-There is no distinction between Maxis and EA.
-"Maxis" is a brand.
-The game was developed in-house, by EA, at one of their megastudios in California.
-"Maxis" was closed down 4 years ago, for the second time.
-No developers from Sim City, 2000, 3000, or 4 still work in "Maxis".
-The "Maxis" which developed sim city is a collection of ex-playfish developers. A studio which made facebook games before EA bought them.
-EA does not acquire studios. It acquires brand names & IP and liquidates the studios behind them. They have been doing this for over 15 years.