http://www.geek.com/articles/games/following-800-poor-reviews-amazon-stops-selling-download-copies-of-simcity-2013037/
Amazon won't sell any more copies until the servers are fixed. Hopefully this puts some pressure on EA. I wonder how many people were asking Amazon for refunds. This really is a shame, because once you're actually able to play the game it's a lot of fun.

[This message has been edited by benMath08 (edited 3/7/2013 5:18p).]

I can get to the create region screen now, but I can't claim a city. Making progress....

I'm trying to do the interdependent city strategy, but it's like playing Russian roulette when I try to switch to another city in the region.

I don't even get to play Russian roulette.

still cant get on. it says start the tutorial I click it, it acts like its doing stuff and then boom error

Mine just says "cant connect to servers, try again". Eff EA right in their ass. Last game I buy from them.

I just logged in to NA 2 and didn't have any problems...

If anyone wants to start a new region or has an opening in another region started this evening, let me know. Origin ID is javajaws.

If we're going to start a new region eventually anyways, we might as well do it on a less populated server.

I just got in on the Oceanic server. If you just want to play by yourself that is a good option. I heard that all of the servers are located in California, so it really doesn't matter where you play. It seems to be the North American servers that are overloaded right now.

I just logged into East 1 and am playing in the TexAgs region. I sent invites to everyone left. Give it a shot if you're able.

Just installed and I am finishing getting set up. Origin name is AverageJoeAg.

Here's how EA is handling refunds:

Origin responded to that on twitter:

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Regarding a rumor: We will not ban players for requesting refunds. Please review our returns & cancellations policy: help.ea.com/article/returns-and-cancellations

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take it for what it's worth.

Wow EA is a trainwreck.

Wow, now this god freaking damned game is telling me I need to reinstall it.

More fun to be found at EA forums

Best one:

Actually no, the truth hurts more.

Damnit! I reinstalled, applied the patch and finally got in. Two seconds later, booted "sorry simcity servers are currently down"

Doesnt really matter if a server is FULL, BUSY, Or AVAILABLE...you're probably not gonna get in.

At this point the best thing they could do is to just shut down access to the servers. Spend the time building the new servers and then re-launch the game Saturday.

Offer free DLC package to players and be done with it. It's this whole hokey pokey dance we're doing that is really causing the bad PR.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLYLmsEBGug

****ing liarz!

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At this point the best thing they could do is to just shut down access to the servers. Spend the time building the new servers and then re-launch the game Saturday.

Offer free DLC package to players and be done with it. It's this whole hokey pokey dance we're doing that is really causing the bad PR.

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That would assume that they were capable of admitting it was their mistake.

Did you read their press release when this started? It was something like "Apparently, a lot of people wanted to play our game, so the servers are acting up!"

Complete lack of responsibility is why the PR is so bad. They arent saying "Sorry. We messed up. Bare with us."

Over 1400 reviews on Amazon, over 1250 are 1 star rating.

Latest from IGN (good on them btw):
I still have to recommend that you stay away from SimCity for the time being. The latest word is that "non essential services" are being disabled to lighten the load on servers (I can't imagine the leaderboards and achievements were getting a lot of use anyway when many people can't even play), so we'll see how that shakes out today and tomorrow.

Update: Holy smokes, EA and I have very different definitions of "non-essential services." Even if I could get in right now – which I can't, because I'm stuck in yet another loading queue – I don't think I even want to play without Cheetah Speed, the fastest time acceleration. There's already quite a bit of waiting around before you can gather enough cash to buy something like your first $30,000 police station or a coal mine, but this will tip the balance of the pacing drastically in favor of tedium. It's now basically futile to play. Also, Amazon.com has pulled SimCity from its download store. To any Europeans reading: just stay away. Save yourself the frustration.

Who'd have thought things would get worse before they got better?

This is epic, yarrrr

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@simcity
#SimCity server update: NA West 2 and NA East 1 are now available.

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Makes me wonder who will crack the DRM to be able to play first...EA or the pirates.

If they can't get it to work Monday night through Thursday night, this weekend is totally fecked.

Can you get a refund? http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/08/can-you-get-a-refund-for-simcity

And why not sign a petition calling for no more DRM? www.change.org/petitions/electronic-arts-inc-remove-always-online-drm-from-simcity-and-future-games

[This message has been edited by wee_ag (edited 3/7/2013 8:14p).]

quote:

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quote:

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@simcity
#SimCity server update: NA West 2 and NA East 1 are now available.

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I think the only person playing on NE1 is Teo's girlfriend.

LOL. Now Gamespot is on the crappy review bandwagon.

http://www.gamespot.com/simcity/reviews/simcity-review-6405012/

Added my own 1 star review to amazon!

Does EA still own Maxis? I bet Maxis is pissed.

and what the hell kind of fix is disabling cheetah speed??? Just make it so you don't lose as much when their server can't save your work? haha

I bet the game pings the server with trade/tourist/region//etc info every so often, and so if youre in cheetah speed you use more bandwidth because it communicates more often.

[This message has been edited by Jjxvi (edited 3/7/2013 8:38p).]