This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247. Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team.
]]>This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247. Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team.
]]>Yes, the disaster of SimCity did help bring Cities: Skylines to market.
]]>The Sims 4 developer Maxis may have been shuttered, but at least one former employee doesn't have beef with EA and its decision.
]]>The Sims 4 developer Maxis has been shuttered, EA has confirmed.
]]>EA is hosting an end-of-the-year sale on Origin. The sale covers recent as well as older releases.
]]>A couple of mobile spin-offs of big name games have popped up in Australia.
]]>There's a new SimCity game coming soon for iOS and Android.
]]>Minecraft is infinitely more powerful and flexible than you, with your three-block high mud cottage, could ever conceive of.
]]>SimCity sets strict boundaries on the size of your cities, something longterm series fans found very disappointing. Maxis said it was a technical limitation. Modders say it's not.
]]>Are people still that sore over Mass Effect 3 and SimCity?
]]>UPDATE: SimCity is back online and following an update on Origin, will include an offline mode. Here's a walkthrough trailer:
]]>SimCity's long awaited offline play update is almost upon us, according to the game's Twitter account, which noted that update ten is "in final testing" and "almost there". Update ten includes many fixes and features but offline play is the big one many fans are waiting for.
Thanks, games.on.net.
]]>SimCity's lead engineer, Simon Fox, has explained in a new blog post how the team at Maxis is going about bringing the game offline.
]]>SimCity's most asked for feature by the community is the ability to play offline, EA's usual response was that the simulation is not an offline game. All of this is going to change however since the game will be getting an offline mode.
]]>SimCity now supports mods, providing all mods created adhere to guidelines set forth by Maxis. If you are particularly into modding, you can look over the blog post from Maxis here, as well as look over the guidelines. The gist is this: don't mess with the multiplayer or foul up the integrity of the gameplay; keep it ESRB E10+ and PEGI 7; don't use copyrighted material; and remember that the SimCity EULA and EA’s ToS "supersede these rules," according to PC Gamer. Meanwhile, in post a on the SimCity forums, the firm reiterated it's still looking into offline mode for the game.
]]>SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow has launched on Origin, courtesy of Maxis and EA. It's the game's first full expansion and you can watch the intro video here.
]]>SimCity has a new intro video available for the upcoming Cities of Tomorrow expansion. The content update will include various futuristic transportation and technology options once the player has unlocked relevant research performed by The Academy. City builders will be able to make use of MagLevs, Garbage Atomizers, the Wave Generator and multi-zoned MegaTowers come November 12. The expansion is now available for pre-order.
]]>SimCity didn't get off to the best of starts, with server issues hammering the game mercilessly. Australian consumer group Choice has awarded publisher EA with a 'Shonky' award for charging dismayed gamers a high fee for calling tech support during the debacle.
]]>Glasslab has put together a special classroom edition of SimCity which ties in with a specially-designed curriculum.
]]>SimCity is getting a new expansion in November called Cities of Tomorrow, and today Maxis has released a blog detailing some of the neat, futuristic transportation options. You know, like monorails. It has also released a developer video, which you can view below. Cities of Tomorrow launched November 12.
]]>SimCity developer Maxis recently published the first draft of its modding rules online, along with a call for creativity among the game's fan base. The title's first modded building has gone live, and its creator has discussed the method online.
]]>An offline mode for SimCity is being explored by Maxis, the developer announced today on its blog.
]]>SimCity developer Maxis has opened the floor on modding the game. The studio has published a first draft of mod rules, and has stressed that it wants to encourage creativity among the user base.
]]>SimCity will be getting a new expansion called Cities of the Future, which takes the player 50-75 years into the future. Players can add emergency service drones, megatowers, skybridges, and more to their cities. Also included is the megacorp feature which processes oil and ore into Omega, a substance which takes over your sims and city. SimCity: Cities of the Future is due on November 12. Screens and a video are through the break.
