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Simsville Canceled

Posted by Hemos on from the nada-mas-sims dept.

Ant wrote to us with the story that Maxis announced today that Simsville has been canceled. It was originally supposed to be out in 2002 - but Maxis decided that "it wasn't up to the standards of Maxis" - but did also say the team did a good job, and was being reassigned to other products like the upcoming Sims Online. The original intent was to be a cross between The Sims and SimCity. Having had to play through some real stinkers of games before, I applaud Maxis decision to kill the product, rather then try to release it on an unsuspecting public CT Cry!

2 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. Yes; this is good - avoid bad releases by rar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I think it is really good news that someone has the nerve to pull the emergency break in this way.

    I really don't understad the idea of pushing out unfinised games. I would guess it only hurts the company itself, and the poor people that buys the product. I mean: if you bought a full-price game that really felt "unfinished" I guess you'll *never* buy a game from that company again.

    As an example: I picked up 'Global domination' from the low-price bin one day; thinking that it looked like a simplistic strategy game somewhat like 'risk'. Gee -- guess if I was fooled? The gameplay is basically to click as fast as you can (that sends missiles...) on other countries. It's just *that more fun* than to senslessly move around icons on the desktop! I will *never* buy a game from thoose people again...

    Well; back to the point; this is a good move from maxis, and I hope other companies will follow their example.

    --
    Open Materials Database
  2. The Sims Online sounded more interesting anyway... by 2Flower · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm almost glad they canned Simsville. Yet Another Micromanagement City Simulation was not needed (at least to this gamer, YMMV), but the plans they have in place for The Sims Online are intriguing. They're unlike anything the Sim series has done before as they shift emphasis from management to social interaction.

    The whole game is a vast experiment in community, economics and social interaction... you're competing for visitors and popularity by having a superior house design and/or a home business. No wrangling with the AI and trying to get your Sims to brush their teeth every morning, no constant patrolling of their mood meters. I'm looking forward to playing it; call it a more constructive and pacifistic version of EverQuest, perhaps.

    But I have to wonder, will adding the Simsville team onto The Sims Online push up the release date a bit? Or is that not really dependent on how many people you throw at a project?