Electronic Arts has teamed up with BP to educate gamers on climate change in SimCity Societies. That's right, with British Petroleum.
It's interesting to SPOnG that while governments are searching for votes by slamming video gaming, a large corporation such as BP can see value in using the same cultural medium to ensure that one of its messages is put over.
Looks like video games are not just for kids, eh?
SPOnG can hear a collective groan from the gaming community, but fear not! EA doesn't plan to force it down our throats, apparently. Basically, the game will offer environmentally sound alternatives to traditional power sources, but the cost and lower output difference between the two will remain in the game for realism's sake.
Should players opt for the cheaper, sky-blackening traditional electricity generating choice, “their carbon ratings will rise and, at reaching critical levels, the game will issue alerts about the threat of the various natural disasters like droughts, heat waves and others that may strike their cities”, according to EA.
The “variety of BP Alternative Energy low-carbon power options” includes natural plant gas, hydrogen, wind farms and solar power.
"Since their inception in 1989, SimCity games have served as excellent creative and educational tools to convey complex subjects. With SimCity Societies, we have the opportunity not only to demonstrate some of the causes and effects of global warming, but also to educate players how seemingly small choices can have a big global impact," said Steve Seabolt (best surname ever?), vice president of Global Brand Development for The Sims Label at EA, in the corporo-quote du jour.
"BP was one of the first major energy companies to publicly acknowledge the need to reduce carbon emissions and begin taking precautionary measures. As such, they are the perfect partner to help educate people on this important social issue in SimCity Societies", Seabolt went on.
You can take a peek at what EA has in store (complete with a healthy dollop of BP branding) in the screens below. When you're done, head over to SPOnG's dedicated SimCity Societies page for more.
It's interesting to SPOnG that while governments are searching for votes by slamming video gaming, a large corporation such as BP can see value in using the same cultural medium to ensure that one of its messages is put over.
Looks like video games are not just for kids, eh?
SPOnG can hear a collective groan from the gaming community, but fear not! EA doesn't plan to force it down our throats, apparently. Basically, the game will offer environmentally sound alternatives to traditional power sources, but the cost and lower output difference between the two will remain in the game for realism's sake.
Should players opt for the cheaper, sky-blackening traditional electricity generating choice, “their carbon ratings will rise and, at reaching critical levels, the game will issue alerts about the threat of the various natural disasters like droughts, heat waves and others that may strike their cities”, according to EA.
The “variety of BP Alternative Energy low-carbon power options” includes natural plant gas, hydrogen, wind farms and solar power.
"Since their inception in 1989, SimCity games have served as excellent creative and educational tools to convey complex subjects. With SimCity Societies, we have the opportunity not only to demonstrate some of the causes and effects of global warming, but also to educate players how seemingly small choices can have a big global impact," said Steve Seabolt (best surname ever?), vice president of Global Brand Development for The Sims Label at EA, in the corporo-quote du jour.
"BP was one of the first major energy companies to publicly acknowledge the need to reduce carbon emissions and begin taking precautionary measures. As such, they are the perfect partner to help educate people on this important social issue in SimCity Societies", Seabolt went on.
You can take a peek at what EA has in store (complete with a healthy dollop of BP branding) in the screens below. When you're done, head over to SPOnG's dedicated SimCity Societies page for more.
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Comments
eddie 2 Nov 2007 21:22
1/3
im gunna buy it and give it a try, just to get away from the repeating version of Sim City with all the zoning
Inov8 16 Feb 2008 00:23
2/3
When are we going to get a installation of the original series of Sim City.
True Sim City fans would like an installment of Sim City 5 that would leave off where 4 stopped.
A new game that would include more in depth detail to what the original series included, w/ possibly a twist of the sims added to it, not what Sim Societies is.
Sim Societies is Ok, I haven't played it so why am I to judge, but I will be playing my Sim City 4 until I get a game that comes out which is what we all want.\
You have alot of people upset with the change of regimen. If it is licensing right's to continue the legacy then get them, keep the boat on the same course, change is good but not in this case.
True Sim City fans would like an installment of Sim City 5 that would leave off where 4 stopped.
A new game that would include more in depth detail to what the original series included, w/ possibly a twist of the sims added to it, not what Sim Societies is.
Sim Societies is Ok, I haven't played it so why am I to judge, but I will be playing my Sim City 4 until I get a game that comes out which is what we all want.\
You have alot of people upset with the change of regimen. If it is licensing right's to continue the legacy then get them, keep the boat on the same course, change is good but not in this case.
Nova 15 Apr 2012 15:03
3/3
Agree with Inov8, I thought Simcity Societies had killed the franchise but it looks like we are getting a real sequel, one that looks really good and seems to have taken to heart the protests against this unfortunate blemish.
eddie, you don't like "repeating" zoning, what about repeating plonking? You zone and you get dozens of buildings popping up, you grow your city rather than dictate every building. It seems to me plonking down every single building is far more repetitive than zoning. It also lacks much of the skill since you can pretty much create the city you want without much effort, zoning requires you to painstakingly create the conditions for the city you want but it is much more rewarding when achieved. Though I guess that's a bit too much for you and you would rather just plonk down the exact city you imagine almost instantly with little effort, it seems google images plus photoshop would be a city "sim" more at your level.
eddie, you don't like "repeating" zoning, what about repeating plonking? You zone and you get dozens of buildings popping up, you grow your city rather than dictate every building. It seems to me plonking down every single building is far more repetitive than zoning. It also lacks much of the skill since you can pretty much create the city you want without much effort, zoning requires you to painstakingly create the conditions for the city you want but it is much more rewarding when achieved. Though I guess that's a bit too much for you and you would rather just plonk down the exact city you imagine almost instantly with little effort, it seems google images plus photoshop would be a city "sim" more at your level.