StarCraft 2. Might be more action-packed than you're looking for, though. I'm not sure what you mean by "huge places," exactly.
I'm going to 2nd Rise of Nations (and the expansion) and Civ 4. And add Homeworld 2 <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/W4w50Gs5jZ0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Freaking love this game.
it's older but i always enjoyed Lords of the Realm (there are 3 of them). Adds a good mix of strategy and still enough fun in battle modes to keep it entertaining.
Although it came out over 10 years ago, Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is my favorite game of all time. Has all of the things you listed except maybe graphics....which aren't horrid. The upside of it being so old is that you can play it on any system.
Thanks again everyone, glad of the many info you shared. By the way,for me to share too, the game below (Emperor), although old and simple, kinda served as the inspiration for me to look for the "huge places/cities", "huge trading/resources/economics", good graphics, and good combat type of games. My friend introduced me to it, played it for about 2 weeks now, and to be honest, thou I'm a little bit familiar, I'm very new to the concept of "city/empire" games, but i think its very unique and great in it's own and i'm hooked onto it. As you can see in the pics there are various resources like food, weapons, and other stuff, the city itself is kinda huge in its own and you get to manage a lot in it, from the people then up to culture and diplomacy just to name a few. Problem is thou, your only stuck on that city you build. Pretty much everything in the game happens there. Yeah the city is huge but what about other cities too. Combat is also very simplistic, fighting units are only 3 types and when they fight, there is very little or no tactical gameplay. Basically whoever has the most soldiers win.
