SimCity

Infobox VG
title = SimCity


caption = Early cover arts of "SimCity" feature a jukebox-like design, with different versions depicting different cities and disasters.
developer = Maxis
Nintendo EAD (SNES version)
Mobile: Babaroga
publisher = Brøderbund, Maxis, Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Superior Software/Acornsoft
designer = Will Wright ("SimCity" series)
license = Proprietary, re-released under the GNU General Public License version 3 on 10 January 2008
series = "SimCity"
platforms = Acorn Archimedes, Acorn Electron, Amiga, Amiga CDTV, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, BBC Micro, C64, DESQview, DOS, EPOC32, FM Towns, PC-98, GBA, OLPC XO-1, OS/2, Linux, Mac OS, Mobile phone (Symbian or Java), NeWS, SNES, Tk, Unix, Windows, X11 TCL, ZX Spectrum, Virtual Console
released = 1989
genre = Simulation, City-building game
modes = Single player
requirements = CPU 286 6 MHz, 2MB hard disk space
ratings = vgratings|ESRB=E (Wireless)|ELSPA=3+ (Windows)

"SimCity" is a city-building simulation game, first released in 1989 and designed by Will Wright. "SimCity" was Maxis' first product, which has since been ported into various personal computers and game consoles, and enhanced into several different versions including "SimCity 2000" in 1993, "SimCity 3000" in 1999, "SimCity 4" in 2003, "SimCity DS" and "SimCity Societies" in 2007. The original "SimCity" was later renamed "SimCity Classic". Until the release of "The Sims" in 2000, the "SimCity" series was the best-selling line of computer games made by Maxis.

"SimCity" spawned an entire series of "Sim" games. Since the release of "SimCity", similar simulation games have been released focusing on different aspects of reality such as business simulation in "Capitalism".

On January 10, 2008 the "SimCity" source code was released under the free software GPL 3 license under the name Micropolis.

History

"SimCity" was originally developed by game designer Will Wright. The inspiration for "SimCity" came from a feature of the game "Raid on Bungeling Bay" that allowed Wright to create his own maps during development. Wright soon found he enjoyed creating maps more than playing the actual game, and "SimCity" was born.cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/maxis/index.html|title=SIMply Divine|accessdate=2008-06-07|author=Geoff Keighley] In addition, Wright also was inspired by reading "The Seventh Sally", a short story by Stanislaw Lem, in which an engineer encounters a deposed tyrant, and creates a miniature city with artificial citizens for the tyrant to oppress.cite web | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4D71F3AF936A25755C0A96F948260
title=Making City Planning a Game | work = nytimes.com | accessmonthday = May 18|accessyear = 2007]

The first version of the game was developed for the Commodore 64 in 1985, but it would not be published for another four years.cite web | url = http://simcity.ea.com/about/inside_scoop/sc_retrospective02.php | title=Inside scoop: The History of SimCity (page two) | work = SimCity.com | accessmonthday = December 17 |accessyear = 2006] The original working title of SimCity was "Micropolis".cite web | url= http://simcity.ea.com/community/events/will_wright_01_08_04.php | title=Will Wright Chat Transcript | work = simcity.ea.com | accessmonthday = Nov 8|accessyear = 2007] The game represented an unusual paradigm in computer gaming, in that it could neither be won nor lost; as a result, game publishers did not believe it was possible to market and sell such a game successfully. Brøderbund declined to publish the title when Wright proposed it, and he pitched it to a range of major game publishers without success. Finally, founder Jeff Braun of then-tiny Maxis agreed to publish "SimCity" as one of two initial games for the company.

Wright and Braun returned to Brøderbund to formally clear the rights to the game in 1988, when "SimCity" was near completion. Brøderbund executives Gary Carlston and Don Daglow saw that the title was infectious and fun, and signed Maxis to a distribution deal for both of its initial games. With that, four years after initial development, "SimCity" was released for the Amiga and Macintosh platforms, followed by the IBM PC and Commodore 64 later in 1989.

