It's a video game, or a master course in eschatology.
William Vitka shares news of the video game "Tom Clancy's Division 2," set in a post-apocalyptic Washington, D.C.
A surprising level of urban design and planning consideration went into designing the game's setting, according to Vitka. Here, Vitka quotes the worlds of Creative Director Julian Gerighty, describing the difference between Washington, D.C., and the setting of the first "Division" game, New York City:
"New York was hampered by the fact that it is fairly monotone. It’s canyons of steel and glass. D.C. … this is a challenge. You’ve got nature, you’ve got water, you’ve got huge governmental buildings, you’ve got commercial areas, you’ve got suburbs … There’s just a lot more visual differentiation. And that leads to gameplay differentiation as well."
If you've ever fantasized about what Washington, D.C. would look like after a weaponized super virus brings society to the brink of collapse, the article also includes a slideshow with lots of compelling images of places like the White House, the Capitol, and the Lincoln Memorial in states of disrepair one would expect in the event of Armageddon.
Read the full story: How The Division 2 video game recreated and destroyed DC
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
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Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
How a Chicago-sized wind farm beat the odds and powered on
The project spanned five presidential administrations and a standoff with a U.S. military base.
MTA gives itself 30 days to transform pit into basketball court
The site has been under construction since 2022; the city originally estimated it would finish the court in 2024.
Non-stop party: Chicago voters weigh permanent festival grounds
A stable place for bleachers, stages and drainage may streamline the setup and teardown of large events.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
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Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
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