[Testing] SimCity and Micropolis Testing

[Greg Smith]

Hi Carl,

Thanks for the comments.

SimCity is a great learning tool for understanding relationships, 
variables, economics and computers. It covers all the core concepts of 
cause and effect, variation and transformation which are at the heart of 
contructionist learning. Most strategy and simulation games (e.g. other 
Sims - anyone remember SimAnt?, Age of Empires, Civilization, even the 
classic Lemonade Stand game of the late 70s) have been very educational 
for me since I was a kid and now for my kids. They teach you to think 
and plan ahead and understand consequences. They also teach you the 
sceintific method of setting variables in place, testing the theory, 
then tweaking and improving it.

It also gives background in city planning, econonics, and design. I hope 
the fact that its fun and visually exciting doesn't distract you from 
the great learnng potential.

Its been around for a very long time. Have you ever tried it?

Its already "ported" and just needs testing now.

That's my take. Let me know if that's not clear or not convincing.

Thanks,

Greg S

> Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:58:02 +1300
> From: Carl Klitscher <carl at nz1.ibm.com>
> Subject: Re: [Testing] SimCity and Micropolis Testing (Greg Smith)
> To: testing at lists.laptop.org
> Message-ID:
> 	<OFDC578375.8D152FD8-ONCC257523.006C7805-CC257523.006DAF38 at nz1.ibm.com>
> 	
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
> 
> Apologies if this breaks the threading and it may not be the correct forum
> but...
> 
> I would question why this is even being considered for inclusion in the
> base build. Specifically, what is the educational value being provided by
> this port? The key thing would be to go back to the OLPC mission statement
> and then match the stated educational outcomes from the SimCity/Micropolis
> port against those... if it passes the educational value test then yes, by
> all means consider it for inclusion but otherwise I wouldn't bother... just
> keep it in the extra download pack.
> 
> I have no issues with the port if someone wants to port it nor with testing
> if it needs to be tested but I struggle to see the value in having it in
> the base. Yes, it may be a very popular and crash-hot game but that doesn't
> warrant inclusion in the core system...
> 
> Maybe I'm just a luddite at heart...
> 
> Carl
> 
> testing-bounces at lists.laptop.org wrote on 12/19/2008 06:00:01 AM:
>> Hi Testing team,
>>
>> Below is a thread I had about including SimCity in the factory image for
>> 9.1.0. I included the full thread for background.
>>
>> In order to do better this time around, I want to get some SimCity and
>> Micropolis testing done early.
>>
>> Can I ask the activity test teams to write test cases and do some
>> testing on SimCity and Micropolis?
>>
>> Find the latest versions here:
>> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Activities/All#Games
>>
>> Let me know where to track the results. There will still be a question
>> of space available on the XO so its not sure we can get them in, but we
>> need them tested and ready to have a chance.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Greg S
>>