Building SimCity: How to put the world in a machine (mitpress.mit.edu)

Article summary

The book 'Building SimCity' explores the history and development of the SimCity game, including its historical antecedents and the vision of its creators. The book discusses the game's design, technical aspects, and its impact on the gaming industry. The author of the book worked on Spore with Will Wright and draws on this experience to provide insight into the game's development. The book also covers other games developed by Maxis, such as SimEarth and The Sims.

Main themes

• SimCity development
• Game design history
• Maxis and Will Wright
• Simulation games
• Gaming industry
• Computer history

What commenters say

• The book 'Building SimCity' provides a fascinating look at the history and development of the SimCity game and its impact on the gaming industry.
• The pricing of the book's ebook version is higher than the physical copy, which is unusual and has sparked discussion among readers.
• SimCity 3000 was a train wreck that helped destroy Maxis, although some argue that it was actually the 2013 online-only SimCity that led to the company's demise.
• The book covers not only SimCity but also other games developed by Maxis, such as SimEarth and The Sims, and explores their design and technical aspects.
• The author's experience working on Spore with Will Wright provides valuable insight into the game's development and the vision of its creators.
• Some readers have fond memories of playing SimCity and other Maxis games as children and appreciate the book's historical context and analysis.
• The book's discussion of simulation games and their impact on the gaming industry is relevant to readers interested in game design and development.
• The high price of the book, particularly the ebook version, may deter some readers from purchasing it, despite its positive reviews and interesting content.