Will Wright developed the remarkably popular computer game, 'The Sims' -- a combination of divine architect and urban planner.
"It's easy to feel good about The Sims. Children adore it and parents approve: not simply because it is constructive and repays long-term planning, but because playing God has its responsibilities.
...When he sold SimCity to Electronic Arts, the financial security allowed Wright - now obsessed by the ideas of the architectural design guru Christopher Alexander, author of A Pattern Language, and devouring works such as Abraham Maslow's Motivation and Personality and Paco Underhill's Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping - to concentrate on an idea he had been toying with since 1994: a kind of virtual doll's house, the idea that would eventually become The Sims."
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Sims like us

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

How to Make US Trains Faster
Changes to boarding platforms and a switch to electric trains could improve U.S. passenger rail service without the added cost of high-speed rail.

Columbia’s Revitalized ‘Loop’ Is a Hub for Local Entrepreneurs
A focus on small businesses is helping a commercial corridor in Columbia, Missouri thrive.

Invasive Insect Threatens Minnesota’s Ash Forests
The Emerald Ash Borer is a rapidly spreading invasive pest threatening Minnesota’s ash trees, and homeowners are encouraged to plant diverse replacement species, avoid moving ash firewood, and monitor for signs of infestation.
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