[jowe01]

Main wish: Better AI.
Please make the AI remember where you are, what you did to it, where it was beaten (and preferably why), etc.
Make it follow through on its attacks, not turn around once it has bombed one planet. It should see its opportunity to follow up on an already weakened opponent.
Let it use ground invasions.
...

Secondary wish: 3D, real time combat.
Now I know this is seen critical in the SE4 community. However, IMHO, criticism of 3D and real time combat does usually stem from the (very often true) assumption that gameplay/depth ist sacrificed for "eye candy". I also put much more emphasis on gameplay, but when I imagine "The Perfect Space Strategy Game", it actually has both, solid gameplay mechanics (like SE4 or better) and a "realistic" combat engine like e.g. homeworld (however dynamic, not scripted as in Homeworld). It is just fun if - after you build your empire, designed your ships and sent them to your ennemies - you actually feel as if the battle was real, as if you are in the battle.

Nice sideeffect from 3D, RT combat: it is more appealing to the general public and would hence generate more revenue for MM and Shrapnell. That in turn would be a good things for quality strategy gaming.

[ May 22, 2003, 18:22: Message edited by: jowe01 ]