Maxis = subsidiary of Electronic Arts, circa 1997

Although Maxis did make the game, the overarching EA "philosophy" is stamped all over the game.



I just filled out my Amazon return form. I kept the game sealed and waited for the server problems to subside. They did. Now, all kinds of deeper issues* keep coming up. Fuck it. No game is worth this headache.


*Deeper Issues include ...

0 dependency logic on Industrial and Commercial zoning

AI logic says to take the shortest route at all times, which creates havoc for road planning

and crap like this ...
HRXLUGw.gif

crap like this too (where residential land isn't properly transforming)

finally ... there is no idea of sims with individual lives. This is a major flaw. If you follow a sim (a feature), you'll notice that they'll leave for work and go to the closest place of employment. When they leave work, they head to the closest home. If the place of employment is full, they go to the next place. If the closest home is full, they go to the next. It's impossible to improve traffic congestion when all of the destinations are random.