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[Rentahamster]

A lot of the "simplified and constrained" parts aren't really simplified at all, but the interface is more realistic and the complexity is hidden. For example, the Penny Arcade reviewer complained that in previous SC games you could increase your monthly police budget to improve coverage, but in this game you just buy more police cruisers. But what the reviewer didn't notice was that those cruisers come with an additional daily fee added on to the budget, so it's still the same, but implemented in a better way.

Yep. Plus. in SC5, it's harder because your police might get stuck in traffic.

 

[Unhandled Exception]

I WANNA PLAYYYYY!

Just do what I'm doing. Stare at the clock for another 5 hours.

 

[Jrmint]

How are the Gaf regions for this gonna work? I'd really like to join one since none of my friends are gonna play this game.

 

[Smiley90]

For the organized group regions, it's probably best for the early birds to wait for the Europeans. It would kinda suck to log on and find that everyone else has 3 days of progress on you.

Sounds good, we can all start soloplay or smaller GAF regions

 

[Megasoum]

So to recap,

-I redeem the key in origin to have the game in my list
-Connect to VPN and "install" in Origin to get the 300mb launcher
-Disconnect VPN and continue business as usual?

I won't need the VPN afterward?

 

[RaySpencer]

Origin isn't doing pre-loads for this game, no. The Gamestop client wont let me download until 3/5, not sure what time zone.

well that sucks butts.

 

[Caesar III]

Oh! I got my GMG key!

Had to check the website, didn't get a mail yet.

*checks
it takes ages to load, did we crash it?

d'Oh, nothing

 

[Megasoum]

*checks
it takes ages to load, did we crash it?

d'Oh, nothing

FYI, for some reason it wasn't at the bottom of my list. Not sure how it works, probably the order I bought the games because it was in the middle of the list for me. Check the whole page!

 

[Gaming Truth]

With the new focus on sims, is there a way to pick out, name, and bookmark a sim? I know you can zoom in and check up on individual sims, see how they are, etc., but really isolate and follow one around at a moment's notice?

 

[King Tubby]

I shall repost from the review thread:

Thanks for the info. Makes a lot of sense. Now my only concern is that EA doesn't nickle and dime us to death :|

 

[Cru Jones]

Got my GMG key

 

[Smiley90]

My GMG key is there too!!

PARTEEEEY... Still in lecture though...

 

[Bricky]

i wonder if Twitch will complain if I stream Sim City before it's officially out... hmm..

Well, I streamed the beta a few weeks ago and got a 1-day ban from Twitch, so take my advice and wait a bit longer.

 

[HotHamWater]

I'm assuming you fella's getting GMG keys are American?

 

[Megasoum]

I'm assuming you fella's getting GMG keys are American?

Yup...well Canadian but close enough heh.

 

[FearMyWrench]

Amazon, give out keys please.

 

[Burgess_101]

So are we not starting regions then? Just so I know, I wouldnt mind getting practise in but I can't even start on Friday anyway because I have to go to a funeral in Wales so ill be one day behind myself.

 

[Herpes Reasons]

got my GMG key,
what's a good web vpn?

 

[Rentahamster]

Thanks for the info. Makes a lot of sense. Now my only concern is that EA doesn't nickle and dime us to death :|

More impressions from other gaffers this post down:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=48544416#post48544416

Here's mine:

Graphics
Very nice with a decent computer. Looks like ass on minimum. Optional depth of field effects that are cool, plus a lot of neat filters to alter the look.

I like the art style, but others might be turned off by its more "cartoony" appearance.


Immersion level
Pretty immersive, since you can go down to the street level and alter you perspective in the 3D world, unlike previous versions of SimCity. The simulation also simulates each individual living in the city, and if you're prone to that kind of thing, can get lost following your citizens around as they go about their daily lives. I personally don't really care about relating to my citizens in a sim by sim basis. I'm more of a macro kind of guy, but I appreciate the complexity and strategy that the new simulation engine offers.

Ability to create unique cities
You're not restricted to a grid like in other SimCity games, so you can go wild with curvy roads. The ability to specialize in certain industries also gives each city a unique feel and a role to play. Also, the terrain, and intercity connections are different in each city, so that helps to give each plot of land a unique identity. It's also a byproduct of the (unfortunately) small plot size.

Ambience
Ambiance? It's nice, I guess.

Control given to player (how much power do I have over the city)
You can do a great many things and have a lot of influence over what goes on. You can't control terrain anymore (no terraforming), and the small city sizes are a little limiting. Other than that, though, the options available to you have increased over previous SimCities in most areas (with the exception of a few, such as traffic options, city ordinance options, and targeted funding options).

Future potential
This new SimCity has as much potential as the original SimCity Classic. Envision how SimCity classic improved up to SimCity 4. The devs have that goal in mind for the new SimCity.

Potential issues
Always online sucks. You're subject to server lag, and a required connection.

Things you dont like / hate
Always online
Small city size
Limited traffic data tools
Limited traffic/road network solutions, such as subways
Park placement/aesthetics
Region wall is laggy and disorganized
Service and resource sharing is laggy
Coordinating with friends within Origin sucks, partly due to no group chat
Pathing AI can be stupid sometimes


OVERALL: I've already preordered it. Can't get enough of the betas. Hungry for more.

