Hello and question which one to get

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[pacman84]

Hi guys!
I am obviously new to these forums and want to introduce myself:
my name is Alexander, I am 26 years old and study Master of Ecology and Diversity in Bielefeld, Germany.  I play a lot of RTS games like Dawn of war 2, Company of heroes, World in conflict etc.  I also enjoy shooting games like Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, sometimes BFBC2, FEAR1+2, Alien VS Predator, Riddick.  Call of Juarez 1+2.
Now one of the first games I ever played was Sim City 2K, which my father bought my brother and me (in fact he bought us the urban renewal kit and then later, as we found out that you need the base game in order to play the whole game bought that one for us).  Since then I have never really been too interested in city builders/economic simulations.  I played a little Settlers 2 once in a while and enjoyed Caesar 2 but as you can guess from the age of those games, it's been quite a while since I last played one of those.

Now, out of nowhere I suddenly start to have this yearning to play a city builder.  I can't even say why or what exactly comes to my mind.  It's this "back to the roots" feeling.  So I installed OpenTTD the other day and played around a little.  I must admit, it feels clumsy and backwardish.  So I installed the steam demo of Tropico 3.  Hm. . .  also not that great.  It sure looks nice but playing a dictator is not exactly my cup a'.  Maybe I get it when it's on sale again with the addon. . .  Anyway, I saw that at direct2drive. com sells this game called CitiesXL in the old and new version.  Now I though maybe I'd ask here if those games are any good and if I might like them.  Can I build the nice little American towns that they show on TV? :) Or can I build San Francisco? That kind of game would be interesting to me.  Maybe I will give Tropico3 another chance, but it just doesn't seem like a pure city builder to me.  Whatcha think?

And if I should get a CitiesXL game, which one? The 2011 one or the older one?

Anyway, thank you for your input in advance,
take care,
-pac

[eagleFMJ]

Hi and welcome!

Citties XL 2011 is a good game for modern city building, Sim City 4 is great, better with mods.

Have you tried Anno 1404? There is a demo you can try, It's my favorite builder to date.

[City Builder]

Get the 2011 version, theres no point in CXL's case to go backwards.

[pacman84]

But is there any point in going forward?
-pac

[City Builder]

Yes, it's a vastly better product.  Lots of little things as well as some bigger things (subway trains, many small enhancements and more).

Check out the official forums there are many threads there that people post the differences between the two, of which I'm sorry to say I just don't have time to repost all of them, theres far too many.

plus if you're into having your game improved by mods, then the majority of the mods being made for the game are for the 2011 game.

[pad11]

If you are into economic sims, Patrician 4 is the way to go; a mediavel pseudo-life sim with a stunning economic engine, get the Guild 2 Renaisance; ancinet city builder? Get Caesar 4 or Grand Ages: Rome....

Old school historically based 2D city builder and perhaps the best builder ever created? Find Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom!

Those are my quick picks!

pat!

[pacman84]

Hello!
I got Cities XL 2011 now.  It's ok.  I guess the game I am really after doesn't exist (and would more be a city painting program than anything else :)).
Thanks for your replies, guys.
-pac

[Face]

care to expand on what you mean by "city painting"? there may be an existing game that is closer to what you are looking for if you can elaborate a little.

[pacman84]

Alright.
So basically what I'd like to "play" is something where you can build cities with the main purpose of looking good.  They should not need to "work" in an economic way, they shuld just look like my "dream towns", like Ely, Nevada, most little towns in the Sierras I visited etc.  I used to work in that area a couple of years ago and I loved how the small towns looked.  Just building one of my own would be. . .  satisfying.
-pac

[Strix]

Try SimCity Societies
Do not confuse with SimCity4 - this is different. Proper 3D, loads of buildings, styles and themes. Different modes of play including a freebuild option with no economic worries. Lots of mods and a free demo. You can certainly build small town America. There is a screenshot story of a desert small town on the link.

Get Sim City Box and you get the Destinations expansion plus Sim City 4 as well

http://simcitysocieties.ea.com/index.php