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[f0rk]

Ars Technica seems a little underwhelmed : http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/03/simcity-impressions-we-waited-ten-years-for-this/

It's interesting they say it's unforgiving when all the Sim City 4 die hard were complaining it seemed too easy.

Also comments on how they don't see how they can get to the great wonders and then later say they feel it's a small game. They do just seem upset it's not set up exactly like Sim City 4 and they need to approach it in a different way.

 

[marjo]

Anything that affects someone's enjoyment of a game should absolutely be reflected in the review. If I were reviewing a game and I felt less satisfied due to the presence of DLC and microtransactions, I would be completely justified in discussing my issues.

If a reader has different priorities then me, then they are free to to take that into account when evaluating the usefulness of my review.

 

[Ikuu]

Wow, 35k (almost) limit for a city?

That's. Just. Terrible.

SimPodunk!

No, that's not the limit.

 

[Lime]

IGN seems to be missing the point:

I'm going to go ahead and predict that, much like Blizzard found with Diablo 3, Maxis will soon discover that the majority of SimCity players will want to play by themselves most of the time. The good news is that it's a totally valid way to play, and no significant options I've seen are closed off to those of us who play in private regions and single-handedly run all the cities therein.

You need to be online to "play by yourself", so it's still comparable to Diablo 3.

 

[Dreamwriter]

Wow, 35k (almost) limit for a city?

That's. Just. Terrible.

SimPodunk!

Where did you read that, it's very false. I've seen cities with 150k.

 

[Metalmurphy]

It's interesting they say it's unforgiving when all the Sim City 4 die hard were complaining it seemed too easy

The betas were tuned up to be easier/faster to progress.

 

[Raide]

Agreed; those things can fuck up your experience with the game - Diablo 3 is proof enough

Do we have links to what they are offering in the store? If you can buy 100k cash for real money, then it only really affects your own game.

 

[massoluk]

I'll probably not buy it due to DRM, Polygon's 9.5 almost make me change my mind. But I'll wait for more review. Polygon's review is full of generic sim game description, and Ars impression doesn't inspired much confidence though.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Where did you read that, it's very false. I've seen cities with 150k.

Some fud spreading around for no reason.

It's like some want the game to be bad. It looks like a damn good romp.

 

[Goldmund]

Does Polygon rate big releases only from 9.0 to 10.0?

 

[Derrick01]

I'll probably not buy it due to DRM, Polygon's 9.5 almost make me change my mind. But I'll wait for more review. Polygon's review is full of generic sim game description, and Ars impression doesn't inspired much confidence though.

Polygon is close to having the game informer rule attached to it. Whatever they score (which is going to be no less than a 8 anyway), subtract 3 points and then decide.

Since they seem to be competing in hyperbole as well I wonder how GI will top this review. Probably "there's no reason to ever make another video game after playing this game".

 

[Dreamwriter]

I'll probably not buy it due to DRM, Polygon's 9.5 almost make me change my mind. But I'll wait for more review. Polygon's review is full of generic sim game description, and Ars impression doesn't inspired much confidence though.

The game has no DRM, it's an online game. Saying SimCity has DRM is like saying World of Warcraft has DRM.

 

[greatnorthern]

Where did you read that, it's very false. I've seen cities with 150k.

One of the ARS writers stated that his city felt like it was tightening at 35k. He eventually maxed at 200k. I edited my original post.

 

[Lime]

Anything that affects someone's enjoyment of a game should absolutely be reflected in the review. If I were reviewing a game and I felt less satisfied due to the presence of DLC and microtransactions, I would be completely justified in discussing my issues.

If a reader has different priorities then me, then they are free to to take that into account when evaluating the usefulness of my review.

I'd say that the reviewer still need to be transparent and explicit about her/his stance in regards to e.g. DLC and microtransactions in the review of the game. Basically something like this (condensed version): "There is a lot of DLC and online DRM in this game, but I have no problem wit such a thing - 9/10".

 

[Row]

reading the ars article, the problem he's having with hs dropouts and the nuclear plant melting down is pretty funny

 

[f0rk]

IGN seems to be missing the point:



You need to be online to "play by yourself", so it's still comparable to Diablo 3.

Diablo 3 was balanced with the auction house that threw the loot system out of whack if you didn't use it. This doesn't really have anything like that.

 

[R0nn]

Not just for the DRM, to implement F2P mechanics and microtransactions (without making the base game free of course) so they could rape the consumer. That's where EA is transitioning with all of their games.

They don't force it you know. For all you know, the game is perfectly playable and fun without having to dive into any microtransactions whatsoever. What's with all this premature hate?

 

[Geoff9920]

The game has no DRM, it's an online game. Saying SimCity has DRM is like saying World of Warcraft has DRM.

