New SimCity Only Playable Online [Mar 28, 2012, 09:18 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 28, 2012, 20:42:
I don't buy it. EA has had much bigger games come out (and planning to come out) that have no hint of an "always on" connection requirement.
Don't buy what specifically? Given the absence of any legitimate design related reason for this, we're left with the usual suspects in terms of explanations and they all fit like a glove here. With Diablo 3 leading the way and taking the brunt of criticism I wouldn't be surprised if this is the first of many such announcements from EA.
q[SimCity is not a big enough franchise that they can count on previous purchasers to buy it regardless. They must have had some reason in mind for an always online requirement (assuming the news is accurate, so far the sites reporting it are the types to report every rumour they come across) beyond simply DRM.
We're in different days now, marketing can make even a mediocre title like Homefront a multi-million mover. Anything with Sim in the name is likely to sell decently and EA needs exclusive properties to fuel the Origin vehicle. This gives them tight platform control and a relative lack of worry about piracy. They can even exert tighter region controls.
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