SimCity debuted at GDC but it wasn't until our trip to Maxis that we got a good look at what the developer has planned for the game and some insights from its "mayor," lead producer Kip Katsarellis. Next up, Max Payne 3 adds multiplayer to its mix and a new trailer along with some info from the team explains how bullet time works online. And the next next-gen console rumors continue to heat up. This time, it's a laundry list of specs and features for a new PlayStation.

Check out today's episode of Shacknews Daily.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: May 29, 2012 »

SimCity looks to finally scratch that itch after a long absence -- with some new features to boot -- but the times they are a-changing in some less favorable ways as well. The game will use the contentious always-online DRM method, even during private, single-player games.

Read more: Plus, Maxis on mod tools »

SimCity Lead Producer Kip Katsarelis's Electronic Arts pedigree is full of SimCity: In his 11 years at the publisher, he's worked on SimCity 4, SimCity 4: Rush Hour ("One of the few games I've worked on a played a lot afterward, along with Battlefield 2," Katsarelis says), along with the first two Sims games. His first lead producer gig was for Spore: Galactic Adventures.

Read more: Changes to city design and more »

The world has changed a great deal since SimCity 4 debuted in 2003. The American Century is over, and the United States is a nation mired in political infighting, recession, and high energy prices. China is one of the world's economic powers. And the way we even think of and construct cities has changed, with a greater emphasis on public transit, open spaces, and green building. And even buildings have changed, with a new generation of mega-skyscrapers towering over cities such as Dubai and Shanghai.

Read more: A more interconnected world »

We've heard some impressive details about next year's SimCity, but none of it would actually work without a solid engine under the hood. At Game Developers Conference, EA and Maxis showed off the game's new "GlassBox" simulation engine. Now, you can see a quick recap of EA's presentation in a new video.

Read more: 'What you see is always a 1:1 representation' »

2013's new SimCity will be the first in the franchise to support online multiplayer. As we described from EA's announcement event: "Decisions you make in your city will affect other players' cities--especially as the virtual world will have to deal with the repercussions of limited natural resources."

Multiplayer is just one aspect of SimCity's online functionality. The game is being "built from the groud up to support online," Maxis' Andrew Willmott said at a GDC panel.

Read more: Data-driven cloud saves »

The new SimCity was confirmed last night at an EA press event, for release on PC in 2013. Already available for pre-order on Origin, EA's distribution platform has confirmed the necessary system specs for the game.

Read more: Deluxe editions extras, multiplayer, and system requirements »

The new SimCity, due for 2013 on PC and Mac, is powered by a new proprietary engine called GlassBox. It is described as "a new data-driven simulation engine" that is Maxis' "bet for the future." At a panel during Game Developers Conference, the studio detailed how GlassBox will power the upcoming SimCity "reboot" and promised that the modding community will be able to get their hands on their powerful new tools.

"We're huge fans of our modding community," creative director Ocean Quigley told the audience. "We've designed all this stuff to be moddable."

Read more: 'We know the reason why people are still playing SimCity 4 »

"Sim City is back."

Well, that was a pretty fast reveal. At EA's "Game Changers" event at Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, EA confirmed rumors that a new SimCity will be coming to PC and Mac. And yes, it will be coming in 2013.

Read more: 'This is a 3D SimCity' »

SimCity 5 has supposedly been leaked by a German magazine. According to the rumor, Maxis is developing the game without series creator Will Wright leading the project. The game is scheduled for 2013, and will feature a spiffy new graphics engine and multiplayer mode among its various tweaks to the classic formula.

Read more: New graphics engine, upgradable buildings, and winding roads »

Electronic Arts released the iPhone version of SimCity today, and ever a fan of urban simulation, I spent the $9.99 to give it a spin.

One important thing to note about this game is that it looks nothing like the screenshot below (left), which was widely circulated by EA in its early stages. The entire UI has been overhauled (see below, right) to its great benefit.

Read more »

Electronic Arts today announced that the SimCity Box, a bundle pack of five games from Maxis' popular urban planning franchise, will hit retail shelves this June.

The SimCity Box will contain SimCity Societies and its expansion SimCity Societies Destinations, SimCity 4, SimCity 4 Rush Hour, and The Sims Carnival SnapCity. The software bundle, which EA suggests is a $100 value, will retail for $39.99.

A new patch is now available for SimCity Societies. The 123mb update adds two more disasters, six new events, new buildings, and also takes care of some more bugs. Click through for a full list of changes

New features:

In all modes of play: Read more »

Now available on FileShack is patch 3 for SimCity Societies, Tilted Mill Entertainment's city simulator released last November. An 68mb download, patch 3 includes performance enhancements, user interface improvements and a new disaster in the form of a UFO attack.

SimCity Societies Game Update #3 Read more »

The first city pack for SimCity Societies will arrive in May, according to publisher Electronic Arts.

Following a theme of travel and tourism, SimCity Societies Destinations will offer players another 100 new buildings to use in the urban planner. Check out a few screenshots of the additions, including a particularly un-aerodynamic plane, below.