]]>SimCity has new DLC available for $9.99 with 80% of proceeds benefiting the Red Cross once the cost of development has been recouped. Called, the Red Cross Disaster Relief DLC, the content add a relief center which will provide tents and vehicles to your city when disaster hits it. A minimum of $100,000 will be donated to the charity through the DLC. Screenshots are below.
]]>A PR representative dropped us a line over the weekend to let us know that EA Maxis believes it has resolved installation issues with the OS-X version of SimCity. We haven't tested it ourselves, and the FAQ on technical issues has not been updated. Everyone who owns SimCity on PC has free access to the newly-released Mac port, and the always-online title supports cross-save and cross-play.
]]>SimCity issues on Mac are being addressed by Maxis after the game launched for the platform earlier this week. Issues being reported range from the inability to install it through Origin to OSX versions listed as being supported causing issues as well. Others have reported resolution and performance issues. While issues are being worked on, Maxis has released an FAQ with an "ongoing list of reported installation issues and steps to try to resolve them."
]]>SimCity is now available for Mac through EA's Origin service and comes with cross-platform play and cloud saves. Every PC owner of the game will also receive a free copy of the Mac version. It's out tomorrow in Australia.
]]>Maxis has announced a new Sim City update today which adds a new tool called raise/lower tool, giving you the ability to build tunnels, bridges and more.
]]>EA dropped a brief line this morning to let us know that SimCity will hit Mac on August 29, or August 30 in Australia. The OS-X version won't be coming to retail, and will be available exclusively through Origin. It has cross-platform play and cloud saves, which is nice for those of us with both systems, and every PC owner will receive a free copy of the Mac version, too.
]]>The next update for SimCity will allow players to create bridges, overpasses, and tunnels while drawing roads thanks to a new tool.
]]>SimCity sales have passed two million units since its release in March, and according to EA labels president Frank Gibeau, the company is "lucky" to have so many fans of the franchise who stuck around after such a "rough launch."
]]>SimCity creative director Ocean Quigley announced yesterday he had left Maxis and had told Polygon he would have probably left even if the game had launched smoothly and without controversy.
]]>SimCity creative director Ocean Quigley has left Maxis along with lead architect Andrew Willmott and lead gameplay engineer Dan Moskowitz to set up a new studio called Jellygrade.
]]>SimCity could be getting a new 'Classic Mode' that allows for offline play, according to a new survey sent to gamers by EA.
]]>SimCity players have been sent a survey which suggests EA is considering an increase in city size, maybe even up to two times the size currently.
]]>The SimCity Airships Set has launched for the game, and in addition to Airships, two new balloon parks are included with ten new balloons which will apparently make your Sims rather happy.
]]>SimCity developer Maxis has published the game's 5.0 update, which includes regional missions greater data control and much more. Get the full patch notes here.
]]>EA Maxis has pushed back the OS-X port of SimCity, saying it needs a little more time in the oven. Meanwhile, the PC version still seems to be in the mixing bowl, with the next update addressing a bunch of issues and features.
]]>As promised, EA Maxis has released the first SimCity expansion, Amusement Park. The expansion will allow mayors to customize their fun park and it will also generate cash which always needed. It will cost you $10.
]]>UK trade association Ukie has today launched its official PC download chart, which lists the best-selling digitally downloaded games each month, as well as mixing digital and boxed sales into the same list to see how they compare. The first chart for March is past the link.
]]>The Amusement Park Pack for SimCity will be released on May 28, Maxis has announced. The expansion will allow mayors to customize the fun park and it will also generate cash which always needed. A price was not listed, but a look at it is below. Thanks, Joystiq.
]]>SimCity developer Maxis has rolled out a new 3.0 patch for its world-building title, tweaking traffic, hotels and much more. It's a biggie.
]]>Maxis has prepared a slew of new SimCity fixes, once more hoping to correct the sandbox game's transport woes.
