The moment I realised how broken/non-existent SimCity's AI was, I was done. Haven't been back. That game is a mirage. My desire to build little human settlements in 2013 remains unfulfilled.
So I'm going to keep a close eye on Banished, a game with a very unique take on the whole city-building thing. How unique? Well, for one, it's got a plot. You play as part of a banished peoples, who forced into exile - and with "only the clothes on their backs and a cart filled with supplies from their homeland" - have to start from scratch.
This gives the game a more intimate focus - more in line with stuff like The Settlers and Tropico - and its smaller scale means you'll be doing things like making preparations for winter by tailoring shirts. There's also no money. This is a barter economy, people, so you gotta trade.
Amazingly, this is all the work of one man, with the game due on PC in "mid to late 2013". Can't wait.
Banished [Shining Rock, thanks Wes!]
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