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I bought SimCity (2013) when it came out but haven't played in years. I had an Origin account under an email that I no longer have access to (it was through an ISP that I no longer use). I contacted EA customer support and they said my Origin account was deactivated by them due to inactivity, and that the only way to get access to it again would be to reset the password, but I can't do that because I can't log in to the email associated with it. I tried to give them as much info as I remembered about the Origin account but they would not even give me a chance to try to prove ownership of it. I was looking through my computer, and I still have the folders for Origin and SimCity. I even have the files from the original closed beta! But when I try to run the .exe it just tries to launch Origin and then I get the error: "Origin has encountered a serious problem and must close." Is there any way that I can play the game with the .exe file and get around having to log into Origin / EA app? Or has anyone had any luck trying to recover an Origin account? Any help is appreciated.

There are a lot of Civilization players on this site, and I thought I'd create a poll asking for your favorite Civ from the series. (This also includes expansions, although I didn't include them in the poll. I might add them later on.) I have played every Civ game besides Civ I, but my personal favorite is Civilization III. However, with the knew Gods and Kings expansion for Civ V, this might change. What are your thoughts?

I'm sorry if a topic like this has already been created; I couldn't find one. I have seen many topics asking if the poster's computer is capable of running the new SimCity. To simplify this matter and save people their time and effort, this topic will show you a simple and easy way to check this yourself using a nifty webpage. Here is the link to the page and how to use it: To find out if your PC can run SimCity, go to this webpage. You will need to enter information regarding your system specs (CPU and GPU), so if you don't know how to find your system specs, this is how to do it: For Windows 7/Vista: First, access the start menu. Then, click on "Computer" and then "System properties" at the top of the window. The window that opens contains basic information about your computer. From this window, copy down the name and manufacturer of the processor (for example, Intel® Core i3-2330M CPU @ 2.00GHz - manufacturer is Intel) and the amount of RAM installed in your computer (for example, 4.00 GB). You will also need your GPU, which is the central part of your graphics card. To find this info, click on "Device Manager" in the sidebar of the "Computer" window. Expand the "Display adapters" subset and double-click on the device listed. Record the name of the GPU and the manufacturer. In the case that you have an integrated graphics card, the GPU name might be generic, like Intel® HD Graphics Family, in the case of my laptop. Don't worry about this. Also be aware if your computer uses multi-GPU (two graphics cards linked together, as you will need this information. The process is very similar for Windows XP: Go to the start menu and click on "My Computer". In the "System Tasks" sidebar, click on "View system information". Similar to the "System properties" window in 7/Vista, this window displays basic system specs. Copy down the amount of RAM you have installed (for example, 2.00 GB) from this window. Now, you need to find out your CPU and GPU. To do this, click on the "Hardware" tab and then the "Device Manager" button. This opens a list of all the hardware devices installed on your computer. The two subsets you are interested in are the "Display adapters" subset and the "Processors" subset. Expand the "Display adapters" subset and double-click on the device listed - your GPU. Take note of the name of the GPU (for example, ASUS EAH6570 Series) and the manufacturer. Also be aware if you are using two graphics cards linked together (like SLI for Nvidia or CrossfireX for AMD). Next, expand the "Processors" subset. The device(s) listed is the processor, or CPU, of your computer. Don't fret if more than one are listed; they are all the same. Double-click on the processor and copy down the name (for example, Intel® Celeron® CPU E1400 @ 2.00 GHz) and the manufacturer. Whether you have Windows XP or Vista/7, you now have the information you need to find out if your PC can run SimCity, and if so, how well. For further help on identifying your RAM/CPU/GPU, check out these guides on the same website. They can probably do a better job explaining technical computer stuff than me. Also, I'm sorry that I cannot give instructions for finding this information on Macs and Windows 8, but I don't know why you would want to run a game on a potato anyway. Now you can enter the system specs into the program on this webpage and check your PC's capabilities for running SimCity. To do this, scroll down to the "Can I Run SimCity" section and click on the CPU list arrow, making sure you've selected whether you're using a desktop or laptop. If the manufacturer of your processor is Intel, select Intel, and if it is AMD, select AMD. Then, using the info you recorded, select the series model of your CPU (for example, the "Core i3" from "Intel® Core i3-2330M CPU @ 2.20GHz") and then the specific device (for example, the "2330M" from "Intel® Core i3-2330M CPU @ 2.20GHz"). Next, use the same method to enter in your GPU specs. If the name of your GPU was generic like Intel® HD Graphics Family, and you're using a laptop, make sure you've selected the "Laptop" option, which changes the possible selections and select "Intel HD Graphics Mobile". Once you have entered in all the specs, click on "Proceed". Now is the time to select whether or not your computer uses a multi-GPU graphics card. After doing so, check to make sure all the info you have entered in is correct and click "Check Specs". This webpage displays the results of the system specs check. The results are split into three sections for each of the categories you entered information for: CPU, graphics/GPU, and RAM. A red cross () indicates that the device cannot run SimCity, a gray check mark () indicates that the device can run it on low-med settings, a green check () indicates that the device can run it on med-high settings, and a gold check () indicates that the device can run it on high settings. Don't worry about the star ratings. Hope this helps! ~ Evan

