A Full Course in Urban Planning

Have you ever wondered how much work goes into planning a community and ensuring that all of its needs are met? Have you ever been interested in the world of real estate and why one house is worth so much more than the one down the street? While it may not be quite enough to provide full training on the subject, this game may offer an interesting introduction into this arena of urban planning.

Following up on the success of the three games that preceded it, this fourth iteration comes chocked full of all the thought-provoking action that you've come to know and love, as well as several new features to keep you fascinated for hours more. The focus this time around happens to be clean energy, so you'll find that your neighborhoods are no longer powered by conventional coal or anything like that; instead, you'll be erecting wind farms, solar panels, and even nuclear plants!

Do you have what it takes to manage a tennis court, a power plant, a half dozen houses, several workers, and the need for materials? It's one crazy juggling act, but a richly rewarding one as well.

Power Management, Real Estate Upgrades, and More

In Power Source, you'll be granted the opportunity to plan all of the needs for an entire neighborhood. In the beginning, there may only be two or three houses that you'll need to manage, but this quickly grows into a much larger neighborhood with much more complex needs. Very quickly, for instance, you'll find that the regular power grid simply cannot provide enough electricity.

The power needs of the neighborhood are indicated by a meter near the top of the screen. Should the needs of the neighborhood exceed what is currently available, one of two things must take place. First, each home can be made more efficient. There are three levels to this Energy Smart innovation and you'll need to hire technicians to do this.

Alternatively, you can build a new power plant to generate more electricity, but these can be eyesores, reducing the overall appeal of the area. It's a delicate balance between going green and looking good.

And then there are the upgrades to the homes themselves. By installing things like hardwood floors and basement play rooms, you can charge more rent to the tenants living in your houses. Further still, larger houses generate more rent than smaller ones and you'll need this extra money to re-invest back into the neighborhood.

Building Blocks of Success

In general there are three or four resources that you'll need to manage well if you hope to enjoy any sort of success as a small-time suburban planner. The first is cash. Money comes through the door by collecting rent or selling houses.

Second are the workers and technicians. The workers are needed for house upgrades, painting, construction and similar tasks. Third are the materials, which are required for any kind of building work.

There Goes the Neighborhood!

You are racing against the clock, but it really pays off to plan ahead and make the right decisions the first time around. Urban planning can be a very difficult challenge, but it can also be a very rewarding one when all the pieces fall into place. And you can go green while you're at it too!