The long-running SimCity franchise will be released this holiday season as EA has officially announced SimCity Societies for the PC. Not only will aspiring urban planners be able to design their own cities, but they'll be able to construct cultures and social behaviors, as well. Players will now have control over the essence of their cities, for example they may choose to build an artist commune, an eco-friendly "green" city, or a religious community.



"There is such a variety of cities to build from in SimCity Societies -- and they're all such a blast to play," said Rod Humble, VP and Studio Head of The Sims Division. "Sometimes I build an aggressive police state where stragglers are dragged off to re-conditioning centers and emerge ready for work. Other times, I build a green community in the tropics, where the citizens grow their own food and have a small environmental footprint. With so many options to choose from, SimCity Societies is the most flexible city building game ever!"

The big question on everyone's mind right now is that: Will it be any good with Will Wright and his team not at the helm?

The game sports over 350 building types that run the gamut from the realistic to the fanciful (Gingerbread Houses). Buildings can be combined to produce or consume resources called "social energies." How these resources are mixed and matched determines the character of your city.

SimCity got its start back in 1989, and the last proper installment was SimCity 4 in 2003. SimCity Societies looks to be the next evolution of the series when it arrives this November.

via IGN