Hey all. I know I haven't been very active lately - just lurking - but I need the community's help with a project for my AP Psychology class. I've been assigned to create a survey on a social media platform (and this site is the only social media-ish one I use) regarding other people's social networking and mobile device use. Given that this is a high school class, the questions are geared toward teenagers like me, but hopefully they will be somewhat relatable to other age groups. I don't know how many responses I need, but if you have the time, I'd appreciate your help. Here are the questions (I did not come up with them): 1. How much time do you spend on social networking sites a day? 2. How emotionally distracted are you when using social media? 3. How many posts do you make that you would characterize as important? 4. How many posts do others make that you would characterize as important? 5. How often do you turn off your mobile device? 6. Have you ever gone on a social networking fast? If so, for how long and why? 7. Have you ever done an activity without your cell phone? If so, how did the separation make you feel? That's it. If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them as best as I can. Thanks again. - Evan

Thanks to all who replied. Your responses will be very helpful in completing this assignment. The analysis is due tomorrow, so I won't be needing any further info. - Evan

Ah, there's the problem - I need exact values. Plus, some of the questions require an explanation unique to the individual. The poll in and of itself is not the bulk of the assignment, but we're using the results, among other information, to write a short paper on the psychological need for belonging. My teacher told us not to worry about the number of responses because the survey is only a part of the project as a whole.

Is there an option to have a poll where people can respond freely, without having to select an option from multiple choices? I was planning on making a poll, but I didn't know if that was possible.

Hey guys. I just found out about this upcoming game, and I had to make a new topic about it. The title is Civilization: Beyond Earth. It's being developed by Firaxis with many of the same people who worked on the original Alpha Centauri. Planned for release in Q3 2014, the game is meant to be a successor of sorts to Alpha Centauri, while expanding upon the ideas and engine of Civ V. Here's what co-lead designer David McDonough said about it: "The bones of the experience are very much recognisably Civ. The idea of the cities, city-base progression, leaders, the passage of time, tile-based, turn-based, building improvements, technologies. A lot of them are very familiar themes to the Civ player." The announce trailer was uploaded on April 12, and the official website has more information. Images: It seems to be very graphically-similar to Civ V, which I like. I don't know about you, but I'm really excited for this game. Knowing Firaxis and the fact that it's a Civ game, I'm confident it will be great. I've never played its space-settling predecessor, but this makes me want to give it a try. What do you guys think?

Official statement There was already a post about this in the obituaries thread, but I think it warrants its own topic because Mr. Iwata was such an influential man in the gaming industry; you'd probably be hard-pressed to find one gamer who hasn't been affected in some way by this man's work. Iwata passed away on July 11th due to a tumor in his bile duct. He had served as president of Nintendo since 2002, and during these years he introduced the Nintendo DS, the best-selling handheld console to this day, and the also highly-successful Wii, which pioneered the use of motion control in video games. Most recently, Iwata announced the company's plans to produce games for tablets and smartphones in partnership with DeNA. Alongside these accomplishments, Iwata also played a big part in the everyday goings-on of Nintendo. Stemming from his background in computer science and his experience as a programmer for HAL Laboratory, working on popular games like the original Super Smash Brothers, Earthbound, and Pokemon titles, Iwata was personally involved in the development of Nintendo's products. He became the face of the company through his involvement in Nintendo Directs (videos detailing upcoming products and news), which he helped to create, his interview series, Iwata Asks, his participation in E3 press conferences, and in other marketing and public relations roles. Fans know him for his playful and sincere personality in his appearances, and for the humor and simplicity that he instituted in Nintendo's recent presentations. From watching this year's E3 Digital Event, in which Iwata and other company leaders are turned into Muppets, you can tell that he did not take himself too seriously, and he brought this same attitude to Nintendo, a refreshing change in the often too-serious game industry. In the end, Iwata always knew that video games were about having fun, and he brought that fun into his company and into the lives of its consumers. Personally, I have Iwata to thank for countless memories in my life. I became a gamer because of the DS and the Wii, my first consoles. From the games he developed to his appearances in media, he really made being a Nintendo fan fun in the years I have been following the company's products. It's because of him that I have been introduced to so many great series. He will truly be missed. If you have your own thoughts or memories of Mr. Iwata and his contributions, feel free to share them here. "On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer." - Satoru Iwata

True, but if I remember correctly, there have been separate topics made for significant people who have died before. I thought that he might be important to enough members here to warrant a place for more discussion, but if anyone wants to move this to the obituaries, feel free to do so.

Dirk said this earlier: "Aside from the fact that as a community we must arrive at one decision on this critical issue, having to manage a duplicate theme just for square/round avatars is a drag for me."

I vote round. I think it fits better with the overall updated look of the site: the "back to top" button is round, the share to Twitter, Facebook, etc. buttons are round, the pinned and featured icons are round... you get my point. And as the Avatar, I consider myself an expert in the matter.

Yes I am, for around 12 years now. Do you have any food allergies?