Remember when Comparing SimCity 2013 Population that EA Actually Fudged the stats.

[Kane Hart]

I just wanted to bring this up. I'm sure some of you knew about this and many others that did not know. But I know a lot of people will compare the launch of SimCity 2013 to this game. I just want to let you know that even the math provided here we found they were cheating with the system.

Here is one the variables actually called Get Fudged Population:
GetFudgedPopulation from the Interface JS file.

simcity.GetFudgedPopulation = function (a) {  
a = "undefined" !== typeof a ? a : simcity.gGlobalUIHandler.mLastPopulation;  
if (500 >= a)  
return a;  
if (40845 < a)  
return Math.floor(8.25 * a);  
a = Math.pow(a - 500, 1.2) + 500;  
return Math.floor(a)  
};  
simcity.GetRoundedFudgedPopulation = function (a) {  
a = simcity.GetFudgedPopulation(a);  
return a = 25E3 < a ? 10 * Math.round(a / 10) : 5 * Math.round(a / 5)  
};  ;

English: 1 Million Population in SimCity 2013 was actually 121k.

 

[Amiths]

Yes i remember. Next.

 

[Greyhamster]

I thought Simcity was a different game, that Maxis was a different developer and that EA was a different publisher.

 

[Kane Hart]

I thought Simcity was a different game, that Maxis was a different developer and that EA was a different publisher.

Maxis does not really exist as a individual developer anymore. EA Bought them out and 99% of the people been replaced or quit since the start.

EA I bet they top dogs would sat down and talked about these low population numbers. I can bet you anything their like lets find a way to increase it and even fake it and this was how they did it.

 

[Greyhamster]

Maxis does not really exist as a individual developer anymore. EA Bought them out and 99% of the people been replaced or quit since the start.

EA I bet they top dogs would sat down and talked about these low population numbers. I can bet you anything their like lets find a way to increase it and even fake it and this was how they did it.

I still don't see how it is relevant to this game?

CXL Platinum and CXL 2012 and CXL were relevant in the discussion of CXXL because it was the same series by the same publisher (and dev for the latest three) Simcity 2013 was partially related to SC4 and societies because it was the same franchise/studio/dev but with a lot of time between it. And so on and so on.

What I don't get is what the value is of comparing a game by a different dev/publisher to this one. I'd understand pointing to for example Crusader Kings 2 and saying that this game will have a ton of small DLCs, or pointing at mount and blade and say that the game might be buggy, or point at Cities in motion and say the game might be shallow (quoting kotaku here) because then you're talking about games from the same publisher or dev or both, but Simcity has nothing in common with this game except the genre.

 

[Simcity5]

I think skylines is going to have to do a similar thing. How can you have a city full of skyscrapers and yet a population of a small town.

A goal for many people in a game like this is to have a multi million population.

The problem with simcity population numbers wasnt just the fact they inflated the population numbers, it was all the inconsistencies in the formula. They didnt scale everything or apply the formula to everything so the taxes didnt scale up but some of the expenses did.

And it looked like the formula was created in 5 mins on the back of a fag packet down the pub. As did a lot of simcitys design decisions.

Just because we are limited in the number of agents doesnt mean we have to be limited in the population numbers. 1 agent can represent a lot of people doing the same thing.

 

[Kane Hart]

I still don't see how it is relevant to this game?

CXL Platinum and CXL 2012 and CXL were relevant in the discussion of CXXL because it was the same series by the same publisher (and dev for the latest three) Simcity 2013 was partially related to SC4 and societies because it was the same franchise/studio/dev but with a lot of time between it. And so on and so on.

What I don't get is what the value is of comparing a game by a different dev/publisher to this one. I'd understand pointing to for example Crusader Kings 2 and saying that this game will have a ton of small DLCs, or pointing at mount and blade and say that the game might be buggy, or point at Cities in motion and say the game might be shallow (quoting kotaku here) because then you're talking about games from the same publisher or dev or both, but Simcity has nothing in common with this game except the genre.

Why am I bring this up? Because at Launch you will see SimCity 2013 Vs Cities Skylines all over the play day and night here and steam and reddit. On top of that it's already happening. It's fine to compare and educate people on these issues. It's human nature to compare and explore.

So I was just bring this up for a fun fact that when people do start comparing certain aspects like the Population that you guys have a bit of edcucated advice to share with these people when the time comes.

Also it's on topic as we are talking about Skylines real population vs a fake population.

Also:
Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.

 

[Person012345]

Maxis does not really exist as a individual developer anymore. EA Bought them out and 99% of the people been replaced or quit since the start.

EA I bet they top dogs would sat down and talked about these low population numbers. I can bet you anything their like lets find a way to increase it and even fake it and this was how they did it.

I very much doubt it. I find it extremely unlikely that they would get that involved in actual development.EA execs don't really care what the pop number is, they care about money. Rather, I think the developers made a shitty engine and then were stuck with it and had to work around it by pretending there were more people than were actually being simulated (because if they'd said "build up huge cities of 100,000 people" they'd have been laughed at).

 

[Kane Hart]

I think skylines is going to have to do a similar thing. How can you have a city full of skyscrapers and yet a population of a small town.

A goal for many people in a game like this is to have a multi million population.

