Simtropolis new pics

[Fukuda3]

They look interesting

http://www.simtropolis.com/library/societies/COM_SMALLTOWN.jpg

http://www.simtropolis.com/library/societies/FARM.jpg

http://www.simtropolis.com/library/societies/ORW_DENSE_REDS.jpg

http://www.simtropolis.com/library/societies/ROB_WIDE_OH.jpg

http://www.simtropolis.com/library/societies/TECH_WIDE.jpg

:)

[Azeem]

All I see are red x's. :confused:

[Fukuda3]

?
Maybe reload the page, I see them perfectly

they are here (http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=368&threadid=89604&enterthread=y)

[Rubicon]

I don't see them either

[Azeem]

Interesting. So it seems that Maxis had concocted the SCS concept internally. :)

[Rubicon]

Actually, they show up now after you visit the link. They are pretty slick screen shots. And the interview puts a bit of a ding in the "TM Kidnapped, Tortured, and Killed Our Game" theory.

[Sunil]

I'm really excited to play this game now. It seems like somethign that would be fun to play. The only thing I'm not happy with are the roads. Is there only that one type? I'm sure one ways and sigle lane roads along wiht wider avenues and highways will add alot. Rail bein implemented would really add alot, too.

[Aushun]

Hopefully all infuriated SimCity fans will see this :) Those screenshots are actually quite nice looking, especailly the first one (the city skyline) and the fourth one (the factory setting) in terms of detail. The third one reminded me of Big Brother :D If they're going for atmospherics, they're not doing bad at all :)

[Nardo69]

Hmmm

at least some elevations and not all boring plain like the previous screenshots ...

and some farms ...

[kant01]

Well, I think the pictures do look stunning. That farm one is amazing. I cannot tell though if that is a real dirt road or just part of the farm lot itself.

I guess I had similar thoughts with other people regarding the roads. Also, I would like to see shots that show buildings at different angles, if possible, rather than just what appear to be a standard city grid.

Otherwise, nice work. (And I have been playing since SimCity 2000!....oh so many years)

[John-SJ]

The pictures are very nice! But ater reading the little mini-interview I find my enthusiasm has just been kicked up a notch.

If TM can deliver on what they are proposing SCS has a chance to be a groundbreaking game. About now, the word "excited" is not a terribly inaccurate description of the way I feel about SCS.

[offspring_dude]

Hopefully all infuriated SimCity fans will see this :) Those screenshots are actually quite nice looking, especailly the first one (the city skyline) and the fourth one (the factory setting) in terms of detail. The third one reminded me of Big Brother :D If they're going for atmospherics, they're not doing bad at all :)
Most of us have seen this; they're actually just diluting our optimism further.

The roads look terrible; glued to grids, and only one type? The game is EXTREMELY cartoonish, which just makes me feel its going to be a flop and fall down the avenue of caesar 4, tycoon city new york, and city life.

The end of a beloved franchise. :(

[King Faticus]

I remember afew years ago there were alot of Zelda fans that were unhappy with the cartoony windwaker's graphics... some even said that they would never play it and it was the end of the series ect... but it turned out it was a great game and the series did infact continue with a more serious tone later;)

[mouse]

Concept art is not finished artwork this looks good but expect it to look much better over time:D Your not going to squeeze actual information this early in development overtime screenshots will get closer to the final product;)

[javispedro]

I remember afew years ago there were alot of Zelda fans that were unhappy with the cartoony windwaker's graphics... some even said that they would never play it and it was the end of the series ect... but it turned out it was a great game and the series did infact continue with a more serious tone later;)
I remember those. Cool game it was...

[MarkDuffy]

Thankx for the link, Fukuda3! :)

New screenshots look excellent to me. I see TM will have their usual outstanding atmospherics. Sky, stars & love the industrial image with all the smoke! And people on the streets too!

[DonMikimax]

Blah, they are like new Caesar in the future, nothing special, no Sim City ''feel''...

[offspring_dude]

Looks like 'Caeser 4: Sim City'

[newbielives]

Looks good but are the maps going to be atleast as large as the large maps in SC4?

[NTomCz]

These pictures look very nice!! All I can say is I cannot wait!! :D

[BarbulaM1]

Well something is going to have to be done with thoes roads. Sure it'd be great if a car could turn that fast around a corner, but they can't. Otherwise the screenshots look better than the previous, but they still leave us wondering where things are. Bridge styles? asthetics (parks, embankments, terrain color)? There also seems to be so much space between everything, it looks just odd. Any variation in lot size? Transportation types (the heart of any SimCity).?

