[ckotchey]

For me, the best way to learn was two things:

- When all I had was the demo, I played whatever I could in the demo many many times to learn different aspects of the game. First, I'd play through and focus on satellites - to learn how they work, etc. Then I'd play again, focusing on mines, then troops, ship boarding, stellar manipulation, drones, etc. There are so many aspects of the game that you may never even know about them until you find yourself on the receiving end of something you never saw before. Even now, in my first multiplayer games, I'm learning a lot.

- Second was the so-called "dubious strategy guide", which is totally unorganized and only somewhat legible, but if you you take your time and read/skim through it little by little, you'll also learn a lot of good tips and pointers.