Consoles

[nelzpunk]

Do you think Sim City should return to consoles?

[King Faticus]

the SImcity was great on the super NES :D (and there was one for the n64 but as far as I know it is japan only)

which is why I wanna see it on the WII... after all it has a controller better suited for it imo.

[nelzpunk]

Yes, Thats one of the biggest reasons I want it back on console, to me controlling it on computer is a pain, with a controller there is such greater ease. Plus the comfort of ot sitting at the computer for the MANY hours of addiction.

[King Faticus]

it is interesting that none of the NOs posted;)

[nelzpunk]

It is. I would like ask those who voted no, why.
Obviously we are here because we are already sim city fans. So, why would a fan not want a game to be as widespread as possible.
I would like to see it everywhere, on all platforms. I mean I never plan to buy an xbox (no offense to those that do), but I would love to see it released on it. As many fans playing in as many places as possible, that would rock. We have a whole new generation of people to infect, and having it on all the major consoles would help broaden the number of infectable greatly.
Personally I would love to see it push the ps3's capabilities. Since so far, as good as the games are, no games really come close to testing its limits.

[Hoplite]

Not only why, but who voted NO?

[King Faticus]

people who claimed that the SNES version was awesome is who ... >_>
click on the numbers to see the voters

[nelzpunk]

I first played it on snes and loved it. Became a forever addict:D
Then on ps1 for 2000
Then on my computer for 3000 unlimited, until i had to install 98se (which i'm still using and can't believe it still functions),now it will download and install but when i try to open it it says i'm missing some file or something. Actually it says the same thing whether i try to open sim city or the sims. Either way I'd have to get a new computer to play the new one, and I'd much rather buy a ps3 and play tons of games than buy a whole new computer for one. If cash wasn't an issue I would, but I'd still rather have it on console. I'd even buy the game again for ps3 if I already had it for pc.

[Marius]

Voted no as console kids annoy me (whiny little brats having tantrums in the store when mommy wont buy them a game).

I'm tired of PC games being shoved into a back corner in the vid-game stores while at the same time the console games in their multiple types fill most of the space.

Buying multiple consoles to play your favorite games (they will never be all on the same console) strikes me as stupid and sooo wasteful.

On the plus side it is a lovely profit center for producers and hardware manufacturers.

[panikattak]

I said no because umoung other things, I don't want Simcity to become another Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. That's what typically happens when a great PC game is forced to work on a console. IMO, took one of the best games ever and made it into a mediocre sequeal. Regretted spending $50 on it.

[King Faticus]

I admit Oblivion is an awful game.. not a worthy sequel to Morrowind imo.. awful in almost every way o-0
in fact I hated it soo much that I wish it wasn't made.

but there are advantages to console games.. the consoles are all the same and so what works on will work on another... makes things easier, not only that but the consoles are so popular because they are easier to set up than a PC or Mac... some people don't have the time to learn how to do things and would just like to play a game with a good chance there won't be a video card error...

[Azeem]

SimCity on the console was great but that was back in the good old days when things were much simpler, but SimCity now demands so much micromanagement. A game that is heavy on micromanagement and bean counting would be pretty awkward with a console control (and that was cited as one of the problems the DS version of SC3k). Also, you can't really mod things on console games.

[Hoplite]

I guess I just don't see why not. If console gamers want to play SC, it doesn't hurt me, unless an influx of 10 year old PWNZORZ OF TEH NOOBz(s) came to the forums. Unless of course I am misunderstanding. I would be fine with console versions as long as a PC version is maintained. If you mean abandon PC and go all-console, then No

[King Faticus]

well to be fair afew of the members of ST are pretty young and don't type like that.
and no I would not like to abandon PC .. just have the option of consols for those that want it

[nelzpunk]

Voted no as console kids annoy me (whiny little brats having tantrums in the store when mommy wont buy them a game).

I'm tired of PC games being shoved into a back corner in the vid-game stores while at the same time the console games in their multiple types fill most of the space.

Buying multiple consoles to play your favorite games (they will never be all on the same console) strikes me as stupid and sooo wasteful.

On the plus side it is a lovely profit center for producers and hardware manufacturers.

Well I'm 28 and the mommy, and I only play playstation. However that doesn't change the fact I would like to see it come out on all consoles.

My point was that my preference to play it on console is that great- that even if I already bought it for pc (bcuz that was the only option at the time) and then it came out for ps3 I would buy it again bcuz of the greater enjoyment factor. If it came out on multi-platforms initially, no, of course I wouldn't buy 2.

