Sim City Classic free to play on the web
by Jennie Lees 
{ Dec 13th 2005 at 11:00AM }
If you've a hankering for the good old days, this may be up your
street. EA have released a free-to-play version of Sim City, available to play from within your web browser.
It uses ActiveX controls, so may only work in Internet Explorer for you—but it's a good way to get a quick strategy fix if you're at work or want to relive the past. There are also some tutorial and quick-start guides provided to help you on your way to greatness. Here's hoping more publishers will follow suit—there are plenty of classic games that could work well in this format.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bandersnatch @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
TBH, I'm surprised EA hasn't considered releasing this for XBL arcade on 360.
Hunting_Phoenix @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Simcity on Xbox Live Arcade = meh. Simcity on Revolution = great. the controls on 360 wouldn't lend themselves to this, or any other strategy/simcity type game. Like I've said other places, the revolution controller will do for video games what the mouse did for the PC.
Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I remember this being available at least 4 years ago as a free web app. Is there anything new to this version or did they re-release it?
Kassad @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I am curious to see how the Rev controller will do for games. I Think its good for sword games but i dont see how it be good for a convencional game.
Joel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I don't know how it will do for "convencional" games because I don't know what they are. It will do fine for conventional games because it is going to have an adapter to turn it into a conventional controller. :)
Nico @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Yeah, this was already around a couple of years ago...
Ian @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I'm having a hankerin' for some Sim Tower action. What's with this lame Sim City stuff; Sim Tower was castly superior and is long do for some update action.
jl @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Chris, Nico - thanks for the heads up. It may not be new but I've already spent far too long on it today so I think it warrants being publicised again!
strider_mt2k @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
So much for getting anything done at work ever again!!!
Rob X. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Hunting_Phoenix
Do you really think that a control system with no support other then the wrist will have as much fine tuned control as a mouse or even an analog stick? Hold your hand in the air and see how steady it is compared to an object sitting on a table. Don't expect to see many sim or RTS types games on the Revo. Due to it's stylus, the DS is the best suited gaming device other than a PC for Sim-city games.
Mrs.EB @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
"So much for getting anything done at work ever again!!!"
my thoughts exactly. just started playing a half hour ago.. and now it's already time to leave! This is going to keep me company for a long long time.
I agree too with the earlier comment... let's see some SimTower here! Or SimAnt. Two of the best games EVER!
Rob X. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
ejflex
You need to work on your reading comprehension before flaming someone. Did I say the word "tired" at all? I'm talking about fine motor control and the accuracy that Sim-City entails, not about getting tired.
I think I would be insulted except that I just came back from PT.
Kakairo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
This is more than five years old...Maxis launched this website when they launched SC3K.
Shawn @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Hey what about SimFarm? Could someone direct me to a website with SimFarm. That is the game I have been missing. I used to play it in my bestfriends basement for hours when I was 13 or 14. Thanks!
alexxis @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
does any one know how to get rid of the fires when they happen? there are already fire stations set up but they don't seem to be putting out the fires
Hunting_Phoenix @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Rob x,
you do have a point. if you've ever seen anyone point with a laser pointer, you must agree. however, some where i read about folks who'd done a hands on with the controller, and they said you had excellent stability and control resting your hand/wrist on your lap.
There are similar issuse with many devices, take camcorders for instance. They've had "steadyshot" for years. Hopefully they will deal with our shaky hands! :)
ejflex @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
would have been ool if there was SOUND. Jees. A silent sim city.. alright RADICAL! Note to EA... make it at least slightly intriguing and have sound with the game.
Anubis @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
I gotta agree with #7...Sim Tower had soooo much potential..I wouldnt definately like to see an update to this...Sim Tower in the new generation new buildings, add-ons, more expansive transportation system (ever had so many elevators in one building they started to get stuck in a bad pattern after awhile?...or ever had too few elevators?..)...a deeper dive into the underground sectors of the Tower including pipeline access to other buildings through the subway system...oh that would rock.
Rob X @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
"i read about folks who'd done a hands on with the controller, and they said you had excellent stability and control resting your hand/wrist on your lap."
I was wondering about something like that. If it would be accurate enough to actually use as a sort of mouse on a tabletop. If this is true, it could lead to many more gaming possibilities than I thought.
Anubis @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
would* not wouldn't....
I gotta agree with #7...Sim Tower had soooo much potential..I wouldnt definately like to see an update to this...Sim Tower in the new generation new buildings, add-ons, more expansive transportation system (ever had so many elevators in one building they started to get stuck in a bad pattern after awhile?...or ever had too few elevators?..)...a deeper dive into the underground sectors of the Tower including pipeline access to other buildings through the subway system...oh that would roc
ejflex @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
Rob X
Yeah.. I read somehting about resting your wrist on a mouse. To me that reads.. I have no fine motor control because my wrist hurts from the vast weight and inpercision of the revo remote. And I'm not sure of what you were reffering to with "PT." Whether you meant potty training... or personal training... keep on truckin on with whatever PT your doing. No need to get so offended by a comment about people complaining about the revo controller and them getting tired. Do you know how many posts I have read with people complainig about that? To me it just shows how out of shape this country is.
Hunting_Phoenix @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM
ejflex,
have you ever used a laser pointer? try pointing one at a target about 2 cm (1 inch) in diameter for a few seconds from a couple of meters away. Tell me then if you have fine motor control. It is nearly impossible to hold that little point of light still.
Rob X, good to see another person with some sense and an open mind. It will all depend on the control and how they impliment it. I was thinking the other day, you could "calibrate" the controller by waving it through your range of movement, and it could probably be made to store your biometrics. So games could be made to adjust to your arm length and height etc. It could be cool.