New SimCity Only Playable Online [Mar 28, 2012, 10:18 am ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
The upcoming continuation of the SimCity series will require a constant internet connection to play, reports Joystiq. They have confirmed that the game will be sold through digital distributors other than Origin, but lead designer Stone Librande tells them players will need to be connected to EA's online service to play, even in single-player. Word is: "The always-on connection becomes necessary with the game's emphasis on multiplayer and regional impact, and the use of a global economy that all players can influence."
Bhruic wrote on Mar 29, 2012, 02:32:
That's my point. I don't assume they are doing this just to be dicks (although it's possible), I believe they think this is a good move. I just don't understand what their reasoning is that lead them to that belief. There wasn't - to my knowledge - a huge cry from people for the ability to play the game online. So unless they can demonstrate a real advantage to playing online (and some reason that you must play online), this seems to be a really bad decision.
Well outside of hardcore fans, there wasn't a huge cry for a new SimCity game to begin with. A game with no fighting? No story? No cinematic experience? Most of the gamers today who want such a thing are very casual. The kind of people who play Facebook games and MMOs. Very social, online-centric gamers.
The idea, from what I can gather, is to put together a game that has the online connectivity and other features that more casual gamers want. Existing SimCity fans might not need these features, but existing SimCity fans aren't that numerous compared to the ravenous hordes of casual gamers.
What remains to be seen are the features that allow these casual players to enjoy SimCity, while still allowing the old school SimCity fans to have the level of complexity they want. Really the success of this game hinges entirely on whether or not it can have both an idiot-friendly mode, and a more hardcore mode.
You and I might not see the needs for an online component, but it's pretty much expected if they want to try and convert some of the existing "Games without murdering everyone" gaming segment.
Do you have a single fact to back that up?
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