| E.08 | Handy Reference Guides | 275 |

Dive into SimCity, the iconic city from The Sims series! Explore its history, key locations like Old Town and SimCity Beach, and fun trivia. Your SimCity 4 walkthrough starts here.

Hey there, SimCity builder! So, you're looking to get a handle on the big city itself, huh? SimCity isn't just the name of the game series; it's also a major location within The Sims games. Think of it as the heart of SimNation, where a lot of the action happens and where many of the products you use in Buy Mode are made. Let's break down what we know about it. ### History Not a ton is detailed about SimCity's past, but it's said to have dodged major wars, which is pretty lucky! However, it did face a big event in 1906 called "The SimCity Fire." This event destroyed a lot of things, and it seems to be a nod to the real-life 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the fires that followed. Apparently, this SimCity fire was sparked during the filming of something called "Toaster Rockets, then the Death Ray." Wild, right? ### The Sims Era In the first *The Sims* game, its console versions, and even *The Sims Bustin' Out* on console, you'll see the "SimCity Times" newspaper. Lots of services will also be branded with the "SimCity" name. Remember *Hot Date*? The main beach there is called "SimCity Beach," which tells us Downtown is part of SimCity and it's a coastal city. When *Unleashed* loads up, it mentions "Old Town" as "SimCity's new historic Old Town district," confirming it's a part of the city. Even *Makin' Magic*'s "Magic Town" is described as "SimCity's own Magic Town," though its rural vibe suggests it might be on the outskirts. A pop-up in *Makin' Magic* about strange happenings at the edge of town supports this. While *Vacation Island* seems separate, *Studio Town*'s grand opening was announced by the SimCity Entertainment Oversight Committee, so it's likely part of the city too. Basically, you can count Neighborhood 1, Neighborhood 2, Old Town, Downtown, and SimValley as districts or suburbs of SimCity. ### The Sims 2 Era Things are pretty similar in *The Sims 2*. The newspaper and many city services still use the "SimCity" label, meaning the neighborhoods are either in or right next to SimCity. Pleasantview is definitely part of it, as it's the same spot as Old Town, just 25 years later. Strangetown seems to be out in the sticks, with highways described as roads to nowhere, and Veronaville is probably in Europe. In *The Sims Pet Stories*, Arbor Falls is described as being nestled in the mountains of SimCity. Keep an eye out for police cars – they might have the SimCity PD badge. And those yellow-on-blue license plates you see? They could be SimCity's or even Sim State's, looking a lot like California plates from the late '60s to early '80s. ### The Sims 3 Era SimCity isn't directly mentioned in *The Sims 3*. However, it's possible that Sunset Valley is part of it, as it's said to have existed before Pleasantview. It's not in the exact same spot, though, since Sunset Valley is on the coast and Pleasantview is by a lake. ### Locations within SimCity Here's a rundown of places that are either confirmed or possibly part of SimCity: * Arbor Falls * Bitville (possibly) * Bluewater Village (possibly) * Downtown (The Sims: Hot Date) * Downtown (The Sims 2: Nightlife) * Four Corners * Garden Heights * Neighborhood 1 * Neighborhood 2 * Old Town * Pleasantview * Sim State University (possibly) * SimValley * Sunset Valley (possibly) ### Trivia * In the Politics career in *The Sims* and *The Sims 2*, career descriptions mention SimCity as the state capital where the State Assembly meets. Pretty important stuff! * Did you know Mama Hick was once Miss SimCity? Yep! * One of the paintings you can buy in *The Sims 2* shows a famous red suspension bridge in SimCity, looking a lot like San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. This has led many to believe SimCity might be based on San Francisco, which makes sense given Maxis's studios were nearby. * If you have *The Sims 2: H&M Fashion Stuff*, there's even an H&M community lot located in SimCity!