If you choose the video game option, you can play the classic DOS game SimCity 2000 online at:
Play DOS Games SimCity 2000
Classic Reload SimCity 2000
Play Classic Games SimCity 2000
Now notice the name… “SimCity 2000”; it’s old and slow, however it is easier to start with (especially with the videos and the tips and tricks below). If you choose to play the game online please note that you cannot save it, so this will limit your game play to one, possibly, very loooong experience (NOTE: If you own a copy of a newer SimCity, like SimCity4, that’s fantastic you should just play it). You can find out how to play it at:
If you'd like to read how to play SimCity 2000, the manual for the game can be found here.
You can find tips and tricks for game play at: Zealgames, Dark Brick Abode, or GameBytes Magazine
Now, you could download SimCity 2000 from TechSpot (Note: This game is for DOS and to play it on computers with newer versions of Windows you will need a DOS 'emulator' like D-Fend Reloaded). Please be very careful to check what site you choose to download a free version of the game from; I do not want you to get malware on your computer. I have checked the SimCity 2000 from TechSpot (above) and it appears clean, however if you are unsure then just play it online.
You could also play Micropolis online where you can save your game play. In January 2008, the SimCity source code was released under free software license and renamed to Micropolis. You can also play it at Micropolis JS
You could also play 3D City online.
I also know there is a “Freemium” version of “Sim City Buildit” for iOS Apple (at the Apple Store) and Google Android (at the Google Play Store) products.
The concept of SimCity BuildIt is just like every other entry in the series (SimCity). You have a plot of land, you section off some zones for residential, commercial, and industrial, and you start to grow your city. BUT… like for all “free” games you’ll get the basic entry, but a premium (AKA money) is charged for additional features, services, or virtual (online) or physical (offline) goods that expand the functionality of the free version of the software. I DO NOT WANT YOU SPENDING MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT OPTION. SimCash, is the in-game currency that can be used to buy more Simoleons (fictional game money that is used to purchase missing items needed to upgrade buildings or speed up the construction of things “in-game”). Please do not purchase SimCash…since you’ll be doing this game over time you do not need to speed things up. You can play this version on your phone or tablet and there are some services that allow you to play it on your pc at home as well.
So, for this project, I will need you to build a city and as you play, you’ll need to keep a track of what you did, why you did it and what the results were. One way to determine what to build, where to build, and how much to build is to list all the possible requirements a city’s citizens might have. As you build your city, use these questions to help design a city that is well planned:
- How will you lay out your city? What kinds of industrial, commercial, and residential areas will you build? Where will you build them?
- How will your city pay for infrastructure and basic services?
- What services (police, fire, medical, education) will your city provide? Where will you place them?
- What kinds of parks and recreation areas will be in your city?
- How will you provide power to all areas of your city?
- Do you have renewable energy sources?
- How will you make sure all areas of your city have water?
- How will your city dispose of waste and recycle?
- How will you manage pollution (water and air) in your city?=
- What types of transportation will be available to move citizens and goods?
How can you keep a track of things while playing? You can do this by taking screen captures of your game play and then writing things down or speaking them into an audio file. You can record your game play (on something like Bandicam) all of this is for the report/presentation (to me).
So what is the submission aspect of this (what do you need to hand in to me)?
You will need to make a presentation with a written a narrative (maximum 500 words) describing your future city’s key features and design attributes. The purpose of the City Narrative is to give me a quick overview of the future city’s infrastructure and its public services. Think of the City Narrative as a marketing piece. What unique features does your city offer? Why would someone want to live in your city? Are there any special benefits to living in your city?
Use these questions to help write a city description.
- What basic information should people know about your city (such as the name, population, age, and location)?
- What is important to know about your city’s physical components (landmarks, parks, and recreation areas) and infrastructure (transportation, energy, waste disposal, pollution control)?
- What services (such as police, fire, medical, education) does your city offer?
- What features make your city innovative and unique?
- What did you learn about urban planning and city design?
This can be as a written report with photos (word document or online blog), as a podcast (spoken word audio file), or as a video file. The report and game play are based around the following key issues/outcomes from the course:
- Where Are Services Distributed?
- Where Are Consumer Services Distributed?
- Where Are Business Services Distributed?
- Why Do Services Cluster in Settlements?
- Why Do Services Cluster Downtown
- Where Are People Distributed Within Urban Areas?
- Why Are Urban Areas Expanding?
- Why Do Cities Face Challenges?
Now, if you like the idea of designing a city but lack the computer hardware/software, then there is another option...You may graphically design a city on minimum 11x17 paper (rather than play SimCity) and then build a physical model of a section of your city using recycled materials that has at least one moving part. The model does not need to be an exact building-by-building duplication of the virtual design. Rather, the purpose of the model is to give a 3-dimensional, creative representation of an area that best represents your vision of your city. Feel free to use Foster and Partners #architecturefromhome template designs They have create your own city templates and paper skyscrapers templates
The design of your city needs to consider all 10 question points from the SimCity option (above).
Physical Model Requirements:
- The model must be built to scale as determined by you.
- The model must be no bigger than 25” (W) x 50” (L) x 20” (H) including all support braces, material hanging below or beyond the tabletop, and any fully extended parts, such as access doors or hinged pullouts.
- The model must contain one or more moving part(s). Any electrical power must be self-contained (e.g., a household battery and a simple circuit).
- Use of electrical floor or wall outlets is not allowed.
- Audio or sound may be used as part of the model.
Use these questions to help build the model.
- What scale would work best for your model?
- What features would best represent your city (buildings, zones, landforms, interconnectivity, and infrastructure such as transportation, energy, waste disposal, pollution control)?
- How can you show that your city is well planned, accessible, and considers the environment?
- What makes your city innovative and futuristic? How can you show your futuristic ideas are based on science and engineering?
- What recycled materials could you use? How could you use them in creative ways?
- What will your moving part(s) do? How does it represent an important element of your city design?
- How will you power your moving part(s)? Can you easily repeat the movement?
Same deal with the SimCity version...you need to make the presentation/city report on your paper.
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