SimCity as energy advertisement

for many of us current planning students, one of our first experiences with planning was playing the seminal computer game SimCity. Of course the original game instilled those transcendent planning concepts such as Euclidean zoning and greenfield (blank slate) development, but as we dutifully separated commercial from residential areas and attempted to make our own Brasilias we grew to love the idea of working in cities and working with cities.


Enter Chevron in 2007 who in conjunction with the Economist Group just released Energyville, a game which owes a lot to the original SimCity in design and appearance. In the goal of Energyville, you are the mayor who must choose how to "power" his or her city for the next few decades. Not surprisingly, you learn that oil is essential to the future of your city, and the most effective way of moving forward is by creating a balanced portfolio of energy sources. I did manage to complete the 'simulation' by powering my city with 50% solar electricity, which should win me some sort of award and/or worldwide acclaim.

So, pass a few hours in Energyville, or better yet, play the original SimCity for free on-line.