On January 10, 2008 the "SimCity" source code was released under the free software GPL 3 license. [ [http://weblogs.asp.net/bsimser/archive/2008/01/10/simcity-source-code-released-to-the-wild-let-the-ports-begin.aspx SimCity Source Code Released to the Wild! Let the ports begin...] ] The release of the source code was related to the donation of SimCity software to the One Laptop Per Child laptop, as one of the principles of the OLPC laptop is the use of free and open source software. The open source version will be called "Micropolis" (the initial name for "SimCity"), since EA retains the trademark "Simcity". The version shipped on OLPC laptops will still be called "SimCity", but will have to be tested by EA quality assurance before each release to be able to use that name.

Objective

The objective of "SimCity", as the name of the game suggests, is to build and design a city, without specific goals to achieve (except in the scenarios, see below). The player can mark land as being zoned as commercial, industrial, or residential, add buildings, change the tax rate, build a power grid, build transportation systems and many other actions, in order to enhance the city.

Also, the player may face disasters including: flooding, tornadoes, fires (often from air disasters or even shipwrecks), earthquakes and attacks by monsters. In addition, monsters and tornados can trigger train crashes by running into passing trains. Later disasters in the game's sequels included lightning strikes, volcanoes, meteors and attack by extra-terrestrial craft.

In the SNES version and later, one can also build rewards when they are given to them, such as a mayor's mansion, casino, etc.

Scenarios

The original "SimCity" kicked off a tradition of goal-centered, timed scenarios that could be won or lost depending on the performance of the player/mayor. The original cities were all based on real world cities and attempted to re-create their general layout, a tradition carried on in "SimCity 2000" and in special scenario packs. While most scenarios either take place in a fictional timeline or have a city under siege by a fictional disaster, a handful of available scenarios are based on actual historical events.

The original scenarios are:

*Bern, 1965 - The Swiss capital is clogged with traffic, the mayor needs to reduce traffic and improve the city by installing a mass transit system.
*Boston, 2010 - The city's nuclear power plant suffers a meltdown, irradiating a portion of the city. The mayor must rebuild, contain the toxic areas, and return the city to prosperity. In some early editions of "SimCity" (on lower-power computers that did not include the nuclear power plants), this scenario was altered to have a tornado strike the city. Much like the Tokyo scenario below, the mayor needs to limit damage and rebuild.
*Detroit, 1972 - Crime and depressed industry wreck the city. The mayor needs to reduce crime and reorganize the city to better develop. The scenario is a reference to Detroit's declining state during the late 20th century ("See also History of Detroit, Michigan").
*Rio de Janeiro, 2047 - Coastal flooding resulted from global warming rages through the city. The mayor must control the problem and rebuild. In some early editions of "SimCity" (on lower-power computers that did not include the flooding disaster), this scenario was altered to have the objective be fighting high crime rates.
*San Francisco, 1906 - An earthquake hits the city, the mayor must control the subsequent damage, fires and rebuild. The scenario references the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
*Tokyo, 1961 - The city is attacked by a Godzilla-type monster (Bowser in the SNES version). The mayor needs to limit the damage and rebuild. The scenario is strongly based on the original series of "Godzilla" films.The PC version (IBM, Tandy compatible; on
*Hamburg, Germany, 1944 - Bombing, where the mayor has to govern the city during the closing years of World War II and rebuild it later. This scenario references the bombing of Hamburg in World War II.
*Dullsville, USA, 1900 - Boredom plagues a stagnating city in the middle of the United States; the mayor is tasked to turn Dullsville into a metropolis within 30 years. In addition, the later edition of "SimCity" on the Super Nintendo (SNES) included the basics of these two scenarios in two, more difficult scenarios that were made available after a player had completed the original scenarios:
*Las Vegas - Aliens attack the city. This invasion is spread out over several years, stretching city resources. While somewhat similar to Hamburg, the scenario included casino features as well as animated flying saucers.
*Freeland - Using a blank map without any water form, the mayor must build a game-described megalopolis of at least 500,000 people. There is no time limit in this scenario. While similar to the earlier Dullsville scenario, Freeland took advantage of the SNES version's clear delineations between city sizes, particularly metropolis and megalopolis. In the center of Freeland is a series of trees that bear the familiar head of Mario. However, the player is unable to build any of the reward buildings from the normal game.

