SimCity for iPhone in Dec.

Electronic Arts will release an iPhone version of Maxis' classic SimCity sometime next month, according to the publisher. The conversion is said to be nearly complete, and most closely resemble the third game in the series -- SimCity 3000 -- in terms of play and appearance. As usual for iPhone ports, the interface has been revised to more closely exploit multi-touch capabilities. Users should for instance have access to new touch controls for zoning, and zooming in and out of a particular area.

Players in the series become mayors of their own towns, which they must then zone for businesses and residents, and equip with facilities such as water, electricity and transportation. The difficulty comes from pleasing citizens, balancing budgets, and coping with various disasters, which range from real-world problems such as fire and flooding to fictional ones like giant lizards. SimCity for the iPhone should cost $10.

by MacNN Staff