Sid Meier's Railroads officially on track

We know the software shelves are crowded with simulation games about enormous steam locomotives, but there's one more coming out this summer that may be of particular interest: Sid Meier's Railroads.

Strategy maven Meier helped give birth to the entire business-sim genre with Railroad Tycoon back in 1990. Now, with a slight name change, the series is back under the control of its original engineer. "We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this game back home," said Meier in a press release.

The game gives you the chance to build your own steam-powered empire, but with skill, you'll progress up to modern diesel and electric trains, too. You'll see cities and towns crop up around your tracks, but you'll also have to deal with the unwanted attention of robber barons and rival tycoons. Not to mention your accountants - a successful empire is one that makes money, after all.

Railroads is slated for a fall release, so we'll probably get a decent sneak peek at E3 in May.