SimCity Site & Map: Hokusai Cliffs

Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist who is best known for his painting, The Great Wave off Kanagawa. He is the namesake of this rocky cliff-side site nestled beside a bay.

Elevation and Terrain

There is a significant steppe in the middle of the map, bordered by the transecting highway. The eastern border is full of choppy cliffs, the northern border is soaked up by a chunk of bay, and the wide cliffs of the first steppe consume much of the usable space.

Water Table

Plenty of water, both along the river and up on top of the first steppe.

Resources

Up top on the second steppe you have some spiderweb metal deposits and down the bottom in the northwest corner, you have a fairly good sized oil field.

Usable Land

The highway runs through the map, as does the rail line which squeaks through the southwest corner along the base of the second steppe. Given it's location, it's going to be stunningly difficult to run the rail down to the water to aid with your tourism -- should you decide to go that route. Don't expect this one to top the population charts.

SimCity Site & Map: Hohenburg Shores

Cities around the world are named after the cities their founders came from. New York City is a good example of that. But why the expatriates of Hohenburg, Bavaria would move to this flat, empty riverside and name their city after their hometown is anyone's guess. My guess is heavy drugs.

Elevation and Terrain

The northern border of this city site is covered with river, making this the perfect spot for a massive trade port complex. Beyond that, the area is flat and unremarkable.

Water Table

The northern and eastern parts of the map are drowning in deep water. Conversely, the southwest corner is the perfect spot for industrial and other pollutables.

Resources

The two huge coal deposits are nice. The two huge oil deposits are especially delightful. This is a great site to set up a plastics conglomerate.

Usable Land

Initially, your citizens will be arriving in the southeast corner by road only; no rail on this one.

SimCity Site & Map: Hiroshige Overlook

Someone planted the trees in some sort of demonic symbol in the middle of this very light forest. It's, frankly, disturbing. Named after Utagawa Hiroshige, the famous Japanese artist.

Elevation and Terrain

The site as a whole has a slight curve to it, with a small missing corner in the northeast. There are plenty of scenic trees on this site.

Water Table

A deep blue streak runs from the eastern border through the middle of the map and into the northeast corner where you'll find plenty of water and a great spot for your water towers.

Resources

The southern end of the map is covered in coal deposits starting at the highway entrance and then spreading eastward. I would highly recommend cordoning off this area with an avenue and then developing everything north of the line as RCI.

Usable Land

Train and highway access both come in through the western border. No water access.

SimCity Site & Map: Hickory Ridge

This is a frightening site with few redeeming values. If you're not here for the resources, then you're here for the masochism and surely you need to have yourself checked out by an actual mental-health professional.

Elevation and Terrain

Yes.

Water Table

Patchy. Given how sparse the zoneable land is, you're going to have your residential and commercial at the top of the mountain (what little you can build) and your industrial next to the highway entrance in the southeast corner.

Resources

Holy metal. I'm not 100% on this, but I'm pretty sure the ore deposits are the largest in the game -- covering almost the entire top of the mountain. In terms of money, that's your cashcow.

Usable Land

As unbelievable as it is, there is a rail line somewhere in the crater on the east side of the mountain. You'll have to decide how much money you want to spend on the tunnel to make use of it. What else can I say? This thing is a train wreck and if it wasn't for the massive amount of metal here, I'd say ignore it.

SimCity Site & Map: Harper Plains

Elevation and Terrain

Flat, empty, and boring.

Water Table

The water table is awfully light and very patchy. You'll have your choice of where you want to put your water towers, but conservation is going to be key on this one.

Resources

Two tiny coal deposits and two tiny oil fields. Not a whole lot, but money nonetheless.

Usable Land

The highway cuts straight through the middle of the map and then falls off the edge of the world. It must be nice to be so close to limbo. Rail access is nearby the highway on the eastern border. There is nothing to interfere with your grand plans on this one.

SimCity Site & Map: Grand Haven

Grand Haven is an island in the middle of a river. It is almost perfectly round and well suited to many different planning styles.

Elevation and Terrain

This site rises gently in the middle as if you are on a very slight hill surrounded by river. There is a dense cluster of forest in the middle surrounded by the longest continuous beach in the game.

Water Table

The seriously deep water is on the south side of the island. The dry land is dead center -- a problem given the air pollution your industrial buildings will make.

Resources

None.