[simdude]

I like the heavy pollution screenshot. It's just like looking out my window.

What I do like so far from seeing the images is how the lighting seems to change in order to reflect probably the general mood in that area. Green for pollution, red for probably some kind of political opresion (in the picture with the big military leader banner on the side of a building)

[Cobblepot]

I think we would all feel a little better if we saw some bridges, non grid layouts, and other types of road/transportion networks.

[callagrafx]

Well something is going to have to be done with thoes roads.

Um, not necessarily...you see, the developers of the game don't HAVE to do anything they don't want to.

[offspring_dude]

Um, not necessarily...you see, the developers of the game don't HAVE to do anything they don't want to.
Yep, and likewise, we don't HAVE to buy the game. In fact 80% of us probably won't; especially if they were to have that attitude.

[arcan]

Yep, and likewise, we don't HAVE to buy the game. In fact 80% of us probably won't; especially if they were to have that attitude.
What attitude ?
I've been coming here for a long time. And they come on the forum and read posts. And believe me, they take into account the suggestions that are made. Some can be implemented, some can't but at least they listen to us.

[offspring_dude]

What attitude ?
I've been coming here for a long time. And they come on the forum and read posts. And believe me, they take into account the suggestions that are made. Some can be implemented, some can't but at least they listen to us.
Register an account on simtropolis or some other site and check the suggestions...

... Then come back and tell me if they've taken ANYTHING into account. Could you please find also where the specific suggestion was made to merge The Sims with Sim City.

Going off on your own tangent and THEN listening half heartedly (Where have any of our suggestions been implemented thus far?) is not exactly beneficial. It's nice to know they're listening, but what good is listening? It's understanding, and applying that count for something.

[arcan]

I am on Simtropolis. And I did speak of this forum. For Caesar 4, they did hear what we said on this forum. Believe me.
For not taking suggestions on simtropolis and the other forums, I think it's more EA's doing (or rather not-doing).
Now some gameplay issues are decided and won't change. But if good suggestions are made that can be implemented to improve the game, TM will do its best.
We won't be able to change the drastic changes that have already been made. Let's face it, we won't have THE simcity we all wanted. but if we participate constructively to this forum, this game can turn out to be good (if not THE simcity 5)

[ded]

We won't be able to change the drastic changes that have already been made. Let's face it, we won't have THE simcity we all wanted. but if we participate constructively to this forum, this game can turn out to be good (if not THE simcity 5)
It is SO nice to hear someone say something rational. Yeesh.

[offspring_dude]

It is SO nice to hear someone say something rational. Yeesh.
You're confusing rationality with optimism. It's nice to see someone being optimistic, yes.

[winterface]

I don't care what anyone says, these screenshots and ANYONE familiar with decent looking games say in the past oh...5 years will agree that this graphics engine looks like utter crap.

[UnzippedSim77]

Well, it doesn't take long for the eternally negative naysayers of the world to shoot down positive advancements. I have been swayed by the new screenshots at least to admit a growing interest in how the game will develop. Those who feel they have had nothing given to them in this game, let's rethink the situation: Sim City seemed to have come to an ultimatum in SC4 - either progress, or become a secular entity which eventually flounders in the 'Classics' bin. I embrace the move to 3D, and, while not completely satisfied with everything I've seen so far, I can see a way forward in the franchise and how this game can indeed become something we all can enjoy, as said earlier THE Sim City 5. There is a great deal of potential, and I may be optimistic in saying that the best aspects of the game are more than likely being kept a secret for marketing purposes. However, I feel that anyone willing to write off the whole game just because of what they've seen or heard so far is the ultimate in narrow-minded secularism. I agree with Arcan, and I am finding offspring's speaking for the SimTrop community rather offensive. This is one SimTrop and SC4 fan who is looking forward to the 3D move in the city, and a new direction to bring together the old fan base with whole new audiences - a must for any game's survival.

[Aushun]

I fail to comprehend the "The graphics are cartoony" argument. Sure it's no GTA:IV (a game that's been mentioned several times), but it's a totally different genre and Tilted Mill is hardly Rockstar :)

[offspring_dude]

I agree with Arcan, and I am finding offspring's speaking for the SimTrop community rather offensive.
Err... what?:rolleyes:
Don't put words in my mouth; I never once put myself in the role of speaking for the Simtrop community... especially a community comprising about 170,000 members. I have opinions that you probably don't agree with; which the majority of Simtropolis members don't agree with. But they're exactly that; opinions.

