Fun fact, many of the Sim* games originated because Will Wright read a book on the subject.

Most of the games he worked on resulted from his academic interest in a field of study, and simulation development was "almost an excuse to do years of research on a subject." SimAnt was largely based on the research of Harvard University biologist E. O. Wilson, specifically his 1990 zoology textbook The Ants. Written with colleague Bert Hölldobler, the book details the behavior of ants and the intricacies of their colonies. Wright was particularly interested in Wilson's explorations of emergence whereby individual ants performing basic tasks can collectively accomplish very complex goals.

Previously:

While working on the game Raid on Bungeling Bay, in which the player flies a helicopter dropping bombs on islands, Wright found he enjoyed designing the islands in the level editor rather than playing the actual game. This led him to develop increasingly sophisticated level editors. At the same time, Wright was cultivating a love of the intricacies and theories of urban planning and acknowledges the influence of System Dynamics which was developed by Jay Wright Forrester and whose book on the subject laid the foundations for what would become SimCity.

If I wanted to introduce someone to the genre then Empires of the Undergrowth would be my first recommendation.

The gameplay, narrative, and progression mechanics are top-notch. The developers understand what makes RTS mechanics compelling and have designed systems that are more intuitive and accessible for everyone.

For instance (no spoilers) unit groups are built-in to base management. No hotkeys or group micro management required. It happens automatically as a functional result of more obvious concerns.

My only critique of the game, if I were forced to offer one, is that the UI can seem a bit clunky at first. That aside though the team's expertise and care shine through in ways which prove the user experience was well considered throughout development.

It's fun, too!