Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: Colossal Order
System requirements: Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7; 2 GHz Dual Core or higher processor; 2 GB RAM; 2 GB hard disk space; NVIDIA GeForce 8800/ATI Radeon HD 3850 or higher video card
Genre: Simulation
ESRB: Rating pending
Release date: February 22, 2011

In America, public transportation is a part of our society, but not quite as integral as it is overseas. While we in the states climb into our gas guzzlers, mount our motorcycles and pedal our bikes to green consciousness, the majority of our Euro brethren are hopping on trains, buses, streetcars and water taxis as part of their daily routine to get around town. Finnish developer, Colossal Order smartly understands this, which is why all of the scenarios in their inaugural game, Cities in Motion, take place in Europe.

See, this transportation sim (in the same vein as established norms like Transport Tycoon) puts you in the role of chief transportation officer, responsible for not only buying appropriate manners of transport for the citizens of your given scenario, but also the planning of efficient routes that cater to their specific needs. So, it’s not just about buying a double-decker bus and hitting the open road here . Cities in Motion actually requires you to get to know your population. Every city-dweller has their own goals, place of work and leisure activity assigned to them. In other words, plan those routes effectively, or prepare to deal with some very disgruntled customers!

With detail like that working behind the scenes, it comes as no surprise that there are over 30 different types of vehicles to implement into your city. The aforementioned buses, streetcars and water taxis are cool and all, but there’s also the raw efficiency of a full underground subway system at your disposal, and even helicopters that cater to the rich, business class, should you want to rake in the big bucks. Micro managers will be happy, too, because everything from ticket prices to the actual wage of your employees can be adjusted on the fly. Be a benevolent transport magnate or a total donkey’s behind – the choice is yours! Just remember to get a good advertising campaign going to keep the customers rolling in.

There are three game modes to choose from in Cities in Motion. Campaign: which puts you in the transport president’s hot seat through 12 distinctly European scenarios in Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna and, of course, Helsinki, Finland; Sandbox: which allows you to weave a web of routes without the pressures of goals to keep in mind, and City Building Mode, which was unfortunately not included in the build of the game I received. Supposedly, this mode allows you to build your city using the same toolset that the developers had at their disposal, and then import your map into sandbox mode to play around with.

What I did manage to glean from my playtime with the beta version of the game was that this is a hardcore simulation for dedicated transport fans. The menus are chock-full of information, buttons to be clicked and statistics to monitor, but then again, that’s what the PC crowd is used to. One thing is for sure, it’ll be interesting to see where Colossal Order takes us when Cities in Motion releases for the PC tomorrow. It is surely an exciting time for the fledgling developer, and their hearts seem to be in the right place to satisfy fans of the genre. Time will tell, though, and so will my forthcoming review.