As far as pc games getting shoved in the corner, that's your own issue.
I suggest you get past your whiny-brat phobia and try a next-gen, you might like it.

[nelzpunk]

I'm not talking about getting rid of pc either, just re-expanded to include consoles as well.

Now I think that the ps3 would never have any problem with sim city ever. I think if they really did make sim city push ps3's capabilities then they would have to simplify for the other consoles.
Ps3's gaming capabilities are far better (and yes, less problematic, another bonus) than the average pc. Why do you think the ps3's are so big in folding@home ?

[Azeem]

Whiny brats also plague the PC gaming world as well. ;)

Quite honestly, next-gen consoles seem wildly overrated to me. It just seems that there's more garbage out than actual quality games these days.

SC on SNES is my personal favorite in the SimCity series, but nowadays, moddability is really what I'm more interested in. Console games don't seem to offer much in the moddability department.

[nelzpunk]

I'm rallying for this on playstation.com as well. I was shocked by the number of rude posts I got thinking that I was talking about the sims. It took myself and about 5 other people explaining and reexplaining it was a totally different game. They didn't know what it was! So sad, but true that if sc remains strictly a pc game, we are missing out on a huge number of new generation gamers. Gamers who, if introduced to it on their platforms would become fans. To me it seems simple, sc on multi-platforms equals a much greater fanbase, which can only strengthen the franchise as a whole and therefore benefit us all.
Now I will apologize if I seem rude, but the reasons being given by the NOs seem petty and selfish.

[nelzpunk]

I said no because umoung other things, I don't want Simcity to become another Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. That's what typically happens when a great PC game is forced to work on a console. IMO, took one of the best games ever and made it into a mediocre sequeal. Regretted spending $50 on it.


Well I do have faith that sc on console would be the same game as on pc. The next-gens can handle it (at least I know the ps3 can) without any major changes or omissions. If snes and ps1 supported it just fine, why would you think ps3 couldn't. It was specifically made to be a gaming powerhouse, period.

[nelzpunk]

Whiny brats also plague the PC gaming world as well. ;)

Quite honestly, next-gen consoles seem wildly overrated to me. It just seems that there's more garbage out than actual quality games these days.

SC on SNES is my personal favorite in the SimCity series, but nowadays, moddability is really what I'm more interested in. Console games don't seem to offer much in the moddability department.


I think there's alot of garbage games out period, no matter what system. However, I'd venture to geuss that pc's have waaaay more games that were just thrown together and don't go anywhere.
As far as moddability, that's not my bag. Don't get me wrong though, more power to you.

[arcan]

I did vote no. First, that's not the kind of game I play on a console. Much easier with a keyboard and a mouse. Second, it would have to be adapted to all consoles, not just one. Third, if I also play CBs on the console, why have a computer ? (internet maybe, but then ? ):D

[nelzpunk]

I did vote no. First, that's not the kind of game I play on a console. Much easier with a keyboard and a mouse. Second, it would have to be adapted to all consoles, not just one. Third, if I also play CBs on the console, why have a computer ? (internet maybe, but then ? ):D

Well, voting yes doesn't mean YOU have to play it on console, but rather that some people can. I prefer to play it with a controller, to me its much more of a pain with a keyborard and mouse (and much less comfortable). Yes, it would have to be adapted to the different consoles, obviously, and yes the only reasons I use my computer is the internet, and photo storage. Good god people, I'm not saying vote yes and everyone must play on consoles, but that people who prefer consoles , or have a crappy computer, can have the choice.
I didn't expect so many people to be seemingly afraid and offended by the idea of expanding the franchise to include consoles as well as pcs! Bizarre

[panikattak]

I find it interesting the only answer you'll accept is yes. Makes me wonder why you started a poll if you didn't want to hear anyone say no?

The reason I don't like consoles is consoles have a limited interface. Controllers namely, and moddability as well. In order for the game to be accessible for controllers, only so much gameplay can be included or it's menu hell. And Oblivion is a perfect example of this. Bethsada chopped out tons of gameplay from Morrowind to make it compatible with a console machine and gave it a console friendly interface. Both didn't bode well for PC players resulting in a very poor experience with Oblivion on the PC. Simcity 4 was also plain until modded, so I don't think I could go back to vanilla all the time.

[nelzpunk]

Vote however you want, but I am surprised. I can't figure why you would begrudge other people "vanilla", it doesn't mean it's forced upon you. It seems like there is quite a selfish anti-console vibe going on. I really didn't expect so many NOs:(

[panikattak]

For a game with a complex interface, I feel that consoles have been poor platforms. Maybe Societies will be different, I don't know, I havn't played it. And I'm not anti-console, if they want to port it, fine, just don't make the PC gamers suffer like we did with Oblivion (or not, I stopped playing pretty early on).

