Should I buy this game?

I suggest you wait until there is a Steam sale and buy GC2 nad give it a try, after that decide if you want GC3. It will be a while until GC3 is released. 

Haven't played Endless Space so I can't make a very good comparison. But here goes, GC2 has no space lanes, combat is automatic with no input from the player. The game focuses more on managing a galactic empire and has a very good ship designer. What makes me like it is so much is the random events that make it interesting when I play a game, it can be very different from the last one.

I think Rhonin_the_wizard's advice is wise, but perhaps a bit too all encompassing. Since you have played Civ 3, 4, & 5, you can see how a game can evolve through it's sequels, and adapt to progressively newer hardware technology. GC2 is quite old and was developed for the technology available at the time. GC3, as the devs have already given us examples of, will take good advantage of the current hardware tech base, and should be quite stunning.

There are many similarities between the Civ series and the GalCiv series, but there are things in Civ that I would not like to see in GalCiv, and vise versa. Overall, however, I think that of the two, GalCiv has richer playability characteristics.

As the two above me said, wait for a Steam Sale and try out Galactic Civilizations 2. Make sure you play Twilight of the Arnor, as it is by-and-large the best version.

But to answer a few of your questions;

Galactic Civilizations does not use "Space lanes" that ships travel across; all movement is unbounded, and most of the important fighting takes place in open space around "High-priority" areas with dense concentrations of resources, not in the orbit of planets.

Pirates are in Galactic Civilizations, but they are almost always vastly inferior to player forces and are relatively rare. The only exception t this is the "Pirate portal" mega-event, which spawns large numbers of pirates that scales with the map size.

Combat in Galactic Civilizations (2) is purely pre-determined by the computer, but combat in Galactic Civilizations 3 may add some more tactical elements.

If Galactic Civilizations 2 is similar to any game(s), it is the Civilization series mixed with a small dose of Master of Orion. The main difference between Galactic Civilizations and those games in the economic system; you need to pay for production, it doesn't happen by itself and isn't self-supporting. This makes the game much harder to play effectively, and the AI will almost always outperform you in some manner because of the need to pay for everything.

If you would like a more in-depth explanation, then ask a more... pointed question; one does not simply sum up Galactic Civilizations :3

I wonder if the OP has played Alpha Centauri? I think that game more closely matches Galciv, and you can design your own units, but not as good as Galciv.

But even more closely matching is the Civilization Call to power 1 and 2, whereby 1 actually has a space level, and the combat system in Call to power (armies) is actually superior (in my opinion) to Galciv save for the useless Call to power AI. I say the Call to power combat system is superior because it recognizes the way 'front line units' and longer ranged units behave in battle whereas Galciv recognizes only firepower/hitpoints in determining the way battles play out.

I think if you liked Civ4 and 5 you will like it. I haven't played endless space, but from what I gather it's not like Galciv or civ at all.

Yeah I would probably ask two questions. One do I like stradegy games, and do I like space games. If you've answered these qustions yes then I would say buy the game. As far as other Stardock games I'd say this is their poster game. I would probably compare this game to Civilization as an island warfare game. This game gives more ability options than any other game I've seen. This game does the best ship customization of any game I've seen. It has good race customization. I think Civilization has a more challenging Ai. I think the way Civilization does it city screen is superior to the way Galactic civilization does its colony screen. I think Civilization 4 has better advancement options than Galactic civilizations. I think Panzer general has better advancement options than any of them. Galactic civilization has a better tech tree. I like the screen setup and the sliders than on Galactic civilization better. I think both games are good. You should buy Galactic civilizations 2. Even though I like Twilight of the Arnor there were a lot of complaints sbout that one. You might consider Dark avatar or consider downloading a fixit mod for the game. I wouldrecommend Autum twilight.

On a side snote one of the first computer games I bought was Civilizatin Call to power 1 I later bought civilization 3. My question is call to power and civilization the same  games.

That question confused me for a long time as well, but no, different games.

What you do is, take Call to power, cut out half of the interesting attributes, add an AI that works, and what you have left is the standard Civilization everyone loves!

I would say that you would want to try GalCiv II first.

Why not GalCiv I first? Yes, I have pet peeve with "jumping right on third part of trilogy".

Because GalCiv I is quite different from GalCiv II, and GalCiv III is supposed to be an "updated" version of GalCiv II? Wouldn't it make more sense to play the game which is the closest to the one you're interested in to see if you'll like it?

