"I really thought I would not to like this game but"
I was proved very wrong. Yes it is definately not Simcity4, but it still has the economy, people, industry management which is turning out to be challenging and immersive. Mass transport like the trains is not available, but there are airports, ships, buses. One thing I found in this game is that purchases and running utilties like power, hospitals etc can be very expensive so that in itself is a big challenge to maintain.
The current patch for the game is a must have, as this is where you get the bus and fixes for other default game quirks.
Online play is no longer available and the game has been taken over by Focus as Monte Cristo has recently closed up shop.
Animation of the characters is very well done and if you pan in with the very good game camera you get to see need little touches that Monte Cristo have added, example the character acting like a mime as he makes an outline of a box with his hands while he stands on his front porch, a woman chatting on her mobile, if you click on a vehicle closeup you will follow it as it goes along the road like you were a passenger..very cool. It is quite a neat way of seeing what you town looks like from ground level too.
It is a nice game that has a small charm of it's own.