[Jacquou Le]

I voted Yes :p

[nelzpunk]

See thats the thing, pc gamers don't need to suffer. I assume pc gamers are going to play the pc version, that's what you prefer. I, however prefer to play on console and simply want to have that option. So I don't see how console versions have any direct effect on pc gamers except for enlarging the fanbase. And thats a good thing.

[panikattak]

As soon as I posted my unedited message I had an epiphany about the issue and realised Societies is already done and if they ported it to a console it would be no skin off my nose. If I could, I would change my vote to yes and think there should be a console port of Societies.

[King Faticus]

wasn't Morrowind on a console too?

[nelzpunk]

As soon as I posted my unedited message I had an epiphany about the issue and realised Societies is already done and if they ported it to a console it would be no skin off my nose. If I could, I would change my vote to yes and think there should be a console port of Societies.



Well thankyou for that panikattak. I don't want them to have to change anything for pc. I don't care that some stuff might be simplified for the switchover or that it could mean a hellclogged menu mess. Although I think the ps3 has the capability to handle it. Granted It may be a programmers nightmere to actually have to do the fingerwork, and i feel any short comings of a console port would be due to a lack of focus and energy. I feel the ps3 can do basically whatever the programmers are willing/capable to do.
Forgive me, it's just that I have been waiting for a console version since the launch of ps2. And so now to think they won't put the effort in to do one for the ps3, to me, is soooooooo sad.
I can understand they didn't want to make a chincy version for the ps2, thinking it couldn't handle it in its entirety (SP?). But they can't use that as an excuse for the ps3.

[nelzpunk]

No, I have never played morrowind. And despite all of your hatred towards oblivion, it's one of my most anticipated plays for the ps3. I can't afford one yet, if i could I'd but a new computer too so I could at least get my sc fix.I know most of you don't understand but a ps3 comes way before a new computer.( it will surf and store pics but wont load up sc or the sims anymore) The only pc games I've ever played are sc 3000 unlimited and the sims (from before they had sims on console) and a couple really bad point and clicks. And i'm a huge myst (yes myst for console) fan so it wasn't that that made them bad.

[panikattak]

wasn't Morrowind on a console too?

It was for the Xbox if I remember right. I don't think it came out on the PS2 tho I maybe wrong. But developement for Morrowind started on the PC and the game was intended for the PC audience but was ported over to the console. Oblivion was the other way around and made for the Xbox-360 specifically in mind as one of the games to push the Xbox but was also released on the PC (common hardware, so why not?)

[Aushun]

In my personal opinion, modern strategy games are, or have become, way too complex for console games. I haven't specifically played any console SimCity games, but have ventured into a few RTS's on various consoles. In my experience, even some of the more recent and better examples (Command and Conquer 3, Battle for Middle-Earth 2, both on Xbox 360) are quite different experiences to their PC versions, and the games have to be stripped down somewhat to offer the same level of immersion. A game like SimCity is arguably more complex, in terms of all the options available, than an RTS, so a console version would be correspondingly not that great. Perhaps it worked for previous iterations of the game, but I seriously cannot imagine SC:S (or even SimCIty 4 for that matter) on any console offering the same thing as the PC version.

Perhaps if the game was made from the ground up for a console, things would be different. The current crop of consoles all offer features that approximate the PC experience (the Wii-mote for example, could act identically to a mouse, ditto the Sixaxis controller, though to a much lesser extent, and the 360 controller apparently has a keyboard addon (http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/08/xbox-360-to-get-keyboard-controller-attachment/)) I'm quite interested in Civilization Revolution (http://www.firaxis.com/games/game_detail.php?gameid=17), which appears as an honest attempt to create a good strategy title for consoles, and is notably not a port, but rather a console-only game.

[Kiya]

Rival gaming systems should make way for a single open platform, a senior executive [Gerhard Florin] at Electronic Arts has said.

EA currently produces games for more than 14 different gaming systems, including consoles, portable devices and PCs.

"I am not sure how long we will have dedicated consoles - but we could be talking up to 15 years," Mr Florin added.

More here....http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7052420.stm

[nelzpunk]

So, thats everything anyone has to say? C'mon people, vote!!!!!!!:D
Sim City Rules!!!:) :eek: :cool:

[nelzpunk]

I know there's more :p of you out there. Let's hear you!

[Azeem]

It would have been better if you put a "Don't really care either way" option. A console CB *isn't* the game for me, but I honestly don't really care if a CB is ported to a console or not.

