OneHotRod801

... Parks defines a gamer as “individuals in a broadband household who play at least one hour per month.”... That's a pretty broad definition for a 'gamer'. Yeah, and after reading the article. One could even say that all owners of smart phones and Blu-Ray devices are also gamers. Irregardless of amount of time playing or accessing a game. Just because these devices can allow access to games of some variation, therefore consumers with these devices and other electronic devices are considered gamers. - lets make vague definitions apply to all. If you have electricity flowing into your home you are a gamer!

This game reminds me of 343 industries attempt at continuing the HALO saga with the game Halo 4. They asked for gamer input on their forums, and the 343i team does have some of the Bungie staff. Even still 343i FAILED at putting out a complete game. Sure they improved the graphics, varied campaign play type. But when it came to multiplayer, forge, map sharing... 343i pushed their game was awesome and a great start to a new trilogy of Halo games. Now with hints that Microsoft will be releasing a new console at E3 2013 to compete with Sony PS4. The next two games in that trilogy, and Bungie has released their next title "Destiny", it is being advertised for x-box 360 & PS3, PS4 @ http://www.destinythegame.com/wheretobuy. this may be subject to change. This Halo 4 experience is similar to complaints read on the forum here at simtropolis.com about Sim CIty 5 (2013). EA touted a great game, released a timed beta, and failed horribly with the always online requirement. EA should have made online play optional. Then EA would just have bugs, expanding the city tile size and accept player help to expand the game further with buildings, mods. Still waiting for a extreme change, but don't expect one until after the MAC version is released, and EA continues to receive poor reviews for this game release.

first straw was always online requirement! WOW, the number of reasons continue from gaming consumers who purchased this game & played the beta, As to why I'm still waiting for EA &/or Origin to fix/update the always online concept. Not to mention the number of bugs, tile size limitation and overall city systems like (water, power, roads {or lack there-of}). Compared to older Sim Cities, i noticed that via reading these various forums, the financial system is screwy. I'll explain in short. I notice that players gear their cities to produce material, goods, etc..... creating a more micro-economic system vs the macro-economic system of collect tax and cover services with &/or without mods (with mods creates a more micro system, unless the user varies the income and cost mod files.) Although players still have the macro-economic system to deal with, it appears to be near non-existent or necessary at a certain development level. A good example of this in the real world would be communist government owned companies. As I've not played SC5 (2013) I'm uncertain if the gamer can lower the taxes on these companies to near 0% or 100% , same with residents income.

- nice screen shots!   personally not purchasing SimCity 5 (2013) until EA or Origin release a patch or fix to "always on line connection required", as i'm not always on. I understand the reason for trying to prevent piracy in this manner. But with Simtropolis user mods vs SimCity 5 compare variety of building styles and textures, not comparing the quality of picture, which game is preferred?