SimCity E3 trailer and screens show off tilt-shifted simulation, a purple monster

5

Smog city

"City Specializations" will allow cities to be tuned to specific industries, as in this industrial town. You'll need to be wary of the side-effects -- pollution is obviously a problem here, and that could affect your friends' neighboring cities in multiplayer. This is the city I'd build if I were playing with Al Gore.

Another interesting note: the smog exiting the factory towers actually represents pollution entering the atmosphere.

“There are no visuals in the game that aren't bound to meaning,” said Quigley. “There's nothing in there that's there just for the sake of filling up space and making activity. Wherever there's activity, whenever you see a smoke puff, or a gear turn, or doors open or close, it's because the simulator is making that happen.”

Tyler Wilde
Executive Editor

Tyler grew up in Silicon Valley during the '80s and '90s, playing games like Zork and Arkanoid on early PCs. He was later captivated by Myst, SimCity, Civilization, Command & Conquer, all the shooters they call "boomer shooters" now, and PS1 classic Bushido Blade (that's right: he had Bleem!). Tyler joined PC Gamer in 2011, and today he's focused on the site's news coverage. His hobbies include amateur boxing and adding to his 1,200-plus hours in Rocket League.