http://www.cybernations.net/default.asp
Among the best true real-time games. When I say real time, I mean real time. It is played by collecting taxes (once every 24 hours), paying bills, and building up a nation. It's got a pretty good community, with player-created alliances (largest having over 1000 members, and over 12 million total strength, minus it's allies and daughter alliance, which has 700 members and over 4 million strength).
it takes a while at the start, but after a week or two and once you get in an alliance you can grow really fast. For an alliance, I'd recommend the
New Pacific order (NPO) ,
New Polar Order (NpO) or
Goon Order of Neutral Shoving (GOONS).
not only because of loyalty (NpO member is me), but also because they are the leading alliances, being part of the largest group of allied alliances, and their own pact. the NpO also has the Chuck NOrris of emporors :awesome:
whether you decide to stay unaligned, join an alliance, or become a nuke rogue, you will have fun (though it might be bboring for the first few days)