Author: Steven Marx

SimCity 4? Yes, you read that correctly, SimCity 4. But SimCity 4 was released in 2003, why are you reviewing it now? I hear you cry. Well, it’s complicated. You may have heard that Electronic Arts, owner of Maxis, SimCity’s original developer, released a new SimCity recently. It was not received with acclaim. And after a fiasco of a launch on Windows, there was a fiasco of a launch on Mac. So imagine everyone’s surprise when SimCity 4 appeared suddenly on the Mac App Store last April. Why would anyone bother? One explanation is that this version was released by Aspyr, who perhaps saw an opportunity to cash in on frustrations with EA’s new version by rejiggering SC4 to run on modern Macs and releasing it at a lower cost. (Bonus feature: this version includes the Rush Hour expansion pack as well). So if you, like me, were frustrated and annoyed by the “new” SimCity, is this the SimCity you’ve been searching for? Does it have enough chops to be considered one of Mac gaming’s most popular strategy games? Read on. Note: As always, this game was reviewed on Mac hardware. Read on for the full specs.   Enter SimCity 4 on Mac If you’ve ever played a SimCity (SC) game, SC4’s basic gameplay elements should be familiar. You start with some land, create zones for residential, commercial and...