The return of the the much-loved SimCity series will not go down as one of the industry’s great public relations successes. Launched in North America last week, the game’s requirement for players to maintain a constant online connection led to a collapse of the server network, meaning thousands of customers couldn’t play – or had to put up with sluggish performance. Electronic Arts, the game’s publisher, was flooded with complaints, while frustrated gamers hit the major news sites to vent their disgust and anger. To her credit, Lucy Bradshaw, the general manager of Maxis, the studio that develops the SimCity series, has attempted to provide a human angle to the corporate apology process.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.