SimCity for Mac delayed

Bad news for Mac gamers with deity delusions; EA has revealed that it is delaying SimCity for Mac, just days before the game was expected to hit shelves. EA had originally promised to launch the OS X version of the game on Tuesday, June 11, but now says that it is not "ready for primetime yet" and so has been pushed back into August.

"We have made this tough decision because we do not believe it is ready for primetime yet," senior producer Kip Katsarelis explained. "We want to ensure the Mac is a great experience for our players and that is why we are taking more time."

Anticipating a negative reaction, EA hopes to assuage Mac gamers by extending the availability of the SimCity Launch Park, so that those playing on OS X will still be able to access it. The add-on was introduced in SimCity Update 4 for PC.

Meanwhile, EA has also detailed the changes in Update 5, which should arrive over the next few weeks. The headline changes are multiplayer and multi-city tweaks to boost stability, but there'll also be various tweaks to how Great Works operates, how recycling and garbage systems work, and how gifts are delivered.

New features, meanwhile, include a redesign to the Region Wall chart, with easier inter-player communication, and more control over utilities. There are also seven new regional missions.

Even with Update 5 still yet to hit, EA is already teasing what Update 6 will bring. The company says eager SimCity gamers should keep an eye on its forums for the next details.