The game is really designed as PbEM. The host doesnt really "know" what the players are doing as they are doing it. It picks up all the player files and processes them, then spits out result files.
Even in a solo-playing mode that would still be the basic engine that is running. To create a simultaneous thinker would probably mean creating an entire new portion in the executable. As much as I prefer solo play I dont think Dom is going to move that direction.
And, even though I play mostly solo, Id have to say that I would be willing to get a noticeable slowdown in processing turns if it gave me a smarter AI.
Besides, those processing times let me be aware of my family, my hunger, my need to visit the bathroom, sleep, etc.