While the scenarios were meant to be solved strategically, many players discovered by dropping the tax rate to zero near the end of the allotted timespan, one could heavily influence public opinion and population growth. In scenarios such as San Francisco, where rebuilding and, by extension, maintaining population growth play a large part of the objective, this kind of manipulation can mean a relatively easy victory. Later titles in the series would take steps to prevent players from using the budget to influence the outcome of scenarios.

Also, several of the original scenarios, such as the Bern scenario, could be won simply by destroying the city, as they checked only one factor, in this case traffic.

Ports and versions

"SimCity" was originally released for home computers, including the Amiga, Atari ST and DOS-based IBM PC. After its success it was converted for several other computer platforms and video game consoles, including the Commodore 64, Mac OS-based Macintosh, Acorn Archimedes, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, EPOC32, mobile phone, Internet, Windows, Virtual Console, FM-Towns, OLPC XO-1 and NeWS HyperLook on Sun Unix. The game is also available as a multiplayer version for X11 TCL /Tk on various Unix, Linux, DESQview and OS/2 operating systems. Certain versions have since been re-released with various add-ons, including extra scenarios. An additional extra add on for the Windows version of SimCity Classic was a level editor. This editor could be opened without use of the SimCity Classic disc. The level editor is a simple tool that allows you to create grasslands, dirt land, and water portions.

In 2007 the developer Don Hopkins announced that One Laptop Per Child XO-1 will receive a free and open source version of the original SimCity. [ [http://www.olpcnews.com/content/games/simcity_on_the_olpc_xo.html OLPC News: SimCity on the OLPC XO! ] ] [ [http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4891&Itemid=2 Games Aim For Good : Next Generation - Interactive Entertainment Today, Video Game and Industry News - Home of Edge Online ] ] It is to be called Micropolis for trademark reasons.

Super Nintendo variation

"SimCity" for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System features the same gameplay and scenario features. There are several differences associated with the Nintendo port. The Nintendo port was developed and published by Nintendo, and Nintendo incorporated their own ideas. Instead of the Godzilla monster disaster, Bowser of the Super Mario series becomes the attacking monster, and once your city reaches a landmark 500,000 populous, the player receives a Mario statue that is placeable in the city. The Nintendo port also features special buildings the player may receive as rewards, similar to the rewards buildings in "SimCity 2000". There are also city classifications, such as becoming a metropolis at 100,000 people. Also unique to the SNES version is a character named "Dr. Wright" (whose physical appearance is based on Will Wright) who acts as an advisor to the player. This edition is featured as Nintendo's Player's Choice as a million seller. Later, an official Japan-only sequel titled "SimCity 64" was released for the Japan-only Nintendo 64 add-on, the Nintendo 64DD.

For other Sim games, see the list of "Sim" games.

Critical acclaim

"SimCity" was critically acclaimed and received significant recognition within a year after its initial release. As of December 1990 (from a Maxis document by Sally Vandershaf, Maxis P.R. Coordinator) the game was reported to have won the following awards:

In addition, "SimCity" won the Origins Award for "Best Military or Strategy Computer Game" of 1989 in 1990,Fact|date=February 2007 and the multiplayer X11 version of the game was also nominated in 1992 as the Best Product of the Year in "Unix World".Fact|date=February 2007

