Do demographic problems, such as suburban sprawl and rural isolation, strike your teen as simply business as usual? Give him a lesson in city planning with SimCity Societies, the new computer game where players build cities piece by piece. Players can make cities grim and industrial, efficient and eco-conscious, culturally robust, or futuristic and totalitarian. The way they balance workplaces, residential areas, entertainment venues, and municipal services directly affects the attitudes of the citizens. The engaging graphics and creative possibilities will keep your teen at it for hours, but it's the player's position as omnipotent creator that will really get them going. While this game figures high on the list for teen-friendly fun, it may also empower them with the knowledge that cities are made, not born, and that putting some thought into what makes societies work can make a big difference. (Electronic Arts, $49.99)