Table of Contents 94e1i
SimCity is one of those games that occupy the classics shelf. The game, created in the 1980s, leveraged the name of the studio that created it, in addition to gaining a legion of loyal fans, responsible for its success over the years. 2p5336
The great attraction of the simulator is to provide the experience of actually being the mayor of a city. Constructing buildings, commercial areas, taking care of energy and water distribution are just some of the tasks available.
During all this time, the game presented some versions and even other games were created based on the famous SimCity. Furthermore, the game is responsible for acting on other fronts, functioning as a device that goes beyond simple fun.
Source 2v3l5l
During the 1980s, programmer Will Wright developed his first game, called Raid of Bungeling Bay (1986), distributed by the production company Brotherhood. In it, Will developed maps of places that would be attacked by the game's helicopters.
During the creation process, he realized that he spent a lot of time creating maps of places and that this was his real fun. With this in mind, Wright added more elements to the scenario, giving it a city feel that could develop according to the actions performed by the player.
The idea behind the SimCity. However, the game encountered resistance to being released, as its biggest problem was the fact that there was no winner, as it was not about losing or winning, but rather about developing an environment that was as close to a city as possible. .
Shortly afterwards, Will Wright met Jeff Braun, an entrepreneur who was interested in the games industry and saw great potential in the city simulator developed by Wright.
In 1987, the two founded Maxis together and in 1988 they returned to Brotherhood to guarantee all rights to the game. In February 1989, the SimCity, initially available for computers such as IBM PC, Amiga Commodore and Atari ST.
Eventually, the game reached other platforms, such as Commodore 64, Macintosh and consoles Nintendo. The game was such a huge sales success and reached the mark of one million copies sold in 1992.
Versions and consoles 401813
Over the years, SimCity gained several versions. From the first computers, through famous consoles and finally reaching today's smartphones, the game has won a legion of fans over the years. Check out the main versions of SimCity, the most famous city simulator!
SimCity (1989) 6e1a3c
The first released version of SimCity was intended for old computers, like the IBM PC, Commodore (Friend and 640), Atari ST, Macintosh e Nintendo System. The start was a little timid and the beginning of the game had weak sales.
Created in 1987, this first version of SimCity only managed to come out in 1989. This is because during the development process, the game took a long time to gain the trust of investors and producers, until it was necessary to found the Maxis and count on the of Brotherhood for initial distribution.
Even without having a clear objective, which could define patterns of victory or not in the game, the SimCity developed by Wright gained a lot of space in the North American media and it was common to see the game featured in important publications such as Newsweek and the magazine Team, in addition to the newspaper The New York Times.
The game allowed you to choose a map and from there, all the player's movements were to build a city from scratch. It was necessary to build highways, industrial and commercial zones, as well as residential areas, which would receive the population. The new mayors would also have to collect taxes and deal with other problems.
For a simulator-type game, until then little known and widespread among fans, the first version of SimCity It generated a certain debate among the public and even in other niches of society, involving professionals in the field of Architecture and Urban Planning, who highly praised the game and all the possibilities for managing a city.
This debate around the SimCity was responsible for the game's fame, which allowed its sales to reach greater numbers. Furthermore, the game was used as an educational device and reached classrooms.
SimCity for SNES (1991) v6t3f
Taking advantage of the success of the series and the possibility of achieving greater numbers in of sales and worldwide visibility, the Nintendo launched the SimCity protocols for Super Nintendo, in April 1991 in Japan and in August in the United States.
In of gameplay, the game presented basically the same conditions as the previous version, with the addition of innovations developed by Nintendo. New features included a statue of Mario when the city reached 500 inhabitants.
With the statue placed on the map, the villain Bowser appears to cause disaster and haunt everyone, while searching for his enemy Mario. There are also some types of rewards that the “mayor” receives, such as casinos, parks, amusement parks and even an exhibition center for the city.
