Amazon.com has currently stopped selling the downloadable version of the latest SimCity due to the continued server errors the game is currently experiencing. The disc version’s product page also has a warning about the servers.
EA’s latest entry into the city builder has an always on DRM which means players have to be connected to an EA server whether they are playing single player or multiplayer. This measure has meant people have had to wait in queues to start playing the game, even the single player portion. Add the fact that game saves are hosted on EA servers and not locally, means players will have to wait to retrieve those saves too, or lose progress if the servers experience problems.
The current user reviews for SimCity on Amazon won’t make for pretty reading for EA and Maxis either with the game currently having a one star rating, with 749 one star reviews from customers who are angered by the always online DRM.
SimCity is due to unlock via Origin at midnight tonight. Fingers crossed.
Source: Amazon
Bilbo_bobbins
If people buy this game after this, then they need their head checked. There are so many other decent sims out there, Tropico 4 is apparently excellent. Not played it, but its on Steam for those who have it.
salvodaze
See that’s a tough call. If you’re a simcity fan, you’ll probably get it after the issues are fixed despite all the valid reasons not to buy it – like it being an EA game, having DRM, and did I mention EA game? I think EA would still suffer at sales if just the fans bought it regardless, not every other clueless person with 60 bucks to spare – that’s where they still win.
The Lone Steven
This is why that shitty always online DRM bullcrap should never be used! I would be furious if i spent £40 on a game and was unable to play it due to server issues. Apparently, EA are not going to give refunds because they’ve hidden in the terms and conditions that they won’t do any refunds even if their servers go down. Can see a lot of people suing them. Hopefully, this will serve as a warning to all of the other publishers to not use that DRM.
gazzagb
Ubisoft backed down on their always on DRM last year, hopefully EA will do the same. It was stupid on their part to include it when these problems were occuring in the Beta – this will no doubt hurt sales.
Roynaldo
Good old EA servers. They cant handle non DRM services never mind with them and online saves. Crawl before you can walk guys.. certainly dont jump into sprint.