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[Rentahamster]

So is it a more micromanagement sim or macro?

I still think the maps are too small, but I accept that is a current limitation that they honestly want to expand and improve in the future. I also don't mind it as much as I thought I would have.

Even though there is less space to work with, there is more stuff to do in any given area, so I guess you could say that the complexity density has increased.

There is a lot of micromanagement if you want to play like that, with all the upgrades you can do to buildings, and city specializations. It's not necessary, though. You can get by well enough without having to pay too much attention to it. However, if you really want to push your city to the limits, you will have to effectively micromanage your resources and budget in order to increase your efficiency.

There is a macro element as well, especially if you're playing multiple cities in a region. Services and resources need to be cultivated and allocated accordingly. This too can be dealt with as meticulously or casually as you desire.

The nice thing about this game is that you can play it casually and do okay with a small population city, or play it more hardcore and ramp up the challenge organically with a huge population city.

 

[Rentahamster]

Oddly enough, I sometimes had problems loading (the loading screen would just keep going for 5mins, I force-closed the app, re-start, then the city would load in 5 seconds), but I think that was more of a problem with it being a beta client than my computer.

That was an EA server problem. On the bugs section of the beta forum, they were talking about heavy load, and fixes they were implementing on the servers to resolve the "stuck on loading screen" bug.

 

[Smiley90]

I think one of the best things I noticed way too late into the beta is that you can upgrade Parks as well. You can build a REALLY nice park between buildings that way, with only 1 part needing to be connected to the street, and then you can build extension after extension (e.g. every park-extension you build has expandable space itself!)

That was an EA server problem. On the bugs section of the beta forum, they were talking about heavy load, and fixes they were implementing on the servers to resolve the "stuck on loading screen" bug.

I figured as much, reported it during the beta, wasn't too much of an issue anyway, solved by just restarting. I'm sure they'll have figured it out by launch

 

[Rentahamster]

More dev beta footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cJNqrR6Fzqs#.US2CRU2CL00.reddit

SimCity (2013) Dev. Beta: Mountainside Mining City

 

[Quick]

Having kept myself mostly in the dark about this game since it was announced, seeing everything all at once is pretty awesome.

 

[Tiktaalik]

I really, really want this game to be good, but I'm pretty skeptical if it can deliver. I'll be watching the impressions very closely.

 

[feeble peanut]

I've been listening to the soundtrack for a little while and I have to say... sorely disappointed.

Simcity 4/Rush Hour had such a good soundtrack by Jerry Martin and others but this new one sounds like I'm listening to the background music of a pixar movie. Yawn.

Anyone else feel down about the music like I am? I think I might have to switch out the music when I play this.

 

[Tiktaalik]

I'm concerned that they've turned away from a city planning angle, and there seems to be an emphasis on gimmicky gameplay ideas over city simulation. I'm very much hoping the game is still very fun to play even if it isn't the game I would have wanted.

 

[Smiley90]

I'm concerned that they've turned away from a city planning angle, and there seems to be an emphasis on gimmicky gameplay ideas over city simulation. I'm very much hoping the game is still very fun to play even if it isn't the game I would have wanted.

What gimmicky gameplay ideas? I feel like with their new simulation engine (glassbox), it's hugely about city simulation. Also reminds me of this:

SimCity Is Smarter Than You (Even If You’re an Urban Planner)

 

[Tiktaalik]

What gimmicky gameplay ideas? I feel like with their new simulation engine (glassbox), it's hugely about city simulation. Also reminds me of this:

SimCity Is Smarter Than You (Even If You’re an Urban Planner)

This video shows gameplay features like having a leaderboard for showing who's casinos are making the most money. I may well end up finding this to be a fun gameplay element, but at the moment I'm skeptical of its worth and I'd much rather have deeper city simulation features, such as subways, bike lanes, parking management and mixed use zoning.

The simulation elements that article highlights, like how putting the garbage incinerator too far from town can negatively affect trash pick up rate, is very cool and I'm looking forward to that.

 

[scorpscarx]

Publisher: EA, nope no buy. Looks great though, I have the fondest memories causing disasters back in the day.

 

[Rentahamster]

I'm concerned that they've turned away from a city planning angle, and there seems to be an emphasis on gimmicky gameplay ideas over city simulation. I'm very much hoping the game is still very fun to play even if it isn't the game I would have wanted.

I had those same reservations (and still do to some extent), but after trying out the betas and reading info about what their plans and goals are for this game, I'm not worried. The game was incredibly fun for me.

Resource management, road placement, budget juggling, service provision, all those things are still in the game and in some ways require even more thought than previous SimCity games.

Especially services, since they are no longer just buildings with a radius of influence. Now, they actually send out agents that carry out the service, so if your traffic sucks, they can't function properly.

 

[Smiley90]

This video shows gameplay features like having a leaderboard for showing who's casinos are making the most money. I may well end up finding this to be a fun gameplay element, but at the moment I'm skeptical of its worth and I'd much rather have deeper city simulation features, such as subways, bike lanes, parking management and mixed use zoning.

The simulation elements that article highlights, like how putting the garbage incinerator too far from town can negatively affect trash pick up rate, is very cool and I'm looking forward to that.

