SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?

A new video on YouTube shows the work of UKAzzer, who has (apparently) intrepidly worked out how to play the new SimCity offline with some home hacking, in spite of EA's suggestions this would be a massive, if not impossible undertaking (thanks Videogamer). Here's word:
So with a little bit of package editing within SimCity, and a little playing about in the code, it's possible to enable debug mode. I linked the activation to the "Help Center" button in the main menu for ease. Most debug features are disabled without having an actual developer's build (they have terraforming tools etc. available in the full developer build!), but a few things do still work - including editing the main highways.

Not only that - but you can edit the highways ANYWHERE - even outside of your city boundary... and even if you quit the game and log back in later, it's all saved safely on the server.

This shows that highway editing will be easily possible, AND that editing outside of the artificially small city boundaries should be very viable too.

Other things I have modded out with a quick change: Unlimited time to remain disconnected (won't get booted at 20 minutes, can now be disconnected "forever"). Population count now shows REAL figure, not the "artificially inflated" figure. My large cities have a population of about 15k now, not 100k :P
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161 Replies. 9 pages. Viewing page 3.
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121.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 18:52
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 18:52
Mar 14, 2013, 18:52
 
Cutter wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 18:39:
JohnnyRotten wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 18:29:
Sorry for the wall of text. Man I hate those kind of comments.

That wasn't a wall of text. A wall of text is one of those rambles without paragraphs and/or bullet points. That was easily readable and coherent.

I'll try to fail harder next time. Especially on the coherent part.
120.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 18:39
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 18:39
Mar 14, 2013, 18:39
 
JohnnyRotten wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 18:29:
Sorry for the wall of text. Man I hate those kind of comments.

That wasn't a wall of text. A wall of text is one of those rambles without paragraphs and/or bullet points. That was easily readable and coherent.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
119.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 18:39
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 18:39
Mar 14, 2013, 18:39
 
Redmask wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 18:17:
RollinThundr wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 15:57:
I honestly think people forget that EA at one point early in their existence was all about giving game developers not only credit for their works during a time in the industry where we didn't have credit screens at the end of a game and also created and funded some pretty god damn awesome games over the years.

That SimCity shipped in the state it did, and is so reliant on an always on connection that it sounds like it actually breaks the game is definitely something to hold them to the flame for. But after almost a week of countless SimCity threads where the same shit is rehashed for the 100th time, at this point it'd be more useful to bitch at EA directly.

You're the dope that seems to have forgotten that. People want that EA, not this one. Everyone else wants to hold them accountable and is correctly complaining about their actions, you're the one constantly making excuses and trying to defend them under this feigned objectivity shit.

I'll bitch to EA, I'll bitch on here, I'll bitch wherever and whenever they deserve it. If you don't like it no one cares. The truth is that you just don't want to hear people say bad things about EA. It takes a special kind of shill to passive aggressively defend EA after this nightmare.

waah wahh RT is a shill because he doesn't post the same hate filled rant 30 times on an EA thread! MUST BE AN EA SHILL! Do you realize how fucking retarded you sound? By all means bitch away, I'm certainly not stopping you, it's pretty pointless in the end unless you're also voting with your wallet but have at it if it makes you feel better.
118.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 18:29
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 18:29
Mar 14, 2013, 18:29
 
Sorry for the wall of text. Man I hate those kind of comments.
117.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 18:27
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 18:27
Mar 14, 2013, 18:27
 
Beamer wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 17:52:

That's not even slightly true. No one buys the old game?

1) The old game is cheaper
2) The old game is fondly remembered by those that haven't played it in years

Do you know what the game got an enormous bump on Steam when Deus Ex: HR was released?

Of course the bump is bigger here, due to the launch, but I keep seeing people talk about how SC4 was the best selling game on GoG. Gee, you think?

GOG doesn't sell Simcity 4 (at least not currently - maybe in the past?). Sorting their catalog by bestselling shows Simcity 2000 about 20 slots down. So your statement here doesn't appear to be true, unless GOG used to sell it. Was that the case?

Deus Ex: I can't find any kind of aggregator of Steam's weekly topseller list. If you have a source to back up your claim, I'd certainly be interested. I'd also be interested in correlating that with general sales trends over time as well as any potential sale that was going on - other factors that could be involved that would determine if your point is more about causation then correlation.

