Another idea which I suggested of the Palm versions but which might be workable with the upcoming Windows version, might be to have a mini plant tycoon game-within-the-game as soon as the magic field is available.

It need not be anything like as complex as plant tycoon, but your efforts to create magic plants could help towards discoveries on the research bench - in fact, maybe the top level of one of the research strands could only be opened up if you discover the magic plant.

I'd like to see a mini fish tycoon in the lake too, also helping research, but that might be a min-game too far.

Another thing that could be done is to play noughts and crosses in the sand with one of the kids in the game - this could increase their general brain power as they grow up and before they start to gain experience through doing tasks. Sorry, not events is it?