About

<h2>Overview</h2><figure data-align="right" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/3509/685162-simcity7.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-685162" data-size="small" data-embed-type="image" data-ratio="0.74906367041199"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:74.9%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/3509/685162-simcity7.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-685162"><img alt="An example of a city." src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/3509/685162-simcity7.jpg" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/3509/685162-simcity7.jpg 267w" sizes="(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px" data-width="267"></a><figcaption>An example of a city.</figcaption></figure><p>SimCity is a city-building simulation game released in 1989 and designed by eventual <a href="/the-sims/3025-282/" data-ref-id="3025-282">Sims</a> creator <a href="/will-wright/3040-1297/" data-ref-id="3040-1297">Will Wright</a>. SimCity, being <a href="/maxis-software/3010-205/" data-ref-id="3010-205">Maxis'</a> first game and originally based on the <a href="/commodore-64/3045-14/" data-ref-id="3045-14">Commodore 64</a>, has been adapted to several different personal computers and game consoles and has gone on to become one of the most successful and popular games of all time.</p><p>Until the release of <a href="/the-sims/3030-17463/" data-ref-id="3030-17463">The Sims</a> in 2000, the entire SimCity franchise was the most successful gaming franchise Maxis had created. Due to the immense popularity of SimCity, Maxis went on to create a multitude of other, similar simulation games, including <a href="/simtown/3030-6802/" data-ref-id="3030-6802">SimTown</a> and <a href="/simant-the-electronic-ant-colony/3030-15236/" data-ref-id="3030-15236">SimAnt</a>., though none of these franchises has ever met the success of SimCity.</p><h2>Gameplay</h2><h3>Sandbox vs. Scenario</h3><p>As would later to go on to define games of the <a href="/simcity/3025-354/" data-ref-id="3025-354">SimCity</a> franchise, the game first opens with the option of either building a city from the ground up (Sandbox) or running a city that is currently facing some issue or crisis (Scenario). In Sandbox mode, players choose a city site by choosing from a large list of premade maps and then giving a name to their city. Additionally, the Sandbox mode has no predefined goal or metric for "winning" the game, so players are free to run their cities as they see fit. Conversely, Scenarios have clearly defined metrics for winning (ex. double population in X years) and can be "lost".</p><h2>Versions</h2><p>SimCity was developed for a wide range of platforms and has seen multiple re-releases, each with their own changes and additions.</p><h3>iPhone</h3><p>An <a href="/iphone/3045-96/" data-ref-id="3045-96">iPhone</a> version of SimCity is available now, but it isn't this version of the game. The iPhone version is a remake of <a href="/simcity-3000/3030-10733/" data-ref-id="3030-10733">Simcity 3000</a>, with some added features (such as better advisers).</p><h3>SNES</h3><p>The <a href="/snes/3045-9/" data-ref-id="3045-9">Super Nintendo</a> version exhibited changes made by <a href="/nintendo/3010-90/" data-ref-id="3010-90">Nintendo</a>, such as the addition of <a href="/bowser/3005-337/" data-ref-id="3005-337">Bowser</a>, and the character "Dr. Wright" who guides the player.</p><h3>SimCity Enhanced</h3><p>While the game play remained identical to the original PC release the CD-Rom enhanced edition featured Live Actors, Digitized Voice and Sound, and Full Motion Video.</p>