It's a free online video game, in retro 8-bit style. What could go wrong?

A big thanks to Alexandra Lange, who recently wrote a big feature on the future of user experience design at brick and mortar retail—specifically for malls. Along the way in an article that is definitely worth a click and read, Lange referenced a new online video game, created by Bloomberg (click here or below when you're ready to play the game) to make light of the challenges facing the American mall business. Several hours and a complete loss of productivity later, I am prepared to report on the game.
The game is called American Mall, and it sets you up in contemporary times, managing the challenges of owning a mall and juggling specious businesses propositions, tenants begging for cheaper rent, a sassy broker, gutter punks, and rats the size of dogs.
The point is not for this game to be easy. In fact, much like the Mini Metro game that also ruined our productivity for a season or two back in 2014, American Mall is designed for failure…to prove a point. You're either going to have an empty bank account or an empty mall eventually, so try to have fun along the way. The lessons of the game aren't terribly deep—risk can come from surprising sources and it can be surprisingly satisfying to zap away messes and rats to earn happiness points—and you'll have fun weighing the potential risks of some truly outlandish business propositions. When you're done, you're already online, so that will make it easy to order some new pillows online instead of going to the mall. I kid. I kid.
I never liked the mall anyway.
FULL STORY: American Mall

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

Raleigh Launches Greenway Food Truck Pilot to Enhance Park Experiences
Raleigh’s new Greenway Food Truck Pilot Program brings local food vendors to popular greenway locations to enhance park experiences, support small businesses, and encourage community use of public spaces.

‘Displaced By Design:’ Report Spotlights Gentrification in Black Neighborhoods
A new report finds that roughly 15 percent of U.S. neighborhoods have been impacted by housing cost increases and displacement.

Nevada and Utah Groups Oppose Public Land Sell-Off Plan
A set of last-minute amendments to the budget reconciliation bill open up over half a million acres of federally managed land to sales.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions