Simcity 4, The Sims 2, or a PS2

[Dark Shinji]

Ok, stupid question and probably no contest here.  Which should I save up for since I got a job now?

I haven't really looked for many reviews on SimCity 4 and from what I've heard it's pretty cool, but I want to hear from people here at CafeTropico that have actually played the game.

I've also seen a few of the screenshots and information for The Sims 2 and that looks like it's going to be a blast.  It seems to go beyond anything the first Sims did.

Or should I just save up for a Playstation 2?

[Privateer0]

IMHO, none of the above. Then again, who am I to say.

SimCity series went down the drain right after SC2000. Everything after that had too much art and music and too little fun gameplay. I don't imagine the fourth installment will bring anything different. Certainly nothing wroth paying what it costs for.

The Sims 2 looks like it's going to be abysmal. Again, the focus is on graphics, which is not what makes The Sims fun. You'll marvel at the screenshots, buy the game, and only then discover that the gameplay has, probably, not been improved very much, that you can't see anything because of this new 3d engine and you have to spin the camera like a madman to follow what's going on. Not to mention that unless you have a madly powerful video card the game will run slow and the graphics will not be all that great. Anyhow, you're going to forget about the new cool graphics in a week or two and then all you have left is the gameplay. And, unless it'll dramatically improve in The Sims 2, of which I've seen no evidence, that'll be when you stop playing the game.

Play Station, well, I've never understood the point of having one if you already have a PC. I mean sure, there are some games that aren't ported to the PC yet, and some ports are poor compared to the originals, but is it really worth all that money?

[Dark Shinji]

Play Station, well, I've never understood the point of having one if you already have a PC. I mean sure, there are some games that aren't ported to the PC yet, and some ports are poor compared to the originals, but is it really worth all that money?

I'd like to get Final Fantasy VIII through X2 and Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City.  There are a few other games I'd look into also.

[Privateer0]

Well, GTA3 and GTA:VC are on PC as well, and from what I hear about the console versions, the PC ones are much better. You can actually use a mouse to look around and aim, which makes firefights more involved than just jamming the button as quickly as you can.

[Dark Shinji]

Well, GTA3 and GTA:VC are on PC as well, and from what I hear about the console versions, the PC ones are much better. You can actually use a mouse to look around and aim, which makes firefights more involved than just jamming the button as quickly as you can.

Thanks for the heads up.  I'll have to look into that.

[Dark Shinji]

Ok, I've been thinking.  Is Tropico 2 any good?

I want to know about the good and bad parts about Tropico 2.

[Mr.P]

Hey Doc, good to see another Sim City fan, although I would hold off parting with your cash for the time being.

I played Sim City in the very early days, before it was even cool, and have followed and purchased every new game within the Sim City Franchise.

Having eagerly awaited Sim City 4, I rushed out and purchased it, hoping that the minimum specs would not cause a problem, as they happen to be my actual spec.

With thousands of hours of time invested in the Sim City franchise I thought I was sure of a sound addition to this franchise. Sadly I was wrong.

OK, the graphics are superb, the interface solid, as you would expect and the level of detail is what could be expected, but, for some reason, it did not immerse me.

Despite plugging away, thinking I was perhaps missing something, Sim City 4 did not ring my bell. So much so, I went back to Sim City 3000 and instantly found what I was looking for. Immersion, the feeling I was actually running a city.

Granted, Sim City 4 has some nice tricks up its sleeve, such as driving cars, flying planes, piloting boats...all ingame....a.k.a GTA-style, plus you can import The Sims characters into it....yet, there was just that 'X' factor missing.

Doc, if you can get your hands on a copy from a friend, or but it from a '10 day return' store, I would suggest you get it, only if to give you peace of mind before parting with your money.

Hell, Doc, I'll send you my copy if I know you'll be able to play it on your machine.

[Dark Shinji]

Hell, Doc, I'll send you my copy if I know you'll be able to play it on your machine.

Trust me I could.  I got a 1.6 GHz AMD Athlon processor and 512 MB of RAM in this beast.

[Mr.P]

Cool, IM me the address details and I will stick it in the post Doc.

[Dark Shinji]

I'll have to think about the address thing.  But I'm also worried it won't pass U.S. customs.

Any words about Tropico 2 though?

[Mr.P]

Just use a mail-forwarding service Doc, or a post office box. Drop me a line if you sort it out.

I'll check the customs thing and whether a U.K game will play on a U.S PC. sometimes they like to mess with our heads.

As for T2, I enjoyed playing it, as it had many of the elements of T1 that I likes, but in a pirate style theme.

The idea seemed a very good one to me, et on playing it I found the playability was not there for me. After a while I found that the island was of more interest to me that plundering ships and raiding settlements, which threw me right back at T1, as the focus of the game was on the elements I most enjoyed.

[Dark Shinji]

As for T2, I enjoyed playing it, as it had many of the elements of T1 that I likes, but in a pirate style theme.

