Gameplay video shows SimCity BuildIt in action

SimCity BuildIt (iPad screenshot 003)

Following its confirmation in September that work was underway on SimCity BuildIt for iOS, the latest installment in the popular city-building franchise, Electronic Arts today shared the first gameplay trailer for the forthcoming iPhone and iPad simulation.

“Meet your citizens’ needs to keep them happy, or make questionable choices and feel your citizens’ wrath,” EA Games Mobile said.

The game features countless buildings, quality 3D graphics with a gorgeous 360-degree view of your city that you can zoom, rotate and pan around, a variety of natural disasters, unlockable buildings and much more.

Billed as “the most advanced mobile building simulation,” SimCity BuildIt challenges you to meet your citizens’ needs and solve their problems like traffic, fires and pollution.

EA VP Jason Willig answered some of the questions on the upcoming builder, noting in a Q&A with AppTrigger a month ago that game mechanics involve a mix of open ended play and no specific scenarios to complete.

“There are Boat Missions and city Specializations which represent more direct activities, progression and content paths for mid-stage players,” he said. “There are also Disasters for late-stage players, and there’s a lot more coming.”

Social elements will be light at launch, Willig added.

SimCity BuildIt (iPad screenshot 002)

Graphics will take full advantage of iOS 8 and the latest iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPad Air 2 devices, but lower-end devices will get “a great experience”, too.

“Add basic city services, including water and electricity to keep your citizen happy and your city growing,” says EAćs blurb.

Check out the gameplay trailer below.

With simulated night and day, the ability to create and trade resources with friends and other cities and specialize your city with iconic landmarks, casinos and other buildings, SimCity BuildIt should appeal to the fans of EA’s city-building franchise.

Key highlights:

  • SimCity, reimagined for a new generation of mobile players.
  • Solve real city problems like traffic, fires and pollution.
  • Add basic city services, including water and electricity to keep your citizen happy and your city growing.
  • Specialize your city with iconic landmarks, casinos, and more.
  • Create and trade resources with friends and other cities.
  • Unleash natural (and not so natural) disasters.
  • Explore your 3D city from all angles with 360° controls.
  • Watch your city come to life – night and day.

SimCity BuildIt will mark the second SimCity game on the App Store following the release of SimCity Deluxe for iPad and its $19.99 counterpart on the Mac App Store.

Designed exclusively for mobile, SimCity BuildIt is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play as a free-to-play download. The game has recently soft-launched in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

[SimCity BuildIt website]