Car Park Capital is a city-building game that puts a satirical twist on the typical urban development genre. In this game, players are not only tasked with creating a functional city for their citizens but also with appeasing the automotive industry by building numerous parking lots. The game takes inspiration from real-life pro-car propaganda, such as the 1954 General Motors film “Give Yourself the Green Light,” which glorified car dependency and massive road projects.
The creator of Car Park Capital, Hilko Janssen, was influenced by the absurdity of car-centered cities and the negative impact they have on communities. He aims to highlight the consequences of prioritizing cars over people in urban planning through his game. Janssen’s vision includes citizens becoming angry and rebelling against the destruction of their homes for parking spaces, creating a constant battle between meeting the demands of the automotive industry and the needs of the people.
Janssen, who hails from the Netherlands, where bicycles outnumber people, emphasizes the importance of creating livable cities that prioritize pedestrian-friendly infrastructure over car-centric designs. He draws parallels between the misguided urban planning of the past, where neighborhoods were destroyed to make way for more cars, and the need for sustainable and people-centered city development today.
While Car Park Capital does not have a set release date yet, Janssen plans to open up playtesting soon to gather feedback from players. In the meantime, gamers can keep an eye on the game’s progress on Steam. With its satirical take on urban development and thought-provoking gameplay mechanics, Car Park Capital promises to offer a unique and engaging experience for players interested in exploring the complexities of city planning and transportation systems.
Chris, a seasoned PC gamer and writer, has been following the evolution of games since the 1980s. His passion for gaming and storytelling shines through in his work, as he delves into the intricacies of game design and mechanics. With a keen interest in survival games and NPC behavior, Chris brings a fresh perspective to the gaming community through his insightful commentary and analysis.
