No game captured my imagination when I was growing up like SimCity. Certainly, a part of it was my God complex, but more it was the open-ended nature of a game with few rules that let you build a city. I spent countless hours on my computer playing it, I even spent countless hours on the Super Nintendo playing it when it was ported to that console. Now it’s coming to the iPhone — countless hours will be lost again.
I got a chance to play a near-complete version of it today; it looks great. Fans of the series will recognize the SimCity 3000 look and feel, but the addition of touch screen controls makes sense for things like zoning (creating a certain type of building zone). Using the multi-touch capabilities of the iPhone to do things like zooming in and out of your city also makes the game a good fit for the device.
EA has already made two SimCity versions for Nintendo’s portable system, the Nintendo DS, but even though I have that device as well, I’m quickly finding the iPhone is becoming my go-top mobile gaming device. Part of it is because I always have the device on me, but it’s also that the iPhone is powerful, as you can tell from the fact that it can run this relatively advanced version of SimCity.
I should note that there were some loading time issues in the demo I tried. But EA’s reps assured me that these were being ironed out and that the game would run smoothly before it launches in the App Store at some point in December. The price point for the game is expected to be $9.99.
Update: SimCity is now available on the iPhone.
[The photo at the top is from the computer version of SimCity 3000 not the iPhone version -- though it does look very nice as well.]
2:52 pm
VentureBeat - first look at SimCity for iPhone | Simprograms said:
[...] SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way) Share and Enjoy: [...]
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MobiRiot :: Headquarters for Mobile Gaming: iPhone, Android and more! » Blog Archive » SimCity Coming to iPhone said:
[...] VentureBeat Share and [...]
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今日のiPhoneニュース斜め読み的なコーナーを設けることにしました。2008/11/20 ver 1.1 : iPhone AppBank said:
[...] のシムシティは12月中に1200円で販売予定。 SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way) » VentureBeat [via: Touch Arcade]iPhone [...]
7:38 pm
SimCity Coming to iPhone in December for $9.99 | HawtApps.com said:
[...] November19 PC version screen “SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way).” So says MG Seigler of VentureBeat. He had a chance to spend some time with Electronic Arts’ upcoming [...]
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SimCity coming to AppStore in December and will cost $9.99 | iPhoneIndiaBlog.com said:
[...] a blast in December. SimCity is coming to AppStore this December and will cost $9.99. MG Siegler of VentureBeat has just confirmed this news. I should note that there were some loading time issues in the demo I [...]
3:00 am
SimCity Coming to the iPhone In Time to Ignore Your Family on Christmas : tinyComb said:
[...] Mg Siegler got his hands on a near-complete demo version of the game and says its awesome, if not for a few loading issues which EA assures will be taken care of by the final [...]
3:13 am
SimCity для iPhone появится в декабре за $9.99 | iPod Games said:
[...] для iPhone может разрушить мою жизнь (в хорошем смысле)». Так сказал МG Seigler из VentureBeat. Он имел возможность пообщаться [...]
5:11 am
Kotaku - Wait, There’s SimCity For The iPhone Now? [IPhone] | Nintendo ds said:
[...] sometime in December, for the "yeah, I’ll finally buy an iPhone game" price of $10. SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way) [...]
6:08 am
Wait, There’s SimCity For The iPhone Now? [IPhone] | the daily john said:
[...] SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way) [VentureBeat] [...]
7:15 am
SimCity for the iPhone?? | tony.mattke.net said:
[...] So, it appears that EA is bringing SimCity to the iPhone platform. I’m honestly worried about the implementation, two finger dragging for establishing zones sounds horrible on such a small screen. EA says we can expect to see it in the app store sometime in December for $10. Source: VentureBeat [...]
7:43 am
SimCity on the iPhone now | Startup Meme - Technology Startup and Latest Tech News said:
[...] in and out of your city. The current version has some loading issues, which were noticed in the demo, but EA assures those will be corrected before its launch. SimCity is expected in the App Store by [...]
