Electronic Arts ran a survey for the launch of PC game SimCity Societies that asked "urbanites", via local tourist boards, to describe their ideal city.

The research reveals a North/South divide in how the nation views the future of its urban environment. For example, while than two thirds of Southerners long for a futuristic metropolis (63%), nearly the same amount (61%) of those living in the North would prefer to live on an island paradise separated from the rest of the country.

EA says that those asked in the South longed for bigger, better and more futuristic buildings (36%) with under a third wanting to hold on to proud historical heritage (27%) while in the North, 44% of survey respondents said they craved fun and colourful buildings.

Electronic Arts used Sim City Societies to construct the "ideal" virtual Leeds and London as examples of how the North/South divide could be visualised.

Londoners' preference for mixing modern and historical architecture along with a car-free grid iron street plan and rural suburbia creates a futuristic but eco-friendly metropolis. The Cuba meets Barcelona quirky island paradise city reflects Leeds residents' ideals of colourful and varied buildings along with a desire to be by surrounded by the sea.

Town-planners take note. SimCity Societies is available now.