The game for Super Nintendo also featured the illustrious figure of Dr. Wright, a character inspired by Will Wright and who appeared in some situations, advising the player on the various problems and needs of a city to grow.
As in any public istration, there are expenses to maintain the city. To balance finances, the player could also pay taxes and even go to the bank and take out a loan of $10.000,00, which must be paid correctly.
The version for Super Nintendo It was a success and reached an incredible 2 million copies sold. This way, in a short time SimCity it had already established itself as a phenomenon within the world of electronic games.
SimCity 2000 49711n
SimCity 2000 was launched in 1993 and developed by Will Wright and Fred Haslam, an engineer at Maxis. This version created for PC, Mac e Amiga Commodore brought new features, starting with the isometric camera, which allowed a greater viewing angle compared to other games in the franchise.
In of gameplay, SimCity 2000 it brought more elaborate graphics and the possibility of placing some specific buildings, such as schools, hospitals and museums anywhere on the map. Furthermore, the city could have a subway system and pipes through which the city's water ed.
Taxes began to be separated according to each sector of the city under construction: residential, commercial and industrial. SimCity 2000 It was a huge success and reached 300.000 copies sold. With its success, the game reached other consoles and was also released for Sega Saturn e SNES, in 1995 and for Playstation 1, in 1996. The game also marked Will Wright's departure from the franchise.
SimCity 3000 2l2041
With this title, the original idea of Maxis was to create a fully 3D environment in SimCity 3000. However, to achieve this graph it was necessary to use a type of technology that was not so accessible at the time.
A demo version was presented at E3 1997, and was welcomed as a true aberration by the electronic games industry. A Maxis was going through a difficult time, and that year he ended up sold to Electronic Arts (EA) for US$125 million.
After the sale takes place, SimCity 3000 it was redesigned and a new version of the game was launched in 1999, under the command of Luc Barthelet (engineer) and producer Lucy Bradshaw, responsible for redoing the graphics, which ended up in 2D.
In this way, a new SimCity 3000 was sold, initially to the PC. This version brought some improvements to maps and the camera. Furthermore, the game presented other possibilities during the construction of a city, which included the garbage system, improving the underground layer (responsible for housing the subway and water pipes) and other things.
SimCity 4 1u4h4u
The game returned to the shelves, this time in 2003. Released for PC e Mac, SimCity 4 had graphics in 3D and the isometric camera with some advantages. The buildings had clearer details and one of the game's features was the exchange between neighboring cities.
One of the innovations in this version included the day and night cycle, which made it possible to show the city with sunlight and street lights illuminating the citizens. Furthermore, SimCity 4 made it possible to follow the lives of Sims, from birth to the moment of death.
The game did not feature Will Wright in the creation and development of the project. The title was created to maintain the franchise's standard SimCity and it can be said that the partnership between Maxis e Electronic Arts (EA) managed to fulfill its role.
SimCity (2013) 6f3k16
Ten years after launching the last title in the franchise, the game returned with SimCity (2013), or SimCity 5, as it was called. The intention of Eletronic Arts it was to develop a game completely integrated between its functionalities.
SimCity (2013) was released with full graphics 3D and had more detailed building and street styles, which resulted in more pleasant environments to play. However, the big news was the use of glass box, a type of technology that allowed the actions of city citizens to influence the game.
The game offers features that other titles in the franchise did not have. Some constructions and even the maintenance of important indices, such as neighborhood safety and environmental pollution, are easy to carry out or check.
A big problem for this version, released for PC e Mac, was the fact that the game would have to be played online. For this reason, and with the accumulation of players in servers of EA, SimCity faced major problems loading in the game. The problem was only fixed a year later, in 2014, and made it possible for the game to run offline.
The Sims, the most famous spin-off 175k72
The Sims is the most famous extension of SimCity. Over the years, the game was responsible for gathering a legion of fans, already excited about all the success of SimCity, who bet their chips on this new simulation game.