The idea seemed a very good one to me, et on playing it I found the playability was not there for me. After a while I found that the island was of more interest to me that plundering ships and raiding settlements, which threw me right back at T1, as the focus of the game was on the elements I most enjoyed.

So would you suggest paying out the $20 (USD) or so to get it?  I once played the demo and I found the demo lacking.  But that is only a demo.  It's like the game compressed into a shot glass.

The idea of raiding stuff interests me and the idea of running the island is always a good thing.  I still play Tropico 1 so the running the island part should still interest me.

Plus you got the re-playability that Grand Theft Auto 3 doesn't offer.

[Leader Of The Enviromentalist Faction]

OK hmm I have Gamecube Xbox PS2 PC I'm buying TS2 I own SC4 I own alot of Maxis games so I vote save up for a PS2.

[Dark Shinji]

What do you think, should I get Tropico 2?

I want your opinions and rants.

[Eddy]

Ok, I'll give some belated advice as well.

If you already own the Sims and the 7(!) expansion packs like me, then I wouldn't rush out for the Sims 2.  I tried a similar type of game, called Singles which is basically the same deal and I found that I hated the 3D view.  I was constantly zooming in and out, turning the camera view, and getting majorly annoyed.  The demo lets you play for an hour.  I didn't even reach the hour before I deleted the thing.  Maybe it is because I am not used to 3D which is what is used in FPS games and the like, but I didn't like it.

Simcity 4, while interesting, is a very frustrating game for those of us who are used to earlier Simcity versions.  Part of it is because now, the cities are money losers, much like in the real world.  My advice is not to build anything that you pay for until you absolutely need it.  In other words, wait until Rome is burning before buying a firehouse.  The other thing is that inter-city connections are vital.  You can't run a city independently of the world like in Simcity 3.  Also, don't bother with high density zoning when setting the city up because the development of housing is different.  In earlier versions, you could set up a few blocks of high density, hit the button, and bang, instant metropolis with 25,000 people on a tiny map.  Not any more.  You start out with a couple hundred now using that tactic.  Oh that reminds me.  I always liked the small maps because I could have a compact design.  Not in this game.  You better have the big map because otherwise you'll run out of space too fast.  In other words, it's the Civ 3 of the Simcity series.

I can't advise on consoles other than the mighty Atari 2600.

Tropico 2?  If it is in the bargain bin, give it a whirl, but I was less than impressed by the demo.

[Severous]

I hated the 3D view.  I was constantly zooming in and out, turning the camera view, and getting majorly annoyed.......maybe it is because I am not used to 3D which is what is used in FPS games and the like, but I didn't like it.

This 3Dview...thats how I feel.  RRT3 screenshots made me uneasy yet I brought because of RRT2.  Once playing RRT3 those same 3D camera issues you describe Eddy helped kill the game for me.  

For a God type game looking down on our creation feels right.  I begrudge the effort, design and PC power,  spent on 3D.  Id rather it was channelled into complexity, user definability, game play, testing and support.

That Nile game under development...anyone else have those same 3D fears having looked at the screenshots?

[Eddy]

I didn't before, but now I am also wondering if the 3D will ruin the experience as it did in the sims clone I tried.

[Dark Shinji]

Tropico 2?  If it is in the bargain bin, give it a whirl, but I was less than impressed by the demo.

I found Tropico 2 in an EB Games near my house.  It was marked for $19.99 but it was on special for $10.79!  I made out like a pirate!  ARGH!

[el Coco]

Well, you got it for a good price, so you probably won't have too much to complain about.  The thing about Trop2 is that it's key element is "cruising", but the results of cruising are somewhat random.  It's like a crap shoot, which didn't appeal to my strategic sensibilities.  I kinda liked island building though, because you have pirates, on the one hand, who like one thing and captives who like the complete opposite.  So the challenge lies in good zoning, and in planning what the island will look like --not only early on, but later in the game as well.

[Dark Shinji]

For a God type game looking down on our creation feels right.  I begrudge the effort, design and PC power,  spent on 3D.  Id rather it was channelled into complexity, user definability, game play, testing and support.

3D should probably be kept to 1st person shooters and games like Black & White (which in my opinion requires the 3D engine).

[JakiusCeasar]

Sims2! It's has alot more than more eye candy, the sims fell completely human! Nlot to mention the building tools, and such! And I probally has the best replayability,since you can have generation ad infinitum, the only thing more mone a messing is sims is messing with the grandkids!

[Clever duck]

 PS2!  It also contains DVD and audio-CD player.  And internet play (which I have never tried).

  OK for joystick games,  I prefer a mouse for building-placement type game (have you tried playing,  e.g.,   Command & Conquer Red Alert on the PS?  Only the direction buttons can be used)

  You can run all of the PS1 games on it,  most of which have BETTER graphics and gameplay (as well as being cheap now) than some of the appalling made-for-PS2 games I've bought.

  For me,  my PS2 (well,  same for any games console) uses the larger screen of my TV,  and I can sit anywhere to use it.

  Probably too late for the original topic starter,  but I've typed it all in now...