Editing SimCity 4 (section)

==Additional content and releases==

===''SimCity 4: Rush Hour''===
{{main|SimCity 4: Rush Hour}}

On September 22, 2003, [[Maxis]] released an [[computer game expansion pack|expansion pack]] for ''SimCity 4'' dubbed ''Rush Hour''. The expansion pack enhances the range of transportation facilities available to the player, such as being able to build four-lane avenues and elevated rail networks, as well as allowing them to trace traffic flow, while also allowing them to construct larger civic facilities; some such facilities have greater capacities, but all have increased maintenance costs. Additional features with the expansion also included the ability to control vehicles, take on missions that can unlock reward buildings much faster, affect their rating with the city and sometimes acquire a cash bonus, and introduced the ability to change between four architectural styles - three of these focus on architectural styles of American cities of differing eras, while the fourth introduces a new range of contemporary European-inspired architecture.

On the same day that the expansion pack ''Rush Hour'' was released, a bundle pack combining both the main game and the expansion pack was released, entitled ''SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition''. On August 25, 2004, [[Aspyr|Aspyr Media]] released ''SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition'' for [[macOS|Mac OS X]].

A year later, the expansion was released for Mac OS X on September 4, 2004.

===Digital distribution release===
On July 20, 2010, [[Electronic Arts]] released the Deluxe Edition (''SimCity 4'' and its ''Rush Hour'' expansion) for digital download on [[Steam (service)|Steam]], a digital distribution service by [[Valve Corporation|Valve]].<ref name="Steam Press Release">{{cite web |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/4099/ |title=News – New Release – SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition |access-date=2010-10-23 |archive-date=August 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830052531/http://store.steampowered.com/news/4099 |url-status=live }}</ref> The game is also available on [[GOG.com]], [[Direct2Drive]] and [[Impulse (content delivery)|Impulse]] as well as EA's own [[Origin (service)|Origin]] service. On April 10, 2014, [[Aspyr]] released an updated version of their port of the Deluxe Edition on the [[Mac App Store]].<ref name="Aspyr Press Release">{{cite web |url=http://www.aspyr.com/news_articles/simcity-4-deluxe-edition-makes-triumphant-return-to-the-mac |title=SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition makes triumphant return to the Mac |access-date=2014-04-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413131113/http://www.aspyr.com/news_articles/simcity-4-deluxe-edition-makes-triumphant-return-to-the-mac |archive-date=2014-04-13 }}</ref> The updated version includes bug fixes and performance enhancements, native resolution support, and support for the latest versions of Mac OS X.

