Oh EA, why can’t you just get it right? After an abysmal launch of Sim City, followed by a 180 on the whole “we can’t just make it offline for single player” claim, Sim City hasn’t done as well as it should have. EA wants to give you a chance to try it, risk free. But it’s not quite as cool as it sounds.
According to the trial’s FAQs, players will have access to the single-player mode in to regions: Cape Trinity and Reflection Atoll. You’ll get two save slots to play with which sounds like a little until you hear the time restriction.
The SimCity Free Trial is 4 hours long. The trial timer starts as soon as you launch SimCity and will run continuously until its conclusion 4 hours later. You can enter and exit the Free Trial game as often as you want during the trial time, however the Free Trial will end after 4 hours even if you are not playing at the time.
Four hours is all EA is willing to give you. That’s four hours from launch, so you better not schedule any pee breaks or meals or you’ll miss out on the measly time you’re getting. The trial is only available for PC, so Mac users will miss out on this one, and of course you’ll need Origin to play.
On the upside, you’ll get to see if Sim City is worth your money, and you can transfer your saves to the full game if you choose to purchase it when your four hours are up.
What do you think – am I just contributing to the whiny gamer approach or is this a bit of a lame “free trial”? Does this make you feel better or worse about EA’s handling of Sim City?
Last Updated: August 6, 2014
Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)
August 6, 2014 at 19:51
I get the feeling that we should be grateful that EA doesn’t actually manage a city.
HvR - Still dislikes Random.or
August 7, 2014 at 07:33
LOL
Hello yes I have no water or electricity.
Is your Telkom line up and running sir.
Yes
Well sir computer says no.
Rince
August 7, 2014 at 07:35
Didn’t they manage the Mayans?
Hammersteyn
August 7, 2014 at 07:35
Or Atlantis?
Rince
August 7, 2014 at 07:36
I was going to go with that, but they were supposedly an advanced race 0_O
Hammersteyn
August 7, 2014 at 07:38
EA is also supposed to be advanced. The gates are Flooding! Please pay $5 to keep the ocean at bay.
Rince
August 7, 2014 at 07:39
Exit Atlantis?
Hammersteyn
August 7, 2014 at 07:47
In four hours
Carmen Damocles
March 5, 2015 at 17:13
Or any other city simulator games. It’s good to have lots of choices.
Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)
August 6, 2014 at 19:51
I get the feeling that we should be grateful that EA doesn’t actually manage a city.
HvR - Still dislikes Random.or
August 7, 2014 at 07:33
LOL
Hello yes I have no water or electricity.
Is your Telkom line up and running sir.
Yes
Well sir computer says no.
Rince
August 7, 2014 at 07:35
Didn’t they manage the Mayans?
Hammersteyn
August 7, 2014 at 07:35
Or Atlantis?
Rince
August 7, 2014 at 07:36
I was going to go with that, but they were supposedly an advanced race 0_O
Hammersteyn
August 7, 2014 at 07:38
EA is also supposed to be advanced. The gates are Flooding! Please pay $5 to keep the ocean at bay.
Rince
August 7, 2014 at 07:39
Exit Atlantis?
Hammersteyn
August 7, 2014 at 07:47
In four hours
Hammersteyn
August 7, 2014 at 07:47
In four hours
Hammersteyn
August 6, 2014 at 20:03
Some say it’s not the length that matters, I say be happy EA even gives you a go.
Hammersteyn
August 6, 2014 at 20:03
Some say it’s not the length that matters, I say be happy EA even gives you a go.
FoxOneZA
August 6, 2014 at 20:42
I say it’s good to have demo’s. The Wii U only allows 30mins of play time on demo’s.
FoxOneZA
August 6, 2014 at 20:42
I say it’s good to have demo’s. The Wii U only allows 30mins of play time on demo’s.
Ryanza
August 6, 2014 at 22:18
Sim City 5 is a really good game. It gives you all that you want from a Sim City game. You get a large map but get to create your city on a smaller map that works together with other smaller maps on the big map. Having a smaller map to create a city on makes for a more refined Sim City game. Sim City even has DLC, which everyone wants from games now a days.
Having Sim City connected to Origin servers protects the game and keeps the game from being pirated. Mods will just spoil the developers vision. I am so happy to connect to EA servers and support the developers.
Origin is great for games and gives gamers so much added value. It’s all about digital games now a days and EA delivers great value. I never have to go to retail and buy disc based games anymore. Having a Digital library = shelf space saving. Why would I want to show off my gaming collection on my shelf and EA helps me store my games on a safe server where game discs don’t get scratched.
EA’s Origin is even allowing people to play Sim City 5 for 4 hours, which is enough to get hooked on this great game and want to buy it on Origin and not retail.
And before I get trolled. Let me troll myself. Ryanza what’s your stance on DRM.
Hammersteyn
August 6, 2014 at 23:03
Soooooooooo what is your stance?
http://img.pandawhale.com/17758-tumblrm0uupiOuKD1qzmz70gif-nga3.gif
Ryanza
August 6, 2014 at 23:32
http://theblackmaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/009-ministry-of-silly-walks.jpg
Hammersteyn
August 7, 2014 at 07:35
XD
Johan du Preez
August 7, 2014 at 17:07
ROFL !!!!