The idea behind the game came about after a catastrophic event. In 1991, a fire destroyed the entire house of the developer, Will Wright, who lost the entire space and was forced to rebuild it. While rebuilding his house, Will had the idea of creating a game that simulated this process.
A few years ed until, in the early 2000s, the first game in the series was released. In The Sims, players can make their own characters, giving them their own physical and personal characteristics, which develop each person's personality.
The first version, released for PC e Mac, brought the game's own language, the simlish (created especially for the game), in addition to the currency, the simoleons.
It was so successful that expansion packs were released, leading up to the second version. Among several expansions and many innovations, The Sims reached its fourth edition and gathered a huge number of fans across the world.
The big difference between all the games in the series is the possibility of creating characters and following them throughout their lives. This way, you can choose the first steps of your Sims, what career to pursue, how to relate and everything else.
Expansion packs, present in all versions of The Sims, bring us closer to real life situations, as well as new items and exclusive content (in each of the expansions).
The Sims was made public in February 2000, by Maxis. The following version, The Sims 2, was launched in 2004. In 2009 the EA launched The Sims 3, while the fourth and final version (so far), The Sims 4, was presented in 2014.
EA has not yet revealed a possible release date for the The Sims 5, but the game is already being developed under the name “Project Rene” and so far little is known about the game, but the developer has already announced that it will be completely free.
SimCity for iOS and Android 286y5i
One of the last acts of the franchise was the launch of SimCity BuildIt, for smartphones iOS e Android. The game was made available in October 2014 and made a good impression on millions of s around the world.
Like any SimCity, your objective could not be different. It is up to the mayor to develop the city in the best possible way, pleasing his Sims and collecting taxes. Without leaving aside the provision of basic services for the population, such as health, security and education.
The game's graphics stand out, proof of the company's intention EA to please the franchise's loyal fans. For the player, there are some advantages to starting the city from scratch. For each game started, 25.000 simoleons, and other rewards that guarantee a smooth start to a new city.
Mayor has several tools for editing and customizing spaces. It is also possible to build stores specializing in producing construction items (ladders, nails, hammers, tape measures and much more), which serve to improve residential areas.
The player also has the possibility of building hospitals or smaller health units, as well as police stations and fire units. To grow, you need to be attentive and collect taxes daily, in addition to selling items to other cities, in a kind of free trade between different locations.
As it is played, SimCity BuildIt is capable of unlocking new scenarios, from regions close to the main city. This allows the player to manage other regions in addition to the main city: Cactus Canyon, Frozen Fjords, Verdant Valley and Sun Islands are some of the possible scenarios.
The game does not have missions to be completed, but it has objectives that can be achieved and that influence the development of the game. It is also possible for each city to have an airport and a port, which have specific tasks that guarantee rewards for the city's mayor.
The game's buildings have well-defined details and, over time, the mayor reaches higher levels and is able to unlock different types of residences, which include buildings art nouveau or even large skyscrapers, inspired by metropolises like Tokyo.
SimCity BuildIt is found for platforms like iOS e Android. To , you need to access the specific store for each operating system and it for free. During the game there is the possibility of purchasing some facilities, such as SimCash and other essential items.
Why isn't there a new SimCity? 5o6i11
SimCity emerged in the games market as an innovation. Will Wright's initial idea, back in the 1980s, yielded many fruits. The game was responsible for introducing a new genre to the gaming industry, accustomed to other models.
The success of SimCity This is proven by the consistency on the market and the various versions that followed the original. People of all ages and all over the world have played this city simulator that promises to create a developing environment with maximum fidelity.
However, some disastrous moves by the executives behind this franchise ended up resulting in the end of SimCity. There are two precise moments in which the franchise began to meet its end.
At first, the Maxis, a developer created by Will and Jeff Braun, was purchased by Electronic Arts (EA), in 1997. Therefore, EA would also be responsible for developing the following versions of the game, starting with SimCity 3000, released later in 1999.
