"MINE!" from Winsome Games is a very elegant little ore mining game. Each turn you decide how much ore to produce, constrained by the type and number of mines that you own (having bought them at auction.) The price paid this turn per ton of ore is based on how much ore was produced last turn. S&D in a nutshell. When my group first played this, we played a game, looked at each other and made "Wow!" noises, then played two more. Then we looked at a clock and noticed that it was two AM and we had to work tomorrow. And we're adults. *sigh* Components are serviceable DTP products, large ziplock bag instead of a box, you cut out the cards (not too many) yourself. I like the 1800's clipart. A gameplay bargain at the price (around $15). Winsome Games' website is at http://www.fyi.net/~winsome/

The train game Silverton is the same kind of deal, but with route-building added in. This game is collectible, and out of print, alas. It is perpetually due to be re-released, most recently by Mayfair. Go look at the Calendar section their website at http://www.coolgames.com/ , but don't believe anything they say about when it will actually be printed. It has been due "real soon now" for a couple of years. Alas. If someone from Mayfair is reading this... Please Print the Game! No, I'm not offering to finance it. No, I don't think I could run the company better than you. Yes, yes, you're right. Never mind.