A nuclear power plant on a cell phone?  A computer game simulating a reactor gives players a chance to manage some aspects of plant operations.  Although focused on control-room operations, the game also allows closing the plant for maintenance and ensuring everything is working smoothly.  The goal is to provide more electricity for the plant’s coverage area.

Makers of Nuclear Plant Simulator modeled the program after the popular series of tycoon games, such as Rollercoaster Tycoon.  These games cast the player as the would-be tycoon managing resources to ensure a successful business.

Nuclear Plant Simulator is simpler than other examples of the genre and players can use it for a few minutes at a time, making it more an amusing toy than a full-scale resource management simulation.

The game play consists of striking the correct balance between coolant flow and control-rod usage to avoid damaging the plant.  The player sets the controls then the computer relays the consequences.  A good result is safely generating enough electricity to produce profit. 
However, if ambition outstrips caution, then the plant sustains damage. Consequently, the plant shuts down until it is repaired, cutting significantly into the tycoon’s profits.

The game’s author, Geoffrey Noels, has steadily updated the game since he created it for AE4RV for Windows and Windows mobile in 2001. Noels developed the game because of his interest in computer-based simulation but writes that “nuclear fission is a clean and arguably very safe source of energy.”

The game is available at www.ae4rv.com.