Hacker Skips SimCity Full-Time Network Requirement 303
An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt from Geek.com: "Ever since SimCity launched, there has been a suspicion that the need for the game to always be connected to a server was mainly a form of DRM, not for social game features and multiplayer. Then a Maxis developer came forward to confirm the game doesn't actually need a server to function, suggesting the information coming out of EA wasn't the whole truth. Now EA and Maxis have some explaining to do as a modder has managed to get the game running offline indefinitely." The writer names a few small ways in which the game is actually improved by being offline, too.
Re:Not a huge surprise... (Score:4, Funny)
Not a huge surprise... Though I wonder how they're going to wriggle their way out of that one. I'm guessing they'll just try to ignore it and hope it goes away.
The same way they always wriggle out, Pinky! [vgcats.com]
Re:The only surprise. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Semantics (Score:4, Funny)
Why do you assume he's white? ;)
Re:Not a huge surprise... (Score:5, Funny)
So is EA going to be demanding a refund?
Re:Not a huge surprise... (Score:4, Funny)
EU just get another biased review for free on next game.
Re:Not a huge surprise... (Score:3, Funny)
People not buying means the software companies blame piracy
EA rolled out the big guns on this one, using the most advanced & effective anti-piracy technique available: making a shitty game.
Even the positive reviews are negative (Score:5, Funny)
This is the top positive review on Amazon [amazon.com]:
You'd think I'd be mega unhappy like everyone else at the constant waiting and lack of actually being able to play a game I purchased.
Well, you'd be wrong.
The hours upon hours since launch that I haven't been able to log in, whether it be sitting in queues, or server busy messages, or just plain old not working screens, I've managed to do a heap of things that I never do when I'm locked in my man cave playing video games.
I've washed the dishes, the laundry, changed the oil in the car, mopped the floors, dusted, did a spot of gardening, greeted my children who I hadn't really seen since Christmas, walked the dog, asked how my wife's day has been and listened to the entire response, restocked the groceries and many more things! My family has never been happier that they've got a father and husband again.
In fact, I feel like Simcity has given me a new lease on life. This wouldn't have been possible without the seemingly crazy decision to have constant online connections and server side save points even for single player.
So I can only thank EA and Maxis. Your failures have been my rewards. 5 stars!
Re:Not a huge surprise... (Score:3, Funny)
Recalibrate your cynicism. The paid-reviewer's scale goes something like this:
1 - Game killed my parents and desecrated their remains while it made me watch; rampage on game studio and publisher imminent
2 - Game brutally slew all of my pets
3 - Game desecrated my fondest memories of childhood
4 - Game is functionally equivalent to long-term psychological abuse
5 - The Golgothan can be favorably compared to this game
6 - Game is terrible -- this is the worst allowable score that won't typically lead to disciplinary actions
7 - Game is bad, but salvageable
8 - Game is mediocre; try before purchase or get it on sale
9 - Game has enough good points to look past the bad ones for most people
10 - Publisher is holding my loved ones hostage
[1-4] - Can also be considered notice of resignation if reviewer isn't fired for it first
[6-9].x - Second digit of review score scales as the natural logarithm of cash received from publisher