Ryanza
August 6, 2014 at 22:18
Sim City 5 is a really good game. It gives you all that you want from a Sim City game. You get a large map but get to create your city on a smaller map that works together with other smaller maps on the big map. Having a smaller map to create a city on makes for a more refined Sim City game. Sim City even has DLC, which everyone wants from games now a days.
Having Sim City connected to Origin servers protects the game and keeps the game from being pirated. Mods will just spoil the developers vision. I am so happy to connect to EA servers and support the developers.
Origin is great for games and gives gamers so much added value. It’s all about digital games now a days and EA delivers great value. I never have to go to retail and buy disc based games anymore. Having a Digital library = shelf space saving. Why would I want to show off my gaming collection on my shelf and EA helps me store my games on a safe server where game discs don’t get scratched.
EA’s Origin is even allowing people to play Sim City 5 for 4 hours, which is enough to get hooked on this great game and want to buy it on Origin and not retail.
And before I get trolled. Let me troll myself. Ryanza what’s your stance on DRM.
Hammersteyn
August 6, 2014 at 23:03
Soooooooooo what is your stance?
http://img.pandawhale.com/17758-tumblrm0uupiOuKD1qzmz70gif-nga3.gif
Ryanza
August 6, 2014 at 23:32
http://theblackmaria.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/009-ministry-of-silly-walks.jpg
Hammersteyn
August 7, 2014 at 07:35
XD
Johan du Preez
August 7, 2014 at 17:07
ROFL !!!!
Alethia
August 7, 2014 at 05:08
I crashed during the tutorial mode.
HvR - Still dislikes Random.or
August 7, 2014 at 07:34
Just EA ensuring you are getting the full experience of the full game.
Alethia
August 7, 2014 at 05:08
I crashed during the tutorial mode.
HvR - Still dislikes Random.or
August 7, 2014 at 07:34
Just EA ensuring you are getting the full experience of the full game.
Lothy
August 7, 2014 at 07:02
I remember back in the day (lol DoS days) when demos were abound and when u completed that 1 or 2 levels and exited the game you were given a rundown of things in the full version. More games should do this.
Lothy
August 7, 2014 at 07:02
I remember back in the day (lol DoS days) when demos were abound and when u completed that 1 or 2 levels and exited the game you were given a rundown of things in the full version. More games should do this.
Spaffy
August 7, 2014 at 07:19
Is the game at least finished?
Gatvol vir EA beta games. And 4hrs is enough time for my reign of terror MWAHAHAHA
Spaffy
August 7, 2014 at 07:19
Is the game at least finished?
Gatvol vir EA beta games. And 4hrs is enough time for my reign of terror MWAHAHAHA
Morne Nell
August 7, 2014 at 07:22
Still one of the most disappointing games I ever played
Morne Nell
August 7, 2014 at 07:22
Still one of the most disappointing games I ever played
Rince
August 7, 2014 at 07:35
4 Hours of reasons not to buy the game? That’s 3 hours and 59 minutes too long.
Rince
August 7, 2014 at 07:35
4 Hours of reasons not to buy the game? That’s 3 hours and 59 minutes too long.
Lydon McG
August 7, 2014 at 08:44
To be honest, 4 hours is about all the fun you’re going to get out of this game 😛 I regret buying it at launch.
Lydon McG
August 7, 2014 at 08:44
To be honest, 4 hours is about all the fun you’re going to get out of this game 😛 I regret buying it at launch.
Rags
August 7, 2014 at 08:47
T’is cool, that is just enough time to decide if a game is any good. Wish all major publisher should follow suite. Or at least get us a damn demo. I’ve sunked in about 150 hours into the game. Its not the best Sim City, but its decent enough.
Rags
August 7, 2014 at 08:47
T’is cool, that is just enough time to decide if a game is any good. Wish all major publisher should follow suite. Or at least get us a damn demo. I’ve sunked in about 150 hours into the game. Its not the best Sim City, but its decent enough.
ZubSaber
August 7, 2014 at 09:34
I miss demos. Already wasted so much money on crap games so this is a step in the right direction from EA.
ZubSaber
August 7, 2014 at 09:34
I miss demos. Already wasted so much money on crap games so this is a step in the right direction from EA.
I miss the excitement I’d get from popping a new NAG CD in to my drive, installing demos while browsing the extras all so kindly stuffed on to a single CD.
*Gets up and goes to buy magazine*
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
August 7, 2014 at 11:08
I actually own the game and I enjoy it, but the map size limiting and no teraforming REALLY kills late game play…
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
August 7, 2014 at 11:08
I actually own the game and I enjoy it, but the map size limiting and no teraforming REALLY kills late game play…
Ragnar The Vengeful
August 7, 2014 at 13:18
Make the trial two days long. Let the gamer get invested in his city and only then cut the cord and get his hard-earned cash. four hours is barely enough to get remotely invested.
Ragnar The Vengeful
August 7, 2014 at 13:18
Make the trial two days long. Let the gamer get invested in his city and only then cut the cord and get his hard-earned cash. four hours is barely enough to get remotely invested.
Brie Stoll
September 19, 2014 at 15:44
I haven’t gotten to play. I started it , turned it off and then was told the next time I tried to use it my time was up. I literally just wanted to see if it worked. This is pathetic. I really think they would make more money if they kill the paranoia and just let people play!!
Charlotte Lucy Littlewood
January 14, 2015 at 19:17
I <3 this demo and i just download it, delete it after 4 hours, then download it again! 🙂