Glassbox

The inner workings of GlassBox engine taken by Dan Moskowitz

GlassBox is the simulation engine used in SimCity.

In previous simulation games, high-level statistics were first generated. These statics were used to create the graphical animations

GlassBox engine replaces these statics with simulation units called agents. Agents represent object such as water, power and traffic.

• For example, traffic jams are produced dynamically by masses of agents that simulate travel to and from work, instead of simply displaying a traffic jam animation to represent a simulated traffic flow.

GlassBox engine enables visible modules or addons to a city's structures. It allows the player to tell what sort of additions the city's structures have at a glance.

• When buildings are upgraded, you get to see your additions reflected in the buildings and in the world, not just the change of a few numbers on a spread sheet.

When you turn on various data layers, such as water or sewage flow. You will be able to see the graphical representations of these agents flowing from water tower or to sewage outflow pipe.