Usable Land

If there was ever a case against too much water access, then this site is it. You'll have your pick of where you want your ferry and trade ports. Rail and road access are almost right next to each other on the western border. The other three borders are almost entirely under water. Is there enough land to grow a megalopolis? We'll see.

SimCity Site & Map: Giovanni Woods

No word on who Giovanni is, but he must have been special to end up memorialized in a place like this.

Elevation and Terrain

Though board flat, this site is a patchwork quilt of hedgerows that provide a striking visual to what could easily have been a very boring city zone.

Water Table

There is a large area of deep blue invaded by a smaller area of dry that will be perfect for industrial. I'd say the board is half water and half dry -- a nice mix.

Resources

Giovanni has some nice coal deposits and a small but important metal deposit dead center in the map.

Usable Land

The north border is the rail line and the entrance from the highway can be found in the southwest corner. With no water access and no other points of interest, I can't really see this as a tourism town. But with the resources and plenty of water, it has potential as a megalopolis.

SimCity Site & Map: Gaugin Valley

Loosely named after the lunatic, cross-dressing, French Post-Impressionist artist, Gaugin Valley is an unremarkable plain that may or may not be situated between several mountains. I'm guessing this area was named by people who have never actually seen a Gauguin. For the love of James Lipton, Gauguin was with Van Gogh when the latter cut off the lobe of his ear with a razor blade and handed it to a prostitute. And this is the board they came up with for him... for shame!

Elevation and Terrain

Flat as flat can be. There are some nice forests here.

Water Table

Deep water is pretty pervasive on this site. The southwest corner has a large, dry spot that's perfect for an industrial zone. As far as zoning and development, I think this is a great beginners site.

Resources

There is some metal here, but really it's the coal that matters. There are two deposits, the deeper of which is near the northeast corner of the map. There is the tiniest little metal deposit against the south border near where the highway comes in. You should visit and pinch it's cheeks.

Usable Land

The main highway slices through the southeast corner, sequestering the rail entrance. Since there is no waterfront, you might as well drop your train station right where the rail ends now.

SimCity Site & Map: Frontier Fields

Elevation and Terrain

There is no elevation. This is a flat plain with almost no considerations required for zoning.

Water Table

Most of the water is located near the road and rail connections. The southeast corner of the site is perfect for a massive industrial complex.

Resources

There is a humongous oil deposit and a much smaller coal deposit near the western border of the site.

Usable Land

Frontier Fields is a perfectly flat terrain square with zero water access. The highway runs through the site, but only across the northern border -- so it really doesn't factor into your plans.

SimCity Site & Map: Figaro Forest

An odd patchwork of hedgerows marks this riverside city site. Sadly, this site is mostly unremarkable so there's not much to talk about.

Elevation and Terrain

Flat, with a blotchy patchwork of clearings.

Water Table

Plenty of water on this one. If you wanted some industry, the best place for it would be immediately east of the highway off-ramp.

Resources

The highway off-ramp dumps you onto land covering a large metal deposit and some coal.

Usable Land

A nearby river has claimed the southeast corner of the map.

SimCity Site & Map: Elm Grove

Elm Grove -- not really sure what it's a grove of, though if I had to take a guess I'd say it was either pine or oak -- rocks.

Elevation and Terrain

There is a huge grove of trees on this site. This site has access to a bend in the river that cuts out a chunk of the northwest corner of the map.

Water Table

North of the highway is where all the water is; south is blotchy and unpredictable. My guess is the trees are drinking up all the water.

Resources

There is an epic amount of resources under the grove. Oil -- in fact, one of the largest oil reserves in the game -- coal, and metal are all available here in large quantities.

Usable Land

The top third of the map is segregated by a stretch of the main highway that is trying in vain to hold back the encroachment of the grove. The rail line comes in along the south border of the map on the other side of the grove -- leaving it in a tough place for tourism. Almost entirely flat, you'll have no problems with this one assuming you don't mind being saddled with the highway.

SimCity Site & Map: Cowrie Cove

The edges of this map look more ominous than they actually are. Cowrie Cove is a split level gem.

Elevation and Terrain

There is a two-steppe layout here. Your city will live in the shadows of the nearby cliffs for most of the day. Plenty of trees here. The northern side of the site is intruded upon by a large chunk of cove (actually, I'm pretty sure it's a bay, but whatever).

Water Table

The heavy water flows down to the north end near the bay (er... cove). I suspect that the little chunk of northwest corner may be the best place for your water towers -- quick and convenient.

