SimCity Nieuws

Meier's accomplishments are simply some of the greatest games ever coded

Wright made gaming history when he started to think of video games as "toys" rather than "win-or-lose" affairs

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Will Wright

Maxis

Why is Will Wright Influential?
• Created SimCity
• Created The Sims
• Pioneered "system sims"

We're not sure if it was some kind of forward-thinking vision -- or if it was simply divine inspiration -- but Will Wright made gaming history when he started to think of video games as "toys" rather than "win-or-lose" affairs. Take his 1989 opus SimCity for example (read our Hall of Fame entry). While other game developers were concentrating on jumping puzzles or exploding spaceships, he was building what he called a "system simulator." SimCity was a tiny digital city, the development of which was completely under your control. Sure, there were goal-based scenarios, but most people simply played the game in free-build mode. Did you want a spacious suburban paradise? A glistening commercial empire? A disgusting densely-trafficed nightmare of urban decay? It didn't matter, it was up to you.

SimCity was a success because it had a broad appeal (everyone knows what a city is), was easy to play, and almost never punished the player for his or her decisions. This formula is really a hallmark of one of the greatest game designers of our time, one repeated again and again in his later "Sim-" games. SimCity alone would rank Wright high on our list of achievers, but the fact is, he's always thinking up the next big toy. His most recent game, The Sims, is also a system simulator, but on a household scale. Does the magic still work? Of course! The Sims is probably the most lucrative product in PC gaming right now and shows no sign of slowing. It's fun for casual or hardcore gamers alike.

Next on his plate? A massively multiplayer version of The Sims that will give millions of casual gamers a reason to upgrade their Internet connection. Wright's straightforward themes and easy-to-understand gameplay are a model that we're sure to see in coming years.

What the Gaming Industry says:

Bill Jackson, Ensemble Studios: "I think that Will defines the term 'Thinking outside the box.' His toys have collectively eaten up more of my time than even my six-million dollar man action figures."

Raymond Padilla, Freelance Gaming Journalist: "He is somehow able to reach the hard-core gamer as well as the mass market. Nobody has been as successful in doing so on the PC side."

Rantz Hoseley, Quicksilver Software: "Forget the Sims, Sim City turned a geek hobby into a mainstream pastime. I remember working at a daily newspaper and coming in to find four or five editors playing the original SimCity, totally addicted, and missing deadlines because of it. Always the sign of a good game."

(...)

Sid Meier

Firaxis Games

Why is Sid Meier Influential?
• Created Civilization series
• Co-founded Microprose and Firaxis
• Leader in the strategy game genre

It's fitting that Sid Meier is ranked just out of the top spot on this list, because Meier seems to be everyone's second-favorite game designer. Sure, there's a legion of 3D engine designers on this list, each of them a Hall of Famer. But there's Meier again, as expected, with his name attached to yet another top-quality, addictive game. Just like he's been doing since the early 80s. Meier is the Nolan Ryan of game designers.

Meier's accomplishments are simply some of the greatest games ever coded -- the Civilization series, Gettysburg -- it's even arguable that Meier's Railroad Tycoon in 1990 is the true father of real-time strategy games. Besides his influential game designs, Meier has also led the way in the business world, being the co-founder of MicroProse and Firaxis Games, two of the top game development companies in the world.

Meier's latest game, SimGolf, is already showing the same signs that have been the hallmark of his previous work -- a unique premise, multiple layers of strategy, addictive gameplay and truckloads of fun.

So, what's the secret to creating consistently great games for nearly 20 years?

"I think a lot of what makes me kind of able to keep doing games is the fact that I was there at the beginning and that I don't have to play catch-up all the time," Meier said in an interview a few years back. "It's kind of like I've been there since the start, so I've seen the evolution and have a bit of a sense of history and perspective."

What the Gaming Industry says:

Tim Cain, Troika: "I have enjoyed his games for decades, and what better praise than that? I fondly remember Hellcat Ace on my first computer, an Atari 800. And my first computer game addiction was Civilization. I still hum the new technology tune whenever I have an idea."

Michael Hershberg, Quicksilver Software: "The first PC game I remember getting addicted to (and I mean stay-up-till-4-homework-comes-second kind of addiction) was the original Civilization. Now I have the pleasure of shunning my friends in favor of Civilization III. If Sid deserves anything it might be a spot on the Top 50 People To Blame For Dwindling Social Life."

Rich Carlson, Digital Eel: " 'Sid games' have everything. Strategy; historicity; depth; diplomacy; conflict; tactics; and the beat goes on. The C64 version of Pirates! blew me away. How could they fit so much in there!? When friends introduced me to Civilization and Colonization years later, I realized that Sid Meier was a designer of formidable skill."

Kevin Dill, Quicksilver Software: "In his early days, Sid brought more innovation and insight to this industry than any other designer ever. He inspired my own desire to enter the field, and in my opinion is by far the greatest designer ever. Compared to him, all others can only be described as good - Sid alone was great."

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Here is a quick interview with Sid Meier on EA.com where he chats about SimGolf and working with Will Wright.