But seriously, go through the suggestions made at Simtropolis or wherever, and tell me where anyone suggested something that the game has implemented? That's all I'm asking.

[UnzippedSim77]

Register an account on simtropolis or some other site and check the suggestions...

... Then come back and tell me if they've taken ANYTHING into account. Could you please find also where the specific suggestion was made to merge The Sims with Sim City.

Going off on your own tangent and THEN listening half heartedly (Where have any of our suggestions been implemented thus far?) is not exactly beneficial. It's nice to know they're listening, but what good is listening? It's understanding, and applying that count for something.

OK sorry, but I thought this was fairly well into the 'speaking for SimTrop members' category. If you actually looked at the posts in SimTrop in an unbiased way, you would see that in fact a lot of the things included in this game were actually asked for and mentioned in SimTrop's threads... All i am trying to get you to see is that negativity is not going to get anything you want, and comes across as someone with a spoiled nappy who wanted a lolly he didn't get... Just an observation that more constructive criticism would be beneficial to all of us.
Ed

[offspring_dude]

OK sorry, but I thought this was fairly well into the 'speaking for SimTrop members' category. If you actually looked at the posts in SimTrop in an unbiased way, you would see that in fact a lot of the things included in this game were actually asked for and mentioned in SimTrop's threads... All i am trying to get you to see is that negativity is not going to get anything you want, and comes across as someone with a spoiled nappy who wanted a lolly he didn't get... Just an observation that more constructive criticism would be beneficial to all of us.
Ed
All I'm trying to get you to see is that there's a reason for people complaining left right and centre... what we're seeing is a very, very stripped down version of this urban simulation franchise. We didn't want lollies; we wouldn't the whole three course banquet.

[EmperorJay]

All I'm trying to get you to see is that there's a reason for people complaining left right and centre... what we're seeing is a very, very stripped down version of this urban simulation franchise. We didn't want lollies; we wouldn't the whole three course banquet.

What you have seen is not yet a tenth of what SimCity Societies will be. There have been some minor articles, an interview with EA and some posts from Tilted Mill and the information that has been given out have been mere hints at what you might expect.

Yes, changes will be made and indeed it looks like this game will be different from SC4, but you have absolutely no idea yet how different it'll be. No one but the developers and producers have any idea how different it'll be and how much the changes will affect the core gameplay of SC.

For all you know, SimCity Societies takes all the good things from SC4 and all the changes they are making might actually turn out to be changes for the better. Indeed, the changes may negatively influence the gameplay, but we just do not know yet.

[offspring_dude]

What you have seen is not yet a tenth of what SimCity Societies will be. There have been some minor articles, an interview with EA and some posts from Tilted Mill and the information that has been given out have been mere hints at what you might expect.

Yes, changes will be made and indeed it looks like this game will be different from SC4, but you have absolutely no idea yet how different it'll be. No one but the developers and producers have any idea how different it'll be and how much the changes will affect the core gameplay of SC.

For all you know, SimCity Societies takes all the good things from SC4 and all the changes they are making might actually turn out to be changes for the better. Indeed, the changes may negatively influence the gameplay, but we just do not know yet.
I'm sorry but you're just deluded. I have a very clear idea of how absolutely different it'll be judging from the direction the game is heading and the screenshots I have seen. I'm not saying I know everything about the game, but it's obvious that the game is being stripped down to appeal to the most casual of gamers. The cartoonish graphics just don't entice me, nor do they fit in with the simcity image. The information so far given out have given more than 'hints' as to what we can expect.

[EmperorJay]

I'm sorry but you're just deluded. I have a very clear idea of how absolutely different it'll be judging from the direction the game is heading and the screenshots I have seen. I'm not saying I know everything about the game, but it's obvious that the game is being stripped down to appeal to the most casual of gamers. The cartoonish graphics just don't entice me, nor do they fit in with the simcity image. The information so far given out have given more than 'hints' as to what we can expect.

You should make a living out of this dude, apparently you can predict the future ;)

Perhaps you are right, perhaps I am right but you simply cannot tell whether this game will appeal to the SC4 fans or not. You just cannot know! Graphics can be polished, difficulties can be adjusted and perhaps all you have seen just doesn't reflect what the game is all about.

