An Urban Designer Plays the Townscaper City Planning Game

Mikael plays the new Townscaper city planning video game - and ends up liking it.
Buy me a coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mikael
Play Townscaper - (not a sponsored video - I paid for it)
store.steampowered.com/app/12...
0:00 Introduction
2:49 Launching the game
19:52 Musical Time Lapse
20:24 Mikael has a plan
24:54 Mikael's Verdict
colville-andersen.com
lifesizedcity.com

[@milaan_tm]

Theory: there are no humans, the town is populated by the birds. They just like to hang out on the roofs.

[@LifeSizedCity]

Ha. The birds should learn some better resource management. All that stone and cement just for fun perches... not very sustainable and a crappy business model. :-) /Mikael

[@ZHH_Studios]

@@LifeSizedCity Haha!

[@aidanlutz8106]

I wish there was enabling humans later down the line, with the addition of day/night cycles. Imagine the pastels in the sunset.

[@nicholasmcmaster230]

@@LifeSizedCity q the president q

[@issue_agreeable9476]

but hey, that's just a theory, a GAME THEORY

[@charlienewbold9809]

This game is a delight. The creator calls it a toy as there's no objective - just building at your own pace. There's also loads of little hidden features you discover just by placing buildings in different patterns: courtyards, alcoves, raised walkways, propellers and loads more.

[@Deliverygirl]

Support the developer, they made this great game and it is very cheap.

[@milaan_tm]

How much does it cost? Might buy it...

[@Jpx0999]

@@milaan_tm it´s soo cheap,i even din´t pay for it

[@moneymonkeyman8280]

@@milaan_tm its like 5 bucks on steam

[@SohCahToa_enthusiast16]

@@milaan_tm abt four pounds or five dollars

[@ashvinvaidyanathan7239]

@@milaan_tm less than 10€. Great for stress busting

[@11nephilim]

You missed out one neat feature: if you fully enclose an area of land itll transform into a little cluster of gardens.

[@danielawesome36]

Oh fudge, those gardens...

[@jondow7401]

And the little laundry looking stuff that pops up when you put 2 two storey buildings in facing eachother

[@ItsCrisp_]

Also if you have an “entrance” to that enclosed area with archways, it’ll make a path

[@saltersstuff627]

"You've gotta download a third party kinda program, it's called Steam." Is the most 'Dad that used to game' thing I've heard since my own dad said about Firewatch, "So it's like Myst?" (The only first-person game he's ever played!)

[@LegaciFilms]

The most popular city builder is Cities Skylines and is so awesome. Developed by a Finnish company, published by a Swedish company, endlessly moddable but the base game is really fun too.

[@boki1693]

Yeah anyone who's anyone that likes city building games plays skylines.

[@linusjklett]

Cities Skylines is amazing, especially with all Mods and DLCs, you can do so much

[@maximeteppe7627]

I'm really tempted to try it, but for one, it looks like a massive timesink, and two, I don't know if it will properly support my wish to design cities with no cars and only traffic by foot and public transit.

[@contendhay647]

@@maximeteppe7627 possible with the right mods

[@nicolasblume1046]

@@maximeteppe7627 yeah you need a lot of mods to do a City with little car traffic. But you can still build a pretty cool public transit System!

[@LetTheBodyFall]

this got viral when it released because a lot of artists started using it as a tool for getting references haha the updated with the controllable lighting was definitely a blessing

[@normvep]

Isn't it interesting that the historical pattern of city-building involves a narrative of individuals making decisions based on their circumstances - and you've brought that search for story and meaning into this city building game. The more that we understand the story of where we live and how things came about, the more we can appreciate the types of changes we should make going forward.

[@kenelmpijay]

I bought Townscaper when it was released in Early Access and thought it was fantastic, I watch your videos because I think they're fantastic. Never would I have imagined a Venn-diagram where Townscaper and Life-Sized City would overlap, but now that I'm watching it, it all makes sense.

[@16nine]

The other part of the Venn would be, for me, a wine bar. :-)

[@CombraStudios]

If you buy Townscaper, how exactly will the game update? thx

[@hobbesfield1082]

I feel like "simulator" would be a better name for this project than "game", but ive had it for a while now and its lovely! There's Islanders, as well, from more gamy-games

[@vincentcabezas7147]

The developer actually uses the word "toy", since it doesn't actually has an objective or progression, you just play with it however you want

[@17abcdgh]

Calling Steam a third party program is so funny and wholesome

[@LifeSizedCity]

My mother always wished I was wholesome, so better late than never. /Mikael

[@mrpoutine6588]

As a student doing my undergraduate in game design and someone who really enjoys urban design, it is awesome seeing these two worlds coming together. If you're looking for more urban design style of games, in no particular order, I'd recommend looking into Islanders, Block'Hood, Mini Metro (soon Mini Motorways), and Cloud Gardens.