8:03 am
Jablickar.cz - blog o světě Apple píše Jablíčkář » Simcity na iPhone je již skoro hotové said:
[...] přináším dobré zprávy. Jak už možná víte, Simcity se chystá na iPhone. A právě kluci z VentureBeat měli to štěstí, že si mohli zahrát víceméně hotovou verzi. Podle nich se iPhone verze [...]
9:25 am
SimCity coming out in December, priced at $9.99 | iPhone Games, News and Reviews Games for Mac from Apple said:
[...] VentureBeat had a chance to test out SimCity for the iPhone and got some extra info on this iPhone and iPod Touch game. He says the game looks very similar to SimCity 3000, but with the multi-touch controls it controls a lot better thant he old-school SimCity-games. SimCity will come out in December for $9.99. [...]
9:34 am
Sim City sur iPhone | Application iPhone said:
[...] débarquer sur l’App Store américain au prix de $9.99. MG Seigler, du magazine américain VentureBeat a pu essayer une version de test et déclare : J’ai eu la chance d’essayer une beta - [...]
10:40 am
O Weblog do Universo Apple | SimCity para iPhone chega à App Store no próximo mês. said:
[...] acordo com o VentureBeat, a Electronic Arts vai lançar uma versão para iPhone/iPod Touch do jogo SimCity para o mês que [...]
11:00 am
SimCity a punto de llegar al iPhone said:
[...] SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way) | Vía: Kotaku Algunas anotaciones relacionadas: iPhone Doom, Duck Hunt para el iPhone, id y [...]
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SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way) » VentureBeat | IPHONE NEWS said:
[...] the example place here: SimCity for the iPhone haw smash my chronicle (in a beatific way) » VentureBeat Leave a comment Comment RSS Previous: IPhone Apps: Pocket Jockey iPhone Game Simulates [...]
1:22 pm
Daily Research » Shared Items - November 20, 2008 said:
[...] SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way) [...]
1:55 pm
/gamer » Blog Archive » Sim City Coming to the iPhone said:
[...] forward more than 15 years and I still go back to play it to this day. Now get word that EA plans on bringing Sim City (resembles SC 3000) to the iPhone. Remember, the phone has a [...]
3:25 pm
Server Juegos - Noticias, información y novedades » SimCity a punto de llegar al iPhone said:
[...] SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way) | Vía: [...]
4:41 pm
SimCity Coming December for $10 | FingerGaming said:
[...] to Siegler’s impressions, the EA Mobile title has the “look and feel” of SimCity 3000, but with touchscreen [...]
5:58 pm
Electronic Arts: SimCity per iPhone in fase di sviluppo? | iSpazio - Il Blog sull'iPhone più letto in Italia e nel Mondo said:
[...] [Fonte - Via] [...]
7:51 pm
SimCity is coming to the iPhone this december! | iPhoneGamePlay said:
[...] Seiler who writes about technology trends and new media for VentureBeat had the chance to play a beta version of EA’s SimCity for the iPhone, and his headline is [...]
7:54 pm
“SimCity” is coming to the iPhone this december! | iPhoneGamePlay said:
[...] Seiler who writes about technology trends and new media for VentureBeat had the chance to play a beta version of EA’s SimCity for the iPhone, and his headline [...]
12:04 am
SimCity for the iPhone May Ruin My Life (In a Good Way) | MG Siegler | Voices | AllThingsD said:
[...] Read the rest of this post Print all_things_di220:http://voices.allthingsd.com/20081121/simcity-for-the-iphone-may-ruin-my-life-in-a-good-way/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “SimCity for the iPhone May Ruin My Life (In a Good Way)”, url: “http://voices.allthingsd.com/20081121/simcity-for-the-iphone-may-ruin-my-life-in-a-good-way/” }); Sphere Comment Tagged: God, M.G. Siegler, SimCity, SimCity 3000, Super Nintendo, VentureBeat, Voices, iPhone, touch screen controls, zoning | permalink [...]
