SimCity To Require Always-On Internet Connection
While most people who play games on their PC tend to already have broadband, always-on internet, they tend to get a little irked when they find out that an internet connection is required to play a game online. For some games, that makes sense, where all you do is play online against other people, like WoW and other MMO’s. For other games, it’s foolish, and just requires people to make sure their Comcast doesn’t crap out on them at an unfortunate time. *coughUbisoftcough*
The next SimCity will require a constant internet connection. Many people are up in arms about it, but according to the lead designer, Stone Librande, it’s not necessarily because of some DRM restriction bull. Instead, it has to do with the fact that SimCity focuses on multiplayer, especially with a global economy that players can influence. So, while it might be a bother for people who live with a broadband connection that is less-than-reliable, at least it makes a bit a sense.
What doesn’t make as much sense is the fact that you’ll be able to download SimCity with services other than Origin, but you’ll still need Origin to play the game. So, conceivably, you could buy SimCity from Steam, but you’ll still need to play the game through Origin. What’s the point? In my opinion, if EA is going to make the game available for purchase on other non-Origin services, then they might as well let the game be able to be played through those services. Otherwise, it’s just going to invite confusion when people buy games off of Steam, but are then told they need to register an Origin account. Perhaps I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill, but if EA is going to let you buy the game from another service, why not go all the way and let you play it on that service as well?
