Will the game simulate time?
How do you mean? Will there be seasons?
We already know there won't be a day/night cycle, so it won't be time of the day you are talking about.
Or do you mean a calendar? So you know how many years you've played?
no, I mean will we have a start year with the years progressing on from then?
You mean like technology becoming available as time progresses? Or do you mean different building styles?
I think he just meant a "clock" (calandar), showing the date, in the game itself. As for technology becoming available at different dates, that would be helpful, too.
And yeah, the game has a date field (clock) -- see this screen cap.
https://www.paradoxplaza.com/media/...8d27136e95/c/i/cities070414_0029_layer-35.png