2:40 am
SimCity für das iPhone kommt im Dezember » MACNOTES.DE said:
[...] Hochdruck an einer iPhone-kompatiblen Version. Einer der Autoren bei VentureBeat hat schon einen ersten Blick darauf werfen dürfen. Erinnern soll das Design an SimCity 3000, und natürlich kann man in dem [...]
3:05 am
Oh man, Sim City is coming to the iPhone … « Paul M. Watson said:
[...] am on November 21, 2008 | # | Tags: games, mobile, software Oh man, Sim City is coming to the iPhone. [...]
3:09 am
Otherside » iPhoneでSim Cityが・・・ said:
[...] iPodNNでは、VentureBeatによると、Electronic Artsが、iPhone版の「SimCity」を来月リリースする予定であると伝えています。近いうちに完成する予定で、「SimCity 3000」と同様の内容になっているそうです。価格は10ドルとなる見込みです。 [...]
12:51 pm
The revenge of the $9.99 iPhone apps » VentureBeat said:
[...] like restaurant reviews. Most were showing off apps that would be coming out in December (like SimCity and Rolando). The one thing the majority of them shared in common was price: [...]
1:42 pm
MacCast » Blog Archive » SimCity pro iPhone said:
[...] na App Store bude ke stažení legendární hra SimCity ve verzi pro iPhone. MG Siegler ze serveru VentureBeat měl tu možnost si zahrát předfinální verzi SimCity pro [...]
9:49 pm
Simcity Coming To iPod Touch;December Release « Pro 7.0 said:
[...] in December. SimCity is coming to AppStore this December and will cost $9.99. MG Siegler of VentureBeat has just confirmed this news. I should note that there were some loading time issues in the demo I [...]
5:19 am
iPhone 3G Blog » Blog Archive » SimCity kommt auf das iPhone said:
[...] Design des Spiels erinnert stark an die Computerversion von SimCity 3000, verraten die Kollegen von Venture Beat, die das Spiel bereits testen durften. Mit Einsatz des Touchscreens lässt sich kinderleicht in [...]
1:17 am
Edicola Web » Blog Archive » Feedmastering #29 said:
[...] A dicembre esce una versione di Simcity per l’iPhone a 10 dollari. Tenete d’occhio l’Apple [...]
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SimCity for iPhone Coming in December | infone.org said:
[...] Read More [...]
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Platform Nation » Blog Archive » SimCity 3000 Coming To The iPhone said:
[...] venturebeat.com Like what you see? Help PN by promoting us with the links [...]
3:00 pm
SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way) » VentureBeat | Quoos sein Blog said:
[...] SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way) » VentureBeat Delicious Links Add comments [...]
1:38 am
Ilha de Toque Toque Boutique Hotel said:
[...] SimCity for the iPhone haw smash my chronicle (in a beatific way) » VentureBeat [...]
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Sim City: Spieleklassiker für das iPhone » neuerdings.com said:
[...] Venture Beat ANZEIGE Werben Sie auf [...]
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SimCity para el iPhone viene en este diciembre próximo « GZjuegos said:
[...] Fuente: Venturebeat [...]
6:02 am
iPhone Gets SimCity This December : TC Games And More said:
[...] SimCity for the iPhone may ruin my life (in a good way)[Venture Beat] [...]
7:06 am
SimCity Simmed My Life « my brain while it’s above ground said:
[...] Simmed My Life SimCity is coming to iPhone. I wasted a goodly number of hours on that game growing up. For that part in my life, I wanted [...]
7:07 am
Simcity Coming To iPhone in December » iPhoneOverdose.com said:
[...] Mg Siegler got his hands on a near-complete demo version of the game and says its awesome, if not for a few loading issues which EA assures will be taken care of by the final [...]