In 1989, SimCity transformed the Mac and Amiga into playgrounds for would-be urban planners, swapping high scores for mayors’ mansions and monster attacks. We trace how Will Wright’s fascination with level editors, short stories by Stanisław Lem, and even architecture itself collided with Jeff Braun’s publishing ambitions to form Maxis. Our story highlights quirky early rejections, the pizza party that changed gaming history, and the strange notion of a game without a win state. We explore zoning quirks, natural disasters, and Boston’s simultaneous “toilet flush” meltdown in the SNES scenario. Our conversation explores addicting player stories, critic reviews, and the parade of spin-offs from SimAnt to SimCopter. Join us as we zone, bulldoze, and rebuild the world of SimCity on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.
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A Trip Down Memory Card Lane