]]>Will Wright, the original creator of SimCity, is not at all impressed with the launch woes which plagued the most recent release, although he did have praise for the game itself.
]]>Maxis is in the process of fixing issues stemming from SimCity update 2.0 which upon applying, causes some cities to experience overflowing sewers, and other hilarious - though rage inducing- bugs which weren't there before. The developer has listed several items it intends to fix in the coming weeks, such as a reducing the “need for rollbacks," higher than expected regional air pollution, High School buses stuck in neighboring cities and more. A list is through here. Thanks, PCgamesN.
]]>Maxis released SimCity update 2.0 yesterday, and various users are reporting bugs which run the gambit of: sewage overflow, trees honking like a car horn, hundreds of taxis flooding the streets, loading screen freezes and buildings which cannot have construction completed. The list of issues is rather large, and can be found the SimCity Subreddit and the EA Forums. Thanks, PCgamesN.
]]>An update for SimCity, which fixes a significant number of issues will be released on Monday. According to the extensive patch notes, new additions with the patch include a Mayors Mansion allowing mayors to "drive their fancy cars to work, or take their helicopter, limo, or sports car if the modules are present." The HUD now color-corrects when in colorblind mode, and data maps will show the filtered color when a color filter is enabled. Casinos, education, and transit fixes were also noted. Head through the link for the patch notes. Expect it to go live on April 22.
]]>EA has bundled a piece of SimCity DLC with specially-marked Crest and Oral-B products.
]]>The Mac and PC versions of SimCity are multiplayer compatible, according to PCGamesN. Since anybody who owns the PC version will also have free access to a Mac copy, this means you can merrily migrate your account back and forth between the two platforms, which just goes to show there's at least one upside to this always-on cloud stuff. The Mac version is due on June 11.
]]>Tomb Raider and BioShock Infinite were the best-selling boxed games across the UK in March, and helped physical sales in Britain jump over previous months.
]]>SimCity will be released for Mac in June, and players of the PC version will be able to play with one another across servers. Players who have previously purchased SimCity for PC, either as a physical or a digital copy will receive the Mac version as a free digital download on Origin. It arrives on the digital distribution service June 11.
]]>The SimCity Facebook page confirms that cheetah speed is now available in-game. Some servers have been lucky enough to have the fastest speed available for quite some time, but even those of you in the busiest regions should now have access. Maxis also noted that update 2.0 is on the way.
]]>If you can stomach looking at the word "Nissan" from time to time, head over to Origin to grab the Leaf Station, a free piece of DLC bearing the car manufacturer's brand. The charging station gives a one-time boost to business happiness in surrounding areas, boosts happiness for each sim that uses it, requires no water, power or workers, and produces no waste or pollution. The DLC will be available for just six months.
Thanks, games.on.net.
]]>EA Labels boss Frank Gibeau says DRM isn't something EA is interested in anymore, and therefore not the reason SimCity has an always-on Internet requirement.
]]>Maxis has patched SimCity to version 1.8, which is available the moment you fire it up. Improvements have been made to text, roads and general fixes such as police stations no longer being able to hold more prisoners than the max capacity, and more. The full patch notes are below. Thanks, Blue.
]]>Maxis has issued a new patch for SimCity with some much-discussed fixes for traffic congestion. As well as helping clear your streets, the patch helps emergency vehicles make it to their targets, ensures all buildings can be demolished, and adds some performance improvements for ageing rigs. Plus, a new server - Asia 2 - launches today. Full patch notes are available on the EA forums. Despite its troubled launch, SimCity made 1.1 million sales.
]]>Super Meat Boy developer Tommy Refenes has published a thought-provoking blog post on the impact of DRM as an effective measure against piracy. He argued that the cost going into DRM does little to offset losses suffered by piracy, and that the controversial security measure makes people more likely to pirate a game.
]]>SimCity's everyone's favourite whipping boy at the moment, but that hasn't stopped it selling like tasty Canadian hotcakes and attracting more users to Origin than ever before.
