Homelessness in Sim City

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-06-13 06:40:00 UTC
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The reality of homelessness is devastating. But how do the homeless fare in the realm of virtual reality? In an funky twist on The Sims 3, some gamesters are seeing how the world of computer simulation handles a predicament that is all too real... living without a home.

Here are the details from Pop Watch over at Entertainment Weekly: 

Game design student Robin Burkinsaw "created two Sims, moved them in to a place made to look like an abandoned park, removed all of their remaining money, and then attempted to help them survive without taking any job promotions or easy cash routes." Burkinsaw designed Kev, the dad, to be "hot-headed, mean-spirited, and inappropriate," and daughter Alice to be "a kind-hearted clumsy loser." What happened next illustrates some of the potential entrenched in the fascinating emotional intelligence woven into the game.

Wonder what's next? Will there be a Sim City homeless shelter? Or perhaps they'll develop a Sim City 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness?

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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