I have bought and played every Virtual Villagers game so far and I am looking forward to a new game, hopefully soon (hint, hint). I recently have been replaying The Tree of Life and I just thought of a few things that would be helpful for the future.
1- there absolutely needs to be more ways to create master builders later in the game.
2- there also needs to be more ways to spend tech points later in the game.
**combining these two issues- perhaps later in the game we could be permitted to use our tech points to "buy" new sections of the island to expand our tribes and settle new areas. Once we have a new area opened, we could be allowed to use the tech points to purchase new dwellings, create statues etc.
As the game progresses, there comes a point where everything is done. Being able to split our tribes and settle new areas would extend the time we can really interact with the game.
3-perhaps give the children something other to do than just pick mushrooms and find collectables. Maybe allow the older children to "watch" the younger ones in a nursery?