I think that's part of the "trend" in newer games of social elements, that EA is just jumping on. People love leaderboards. -shrug-. I'm sad about the lack of that too, but I'm sure larger cities, hopefully a region creator (like in Sims 3) and a rush hour-style transit expansion will come at some point, hopefully soon.

 

[Ranger X]

I really, really want this game to be good, but I'm pretty skeptical if it can deliver. I'll be watching the impressions very closely.

Same concerns as you. "gimmick cities" don't interest me and I also don'T want to play "Sim Town". I am very wary but watching this closely because the game seems to do some stuff very good!!

 

[Pandemic]

Wow, awesome OT, well done dude.

I still gotta pre-order this, running out of time, ergh.

 

[Jintor]

If you mean the Digital Deluxe edition, there is an upgrade option in Origin for $20 so after Amazon gives you the key you should be able to upgrade. That way you can get the Digital Deluxe for $65 instead of $80. (because of the Amazon discount)

http://store.origin.com/store/ea/en_US/pd/productID.260623100/sac.true

Cheers big-ears

 

[Why would you do that?]

Same concerns as you. "gimmick cities" don't interest me and I also don'T want to play "Sim Town". I am very wary but watching this closely because the game seems to do some stuff very good!!

You just made me think... I would love another Sim Town. It is similar to Sim City in a few ways, but places emphasis on creating individual buildings, individual Sims, and making sure jobs/Sims ratio is balanced.

 

[smokeandmirrors]

I am actually most excited for the simulation aspects of the engine right now. Sure the city size may be too small, but a lot of the processing is impressive on paper.

Put me down for joining a gaf plot, but i can't get the game right away. classes are bogging me down.

I believe my origin id is lightgrenades120 but not 100% on that.

 

[Pandemic]

Does anyone have another link for this video,
http://new.livestream.com/accounts/2987316/events/1902153/videos/12596504

It doesn't stop buffering, much appreciated.

 

[GlassBox]

The small city size didn't seem like a big problem when I played the Beta. I think what separates this SimCity from previous entries is that you end up focusing in more on each individual street and building, where as with something like SimCity4, you could pretty much ignore a whole zoned area and just let it build itself so to speak.

 

[BearPawB]

As someone who has watched a ton of beta videos, there is still plenty of complexity. It's amazing the terrible decisions people can make

 

[dejay]

Awesome OT but the release date in Australia in the 7th, not the 8th.

(edit) Holy shit, just checked every country in the official site; the UK is the only place getting it on the 8th. I'm sorry GB, but I'm amused by this.

 

[Dork Knight]

Amazing OT!

BTW: Anyone get a lucky Closed Beta 3 invite tonight?

 

[Rentahamster]

Amazing OT!

BTW: Anyone get a lucky Closed Beta 3 invite tonight?

I did.

 

[Dork Knight]

I did.

Congrats! Looking forward to the reaction tomorrow. Y'all are in for a treat (albeit a very short treat -- haha!).

 

[bodyboarder]

Nice work on the ot. Even better work on the title.

 

[Legato.Reborn-]

I haven't been so undecided on a title before. On one hand it's Sim fucking City and I need it into my veins now!

On the other hand it's more like SimTown! Fuck!

Spoiler

...Preordered

 

[Dork Knight]

FYI: Visit http://letsallbemayor.com tomorrow morning (9am PST) to see a live gameplay stream of a casino city.

There may even be a special appearance from one of SimCity's producers. Or so I hear.

 

[CrankyKong]

I've been listening to the soundtrack for a little while and I have to say... sorely disappointed.

Simcity 4/Rush Hour had such a good soundtrack by Jerry Martin and others but this new one sounds like I'm listening to the background music of a pixar movie. Yawn.

Anyone else feel down about the music like I am? I think I might have to switch out the music when I play this.

I think the older games had quirkier and more interesting soundtracks.

 

[Pandemic]

That lets all be mayor website looks pretty cool, nice campaign for the pre-launch of SimCity.

 

[Smiley90]

That lets all be mayor website looks pretty cool, nice campaign for the pre-launch of SimCity.

Yeah, a couple hours of live-streaming each day up to launch, with every day having a different theme, all with viewer-input? Pretty cool idea.

 

[dejay]

I'm not going to watch any more streaming - I want to discover some things whilst I'm playing.

 

[Cjdamon042]

Thanks for the comments on the OT guys! It's my first one so I was a bit anxious about it lol. I'll update the post after work with the current live streaming promotion, a change in Australia's date as well as other bits and pieces. I'll probably include GAF's beta regions in the City Showcase section too

 

[Sober]

Haven't read up too much except the always-online (hopefully not as bad or they learned from D3), and pretty much how Glassbox works on the surface (so everything in the simulation is active and not just numbers with little context). I played a ton of SimCity 4 and I don't really care about the cities being maximum of an SC4 medium-sized one or anything. I do hope they talk about mods or if there will be a workshop-like implementation or something.

 

[Fox_Mulder]

Do we have any info about a steam version?

 

[Smiley90]

Do we have any info about a steam version?

