Difference between revisions of "SimCity (W16)"

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==Music==
 
==Music==
 
''SimCity Classic'' plays different music based on whether you have a MIDI compatible soundcard or not. players with such a soundcard will hear a nice jazzy song, those without will hear an ear-piercing [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] amalgam of audio. Regardless of the output, the music plays on repeat in the background until you get bored with it and turn it off.
 
''SimCity Classic'' plays different music based on whether you have a MIDI compatible soundcard or not. players with such a soundcard will hear a nice jazzy song, those without will hear an ear-piercing [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] amalgam of audio. Regardless of the output, the music plays on repeat in the background until you get bored with it and turn it off.
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You can make the game play a custom MIDI file by placing one in the .\SOUND folder and editing the SWC.INI file on the line which reads "MusicFile=SCWMUSIC" to the name of your MIDI file. Although the game only has a single music track depending on your hardware, there may have been plans for multiple songs as the INI file also contains a variable named "RandomMusic".
  
  

Revision as of 16:34, 18 December 2014

SimCity
SimCity - W16 - USA.jpg
Platform: Windows 16
Year: 1992
Developer: Maxis Software, Inc.
Buy: Amazon

SimCity is a city planning program created by Will Wright who viewed it more as a toy than a game. The 16-bit Windows port was published by Maxis Software in 1992 and a Classic release was released three years later. You play the major of a new village who must plan out the location for residential, commercial, and industrial zones across your area of land. In addition you must plan where to place roads, police stations, parks, stadiums, airports and other buildings. You must also take into account power plants and an electrical grid, crime, housing costs, traffic, taxes and more. If you plan your city well, residents will move into your city and it will give you more money to increase in size. If you plan poorly, your city will become a ghost town as your residents abandon it.

The Windows operating system fits SimCity perfectly. It helps standardize the interface and gives easier access to audio and video adapters. Music and digital sound effects were added to the port giving it a richer multimedia experience.


Screenshots

SimCity - W16 - Title.png

Title screen, with Maxine, the cow.

SimCity - W16 - New City.png

Creating a new city.

SimCity - W16 - Scenario.png

The Windows port adds a couple of new scenarios.

SimCity - W16 - Detroit.png

Detroit has seen better days.

SimCity - W16 - Budget.png

Taking a look at my current tax budget.

SimCity - W16 - Evaluation.png

You love me, you really love me!


Music

SimCity Classic plays different music based on whether you have a MIDI compatible soundcard or not. players with such a soundcard will hear a nice jazzy song, those without will hear an ear-piercing Johann Sebastian Bach amalgam of audio. Regardless of the output, the music plays on repeat in the background until you get bored with it and turn it off.

You can make the game play a custom MIDI file by placing one in the .\SOUND folder and editing the SWC.INI file on the line which reads "MusicFile=SCWMUSIC" to the name of your MIDI file. Although the game only has a single music track depending on your hardware, there may have been plans for multiple songs as the INI file also contains a variable named "RandomMusic".


Recording

#

Title

Composer

Arranger

Length

Listen

Download

101 SimCity Theme Russell Lieblich Russell Lieblich 4:30
Download
201 SimCity Theme Russell Lieblich Russell Lieblich 4:26
Download
301 SimCity Theme Russell Lieblich Russell Lieblich 4:26
Download
401 SimCity PC Speaker Theme Johann Sebastian Bach Michael Baum, René Schuchter 3:14
Download


Credits

(Sources: SimCity Classic manual, game files)

SimCity has credits in the game, but they don't credit the audio department. The PC speaker music credits can be found in the .\SOUND\SCWMUSIC.TSF file. The game manual source comes from the SimCity Classic manual which uses the same music as this port.


Game Rip

Format

Download

MIDI.png WAV.png MML.png

Download

(Info)


Both the music and sound effect files are all installed into the .\SOUND folder. The MIDI song uses type 1 encoding, but the PC Speaker song uses GW-BASIC MML and has a TSF extension. The WAV sound effects are monophonic and sampled at 11.025 kHz and 5.5 kHz, using 8-bit resolution. The PC Speaker sound effects use the same MML as the music.

The MIDI music was recorded during actual gameplay using an MT-32, an emulated Sound Blaster 16 in DOSBox, an emulated Sound Blaster in DOSBox, and an emulated PC Speaker in DOSBox.


Releases

  USA.svg   USA
SimCity - W16 - USA.jpg
Title: SimCity
Platform: Windows 16
Released: 1992-??-??
Publisher: Maxis Software, Inc.


Links