]]>SimCity buyers who register their copy before March 25 can get one of eight free EA titles on Origin as compensation for the game's shaky launch issues.
]]>Maxis GM Lucdy Bradshaw has taken to EA's The Beat blog to touch upon SimCity's online components along with "straight answers" regarding the always-connected topic.
]]>As discussed in a previous update, EA Maxis will patch SimCity to do something about the currently unavoidable and nonsensical traffic jams which ruin everything, forever.
]]>SimCity's launch has been fraught with turmoil, thanks to server issues, DRM finger-pointing and reviews that slam the game based on server-side problems instead of on merit. In a new interview, Maxis general manager Lucy Bradshaw has stated that the criticism is perfectly understandable and fair.
]]>SimCity has been modded to allow for uninterrupted offline play, following the spate of server issues that dogged the game when it launched last week.
]]>Mayor Brenna reigns over one bustling metropolis and a few more more half-developed shells serving only as fodder for the people of SpecDraqular. This is city-building at its finest, apparently.
]]>Maxis is looking into a way of fixing traffic and pathfinding bugs that currently plague SimCity.
]]>EA Maxis has launched an official SimCity server status page, showing the current condition of all regional servers. Go ahead and bookmark it, but maybe hold off visiting just yet because at time of writing it's returning looping errors rather than useful information. Possibly this is because everyone's trying to look at it at once, which is kind of perfect, given the social sim's launch struggles. The latest on dit is that Maxis could take the game offline with little trouble, but Maxis boss Lucy Bradshaw says the problems are almost under control.
]]>We've been told by Maxis that despite what everyone seems to want, it would not in any way be easy to take SimCity offline. They've said that many of the computations the game makes are done server-side, and so "it wouldn't be possible to make the game offline without a significant amount of engineering work by our team." But that stance may not reflect reality, according to a RockPaperShotgun source.
]]>Maxis founder Will Wright will make a special appearance at this year's GameHorizon event in Newcastle which takes place May 8-9.
]]>Tomb Raider has entered the UK charts at first place, beating off all comers with a bloody climbing axe and a barrage of firearms.
]]>SimCity is close to farewelling its persistent launch issues, EA Maxis boss Lucy Bradshaw has said.
]]>Over 58,000 signatures have been added to a Change.org petition calling for the removal of DRM from SimCity. "Remove 'Always Online' DRM from SimCity and future games," is the movement's simple request, along with a comment about how "millions" of players expect single-player games to work when they want them to work. I'm not sure how efficacious the petition will be in this era of connected, social-heavy games, but it's worth remembering that noisy fans convinced BioWare to issue an extended ending for Mass Effect 3, and Maxis has said it's "definitely looking into" the possibility of an offline mode.
]]>SimCity developer EA Maxis claims to have improved server response time by a factor of 40, and warned of rolling downtimes as it applies fixes to each server.
]]>EA is offering an olive branch to SimCity players by way of a free PC game, as an apology for the server issues stemming from the game's launch. The firm has also said it is "definitely looking into" an offline mode for the title.
]]>And in more SimCity news, EA has suspended its marketing campaign for the game in light of all the issues its launch has faced this week.
]]>SimCity, sadly, hasn't launched well in the US due to server issues. Across the pond however, we're all playing it happily. VG247's Sam Clay spends a day in the city.
]]>An internal memo from EA has surfaced which shows just how much trouble Maxis had with the launch of SimCity.
]]>SimCity may have got off to a rocky start this week, but series creator Will Wright has been playing it, and he's very pleased with the results.
]]>SimCity reviews have begun Stateside, and we're rounding up every score right here.
]]>SimCity just launched in the UK, while the US build continues to suffer. We chart EA's hellish week to recap exactly what went wrong.
]]>There have been conflicting reports this week about what you can do if you feel screwed by your inability to play the copy of SimCity you paid $60 for due to the server meltdowns. But there is one thing you should know: if you bought the game through Origin, you will not get a refund.
