University of Maine to Offer Course on Urban Planning Using Animal Crossing as a Model

ORONO, Maine — In an unexpected announcement, the University of Maine says that it will be offering a new course on urban planning using the hit video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons as a model. The course, titled “Gaming the City: Urban Planning in Animal Crossing,” will be available to students this fall.

While some are excited about the prospect of learning about urban planning through the popular video game, others are raising concerns about the cost of participating in the course. However, one student has pointed out an unexpected advantage.

“I was shocked when I found out I could use my Federal Pell Grant to buy a Nintendo Switch,” said UMaine student Genevieve Ashcroft. “I mean, it’s crazy that the government will pay for me to get a video game console, but I’m not complaining. Now I can take this course and have some fun at the same time.”

The course will explore various aspects of urban planning, such as transportation, zoning, and community development, using the virtual world of Animal Crossing as a simulation. Students will be able to design their own towns and experiment with different planning strategies. The game even has built-in material covering common urbanization issues, such Pascal’s words of wisdom.

“I think it’s a great idea to use a video game as a teaching tool,” said Professor David Lee, who will be teaching the course. “Animal Crossing provides a fun and engaging way to explore urban planning concepts, and it allows students to experiment with different ideas in a low-stakes environment.”

While some may question the use of video games in higher education, UMaine officials see it as an innovative way to engage students in the learning process.

“We’re always looking for new and creative ways to teach our students,” said UMaine spokesperson Kathy Swelly. “Using Animal Crossing as a model for urban planning is just one example of how we’re adapting to the changing needs and interests of our students.”

As for Genevieve Ashcroft, she’s excited to start the course and see what she can learn from the world of Animal Crossing.

“I never thought I’d be able to use a video game console for school, but here we are,” she said. “Who knows, maybe I’ll even learn something about urban planning along the way.”