Legacy

The subsequent success of "SimCity" speaks for itself: "Sim" games of all types were developed — with Will Wright and Maxis developing myriad titles including "SimEarth", "SimFarm", "SimTown", "Streets of SimCity", "SimCopter", "SimAnt", "SimLife", "SimIsle", "SimTower", "SimPark", "SimSafari", and "The Sims", as well as "SimsVille" and "SimMars", which were both never released. They also obtained licenses for some titles developed in Japan, such as "SimTower" and "Let's Take The A-Train" (just called "A-Train" outside of Japan). A recent development is "The Sims", and its sequel, "The Sims 2". "Spore", released in 2008, was originally going to be titled "SimEverything"—a name that Will Wright thought might accurately describe what he was trying to achieve. The game yielded five sequels:
*"SimCity 2000" (1993)
*"SimCity 3000" (1999)
*"SimCity 4" (2003)
*"SimCity DS" (2007)
*"SimCity Societies" (2007) A fifth "SimCity" was revealed by Electronic Arts chief financial officer Warren Jenson in 2007. The title of the game is "SimCity Societies" and it was released worldwide on 13 November 2007.cite web | url=http://www.thesims2.co.za/content/view/727/1/ | title=SimCity Released | publisher=BUSINESS WIRE | accessdate=2007-11-14] Societies has a larger focus on the city's inhabitants rather than on its architecture. [ [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=165262 "EA resurrects SimCity"] from Computer and Video Games] Since Will Wright was busy with "Spore" and "SimCity 4" was deemed too complex by some, Tilted Mill was given the task by EA to create SimCity Societies. [http://forums.spacecast.com/forums/thread/319440.aspx "Uh oh, SimCity is in trouble with SimCity Societies]

"SimCity" inspired a new genre of video games. "Software toys" that were open-ended with no set objective were developed trying to duplicate "SimCity"'s success. The most successful was most definitely Wright's own "The Sims", which went on to be the best selling computer game of all time. The ideas pioneered in "SimCity" have been incorporated into real-world applications as well. For example, VisitorVille simulates a city based on website statistics.

The series also spawned a SimCity collectible card game, produced by Mayfair Games.

References in other games

*In "Space Quest IV", in the Software Excess Store, a game called Sim Sim is available. It is described as a "simulated simulator specially designed for creating simulated simulators" and that "you can create a simulated environment in which you can create any simulated environment you want".

*In "Postal²", an unplayable arcade game called "SymHomeless" can be spotted in various locations around town. Text in the game describing the phony game reads "lawsuit narrowly averted by changing 'i' to 'y'."

*Dr. Wright appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Nintendo GameCube as a collectible trophy.Fact|date=August 2008 He also appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii, where a player can use the Assist Trophy item to summon him. He then causes a tall building to suddenly sprout from the ground, damaging any player who it touches, besides the player who summoned Dr. Wright.Fact|date=August 2008

*In the and the DX version of it, Mr. Write is based on Dr. Wright from the Super NES version of SimCity.Fact|date=July 2008 Also, Dr. Wright's theme song was used in the houses of Mr. Write (in the northern part of Mysterious Woods) and Christine the Goat (in Animal Village) as background music.Fact|date=August 2008 In and , Dr Left was also based on Dr. Wright.Fact|date=August 2008

*In the 2008 game Grand Theft Auto IV, a reference is made to SimCity in a commercial on the in-game radio. It cites a fictional game and depicts a young boy describing what he can do in the game. "When does it end? Never, I play until I die!".

See also

*Government simulation
*Municipal government, the basis for "SimCity".
*"Micropolis" (software)
*"Lincity"
*Urban Planning
*Regional Planning

References

External links

* [http://simcity.ea.com/ Official "SimCity" website]
* [http://simcity.ea.com/play/simcity_classic.php SimCity Classic Live] (requires registration)
* [http://simcity.ea.com/community/fansites/fansites.php SimCity.com Fansite Directory] : Maxis' official and comprehensive "SimCity" fansite directory.
*MobyGames|id=/simcity|name="SimCity"