Throughout a launch debacle that was characterized by broken servers, temporarily scaled back features, and numerous simulation bugs, at least SimCity backers could proudly say that the game wasn't infested with any sort of annoying in-game advertising. That's no longer true, however, as the first bit of post-release downloadable content (DLC) for the game adds a Nissan Leaf charging station to your city.

The free DLC allows you to add up to five charging stations to a city, each equipped with its own large red neon NISSAN logo and an attached "dump the pump" mini-billboard. As you "watch as your Sims begin driving around in the 100% electric Nissan LEAF®," a handy EA FAQ points out, your Sim-citizens will be happier when they leave the charging station, and the neighborhood surrounding the station will get a one-time boost of happiness when the charging station is plopped down.

Somehow, the charging stations don't produce garbage or sewage, generate any pollution, or use any power, water, or workers from your town. Wow, that Nissan Leaf sure is a magical vehicle, isn't it? And, as the SimCity Origin page points out, "Your Sims aren't the only ones who can drive electric. Check out the NissanUSA.com savings calculator to find out how much you could save with the 100% electric Nissan LEAF®." In case you missed that message through Origin, the DLC is also being promoted through its own advertisements on the SimCity launcher and on billboards in the game's menu screen.

EA has been at the forefront of in-game ads since at least 2006, putting the "feature" in a number of high-profile games in the years since. In the best cases, that has led to some well-made free-to-play titles that are totally funded by players looking at a few marketing messages. It's a little more galling to see this kind of blatant advertisement inelegantly shoehorned into a game that already costs $60, even if it's in the form of a completely optional download. Still, if EA can add a bit of advertising money to its bottom line without causing a significant backlash among players, it seems likely to continue to do so.