Editing SimTower (section)

==Release and reception==
{{Video game reviews
| Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=allgame />
| Dragon = 3 &amp; 3{{frac|1|2}} of 5<ref name="Dragon217" />
| rev1 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev1Score = B−<ref name="EW" />
| NGen = {{rating|2|5}} (MAC)<ref name="NGen3" />
}}
''SimTower'' was successful in Japan, earning the developers a profit. The ''[[Nihon Keizai Shimbun]]'' awarded Saito the "Best Young Manager/Venture of the Year" for his work on the game. After the initial Japanese release, Maxis president Jeff Braun contacted Saito regarding a worldwide release; ''SimCity'' creator [[Will Wright (game designer)|Will Wright]] had informed Braun of the game.<ref name="gamesTM-Retro" /> The company localized the game for sale in the United States, and changed the name to capitalize on the popularity of the ''Sim'' franchise and increase sales figures.<ref name="GameAxis" /> Maxis published ''SimTower'' for the Windows and [[System 7|Macintosh System 7]] operating systems in November 1994 in the United States.<ref name=southchina /><ref>{{cite web|access-date=April 22, 2010 |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/simtower-the-vertical-empire/release-info |title=Release Information for SimTower: The Vertical Empire |publisher=MobyGames |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908175821/http://www.mobygames.com/game/simtower-the-vertical-empire/release-info |archive-date=September 8, 2009 }}</ref> In 1996, it was ported to the [[Sega Saturn]] and [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer]] in Japan.<ref name="gamesTM-Retro" />

The ''[[South China Morning Post]]'' praised the game's formula, noting that it followed in the footsteps of previous open-ended Maxis games. Comparing ''SimTower'' to ''[[SimCity 2000]]'', the review remarked that it was more interesting to watch people live out their lives in a tower rather than to observe cars moving around. They also appreciated the "homely" feeling of ''SimTower'', in contrast with other ''Sim'' games such as ''[[SimEarth]]'' and ''[[SimLife]]'', which they felt were too universal to take on a personal identity.<ref name=southchina>{{cite news |title=The race to build is on! |work=South China Morning Post |date=February 26, 1995 |author=Chan, Margaret }}</ref> Benjamin Svetkey of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' praised the game and commented that it is "more fun than [the concept] sounds". However, he stated that the gameplay may be too much for fans of the series.<ref name="EW">{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1995/01/13/simearth/ |title=SimEarth Review |first=Benjamin |last=Svetkey |date=1995-01-13 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |publisher=[[Time Inc.]] |issue=257 |access-date=2010-11-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501024634/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20184081%2C00.html |archive-date=2011-05-01 }}</ref> A reviewer for ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' panned the game, saying it lacks the bustling interactivity of previous games in the Sim franchise: "There are bug infestations and the occasional fire with which to deal, but most of the time, ''SimTower'' sees you standing around waiting for cash reserves to grow in order to add more floors. Not much fun at all."<ref name="NGen3">{{cite journal|title=Condemned |journal=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=3|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=March 1995|page=91}}</ref> Australia's ''[[The Age]]'' found ''SimTower'' a pleasing return to form for Maxis, after the release of the disappointing ''[[SimFarm]]''.<ref name=theage>{{cite news |title=Tower infernal |work=The Age |date=July 20, 1995 |author=Bowtell, Jed |page=34 }}</ref> Lisa Karen Savignano of [[Allgame]] stated that the game had decent graphics and sound. However, she also felt that ''SimTower'' had good [[replay value]] due to the non-linear gameplay, giving the game four stars out of five.<ref name=allgame>{{cite web|access-date=2010-04-24 |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=642&tab=review |title=SimTower |publisher=Allgame |year=1997 |author=Savignano, Lisa Karen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115143324/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=642&tab=review |archive-date=2014-11-15 }}</ref>

