Here Are Some SimCity Sandbox Details

The folks over at Firaxis working on the new SimCity released a blog post today talking about the game's sandbox mode. The mode allows users to build the city of their dreams without needing to deal with things like collecting taxes to pay for everything.
"Choosing to set a new region in sandbox mode is like entering a gentler version of SimCity," says Guillaume Pierre, Lead Gameplay Scripter on SimCity. "although the simulation functions just like in the regular game, certain 'pushback' systems can be toggled on and off at any time. Say you don't want fires to burn down your beautifully-planned suburb? It's as easy as hitting 'Alt-F' on your keyboard."
Sandbox mode looks to be a great way to test out city designs with all of the buildings unlocked, alone or with friends, to use in the regular game to unlock achievements. It's also a great way to get used to the game's mechanics in a less stressful environment, or spend time building up a city then destroying it with one of the many disasters.