I really like SimCity4, I still play it as the customizing/modding community is still going strong. And for a game that's 10 years old now, that's really saying something.

When I first heard that a new SimCity was being developed, my initial reaction was excitement, and then I immediately remembered who owns it and after looking at their idea of what they were going to release I said no. Always-on, very limited region size, no customization whatsoever, that just didn't sound like any fun.

Yes, F-Spot, that too for her digital camera. She thought it was so simplistic when I showed her how to use it, of course it mostly does it's own thing. I think that the people that aren't comfortable around computers would do well with Linux, they have very little knowledge to carry over so the transition is pretty simple.

It's so much easier to just invade, set up a few puppets and indoctrinate them later. I hear far less bitching that way.

I don't think they deceived anyone who actually paid attention to looking into it. First of all, it's EA, they have a history of fucking good things up. So when I heard about a new SimCity, I was elated at first, then as I read into it, because I am suspicious of anything EA does, I was disgusted by it. Second of all, it's EA, they made up a story about social interaction being what everyone wants. But really it's just DRM they want to sell. And lastly, it's EA...

How about someone start a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to buy the source code for SimCity4? It's not like EA will be using it...although they might have to after this abysmal launch. I see someone is attempting to launch a Kickstarter to build a new SimCity style game http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1584821767/civitas-plan-develop-and-manage-the-city-of-your-d

My Mother is some 4000 kms away, so when it came time for a replacement we explored the tablet options, iPad or Android Nexus, but the touchscreen didn't really work out as she was used to a conventional keyboard. We considered a BlueTooth keyboard, but she wanted a proper computer, she didn't even want a laptop. She liked her computer desk setup and didn't want to change that.

In the end it was a newer PC, running Ubuntu 10. She had used XP previously, but she caught a couple of viruses and so with the distance this was something she was willing to do. She liked changing her background periodically, used Thunderbird and FireFox for her various interests. She didn't download programs or games, didn't need screensavers or anything similar. So the transition from XP to Ubuntu was not so bad, some well placed shortcuts and a bit of coaching and it seems to be working well for her.

So is this the first attempt to tax the air we breathe?

I was initially excited at the prospect of SimCity 5 being released, but after reading into the design and the plan, I can safely say it's going to be a load of crap. It requires an always-on Internet connection, they say it's for a community based experience, and a little bit for DRM. And when they decide to turn off the servers, that's it for SimCity 5.

I also believe there will be no player-customizable content, certainly at least not to the extent that SimCity 4 still has. And that is why I won't purchase it, and it frustrates me because I know full well others will buy it expecting an improvement over SC4, and it won't, it'll be such a piece of crap. And if it sells poorly, EA will decide there's no future in the SimCity games and kill off any further expansions, and if it sells well, they'll kill it with more microtransactions. I hope someone starts a proper City simulator through KickStarter or similar, I'll throw money at that.

I like your idea for the game, it looks promising. And as a fellow Canadian living in BC I will donate to your cause. :)

P.S. The Douglas Adams reference was well placed.

I liked the highways...but yes they definitely are a pain. I found I had to design the highway layout before building the city...but once I did that it was ok. I think we're both looking for a better implementation however. And in any regard, one of the great things about SC4...you had the option, something which is severely lacking in this upcoming version. I mean no subways even....what's the point.... although they could be overhauled as well.

And the really sad thing....it probably won't sell well and that could very well kill off the franchise with EA thinking nobody wants a city simulation. Rucking Fetards!

Like you I was very interested in a new SimCity...with #4 being 9 yrs old, and still quite playable as the modding community is quite active and has done some remarkable things.

But this version isn't worth it. Like you said, no local saves, preset sizes (none of which are larger than the medium size in SC4...after 9 years they went backwards on region size?) No terrain editing?? I loved creating all kinds of different terrains for towns and cities to grow on. If it's this controlled I also believe there won't be any modding available, no mention of any BAT tools or the like. No subways. It's a piss poor next step, they might as well have let it die with SimCity Societies.

I only hope that someone else can come along and give us a real next-gen SimCity.

I'll never buy another Apple product, until they learn to play nice. Sure, no company is perfect, they all make mistakes and can get involved in silly litigious dilemmas. But I cannot, in good faith, back a company that is seeking a monopoly in this fashion. Go Fuck yourself Apple!

I had looked for something exactly like this sometime ago and I had considered writing my own. It needs more documentation, but it works nicely. Thank you for pointing out this app.

I can understand the hull they're using for testing in a controlled area, but why not just build a crappy boat with hull and test with that. They won't be able to deploy this model to the ocean, something more like a submarine that travels on the surface would be a better design.