I get it, don't get me wrong. I realize that the efforts necessary to build the functionality for them to complete offline play and offline saves isn't that big of a deal - however, they want Multi-Player, Multi-City Regions to be a central part of SimCity 5.

Developing some sort of non-EA server infrastructure/support and such is a challenge that would require effort and attention that they've made clear all along they are not pursuing and taking effort away from things they are.

In the end, the game is still fun to play - especially with the performance issues pretty much squashed so you're just dealing with AI/Design/Gameplay issues now. I've been playing in a 16-city Region with about 7 other people. It's been a blast to see how someone screwing up can impact the other cities.. sometimes frustrating, but usually pretty laugh worthy.

..there's really nothing as funny as seeing 20-30 criminals coming to your city from a neighbor who destroyed a police station that didn't have empty cells... =)

--Micah