SimCity

From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.

A SimCity 4 high-rise

SimCity is a real-time strategy/simulation computer game (or "software toy"). It is game developer Maxis' flagship product. There are four versions; the original SimCity (1989, later renamed SimCity Classic), SimCity 2000 (1993), SimCity 3000 (1999), and SimCity 4 (2003). All of the games were re-released with various add-ons including extra scenarios. In addition, SimCity Classic is available for a Palm Connected Organizer, and on the SimCity.com website as Classic Live. SimCity 2000 is also available for handheld organizers running Microsoft's Pocket PC OS, as well as the Game Boy Advance and PlayStation. SimCity and SimCity 2000 were also released for the SNES. There was also a SimCity 2000 3D hybrid called SimCity 64 which was released only in Japan for Nintendo 64's add-on flop, the 64DD.

Contents

Description

A screenshot of SimCity on the Atari ST

SimCity was originally developed by game designer Will Wright. The inspiration for SimCity came from a feature of the game Raid on Bungeling Bay that allowed players to create their own maps. Wright soon found he enjoyed creating maps more than playing the actual game, and so began creating SimCity.

The game sparked off a new paradigm in computer gaming by creating a game that could neither be won nor lost. This did not bode well with the game publishers at the time, who did not forsee the possibility of successfully marketing and selling such a game. However, the success of SimCity speaks for itself: "Sim" games of all types were spawned—with Will Wright and Maxis developing a myriad of titles including SimEarth, SimFarm, SimTown, Streets of SimCity, SimCopter, SimAnt, SimIsle, SimPark, The Sims, and SimMars, which was never released. They also obtained licenses for some titles developed in Japan, such as SimTower and Let's Take The A-Train (just called A-Train outside of Japan). The most recent development is The Sims, and its sequel The Sims 2.

SimCity is predominantly a single-player game (the exception being a "Network Edition" of SimCity 2000). SimCity 4 also makes an attempt at multiplayer gaming with the ability to share regional maps and cities with other players, allowing you to collaborate, but not play in real time.

Objective

The objective of SimCity, as the name of the game suggests, is to build and design a city, without specific goals to achieve (except in the scenarios, which typically require the player to achieve a certain population or bank balance in a given period of time). The player can mark land as being zoned as commercial, industrial, or residential, add buildings, change the tax rate, build a power grid, build transportation systems and many other actions, in order to enhance the city. Also, the player can face disasters: flooding, tornadoes, fires, riots, earthquakes, etc. Later disasters included lightning strikes, volcanoes, meteors and attack by extra-terrestrial craft. In the Nintendo and later versions one can also build rewards when they are given to them, like the mayor's mansion and the casino for gambling sims.

SimCity 2000

The unexpected and enduring success of the original game, combined with the relative lack of success with other Sim titles, finally motivated the development of a sequel, published in 1993 as SimCity 2000 (SC2K). SC2K was a major extension of the concept; the view was now isometric instead of overhead, land could have different elevations, and underground layers were introduced for water pipes and subways. New types of facilities included hospitals, prisons, schools, libraries, museums, parks, marinas, zoos, and stadiums. You could build highways, roads, bus depots, and zone land for seaports and airports. Enacting city ordinances and connecting to neighbouring cities became possible. The budget and finance controls were much more elaborate. SimCity 2000 was quite successful.

With the release of SC2K came the introduction of a tool labelled the SimCity Urban Renewal Kit (SCURK). This enabled players to modify the images used in-game to represent various buildings, in much the same manner as general image manipulation software. A number of pre-altered graphics packages were distributed, including some which replaced the "reward" buildings with images of various well known international buildings, such as the Eiffel Tower.

A racing game based on the cities of SimCity 2000, Streets of SimCity, was published in 1997. It had the capability of importing SC2K cities and allowing the user to drive around in them. However, poor graphics and control prevented this game from being a commercial success. This later inspired the "U-Drive-It" feature of the SimCity 4: Rush Hour expansion pack.

SimCity 3000

SimCity 3000 (SC3K) is essentially SimCity 2000 with several small features added and graphics updated to a standard appropriate for when it was published (1998). Some people consider SC2K to be a better game than SimCity 3000 since the two are essentially the same and because of SC3K's greater system requirements, and game-play issues. For example, SimCity 3000 Unlimited occasionally gives the player the option of hosting a parade, which gives a boost to your city. The animation for the parade lasts a long time, the game pauses during the animation, and you do not have the option of skipping over the animation. Critics note other similar flaws. While some users have managed to run SimCity 4 on Linux, 3000 was the first and only version to be specifically released for the operating system.

Notable improvements from 2000 to 3000 were the introduction of garbage management, better management of the power and water grids, farms, much larger maps, and a news ticker for status updates to replace the old popup-style newspaper. However, SC3K removed the ability to construct arcologies, but some feel that the huge buildings were only included because of SC2K's small map size, which prevented too many people from inhabiting a city at once.

An expansion-like add-on, SimCity 3000 Unlimited, was released in 2000. It was not an expansion pack per se, as it did not require the original SimCity 3000 for use. Unlimited added, among other things, Asian and European building sets, a snapshot feature, an improved version of the Building Architect Tool (a very basic psuedo-3d design tool based on cubes), and scenarios (along with a creator).

The SimCity 3000 Unlimited edition was distributed with different titles outside of the USA: SimCity 3000 World Edition in Europe (with the exception of SimCity 3000 Deutschland in Germany), SimCity 3000 China in China, SimCity 3000 Japan in Japan, and SimCity 3000 Korea in Korea.

SimCity 4

Main article: SimCity 4

There are many differences between this game and previous versions, the largest difference being that cities are now located in regions that are divided into segments, each of which can be developed.

Neighbor cities played a large role in the previous version of the game, SimCity 3000. For example, neighbor deals could be established, where a city could exchange resources such as water, electricity, or garbage disposal for money. In this version, the player may develop several dependent cities at the same time, eventually populating the entire region. Additionally, the simulated city can now be seen at nighttime as well as during daytime.

SimCity 4 can be used in conjunction with Maxis' popular game The Sims. Sims can be imported into the city where they will report what they think of the area they are living in. SC4 comes with some default sims for those without a copy of the game. Moreover, SC4 does have a control interface very similar to The Sims.

External links

Official SimCity website
SimCity Classic Live (requires registration)
MobyGame's entry on the SimCity series
SimCity.com Fansite Directory: Maxis' official and comprehensive SimCity fansite directory. It includes the three most popular fansites:
- Simtropolis, the largest and one of the most comprehensive SimCity 4 fan sites
- SimCity Central, a smaller site, but fairly complete
- SimCity 3000 Resource Center, a site oriented more at tutorials and guides than the other two. Run by a Maxis employee, Wren Weburg, who is also the webmaster of SC4EVER, the SimCity 4 Resource Center.
- 7 Deadly Sims, a fan created website which includes oft-updated Sims information along with a wealth of downloads.

ca:SimCity de:SimCity fr:Sim City he:SimCity ja:シムシティ sv:SimCity