Sim City Is Now Available For Mac Users

SimCity is now available to download for all Mac users via EA’s Origin Service and it’ll include cloud saves and cross-platform play as well. Also, every single PC owner will receive a completely free copy of the Mac version too. Although the city-building title isn’t available at the moment in Australia, it will be out there tomorrow.

Here’s A Lowdown On The Simulator

SimCity (2013), also known as SimCity 5, is a city-building simulation game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It serves as a reboot of the iconic SimCity series and was released on March 5th, 2013, for Microsoft Windows. Here is a comprehensive overview of the strategy game and its key features:

1. Gameplay Mechanics:

   • Simulation Engine: SimCity (2013) utilises a complex simulation engine called GlassBox, which aims to provide a more detailed and realistic representation of a city and its inhabitants.
   • City Construction: Players act as the mayor and have the responsibility to design, construct, and manage their own virtual cities.
   • Zoning: The game allows players to allocate areas for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes.
   • Infrastructure: Players can build and manage various infrastructure elements such as roads, highways, railways, bridges, and tunnels.
   • Public Services: Providing essential services like water, power, healthcare, education, and emergency services is crucial for the city’s success.
   • Economy and Finances: Managing the city’s budget, taxes, and trade is important to sustain economic growth and financial stability.
   • Multiplayer: SimCity (2013) introduced an online multiplayer component, allowing players to collaborate and interact with other cities in a shared region.

2. City Dynamics and Simulation:

   • Population: The game simulates individual Sims, representing citizens of the city, with unique characteristics, needs, and behaviours.
   • Agent-Based Simulation: Each Sim in the game has a job, home, and daily routine, resulting in dynamic and realistic city dynamics.
   • Traffic Simulation: The traffic system takes into account factors such as congestion, road capacity, and commuting patterns.
   • Specialisation: Players can specialise their cities in various areas such as tourism, education, gambling, or industry, affecting the city’s development and economy.

3. Graphics and Visuals:

   • Detailed Environments: SimCity (2013) features visually appealing and intricately designed environments, with attention to detail in buildings, landscapes, and animations.
   • Day and Night Cycle: The game simulates a dynamic day and night cycle, showcasing stunning visuals and lighting effects.

4. Expansion and DLC:

   • SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow: An expansion pack released on November 12th, 2013, introducing futuristic technologies and new city-building possibilities.
   • Additional Content: Various downloadable content (DLC) packs were released, offering additional buildings, landmarks, and gameplay elements.

5. Launch Controversies:

   • Always-Online Requirement: SimCity (2013) faced significant backlash for its initial always-online requirement, which caused server congestion and connectivity issues during launch.
   • Server Stability: The game experienced stability problems due to overwhelming player demand, leading to extended downtime and frustrations.

Despite the initial launch issues, SimCity (2013) received generally positive reviews for its intricate simulation, engaging gameplay, and visual aesthetics. It aimed to provide players with an immersive city-building experience, allowing them to shape and manage their own virtual metropolises.

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We must warn you though, this game is extremely addictive as most strategy games are, so don’t say that we didn’t warn you. Let us know if you’re going to, or have downloaded the Mac version by leaving us a comment in the field below.