Sim City 5

[Avantime]

Big Simcity 4 fan here, decided to wait until 1-2 weeks after release to buy it due to my previous experience with Diablo 3's Error 37. Unfortunately it looks like my fears with regards to server instability have become true and I dodged a bullet.

 

I've participated in one of the betas and to be honest the city sizes are just too small and modding, which greatly enhanced my Simcity 4 experience, is now far more difficult with the always online "server-side data crunching" DRM. Also the single player gameplay is intentionally overlooked in favour of multiplayer, which is something I despise as Simcity has always been traditionally a single player game and EA has the Simcity Facebook game for that role. It's impossible to play online with strangers because the game requires co-operation and there's a high risk of "griefing".

 

Wonder why a boxed copy is already selling for $55 when digital download (the cheapest way to distribute) is firm at $80. They are good at maximizing profits from the ones willing to download out of convinience.

 

There are many places on the internet which sells discounted Steam/Origin keys, which is good because Simcity is a region-free game and buying from a local shop or through Origin is often too expensive. I hope to get at least US$25 off because of the bad reviews. 

 

BTW If you want to stay in touch with Simcity news go and subscribe to the Simcity Reddit thread at www.reddit.com/r/simcity

[gizmosellsbunnys]

Always Tropico game more fun anyways and the music is better. 

[Matthew Kane]

Always Tropico game more fun anyways and the music is better.

+1

 

Only problem is my copy of Tropico3 stutters, Apparently the latest Tropico4 doesn't stutter anymore. I've been too busy with work to solve the issue.

 

But you are correct. Tropico is the cool SimCity with Salsa music  :Party:

[Mean Aerodynamic Chord]

DRM is one of the worst ideas ever.

 

DRM doesn't (attempt to) stop piracy. It encourages it. This is why I will never buy a downloadable game, except on Steam.

 

The ratings for SimCity on Amazon are incredible. More than 1,500 1 star reviews for the game. 

 

The US needs to adopt the British law that requires companies' products (even online purchases) to be refundable. 

 

Also, EA warning customers of blocking their Origin account is crossing the line...

 

Edited March 10, 2013 by linux731

[Kaboki]

 

Also...I paid $60 and got a 20 dollar rebate from Amazon - why are some people having to pay $80?

 

Well, I paid 104US$ directly from Origin :lol: Offcourse this whas for the preordered deluxe version...The other version would have cost me 87$.

[Matthew Kane]

 

DRM is one of the worst ideas ever.

 

I am with you....eventually this stuff will become 'Legacy Software' and they will remove the need to play online. The more we protest, the sooner it becomes 'Legacy Software'

[Mean Aerodynamic Chord]

I am with you....eventually this stuff will become 'Legacy Software' and they will remove the need to play online. The more we protest, the sooner it becomes 'Legacy Software'

DRM is ridiculous. It's almost (or even) as bad as the government telling me I can't unlock/"jailbreak" my phone. It's MY PHONE, I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT WITH IT. Same thing for software, I BOUGHT IT, I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT WITH IT AND USE IT WHEREVER I WANT.

[tonywob]

 

It's MY PHONE, I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT WITH IT. Same thing for software, I BOUGHT IT, I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT WITH IT AND USE IT WHEREVER I WANT

 

I completely agree with you, however if you read the annoying EULA, it says you have a license to use the software or phone, but you don't own it. I'm not allowed to hack my iPhone even though I paid full price for it (but I do anyway). Simcity 5 is similar to a long-term rental which you pay for and you follow their rules (They cut the server off in two years, tough luck, you €60 is down the toilet).

 

I don't condone piracy, but I haven't purchased a DVD for years. Why should I be forced to watch "You wouldn't steal a car" and copyright information which I can't skip?. The sad truth is, it is 1000x more convenient to pirate stuff. I will happily give software developers and movie producers my money, but stop punishing me because I paid legally, when pirates get a better experience.

 

Especially in my country where everyone pirates everything, most TV serials don't have subtitles, but a guy speaking over the top of it to translate it, and I can't stand it. I openly admit that I download the torrents of my favorite TV shows. I don't have to watch 30 minutes of adverts after the show's opening credits, and more importantly I can watch it when I want (and not wait six months to a year for it to be shown here).

