SimCity 5

[Josquius]

Good point. I was wondering what could be so amazing they would need server side calculation- its not that they need that at all, just keeps the pirates at bay.


So...alternatives on the horizon for those who want a new city builder?

[Barrister]

Good point. I was wondering what could be so amazing they would need server side calculation- its not that they need that at all, just keeps the pirates at bay.


So...alternatives on the horizon for those who want a new city builder?

even after I said "fuck you" to SimCity, I still don't blame them for going all DRM.

Yes, they want to stop you from pirating their game.  No, I don't blame them.

[Syt]

Anyways, the DRM I could live with (I did with Diablo 3 as well). That they're changing to a Sims3 business model (expansions & microtransactions) - not a big fan, but depends on what they actually add. (Can players with different content actually play together?)

But the city sizes, and the extreme focus on "you have to play together to have fun" is where it dies for me, because with a SimCity game I don't want to be dependent on other players' goodwill/involvement to have fun. As an optional feature it could be cool to play with Languishites. But as the main focus of the game - no thanks. You'd think that after the SimCity Societies disaster and the failed multiplayer focus of Cities XL the designers would have taken note what the city builder demographic wants.

[Josquius]

Good point. I was wondering what could be so amazing they would need server side calculation- its not that they need that at all, just keeps the pirates at bay.


So...alternatives on the horizon for those who want a new city builder?

even after I said "fuck you" to SimCity, I still don't blame them for going all DRM.

Yes, they want to stop you from pirating their game.  No, I don't blame them.

When this is done by making things awkward for paying customers however I totally blame them cheer the pirates on.

[Liep]

But the city sizes, and the extreme focus on "you have to play together to have fun" is where it dies for me, because with a SimCity game I don't want to be dependent on other players' goodwill/involvement to have fun. As an optional feature it could be cool to play with Languishites. But as the main focus of the game - no thanks. You'd think that after the SimCity Societies disaster and the failed multiplayer focus of Cities XL the designers would have taken note what the city builder demographic wants.

As I've understood it you can create and control all the cities in a region yourself.

[Syt]

Yes, but let's say you want to build in a region with three cities. One is going to be manufacturing, one will be education, one will be commerce.

To get the synergy effects between the cities you have to keep switching between them. "Oh, I need more education for my workers." [Switch to college town and build stuff, then return to first city.] "I need more shops!" [Switch to third city, build up more commerce, then return to first city - or second if you now need more education again.]

It's a hassle. And if you're playing with several people at the same time (as seems to be the designers' intentions) you can drop each other notes and adjust on the fly to the regional needs. Again, an interesting concept, but focused too much on that IMO.

Speaking of regions. There seem to be 16 or so maps at the moment, and there's no terraforming of any kind.

[Neil]

Wow, that's devastating.  A feature that I had on the original SimCity almost 25 years ago.

And yeah, Origin is the worst online store there is.  Requiring it is a sure sign that I won't be buying a particular game for the PC.

[Neil]

Anyways, the DRM I could live with (I did with Diablo 3 as well). That they're changing to a Sims3 business model (expansions & microtransactions) - not a big fan, but depends on what they actually add. (Can players with different content actually play together?)

But the city sizes, and the extreme focus on "you have to play together to have fun" is where it dies for me, because with a SimCity game I don't want to be dependent on other players' goodwill/involvement to have fun. As an optional feature it could be cool to play with Languishites. But as the main focus of the game - no thanks. You'd think that after the SimCity Societies disaster and the failed multiplayer focus of Cities XL the designers would have taken note what the city builder demographic wants.

What the city builder demographic wants isn't particularily relevant to the devs.  They know they're going to get some sales based on the name alone, and they know that the microtransactions will make them profitable.  What the executives have mandated is very important.

[CountDeMoney]

Wow, that's devastating.  A feature that I had on the original SimCity almost 25 years ago.

No kidding, right?  Save a game, trash the city, and then reload it again?  How incredibly 1990.

[garbon]

Playing SimAnything (minus I guess The Sims) is so 90s.

[Arvoreen]

All this talk made me do 2 things

1) Swear to never buy the new game
2) Re-install my copy of SimCity 4 deluxe!

[Grey Fox]

It's not DRM in the traditional sense.

It's there to promote microtransactions & offer a platform akin to facebook.

[garbon]

All this talk made me do 2 things

1) Swear to never buy the new game
2) Re-install my copy of SimCity 4 deluxe!

[sbr]

@gf That might be the way they spin and sell it, but it absolutely is DRM.

You have to log in and get permission to play a game.you.paid for.

[garbon]

It's not DRM in the traditional sense.

It's there to promote microtransactions & offer a platform akin to facebook.

I think then they are making a mistake in mixing up their audiences. I'm not sure the casual facebook gamer is looking to pay for a full box game and its interface.