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[Nokterian]

What's Cheetah speed?

Time acceleration? Have they reached the point of removing crucial features?

Yes cheetah speed makes everything go faster. So it will save you time but now since it is removed it becomes SlothCity™.

 

[Paches]

Posted it in the OT but don't see it here. They patched the game to version 1.2 and have now taken out Cheetah speed.
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/9341807.page

Any justification as to why they would do that?

Maybe too many people are doing Cheetah and it has to simulate more stuff faster. Disabling core features!

 

[stufte]

Any justification as to why they would do that?

I suppose the justification is that you can basically endgame a city within a few hours. Still, not a good way to balance the game. (I run all my cities on cheetah...)

 

[Desaan]

So much fail, this is part of the reason why I no longer pre order games. Also, thank god for the UK/Euro staggered launch. Actually did us a favour.

 

[LiquidSword]

Any justification as to why they would do that?

No explanation from them as of yet. I hope they don't think they can just sneak that into a patch and not explain

 

[Toma]

Is this real life?!?

Thats a common reply in support that we use as well to give the player something to do while waiting on a server fix. Shitty, but yeah.

 

[timetokill]

Any justification as to why they would do that?

The entire reason is because Cheetah mode requires more frequent calls to the server to simulate/verify actions in SimCity. Since their servers are shit they've decided to remove the feature in order to give them some breathing room.

 

[sangreal]

Any justification as to why they would do that?

Maybe too many people are doing Cheetah and it has to simulate more stuff faster. Disabling core features!

I'm sure that is exactly the reason. Since the simulation runs on the server in some ways (allegedly, although dubious since the game runs fine while disconnected) it likely takes up more resources

 

[ekim]

Now I was able to get into the game on Europe East 1 server and it FORCES me to do the f'ing tutorial again -.-

 

[Kinyou]

Yes. Yes they have

They forgot that cheetah speed was developed on a "separate budget". No worries, you'll be able to buy it as future DLC. Remember, game devs gotta eat, and to expect a feature like that to be free reeks of entitlement issues.

Yes cheetah speed makes everything go faster. So it will save you time but now since it is removed it becomes SlothCity™.

Man, this is crazy. I hope this debacle will scare other publishers and developers away from always online-drm/outsourcing stuff into a cloud

 

[rac]

The entire reason is because Cheetah mode requires more frequent calls to the server to simulate/verify actions in SimCity. Since their servers are shit they've decided to remove the feature in order to give them some breathing room.

They should scale down city sizes too, that'd probably help a lot.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

This has happen with virtually every online game launch since Ultima Online. Launch day comes, people can't access their game, claim that its a huge disaster and that the game will fail and no one will ever buy from publisher X again. Then issues get fixed and everyone forgets that it was an issue. This has happen dozens of times. The only time the outrage actually has stuck was Ubisoft.

those were multiplayer games, Simcity is a single player game. that is, no one cares to go online to play with others. why do I need to be online for a single player game?

 

[jwhit28]

Are any of these solutions actually working though? Can you guys get in and play longer than you could before, or at all, or are they basically throwing darts at the wall until the demand dies down and people can get in when they want?

 

[fargofallout]

Wow. Amazon must be taking a loss on these or something - they have a note up on the physical version that says people are having difficulty playing, and the download version isn't even available.

 

[IISANDERII]

They should scale down city sizes too, that'd probably help a lot.

Is this the reason why city sizes are so small to begin with? EA foresaw the server issues and decided to make the city borders smaller so servers would be less burdened.

 

[d1rtn4p]

Wow. Whoever sold the idea to the EA execs that they could release an always online Simcity at the 59.99 price point and it would be successful, just needs to be fired. That person is beyond nuts.

 

[Won]

Really now? Disabling game features? Now that's just sad.

 

[EagleBurnn]

Is this the reason why city sizes are so small to begin with? EA foresaw the server issues and decided to make the city borders smaller so servers would be less burdened.

If the city sizes are a server issue and not development ones, I'm going to cry and asked the gaming gods what we did to deserve EA.

 

[Neuromancer]

Posted it in the OT but don't see it here. They patched the game to version 1.2 and have now taken out Cheetah speed.
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/9341807.page

Awesome

 

[ruttyboy]

What's Cheetah speed?

Time acceleration? Have they reached the point of removing crucial features?

As I understand it, they did that during development.

 

[Lucid07]

Anyone manage to get a refund off GMG?

 

[The perfect Dark]

http://www.amazon.de/Electronic-Arts-SimCity-Limited-Edition/dp/B007HNZ62A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1362685507&sr=8-3

Amazon.de - german user reviews

 

[Nostremitus]

No. Simulation occurs in the cloud too. Maxi sure as hell isn't going to patch it. Someone may find a workaround but im not sure of the efficacy of getting that to work with such a heavily network integrated game.

So, simulation occurs in the cloud? I guess that answers my question...

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=515011

...and apparently the answer is still no, lol.

