Overview
Will Wright wanted to build cities, not destroy them. SimCity emerged from a level editor for a different game and became a genre. Players zoned land, laid infrastructure, and watched cities grow organically—or crumble under mismanagement. There was no winning, only the satisfaction of creation.
Fast facts
- Developer: Maxis.
- Designer: Will Wright.
- Publisher: Maxis (original), various.
- Genre created: City builder.
Core mechanics
| Element |
Function |
| Zoning |
Residential, commercial, industrial |
| Infrastructure |
Roads, rail, power |
| Services |
Police, fire, hospitals |
| Budget |
Taxes, expenditure balance |
Zone types
| Zone |
Purpose |
Demand |
| Residential |
Housing |
Population |
| Commercial |
Shops, offices |
Jobs, services |
| Industrial |
Factories |
Jobs, pollution |
Infrastructure
| System |
Necessity |
| Power lines |
Electricity distribution |
| Roads |
Basic transport |
| Rail |
Mass transit |
| Ports |
Trade, expansion |
Simulation depth
| Factor |
Effect |
| Crime |
Reduces land value |
| Pollution |
Health, desirability |
| Traffic |
Economic efficiency |
| Land value |
Tax revenue |
Disasters
| Disaster |
Trigger |
| Fire |
Random, spreads |
| Flood |
Coastal areas |
| Tornado |
Random |
| Earthquake |
Random |
| Monster |
Player-triggered |
| Meltdown |
Nuclear plants |
No winning condition
Revolutionary design:
- No defined goal
- Player sets objectives
- Sandbox freedom
- Endless play
| Platform |
Features |
| PC/Amiga |
Original |
| SNES |
Dr. Wright advisor |
| Mac |
Enhanced interface |
The series
| Title |
Year |
| SimCity |
1989 |
| SimCity 2000 |
1993 |
| SimCity 3000 |
1999 |
| SimCity 4 |
2003 |
| SimCity (2013) |
2013 |
Influence
SimCity spawned:
- City builder genre
- Maxis simulation games
- Educational use
- Urban planning tool
See also