[King Faticus]

if the game is easily moddable Im sure some talented person can make the cities look less "cartoonish" not that I see anything wrong with the graphics myself..
not sure about the game itself though:o

[BourneID]

For those that are not in the "diehard" SC4 fanatics... may I say that you have to understand how dedicated we are to the game, how much effort and skill has gone into the modding community for it.. we are truely a dedicated group. We are just a bit nervise.

that is understandable, We have such a fondness for the game and conserns of the changes that might be made... good or bad.


I would like to point out to all of us "dedicated" fans that there was this same kind of consern when SC4 was still in development...

"will it be dumbed down to much?"
"Will it take a supercomputer to run it"

This is nothing new and SC4 turned out to be a really good game... open enough to allow the mod'ing community do some amazing things to it... SC4 had some troubles coming out the gate.. and was far from the "perfect" game...

I spent 3 years making my city journal... had a blast.. hopefully this new undertaking will live up to that same play-ablility, creativity, and fun. And I am sure that Tilted Mill understands that they are stepping into one of the great game worlds out there...

And to those that are saying that this will kill SC4... not likely... look at the sales charts... still in the top 20 game sales... each month...hangng in there with things like warcrack, and other "new hot" games...

I dont know about you others... But I still from time to time boot up SC2000, to play around... if it turns out to be a great game... there will always be a fondness for the "classic" ... we shouldnt be afraid of change... without it, we can never see new things. Lets at least let them get an Alfa build ready before we say for sure that the game stinks.

I will buy the game... if it isnt as good as sc4... I will play that.. no loss really is there... its alot like buying vista... saying eh.. and still using XP like most of us currently are...

If it is a good game... the mod'ers that have gave so much to the community will make it a great game.. have they failed us yet.

I look forward to making Broome County "now in amazzing 3d"

long story sort... No worrys, Mates :)

[NappySick]

Well as i gave the first set of screenshots such a great review i thought
it only right i should do the same with the second set . a set of 4 starting with the
city view.
1,
The first of the city skyline , the first time i saw this shot i saw only the roads
and again thought omg and closed the page,On my return visit i looked beyond the road
and i also tryed to have a neutral thoughts on the colours and textures at this stage
aswell, i was looking for signs of playability,you goto admit guys the colours textures
may still be a lil sucky , but i can see an awesome skyline with over 35 towers, mid rise ,
and even a few super towers , who knows some of that stuff may even be arcologies.
.Anyway the real tall one far right so long as it isnt a plop land mark looks bigger
than any default sc4 building i ever saw,id estimate that down town has somewhere between
140-200,000 jobs ,which to me is a good sign of playability , so long as each building means
something and its not just candy.The roads well the slow gradients falls and rises seem to
be a massive improvement from sc4 .Sc4 you do not stand a chance of getting such slow ,
,long gradients without a mod, it looks like they have hastly dragged an avenue through
the hole thing ,apoorly textured one at best ,which doesnt seem to have anything
but ninety degree angles, im kinda covinicing myself the city builder skillz are making the
bottom half of the shot maybe look a lot worse than it realy needs to be, i realy hope
that we are not stuck with a 90 degree only grid , i had hoped to see at least 2
more angles on the road network .
i know the front buildings dont conform to the road , but if you check the R/Hbridge in the
distance the land there does conform to the sidewalk ,kinda convincing me that it is
possible to conform both land , sidewalk,roads to building s, that is so long as they
give us a tool to do it .There realy needs to be one as the pics looks uberly silly with
the avenue going under the bedroom window ,one of the residences is at 45 degrees to the road so
possibly maybe hopefully we may start to see a lil diversity in the grid in later shots .
As mayor i wouldnt be putting up with the cheap advertising and purple painted buildings
, so i would soon have those riff raff shifted outa prime city living space.A 90 degree
grid system works realy well in caesar games , with roman roads , but im ,not going to say
anything else until we seen more pictures .Apart from kickazz skyline , but at nearly
29 yrs old , even though i grew up like many of us with SC the colours make me feel
to old for this game.Would that alone stop me buying it ,possibly yes .Amzing kik azz
graphics for the younger generation but a bit little to penelope pitstop
for me.I keep thinking the Ant hill mob are going to come blazing through any second
.Ea i have maybe 8-9 titles of theres in front of my eyes , The skyline plus Ea + TM you can
be sure the is a million and one suprises within that city and its goto be worth the money just
to see whats in there .
2,
I didnt realize the first was going to take so long , the second ,well how many times have you
wanted to get down from sc4 midrise square on view and take wonder in alvin acres farm yard and
fields and pumpkin acres ,well now it looks like you can do just that, not ideal just yet
but a vast improvement from sc4 the view piont alone will make farming more fun in SCS.
With a lil bit of custom content and a lil flora , just think what one or two simtrop members
could do with that view . Colours i cant seem to get my head around , but early days
feels like im watching a animation movie,and not real .

