New SimCity Requires Constant Internet Connection

[News Portal]

Marxis’ new take on [app=8818]SimCity[/app] for EA is looking mighty fine, there’s no denying. It might not all be custom urban sprawl roses, though, because today Joystiq are reporting that it will be one of those games that takes an always-on approach to its existence, ie. You’ll need to be constantly connected to the internet in order to build your bedlam. That always sucks, because the problem with internet connections is that, sometimes, they just don’t feel like working.

Read full article by Toby McCasker

[shlaimon]

Do EA even care about their business?

Wont be buying.

[DarkMellie]

Yep, not buying.

Please do not discuss piracy ITT.

[shevek]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/8/8/

Oh the outrage. I don't care if they require a DNA swab to start the game, I am buying and playing this.

That always sucks, because the problem with internet connections is that, sometimes, they just don’t feel like working.

That statement doesn't apply to internode though, I would hope?

[Elfraddor]

So EA didn't follow what Ubisoft tried and failed to do. Brilliant.

Will probably still buy it though.

[nafem]

rofl seriously guys??

Do you turn your net off to play games?? lol i think not

dont see this as a big deal. most games are all online anyways, ill be even more happy if the online login saves my game files in the cloud, that would be sweet, hate losing game files from a system crash etc

i think the net goes down what... once a year for a few hours if that? 99.9% service level agreement.

buying and playing the sh*t of of this

[Baskerville]

Doesn't really bother me but I don't understand why they bother with the always online thing.

[akira675]

Do you turn your net off to play games?? lol i think not

You realise always on connections mean that they have servers. Which means they have server maintenance. Which means scheduled and unscheduled periods of downtime when you could have otherwise been happy "playing the sh*t of of this."

[a3gis]

EA has since stated that it's only when you start the game. If your connection drops out after starting it, the game will continue running.

http://au.pc.gamespy.com/pc/sim-city-5/1221798p1.html

Yes, you will have to register an Origin account in order to play, and yes, you must be online at all times while playing in order to start playing. EA has confirmed that you will not be kicked out if your connection is interrupted. Moving on.

[Tas]

shame I was looking forward to this. But I dont play EA games, nor tolerate this moronic always online ****. Nother game I'll have to wait for torrents so that rubbish is cracked out.

[At0mic]

If it comes to the point where ALL games require net access to play (even single-player ones), and you end up losing control over your own software, then I'm done. I'll find another hobby, there's plenty out there.

These publishers think gaming is a need rather than a luxury - but maybe that's it. Maybe too many people are addicted to games that they don't care if their rights get progressively destroyed.

[TheD]

rofl seriously guys??

Do you turn your net off to play games?? lol i think not

dont see this as a big deal. most games are all online anyways, ill be even more happy if the online login saves my game files in the cloud, that would be sweet, hate losing game files from a system crash etc

i think the net goes down what... once a year for a few hours if that? 99.9% service level agreement.

buying and playing the sh*t of of this

I knew someone would miss the point.

Most games are not "all online anyways"!
You don't need stupid DRM to do cloud saves.

If you had an IQ of more than 2 would would know that EA needs to keep the servers online for people to play, they could pull the servers out from under you (stopping you from playing the game, something they have done for some other games just a few months back) and that STUPID DRM DOES NOT WORK AND INSTEAD DRIVES PEOPLE AWAY!

People (myself included) still play simcity4, 9 years after it came out! (some still play Simcity 3000 and even 2000!)
I doubt that EA would still be running simcity 5 servers in 10 years time!

[hellboy1975]

Sounds like the game is built to me kinda like an MMO, so this comes as no real surprise to me. Like most games I consider buying I'll probably judge it on it's merits rather than it's DRM...

[TheD]

Sounds like the game is built to me kinda like an MMO, so this comes as no real surprise to me. Like most games I consider buying I'll probably judge it on it's merits rather than it's DRM...

Because we all know that MMOs only need you to be online when you log in

[akira675]

they could pull the servers out from under you

Ahem. For example. http://static2.cdn.ubi.com/transition/details/