[thegrad]

As long as I can have my pc games, I don't care if the same game is also available in other venues.

[nelzpunk]

So you don't agree that even if YOU wouldn't play the console version, that a bigger fanbase would benefit the franchise as a whole?

[Marius]

The worry is valuable developer time could be taken making console versions (for how ever many of the 14 consoles that the game was re-tailored for).
(we could get to see a few more TM titles out instead of retreading SCS for all the consoles)

And, also I'm concerned that the game could be crippled and dumbed down so that it ran in a similar fashion on all platforms.

[nelzpunk]

Well, 14 consoles, huh? Right. Try ps3 and xbox if it can handle it and wii is the one I'd really worry about. Beyond that what else do really think its going to get ported to? PS3 is all I really care about but i wouldn't begrudge the other consoles players sc, as long as the platform could handle it.
And I'm fairly sure that you don't ever plan on playing it on consoles, so you shouldn't be too worried about the end result. However, as far as the ps3 is concerned, I'm not worried at all.

[Aushun]

Technology wise, yes the PS3 and 360 should be able to handle a port, but you have to wonder, is that the focus of the game? It might be so for say a FPS, but for strategy games, and especially simulations, the focus is more on the gameplay, a reason why games like Starcraft or the original SimCity are still endearing. A port to the Wii, whilst probably not as graphically intensive, shouldn't detract from the essence of the PC version in any significant way. And remember, Will Wright's making Spore for the Wii, and the Wii only. :)

[King Faticus]

I'm rooting for the WII in perticular

[Deep Thought]

Benefit with console games:
Almost no lags. A reason to release SCS to consoles.

[Azeem]

Console games do lag and have long load times. As games for consoles become more complex, they start to suffer the same issues as PC games.

[Jacquou Le]

Maybe you don't know that I play SimCity on my mobile, to be clearer, on my cellphone (mobile phone :p) everyday in 8 consecutive months. And I still enjoy and find more ways to play it :D

I'm sure that all of you already know how "beautiful" graphics on the cellphone. I don't mind anything of it (graphic,) but the gameplay.

So, why not for consoles?

[ADJB]

In my personal opinion, modern strategy games are, or have become, way too complex for console games. I haven't specifically played any console SimCity games, but have ventured into a few RTS's on various consoles. In my experience, even some of the more recent and better examples (Command and Conquer 3, Battle for Middle-Earth 2, both on Xbox 360) are quite different experiences to their PC versions, and the games have to be stripped down somewhat to offer the same level of immersion. A game like SimCity is arguably more complex, in terms of all the options available, than an RTS, so a console version would be correspondingly not that great. Perhaps it worked for previous iterations of the game, but I seriously cannot imagine SC:S (or even SimCIty 4 for that matter) on any console offering the same thing as the PC version.


My thoughts entirely.

The Xbox 360 version of C&C3 is a disaster in comparison to the PC version especially considering the actual gameplay. The loading times are as bad as a PC and game control is much harder.

However consoles do have a big advantage in that your only developing for one piece of hardware which should make for a more solid game. (Not quite true I know)

Most strategy type games rely on quite complex control systems which just don't suit the limited input you can have on a console. I think the next generation Wii, if it has finer control than the present Wiimote, might be made to work but a keyboard input is all but essential to most modern RTS / City building games.

Add a keyboard to a console and with the internet connectivity they all now have you can end up with a perfectly functional PC for most people. Many of your major apps (word processing, spreadsheets etc) are now available via the net and in a few years I can see the desktop PC being a niche item and expanded consoles taking the lions share of the market. The difference is starting to happen now with consoles starting to be called "entertainment systems" with the manufacturers aims of giving you a single "Black box" to watch the TV, listen to music, do your social networking and play games.

This isn't that far from how some parts of industry work now with citrix type dumb terminals and all the processing power fed from server farms.

There are of course other problems with consoles with one of the main ones being, from a gamers perspective, that the quality of the game is tied to the life span of the console. For example if you take a 5 year old PC (or console for that matter) and compare, especially the graphics, the best quality 5 year old game to a recent release then you will see some massive differences. The best graphical games on the Xbox or PS 2 are totally eclipsed by the worst games on the 360 or PS3. Do you want to wait for each new console release to get the massive improvement in quality?.

Of course if this is the way it pans out it would do the game producers no harm at all if you were playing console based games you had to effectively rent. Fire up your console which connects to the net which then verifies your being billed for this session and piracy could be heavily cut.

Of course that would be the view of a cynical person.