@GreenBanana - don't hate on Maxis, they aren't to blame... hell, they don't really exist anymore. As Covarr mentioned, EA bought them, and their name has become more and more tarnished ever since. I don't know how many of the original Maxis guys are still there, if any, but they don't have the control over their own products like they used to. EA seems to be notorious for buying and ruining great franchises (Sim City and related sim games, Command and Conquer...) Spore was started by the creator of the Sim games, Will Wright, but since EA was calling the shots, he couldn't quite make it the way he'd intended. I think he made a valiant effort on that one - it's actually not as bad as Sim City Societies was. But I know he can do better - I played every Sim City ever made. Even the first one was awesome for it's time.
That being said, this does sound like a pretty dumb excuse for a sim game - EA trying to capitalize on a once-great concept that they have since dragged through the mud in their race to collect more profits before their customers (a.k.a. unfortunate suckers) catch on and jump ship.