[@ashleyhamman]

I'll add a few more to the list: Cities Skylines, Banished, Stationflow, Workers and Resources. These ones aren't so sandbox-ey, there's defintite goals and such, but it still fits into the idea of planning things for humans to use. I had actually grabbed Townscaper on black friday, and it's so much chill fun. I played about 12 hours in the first two days.

[@16nine]

Thanks and thanks for the recommendations!

[@cloudhands]

@@ashleyhamman any recommendations for mobile games (android)?

[@ashleyhamman]

@@cloudhands Not really, I'm not really into mobile gaming, so you might need to really search around quite a bit.

[@erdanxiloscient3666]

Try enclosing a space with buildings :) (hint: the plants really like it)

[@nolandost3070]

The art for this game reminds me of the works of Michiel Schrijver. Check him out if you like the way this game looks, it's a beautiful collection of paintings that feel like they were pulled from a world of an architect's melatonin-induced dreams. They're not quite real and not quite fantasy. It feels grounded in reality, funnily enough, in a world stretching out on an infinite ocean of a pure blue that has never seen a drop of oil spilled into it in the entire history of the worlds it's portraying. It's just cold enough to feel solitary and contemplative but just enough detail was put into the warmth of the lights shining from windows or above the idealistic oak trees growing enormously in perfectly landscaped gardens that the scenes retain the warmth that makes you want to stay and walk the streets for a while, just to think and clear out your head from the noises that our world drills into you.

[@mdhazeldine]

Looks interesting but really needs some people walking around and some commerce or something to give it life. And boats would be cool. Now you've cracked this, you DEFINITELY need to check out Cities Skylines. It's taken over from Sim City as the main city building game now and if Sim City is all you know, you'll be blown away by what's possible with it.

[@filipmilichovsky9772]

It's not a game as much as it's an art experiment. The dev is interested in procedural generation which looks natural, this is one of those projects.

[@magnusm4]

What I notice and love immediately is the pattern and placing. The grid is unsymmetrical and varied. Multiple shapes and points. And that you can place on the vertices, the edges of the shapes. Like in the board game GO. That's unique and fun.

[@redhairedsalvien]

"I hope these citizens are armed... in their CUTE LITTLE WINDOWS."

[@grahammorris8552]

I’ve been watching life sized city so much over the last few weeks, I’ve been looking for a game to test out and play around with all I’ve learned from Mikael, perfect timing of this video and can’t wait to play this game.

[@jorjicostava2913]

*Urban planner plays townscrapper* *proceeds to click randomly* Me: oh everything makes sense now

[@GhostCryProductions]

By definition, this is classified as a toy. No goal, no story, just fun busy work.

[@abyrupus]

I like how you are making stories out of this.,

[@abk5037]

I'm not sure how you just made me watch a 30 minute video and not realize it had been 30 minutes. You never got boring once. Loved the video

[@antonfilyk]

Thanks for the cozy video!

[@Randor10]

I was hoping that you’d make a big circle of houses all of the same colour. Because when you do a park is created in the middle with grass and butterflies and trails. If you put a house in the middle of the park, old style fences spring up.

[@mbpoblet]

It's more of a toy than a game, but I love it, great time waster. Also, right click to delete. And try to make a wall around an enclosed space, with some gateways on opposed walls, you'll be surprised. A lot of the fun is in finding new patterns, I've been playing it for quite a while and still get the occasional surprise; I just recently discovered how to make a lighthouse, because I don't usually combine colours.

[@maperns]

One of the most thoughtful and interesting reviews of a game I've watched. Amazing how someone from outside the "gamer" loop is able to really appreciate the aesthetic quality of a game, in a way typical reviewers seldom do. Love that game, and thanks for the video!

[@aidanlutz8106]

I actually like to make 2 space wide streets, it makes it feel like a pathway and a public space. Alleyways 1 space wide can be beautiful for a rich, densely packed area.

[@redhairedsalvien]

Another recommendation for Cities Skylines!! They actually withheld their release since SimCity was out but then SimCity bombed quite a bit so they went ahead with the release (only slightly delayed). They have been consistently amazing and the mods are incredible. You can tell so much love and work have gone into it. Check it out!

