tropico is my new favourite strategy type game. you run a carribbean island. you have to keep the people happy and housed, keep them in jobs, run the farms and the industries, manage the tourism, get the people to build your new buildings, make money, keep up diplomatic relations, win (or buy) elections and sneakily shovel off money into your swiss bank account. the game has a lot in common with railroad tycoon II and the graphics are brilliant. when you get bored with managing you can sit back and watch your little people work.