]]>Though you can still pick up a physical copy of SimCity from Amazon, the online retailer has pulled the digital download from its figurative shelves, in an attempt to prevent more people from paying money for a product they can't use.
]]>SimCity server woes continue, and EA is working around the clock to put them right. In the meantime the publisher has switched off some of the game's non-essential features to ease the weight currently bearing down on the game's servers.
]]>If you're one of the folks who has been waiting to be able to play that copy of SimCity that unlocked like 44 hours ago, you're not alone. But Maxis is working on it by trying to patch all the servers so hopefully they'll work correctly. Cross your fingers.
]]>SimCity publisher EA has promised a smoother European launch following a string of Origin pre-load and server issues experienced after the US release.
]]>Origin is having issues getting digital copies of SimCity out to those who have ordered the latest from Maxis.
]]>SimCity director Ocean Quigley has said the cities in the game will be come larger at some point, but he doesn't know exactly when. Speaking with Inc Gamers, Quigley said the smaller-sized cities at launch were a "performance decision" and once "mainstream computers become more capable," Maxis could "certainly make the city sizes larger." SimCity will be available March 8. Thanks, Shack.
]]>Another SimCity video featuring the original creator the series, Will Wright, has been released by EA and Maxis. In it, the game's lead designer Stone Librande and Wright discuss how the latter prefers to build cities in the game. Watch it below. SimCity will be available March 8.
]]>If you're in or around Sydney today, head down to Circular Quay. Kotaku reports EA has cleverly trapped six gamers dressed as construction workers with the lure of six hours uninterrupted play time on SimCity. The competitors are battling to build the largest population by 2:00 PM, at which point the winner will be awarded a helicopter ride, boat tour, and Harbour Bridge climb. Unfortunately nobody's yet figured out how to get into the tank and leg it with a copy of the game. SimCity is due in early March.
]]>EA's SimCity TV spot is actually pretty amusing, and delightfully brief.
]]>Will Wright has discussed his experience with Maxis' SimCity reboot in a recently-released video from EA.
]]>A second SimCity closed beta will go live on February 17, where participants will be testing an enhanced version of the game for one-hour. It's the same part of the game which was tested in January, only enhanced. Those who haven’t already signed up can do so here. Registration ends on February 11. There's also a trailer showing off the Heroes and Villains content included in the Limited Edition. The set allows players to create organized crime in the city and upgrade the police squad to a superhero status. Players can also unlock "a criminal mastermind by placing Dr. Vu's Evil Lair" in the city. Get a supreme superhero to fight the evil doers by placing the Maxis Man's Super Hero HQ in the city. SimCity will be available March 8.
]]>Stace Harman gets to grip with SimCity and invites you to learn from his mistakes. Impressions and new screens inside.
]]>SimCity games can be stressful, especially when you've got meteor showers pelting the homes of your residents, tornadoes throwing cars about and other nightmare scenarios kicking off. Developer Maxis has explained why these things won't be an issue in the game's customisable and less-stressful sandbox mode in a new blog.
]]>SimCity's general loveliness doesn't know when to stop. EA has released a new trailer showcasing the advantages of picking up the Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes three exclusive tile sets and a handful of well-known landmarks.
]]>SimCity is a game with many colour-coded UI labels and pointers, so it makes sense that developer Maxis has included three colour-blindness filters in the game. The game's creative and art director Ocean Quigley has created a video demo of the filters at work, and has discussed the features in a new interview.
]]>SimCity is going through a rebirth of sorts; taking full advantage of all the perks that modern hardware affords. Producer Jason Haber runs us through what it takes to be a mayor of SimCity town.
]]>EA has denied it has plans to issue Origin account bans to SimCity players who fail to report bugs, as suggested by the beta's terms of service.
]]>SimCity is hosting a round of closed beta testing this week and testers should be aware that not taking their role seriously could have serious consequences.
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