SimCity

SimCity

SimCity is a legendary city-building simulation game series created by Will Wright and developed by Maxis. Players take on the role of a mayor, designing and managing cities while balancing budgets, zoning, infrastructure, and citizen happiness. The franchise revolutionized simulation gaming and urban planning education.

Category
Game
Release Year
1989
Origin
USA
Tags
simulation
city building
strategy
management
urban planning
educational
sandbox

Detailed Overview Information

Basic Information

Full Name
SimCity
Aliases
Not specified
Type
game
Release Year
1989
Status
Active franchise
Origin
United States
Region
Not specified

Creation Information

Creator
Will Wright
Publisher
Maxis, Electronic Arts
Original Work
game
Genre
simulation, city building, strategy, management, urban planning, educational, sandbox

Content Information

Synopsis
SimCity is a legendary city-building simulation game series created by Will Wright and developed by Maxis. Players take on the role of a mayor, designing and managing cities while balancing budgets, zoning, infrastructure, and citizen happiness. The franchise revolutionized simulation gaming and urban planning education.
Main Characters
Not specified
Setting
Not specified
Themes
simulation, city building, strategy, management, urban planning, educational, sandbox
Target Audience
Not specified

Media Forms

Original Medium
PC Game
Adaptations
Mobile games, Educational versions
Merchandise
Strategy guides, Educational materials, City planning books
Cross Media
Urban planning courses, Educational programs

Commercial Information

Total Sales
Over 20 million copies (series)
Revenue
$500+ million (estimated)
Budget
Varies by release
Marketing Budget
Significant for major releases
Profitability
Highly profitable franchise
Awards
Multiple Game of the Year awards, Educational game awards
Critical Reception
Generally excellent
Audience Reception
Beloved by simulation fans

Fan Culture

Fanbase Size
Large dedicated community
Demographics
All ages, urban planning enthusiasts, educators
Community Platforms
Reddit, Steam, Official forums, YouTube, Twitch
Fan Creations
Custom cities, Mods, YouTube tutorials, City showcases
Conventions
Gaming conventions, Urban planning conferences
Fandom Characteristics
Creative, Educational, Collaborative, Detail-oriented

Historical Development

Creation Background
Will Wright was inspired by urban planning and wanted to create a creative, non-violent game
Major Milestones
1989: Original SimCity released, 1993: SimCity 2000 introduces isometric view, 1999: SimCity 3000 adds regional connections, 2003: SimCity 4 introduces regions, 2013: SimCity reboot with online features, 2015: Cities: Skylines becomes spiritual successor
Cultural Impact
Influenced urban planning education and simulation gaming
Legacy
Established city-building genre and educational gaming