Resources

The top steppe contains an interesting coal deposit. Other than that, you're not getting much out of this one.

Usable Land

The rail line comes in right next to the road and right next to the waterfront. This would be a fantastic setup for a tourist town. The cliff of the steppe makes this one hard to zone the further south you go, but there's not much in the way of obstructions.

SimCity Site & Map: Cottonwood Forest

The Cottonwood Forest absolutely blankets the natural steppe terrain and juicy resources hiding just under it's roots. This is the perfect hippy resort for tree huggers (or loggers who can double as miners).

Elevation and Terrain

There is a steppe that runs north/south. At first, it may seem that there is only a single ramp leading up to the top (it's almost at the northern border of the map), however there is also an incline in the middle noteworthy for it's lack of trees. This is a good way up as well.

Water Table

All of the deep water is on the bottom steppe. In fact, it follows the cliff-line perfectly. The top steppe is almost completely drained -- which is good because that's where the mines are going to go.

Resources

Two huge chunks of metal and a large coal deposit against the eastern border where the railroad lies.

Usable Land

The northwest and southwest corners are cut off by waterfront. But while the steppe makes getting around tricky, it does very little to hinder your development plans. I will say that the rail line is in a very inconvenient place that will make zoning for tourism very difficult.

SimCity Site & Map: Cotton Bend

The bend in question refers to a river which transects the site. This site is particularly tricky, as you are forced to build a bridge as early as possible or risk complicating your life horribly as time ticks by.

Elevation and Terrain

Cotton Bend is a site divided by a rather large river. The narrowest part of the river is also home to a small mesa that interferes with your ability to build a bridge -- well, a less expensive bridge anyway. You'll start out on the mainland part of the site and then find time to build a bridge over to the island once you are established.

Water Table

So, here's the bad news. When you start this one, you'll be trapped on the mainland -- which has very, very little water. You'll need to make your way to the island as fast as possible. To avoid any ore extraction you may be doing in the future, you should set up your waterworks on the northern tip or southeast corner of the island.

Resources

The island has a crap-ton of metal. The mesa hides a coal deposit and there is also a large coal deposit on the mainland due north of the highway ramp.

Usable Land

The river is your primary focus. I'd say it consumes about a quarter of the site. The mesa is just tall enough to also cause some problems and limit what your island zones will look like. There is a single piece of waterfront -- a tiny little cove -- in the southwest corner that probably is good for nothing -- except a well-deserved mansion for a certain special mayor!

SimCity Site & Map: Corsair Coast

Corsair Coast is a city site full of moderate steppes.

Elevation and Terrain

The steppes are the most complicated part of this site. They interfere with any grid pattern you may be looking to lay down. The site also sports waterfront property on the north and east sides. There are small patchy forests and road access from the west. There is no train access.

Water Table

Deep water meanders eastward from the highway entrance down the steppes and into the bay. There is also a deep-blue patch on the southern steppe right against the border.

Resources

There are three oil deposits lining the eastern beachfront, some metal in the middle and southwest corner, and a small coal deposit on the steppe due south. These aren't major finds, but they could be good for some cash.

Usable Land

This is a tough one. You're going to be very confined in what you can lay out, but it could still be fun if you want to turn this into a casino town.

SimCity Site & Map: Conestoga Crossing

For my money: if there was ever a university town, this is the place to set it up.

Elevation and Terrain

A major river and stretch of highway run through this map heading east/west. Crossing the river is expensive, but plopping an industrial megaplex on the far side of the river away from your regular people is a great idea. The wind blows in the same direction as the highway, by the way. The rail access comes in at the northern end of the map.

Water Table

All around the river -- on both sides -- is miles of deep blue. There is a dry spot at the foot of the butte that could be a nice industrial area.

Resources

One little deposit of each type: the metal and coal to the north and the oil on the far side of the river. I don't recommend bothering with them, but you can definitely make money with the metal if you choose to go that way.

Usable Land

This is my go to university town. I throw some industrial on the far side of the river and then zone low residential, heavy commercial, and plop down a big old university right on the hill next to the highway. It has never failed me. The river makes for an expensive border to cross and there is a small butte in the northwest corner that takes up a tiny bit of space.

SimCity Site & Map: Conch Beach

When you first look at Conch Beach, it takes you a minute to actually find the beachy parts. However, they are there. This map is a sophie's choice between tourism and full-blown industrial steampunk town. I'll let you decide.

