In an ensuing thread discussing the guidelines, user Oppie pointed to the wide-ranging gameplay mods available for SimCity 4 and worried that restrictions on modding the underlying simulation would leave ' SimCity modding. Users don't exactly seem happy about these proposed restrictions. In fact, the only acceptable examples of UGC the guidelines explicitly mention are 'swapping art assets, like buildings and vehicles.' That draft includes a rule that says 'acceptable UGC and mods do not jeopardize the integrity of the gameplay or harm the experience of others.' Another rule disallows 'UGC that effects the simulation for multiplay games and features.'Īs written, these initial guidelines severely limit what the modding community will be able to alter in the game, restricting mods to cosmetic and incidental features. Yesterday, EA rolled out a 'first draft' of the guidelines it hopes to put in place when UGC is added to SimCity in the future.
However, the company's opening bid on restrictions for such user-generated content (UGC) is spurring intense discussion among players and developers. EA is taking the first steps toward adding long-promised official modding tools to this year's revamp of SimCity (not to be confused with the unofficial modding tools hackers opened up months ago).