The game was criticized by the ''South China Morning Post'' for lacking documentation, making it more difficult to learn how to play the game. They also predicted that players would be unhappy with the game's speed, as time plays an important role in earning money from tenants. Before the player can purchase new facilities, a long period of time must pass before income is earned from tenants. The newspaper was also unhappy with complaints from tenants; specific reasons for their dissatisfaction are never given.<ref name=southchina /> ''The Age'' was disappointed by the lack of pre-built towers and scenarios, suggesting that one along the lines of ''[[The Towering Inferno]]''{{'}}s plot could have been included.<ref name=theage /> ''[[Game Informer]]'' referred to ''SimTower'' as a "lesser-known" simulation game, and described it as "fun and addictive".<ref>{{cite magazine| magazine = [[Game Informer]]| publisher = [[GameStop|GameStop Corporation]]|date=June 2007| issue = 170| title = Classic GI: The Forgotten Sims| page = 124}}</ref> Writing for the ''[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]'', Matt Miller felt that, when compared to ''[[SimCity 2000]]'' (1993), gameplay in ''SimTower'' moved slowly. He also disliked the moments when he had to wait several minutes to pass by before he could make enough money to purchase new additions for his building.<ref>{{cite news |title=High-rise anxiety builds with Maxis treat Addictive CD-ROM turns kids, adults into developers, tower landlords |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=1995-06-06 |author=Miller, Matt |page=6 }}</ref> ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' magazine's reviewers Jay and Dee praised the visuals and gameplay. However, the two commented that the game can feel slow because it lacks gameplay elements and options present in other strategy games.<ref name="Dragon217" /> In 1995, the Software and Information Industry Association listed ''SimTower'' as the "Best Simulation Program" in the Consumer software category of their annual [[Software and Information Industry Association#CODiE Awards|Codie award]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siia.net/codies/2009/pw_1995.asp |title=Past Winners - 2009 SIIA CODiE Awards |publisher=Software and Information Industry Association |access-date=2009-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015120544/http://www.siia.net/codies/2009/pw_1995.asp |archive-date=2009-10-15 }}</ref>

The game was followed by ''[[Yoot Tower]]'' (called ''The Tower II'' in Japan), also designed by Yoot Saito, which was initially released on November 24, 1998, for the Macintosh.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=July 12, 2010 |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/yoot-tower/61-4881/releases/?r=93799 |title=Release Summary |publisher=GaintBomb.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406070606/http://www.giantbomb.com/yoot-tower/61-4881/releases/?r=93799 |archive-date=April 6, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| journal = [[Maximum PC]]| publisher = [[Future plc|Future US]]|date=February 1999| volume = 4| issue = 2| title = Yoot Tower| page = 44| issn = 1522-4279}}</ref> It was later made available for the Windows operating systems in January 1999. ''Yoot Tower''{{'}}s gameplay is similar to that of ''SimTower''—players build hotels, resorts, and office buildings, and work towards building a five-star tower.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Interactive Games Make Their Play |work=Daily News of Los Angeles |date=July 7, 1999 |author=Bloom, David }}</ref> [[Vivarium]] launched a version of ''SimTower'' for the [[Game Boy Advance]], called ''[[The Tower SP]]'', published by [[Nintendo]] in Japan on April 28, 2005, and by [[Sega]] in the United States on March 15, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2009-10-07 |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/725/725107p1.html |title=The Tower SP |publisher=IGN |date=2006-07-06 |author=DeVries, Jack |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008000408/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/725/725107p1.html |archive-date=2008-10-08 }}</ref> A version of ''SimTower'' called ''The Tower DS'' was published by DigiToys in Japan on June 26, 2008.<ref name=tower-ds>{{cite web |access-date=2010-04-18 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ds/strategy/thetowerds/similar.html?mode=versions |title=The Tower DS – Related Games |publisher=GameSpot }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=July 12, 2010 |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/725/725107p1.html |title=The Tower DS announcement |date=6 July 2006 |publisher=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205174342/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/725/725107p1.html |archive-date=December 5, 2010 }}</ref> ''[[Yoot Tower]]'' was also released for [[iPad]] devices via the online iOS App Store.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2012-02-27 |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yoot-tower/id379197311?mt=8 |title=Yoot Tower in iTunes iOS App Store for iPad's |publisher=iTunesiOSAppStore |author=DigiToys Inc. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128113657/http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yoot-tower/id379197311?mt=8 |archive-date=2012-01-28 }}</ref>