I am currently been following the game in development called Spore.
It looks to be my type of game actually and its really turning out well I think. Though it is a long way off still from release, I thought I would share a few recent links for it. I find this game fascinating..
I also found this flash game which is going to be similar to the very first stage of the SPORE game. This is already so darn addictive just seeing how large I can grow my little creature..
Yeh, you know what I hated about the Sims??? .... too MUCH micromanagement. Like, c'mon ... if I had a 4 year old child - it can control it's own bathroom urges; so why do I have to watch that ALL my Sims don't pee themselves simultaneously.