SimCity, the city-building computer game, has just become even more realistic. The latest version of the best-selling game – SimCity 2013 – has gone green. Working in collaboration with Nissan, the game has added a Nissan LEAF charging station to its list of in-game add-ons.
Available free of charge to players, the solar-powered five car station not only allows Sims to drive electric vehicles, but adds ‘happiness to the Sims that use it and a onetime wave of happiness to the nearby businesses’ according to the game’s maker Electronic Arts. And as anyone who has played the game knows, happiness is the key to vibrant community life.
As well as being free to own – Nissan is sponsoring downloads for the next six months – the charging station costs nothing to run thanks to its harvesting of solar power.
Nor does it have an adverse effect on society as it produces ‘no sewage or garbage. EA adds: “Adding the Charging Station will not take power, water or workers away from your city. Zoom in to the streets of cities and players will start seeing a percentage of their Sims from all wealth classes driving the electric vehicles.”
It seems the latest version of SimCity really is just like real life, then.