 

[IISANDERII]

http://www.amazon.de/Electronic-Arts-SimCity-Limited-Edition/dp/B007HNZ62A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1362685507&sr=8-3

Amazon.de - german user reviews

Heh, Limited Edition. More like Limited SERVER Edition! Am I correct?

 

[Neuromancer]

We all surely got the Karkland.

 

[Raticus79]

Glad to help. Keep us informed on your quest.

Success - phone support is the way to go I think. About an hour on hold and 2 minutes talking. No BS there, got my $85 back.

 

[spirity]

 

[SolsticeZero]

God, those Amazon reviews are brutal. I really hope this turns into a PR nightmare for EA.

 

[RedNumberFive]

The Consumerist needs to make an exception and allow EA a chance to win the "Worst Company of the Year" award again. They've truly earned it.

 

[Neuromancer]

The Consumerist needs to make an exception and allow EA a chance to win the "Worst Company of the Year" award again. They've truly earned it.

Oh I didn't realize it was a one time only thing. Makes sense but its disappointing, I'd vote for EA every year.

 

[The Wizard]

At this point, I hope the servers don't improve so that EA will be forced to implement some sort of offline solution that should have been in there in the first place.

 

[stufte]

At this point, I hope the servers don't improve so that EA will be forced to implement some sort of offline solution that should have been in there in the first place.

Kind of my hope as well... not sure if it's even possible though.

 

[Lothars]

The Consumerist needs to make an exception and allow EA a chance to win the "Worst Company of the Year" award again. They've truly earned it.

Nope they shouldn't have won it last year and they shouldn't win it again, there are way worst companies that deserve it.

 

[Kinyou]

At this point, I hope the servers don't improve so that EA will be forced to implement some sort of offline solution that should have been in there in the first place.

Quick, everyone buy Sim City 5! Don't give those servers any rest

 

[RedNumberFive]

Nope they shouldn't have won it last year and they shouldn't win it again, there are way worst companies that deserve it.

No, it was well deserved. Frankly, they deserve a lifetime achievement award.

 

[ruttyboy]

Ha, I just checked and Sim City 4 Deluxe is up to no. 20 in the Steam Top Sellers list. Maybe that was EA's plan all along?!

 

[keit4]

Amazon has pulled the digital version of the game from their store until it's fixed:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VTVRFA/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[Darklord]

No cheeta?! Aaaah wtf?! I seriously had the game on that for half the time, it's a must! I can't believe it. Fucking arseholes. When this game works it's fun but by the time they get it working the game will be a wasteland and no one to play with.

 

[GMM]

Ha, I just checked and Sim City 4 Deluxe is up to no. 20 in the Steam Top Sellers list. Maybe that was EA's plan all along?!

Lets fuck up our premium 60$ new release so we can sell a 10$ game Valve takes 30% of!

Marketing brilliance.

 

[Jhriad]

Lets fuck up our premium 60$ new release so we can sell a 10$ game Valve takes 30% of!

Marketing brilliance.

It probably blunts the hurt they'll feel from returns.

 

[Neuromancer]

Amazon has pulled the digital version of the game from their store until it's fixed:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VTVRFA/?tag=neogaf0e-20

But because they're out of keys or because of the complaints?

 

[Jack_AG]

God, those Amazon reviews are brutal. I really hope this turns into a PR nightmare for EA.

Don't count on it - we can't have journalists be called out for their bullshit, now can we?

You don't say, boxart?

 

[Ondore]

But because they're out of keys or because of the complaints?

We'll find out when it returns on <Parameter:String>

 

[AppleMIX]

No, it was well deserved. Frankly, they deserve a lifetime achievement award.

I'm sure the people who were evicted by Bank of America would agree with you.

 

[QaaQer]

Amazon has pulled the digital version of the game from their store until it's fixed:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VTVRFA/?tag=neogaf0e-20

one star...833 reviews, wow.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

I think they pulled it due to complaints. I was on the horn with Amazon support about 20 minutes ago and they issues me a refund. I should get to keep the game for this kind of stuff happening.

Last thing I want is for something or someone telling me I can't play a game I just paid good money on.

 

[Jack_AG]

But because they're out of keys or because of the complaints?

Important Note on "SimCity"
Many customers are having issues connecting to the "SimCity" servers. EA is actively working to resolve these issues, but at this time we do not know when the issue will be fixed. Please visit https://help.ea.com/en/simcity/simcity for more information.

.

 

[StopMakingSense]

I think they pulled it due to complaints. I was on the horn with Amazon support about 20 minutes ago and they issues me a refund. I should get to keep the game for this kind of stuff happening.

Last thing I want is for something or someone telling me I can't play a game I just paid good money on.

They still have the box copy for sale.

 

[SlipperySlope]

Woah, just noticed this is a $60 PC game. WTF? First one I've seen.

 

[Pillville]

Amazon has pulled the digital version of the game from their store until it's fixed:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VTVRFA/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Do you think there's any possibility that EA asked them to stop selling it until issues are fixed?
1) Less complaints
2) Less people on the servers