After a t contribution from EA and the Maxis and the development of other sequences for SimCity that reached different platforms and consoles, in 2015 EA announced the end of the company's activities Maxis.
With the closure of the studio Maxis in California, the franchise SimCity suffered a huge loss. The headquarters in Emeryville, had been created after the launch of SimCity 4 and took care exclusively of the game.
The team was redeployed and the EA He also started taking care of the franchise The Sims, inspired by SimCity and the entire Sims universe. Currently the Maxis has a reduced role within the structure of EA, being a part of the EA Mobile, which develops games for smartphones.
Other famous city simulators 415w38
When it comes to city simulators, it is undeniable that SimCity is the reference within the genre. However, ignoring the existence of other games of this type is not very prudent. Check out some titles below that surfed the same wave, some with more, others with less prominence.
Tropico 6 1lw1n
The latest title in the political parody franchise sees the player take on the role of a dictator on a Caribbean island. In the game it is possible to assign physical characteristics to the character, which will impact the way the dictator is seen by society.
The player can also choose the budget to start the regime, as well as choose, from colonialism to modern times, a historical moment to govern. Thus, the objective of the game is to build the island according to the needs of the citizens, trying not to displease any of the factions there.
Tropico 6 was launched in 2019, for PC e Mac and is also available on consoles like Playstation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch e Xbox.
City Life 4e1962
City Life is a game that allows the player to build a city along the lines of SimCity. The graphics are entirely in 3D and very similar to the 2013 version of SimCity. The game was released in 2006 for PC.
The game promises to deliver modern buildings and freedom across the map to develop your city. Some negative points, much questioned by fans of the saga, are the lack of catastrophes and a well-defined climate throughout the game.
Cities: Skylines 1p272u
Cities Skylines is the main successor of SimCity. When the first version was released for PC in 2015 (later released for consoles), the game was able to spark a divide among fans who used to play this type of game.
The game was highly praised, and a debate really arose among players about how two such identical games could have the same space within the gaming industry. Cities Skylines drank straight from the Sims fountain and nowadays tries to consolidate its group of loyal fans around the world.
After a very successful first edition, the Colossal order, the game's developer, announced a second version, launching in 2023. Initially, many innovations were expected in this version, but it wasn't quite like that.
In fact, there are innovations in City Skylines 2, however the feeling that the game gives is that of playing the first version. The new game brings some new features, such as the possibility of building on a plot of land measuring 172 square kilometers, instead of the 100km² of the first version.
The game has features that are quite realistic. Pay attention to natural disasters and weather patterns present in Cities Skylines, which are shown with total fidelity to what happens in real life.
Beginner players may have some doubts when building a residential or commercial area, but in general, City Skylines 2 It's an easy and simple game to play, even though it seems to have complex systems.
The biggest problem with this title is the fact that City Skylines 2 need a configuration that not everyone has access to. There are reports of people with robust configurations in their gamer setup who found it difficult to run the game.
There is still the whole issue around connectivity, bugs and other problems in City Skylines 2. However, the game's producer and developer promises to be working on general improvements.
Pocket City c6d5
This game is available for PC, Mac and also for Android e iOS and was created in 2018. Pocket City It features constructions with defined graphics and more playful themes, almost looking like a cartoon.
The fun of the game is building a city from scratch quickly. However, the game is criticized for its unrealistic nature and lack of more precise details that convey greater fidelity.
Theo Town 15y72
Theo Town is another city simulator that used SimCity as reference. So much so that the game's visuals look a lot like the scenarios in SimCity 2000, launched by Maxis. The game was originally designed for PC, which was then also developed for smartphones Android.
Theo Town is a simple game that guarantees fun with its interface and the way of playing similar to SimCity 2000, but without its complexity, in the words of the game's developer, Christian Weigel.
See also other features
Sources: New Millennium, EA, SimCity Wiki, Inquirer Business
Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim
