Rarely do I talk about games on this blog, but considering I’ve been doing a few posts on the types of apps I have running on both my desktop and my laptop, it seemed fitting to share it.
To be honest, I don’t play many games. I have an obsessive personality and if I get into something too deep, then it can end up costing me far more than a few hours lost here or there (and that’s not a good thing when you’re trying to run a business, trying to raise to kids, and trying to generally be wise with the way that you’re spending your time).
Anyway, when I was young, I was completely enamored with SimCity 2000 (“reticulating splines“). Though I don’t know if I was really old enough to get all aspects of the game, I was pretty good about filling up a map with a city and then generating revenue.
Their tax dollars at work
But then I had to get out of it for a bit. The games continued to get more and more advanced and school, life, and so on became busier and busier.
And then, a couple of weeks ago, SimCity BuildIt was released.
Why I Dig SimCity BuildIt
There has been a lot of back and forth about whether or not SimCity BuildIt is a “good” SimCity game. Truthfully, it’s different in spirit largely because of one of the things that I actually enjoy the most – the timers
That means that for every time you need to produce resources in order to grow your city, you have to wait a certain amount of time until said resources have been completed.
Additionally, you can build anywhere you want to on the map. You’re given a specific area out of which you can start and then you can slowly expand based on the number of resources and artifacts you collect while keeping your sims happy and keeping the city running smoothly.
My City, Twin Peaks
For me, timers works really well at curbing the obsessive nature – I don’t have to worry about spending too much or too little time playing the game. Instead, I can only play as long as the current turn allows me to produce whatever it is that I need to, y’know, produce to advance the city.
Another thing that I like about the game is that you can setup trade with other cities, friends via Game Center, and generally make money by selling off some of your own resources. Generally speaking, I think the trading system is underrated. It’s a pretty good way to make money and to get the resources needed to continue expanding your city.
Anyway, the game’s a lot of fun. If you’re playing and you’re interested in being friends, let me know in the comments (or via an email) and we can link up in Game Center. If you’re not a fan of the current incarnation of the game, why not?
Always interested in hearing opposing viewpoints.
I need to play this, don’t I?
The answer is a definitive yes.
I’m right there with you, man. I love that it brings back memories of SC 2000 and allows me to clear my head but also forces me to step away from it.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Hello. My name is Chris and I’m an addict.
Me and my partner are ADDICTED to this game! We really like how there are high and low value areas, especially to see the different buildings that you end up with.
Feel free to add me as a friend, my Game Center nickname is t0mbr0wn1
Noted – if I forget, my name is the same as my Twitter handle ;)
Dammit. Now I want to go home and play SimCity!
That’s why I’m glad it’s on iOS :).
I’m never going to get any work done :)
Downloaded because of your article ;)
I’m NickDavis1979 on Game Center :)
Added :)
I’m totally new to wordpress, so I hope I’m commenting on the right place, but Woah! this actually really looks cool. I remember SC2000 a little bit but I was more into roller coaster tycoon, although after reading this article I’m interested in giving it a shot! Awesome article btw, I hope one day I get as many comments as you have on your articles!
I love SC especially since the mobile version has cut out the all too picky sims and made upgrading much easier. I even got SC 4 Deluxe for the Mac but I play on my iPhone (too) much more.
Frosty_2014 for anyone who would like a nosey neighbour to steal city layouts ;-)