[@mlechnerscott]

I think this game is really cool because it highlights how you are creating a base framework for the citizens who personalise it themselves

[@flechedesneiges5114]

I'm French, I burst out laughing at "let's promenade the hell out of this" XD And I need to tell you that you have a perfect french accent

[@ralang999]

Does it have a guillotine I can use on the luxury condo developers? :D

[@kamrankerim636]

your commentary is priceless :D

[@sydneythewhale]

omg the marine life... I've never even thought of that 😂

[@niktniewiem4785]

you have fantastic smart sense of humor :)

[@laurids4586]

Awesome! I hope you will make another video of this game somewhere in future, cause there are other possibilities in game and its probably going to develop more. Maybe there will be people added to the game?

[@naecatalin2637]

Perfect to recreate Venezia from Italy ! :)

[@fpolloa]

Time to move to Twitch and start streaming!

[@LuigiCotocea]

Notice how townscaper has a grid that is organic rather than a grid one, it's so cool!

[@anonyrats]

Hey! I know this is a month old already but if you see this you should definitely check out a game called Dorfromantik! It’s an indie style village building puzzle game, quite similar to this but actually with a visible purpose and end-goal, with a bit of life to it and all that. Peace and love! ✌️

[@attilathehamster6774]

This is not a Sim City game, this is a game to chill by. Great for clearing the mind of all the crap we have to put up with during the day. The added benefit is that you make the cutest thing ever.

[@Dakotajmillsap]

You should really check out islander it has a similar feel as far as the zen vibe but has a sense of strategy where the placement of the buildings gives you point or takes away points and gives you packs to expand. Another great game similar to islanders is dorfromantik it's less city building more city/land puzzling but you would probably enjoy them both

[@marciturani6416]

really cool video

[@Maxime_K-G]

Imagine if Lynetteholm was planned like this, Venice style. Now that would get me excited!

[@yanamorim5747]

"urban designer plays townscaper" - hi guys im urban designer *randomly clicks everywhere with no planning*

[@fraincs]

Shoutout from Montreal

[@crooker2]

"C'mon load, ya little Fucker" YOU, sir... Are my type of people!! Instant like and subscribe based on that line alone! Haha. (the rest of the video is great too)

[@retaliatergamer8029]

City skylines, you will not be disappointed

[@traviswhisman3231]

Im with him on this...easy to get into but then anxiety enducing with no kind of goal or assignments

[@nintendude794]

Would love to see you play the better-SimCity-likes you mentioned, like Cities: Skylines, yet I also can’t help but wonder how you’d fare at more logistics-oriented “city-builders” like Factorio, Satisfactory, or Industries Of Titan!

[@Delenter]

There are some other things you can do in it too, Like if you make a square with building it makes a park in the middle and stuff...

[@Randor10]

There is now a VR version for the Quest 2. It’s the only version I have and it’s fantastic.

[@TransportSimulatorNationTSN]

This is a cool little game never heard about it. Mostly plays Cities skylines. Awesome video man👏

[@fkl770]

As many other people has said i would recommend cities skylines because with a few mods you can easly make an organic realistic city but you have to think about your public spaces road layout intersections and so on...

[@simonuk1213]

I love messing about on this game, my 5 year old enjoys making his towers as high as possible. I’d love a sequel that goes for an ultra realistic look.

[@glomibabel1894]

the best

[@bestboy007]

do you agree that the best(best means best in price, environment etc) public transport system are autonomous small busses with flexible stations?

[@Merrinen]

So, how many months until we have a Life-Sized Cities Skylines Twitch stream? :D

[@ganbarugaming]

When he makes up a backstory while building LMAO

[@Zero-4793]

you never made a garden :( you spent much more time on creating land than experimenting with buildings. there was so much you didnt see :(

[@flamingwheel9926]

This game is great for making Tabletop rpg cities

[@ThisIsSCO]

Hi Mr Colville-Anderson; I am very much interested in #Hamilton episode of @lifesizedcity documentary on Link TV but I’ve missed it - is there any way we can watch it from another source? Thanks

[@andrewslejska4205]

Not sure if it’s geolocked but the tvo KZbin channel has it kzbin.info/aero/PLgBne2KTlDUwyPE2YYqWeqcAqlK_H_hHg

[@ThisIsSCO]

@@andrewslejska4205 thank you soo much 🙏🏼

[@cloudhands]

@@ThisIsSCO hope you can watch on TVO. Curious, why particular interest in Hamilton? I live there.

[@ThisIsSCO]

I did - I live in Burlington, moved here recently and investing in the area. Wanted to find out more about the city with Mr Colville-Anderson’s point of view.

