E3 06: Sid Meier's Railroads! Preshow Impressions

LOS ANGELES--Railroad games may sound like a very specific niche, but something about them is oddly appealing, as has been proven by the Railroad Tycoon series and a handful of other, similar games. The Railroad Tycoon series was started in 1990 by legendary game designer Sid Meier. But, after the initial release, the series changed hands and although we continued to see releases, Meier had no involvement with the brand. Now, after 16 years and a heap of successful games under his belt, Sid Meier is returning to the railroad theme with the upcoming Sid Meier's Railroads!

The game revolves around building and maintaining a railroad network to transport freight and travelers around the world. At its most basic, the game requires you to build tracks to connect cities, transport commodities, and manage finances. That simplicity promises to make the game accessible, but the gameplay also has depth that will keep veteran tycoons interested.

There are more than 30 real-world trains in the game, from antique engines to contemporary bullet trains. There's also a built-in LocoBuilder mode that allows you to create your own custom engines. Once you have your train you need something to haul. That's where goods and industries come into play. There are more than 20 goods that can be harvested and shipped to meet the demand of towns and cities across your territory. There are also more than 30 industries that you need to serve in the game. As you do, the industries will grow and in turn the towns will grow and thrive, becoming bustling cities as a result of the railroad network that you've built.

In addition to serving industries and shipping harvested goods, you can play several scenarios in which you have to meet specific goals. You can play historical campaigns and compete against real-life tycoons, or use the map editor to create your own scenario and share it with others. If you aren't into sharing, you can compete directly against opponents online and make a mad dash to expand your railroad empire and lock out the competition.

Sid Meier's Railroads! is currently scheduled to be released in October of this year. You can find some newly posted screenshots at our gamespace right now, and be sure to check back often for further updates.