Non-essential resources

[LivingInThePast 364]

One of the things I heard about in SimCity 2013 is having resources that need to be controlled. I assume they're talking about of the "Vespene Gas" variety (TVTropes), essentials like oil, wood, or electricity. But what about something that is non-essential to city building but still gives your city (and others before it) life?

If there is weather effects in game (and I hope there is), your city could be blessed with farmland. Even a small town between Houston and my city once was a huge watermelon exporter (still good watermelon) and Matagorda Bay, also in Texas, was a huge oyster exporter. Imagine if there was something like that: your small town plants asparagus and goes onto export asparagus. Depending on the asparagus prices that change, this could mean good times or bad for your farmers, and in effect, other taxpayers. You wouldn't export this directly, but would reap the benefits...or disasters. A prolonged drought could literally "dry up" the town, and rain could cause ruin that year (or switch to say, rice, temporarily).

If crops aren't your thing, you might strike rich and find some metal, like copper, and have that as what the town revolves around. Remember, all cities revolve around something, even if they are relatively universal!

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I vaguely remember some mention that if you couldn't feed your Sims in this game you would be in trouble. I think everything consumable is on the table.