Maxis
Maxis business and news from across the web.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
You will never guess who turns up in this video about why you can't build British towns in SimCity 4A video by YouTuber Chris Spargo explores why building British towns in SimCity 4 is problematic due to differences in governance and zoning compared to the US version. The video features an unexpected appearance by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who discusses devolution and local decision-making.- Sunday Postmortems/RetrospectivesDevelopers from Maxis have stated that the previews for their game Spore were more ambitious than the final product, creating an unachievable fantasy for players. This retrospective discussion highlights the challenges of managing expectations in game development and marketing.
Spore devs say the evolution game's previews were more ambitious than what they were actually making, and they 'built a fantasy in people's minds that was unachievable'Former developers of Spore admit that the game's ambitious previews, particularly Will Wright's GDC 2005 presentation, created an unrealistic expectation for the final product. They acknowledge that the marketing built a fantasy of a deep simulation that the game, which was always intended as a collection of minigames, could not achieve.- Evening Postmortems/RetrospectivesWill Wright and Maxis reflect on the nine years of development for the game Spore. Wright describes the creative freedom he was given to pursue ambitious and unconventional ideas during the game's creation.
"I was given that opportunity to go crazy and do something kind of insane" - Will Wright and Maxis look back on nine years making SporeKey figures from Maxis, including founder Will Wright, reflect on the nine-year development of Spore, acknowledging it as a failed game design with disconnected elements. They attribute these issues to rapid team growth, a lack of structured decision-making under Wright's 'luminary' management style, and challenges in coordinating a large team, despite significant creative freedom granted by Electronic Arts.
From Mr. Potato Head to a cosmic '70s documentary, Spore's creators share how it came to beAn oral history reveals the development of Maxis's Spore, with creator Will Wright and other team members discussing inspirations like the 'Powers of 10' documentary and various game genres. The creature creation system, influenced by Mr. Potato Head, was a complex challenge to implement in real-time.- The Sims 4 Developer Maxis Discusses the Game's Latest Big UpdateMaxis developers discuss the latest significant update for The Sims 4 in an interview with IGN. The conversation focuses on the new features and changes implemented in the recent patch.
A Deep Dive Into The Longing For Modern Nostalgia in Gaming – Why Retro-Inspired Works!This article explores the phenomenon of modern nostalgia in gaming, arguing that retro-inspired games offer a unique form of escapism by harkening back to simpler times and human connections. The author discusses how these games, with their often crude graphics and straightforward gameplay, provide a refreshing alternative to the complexity and corporate control of the modern internet and gaming landscape. The piece also touches on community feedback from platforms like Reddit and Facebook, highlighting player preferences for pick-up-and-play experiences and creative innovation often found in indie titles.
Paralives charmed me on day one, but the roadmap outlines the real life sim of my dreamsParalives is shaping up to be a promising life simulation game, offering a fresh direction compared to The Sims 4. The article details the game's roadmap, highlighting planned features like weather, seasons, pools, and pets, with the first major update anticipated in Q4 2026. The game is currently in early access on PC, with ongoing development focused on bug fixes and feature improvements.- Paralives’ Camera Is A Mess, But A Well-Known Sims Modder Is Here To Save The DayThe life simulation game Paralives, currently in Early Access, has received positive reviews on Steam despite a widely criticized camera system. A popular Sims modder known as TwistedMexi has released a "Sensible Camera Control" mod to address issues with jerky movements and automatic camera adjustments, significantly improving the player experience.
TOWER 48 - SimTower arrives on the ZX Spectrum via haabb001Tower 48, a skyscraper management simulation heavily inspired by Maxis's SimTower, has been released for the ZX Spectrum by developer haabb001. The game tasks players with constructing and managing a massive architectural marvel, balancing various factors like cash flow, population, and tenant satisfaction.
Like fleshy, diaper-wearing cars, infants in The Sims 4 have been "tuned up", making them faster to feed and change, and it's easier to clean up their poopThe Sims 4 is receiving a "Infant tuning" update on May 12, which aims to make caring for infants faster and more efficient. Changes include reduced diaper changing times, quicker feeding, and infants becoming hungry more slowly. The update also addresses a bug where children were wrongly removed from parents due to neglect and fixes a permanent scandal label issue.
Are you a real Sims series scholar? Put those decades of playing The Sims to the test with a quick round of trivia made…This article presents a trivia quiz designed to test players' knowledge of The Sims series, from its early installments to The Sims 4. It covers various aspects of the game, including sim language, character interactions, in-game currency, and expansion pack details.
Is Fortnite Toxic? An Honest Answer Backed by Data (2026) | TAGData suggests Fortnite's reputation for toxicity is more nuanced than commonly perceived, with lower rates of identity-based harassment compared to other competitive shooters. While age-driven trash talk and skill-gap frustration are prevalent, especially in modes like Ranked, Epic Games has implemented moderation tools and default communication settings to mitigate harm, particularly for younger players.
How many of these videogame horses can you name? (Or tell us what game they're from because they're just named…This article presents a quiz challenging readers to identify horses from various video games, including titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Red Dead Redemption 2. It notes that many game horses lack canonical names and excludes iconic characters like Agro and Epona. The quiz aims to test players' knowledge of gaming trivia.
The Sims 4's much maligned paid mods have made it to consoles, but Kits are coming back to PCThe Sims 4's Marketplace, featuring paid mods and user-created content, has launched on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. This rollout mirrors the PC version's introduction of a premium currency, Moola, for purchases, though a leaked memo suggests Kits may return to direct purchase on PC. The reception to paid content and the Moola system has been mixed among players.
Best Free PS5 Games To Play In 2026This guide highlights the best free-to-play games available on PlayStation 5 in 2026, offering a variety of genres from battle royales to tactical shooters and sandbox worlds. These titles provide polished experiences without mandatory purchases, making them accessible for all players. The list includes enduring favorites like Astro's Playroom and Fortnite, alongside newer additions and evolving live-service games.- Best Free PS5 Games To Play In 2026This guide highlights the best free-to-play games available on PlayStation 5 in 2026, offering a variety of genres from battle royales to tactical shooters and sandbox worlds. These titles deliver polished experiences without any upfront cost, with optional in-game purchases typically being cosmetic or convenience-based. The list includes popular titles like Astro's Playroom, Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, VALORANT, Apex Legends, and Fortnite, among others, showcasing the breadth of quality free gaming options for PS5 owners.
Inzoi Studio head says early access was unavoidable, but he feels kind of bad about it: 'The users are testing it on our behalf, so I always feel sorry for them'Hyungjun Kim, head of Inzoi Studio at Krafton, acknowledges the challenges of developing a life simulation game and feels apologetic towards players testing Inzoi in early access. He noted the difficulty in competing with The Sims' long-standing success and the complexities of creating an open-world life sim.