SimCity Code Forces Shut Down After 20 Minutes of Inactivity, Removal Leads to Indefinite Offline Play

Maxis GM rejects notion of DRM being the reason for always-online feature.

Posted By | On 18th, Mar. 2013

simcity_disasters_meteor
Described as the “gift that keeps on giving LOL”, Maxis’s SimCity, as revealed by a NeoGAF user, contains a line that forcefully shuts down the game if you are inactive for 20 minutes while playing the game online. Editing or modifying this code can, it has been revealed, lead to indefinite offline play.

However, the player won’t be able to save the game as all saves are synced to EA’ servers. It still adds more credence to the belief that SimCity’s always-online play is little more than a ploy to use DRM.

Maxis GM Lucy Bradshaw continues to disagree with that notion, saying that the game’s always-online feature “didn’t come down as an order from corporate and it isn’t a clandestine strategy to control players.”

“We recognize that there are fans – people who loved the original SimCity – who want that [offline play]. But we’re also hearing from thousands of people who are playing across regions, trading, communicating and loving the Always-Connected functionality.”

Wonder what she thinks of the millions cursing Maxis and EA for not being able to connect online due to server woes?


Tagged With: , , , , ,

Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out!

Share Your Thoughts Below  (Always follow our comments policy!)



Keep On Reading!

Dead Island 2 Surpasses 10 Million Players

Dead Island 2 Surpasses 10 Million Players

The zombie-slaying first-person action RPG – available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC – crosses another majo...

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Receives Accolades Trailer Upon Release

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Receives Accolades Trailer Upon Release

The first-person shooter is available now for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC....

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart PS5 Pro Update Adds New Modes and Ray Tracing Options

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart PS5 Pro Update Adds New Modes and Ray Tracing Options

Fans of the action platformer can use new Performance Pro or Fidelity Pro modes on the PS5 Pro when it launche...

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PS5 Pro Update is Live, New Modes and Toggles Detailed

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PS5 Pro Update is Live, New Modes and Toggles Detailed

The update adds Performance Pro and Fidelity Pro for PS5 Pro players alongside toggles to fine-tune ray tracin...

Like a Dragon Gaiden Receives Time-Limited Trial on Steam Until October 28th

Like a Dragon Gaiden Receives Time-Limited Trial on Steam Until October 28th

Experience four hours of the side story for free on PC. It's discounted along with the rest of the franchise u...

Silent Hill 2 Remake Hotfix Addresses Labyrinth Progression Blocker, Adds Steam Cloud Support

Silent Hill 2 Remake Hotfix Addresses Labyrinth Progression Blocker, Adds Steam Cloud Support

Players who found themselves trapped in the location after patch 1.04 can now continue through the story thank...