New & Upcoming game discussion.

[Xenon]

Lav > Does Simcity have the same pathing problem it did in every incarnation since Simcity 2000, where cars base the path on distance, not speed, and ignore highways even when it's faster?

(Edit: EFF has a story on the DRM in Simcity.)

I'm thoroughly disgusted with the big-brother always-online requirements for single player. Part of the reason I don't get involved in MMOs is the absolute dependence on an outside factor; I value long-term worth. Once the MMO's operation becomes unprofitable your "purchase" is worthless. There's no going back to enjoy it some 15 or 20 years later like the classic games from your youth.

It's less pronounced with SC2 since the upkeep is less, but still, it could end up buried in the limbo of "perpetually copyrighted but unprofitable to sell" like so much other media someday, unable to be enjoyed by anyone who would still care to.

I hate to say it, but without purchasing the product you can't support the developer. Unfortunately, the profits also go to the publisher, who you hate.

Damn right... I feel the same way about movies and DVDs.

For now, at least console games don't come with choke chains attached... yet. I've heard horror stories about plans to lock games to personal accounts to make resale impossible. Publishers hate resale at least as much as "piracy" because even their legions of lawyers are powerless to stop it.

Anyway, on the subject of the games themselves, have you guys heard much about Xenoblade Chronicles [Wii]? It isn't exactly "new" but I've really been enjoying it.

[IskatuMesk]

Xenoblade has a great soundtrack but I hate the wiimote so much I haven't really looked into any new purchases for it for a long time. If I can confirm the game works with the GC controller there's a high possibility I'll investigate it in the future when I've gone through a lot of my current LP list.

Also, AWP 8 talks a lot about simcity, DRM, and online-only games, if you're into listening podcasts with wibod and myself.

[Lavarinth]

Lav > Does Simcity have the same pathing problem it did in every incarnation since Simcity 2000, where cars base the path on distance, not speed, and ignore highways even when it's faster?

You have four tiers of road and two tiers of avenues. Roads support up to two lanes max, avenues up to three lanes (that's both per direction of traffic). Unfortunately it was recently discovered vehicles currently take the shortest route regardless of traffic or density. They will reconsider what road to take (by my observation) at an intersection by random chance, I feel there is no pathing designed for the vehicles to properly try to wage through traffic and instead just all clump up together. Emergency response vehicles also must suck it up and deal with traffic, they have no authority over civilian vehicles (though, this is also true in some countries in reality). It seems the only vehicle with exceptional pathing is a single MaxisMan vehicle (the hero in the collector's edition) who will take the fastest route anywhere, typically but not always.

Individuals are already bringing up the "reality" of Glassbox not being anywhere near as in-depth as previously mentioned due to the traffic issues and "follow the leader" of emergency and city vehicles (ie: if you have 1 fire and 4 firetrucks, they will all go to it, and if a second fire starts, they will not split up; buses tend to travel in a line instead of splitting up). The latest patches have had some positive reaction to traffic, however, thankfully, so it's clear they're looking into it.

[Xenon]

If I can confirm the game works with the GC controller there's a high possibility I'll investigate it in the future when I've gone through a lot of my current LP list.

I'm very sorry to say that it doesn't, which is a huge disappointment since it doesn't need the wiimote's fancy sensors and is (in my case) worth enough gameplay to drain several pairs of batteries. I've sprung on a set of rechargable ones specifically because of the Wii.

[wibod]

Xenoblade is also $100.

[Xenon]

Not unless you can't get it from Gamestop for some reason.

I have no idea why the pre-owned is $10 more expensive than new.

[Taeradun]

Lav > Does Simcity have the same pathing problem it did in every incarnation since Simcity 2000, where cars base the path on distance, not speed, and ignore highways even when it's faster?

FIRST NEW SIM CITY GAME INCORPORATING AN ENTIRE DECADE WORTH OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g418BSF6XBQ


edit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLC22aB7JPs

[RazorclawX]

Xenoblade has a great soundtrack but I hate the wiimote so much I haven't really looked into any new purchases for it for a long time. If I can confirm the game works with the GC controller there's a high possibility I'll investigate it in the future when I've gone through a lot of my current LP list.

Doesn't work with GC controller. Works fine with the Classic Controller.

In fact I don't know why any sane person who owns a Wii doesn't already own a Classic Controller.

[Xenon]

In fact I don't know why any sane person who owns a Wii doesn't already own a Classic Controller.

[facepalm] You know, I've seen those in stores but it just never registered in my head. [/facepalm]

[IskatuMesk]

On the other hand, that new SimCity game looks amazing.

[Xenon]

Wait wait, are those houses and trees in the middle of the street?

[IskatuMesk]

America!

[Falchion]

Not to mention Origin screwed SimCity in the LAUNCH DAY. Now that was hilarious.

Ahh, the days worth laughing for. And EA sure made this one...

[Dread]

America!

That's the FEMA simulator portion of Simcity. It accurately depicts how emergency response works. Firetrucks often patrol cities making hundreds of U-turns, sirens blazing, arriving nowhere, even as fires erupt all over cities. That house was clearly placed there to test readiness. Vehicles rarely pay any attention to the physical separation of roads by raised dividers, boulevards, etc. I can't imagine why anyone could expect houses to know where to stay either.



Okay, I don't really know, but I've watched Lavarinth play Simcity, and a lot of weird things are happening all the time. The vast majority are pretty entertaining.

[Hercanic]

Herc, your issue with Origin's language is clearly a glaring oversight by the developers. Did you bother to contact EA about it?

Hell no, why should I? They aren't paying me for quality assurance, that shit takes time and effort. They offer no incentive. Nor has EA nurtured a love for their company with me. What possible vested interest would I have in Origin's success? As I see it, they are attempting to directly compete with a company that has tenderly grown my love for them: Valve. I would gladly report any issue I'm having with Steam directly to Valve. The motivation is simple: Respect your fans, treat your customers right, and you will earn their loyalty. Abuse them, and you can just walk off a cliff and disappear for all I care.

I've spoken about the problem publicly, that's as far as my responsibility as a consumer could ever possibly extend. If their devs care enough, they can stumble upon this post in a Google search.

In the meantime, I recommend using a proxy to appear like you're in the US. Extra steps, yes, but if you're not going to be proactive in informing them, there's an alternate route to take.

Nope. Why should I feel compelled to do anything like this? You assume I want the SimCity cheese at the center of EA's maze. I'd play the game if it was handed to me, but I'm not hopping through a goddamn minefield for it.

Okay, I don't really know, but I've watched Lavarinth play Simcity, and a lot of weird things are happening all the time. The vast majority are pretty entertaining.

Wait, Lav is in California. You're in Canada. How are you creepily watching over his shoulder from thousands of miles away? Did you ninja your way into his home late one night and install surveillance cameras or something?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9MiMjQwd2VE

So that it's not completely consumed amidst the deluge of SimCity chatter, I better address this island of awesome. It's really cool to see Kickstarter projects coming to fruition. The success of Kickstarter is delicate, so this kind of stuff keeps my hope alive.

As for the game itself, it looks to be shaping up to be a very nostalgic experience for anyone who played RPGs back in the days of Baldur's Gate and the like.