Elevation and Terrain

This coastal site features some rocky outcrops. In the northeast corner there's a horn and the western side of the site is blocked off by a small range of forest-covered rocks. The access point from the passing highway jumps right over top of the rail line that borders the city in the south.

Water Table

It's almost all deep blue, with the exception of a conveniently placed white streak right near where all the metal is located in the central and southwest portions of the map.

Resources

One major oil deposit on the beach will make this place a bummer for tourists if you decide to exploit it. There is a long strip of metal ore that runs north/south down the middle of the site.

Usable Land

I'd say about 70% of this board is available for zoning and such, though three of the edges are irregularly shaped so that might cause you problems if you prefer grid zoning. I recommend doing your train station and ferry at the southern part of the east-side lakefront and then building a crazy awesome trade port in the north.

SimCity Site & Map: Clearwater

This is the site I am most familiar with because it was the one we all played during the beta tests.

Elevation and Terrain

There's a small forest in the north that marks the location of a deep water vein. Other than that, this board is quite unremarkable. The railroad runs along the northern border and the highway entrance comes in from the west.

Water Table

The north side of the board has a vast blue expanse of water perfect for whatever you need. The south side has only small pockets.

Resources

None.

Usable Land

There is only a small section of lakefront in the southeast corner -- perfect for a ferry and a few trade ports -- that you have to deal with. The rest is flat and available.

SimCity Site & Map: Claim Overlook

Of all the city sites that you have to choose from, if you were a beginner and wanted to deal with no mountains, rivers, or other inconveniences, this is the site for you. From corner to corner, edge to edge, this site is perfect for people who want the most room to work with.

Elevation and Terrain

Flat as flat can be. This is the most empty and plain of all the city sites. Rail runs along the entire western border and the highway entrance is in the northeast corner.

Water Table

Ironically, as wide open as this plain is, there is very little water here. The northwest and southeast corners both have pockets of deep blue. Your choices of where to put your water pumps are the only thing about this board that is limited.

Resources

The southwest corner has plenty of metal to work with and there are two medium-sized coal deposits to help you generate good money/power.

Usable Land

It's wide open.

SimCity Site & Map: Cinder

Elevation and Terrain

The southwest corner has a small plateau and the lake has eroded a hunk of the western portion of the map. Not so much that it causes trouble, but I wouldn't water to live down there. Road and rail access are both from the north.

Water Table

There is a deep vein of water that runs straight down the center of the map from east to west. The southern edge of the map has no water and could be a good place for industry. The northern edge of the map has less water, so you could do a dirty ploppable or two up here. The lakefront might be a good place to set up your towers.

Resources

Holy coal! The eastern and middle parts of the map have large, blotchy deposits of coal. Some of the smaller deposits probably aren't worth paying for the mines to get at, but the main ones are delicious.

Usable Land

There's a small patch of lakefront that intrudes into the western border of the site, but with very little change in elevation you have a lot of choices.

SimCity Site & Map: Ceylon Steppes

Wow! This is a crazy one.

Elevation and Terrain

So, there is a three-steppe terrain type with tons of trees and an open waterline that runs the entire western edge of the map. The changes in elevation are dramatic and there is a highway that meanders it's way cattycorner. It's one of those blessing/curse things.

Water Table

The second steppe is almost devoid of water, so if you were going to try some industrial, this is the place to do it. There's a vast deep blue field running along the waterline and more water in the southern edge of the top steppe.

Resources

The site is covered with oil and metal -- making it a convenient mining/drilling town. The oil deposits are particularly vast. The majority of the resources exist on the bottom two steppes, so you could build a small town up top and then use it to house the people who work on your equipment.

Usable Land

About half the land can be built on. The other half is consumed by step cliffs and the waterline.

SimCity Site & Map: Cedargates

Elevation and Terrain

There is a gradual incline in elevation in the southeast corner of the map. Other than that, it's mostly flat with few trees.

Water Table

Patchy. If you extend the highway entrance straight down, you'll have a deep blue pocket east of that road and then blotches of zero water to the west. I'd handle water from the north-east corner.

Resources

You'll have your choice of all three resources on this one. Coal, oil, and metal all appear in small pockets scattered throughout the center part of the map. The north side is completely clear of these, so that is the best place to RCI. Industrial should go to the northwest as there is little to no water over there and the residential/commercial neighborhoods should sit north and east.

Usable Land

There is no access to water on this one and the rail is incredibly inconvenient. However, it's mostly flat and even the one incline is very open and offers little problems.