[ref http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Nissan-and-Electronic-Arts-brought-EVs-to-SimCity-video-td4662703.html EVLN: Nissan and Electronic-Arts brought EVs to SimCity (video) ]
Its probably hard to truly give a review on something you have not tried as I do not have a current version of the SimCity game nor have I installed the Leaf package (I have played SimCity in the past, but more on that later). But if the screen-shots included in the newswires I posted (above) are a true indicator, then it seems the Nissan/EA collaboration to bring EVs to a popular game may have some positive EV promotional aspects, and differences with the real-world that may bother some people. I like the idea of involving EVs more in the public realm to gain more visibility. Though looking the screen shot http://media.pcgamer.com/files/2013/04/SimCity-Nissan-Leaf.gif they show a Nissan solar canopy recharging site that is without EVSE being shown connected to the Leaf EVs. The EVs just come in and park to recharge. It is more like promoting inductive level-2 charging for the game's Leaf EVs. I would think it would be more interesting to show how busy either the public level-2 and or level-3 queuing gets, but with only five stations around the city, that would be unrealistic. No matter what vehicle a person drives (plugin or ice), they are all going to want to go to common destinations to satisfy their purchasing needs (store, shopping center, mall, parking garage, etc.). SimCity can show a more ideal city, since you are the builder. Of course some of the game's challenge is to see how mistakes affect the city's outcome/health. An ideal real life public charging scenario would show popular locations to park that have the EVSE located in the least wanted spaces. Perhaps that could be one of the challenges, showing if you put public EVSE incorrectly up-front, then the EV spots will get ice'd. Or if you set the EVSE's use-fee too high then no driver uses it, showing all other fairly-priced EVSE being used more. Showing level-3 advantages could be a selling point for Nissan, as there is so much CHAdeMO already installed in N. America. Public level-2 EVSE would be used according to need. i.e.: at a shopping mall open 6am to 2am. So, while a driver may want to do charge for a couple hours at level-2, there may also be a shopping center, mall employee parked at a level-2 space all-day (or more than just a couple hours). The game could also show something that rarely addressed: the need for resident/domicile EVSE parking. Apt complexes could have an allotted number of EV spaces, just to find later there are maxed out (not enough of them). But perhaps I am asking too much real-life be put into a 'fun game'? Well, if you are building/designing a city, headaches and a steep learning curve come with the job. There are many things that could be shown that would teach the public more of what it is like to drive a plugin. Here is another more recent newswire on the Nissan/EA collaboration: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/simcity-game-implements-nissan-leaf-charging-stations-58604.html ' ... After people were given the possibility to drive certain EVs in racing games, such as the Tesla Roadster in the latest Need For Speed Most Wanted edition, SimCity integrated Nissan Leaf charging stations to its town simulation game series. Playing such a game, you will find that you can build up to five charging stations throughout the level, after which several Nissan Leafs will appear roaming on the virtual streets and use them as needed. Also, the citizens will be more happy for having low pollution levels, having big cheesy smiles on their faces. ... ' Tesla Roadsters in the latest 'Need For Speed' game version!?! Whoa, that will certainly help the EV cause. And what they call SimCity citizens' big cheesy smiles, is what we would call an EVgrin. I think it is good to have EVs offered in games in a positive way, even if it isn't as real-world as some would like it. I think it will help the EV cause, and get plugins more in the public eye as a normal viable transportation option. ... We (the plugin community) are on a journey of development which includes not only improvements in motor-controller hardware, pack chemistries, but how plugins are marketed, and the slow transition as they are incorporated into our society. And let's also include the steep learning curve Automakers will have because of years of fighting to stop EVs. Are their analogies to what is happening? (If you all will allow me, I will throw a few out there ... ) Anyone old enough to remember what it was like before everyone started walking around with a handheld smart device in their face or up to their ear? How about going way back further when PC's were just getting their start and the Internet was new. Many years ago I was working on all sorts and types of computer hardware (from main-frames all the way down to PCs). Some of PCs were a high level manager's expensive to, yet by today's standards, pretty ancient / archaic stuff. Once I had the hardware & OS working, one of methods I used to exercise and test how well the machine was working was to run SimCIty (circa late 1990's) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SimCity#SimCity In those early years, not everyone had (or wanted Internet access). So, I would print off images of all the EVs and carry them in a binder to show at EVents. See http://brucedp.150m.com/history/brucedp-at-sfpeaar9710.jpg [Sidebar (skip this if you are not interested) ... but for others they may get a laugh Take a look at the video below, it shows a $5000 PC they think is http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/geekend/the-ultimate-gaming-pc-from-1998/1482 http://youtube.com/watch?v=huyzCJvS6UQ The ultimate gaming PC -- from 1998 For ~less than half the cost of those old-days, a person can get a true gaming machine that is light years ahead of those days http://www.frys.com/product/7544286?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG ] So my point of the sidebar was to show that much has changed over time in the PC/computer/Internet world. And so has not only plugin hardware technology to some degree, but the actual implementation of public charging and the actual selling of plugins to the public (not leasing only like back in the late 1990's) are today's big changes. Inexpensive DC conversion components have improved since the 1990's. But what about improvements with AC drive-train technology? Any evdl members want to compare older Production EVs (US Electricar, Solectria, Ford Ranger Electric, GM EV1, RAV4-EV, +more) hardware with today's Production EVs? What has improved and why? When compared to the radical incremental improvement changes in the PC/computer/Internet world, Production EVs may not seem to have changed that much (all run with a ~400VDC pack, AC motor-controller, etc.). But now there is the installation of a charging infrastructure going on, and the beginnings of plugin marketing awakenings. I request comments and corrections on this. {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Nissan-and-Electronic-Arts-brought-EVs-to-SimCity-video-tp4662703p4662746.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