That's still DRM...

 

[Hari Seldon]

IGN seems to be missing the point:



You need to be online to "play by yourself", so it's still comparable to Diablo 3.

To be fair, it isn't like you need low latency to play Sim City unlike Diablo 3. The thing I'm worried about for this game is the typical EA jank of DLC and microtransactions.

 

[Darklord]

Does Polygon rate big releases only from 9.0 to 10.0?

Most of the big releases last year are below 9 from them.

 

[Zzoram]

If you can't make a city with at least 1 million people, that sucks.

 

[TouchMyBox]

I don't think I'm going to buy SimCity since it's guaranteed to be a broken product at launch, but I am craving some SimCity in my life. I mainly played 2000 and played a bit of 3000. I never actually played 4, is 4 superior to its predecessors?

The game has no DRM, it's an online game. Saying SimCity has DRM is like saying World of Warcraft has DRM.

It's an online game which can and should easily have an offline mode, but doesn't because "zomg piracy".

 

[Dead Prince]

good reviews so far. sucks they are using PST for unlock times.

 

[Albino_Samurai]

Wow, 35k (almost) limit for a city?

That's. Just. Terrible.

SimPodunk!

I had 85.000 in my 1 hour Beta game play.

You just have to be able to understand the game's logic, real life efficiency and infrastructure.
Give me 2 hours and i'lll have 200.000 happy wealthy people.

I'm betting these guys didn't know what the hell they were doing.

 

[Derrick01]

They don't force it you know. For all you know, the game is perfectly playable and fun without having to dive into any microtransactions whatsoever. What's with all this premature hate?

You don't have to literally force microtransactions to have a game be designed around "encouraging" the use of them. That's the whole problem with the F2P system and how it's designed.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

They don't force it you know. For all you know, the game is perfectly playable and fun without having to dive into any microtransactions whatsoever. What's with all this premature hate?

Agreed. This isn't the first time we've had an always online persistent world type of game. Some of you act like this is our first go around on this and yet here we are in 2013 talking about things that have been implemented before.

I don't think the reviews should reflect the nature of being an online game or DLC. Considering it's in your own hands to spend or to not spend, I'd say the option should be clear on whether or not to buy DLC. I definitely don't think it's worth the price for some of the upgrade paths so you know how I feel about it. That doesn't mean I won't enjoy the base game with friends and have a hell of a time with it.

 

[eznark]

Peter: Yeah that's the real killer. Basically I want to tear down my entire city and start over in the same place, but I can't figure out how to do that. I can abandon it, but that just lets someone else move in. I can't experiment. My city is too precious. It took too long to get to the stage it is. I can't try something risky. Honestly while lots of things irk me, the lack of save/reload is the number one.

I didn't play in the betas, can someone explain this to me? I can't save and reload?

 

[LiquidMetal14]

good reviews so far. sucks they are using PST for unlock times.

WHAT IS THIS?!

Such bogus crap. Now this is stuff that annoys me. I really won't be getting any time with it until tomorrow then >>

 

[Snuggles]

I'll be watching reviews closely since I have this preordered at the moment. My biggest concern in the heavy focus on the online/social element. I don't think it's a bad thing, but I tend to prefer gaming as a solitary act, and managing multiple cities at once doesn't sound very appealing to me. Thanks to the GAF group I'll be giving the online stuff a chance, though. I'm trying to judge the game based on it's own concept and execution rather then comparing it to the past entries since that'll probably only result in disappointment.

I didn't play in the betas, can someone explain this to me? I can't save and reload?

Since it's online-only, you can't save or reload to a early point in the city.

 

[SneakyStephan]

What other reviews might say about this game is irrelevant for pointing out that Polygon (or Russ Pitt in this specific example) uses descriptors like:









Fine if he personally thinks the game really is that "perfect", but the guy needs to tone it down a little, calm himself down and be more sensible in his assessment.

It's amazing how many words 'reviewers' can type without saying a single meaningful or useful informative thing about the game.

 

[TouchMyBox]

I didn't play in the betas, can someone explain this to me? I can't save and reload?

Your city lives on EA's servers, not on your computer.

 

[fluffydelusions]

WHAT IS THIS?!

Such bogus crap. Now this is stuff that annoys me. I really won't be getting any time with it until tomorrow then >>

Someone should tell them east coast is best coast =\

 

[Dead Prince]

Someone should tell them east coast is best coast =\

no. that would mean they would have to be around when the game launches and talk about server crashing when people are trying to log in all at once. lol ;P

 

[xanavi]

Someone should tell them east coast is best coast =\

That doesn't even rhyme!

 

[fluffydelusions]

no. that would mean they would have to be around when the game launches and talk about server crashing when people are trying to log in all at once. lol ;P

Will be amazing. When Crysis 3 disappeared from everyones account there was like a 2hr queue for support.

