It took me a while to figure out how to get things going. The interface is not very intuitive. Part of this problem is the graphics, which I don't feel communicate what everything is (nutrients, iron, etc.).
I think one thing you need to do is guide the player through the initial steps to set up a city. For example--make most of the structures "technology level 2" so that the player has to set up essential structures first.
I'm not sure what is going on with the battle mode. After a while I started getting attacked, but the battle would last maybe three seconds and I'd lose resources.
All that aside, I did spend a while playing it--so the game did hold my interest.