OK, let's face it :
1 - The AI must cheat if it is to stand a chance.
There is to much variables in this game. An AI will never reach the level of a human player. That's why AI are so good in chess : There is not much variables. It is easy to implement routine to make an AI very good in chess. Do you thing there would have been a challenge in Civ2 and MOO2 without cheating ?
2 - Malfador must still fix the AI.
It must stop doing stupid things, like :
- ignoring minefields,
- ignoring human player colonization in area of influence
- making suicidal attacks (that's not hard to implement !)
- Not using the latest technologies (ECM and sensors on attack ship, etc..)
- You all know what I am talking about...
AI must be made #1 priority.
Is it useful to add new feature (ex. Drones) if humans are the only one who are going to use them ?
Multiplayer is way too long for most players. Anyway, is it fun playing with 2 friends and 10 AI if all AI's are just waiting to be invaded ?
As for Talemn and all others doing Mods : Keep up the work, we will get there someday ! And please share your wisdom
Malfador : Congratulation anyway ! considering the resources that you had to make a game, it is one good game system.