     |
| |
When the new SimCity game launched earlier this year, it caught a huge amount of flack for requiring an Internet connection to play and bunch of server issues that prevented many gamers from playing for a long time. Those launch woes are behind the game now, and Maxis has announced its first expansion pack is coming on November 15.
The expansion pack will be available for PC and Mac gamers and is called SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow. The expansion pack is set 50 years in the future from the original game and brings a number of new technologies and planning techniques for your cities. Keep in mind that game does still require an Internet connection to play.
One of the complaints of the most recent SimCity was that larger maps were needed to allow people to build bigger cities. The expansion pack doesn’t expand the city size, but does introduce MegaTowers that allow players to build their cities vertically. The expansion also includes an exclusive disaster and a new villain in the form of a corporation that strip mines resources and pollutes the environment.
[via Eurogamer]
SimCity for Mac is finally here, and needless to say, many have waited years for this day. Unfortunately, the arrival isn't going terribly smoothly for some, with user complaints ranging from installation issues to the game running only in a windowed mode. Put simply, SimCity for Mac is unplayable for some, and it's an unfortunate situation that's eerily reminiscent of its launch on the PC. A Maxis spokesperson tells us that its live support team is actively working with players that've encountered trouble, and for what it's worth, installation of SimCity for Mac went off without a hitch on our end. In other words, don't lose hope; if you're looking to avoid potential frustration, however, you might want to give the developers a chance to iron out these launch day issues.
Update: Maxis has issued the following statement about the issues:
"We are pleased to advise that the installation-related issues some players experienced with SimCity on Mac have been resolved."
Filed under: Gaming
Via: TUAW
Source: EA forums (1), (2)
To put it mildly, the EA Maxis team has learned a few hard lessons about launching only when ready. The company is putting that theory into practice: it's delaying the launch of SimCity for Mac from June 11th to August. The OS X version just isn't "ready for primetime," the company says. As compensation, all Mac buyers will get access to the recent Launch Park bonus that they'd otherwise miss. And Windows users, you're still getting some TLC -- EA Maxis has detailed the impending Update 5 release, which fixes some bugs while delivering big improvements to chat and trading. While SimCity still hasn't shaken its rocky reputation, it's clear that the developers are determined to (eventually) set things right.
Via: Joystiq
Source: SimCity
The botched launch of the new SimCity game has upset many this week, however there is a little good news. EA Maxis exec Lucy Bradshaw posted that the company is working on its server issues, with capacity reportedly up 120 percent in the last 48 hours and "disrupted experiences" down 80 percent. As a way of making up for a launch that was "dumb" for not anticipating far more players and activity than seen in its beta, EA will offer all those who've activated a copy by March 18th a free PC game download. There's no word on which game(s) from the EA portfolio will be available but users will be notified by email. The one thing they won't be getting however is what many are asking for: an offline option that avoids all the server mess and entanglements of always-on DRM.
Filed under: Gaming
Source: EA
I’d be willing to bet there are huge number of gamers out there who have fond memories of playing previous SimCity games back in the day. I know I spent many an hour building a giant city only to destroy it with a rampaging monster or some other catastrophe. It’s been 10 years since we’ve seen a new game in the SimCity franchise. EA has announced that the new SimCity game is now available at retail stores across North America and as a digital download via Origin.
This game has been one of the most widely anticipated launches of early 2013 and brings the game play we all remember along with significantly updated graphics and capabilities. EA says that everything is intelligently simulated in the new SimCity.
EA says that everything from the Sims in the city down to every kilowatt of power is intelligently simulated thanks to the powerful new GlassBox Engine. The game supports multiple city game play across regions giving players a larger field than some previous titles that limited you to a single city. The new game allows players to manage and play up to 16 cities at a time.
Each of the 16 cities can have a different specialization. A player’s individual cities can share services and trade resources. The cities can choose to help each other or hinder each other depending on the player’s mood. This is also the first SimCity game to support multiple player gaming with a players decisions for their cities impacting the city and the region. The game supports real-time updates and pushes updates to players with new challenges and achievements.
You can download SimCity Limited Edition for $59.99(USD) or the Deluxe Edition, which includes French, German and British city sets for $79.99 over at the SimCity website now.
