EA confirms Maxis at work on new installment in city-building franchise, using new GlassBox engine, for PC and Mac.
The reports have proven correct: SimCity will return to the PC in 2013. At a Game Developers Conference event tonight, Electronic Arts confirmed that its Maxis studio is at work on a new installment in the city-building franchise for release next year.
According to EA, Maxis is building the new SimCity on its new GlassBox game engine. Among other features, this engine will allow the studio to introduce curved roads to the franchise. The game will also be fully 3D, a first for the series.
EA also noted that the game will emphasize a dynamic struggle for limited resources as a player's city develops. The company said that this feature will play into the game's cooperative and competitive online component.
EA's Origin online storefront is already offering preorders for downloads of SimCity in a $60 limited edition and $80 "digital deluxe" package. The limited edition will introduce superheroes and villains to the game, as well as unspecified "mystery items." The digital deluxe version will have all of that, as well as new British, French, and German-themed city sets.
The first trailer for the new SimCity can be seen below. EA has more information on the game through its official website.
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
Would have been a great game but the title is wrong, SimCity does not return in 2013. This is, by official statements, SimCity Online MMO. That is NOT SimCity
@JeffreyCor You need to have an online connection to play the game, but you don't have to play with other people. If you want to, you can create an offline region and build all the cities and GreatWorks by yourself.
1 Like This beautiful game will become another r4pe victim of game company egomaniacs if it's released without a standalone offline single version. At the least the already raging core fans will ABSTAIN just to ensure that few egomaniacs get fired.
2 Like I was all excited about this until they brought in the director of "An Inconvenient Truth" and started talking about how you'll be having to deal with limited resources, as well as over-pollution. Its just going to be a running advertisement for the Green Movement ... which I personally believe is half reality, half junk science. So no thanks. I play games to get away from all this real life crap. I'll pass.
This is simulation after all. You want a game play GTA, AC or whatever it is you play these days. I like new challenges. Societies was screwed cos Maxis didn't make it. This is worth the wait!
Okay, let me get this straight, putting my cautious hype aside. At GDC, the devs from Maxis stated that the new Glassbox engine will be mod friendly. Assuming that holds true, awesome. On the flip side, they want to give you, what they consider, $20 worth of extra packs in their collectors edition as "DLC". Is it me or with that move, did EA back themselves deeper into a corner that they're already finding themselves in? Someone is going to have to go into detail about this Glassbox engine to ultimately sell me on this one.
Soooo I'd like to a know a few things. One, is this going to be another Origin-only, anti-Steam PITA? Two, is this going to turn into another DLC monster a la Sims? Three, is EA going to...well...you know be all EA?
@SonicNextGen2: If this game will release on consoles, it'll get outdated graphics (thanks to "powerful" xbox) and awkward controls (thanks to controller, how can you play RTS on console?). So yes, i am happy that there is no console versions. Stop complainig, go and buy yourself a decent PC, will you... Some games just must stay on PC.
Odd... from what I know, the only limited resource for city developers is CASH. Everything else can be bought or sourced elsewhere... even land
Well, i was too very excited when i heard the news but then...i said to myself. This is EA we're talking about, this cant turn out great as this game wasnt really built for the masses back in the day and all they do now with their games is streamline them as much as possible. Then i saw this info today about cloud saving progress only ?! and also progress will be continually pulled to the cloud in the background as you build. I really hope we get an option to save on the system and by the looks of it, that wont happen. I hate that idea, cause i feel the next thing ill hear will be that im gonna need to use social crap in the game and play along with my neighbors, cause it will be like an online city building sim, its gonna be a cityville ! :( I dont think this will turn out for the best but God i hope im soooo wrong.
Oh man this is going to be great, just gotta decide to buy digital or disc even though it appears with digital you get more.
1 Like @Zverugin: What is so bad about consoles? They have nothing to hurt the gaming industry (besides DLC and motion controls) and games should be open to new consoles.
Hope my i3 4gb ram is able to play it or I will have to start to save money for a new rig just for this game...
I love Simcity! Simicity 4 was by far the best of them all, wan't to keen on Societies so hope this reboot of the series goes back to its roots! Trailer looks great, love to see the new Glassbox Engine and cant wait to play this :) ONLINE ASWELL!
I don't want to appear obnoxious, so I will just say that I had to fight against my instinct to type in all caps and extend my words as if I were shouting. Instead, I will simply say - I am excited. That is all. :)
@Triton Quote from the Simcity site: "Play with new enhanced design tools like curvy roads and zoning to create the city you always wanted." So that means it's already in the game.
But its still just same SimCity ...right. See everyone makes DLC as soon as a game comes out these days. Now wouldn't this be a perfect case for some DLC to add curved roads and other crap to add life to an existing game? Maybe not, just tossing that out. Kinda a steep price I might add, maybe $30.
A Multiplayer Simcity sounds good. Working together to build a co-op or competitive city sounds like fun.
I'm stoked that a new simcity is coming out, but at the same time worried becuz of the EA part.. And I think i know what the DLCs are going to be... at the very least building pack DLC... at worst, PER building dlc... want the empire state building? 5$!! Oh you wan't Taipei 101? 10$!!! It's a taller building so it drains more resources to map...
I'd like a multiplatform version of the Sim City but mouse and keyboard support would be a must. Ah well, great news all the same!
I was just thinking the other day, when are they going to make a new simcity I have my answer. can't wait
1 Like I am pretty much sold by loyalty and nostalgia, but... I hope full 3D/realistic is the right artistic approach.
Cities crumble in this video review for SimCity.
Users who looked at this article also looked at these content items.
United States Vice President Joe Biden believes there is no legal restriction on ability to tax violent media. Full Story
Avalanche Studios co-founder says developer's ambition is for action, not moments that make players cry; steampunk-style game on hold. Full Story
Developer confirms image suggesting version of upcoming shared-world shooter in development for Sony's latest portable is a fake. Full Story
Assassin's Creed and Far Cry publisher says its network of 26 studios and over 7,000 developers will allow company to ship major franchises more regularly. Full Story
4A Games creative director Andrew Prokhorov thanks Jason Rubin for telling the studio's story, but says, "We deserve the ratings we get." Full Story
DICE head would also like to poach top talent from rivals Infinity Ward and Treyarch. Full Story
Future EA games won't require Online Passes; the service is being scrapped after tepid player response. Full Story
Layoffs at Defiance dev - Report
Trion Worlds confirms job cuts as part of company reorganization, says 80 percent layoff figure "definitely exaggerated"; development on Rift, future...