On your other two points:

"1) The old game is cheaper". Yes, so is expired butter. Neither old butter nor an old game whose feature set, graphics, and overall capabilities stands up very well when stacked against something fresh. People who play games as a rule don't toss the new version over to buy the old version based the price point. Unless you have very cruel parents. Man, I wish I had kids. I'd do that to them all the time. Here kiddo - have a brand new copy of Madden 94. Have fun! Keep bitching and you'll be getting Empire Deluxe next instead of Call of Donkeys 9.

"2) The old game is fondly remembered by those that haven't played it in years". Certainly. Of course, those people already own the old game and generally don't need to repurchase it. Those who do would certainly be a small market. Also these people would most likely have indulged themselves somewhere between the announcement and the release of the newest flavor of the game. After all, they don't have to wait to play their old game - it's already released.

I believe that the reality here is that what people generally want, including the "fondly remembered" types, is to play a BETTER version of what they already own, or remember from the fond days of yesteryear. Otherwise no sequel would ever sell.

What I think we're seeing here* is that the failure at every level for SimCity has driven those who so badly wanted a better sim game back to the old ones in the same genre. Thus the high volume of sales of much old games in the same genre AFTER the release of the new. Such a large volume that it's driving other new AAA titles down underneath them

* I'll stress "think" as I'm not an expert in market dynamics; furthermore I value the truth to much to make fact claims like "not even slightly true" without evidence. /snark off.
116.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 18:26
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 18:26
Mar 14, 2013, 18:26
 
Oh shit, EA got caught in a lie? Say it ain't so! Hey but you kids keep giving them money so the can continue to fuck you over.
115.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 18:17
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 18:17
Mar 14, 2013, 18:17
 
RollinThundr wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 15:57:
I honestly think people forget that EA at one point early in their existence was all about giving game developers not only credit for their works during a time in the industry where we didn't have credit screens at the end of a game and also created and funded some pretty god damn awesome games over the years.

That SimCity shipped in the state it did, and is so reliant on an always on connection that it sounds like it actually breaks the game is definitely something to hold them to the flame for. But after almost a week of countless SimCity threads where the same shit is rehashed for the 100th time, at this point it'd be more useful to bitch at EA directly.

You're the dope that seems to have forgotten that. People want that EA, not this one. Everyone else wants to hold them accountable and is correctly complaining about their actions, you're the one constantly making excuses and trying to defend them under this feigned objectivity shit.

I'll bitch to EA, I'll bitch on here, I'll bitch wherever and whenever they deserve it. If you don't like it no one cares. The truth is that you just don't want to hear people say bad things about EA. It takes a special kind of shill to passive aggressively defend EA after this nightmare.
Avatar 57682
114.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 18:17
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 18:17
Mar 14, 2013, 18:17
 
Ray Marden wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 18:09:
You all wanted a patch. You got your patch. We patched out the ability to access the debug mode and play it single-player!

Yeah, stolen from Reddit.
EA just keeps on telling lies.
Ashamed at how mad Cliffy B. is at us for not giving EA even more money,
Ray
That's not surprising. The moment someone found that it was going to be obvious that EA was going to take it out.
113.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 18:13
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 18:13
Mar 14, 2013, 18:13
 
EA GAMES... Challenge everything, glasshobo style.

EA Sports.. Hobo Olympics. Its in the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d0b41H-Lnk
112.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 18:09
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 18:09
Mar 14, 2013, 18:09
 
You all wanted a patch. You got your patch. We patched out the ability to access the debug mode and play it single-player!

Yeah, stolen from Reddit.
EA just keeps on telling lies.
Ashamed at how mad Cliffy B. is at us for not giving EA even more money,
Ray

Everything is awesome!!!
http://www.kindafunny.com/
I love you, mom.
Avatar 2647
111.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 18:02
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 18:02
Mar 14, 2013, 18:02
 
deqer wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 17:56:
SimCity 4 Deluxe?

Don't buy it. Pirate it!

I'm sure all of EA's bullshit has costed you $60 part of your life in some way, shape or form. Do you want a refund for that $60 of bullshit/stress/frustration/deceivingness ? Well, you can get a refund by pirating it!

Don't worry. You aren't the bad guy for pirating it. EA is. EA caused you to pirate it.

You didn't ask for all the bullshit EA has been doing lately, including forcing you on their Origin system.

Yep continue justifying publishers forcing always on drm for SP games. Well done douchecanoe!
110.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 17:56
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 17:56
Mar 14, 2013, 17:56
 
SimCity 4 Deluxe?