[@cloudhands]

@@ThisIsSCO ok cool. There's a recent book of essays called Reclaiming Hamilton you might want to read. Covers several topics using various voices.

[@Manu2222221]

The creator of the game describes it as a toy. It's not a game, there's no goal, It's like playing around with Legos. Just playing with a very cute and animated toy

[@ScaryWombat]

So weird to watch someone try to grapple with the idea that the experience IS the point. "What other gameplay is there here? What's the point?" You blessed summer child.

[@ONEOFHAM1]

Have you ever checked out Cities: Skylines? Its like the newer sim city, but not crappy. With mods you can basically unlock the entire region, place every building by hand, even effect traffic lights. It needs a beefy computer to make it work heavily modded down, but ive lost weeks to it

[@superspider64]

They need a way that you can send in the information on your town to someone and then you get a small model of your city that you can put together in the real world

[@wezimanda6747]

I really love the game and wish to download it but its not available in my country

[@mopododo]

Life-sized City let's play

[@KosmiskRevolution]

who doesnt want a house with a nipnop on top

[@stefannicolaescu294]

best part is you can play it on VR!

[@fiasmileything2874]

You should check out the game Islanders, it's as cute and also simple but has a actual gameplay similar to that is the game Dorfromantik

[@DougGrinbergs]

Suggestion: interview the developer

[@LifeSizedCity]

Good idea. /Mikael

[@kuriuskat2197]

I don't know if you tried it but if you enclose an area with houses, the ground turns to grass. Like a park.

[@Ella871]

right click to delete. you don't have to use the undo button

[@quandaliesdingleberius9850]

Theory: Humans do live in the city but its during a quarantine that prevents people from even touching the roads or grass and the pandemic might have been caused by birds that was so deadly that even going outside would be seen as insane since they would get infected (that's the reason why you can actually see the lights of the city turning on when it's night and bird don't even know how to turn on switches)

[@GordonSlamsay]

in my townscaper everyone lives in big ass towers. . . except for the serfs.

[@lauraselten8011]

Part of the city is almost the same as part of my city

[@nolongerhavingfunhere5623]

no dislikes that’s absolutely wonderful

[@Miller_Arthur]

How to make flying city?

[@TheOfficialNano]

Mikael where is the new gaming channel

[@16nine]

When I get to 100 million subscribers... :-)

[@ArdikaPercha]

Steaaammmm old man.. I just in laughed 😂 Steam is the biggest online store , think like Amazon for games sir

[@cyrkielnetwork]

I have a feeling, that soon this will be Minecraft channel :p

[@FinalThunder228]

He didnt even make a lighthouse :(

[@joriandrake]

"strangely zen"

[@superfly2449]

I bought it for $4.01. Thanks for the tip.

[@jaylab6511]

you might be interested in earth2io

[@romanchannel69]

You're kind of Rick of Urban Design, and i feel like Morty

[@16nine]

Assuming that's a compliment, it's the weirdest and best EVER. :-)

[@ProfessorM]

cant believe city planner has not played cities skylines.

[@LifeSizedCity]

How do you know if he has or not? You don't know him. He might have had pizza last night, but he probably didn't because he didn't make a video about it ...

[@benjistokman]

What is your username? I can see from the right it starts with "Daddy Co"

[@ElectricityTaster]

you should play minecraft. Maybe make a server so we bunch can build a city.

[@davidrojas4687]

Sorry to break it for you but the building are procedurally generated, the computer designs each house

[@sebby324]

He should play cities skylines

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

How about a round of Cities Skylines?

[@LifeSizedCity]

Thinking about it... but that's a week of my life gone. /Mikael

[@MrGollum27]

Haha, none of the kids will get that kevin costner reference...

[@gabrielandy9272]

simcity is cool, but the older versions did not had a proper traficc simulation, the cars u see on the game are a ilusion, for example placing a hospital would make the citizens happy in a range, even if the street design don't allow the ambulance services to get ot their houses properly, cities skylines simulate every car every sim from point A to point B placing a hospital don't make then hapy unless the object car and services can acctualy travel in the traffic and reach the destination, the simulation is much more full, cities skylines is really a game you should try, even water physics exist on tha game.

[@dutchporcelainplate]

he should try cities skylines

[@ltvjlp]

From Copenhagen WTF

[@stefanwild326]

who else was screaming at their screen "this is not a typical city building game, there is no objective"?

[@somestalkerwithamoustache8789]

I do not know if you already tried it but I recommend Cities Skylines

[@YoNoSe1989]

Play city skylines

[@thetrussell7385]

Tropico 6 is an excellent game if you haven't seen. Watch someone else if you don't want to waste days away