Sim City 5...finally

[BuffCity]

Will Wright, now legendary creator of SimCity, The Sims and the like, talks about his revelation in the world of game play, game interactivity and a new approach to gaming. And he shows this revolutionary idea of an intelligent code through his idea dubbed “Spore”.


http://www.gamespy.com/articles/595/595975p1.html

He talks about how code can be manipulated that it can become smarter, smaller, more concise and basically “intelligent”, so that developers can fit an entire 3D game into just 64k. He talks about how he had adapted this new 'intelligent code' into his game experiment “Spore” where for the first time, there is no need for animators, artists or code experts as the game’s code works out how an object/life develops and moves, conforming to your specifications. For example, if you were to give a creature 3 legs, the computer would work out how the animal would move. This revelation in gaming really quite amazing and is set to change the face of interactive game play. With Spore, it's not just the introduction of a new game based on evolution; it is a new game, using an intelligent code, a game that thinks for itself, a game that is not a game, but an art. If it is even meant as a game for release at all! With word of a web-site being set up for Spore, I believe now that the game may be set for release towards the end of this year of the beginning of the next.

Looking at the first screenshots of Spore as a preliminary working creation, it is not at first obvious that the game is a Maxis creation; Maxis has gained a reputation for detailed, lifelike and exciting game play. In SimCity 4, we have become accustom to running a detailed, working city in pleasing detail. I believe it is godly control over a detailed and lifelike canvas that really captivates us as game players and has gained Maxis its name. With the introduction of The Sims 2 to the equation, the most detailed life simulator ever made, with some scarily lifelike interactions and objects, maxis has captivated us once again. But with Spore, the cartoon and detail-free environment combined with the slowness of the plot; not many people will want to spend a couple of hours behind the wheel of a pool of goo. This is one of the reasons why I do not believe that Spore is a game intended for release as I do not believe it will catch on, it is simply too ‘out there’ for the general public. However, I do believe that Will Wright has hit upon something of an untapped treasure; something they maybe tapping right now, behind the scenes at Maxis.

I was thinking, what way could SimCity go next? And ‘what the hell’ are they doing that is so important to leave the web-site abandoned from fresh news. Then I thought about Spore, the new intelligent code, and rumors of SimCity 5. The only way that SimCity could go now is to adopt this new intelligent code…

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=55632

The link above says that a sequel to SimCity 4 is definitely in development, but we cannot confirm any screenshots for a while. It also talked about how Will Wright commented on how complicated the game was for new users. I’m guessing he would want to collect brand new gamers to join the Maxis bandwagon and also please existing maxis fans. The only way to gain these new players, keep Maxis’ developed reputation for detailed gaming and go the ‘right way’ into the future is to adapt this new intelligent code into the SimCity franchise.

A member of the Maxis team talked about how SimCity 5 would go back to its roots and become much simpler (This was in an internet chat about The Sims 2 a while ago). Using this new 'intelligent code', SimCity 5 would be able to think for itself, saving a lot of work on animation, building design, moving objects, infrastructure, etc. And would mean that the game would not only become simpler in playing, it would become simpler. The adoption of this new code would mean that SimCity 5 would be more of an individually functioning 4 Dimensional game of development, time, change, war, disaster, bridging water & gorge, towers & skyscrapers, business, money, taxation, housing transport, infrastructure and more, that they would then unleash on us to create masterpieces.

We would build cities with a much higher level of detail, it is possible that you would loose the square grid, be able to build roads in natural curves, build a bridge as high or a tunnel as low as you want, gain a higher knowledge of the populous of your city. Also, this brings a new level of power, a new level of responsibility, when it comes to running an intelligent city...

I think you’ll agree, the whole prospect of how this new code could change SimCity is a very inspiring and just plain amazing. I certainly hope this is the way SimCity goes into the future. According to Will Wright's view on the direction of game play and the unveiling of his new code, it certainly sounds very likely that he will adapt this into new games coming soon from Maxis. Unfortunately, The Sims 2 was too early for this new code and has not benefited from it, maybe we shall see some integration soon with the Sims 2 in future expansion packs. The Sims 2 is likely to be the last game from Maxis that has been designed and built in the old fashioned way. Future games from Maxis are set to be bigger, better, faster and smarter than ever. Maxis has its finger on the right button, it’s just when they are going to press it which is the problem…
It's all gone very quiet over at the main SimCity.com website which is very unusual for such a big game. Could this mean that SimCity 5 could be announced soon?
My guess is yes because they haven't updated the website since last year and there has been no announcement about another expansion pack. Just look at the Sims 2 where they decided to tell us about the next expansion pack by putting a flyer in with the University expansion pack.

EA wouldn't let a successful franchise like this drop.... so keep checking back here over the next couple of weeks as we bring you more news/rumours of the next installment of SimCity 5!





***finally!