. @ Bourneid - Cities XL was not a completely multiplayer game, but the Planet Offer was just advertised more. It had an proper offline mode where you could build cities without any other player effecting the economy and you could trade with Omnicorp - the AI trader.

Sorry RedScope but you're incorrect. The Game Overview on the official Sim City site, and several previews, clearly state that your cities/regions will always be connected with every other players' cities and regions and your cities will be affected by the whole game's global economy - which has every single player in it. That itself is still 'multiplayer' and the game is advertised as 'multiplayer', with no mention of some sort of true solo play. Just some links... http://www.simcity.c...S/game/overview http://www.guardian....city-preview-pc http://www.1up.com/p...classic-present They have stated though that you won't always need to be online. However, you most likely, due to the nature of Origin, will need to connect when launching the game - and that will give you updates on the game's global economy.

@ BourneID - Well, you may have not read too much then. It's been stated in numerous previews (and it's even on the Game Overview page - http://www.simcity.com/en_US/game/overview) that every player's cities and regions will affect everyone else playing the game - the whole entire global economy, and that's why you need to be online.

Well I guess they do now? We'll have to just keep waiting for further news about all this. I am still hopeful they will have some kind of offline mode. But however, as it is currently from previews and what the specs currently state on the Origin product page, Sim City is 'online only'. Best to wait than assume (but of course, we all sometimes love speculation).

I'm pretty sure Maxis/EA would be straight onto that with their current 'online-only' stance.

But however, the many articles, interviews, previews and even the Game Overview page on the Sim City site and the specs on its product page show that you will always be connected and your cities/regions will always be affected. There is not one bit of information which suggests any kind of true single player where your city will not be affected by every single other city in the game's online global economy. As for banned players, where did you hear that (in a Sim City related article)? At the moment by the sounds of things, if a player is banned, then that's that for their game. Anyways, I truly am still hoping sometime soon they will add a true single player that will allow for sandbox mode/cheats. I have never liked dealing with finance in city building games.