 

The only way companies like EA will learn, is to vote with your wallets. Simply don't buy it. It will serve them right when a cracked version appears in a few weeks on torrent sites. I've put money into that crowd-sourcing city builder instead (I'd rather give them $60, than fund that !#!@#@# company's deep pockets).

[Kaboki]

I don't condone piracy, but I haven't purchased a DVD for years. Why should I be forced to watch "You wouldn't steal a car" and copyright information which I can't skip?. The sad truth is, it is 1000x more convenient to pirate stuff. I will happily give software developers and movie producers my money, but stop punishing me because I paid legally, when pirates get a better experience.

 

If everyone did like you, there would be no pirated movie for you to download because it's people like me that pay for stuff that gives companys money to make those movies.. <_<

Thank god there is honest people out there or no one would have any products at all to enjoy. -_-

So sorry you get no sympathy from me just because your issue with having to watch a short copyright infringment text on a movie you bought, can't really see why that ruins your expirience with a movie.

 

And about all this DRM stuff, why do we blame companys, If it hadn't been for pirates we wouldnt have it in the first place. So I blame the pirates instead of blaming the companys from trying to protect their products.

[tonywob]

 

If everyone did like you, there would be no pirated movie for you to download because it's people like me that pay for stuff that gives companys money to make those movies

 

I never said I pirate movies or software (I do pirate TV shows), I don't even own a TV. Most movies I'll either watch at the cinema, or rent on iTunes or Netflix without all the unskippable intro rubbish which I remember they had a few years ago (I'd imagine even more worse now). I 100% refuse to buy a DVD or BluRay disk where I'm forced to watch adverts, announcements etc.

[Kaboki]

 

I never said I pirate movies or software (I do pirate TV shows),

 

A pirate is a pirate, wether it's movies or TV shows doesn't make it more legit, you don't condone piracy but pirating TV shows is okay? 

[Avantime]

Just purchased the Limited Edition for US$28 from the Indian Origin store  :lol:  B)

 

More info here:

http://www.reddit.com/r/SimCity/comments/1a07fy/buying_simcity_dirt_cheap_27_aud_instructions/

[tonywob]

 

A pirate is a pirate, wether it's movies or TV shows doesn't make it more legit, you don't condone piracy but pirating TV shows is okay?

 

No it isn't okay and I'm guilty of it, but if I don't pirate it, I can't watch it. Nearly every show I watch is from the US, and it either never gets shown here, or we have to wait a year or more and then watch it with the translator talking over the top of it. Give me a legal means to pay and watch these TV shows and I will (I can't even get them on iTunes for legal reasons). Also I'm guessing in Norway, most of the US TV shows you have are in their original English with subtitles? A translator ruins a TV show, and is the main reason I don't bother watching TV here. Again, give me a legal way for me to pay and watch these shows on my computer and I will.

 

If I were to pay for a subscription to cable or satellite television then I don't want a 45 minute program interrupted with condescending and damn-right annoying 30 minutes advert breaks. I'd rather record it and watch it later, fast-forwarding through the adverts.

[Kaboki]

 

No it isn't okay and I'm guilty of it, but if I don't pirate it, I can't watch it. Nearly every show I watch is from the US, and it either never gets shown here, or we have to wait a year or more and then watch it with the translator talking over the top of it. Give me a legal means to pay and watch these TV shows and I will (I can't even get them on iTunes for legal reasons). Also I'm guessing in Norway, most of the US TV shows you have are in their original English with subtitles?

 

Ah, I can see that one, guess we are more lucky in Norway where we don't use translators and having subs instead so in someway you have a very valid point :rolleyes: . I guess in your case you can't be blamed for pirating and someone should have made it easier for you to enjoy your favorite shows. Sorry for my rant :blush:

[Guest]

Bought the boxed version for some 43 euro's. Cheaper then the official site. I could have gone for one of those key resellers but I don't trust those, really... Anyway, thanks to DRM I can play the game without having to load the dvd so it's fine with me. And I have to say I also like the small maps: it keeps you focused! I don't like gigantic maps that takes years to fill and grow... I have to decide yet what I think about the online part though: I like to play alone and I have yet to find out if it is possible to build a good city on your own. Then again, I am mainly in it for the fun of fooling around. I might even try the Free play mode where you can use everything right from that start and even cheat to get money (so I am told).