Editing Maxis (section)

== Notable games ==
Maxis is regarded for its innovative [[simulation]] games, in which there is no specific goal to the player, making its games almost endless.

=== ''SimCity'' series ===
{{Main|SimCity{{!}}''SimCity''}}
''[[SimCity (1989 video game)|SimCity]]'', released in 1989, was Maxis' first release. The player is a mayor that may, at their leisure, take a city from a single village to a successful [[metropolis]], laying down zones, taking care of the public services and stimulating the city's economy. The series includes six main games (''[[SimCity (1989 video game)|SimCity]]'', ''[[SimCity 2000]]'', ''[[SimCity 3000]]'', ''[[SimCity 4]]'', ''[[SimCity Societies]]'' and ''[[SimCity (2013 video game)|SimCity]]'') and three spin-offs, ''[[Sim City: The Card Game]]'', ''[[SimCopter]]'' and ''[[Streets of SimCity]]''. ''[[SimCity Societies]]'', the fifth main release, was not produced by Maxis, but by [[Tilted Mill Entertainment]], being described as a 'social engineering simulator' and criticized for the lack of ''SimCity''{{'}}s traditional formula. In 2013, Maxis Emeryville released a reboot, simply titled ''[[SimCity (2013)|SimCity]]'', to mixed reviews, due to technical issues at launch surrounding its mandatory online connectivity.<ref name="forbes">{{cite news |author=Thier, Dave |date=March 6, 2013 |title=Maxis Working to Fix SimCity's Server Problems |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2013/03/06/maxis-working-to-fix-simcitys-server-problems/ |access-date=March 6, 2013}}</ref><ref name="GBM">{{cite web |last=Ingram |first=Shawn |date=March 6, 2013 |title=SimCity Connectivity Issues Leave Game Almost Unplayable &#124; Gotta Be Mobile |url=http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/03/06/simcity-connectivity-issues-leave-game-almost-unplayable/ |access-date=March 6, 2013 |publisher=gottabemobile.com}}</ref> TrackTwenty (formerly Maxis Helsinki) developed ''[[SimCity: BuildIt]]'' in 2014.

=== ''The Sims'' ===
{{Main|The Sims{{!}}''The Sims''}}
Maxis' most successful series to date and one of the best-selling PC games of all time is ''[[The Sims (video game)|The Sims]]'' (2000).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/the-sims-overtakes-myst-2857556 |title=The Sims overtakes Myst |last=Walker |first=Trey |website=GameSpot |date=March 22, 2002 |access-date=March 17, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401185642/http://www.gamespot.com/news/the-sims-overtakes-myst-2857556 |archive-date=April 1, 2012}}</ref> Maxis has developed seven [[expansion pack]]s for the game, as well as an online spin-off titled ''[[The Sims Online]]''. Maxis released ''[[The Sims 2]]'' in 2004, a sequel title that features a full [[3D computer graphics|3D]] environment, as opposed to the original's [[Axonometric projection|dimetric]] engine. From 2006 to 2013, all ''The Sims'' games and expansion packs were developed by The Sims Studio, and the Maxis logo was not included on ''The Sims'' game covers until 2013, with the release of ''[[The Sims 3: University Life]]''. On May 6, 2013, it was announced that Maxis would be developing ''[[The Sims 4]]'', and the game was released internationally in September 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edge-online.com/news/maxis-announces-the-sims-4/ |title=The Sims 4 moves into fall 2014 |work=edge-online.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511001025/http://www.edge-online.com/news/maxis-announces-the-sims-4/ |archive-date=May 11, 2013}}</ref> Maxis also developed ''[[The Sims Mobile]]'', until development was transferred to Firemonkeys in February 2019.

=== ''Spore'' ===
{{Main|Spore (2008 video game){{!}}''Spore'' (2008 video game)}}
''[[Spore (2008 video game)|Spore]]'' was released in September 2008. Players create [[species]] starting at the single [[Cell (biology)|cell]] level, and develop them into sentient [[life]]. The goal is for them to eventually gain the intelligence to create [[spacecraft|spaceships]]. The ''[[Spore Creature Creator]]'' allows users to create species for later use in the game. This is one of few Maxis' games to feature goals on its plot as the player must complete five different phases and reach the [[Spaceflight|space-traveling]] technology. There is also an ultimate goal, which is entering the galactic core, a massive [[black hole]] surrounded by a powerful and hostile [[cyborg]] species called the Grox; however, the player can stay in a single phase as long as they wish, even after completing it. The game received a critic score of 84% on [[Metacritic]], indicating generally positive reviews from critics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spore |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/spore/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=Metacritic |language=en}}</ref> Electronic Arts confirmed the production of expansion packs due to ''Spore''{{'}}s financial success,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18029 |title=Opinion: Is Spore 'For Everyone'? |last=Bogost |first=Ian |website=[[Gamasutra]] |date=March 31, 2008 |access-date=August 5, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019215156/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18029 |archive-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref> later releasing ''[[Spore Galactic Adventures]]'' in 2009, as well as several spin-offs such as ''[[Darkspore]]''.