SimCity: 'harsh reviews are fair', says studio manager

SimCity's launch has been fraught with turmoil, thanks to server issues, DRM finger-pointing and reviews that slam the game based on server-side problems instead of on merit. In a new interview, Maxis general manager Lucy Bradshaw has stated that the criticism is perfectly understandable and fair.

Speaking with CVG on the game's issues, Bradshaw said, "We understand that there are some people who reviewing SimCity on its merits as a game, and some are reviewing it on its merits as a service. To that degree, I don't disagree with the way in which reviews have been handled.

Some may call it unfair that we are being punished for our server issues, but it is fair. SimCity is an online game and everyone - fans and critics - have every right to expect the experience to be smooth from start to finish. My hope is that some of those reviewers will revisit the game now that we have smoothed out that experience."

Although Bradshaw's sentiment can be applauded, at the end of the day many gamers and critics seemed to overlook the fact that people have worked on this game for many, many years, and there's no way that they wanted this messy launch to happen. That'd just be madness.

Bradshaw continued, "I've been at the Maxis studio almost 24/7 since we launched on March 5 and I have an open rapport with each and every one of them. I've been a part of Maxis since 1997 when I was brought in to oversee development on SimCity 3000 and I've worked with a number of people on the team for years.

"I feel like I let them down, this was my responsibility, but I tell them what we all know: SimCity is a wonderful game and that we should all be proud of the effort that went into making it. I'm taking every step possible to bring the game to stability so that the rest of the world can enjoy all of their hard work."

To play catch-up with the SimCity launch issues, read my full report on the matter here.