A fascinating 3D engine with 2D art is used for Maxis' SimsVille   Screenshot Gallery

SimsVille
Developer: Maxis
Publisher: EA
Did you ever play SimCity and feel like the game was just a tad bit impersonal?  Sure you'd hear from your citizens through bulletins on the screen and newspaper headlines, but the game was played out on a macro level.  Well, with the introduction of The Sims earlier this year, a life simulator on the micro level where you control a family, Maxis let players get down and dirty with characters in the environment, letting you plan the daily life of a Sim.  Maxis' next major project, SimsVille, hopes to strike a balance between the huge scope of SimCity and the personal touch of The Sims.

SimsVille, which is still early in development, hopes to let the player add personality to a small community made up of businesses, family homes, restaurants, and other commercial establishments.  The goal here is the manage the surroundings of the village so everyone is happy with the way things are working – you're a virtual mayor trying to make the town efficient, fun, and lively.

What makes SimsVille already stand out is its unique visual style, masterminded by Maxis' Ocean Quigley.  The team has created a 3D engine for the game, but all the art is still done in 2D.  While the engine only allows slight map rotation, the result is a visual look that is distinctive and warm – In many ways similar in style to Jet Grind Radio on the Sega Dreamcast.