SimCity Societies Tackles Global Warming

EA and energy supplier BP have teamed up to incorporate climate change issues into the next SimCity title.

Players of the next-generation SimCity game will not only have to worry about tax rates, traffic and zoning, they’ll also have to start figuring out how to keep their cities’ carbon emissions down. Electronic Arts announced on Wednesday [PDF] that it will collaborate with energy supplier BP to incorporate climate change into SimCity Societies.

Like all the choices offered in the SimCity series, players won’t be compelled to choose one way or another, but the choices they make to power their city could have long-term consequences. Using the cheapest energy supplies will boost the in-game carbon meter, which may cause natural disasters like droughts and heat waves if it reaches a critical level. On the other hand, using alternative energy sources like hydrogen, natural gas plants and wind farms (all from BP, of course) players will be able to keep the meter down and dodge catastrophe, not to mention maintain property values.

“Since their inception in 1989, SimCity games have served as excellent creative and educational tools to convey complex subjects,” said Steve Seabolt, vice president of global grand development for the Sims label, in a statement. “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.”

SimCity Societies will be available in North America and Europe on November 15.