Read the Specs carefully before Buying!!! It requires a 3D Graphics card with T&L...that's nVidia or ATI. Most laptops to my knowledge, mine included, have Intel graphics cards which does not support this T&L. So when I installed my game and went to load it...it crashes before completely opening, so i have never seen the inside of this game. That really bites, esp if it is worth playing.

You can check your computer's graphics card by going to start> run> dxdiag and that will basically tell you all the information about your computer and its hardware

The problem with this game is that it seems good, but it gets boring very fast. You don't really se any new development after the initial buildings. Your neighborhoods are boring looking and everyone always seems to be fighting. It's also hard to stay under budget. It seems almost impossible. Overall, the game could have been good, but it's not. Buy Sim City 4 instead. If the first person view was in Sim City 4 it would be the perfect game.

I would recommend this game as one to either rent or buy used. I love the idea behind the game. It's my job to get certain peeps to move in, and it's also my job to keep them happy and employed. The games does an outstanding job explaining to the player exactly what is needed in order to progress. So what's the problem?

The problem is that there are a limited number of goals in this game, and while it is great fun getting to the point where the first elites are finally moving in, there really is nothing more to add once that point is reached. The fun curve has a severe and sharp downward curve once this point is reached, and I haven't had the ambition to pick up the game since.

This is a game that is well worth a $20 bargain bin price tag, but the $50 I paid was way too much.

Just like the title said,frist good city building game in 7 years.7 years ago was when Sim City 3000 unlimited came out and was and still one of the best non-fighting game (becuase they rock!)Then came Simcity 4 and was a mess like for a example whats the point of having a newspaper if its not at a readable speed and just too go and cheak back is a waste of time and has no jokes on it like the sim city 3000/unlimted news ticker.And there were also other games that were city building that were a that great.And soon the city building games were not that fun anymore (from after sim city 3000/unlimited).
Finaly City Life restored city building games back too life!The social group thing is a very nice and makes the game fun.you are alowed to go close up like you are a person in that game(like zoo tycoon 2)and you get to see people like eat outside close up.The game also has a like a 3D camera that makes the graphics look awsome when you (dont go close up or no diffence) loook at the terrian.There is a map editor (which is broken) to make maps and other stuff and hopefully in the newer one comeing out city life world edtion they fix it...but the game comes out with maps they made that are great.there are a few in every catogory that are the tropical ,temperate ,mountainous ,canyon ,and the sunny regions.You have to buy land tho but your starter is free and the buying land thing is a nice.Most of the maps are big enought to fit great size city. It is about the same rating to me as sim ctiy 3000 unlimted note:1 least...10 perfect
graphics:9 Sound:7 gameplay:9 value:8 Overall:8.5 great

Anyone who says this game is fun is either mental or works for the publisher. Buy SimCity4. The original SimCity is actually much better than this game.