Go To EA.com

Sid Meier Talks About Sid Meier's SimGolf

While almost 3 years have passed since Sid Meier and Electronic Arts first collaborated on Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, Sid Meier's name is still synonymous with strategy. Last year, he completed the third edition to his signature turn-based strategy series, Civilization. And instead of relaxing, Mr. Meier and his team at Firaxis again partnered with Electronic Arts and Maxis to create the next game in the popular Sim series, Sid Meier's SimGolf.

On Friday, Sid Meier's SimGolf arrived at Electronic Arts and retailer's shelves nationwide as players nationwide rediscovered that Meier's formula for highly-addictive gameplay can easily make hours evaporate for anyone (whether they enjoy a day on the golf course or not).

We had a chance to ask Meier a few questions to delve a little further into how Sid Meier's SimGolf came to be.

EA GAMES: Sid, you've already had a great 2001 with the release of Civilization III and it comes as no surprise that even after finishing such a massive undertaking, you've already finished another game. How did the initial idea that became Sid Meier's SimGolf come about?

Sid: The idea for this game came last summer as I was at the library leafing through a golfing magazine. In the middle of the magazine was this cool map showing a lovely piece of land with a stream, hills, grass, trees, and wetlands. There was a contest to use this piece of land to design the three most interesting, varied, and attractive golf holes possible. Hey, (I said to myself, quietly) that might make a cool computer game. Nobody had really made a fun game out of designing and building a golf course. So I grabbed some trees and textures from Gettysburg, built a couple of golfer animations in Poser, and threw together a quick prototype and started playing.

EA GAMES: SimGolf seems to take all the best elements of The Sims and your turn-based experience and stitch them together into a really fun game that even non-golfers can enjoy. What type of player do you think would have the most fun with the game?

Sid: SimGolf has something for everyone: golf course design, building, managing, playing the course and a lot of fun player and story customization. I think this game will appeal to fans of sims games and gamers that have played and enjoyed some of my other titles like Railroad Tycoon and Civilization. You don't have to be an avid golfer or a fan of golf simulations to enjoy this game but I think if you do play those games you'll find that it can test your knowledge of golf and course design as well. There really is something for everyone here.

EA GAMES: The game takes place on 16 fictional courses worldwide. Are any of them directly inspired by courses that you've played on?

Sid: Players may develop property in 16 different locations around the world and can choose from 4 different environments from which to play. Many of the elements in the four environments are inspired by real courses around the world. You may build an Eastern Woodlands course (grass, trees, lakes, ducks) or an English links course (heather, sheep and pot bunkers). They'll also be a Southwest Desert course (sand, cactus, and target golf) and a lush Tropical course (beaches, palm trees, and crocodiles). In addition, you can customize your courses with landmarks reminiscent of some of the most famous courses.

EA GAMES: In the past you've stated that the SimCity series inspired you to create Civilization. How does it feel to finally have a chance to collaborate on a game with SimCity's creator, Will Wright?

Sid: I've always been a big fan of Will's games and have spent countless hours playing Simcity and the Sims. Of course, being a game designer, I soon came to the conclusion that I'd like to write a game like this - to borrow some of the ideas that Will has pioneered and combine them with my own. Once we (Firaxis) began design on SimGolf we presented it to Will and his group at Maxis. While all the coding and design was completed at Firaxis, Maxis has been very supportive and has given us some great design feedback. The game has been a lot of fun to work on and I think once you play SimGolf you'll find it's a totally unique experience.

EA GAMES: Who's the better golfer?

Sid: That's yet to be determined

EA GAMES: Considering that you and Wright are considered household names in the gaming industry, was it challenging to get all of your ideas into SimGolf?

Sid: Actually, I'm amazed at the number and variety of features we were able to put in the game. Not only can you build an endless variety of courses, you can then customize your golfers, get to know their different personalities, create your own stories for the golfers, customize a world class golf pro, play your courses, hold sanctioned championship tournaments at your resort, entice the rich and famous to build homes on your courses…the fun goes on and on…

EA GAMES: Golf really is a lot like turn-based strategy. You have to figure out how one move will affect your next move. How closely does SimGolf's strategy elements simulate the intricate balance that you've achieved in your other games?

Sid: The design and gameplay philosophy of SimGolf is very similar to some of my other games. A golf course is really just a big playground for grown-ups - whether you're a golfer or not, I think player's will find lots of different ways to play and explore this world. We've come a long way from the earliest prototype - but always with the idea of leaving players free to choose their own path. You can create the world's most beautiful, most challenging, or most outrageous course -- the choice is yours. You can pamper your players with lovely gardens, comfy benches, and a luxury hotel or torment them with monstrous sand traps, tacky vacation homes, and spine-chilling golf shots -- the possibilities are endless.

EA GAMES: Now that SimGolf is done, what next? Maybe play a little real golf?

Sid: We've got a lot exciting ideas in the pipeline but we're not ready to talk about them yet. As always, we'll let you know as soon as we can.

We would like to find out what is your favorite part of SimCity? Do you like building your cities or tearing them down? Do you like creating your own buildings or would you rather make maps? Take a minute to post your thoughts on the BBS!

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