Don't buy it. Pirate it!

I'm sure all of EA's bullshit has costed you $60 part of your life in some way, shape or form. Do you want a refund for that $60 of bullshit/stress/frustration/deceivingness ? Well, you can get a refund by pirating it!

Don't worry. You aren't the bad guy for pirating it. EA is. EA caused you to pirate it.

You didn't ask for all the bullshit EA has been doing lately, including forcing you on their Origin system.
109.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 17:52
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 17:52
Mar 14, 2013, 17:52
 
JohnnyRotten wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 17:37:
Beamer wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 17:31:
Why is that crazy? Who wouldn't expect older versions of a franchise to explode when there's interest for the new?

Heck, RollerCoaster Tycoons 2 and 3 are in the top 20.

If the successor beats the old game in quality, no one buys the old game. So I would think no one expects any sim game like or comparable (RC Tycoon) to be on the charts at this time. That they show up at all is another sign of fail for EA.

Also internets. Because.

That's not even slightly true. No one buys the old game?

1) The old game is cheaper
2) The old game is fondly remembered by those that haven't played it in years

Do you know what the game got an enormous bump on Steam when Deus Ex: HR was released?


Of course the bump is bigger here, due to the launch, but I keep seeing people talk about how SC4 was the best selling game on GoG. Gee, you think?
108.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 17:37
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 17:37
Mar 14, 2013, 17:37
 
Beamer wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 17:31:
Why is that crazy? Who wouldn't expect older versions of a franchise to explode when there's interest for the new?

Heck, RollerCoaster Tycoons 2 and 3 are in the top 20.

If the successor beats the old game in quality, no one buys the old game. So I would think no one expects any sim game like or comparable (RC Tycoon) to be on the charts at this time. That they show up at all is another sign of fail for EA.

Also internets. Because.
107.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 17:31
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 17:31
Mar 14, 2013, 17:31
 
JohnnyRotten wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 17:25:
wtf_man wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 15:49:
And it'd be hillarious if somehow Sim City 4 suddenly outsold Sim City 2013. Mybe EA would get the message.

...Nah.

Holy crap - not that far from the truth:

Amazon Digital Download Best Sellers

Simcity - #1
Simcity 4 Deluxe - #2 <----- CRAZY

Why is that crazy? Who wouldn't expect older versions of a franchise to explode when there's interest for the new?

Heck, RollerCoaster Tycoons 2 and 3 are in the top 20.
106.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 17:25
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 17:25
Mar 14, 2013, 17:25
 
wtf_man wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 15:49:
And it'd be hillarious if somehow Sim City 4 suddenly outsold Sim City 2013. Mybe EA would get the message.

...Nah.

Holy crap - not that far from the truth:

Amazon Digital Download Best Sellers

Simcity - #1
Simcity 4 Deluxe - #2 <----- CRAZY
105.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 17:11
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 17:11
Mar 14, 2013, 17:11
 
Beamer wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 16:03:
I think EA really learned its lesson with burning studios to the ground.
Thats right. But instead they are burning their own franchises. Choose your poison
104.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 16:52
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 16:52
Mar 14, 2013, 16:52
 
deqer wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 16:45:
Beamer wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 16:40:
Can't do that now, eh?

"<EA>: Of course not. That would significantly reduce the lifetime of the game. You must start a new city and experience it, like in the real world. There is no travelling back in time. If we allowed you to do that, then you'd have your 'fill' early on."

See the part where your argument fails is this isn't a pay to play game. EA already got their 60 from those who bought it. I doubt EA cares if people are still playing or not, the drm is more to combat piracy I would imagine.
103.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 16:48
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 16:48
Mar 14, 2013, 16:48
 
That Ars story, from before launch, covers a lot of what we've learned since.

Up until about Wednesday I still figured this was a buy for me down the road.
Now? I always have RollerCoaster Tycoon 2!
102.
 
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline?
Mar 14, 2013, 16:45
Re: SimCity Hacked to Play Offline? Mar 14, 2013, 16:45
Mar 14, 2013, 16:45
 
Beamer wrote on Mar 14, 2013, 16:40:
Can't do that now, eh?

"<EA>: Of course not. That would significantly reduce the lifetime of the game. You must start a new city and experience it, like in the real world. There is no travelling back in time. If we allowed you to do that, then you'd have your 'fill' early on."
161 Replies. 9 pages. Viewing page 3.
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