News

EA shuts down "non-essential" features of SimCity to deal with server issues
Posted: 07.03.2013 17:02 by JonahFalcon Comments: 22
The disaster that is the SimCity launch continues, as Electronic Arts has announced that it is turning off "non-essential" features so that it can fix the server issues plaguing the online-only game.

According to the Maxis community manager, "We are in the process of deploying a hotfix to all servers. This includes various improvements and also disables a few non-critical gameplay features (leaderboards, achievements and region filters).

"Disabling these features will in no way affect your core gameplay experience. Getting you playing is our absolute highest priority," the manager added.

In the meantime, Australian players are also having difficulty even playing as the game launched in the region. Maxis promises to add more servers over the next two days.
Source: Polygon
Related games: SimCity (2013) (PC)

Comments

By Chosen_One (SI Elite) on Mar 07, 2013
Chosen_One
Burn baby burn :D
By djole381 (SI Elite) on Mar 07, 2013
djole381
...the flames are getting higher :)
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Mar 07, 2013
SirRoderick
If THIS doesn't get them to realise this DRM is a bad idea, what the hell will?
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Mar 07, 2013
nocutius
Nr.1 core gameplay experience is the ability to actually play the game.
By djole381 (SI Elite) on Mar 07, 2013
djole381
Even greater problem with SimCity is when EA decides in a few years to shut down the servers, the game will become unplayable therefore making it a game with an expiry date.
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Mar 07, 2013
nocutius
That is one of the bigger reasons why this kind a scheme sucks, the game will get shut down sooner or later.
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Mar 07, 2013
SirRoderick
They actually disabled on of the game speeds xD

That is desperation if I've ever seen one. THis is even worse than the Diablo III stuff
By djole381 (SI Elite) on Mar 07, 2013
djole381
They disabled what SirRoderick?
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Mar 07, 2013
nocutius
Probably can't speed up time or as much as originally.
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Mar 07, 2013
SirRoderick
Indeed, the 'Cheetah' game speed has been disabled. So you can't play at max speed any more.
By danfreeman (SI Core) on Mar 07, 2013
danfreeman
Wow,this thing bombed like nothing ever before,this is the big nail in the coffin for drm,hopefully no one will ever have the idea of doing this ever again.
By djole381 (SI Elite) on Mar 07, 2013
djole381
I wonder how many people have actually played this game so far.
By Nicolas19 (SI Core Veteran) on Mar 07, 2013
Nicolas19
As long as they get money from sales and DLC, they are fine. The outrage will be yesterday's news in week or so, and the overwhelming media hype introducing the next game (Simcity 6? Simcity Social?) will erase it completely. They will declare the on-line DRM as a master weapon against piracy, with "minor flaws" and use it again.
By Chosen_One (SI Elite) on Mar 08, 2013
Chosen_One
It is we, consumers, who are so stupid to buy this from EA. In some point we are responsible for this disaster...though, EA don't want to help at all, $$$ only, **** them!
By Hammerjinx (SI Veteran Member) on Mar 07, 2013
Hammerjinx
Launch day is always hard on MP servers, but this is ludicrous. If the servers could in any way deal with the volume of people then most ppl wouldn't care, but evidently that's too hard. At least when their shooters launch and you can't get onto a server you still have the singleplayer campaign.

It's nice of them to offer refunds, but I'm willing to bet the process is a bit arcane. They'd be betting heavily on apathy and laziness.

If they want to continue with this kind of "player engagement" (DRM) then they should invest a bit more of their truck of cash on servers. Unfortunately I think it will not happen that way. They've been rewarded with sales, and realistically they'd be looking at a fairly sizable investment to cover day 1 player levels compared to what they'd need 2 months in.

It's really getting to the point that anyone who buys a full price title on release is a bit of a sucker.
By Hammerjinx (SI Veteran Member) on Mar 07, 2013
Hammerjinx
lol - just looked at Origin... $99.99.
Welcome to Australia, Bitch.

EA are batshit crazy.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Mar 08, 2013
herodotus
What a mess. Even worse than the launch of "BF2" and that was the worst for it's time.

Perhaps in 12 months, when the issues are fixed, if they indeed can be, and the price has dropped for struggling Aussie battler, it might be a worthwhile game. Until then...

Still, while everyone's loudly bashing EA, let me quietly remind you of Sega's "Aliens: Colonial Marines", Kalypso's "Omerta: City of Gangsters" and "Legends of Pegasus", and of course Blizzard's "Diablo III".
Let's just say that the Triple A title is now a stamp to be treated with great suspicion these days.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Mar 08, 2013
herodotus
PS. @Chosen_One
Language, buddy. I know you're only making sure I read what you say, but lay off. I have a life away from the here you know (not a big one, but it is there).
By Chosen_One (SI Elite) on Mar 08, 2013
Chosen_One
Oh...evil moderator! Stop moderating the Pure Rage of consumer base!!! It shouldn't be moderated! Even Chris Avellone in his endorsement swear bout how cool to have Torment in development! This is weird, as I see this moderating bout swearing only here, we are mature mates after all, don't baby sit us :D
By djole381 (SI Elite) on Mar 08, 2013
djole381
Yeah, whatever happened to freedom of speech you guys brag about all the time. We want FREEEEEEEDOM!!!
By Hammerjinx (SI Veteran Member) on Mar 08, 2013
Hammerjinx
Diablo III worked at least. Were Omerta, Pegasus "AAA" games? They looked kinda B to me. A:CM looks pretty god awful, but playable, where as SimCity looks pretty good, but unplayable. Which would I rather spend $80 on? Prolly SimCity. What would I rather do? Buy a stack of games that look good, work, and don't screw Aussies on price. :P
By djole381 (SI Elite) on Mar 08, 2013
djole381
It's really strange that game prices in Australia are so high.