Um… sorry, sir, but we're uh… experiencing technical difficulties. The best solution is to just go outside and do something else instead of playing your new $60 game.
Amazon has temporarily disabled sales of SimCity in response to numerous complaints. As indicated by the game's growing list of over 1,000 negative reviews, customers are not happy about not able to play the latest in Maxis' list of simulation titles. Several customers have shared their success with obtaining refunds, while others are stuck biting their fingernails while trying to merely log into the game. Amazon has deferred to saving future customers from the agony.
In case you're wondering, SimCity has been the second major AAA title to run on an always-online DRM model. Those who play the game are required to be connected to the internet, and if either the client or EA's server has connection issues, then the game purchase is no better than the cardboard box it came in. As we—not including EA—learned with Diablo III, there's a huge difference between testing your network infrastructure before launch and the actual debut. Thousands of users have been stuck on loading screens and rendered unable to play for over two days.
This has easily been one of the worst launches in video game history, and there's never been a game that's garnered such a massive amount of negative reviews in a short period of time. Although most gamers are worried about either getting a refund or just finally getting to play the game, the real best case scenario is if always-online DRM dies a swift death following its second implementation. It clearly does more harm than good, and if two talented studios can't pull it off correctly, then who can?
