Then you develop a game that lowers the graphics fidelity in exchange for allowing bigger cities on lower end hardware. This game was a mistake from the beginning.
Its not about graphics, its about underlining tech behind agents. Agents are now fully dynamics and real-time, in other games they are approximated through the day, week and month.
Think fluid dynamics vs current gen water tech. One is made from hundred of thousands particles, second is just a geometry that is deformed by shaders.
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Just make the game scale area size depending what specs you have. Shouldn't be hard for EA/Maxis to do... Oh wait we forgot that EA is the worst company in the US 2 years in a row:/
I would love something like this, but You're saying like its normal for other companies. Is there even a game that does something like this? Have different gameplay, on different machines?
I think, they could be sued for making gamers not equal.
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So basically, it's the engine's fault.
So ambition is now bad? You know what this tech allows? Tons of different mechanics that werent possible in earlier Sim Cities. True that they havent used it much, but they can and next games will definitely benefit from this tech more. Its future proof engine, which was unfortunately released in a game 2 years to early.