Hype level: Over 9000

 

[Megasoum]

got my GMG key,
what's a good web vpn?

Try the free trial for FlyVPN. Works perfectly for me right now.

 

[Dead Prince]

EA needs to be nice and just unlock now. or amazon needs to hand out keys now.

 

[Metalmurphy]

GAF SimCity maps updated again, only missing DTKT Origin ID. Anyone heard from him?



Also if any regions are already created, let me know the server and name.

 

[Pandemic]

For the organized group regions, it's probably best for the early birds to wait for the Europeans. It would kinda suck to log on and find that everyone else has 3 days of progress on you.

Agreed, I think that's the best option. Then UK will only be a day behind rather than 3.

 

[autobzooty]

Will I be able to download this from Origin at midnight or will I have to wait until Tuesday afternoon sometime?

 

[Dead Prince]

Will I be able to download this from Origin at midnight or will I have to wait until Tuesday afternoon sometime?

if you buy directly from origin it unlocks 9pm PST/12am EST. if you're in US

 

[Herpes Reasons]

Try the free trial for FlyVPN. Works perfectly for me right now.

nice. thank brosef

 

[Megasoum]

Crap, there's a limit of 3 trials connections per day in FlyVPN and since I already activated Tomb Raider too I need another VPN for the launcher lol.

 

[Dmax3901]

VPN, gogogo.

Which one?

 

[Rentahamster]

Which one?

look up

 

[Burgess_101]

I want to ask my fellow Titan Gorge 1 people when do you want to start? I can literally start the region right now, if we start on Thursday it will be up to TheQueen'sOwn because Im in Wales on Thursday and Friday.

 

[Unhandled Exception]

I want to ask my fellow Titan Gorge 1 people when do you want to start? I can literally start the region right now, if we start on Thursday it will be up to TheQueen'sOwn because Im in Wales on Thursday and Friday.

I don't care when it starts.

 

[Smiley90]

Can someone post a step-by-step for VPN, from Origin activation until I'm playing? Incl. when to disconnect from the VPN to maximize dl speeds etc

 

[Megasoum]

Can someone post a step-by-step for VPN, from Origin activation until I'm playing? Incl. when to disconnect from the VPN to maximize dl speeds etc

http://www.reddit.com/r/SimCity/comments/19nmvy/how_to_get_the_game_right_now_for_nonus_players/

 

[Burgess_101]

Im using IPVanish, its 7 day money back guarantee so no worries and its got good speeds.

 

[Herpes Reasons]

downloading via FLYVPN.
chose a chinese IP.
30min wait time.
leggo!

 

[Unhandled Exception]

I hate you all.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

I hate you all.

this

mac version

 

[Smiley90]

I hate you all.

This lecture is so boring.

Someone feed us more pictures and impressions!

Don't think much changed since beta 3 though

 

[Cru Jones]

Try the free trial for FlyVPN. Works perfectly for me right now.

Thanks, FYI you just need to start on the VPN, you can disconnect right afterwards and continue the download at much faster speeds

 

[Unhandled Exception]

This lecture is so boring.

Someone feed us more pictures and impressions!

Give me your GMG key and I'll take some pictures and give impressions.

 

[sp3000]

Are there any GAF regions still available to join

 

[BearPawB]

Are there any GAF regions still available to join

Weren't you mister negative?

 

[wenis]

This game is perfect for screenshots. love that filters! <3 <3

Wonderful layout.

 

[Megasoum]

Woot, downloading the big stuff in the launcher. Time to go eat to free up the whole night!

 

[timetokill]

Are there any GAF regions still available to join

Just chill, I imagine that some people overzealously signed up and will drop out with a quickness. We've already had a couple dropouts.

Then you can get slotted into one of the available spots.

 

[Burgess_101]

Bollocks to it I am creating the region now, I have waited long enough for this day Ill just call the region Titan Gorge 1 (unless there are any suggestions within the next 3 minutes while I get myself some cheerios).

 

[sp3000]

Weren't you mister negative?

I still am.

Just chill, I imagine that some people overzealously signed up and will drop out with a quickness. We've already had a couple dropouts.

Then you can get slotted into one of the available spots.

Alright, not a big deal. I'll probably start up a solo city to see what's changed from the beta and join the GAF group later if people leave

 

[TheQueen'sOwn]

I want to ask my fellow Titan Gorge 1 people when do you want to start? I can literally start the region right now, if we start on Thursday it will be up to TheQueen'sOwn because Im in Wales on Thursday and Friday.

Doesn't matter when it starts for me. Though I'd imagine some of us playing early will remove the unpredictability thats inherent in a reliance on neighbouring city services (not to mention competition for tourist dollars, etc). I'd imagine those are the kinds of scenarios that will make group play more fun.

If it starts on Thursday, I don't mind creating the region.

 

[timetokill]

Bollocks to it I am creating the region now, I have waited long enough for this day Ill just call the region Titan Gorge 1 (unless there are any suggestions within the next 3 minutes while I get myself some cheerios).

Titan's Gafforge

 

[Herpes Reasons]

Thanks, FYI you just need to start on the VPN, you can disconnect right afterwards and continue the download at much faster speeds

sweet merciful.
its downloading much faster.
4mins to go.
eek!