'SimCity' Isn't a Model of Reality. It's a Libertarian Toy Land

SimCity, created by Will Wright and released in 1989, is often viewed as a pioneering urban simulation game that has influenced real-world urban design. However, beneath its engaging gameplay lies a libertarian perspective on social planning. The game was inspired by Jay Forrester's urban planning models, which suggested that regulatory policies negatively impact cities and advocated for free-market solutions. These ideas were adopted by policymakers without critical examination, leading to various real-world failures, except for one instance where restrictive zoning laws drove up housing prices in Concord, Massachusetts.

Despite its playful design, SimCity has been taken seriously in political contexts, such as a mayoral race in Providence, Rhode Island, where candidates participated in a SimCity competition. The game's influence extended to educational tools like SimHealth, which aimed to simulate health care policy but was criticized for its ideological bias favoring libertarian principles. Critics argued that such simulations could mislead players into accepting flawed ideologies as reality.

While games like SimCity can provide insights into complex systems, they are ultimately constrained by their creators' assumptions and do not necessarily reflect real-world dynamics. The game serves as a reminder that the illusion of control in simulated environments does not equate to actual agency in societal structures. As such, while SimCity has inspired creativity in urban planning, it also embodies a narrow ideological framework that may not align with the complexities of real-world governance.