Maxis has updated SimCity with a new 1.7 patch which includes the long-awaited improvements to the game's traffic system, which has been the source of many woes since its launch.
When SimCity was launched, one of the main problems with the game was with its traffic, which had a tendency to get gridlocked by taking longer, congested routes. Vehicles were unable to ever reach their destinations and emergency vehicles drove around in circles as entire parts of the city burned to the ground.
The new patch improves AI traffic pathing, which allows for vehicle agents to make more intelligent decisions by avoiding blocked routes and behaving more realistically at intersections. Likewise, vehicles will no longer attempt to take the shortest route if a high-density route is available.
Likewise, the patch also adds the ability for players to bulldoze errant buildings and units.
Here's everything the patch does:
•Traffic Improvements: Tuned traffic congestion and fixed some intersection traffic issues.
•Traffic improvements: Emergency Vehicles will drive in empty lanes to get around traffic at intersections.
•Traffic improvements: Emergency and Delivery vehicles get priority over regular traffic when leaving garage.
•All units and buildings can now be demolished using the bulldoze tool.
•Performance improvements for low spec systems.
•New Server: Asia 2 will be released Tuesday afternoon (PDT)!