There will never be one. It's an EA game, they have Origin. The only EA games on steam are old ones, before they pushed Origin.

 

[dejay]

There will never be one. It's an EA game, they have Origin. The only EA games on steam are old ones, before they pushed Origin.

In other words, if the origin is Origin, there will be no Steam, but if the origin is Steam then there will be Steam and Origin.

If you want to ride a steam train in Oregon you can but if you want to play with a train in SimCity whilst riding a steam train in Oregon you have to use Origin on the steam train in Oregon but not use Steam whilst riding the steam in a train in Oregon whilst playing on Origin.

 

[Smiley90]

In other words, if the origin is Origin, there will be no Steam, but if the origin is Steam then there will be Steam and Origin.

If you want to ride a steam train in Oregon you can but if you want to play with a train in SimCity whilst riding a steam train in Oregon you have to use Origin on the steam train in Oregon but not use Steam whilst riding the steam in a train in Oregon whilst playing on Origin.

Now my head hurts...

 

[Mr. Black]

I liked the beta, but still have to pre-order the game. Guess €42 isn't too bad for the Limited Edition.

 

[bedlamite]

OK the hype finally got to me, preordered.

oh and the Origin/EA bitching is so tired by now

 

[misterhektik]

Nice OT, Cjdamon042. In the past couple of days my hype went from zero to through the roof after I watched some beta playthroughs on youtube. I had no idea what I was doing during the beta, but after watching those videos, I went ahead and pre-ordered, and signed up for a 16 city server over on Reddit.

One thing that concerns me about the multiplayer is how they will handle game speed. If one player plays at llama speed, and another at cheetah, won't the one playing at cheetah have an advantage? Or will the play speed be predetermined and locked when the server is created? I'd like to take my time building my city, but I don't want to fall behind while other cities surge ahead.

Regardless, looking forward to March 5.

 

[Rentahamster]

Nice OT, Cjdamon042. In the past couple of days my hype went from zero to through the roof after I watched some beta playthroughs on youtube. I had no idea what I was doing during the beta, but after watching those videos, I went ahead and pre-ordered, and signed up for a 16 city server over on Reddit.

One thing that concerns me about the multiplayer is how they will handle game speed. If one player plays at llama speed, and another at cheetah, won't the one playing at cheetah have an advantage? Or will the play speed be predetermined and locked when the server is created? I'd like to take my time building my city, but I don't want to fall behind while other cities surge ahead.

Regardless, looking forward to March 5.

It's asynchronous play, so it doesn't really matter all that much.

I don't really see how another player would "have an advantage", as you aren't really competing with each other.

Unless the goal of the entire region is to build your cities as fast as possible, I don't see how you playing on normal speed is going to negatively impact the other players much.

 

[mitheor]

Any idea of a good preorder offer for Eurogaf?

I can´t buy it from Amazon.com :_(

 

[Azusa]

Any idea of a good preorder offer for Eurogaf?

I can´t buy it from Amazon.com :_(

Green Man Gaming has the 20% off deal. You need to use the voucher code found on their front page.

 

[mitheor]

Green Man Gaming has the 20% off deal. You need to use the voucher code found on their front page.

Thanks.

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[Twinduct]

Bleh so on the edge of pre-ordering! But the always online restriction has me worried about latency issues.

The always online restriction ain't handled by Server/ Client for every lil thing right?

Lastly asking if any angel can donate me a Beta key. I hope there is a demo on launch, since I do believe most of my 'fears' or 'issues' with the current rendition of Simcity is based on my history with SC4 and how I feel those systems will be hampered by the current setup. I also believe that once I actually gets my hands on the new system I would be able to judge more fairly.

 

[Rentahamster]

The always online restriction ain't handled by Server/ Client for every lil thing right?

No. It's not like Diablo 3 where stuff in the game handled by the server too.

The SimCity servers just validate all the things that go on in your city to make sure that you're not cheating or something. The entire simulation runs on your computer. You can be disconnected for about 10 minutes at a time or so, before the game kicks you out.

 

[dejay]

Bleh so on the edge of pre-ordering! But the always online restriction has me worried about latency issues.

The always online restriction ain't handled by Server/ Client for every lil thing right?

Some people disconnected their internet whilst playing a city in the beta and it only spat the dummy when the hour was up, so there's not a lot going on with the servers in single player.

(edit) and beaten like a dirty stepchild

 

[Twinduct]

No. It's not like Diablo 3 where stuff in the game handled by the server too.

The SimCity servers just validate all the things that go on in your city to make sure that you're not cheating or something. The entire simulation runs on your computer. You can be disconnected for about 10 minutes at a time or so, before the game kicks you out.

Some people disconnected their internet whilst playing a city in the beta and it only spat the dummy when the hour was up, so there's not a lot going on with the servers in single player.

(edit) and beaten like a dirty stepchild

Ah that kinda helps things quite a bit! Having shitty internet I kinda always shut down any hype once forced online components are announced. Glad to hear their not going the wrong route with this one!

 

[Rentahamster]

Yeah, so stuff like ping and whatever shouldn't really influence your gameplay experience as much as, say, Diablo 3, or some FPS game.