Have you played Stars! ?

[Adonis]

Have you seen/played Mare Crisium - Stars!?

Seems like the kind of game that you folks would enjoy.

Unfortunately what I've read they are still looking for a (fairly large) publisher

Well, we've spent a full year now talking to possible publishers. Most of the big names are moving entirely away from PC games and most of the small fry do not have the resources to fund the remainder of development costs.