The star system display is in 2D then?

ehm, aren't solar systems usually in flat anyway?
still, there might be elevation in it, the wierd thing is that some of those plants share orbits(not impossible, but odd) and that some planets overlap in orbit (very strange, wouldn't they hit each other?)


but, I must complement on the extreme improvement over the cartoon, concept-artish first batch of pictures.

no, its in 3-D

keep in mind its an extension of the actual map.

nope, its called orbit domination
thats why Neptune and Pluto dont collide, Neptune says "get the **** out of my way" and pluto is like "wimper wimper"

so then pluto is dragged in circles by neptune's orbit.

I feel for whoever drew the first batch and is now being overtly insulted.

but I do ahve to agree, the nerdy, but more mature look looks better.

i agree, the new graphic updates pwned the old graphics, hopefully it was the same person doing them as it shows improvement on their skillz!

Ohh...purty pictures.....

(Song sung to the the tune of a well known football chant...)
LA LA, LA LA LA LA LA, LA LA LA LA LA, BETA!

Not sure if i prefer the new design...careful if they changed something at my uniform!

I kinda liked the old ships and races...now it's indeed more realistic

yeah, orbital domination, but those planets are the same size. wouldn't the orbits be very erratic? It would be a miracle that they've even formed like that, let alone survive for millions of years.

anyway, the new designs look like my videocard is going to have a very hard time dealing with it.

The game's not that realistic. That wouldn't be fun and there'd be no time left for any other features.

you haven't even seen them in action, so how do you know where their orbits overlap

and isn't this supposed to be a galaxy, not a solar system? or did I miss something. because then this is perfectly fine.

like the walking distance from galaxy->galaxy?

come to think phasespace might be slower than just sending your ships flying... that would be hillarious.

The game takes place in one or more solar systems in a small area of the galaxy.

ok. this is starting to confuse me.

many things have changed and we are completely out of the loop here.

I just had to get my dayly sins haha, so i watched the trailer, and when watching it, id say the systems do indeed look more like galaxys.

Well have this been changed? or has it always been this way? But i just dont remember what have been said so long ago.

When viewed from a distance, systems look like galaxies  Its an artisitic choice given that there wasn't a cool looking way to may a solar system look like a single unit from a distance.

aah thats explains it
thx blair

ok... so functionally its the same?
good.

also note how the planet's are different depending on proximity to the star, i.e. you might have everyone scrambling for those precious mid-level lush planets and those internal volc planets.

and do the planets actually orbit or no?

No.

Way to be blunt Yarlen. However, I am glad, orbiting planets would take up precious system resources (although, without it being in battle, not sure how that would actually matter). However, I hope they do indeed revolve on their respective axis so I can spend hours watching city lights go on on the dark side of the planet like in GCII? Or not that level of detail?

Oooo, pretty lights

They do indeed revolve on their axis, dynamic clouds, city lights go on for the dark side and more.

Sweet. Looking forward to long hours of lights. The Lights! THE LIGHTS!!!! The beautiful LIGHTS!!!!!!!

"dynamic clouds"

and are there storm effects? what about hurricanes?

oh come on, do you need those?

I am happy with dynamic clouds...

just currious