You will never guess who turns up in this video about why you can't build British towns in SimCity 4

You Will Never Guess Who Turns Up in This Video About Why You Can't Build British Towns in SimCity 4

You will never guess who turns up in this video about why you can't build British towns in SimCity 4 — and that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating. The video by YouTuber Chris Spargo isn't just about the intricacies of city-building in the UK; it’s also a delightful surprise at the end that might just catch you off guard. Even if the topic of comparing urban systems doesn't immediately grab you, the unexpected twist at the end is worth the watch.

Spargo uses SimCity 4 as a case study to explore how a SimCity game set in the United Kingdom would differ from the standard, Americentric version of the game. While players can manage some "British" cities in SimCity 4, like London, they don't really resemble the real thing. This is because the game is built according to the US system of city governance, which doesn't quite match the UK model.

The Differences Between British and American Cities

The differences between British and American cities are many and run deep. Even some of the most fundamental things diverge radically, like who runs a city in each nation. In SimCity 4, players take on the role of mayor — a role that works fine for American cities because mayors wield most of the power within a city. However, in the UK, particularly in England, power is more widely distributed among councils and boroughs.

Other differences include SimCity’s fundamental mechanic of zoning. Spargo points out that zoning in the US is very rigid, which is why they end up with sprawling residential districts with no nearby amenities. In contrast, the UK has a much more nuanced system that allows for multipurpose zones. However, it's also much harder to build anything due to extensive regulations.

Public Services and Financial Realities

The video also delves into what public services a British "mayor" would actually control. It also tacitly explains why UK councils never seem to have any money — a result of centralisation and massive social care costs. These factors make it clear that replicating a UK city in SimCity would require a completely different approach to governance and resource management.

As the video wraps up, Spargo says he "got the chance to speak to someone who seemed like he might know some things about this." Cut to Spargo chatting with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who he credits as a "Part-time YouTuber (51k subs)."

For context, Spargo appears to be at some sort of event also attended by the PM, who explains that he's a big advocate of devolution. Starmer believes that "people who live and work in their community make better decisions about what's best for their community than people sitting in Whitehall or Westminster, frankly."

Starmer then points out that this is why the Labour government has "given more power to, particularly our mayors." However, given Starmer is seemingly about to be replaced by the former Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, this statement is a bit ironic.

Putting aside the surprise appearance of Starmer, Spargo makes some valid points. It has given me a hankering to play a game that more accurately replicates the challenges of municipal management in the UK.