SimCity to be incorporated on DS

Electronic Arts, the American developer and distributor of computer & video games, has announced in Chertsey, Surrey, that the popular game SimCity will now be available on the Nintendo DS series. The news was released in the distributor’s quarterly conference. According to EA, the game is set to hit the markets in summer 2007.

SimCity is a simulated city-building game designed by Will Wright. This critically acclaimed game has won around 21 awards and was first released in the market in 1989.

SimCity was Maxis’ first gaming product, and since ’89 has been improved and modified into various versions, SimCity 2000 (’93), SimCity 3000 (’99), and SimCity 4 (’03). Maxis Software was started as a video game developing company in USA, but now functions as a brand of EA. SimCity was Maxis’ best-selling product ever, until the introduction of The Sims in 2000.

The latest version of this town planning franchise was built specifically for Nintendo DS. In this symbiosis, SimCity will be able to incorporate unique features on the Nintendo DS, thereby enhancing the game’s interactive attributes.

The Nintendo DS is a palm-top game console, featuring two LCD screens inside. One of the screens is a touch-sensitive screen. The DS was first released in 2004. The DS thus, stands for ‘Dual Screen’ or as Nintendo suggests-‘Developer’s System’. Nintendo believes that, “the DS gives game creators brand new tools which will lead to more innovative games for the world's players."

The touch-screen approach will, thus, bring more comfort to the whole experience. The SimCity DS, heralds a new era of city building, virtually speaking. The new game offers various interesting control choices to its users such as blowing on the microphone to put out fires and signing mayoral proclamations with a stylus are a few. Amongst other features, users are promised a huge galore of landmarks to bring life to the city. SimCity enthusiasts can also look forward to WI-FI connectivity.

The Nintendo DS has acted like a catalyst as far as simulation remakes are concerned. It has been announced that ‘Theme Park’ and ‘Spore’ along with 'My Sims’ will also be brought on the DS platform.