EA Suspending Marketing of SimCity

[OJsDad]

This is over on Toms Hardware.  http://www.tomshardware.com/news/EA-SimCity-Marketing-servers-problems,21441.html

With the SimCity server situation still dire, despite Maxis cutting non-essential game functions, EA's decided to put a hold on the game's marketing probably with the hope that with fewer potential customers hearing about the game, there will be fewer new players joining the game and making the situation worse.

In a letter to EA Origin LinkShare affiliates, which Polygon has managed to get its hands on, EA's stated that it's "deactivated all SimCity text links and creative," and asks its affiliates to "please remove any copy promoting SimCity from your website for the time-being."

SimCity has had so many issues with its servers that Amazon pulled the digital download from its shelves at one point. It's only recently back on sale on Amazon, with a warning to expect connectivity issues until further notice.

The entire situation is reminiscent of Blizzard's disastrous Diablo III launch, though the worst of the connectivity issues were worked out within the first three days. Despite Maxis's frantic work into fixing servers, it looks it'll still be a while before all the kinks are worked out, especially since EA's decided that getting fewer players to buy the game is the current best solution.

[Staggerwing]

Ouch.

[Longdan]

Sixteen men on a deadman's chest
YoHo!!!!! And a bottle of rum!

[TheCommandTent]

I am really glad I did not rush out and get this game.  I am sure I will get it one day but only after it is deeply discounted.

[jomni]

Yeah complain and bash all you want.  I have no problems with Sim City now after the first week fiasco.

But this is a persistent problem due to the nature of the game.  They need to continually invest in servers as users increase.  But it will bite them back once player population dwindles.  It's a problem they (EA) brought upon themselves.

[Toonces]

I'm glad I deleted my anti-DRM post in the other Sim City thread so I can bash it here instead.

There is NO reason for a mandatory "always online" DRM at this stage of the game.  There are plenty of other effective DRM schemes, and the always-online DRM is simply insulting.  I'm glad they're having trouble, and I hope there company goes broke because of it. 

>:(

[steve58]

I am really glad I did not rush out and get this game.  I am sure I will get it one day but only after it is deeply discounted.

I'm thinking the same, but I suspect that by the time its a $5 bargin bin deal, EA will have shut down the servers...and since you need to be online to even play single player...forgetta bout it  >:(

[Boggit]

Yeah complain and bash all you want.  I have no problems with Sim City now after the first week fiasco.

But this is a persistent problem due to the nature of the game.  They need to continually invest in servers as users increase.  But it will bite them back once player population dwindles.  It's a problem they (EA) brought upon themselves.

True. But not much in the way of good news for Maxis.

[Staggerwing]

^Yeah. EA will just shake it off like a grizzly bear shakes of creek water but Maxis and the Simcity name are going to get hurt in a long convalescence required kinda way.

[Gusington]

This is not good.

[Greybriar]

Why the concern for Maxis? According to MobyGames, EA bought Maxis out in 1997.

[Staggerwing]

Because EA will turn them into fish food if they don't crank out the winners. Then, no more simcities.

[Greybriar]

It's EA's fault and they'd have a hard time trying to blame it on Maxis considering what happened at launch.

[tgb]

EA doesn't need an excuse.

[LongBlade]

Disappointing. EA is supposed to know better than to let this kind of stuff happen.