SIM City is a PC game that allows the player to build a town and run it. It has many realistic features, which can be very entertaining. It is available at most computer games stores or one of your boys may already have a copy. The earlier versions (SIM City and SIM City 2000) have all the interesting aspects of the game (without the advanced computer graphics) but will run better on slower computers and can be obtained very cheaply. If you are planning to use this game in a class session you must be familiar enough with it to quickly explain how run it, or there will be insufficient time do much in a typical half hour class. If you can obtain a number of copies of the program and boys have a PC at home start them playing in the class one week and see how far they got in the class the following week. Ask them to compare notes about who’s city is the best and why.

As they are playing in your class try and comment on their design. (eg. "You have forgotten roads or railways how do they get around etc.?"). Below are a couple of scenes from SIM 3000 of a town in process of being built.