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EA Maxis Studio head Lucy Bradshaw comments on SimCity launch mess and online stuffs
- Thread starter GlassBox
- Start date
smh..this is not a mmo.
Yeah, if a normal PC could not handle it then they would need extremely highend servers that would cost an insane amount to own and run.
RicardoNeftali
Member
Playing the game I think the worst part is the forced handcuffing. When they turned off the region connectivity I realized how much they made it a focus. My city plateaued it literally couldnt get bigger without imploding without the city hall perks of my neighbor. The space runs out so quicky that it really is inexcusable. And the interconnectivy is overhyped. It is literally nothing that couldn't be computer simulated in regards to tourists and shoppers/workers.
That said its fun when it works. Making that the ONLY way to play, on purpose, like its some revolutionary breakthrough for gamers is my issue. Call it DRM because thats what it is, even if you did make a game that NEEDS the multiplayer to fully succeed because of designed in limitations, city size, dependency on regional perks etc.
That said its fun when it works. Making that the ONLY way to play, on purpose, like its some revolutionary breakthrough for gamers is my issue. Call it DRM because thats what it is, even if you did make a game that NEEDS the multiplayer to fully succeed because of designed in limitations, city size, dependency on regional perks etc.
Come on now. It's pretty much an 1:1 copy. "Stuck subconciously" is quite an understatement.
GlassBox said:
Gotta agree, title needs a change.
onlyindreams
Banned
Dunno what their server farm is like but it seems like there's just a lot going on at once and offloading some of it was the best way to make it work. Look at all the things this article describes, for example.
I just think it's way too cynical to think designing an engine that works this way is only an excuse/front for their anti-piracy scheme.
Here's a piece of why that user earned that tag:
In hindsight, it's hilarious.
So please explain to me in simple words what the game exactly needs online and servers for (and I don't mean leaderboards and comparable things)? Especially when I am in my private Region!
Why am I able to play for 30minutes after I lost the connection?
Agreed as well. Not sure that technically was an EA shill though. Sounds more like a slightly overeager Maxis (possibly ex-)employee.
I've yet to see a convincing argument that it is not. Although I believe piracy is not the only aspect of it; as in, I think EA expects added benefits.
I've tried (here). Can't seem to get a clear cut answer.
NeoGaf head Evilore comments on Glassbox (the) departed mess and always off-gaf stuffs.
"Heh"
darkistheway
Member
The DRM they are using requires a lot of CPU power.
The fact that you are able to play for 30 minutes after losing connection probably means that there actually is a switch for offline mode. Lol, what a shitshow.
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
BOMB PLANTED
---
It's more of a reason of this ... wait a minute
All
Ways
On
Line
^yes I know but still =D
Stormwatch
Member
So what is really happening when I lose connection? Am I missing out on anything in my city? Should I stop playing when this happens so I don't lose money/resources/etc?
DragonSworne
Banned
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
Too bad the switch is a double on switch
I hate to be paranoid, but I notice it too. & it isn't just companies: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2011/feb/23/need-to-protect-internet-from-astroturfing
I wish the "gaming press," such as it is, would pick up on that and investigate this shit. Or, you know, at least ask the right questions.
No. At most, he works for him.
HOT DIGGITY DAMN. I mean, I know he's a professional and all, but that kind of forces your admiration.
Astroturfers wreck things. It ruins the trust between posters. It's like those people that join the Mormon church just to push mutual funds and insurance.
I was really hoping the CEO of EA had a blushing anime girl as his avatar.
SteveWinwood
Member
Mauricio_Magus
Banned
EA always pretends their games aren't crap
GuitarAnthony
Neo Member
If anything, Randy Pitchford must be happy as hell this debacle happened so people would forget about Aliens:Colonial Marines. Perhaps he should send EA a fruitbasket.
Randy Pitchford, Findus, IKEA...
Approval time is partially based on chance. I waited less than one-two days (I think, I lurked prior so I wasn't really impatient enough to notice), some people waited a week.
I didn't lurk. Just stumbled upon the site and wanted to reply to something so I registered. Seemed like I was approved within days too. Didn't know it was such a big deal until reading posts like the one you replied to, lol.
CarbonatedFalcon
Member
Thread for the history books. Detective-GAF never disappoints.
oneils
Member
Do the mods keep closer tabs on these guys? Kind of surprised he was able to make three threads about an internal memo.
toddhunter
Member
It'll be an issue one day....when they turn off their servers.
I was trying to give a reason for not remembering specifics. I wasn't trying to show a causal link, sorry for any confusion.
The approval process used to be really ad hoc, so people sometimes waited unreasonable amounts of time, but now it seems to be more structured. The approval issue really only comes up now when someone famous/knowledgeable from the industry (development/press) wants to join in a current discussion but has to wait for approval.
I think you'd have to be comically naive not to see it that way.
The "cloud computing" is the bs people like Arthur Goose have tried to use to defend this bullshit. EA had to give their unofficial marketing reps something to cling to.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
Serious question, since they say they can't simply take the online stuff out. Has Diablo 3 been pirated yet?
For one second imagine this were true:
- imagine the simulations needed to run where indeed to much for a local cpu.
- imagine 100k playing simultaneously
- imagine the server farm needed to do what 100k desktop CPUs weren't capable of
This and the ability to play 30 minutes offline without problems whatsoever is why I call total and utter Bullshit at all of this cloud computing nonsense!
edit:
Nope and that's because D3 is using a server-client architecture where everything (mobs, terrain generation, damage, loot, spells) is handled serverside - if you disc from D3 you instantly cannot do damage anymore and will see white space at the border of a zone...
Simcity on the other hand can be played offline for 30 minutes. D3 and simcity aren't comparable at all.
For consoles I guess blizzard is either a) running the server locally on the console or b) integrated the caculations into the client. (I originally thoguht this was to much to ask for just to enable an offline mode and I was wrong :-( )
FullMetalx117
Member
Although he was banned, it would have been nice to know what was actually going on at Maxis and what they were doing to fix the problem. Interested to know what devs go through in these types of situations.
SneakyStephan
Banned
Becuz clouds and entitled gamers and complaining about nothing and reddit is a shithole , or something.
Oh man this thread is one for the history books.
Apparently, partially at least. Hackers have to emulate what's meant to happen server-side. I don't know firsthand, was mentioned here.
ambientmystic
Member
GlassBox
Banned
(Today, 03:59 PM)
I'm totally late to the party, but hell yeah, the guy was running PR damage control up the ass. This thread was just a culmination of all his efforts. Good show, mods, good show.
Banned
(Today, 03:59 PM)
I'm totally late to the party, but hell yeah, the guy was running PR damage control up the ass. This thread was just a culmination of all his efforts. Good show, mods, good show.