SimCity 3000 (lost pre-release 3D version of city simulator; 1997)
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In 1996, Maxis released a teaser trailer for the upcoming SimCity game "SimCity 3000". It was originally going to be the first full 3D city-building simulation video game, however, due to its graphically demanding concept, Maxis management pressured development, and the game was developed for only a year. A pre-release screenshot of the original version suggests graphics similar to those seen in both SimCopter and Streets of SimCity, and was intended to include extensive micromanagement. When the game was first unveiled in the 1997 E3, it was an experience regarded as "an embarrassment." The 3D version of the game was expected to become a flop, and its future release was even thought to be the fatal blow to an already poorly performing Maxis, which had failed to release profitable titles in the years since SimCity 2000.
EA acquisition and SimCity's future
After EA completed their acquisition of Maxis, Luc Barthelet was assigned by EA as the new general manager of Maxis. He was troubled by the 3D SC3K, questioning the viability of a game with such graphics. Eventually, the 3D version was completely scrapped, Lucy Bradshaw was brought in from EA in November 1997 to lead the SC3K project, and a new revision based on SC2K's pseudo-isometric dimetric projection and sprite-based graphics was redeveloped from scratch. The new plan focused on retaining the core engine of the game, improving more minor features in the game instead, such as larger maps, new zoom levels, and additional gameplay parameters.
The 3D engine has been incarnated into SimCity 64 (a Japan-exclusive Nintendo 64DD SimCity game, which includes the scrapped 3D engine) and SimCity Societies (which fully uses 3D graphics), as well as the Wii version of SimCity Creator and the 2013 reboot of SimCity.
Only a handful screenshots of the beta version are available on the internet, along with a pitiful amount of information.