The natural ground does look a lot more natural, again looking at the farm land and contours
in the land and it reasures me ,there must be terraforming tools, first time i have ever seen
a red sunset in sim city , blue sky s, red sunsets , rolling hills. It feels like Sim city fps mode
I can see some parts of the game your in for a treat visually , so long as you can accept the
colours, maybe your graphics card can tone it down a lil and filter it ,but i think they want
to keep it bright for the younger ones .The shot does make you want to taste it just to be
sure it isnt candy .Even the dirt road is much more pleasing to the eye than the default grey
street of sc4 .Evidence again 45 degrees , i realy wanted to see a 22.5 ,even though still
a grid a 22.5 would add so much to the game.Overall i realy like that picture , and if you like
farming then again your prolly in for a treat with SCS .So long as the is a good selection of buildings.

3

So this is Tm s twisted side i wasnt to sure how to look at this one , did some one over do the rbg in
photoshop or are they trying to spook us ,well it looks like the evil dude with the jet fighter
got a firm grip on this part of town .Looks real sleazy to me not somewhere id want to go. Maybe
its the iron curtian look , we have to wait and see .
Again making me curious of the suprises and adventures within this city. I know its a long way from
they SC we know and love but,this is our first adventure into sim city in 3 D ,SCS maybe everything we want ,
but its also our favourite game titles first trip into the world of 3d which was inevitable , but reasurring
as we now know the series is far from forgotton.
I suppose also as this is new ground for sim city , if this game didnt turn out quite as we wanted
id be maybe willing to cut EA & TM a lil rope on this ,this type of gaming is going to be absolutley
superb over the next decade,and they must start somewhere.I think they taking on a massive project
as SC is a massive game . Some of those TM guys must have Balls of Steel.

Im running out of time,maybe just aswell,i just thought id take the time to share my thoughts
since i was first to trash , the first set of images .

[King Faticus]

The shot does make you want to taste it just to be
sure it isnt candy
lol this made me choke laughing ...well they do have to attract a new generation of players to sim city I guess also I have heard some of the older players saying they are too old for it now:(

that bleak picture you mentioned reminds me of those films about Facism in 1920-30s (somebody compared it to communism but I think facisim is better)

[Avalon]

The screens look good, just fix the roads please and try to improve the quality of the pollution[Ironic yes, but I don't really see green smoke in cities].

[MarkDuffy]

You probably have no idea how much I loved your most recent post, NappySick.

Thank you! :)

[digitize]

These are scary... I hope these are very old alpha-ish shots...

[BourneID]

one thing that maybe we should think about... the person that took the shots.. prep'ed them and put them up... may just not be that good at making screenshot... laying things out and such.....


go look at the journal sections at ST, some journals are substanually better then others...


I would wait to judge critically the images that come out if a beta version is released to some of the community members....

[Romaq]

one thing that maybe we should think about... the person that took the shots.. prep'ed them and put them up... may just not be that good at making screenshot... laying things out and such.....

Oh yeah! You are one of those I remember from posts on PEG's website and such. I keep thinking of nominating certain specific people who are top in the top of certain categories, and encouraging TM to pursue an NDA with those specific people to have them help test certain specific issues with SC5, particularly issues related to 'societies'.

A CJ is the #1 most perfect way I can think of for TM to promote SC5 by word-of-mouth. So it is logical for the top CJ 'artist' from ST to have that person use SC5's Beta to do what they do best, and simply *not* release the CJ until the NDA is lifted. What two or three people (lead nomination + two runner ups) ought to be sought for 'CJ Beta Testing'? A similar group should be tapped for producing ‘accurate maps’, another for ‘fantasy maps’, BATs both in English and in several foreign languages for internationalization issues, and mods such as transit development with the NAM team.

The question I have with SC5 is *NOT* if they can provide EVERYTHING everyone wants, but can they provide the means and the tools for the sort of accomplishments that those who play SC4 use for doing what we do?

--Romaq