Space strategy roll-call!

[Togakure]

I enjoy them very much, but after buying MOO III (regrettably), I've been paranoid about investing in other games in this genre.

I don't see Sword of the Stars and its expansion mentioned. A friend sent me a link about it, and it looks decent. Have any of you played these? What did you think? EDIT: Just re-read the thread and saw it. More?

Generally speaking, I'd like to see something along the lines of MOO II with modern-day graphics. I'd like to be able to design my own 3D ships like you can in some of the newer games, and expand that to landing craft, and even my race's architecture/buildings on planets.

I'd like 3D tactical battles, both in space and in planetary invasions, which offered the player control of ships and fleets instead of just a spectator role. I would want the level of extreme detail in managing resources, production, economy, diplomacy, intelligence, etc., preserved or even expanded.

Much of this has been done already, but I'd like to see even more:

- variety in races with differing but balanced strengthes and weaknesses.

- differences in racial GUI interfaces, music, ship designs, objectives, and tactics

- a highly dynamic universe with numerous setup parameters that allow me to design and play a wider variety of scenarios

- a dynamic tech three that was a bit different each game, one where certain innovations were available through research only by certain races, or even one race. Other races would have to acquire these special technologies through espionage, trade, or capture and reverse engineering.

- intricate espionage and diplomacy models/engines. Much more involved that in the games I've played in the past. I want to be able to play scenarios with heavy-duty politics (or not, if I choose in my initial game set up).

Though software engine requirements would probably make it impractical, I think it would be awesome to have cut-scene like episodes where the game switched you to first person, say for espionage situations, delicate infiltration or extraction missions, etc. Essentially what I'm suggesting is a three-in-one game: high level strategy (I prefer turn-based, so I have plenty of time to manage all of the details), that led into 3D tactical battle in space and on planets, and a story that brought you into first-person for missions--maybe not just my character all the time but sometimes with a team, etc. (like Red Alert did on a very simplified level).

Heh, dream on. I'll stop here. With more thought I could go on and on.