The problem with simcity population numbers wasnt just the fact they inflated the population numbers, it was all the inconsistencies in the formula. They didnt scale everything or apply the formula to everything so the taxes didnt scale up but some of the expenses did.

And it looked like the formula was created in 5 mins on the back of a fag packet down the pub. As did a lot of simcitys design decisions.

Just because we are limited in the number of agents doesnt mean we have to be limited in the population numbers. 1 agent can represent a lot of people doing the same thing.

Developers are actually not faking the numbers here. But their limiting the population in the Skyscrapers. If I recalled there was a quote I fogot the number but something around a dozen or so house holds in a skyscraper or maybe it was a large apartment building. But either way their not faking numbers but rather just Limiting how many people live in a building.

 

[Kane Hart]

I very much doubt it. I find it extremely unlikely that they would get that involved in actual development.EA execs don't really care what the pop number is, they care about money. Rather, I think the developers made a shitty engine and then were stuck with it and had to work around it by pretending there were more people than were actually being simulated (because if they'd said "build up huge cities of 100,000 people" they'd have been laughed at).

You clearly don't know how the process goes then. Sure the Devs here could even tell you they would have regular meetings on these subjects all the time. You are right they care about Money. How bad do you think it would been if SimCity released and said grow massive cities of a max of a 100k population. It would been a disaster for marketing.

So yeah they fudge the numbers and I can bet you that was started through a meeting.

 

[Person012345]

Why am I bring this up? Because at Launch you will see SimCity 2013 Vs Cities Skylines all over the play day and night here and steam and reddit. On top of that it's already happening. It's fine to compare and educate people on these issues. It's human nature to compare and explore.

So I was just bring this up for a fun fact that when people do start comparing certain aspects like the Population that you guys have a bit of edcucated advice to share with these people when the time comes.

Also it's on topic as we are talking about Skylines real population vs a fake population.

Also:
Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.

Well, there's not even comparison to be had between the two, because "people", the actually simulated "real" ones, weren't really simulated like people in 2013. They were agents and treated the same way as water or power agents IIRC, travelling around until they reached a house and then living there. The next day they'd set out and the first work place they bumped into, that's where we're working today. Then they were sent home and again, first home they bumped into, that was their new house and family. It's not even comparable to the level of simulation in C:SL, where each person is a citizen with their own (albeit simplistic) needs that they set out to fulfill (and actually remember where they live once they're done shopping).

 

[Person012345]

You clearly don't know how the process goes then. Sure the Devs here could even tell you they would have regular meetings on these subjects all the time. You are right they care about Money. How bad do you think it would been if SimCity released and said grow massive cities of a max of a 100k population. It would been a disaster for marketing.

So yeah they fudge the numbers and I can bet you that was started through a meeting.

I don't think so. How well would a game with 2km square plots sell? How well would a game with a broken agent system that doesn't even begin to simulate people consistently sell? How well would a game with bugs galore sell? I think the suits don't really give a shit about details like this, they can shovel out any fucking shit with the right marketing and people will buy it. Maybe I will give you that they had a hand in saying something like "make cities have millions of population" but I doubt that they personally came up with the solution of just making up the number. I think the devs were being pressed to push out a game with a poor engine in an inadequate timeframe, maybe to specifications by management and this was their solution to the shitty pop counts they could achieve.

 

[Tuscan]

SimCity 2013 was little more than a glorified social networking game. EA ignored the fans outright when we asked for a proper city builder. It was a sequel to the failed Cities XL game.

Cities: Skylines on the other hand sounds more like the closest thing we have to a true sequel to SimCity 4: Rush Hour. From what I have learned about Cities: Skylines so far, it's about City Building, it's about challenging your creativity, it's mod friendly, and we are not getting "online MMO" shoved down our throats this time. I have high hopes for this game, and I don't think SimCity 2013 is even comparable.

 

[Ingtar]

I remember the kids getting on school buses, getting off at the next stop, and walking back to the first stop to wait for the bus again... all day long.

 

[Nague]

regarding maxis, if you look at the game cases and where what logo in which size is placed, you can see what happened to maxis.


Same with Bioware BTW

 

[Leermeister]

yeah I'm happy 1 = 1 in this game, pretty excited about it.

I could get passed the population numbers in SC5, was just so many other things............ Just such a simplified small game overall

 

[Kane Hart]

regarding maxis, if you look at the game cases and where what logo in which size is placed, you can see what happened to maxis.


Same with Bioware BTW

Lies because random guy on the Internet said so!

But honestly I miss old Maxis.

 

[aprince]

Yes i remember. Next.

remember when ea said you couldnt play it offline, that it would take too much effort. then some modder unlocked that option in the first week of release.

 

[Leermeister]

rmember when ea said you couldnt play it offline, that it would take too much effort. then some modder unlocked that option in the first week of release.

I remember that aprince, i remember that very well.

do you remember when you couldn't even log into a game for weeks after release?

 

[Kane Hart]

rmember when ea said you couldnt play it offline, that it would take too much effort. then some modder unlocked that option in the first week of release.

Then several months later EA patches it Almost everything ea said was a lie. Like you can't increase the map size yet a modder did it. Not perfect some issues and bugs but hell it worked... 4 times bigger maps and with the source code it would been a lot easier.