I understand where you're coming from (I have the same attitude regarding most games), but GalCiv isn't a story-driven game, where knowledge of the previous titles is required. Granted, GalCiv III will have a campaign (and I'll play the hell out of it, because I'm a lore-fanatic), but the meat of the game is the sandbox, where you make up you're own story.

Not right now.

The game is a long way out, and we don't know a lot yet. Pre-orders at this point are for series fans who want to get in early. You don't sound like one of those, so you should wait until there's something more tangible to evaluate.

Next year there's an alpha, then a beta. There will be a lot more information available. Streams and lets play videos (though of the alpha those won't mean anything), and so on. That will be the time to make a decision.

We have months between now and release, there is time to study both and get all references.So far we don't know how updated GC3 will be in comparison to GC2.

I always will be story first guy. Sandbox is nice, but knowing your whereabouts (so to speak) is much more important for me, than creating nyan-tree-hugging drengins and ruling Galaxy with them.

There is time to buy and play GC1/2, or simply play, if OP has someone with "Steam family sharing", willing to share. This way there will be far more personal foundation to base opinion on. IMHO, of course.

Let's plays? With recent google initiative of contentID or whatever? Even if there will be no monetization involved, it's still could be PITA for person who'd be going to "film" it. Unless it'll be Stardock's "own inside". Could be hilarious, should google block it.

Same here. GalCiv 1, however, has almost no story. Everything you need to know about it, you can read in the datalinks.

You can still use Twitch.tv, or is that also owned by Google?

Google's motto; "Don't be evil!"

*proceedstomonopolizeandgougeonlineservices*

Datalinks are fine, but what could compare with that "I was there and kicked those blokes right into their bollocks so they've fallen on their swallen buttocks, and it was bloody marvelous, let's go and smoke out a fa... drink a bottle of Coke" kind of feeling?

Though in case with mass defekt, I'd better read about it other than paticipated... Bleh.

Not yet, but who know what those breeners are going to do? Besides I've heard there are some problems with twitch, in terms of performance, and audience numbers. May not be that important for close-knit group, but in terms of positive publicity and coverage may not be sufficient. Few people related with video decided to work with YT because of that, regardless of all rectal acrobatics they have to perform.

No-no-no:

Google motto 2004: Don't be evil

Google motto 2010: Evil is tricky to define

Google motto 2013: We make military robots

I'd add "Google motto 2014: OMGWTFPWNGE bow to us lowly peasants

Your continued blasphemy against Mass Effect will bring about a catastrophic whirlwind of fanboyism upon you.

You have been warned

The only reason to play Galactic civilization 1 in 2013 is because of the campaigns otherwise the game is based around the sandbox game.

I half expected Frogboy to drop in and say:"Of course you should!"

Blessed is the mind too small for doubt.

"A curse was cast upon you, however as an atheist "entitled whiner" find the idea absurd and suffer no effect."

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend. I have always thought that it's a crime, so I will ask you once again. Try to see it my way, only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong. While you see it your way there's a chance that we may fall apart before too long. We can work it out.

Why are people buying old games on GoG and playing them?

I don't know the numbers. I tried Masters of orion 1 and 2, and decided this was not the way to go. I know someone who likes to play old games. I'm sure people who likes the classics buy these games, but if you ask me I would rather play Galactic civilization 2 over one. I can't really answer for Galactic civilization 1 though I just figured that Galactic civilization 2 had all the features plus more. As far as I guessed the only thing I missed other than some of the races were the campaigns that I don't play anyway. If I'm wrong please fill me in what I'm missing.

See no problems with that. To each his own. For instance, I have no problems playing older Settlers, while friend of mine can play only 10th Anniversary. I enjoy playing old games which, actually, work on modern rigs without any "eldritch rituals", even if I own old (original) copies of games in box. Sometimes I play to remember those good feelings I had when I played game for the first time, or try to find something new, sometimes I play game I either haven't played, or played for too short period of time to learn it.

So as long as I can, I'll try to "live" through certain events in games rather than simply read about them. In the same time I don't like pixelart modern games. Wadjet are fine.

I'm sure ParagonRenegade was only joking, no need for nastiness/snarkiness

I think all this space related stuff needs minor ingredient, if you know what I mean...

Yes, I'm sure he was. :3

#MEseriousbusiness

I'm not sure what difference it would make if he was joking or not unless he lives next door. Then I would be scared otherwise you would be harder to find than a needle in a haystack. Personally what he said was cool. At least the disputes are interesting.