Finally the weather is picking up and the clouds are clearing. Not only is spring truly here, but I think summer might even be beginning to show. So I took a little walk around my current home town to appreciate the weather.

Taking a short stroll around London is no laughing matter; you could be lost for days out there in the urban jungle. As far as home towns go London is a pretty massive one, but it is also packed with many great things. I walked up South bank, cut across to Waterloo, went along the Strand and up to Piccadilly, before undertaking a little shopping trip and then heading back home. It was really amazing; on this afternoon trip I saw loads of famous sites, as well as lots of equally interesting bits of the city. I even like all the tourists around Leicester square - it reminds me how important this place is in the world.

So I think London is cool, but do other people?  And do games developers?  I began to think of where this fair city it is best represented in games, and the first titles to pop into my head were The Getaway and The Getaway 2, which were entirely set in London. 

And then there was that one track in Project Gotham Racing 3.... Which in turn spawned a rather nice Uno background - you can see Big Ben in there and everything!

I also see that Gran Turismo 5 has taken up the challenge and created a London track, which seems to be looking pretty good.

And if all that isn’t enough for you, you can even fly over Canary Wharf in Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

But what I am really holding out for is a nice London based acton adventure or platformer game. I remember after playing a little too much Prince of Persia, I would walk outside and size up every ledge and flag pole for its climb-ability. I want that for London. I want to size up London! Actually I want more than just that. I want a game where you choose your environment, you put in your favourite city and that is where you play for the whole game. Now wouldn’t that be a design nightmare worth beholding? Imagine Assassin’s Creed with an option at the start asking you which three cities you would like to use… maybe it’s a plan for the next installment!