=== EA digital storefront controversy ===
Around 2014, it was discovered that the copy of SimCity 4 sold on EA's own digital distribution platforms (Origin and later the EA App) was an outdated "digital version" that had a different [[checksum]], rendering the game unpatchable even by Maxis' own update utilities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-08-24 |title=PSA: Don't Buy SimCity 4 from Origin |url=https://simtarkus.wordpress.com/2014/08/24/psa-dont-buy-simcity-4-from-origin/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=SimTarkus - SimCity 4 |language=en |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117120531/https://simtarkus.wordpress.com/2014/08/24/psa-dont-buy-simcity-4-from-origin/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This version of the game lacked the stability and modding capabilities compared to those sold on other platforms, such as Steam or GOG.com.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andy Chalk published |date=2014-08-25 |title=SimCity 4 Network Addon Mod maker warns against buying the game from Origin |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/simcity-4-on-origin-cannot-be-patched-or-modded-network-addon-mod-maker-warns/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117120529/https://www.pcgamer.com/simcity-4-on-origin-cannot-be-patched-or-modded-network-addon-mod-maker-warns/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following a small outcry from the SimCity 4 community on August 27, 2014, EA pushed an update that replaced the SimCity executable with the one being distributed on other platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-08-27 |title=PSA: SimCity 4 Deluxe is now safe to buy on Origin (Update: No, It's Not Anymore) |url=https://simtarkus.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/psa-simcity-4-deluxe-is-now-safe-to-buy-on-origin/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=SimTarkus - SimCity 4 |language=en |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117120530/https://simtarkus.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/psa-simcity-4-deluxe-is-now-safe-to-buy-on-origin/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, on February 5, 2017, SimCity community members reported that their copy was once again downgraded to the unpatchable "digital version," to which EA provided no explanation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-05 |title=ALERT: Origin May Be Selling An Outdated, Unpatchable Version of SC4, Yet Again |url=https://simtarkus.wordpress.com/2017/02/05/alert-origin-may-be-selling-an-outdated-unpatchable-version-of-sc4-yet-again/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=SimTarkus - SimCity 4 |language=en |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117120532/https://simtarkus.wordpress.com/2017/02/05/alert-origin-may-be-selling-an-outdated-unpatchable-version-of-sc4-yet-again/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During this duration, the SimCity 4 storefront page utilized screenshots containing community-made mods which were impossible to use on this version of the game.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-28 |title=EA Uses Pictures of the NAM . . . To Promote Origin/EA Play Version of SC4 That Doesn't Support The NAM |url=https://simtarkus.wordpress.com/2022/08/28/ea-uses-pictures-of-the-nam-to-promote-origin-ea-play-version-of-sc4-that-doesnt-support-the-nam/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=SimTarkus - SimCity 4 |language=en |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117120530/https://simtarkus.wordpress.com/2022/08/28/ea-uses-pictures-of-the-nam-to-promote-origin-ea-play-version-of-sc4-that-doesnt-support-the-nam/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Arts |first=Electronic |title=Buy SimCity 4 – PC – EA |url=https://www.ea.com/games/simcity/simcity-4 |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=Electronic Arts Inc. |language=en |archive-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222180229/https://www.ea.com/games/simcity/simcity-4 |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 1, 2023, EA once again upgraded the game to the version sold on other platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-01 |title=Breaking News: EA Updates EA App/EA Play Version of SimCity 4 to Version 1.1.641 |url=https://simtarkus.wordpress.com/2023/06/01/breaking-news-ea-updates-ea-app-ea-play-version-of-simcity-4-to-version-1-1-641/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=SimTarkus - SimCity 4 |language=en}}</ref>

===Future updates===
{{quotebox|align=right|width=40%|quote=''SimCity'' kind of worked itself into a corner, [because] we were still appealing to this core ''SimCity'' group.  It had gotten a little complicated for people who had never played ''SimCity''.  We want to take it back to its roots where somebody who had never heard of ''SimCity'' can pick it up and enjoy playing it without thinking it was really, really hard.|source=Will Wright<ref name="newgameplaydirection"/>}}

[[Will Wright (game designer)|Will Wright]] stated in an interview on May 16, 2003, that there would probably be more expansion packs after ''Rush Hour'',<ref name="new expansion">{{cite web | url = http://www.fileplanet.com/123915/120000/fileinfo/GameSpy-LiveWire---Will-Wright-Interview | title = GameSpy LiveWire – Will Wright Interview | publisher = [[GameSpy]] | access-date = 2008-06-18 | archive-date = February 26, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060226154351/http://www.fileplanet.com/123915/120000/fileinfo/GameSpy-LiveWire---Will-Wright-Interview | url-status = live }}</ref> but none were ever released.  In another interview on May 22, 2004, Wright stated that [[Maxis]] was attempting to work out a "new direction" for ''SimCity'' after new versions had become "steadily more complex".<ref name="newgameplaydirection">{{cite news | url = http://www.seattlepi.com/videogames/174491_simsguy22.html | title= 'Sims' creator is Livin' Large | work = [[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] | access-date=2008-06-18 | first=Steven L. | last=Kent | date=2004-05-21}}</ref>

Two ''SimCity'' games for PC have followed ''SimCity 4''. The first was ''[[SimCity Societies]]'', which was developed by [[Tilted Mill Entertainment]] and released on November 13, 2007.<ref name=Simcitysocietiesinfo>{{cite web | url = http://www.thesims2.co.za/content/view/727/1/ | title = ''SimCity'' released | publisher = [[Business Wire]] | access-date=2008-06-18 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080226050723/http://www.thesims2.co.za/content/view/727/1/ |archive-date = February 26, 2008}}</ref> The second was ''[[SimCity (2013 video game)|SimCity]]'', which was announced in March 2012 and was released in March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Plunkett|first=Luke|title=It's Official, SimCity is Back|date=March 7, 2012|url=http://kotaku.com/5891117/simcity-5-is-official-welcome-back-simcity|publisher=Kotaku|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-date=March 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320203901/http://kotaku.com/5891117/simcity-5-is-official-welcome-back-simcity|url-status=live}}</ref>