SimCity is out

[sandman2575]

Just released.  Not a wargame, I know, but plenty of 'strategery' here.

Anyone take the plunge?

http://www.simcity.com/

[FlickJax]

broke at the moment :(

[Keunert]

it looks great and the Verge gave it a very good review score.

[steve58]

I was wavering about getting it, but decided not to, mostly because of the DRM.  Sounds like the launch was not smooth...

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/03/05/gamers-line-up-to-play-simcity/

This article really drove home to me that this is a game for multi-player.  And it also drove home how much players may come to depend on other players for the success of yours/their cities and how easily you can get screwed if someone up and abandons/destroys their city...

[Gusington]

Potentially atupid question...can players build cities that are not contemporary or futuristic? If I wanted to build Victorian London or gaslamp era New York, is that possible?

[Barthheart]

Potentially atupid question...can players build cities that are not contemporary or futuristic? If I wanted to build Victorian London or gaslamp era New York, is that possible?

Don't think you can Gus.... just contemporary cities.

[Barthheart]

I was wavering about getting it, but decided not to, mostly because of the DRM.  Sounds like the launch was not smooth...

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/03/05/gamers-line-up-to-play-simcity/

This article really drove home to me that this is a game for multi-player.  And it also drove home how much players may come to depend on other players for the success of yours/their cities and how easily you can get screwed if someone up and abandons/destroys their city...

The game can be played solo, on a region you set to private. It allows you to control all the cities in the region.
You are still connected to Origin though.....

[steve58]

^Thanks...still think I'm going to pass on it because of the DRM.

Here's a link to the online manual if anyone is interested:  http://www.simcity.com/en_US/manual

[PanzersEast]

The DRM has me turning away and the fact that I roughly bought DW+Expansions for the same price and cannot spend anymore money.  I have gotten to the point I will not purchase Ubisoft games or others who have DRM that punished the Paying customer..... shame because it looks well done.


PE

[DeathTouchWilly]

I pre-ordered Sim City and am anxiously waiting to get home from work to give it a try. I'm not thrilled about Origin either but I've played the Sim City series too long not to take the plunge.

If you're interested I'll be sure to put some thoughts together to give you an idea of what the game is like through a "wargamer's" lense.

Did anyone actually buy the game on the forums though? The game is supposed to be highly collaborative and I'm looking for a few people to build something awesome with.

[Barthheart]

It would be great to hear your thoughts on the game.

I'm trying, and failing  :P, to not buy it at full price. It looks really good and I too am too invested in the SimCity line to be stopped by the DRM..... much as I gave into the Steam requirement for CIV...
I know... I'm weak.....  :-\

[tgb]

Other than graphics and multi-player (which I have no interest in), is there a reason to get this if I still have III and IV?

[sandman2575]

^  it does sound like it adds a new dimension of modeling the behavior / actions of city inhabitants -- from one of the reviews:

'For the first time, the game does something it has long pretended to do: SimCity simulates discrete urban behavior, tracking how every person and every object interacts. "We now have every car and every person and every garbage truck and every criminal represented by an autonomous agent in the environment," says Quigley, who served as the creative and art director on the new game. "Then we give each of them simple rules about how they should behave—so a criminal goes around looking for a place to commit crime, and a policeman goes about looking for places where crimes are being committed. What you get is a city built out of the emergent interactions between all these agents."'

[DeathTouchWilly]

*Disclaimer I have not played the game yet*

To speak to the question "should you buy it if you already have III/IV?" I would say yes but with the strong caveat that this is a reboot as far as I can tell not IV with better graphics and new features. I've spent a good amount of time lurking on reddit where the fanboys are flaming each other over the merits of the new approach to Sim City - most of them played the beta extensively so I'd say the info is fairly reliable.

At any rate, notable differences that may turn you on/off to the game that I've read:


1. Smaller city sizes (encourages collaboration between territories) Note that other cities can be managed by the same player... no multiplayer necessary.
2. A "critical mass" where cities start really needing collaborative help to grow. Essentially at a certain point everything goes south because the city is trying to provide every need for its citizens in one place and in this attempt fails to satisfy any needs at all. This may be on purpose so you have to collaborate between other cities.
3. No RCI density. Now it's just RCI and no heavy or light. The density of your zone is determined by the infrastructure and availability of services. Have you ever played the "Caesar" games from way back in the day? It's a lot like that.
4. No subways - i've heard a million justifications for this but something that may piss you off.


I could go on - but these are a few. There are a lot of beta playthroughs on YouTube, they're pretty interesting to watch.

Again, if someone does break down and buy the game please hit me up for some multiplayer!

[Barthheart]

IGN has a live stream going right now. They are going to play for the next 9 hours!  :o

http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/03/01/ign-live-presents-simcity-marathon-starring-greg-miller