SimCity Societies is a city-building simulation video game created by Tilted Mill Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. It is part of the SimCity series. The gameplay is very different from earlier SimCity games, with more emphasis on how people live and interact. SimCity Societies was released in 2007. Some people praised the game for its easier-to-learn features and better graphics, while others criticized it for being too simple and having technical issues.
Gameplay
SimCity Societies has a different way of playing compared to earlier SimCity games. It focuses less on strict rules for city planning and more on how people interact and work together. Tilted Mill Entertainment made SimCity Societies simpler after Will Wright said earlier games were too complex. This was done by removing tasks like laying pipes and power grids. Features such as funding buildings individually, building evolution, and zoning were not included in the game. The adviser system from previous games was replaced. Instead, the player learns about a city's status by observing how citizens behave, as each building influences their actions. An awards system was added, letting players unlock new buildings and features by meeting certain goals.
Six "societal values" shape a city in SimCity Societies. These values are productivity, prosperity, creativity, spirituality, authority, and knowledge. Choosing to focus on a specific value changes how a city looks. For example, choosing the "authority" value may cause security cameras to appear on buildings. These values also determine which buildings players can unlock.
The game allows full customization, letting players change individual buildings, decorations, citizens, and game rules. Before the game was released, a Tilted Mill Entertainment representative said that people skilled in C# and XML could easily edit the game. An online system was also planned to let players share and trade buildings.
Development
On June 5, 2007, Tilted Mill Entertainment said they would make SimCity Societies instead of Maxis, which had made SimCity 4. Maxis did not make the game because they were working on Spore instead. People reacted quickly with negative comments, especially on the official websites of the developer. The developers tried to answer questions and calm people down.
Reception
The PC version of the game received "mixed or average" reviews, according to Metacritic, a website that collects and summarizes game reviews. GameZone praised the game for being easier to use and having more engaging gameplay compared to earlier games in the SimCity series. Game Informer said the changes to the gameplay were "inventive." 1Up.com compared the PC version to The Sims series and said the gameplay was "addictive enough" and created a feeling that the city felt like one connected place. The website also mentioned features like achievement awards that kept players interested. However, some reviews criticized the game's computer performance and the lack of detailed information within the game.
GamePro described the PC version as overly "simplified" and "exceptionally easy" to play but noted problems with the game's speed and smoothness. The review said the game aimed to improve the franchise but failed to do so. GameSpot called the game a "lackluster spinoff" and praised its visuals and sound effects, but said the graphics were slow and the gameplay lacked a connection between sim happiness and "societal values." It also said the game was too easy. GameSpy said the PC version might be enjoyable for casual players but lacked depth for more experienced gamers. The website also mentioned the game required powerful computers to run. IGN said the gameplay was "too arbitrary" and "confusing" and criticized the lack of connection between sim happiness and "societal values." It also said the gameplay was not realistic, giving the example that fire stations in the game made money for the city. However, the review praised the game's visuals.
In response to criticism, a second update was released to fix bugs and add new features. This update introduced three new modes in the "Creative play" section: "Basic," "Hardcore," and "Nightmare." Basic mode was the easiest of the three but harder than the most challenging mode from the original game. Later, three additional updates were released, adding six new game scenarios, city policies like universal health care, building maintenance costs, and adjustments to city income, as well as a UFO attack feature.
At the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, SimCity Societies was nominated for "Cellular Game of the Year" by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.
SimCity Societies: Destinations
On June 23, 2008, an expansion pack called SimCity Societies: Destinations was released. The main topic of the game is tourism, with new tools that let players build tourist attractions.
Players can create destinations such as ski resorts, beach resorts, and theme parks. The game also includes air travel and water travel, along with a better map generator.
The Destinations expansion received "mixed" reviews from critics. GameZone called it an "okay expansion" but said it was "not necessary to buy." The review noted that the game is more challenging than the original SimCity Societies but added "just enough new content to feel fresh." GameSpot said the expansion "makes a good game even better" and praised its increased complexity. IGN stated the expansion "finally makes SimCity Societies feel worthy of the SimCity name." This review acknowledged earlier complaints about the original game lacking clear direction and praised the expansion's improvements. However, it also criticized the game for poor frame rate performance and repetitive gameplay. 1Up.com also criticized the game's poor performance and said the expansion was unnecessary because similar updates were already available for SimCity Societies.