One of the first video games I ever played on a PC was SimCity – way back in the early 90’s.
SimCity was one of those games I could sit down to play and suddenly lose hours of time. I also distinctly remember spending days building the perfect urban ecosystem – only to have a UFO, fire, or raging monster come stomping out of the ocean and destroy part of my city.
So if you’re a fan of Facebook and enjoy playing games on the popular social networking site, you’ll probably be pleased to learn that SimCity Social has officially launched. Although this is a free to play social game, it looks very much like the original title I remember paying for on the PC.
“SimCity Social will entice a new generation of urban planners with its easy-to-use tools that allow anyone to expand and grow their own unique sprawling metropolises and watch as it comes to life in fun and unexpected ways,” said PlayFish exec Jami Laes.
“SimCity Social is about playing with your friends. Whether you do that with kindness by helping put out a fire or through mischievous acts like helping a criminal escape, the decisions you make with your friends will determine how the story of your cities plays out.”
SimCity Social has no set linear paths to follow, and cities grow as a direct result of the choices the players make. As mayor, players are forced to deal with issues like crime, fire, and pollution. The game also boasts an evolving friend or foe system that allows players to set up rivalries and friendships with neighboring cities.
Frankly, I rarely play social games on Facebook, but this looks so much like the SimCity I remember from my childhood that I just might give SimCity Social try.