 

[Metalmurphy]

They don't force it you know. For all you know, the game is perfectly playable and fun without having to dive into any microtransactions whatsoever. What's with all this premature hate?

EA

 

[Quentyn]

Kotaku and Destructoid are also waiting with their reviews.

Polygon, imo, really should have waited until tomorrow to slap the 9.5 on their review.

 

[inky]

What other reviews might say about this game is irrelevant for pointing out that Polygon (or Russ Pitt in this specific example) uses descriptors like:

Fine if he personally thinks the game really is that "perfect", but the guy needs to tone it down a little, calm himself down and be more sensible in his assessment.

If you told me those quotes came from IGN I'd almost believe you.
...

Oh, the true and tired "it's an MMO" argument again. I'm out.

 

[eznark]

Since it's online-only, you can't save or reload to a early point in the city.

Huh, wow. Weird. I guess I should have read up before buying the game.

 

[Rentahamster]

No way could Sim City 4 reach 8 million. And that Peter guy sounds really whingy.



You know, SC4 is still a perfectly playable game and on steam. I'd be kinda disappointing if they made a copy of that with new graphics.

I have a city in SC4 right now that has 1 million sims (no mods), and it's only a medium tile with half the area taken up by commercial. industrial, and a river. On a large tile, 8 million is totally possible.

I would love an updated SC4 with bug fixes, graphics updates, more stuff, modern PC optimization, new content, etc.

 

[Mystic_Wanderer]

Someone should tell them east coast is best coast =\

They are using East Coast times. How about you verify for yourself first?

EDIT: That was at the guy you quoted, not you.

 

[scurker]

The game has no DRM, it's an online game. Saying SimCity has DRM is like saying World of Warcraft has DRM.

It's DRM if the game doesn't really warrant online play.

Are the online features interesting? Probably. But I don't like being forced into playing online, especially when it comes to SimCity. Half the fun of SimCity is the whole sandbox aspect. I loved being able to build up a city, then go on a rampant destruction spree. I could always go back to an earlier state if I wanted.

Sure, I'll admit that the formula could use some changes, however I just feel that it's going in a completely different direction that I would like.

If EA wants to force always online mode, fine. I just don't plan on playing by their rules and will vote with my dollars.

 

[QaaQer]

Agreed; those things can fuck up your experience with the game - Diablo 3 is proof enough

yup. I seem to remember a shit load of ultra positive dIII reviews as well, and then 6 months later, everyone is like "yeah, the always online + microtransactions (rm auction house) + no mods" made the game pretty meh.

I'm pretty sure the same will happen here because once a company decides that the game's prime focus is on maximizing revenue, game design suffers.

 

[maabus1999]

Hmm from the ArsTechnica review, this sounds badass and down right horrible at the same time:

PETER: "Fuck. People are abandoning my city. I got hit by a meteor. It burned down a ton of buildings. Now it's all fucked. Game over man. Game over.
WTF, a zombie attack. How the fuck do I solve that? My population just got halved by a fucking zombie attack.
And because there's no save games, I can't go back in time to try a different route. There's no freedom to experiment. Because you suffer permadeath."

 

[The Bookerman]

No mega-cities really stinks.

Could not get into the previous simcities cause of several things: at one point your city looked a spaghetti of stuff. Hated piping my city. tons of things to manage at the same time. It was a mess.

This game seems BETTER.

 

[ultron87]

The section in the Kotaku not review about getting totally screwed when a neighbor destroyed their city kind of worries me about making anything that is too dependent on someone else.

 

[Row]

SimCity4 was great because it had plot of various sizes. Huge ones where you could build your own metropolis and small ones where you could build small towns. Problem was that there was no real relationship between cities, each functioned on independently and each needed its own balanced RCI zones, education, services, etc. SimCity adds relationships between cities so that they help each other and you don't have to build every city essentially the same...but now you have nothing but small zones to build in.

Best of SimCity4 + best of SimCity = perfect game

 

[Currygan]

RPS will once again seal the deal for me. Only reviews I take seriously

 

[yogloo]

TBH, the always-online business is kind of a drag since this is a perfect game to play on a train or a plane. (Or a park or a beach or anywhere with no wifi).

I get playing on trains or planes, but why the hell would you want to play a computer game on a park or on a beach?

 

[LiquidMetal14]

They are using East Coast times. How about you verify for yourself first?

EDIT: That was at the guy you quoted, not you.

That wasn't me. I reacted to someone saying it. I always thought it was EST but it was noted that it would be PST so that definitely threw me. I'm as informed as I can be but when you read some thing for the first time you tend to react. Obviously there are some who aren't as informed about things.