Video game to simulate/teach urban planning

Redwood City, Calif. – The next generation of public officials may soon be trained by video games.

SimCity, a series of video games wherein players design their own towns and cities, will launch SimCityEDU, a new urban planning simulator for educators who wish to utilize virtual platforms to drive student interest in the real-world issues of city planning, infrastructure creation and environmental protection. The game is the brainchild of interactive digital entertainment giant Electronic Arts (EA), and its new partner GlassLab, a non profit organization which helps optimize the educational value of digital games.

Lucy Bradshaw, senior vice president and general manager of EA’s Maxis Label explained in a statement, “for decades, SimCity has been embraced by the educational community as an engaging video game that also provides a powerful learning experience, teaching problem solving skills through imaginative civic game play. We want to up the ante of SimCity’s educational influence.”

Using SimCityEDU, educators will be able to organize lesson plans online, using the SimCity game to help students think critically about the problems facing modern communities such as urban planning, environmental management and socio-economic development. SimCityEDU will equip educators with the tools necessary to help today’s students to become tomorrow’s community builders and leaders.
To learn more about SimCityEDU, visit www.SimCity.com.