SimCity 5

[cybrxkhan]

The game also saves your game online constantly as you play, so you can't reload an earlier one.

Wat.



You've got to be kidding me.

 

[Maniacal]

They said so in the reddit AMA, it will also let you play offline for a matter of "minutes" before not letting you play anymore.

 

[Tani Coyote]

That it's a numeric title means that they have to do the job right. See Sonic 4 for the importance of such.

I love SimCity 4, so it'd be nice if they basically preserved its mechanics but added more variety a la the various modpacks.

What I really want to see is varying terrain and architecture. You could set your city to be Chinese, Arabic, tribal, European, American, or even for variety, make it so you can do dead architecture styles!

Since SimCity is a city builder and not a strategy one, we should keep macro politics to a minimum. As neat as it would be to see all the various cities collect into city-states and small countries and the like and vie for power

 

[Maniacal]

Actually it isn't a numeric title, its just called Sim City, and the European architecture DLC is available for pre-roder for an extra $20.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Ohhhh. An attempted reboot then!

That's even harder to pull off right...

Let's hope for the best!

 

[Maniacal]

Vain hope is vain.

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/12/20/maxis-explains-the-use-of-simcity-always-online-drm/

the game “was designed to be connected from the ground up.”

There is a massive amount of computing that goes into all of this, and GlassBox works by attributing portions of the computing to EA servers (the cloud) and some on the player’s local computer,”

I wonder how it deals with slow internet connections and lag/latency?

“Trades between cities, simulation effects that cause change across the region like pollution or crime, as well as depletion of resources, are all processed on the servers and then data is sent back to your city on your PC. Every city in the region is updated every three minutes, which keeps the overall region in sync and makes your decisions in your city relevant to any changes that have taken place in the region.”

Bradshaw later brings up that having all players online grants Maxis the data it needs to “create weekly global and local challenges for our players that keep the gameplay fresh and surprising.”

There is pretty much no chance at all of there being any serious modding besides maybe making new buildings. Not too mention so much for their earlier statements about it NOT being always-online!

 

[Tani Coyote]

The lack of ability to mod is certainly a bummer, especially if there's no sort of office that can be contacted if one has a serious mod they'd like to see put in.

However, maybe this idea could work; if they really do stay on top of taking in data and making adjustments and challenges to match, it could prove interesting!

 

[Maniacal]

It really doesn't matter how good the game is, the online requirement is entirely unacceptable.

 

[GenMarshall]

It's like EA wants to kill a franchise they get their hands on.

 

[Tani Coyote]

It worked for Microsoft with Rare's titles.

My internet connection generally isn't too shabby so online requirement for me isn't too unreasonable...

I also needed one to play Red Alert 3, at least to start it up the first time. So I'm used to it.

 

[Maniacal]

It worked for Microsoft with Rare's titles.

Rare has never made a PC game so I don't know what you are talking about.

My internet connection generally isn't too shabby so online requirement for me isn't too unreasonable...

This isn't just about you and whether or not you currently have an excellent internet connection. Many people still don't have great internet, especially outside of Western countries but even inside them too. Many people also play games without internet or without reliable internet, like on their laptops (wifi is quite poor for constant connectivity).

It is about the fact that they have turned what has been an only singleplayer game into an only multiplayer always-online game with no offline SP mode available and the precedent this could set. Also the destruction of an excellent series.

I also needed one to play Red Alert 3, at least to start it up the first time. So I'm used to it.

The EA published Mass Effect for the PC previously required users to authenticate their game online every 10 days, this requirement was later removed.

http://ca.ign.com/articles/2008/09/09/red-alert-3-eases-up-on-drm

Holy crap talk about treating your customers like criminals. At least this was removed, Sim City 5 is designed so it cannot be removed and once they eventually shut down the game's servers you will NEVER BE ABLE TO PLAY IT AGAIN.

 

[NBAfan]

The new Simcity is not worthy of SC4's awesomeness.

I kind of went crazy planting nice big pine trees next to the freeways.

 

[Maniacal]

That is beautiful!

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Is it true that you don't even have to worry about where you place your service buildings (e.g. schools, hospitals, fire stations, etc.) anymore?

 

[NBAfan]

Is it true that you don't even have to worry about where you place your service buildings (e.g. schools, hospitals, fire stations, etc.) anymore?

Well, considering the city tiles are tiny, it doesn't matter.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

I can finally see what they're saying about casualization.

 

[Joecoolyo]

Is it true that you don't even have to worry about where you place your service buildings (e.g. schools, hospitals, fire stations, etc.) anymore?

Instead of an area circle, I think it has to do with roads now.

I'm not sure though.

 

[Skwink]

God damn it EA, do you ever listen to what your customers? Ever?

 

[GenMarshall]

Nope, they just care about the customer's wallets...


Link to video.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Rare has never made a PC game so I don't know what you are talking about.

I'm referring to the fact Microsoft destroyed Rare's franchises upon acquisition. Though they did have the courtesy to bury them.

This isn't just about you and whether or not you currently have an excellent internet connection.

Actually, it's very key to my decision on whether to buy it or not, really.

It is about the fact that they have turned what has been an only singleplayer game into an only multiplayer always-online game with no offline SP mode available and the precedent this could set.

Holy crap talk about treating your customers like criminals. At least this was removed, Sim City 5 is designed so it cannot be removed and once they eventually shut down the game's servers you will NEVER BE ABLE TO PLAY IT AGAIN.

I think the solution is very simple. Make it so that the game can run on its own, but updates with information whenever an internet connection is made.

Of course, EA often does some crazy measures to achieve its goals, so I don't think that will happen.