SimEarth: The Living Planet is an adaptation of Maxis Software's 1990 PC game. You are in control of your own planet, nurturing it from birth until its eventual destruction ten billion years into the future. There are several decisions you must make regarding your planet, such as which species should be first; the type of atmosphere; whether or not to create forests, deserts or oceans to develop new life; or using volcanoes, meteor showers or tidal waves to help shape your world the "natural" way.

Using various maps, graphs and slider bars, you'll be able to adjust each detail of your world to your liking. Three levels of difficulty are available for budding environmentalists, and there are eight different planets to choose from. If you still can't find a worthy place to call your home, you can create a randomly generated planet and start from scratch. Who knows? Maybe humans won't be the most advanced species in your world. This 8-Meg cartridge includes battery backup to save your planet's progress during the multiple scenarios.