Planet Types

[WhiteHojo]

Nyx, I recently discovered this tactic myself (so far only in the demo - when WILL that game arrive?). Starting as a gas world colonizer w/Methane/Hydrogen/CarbonDioxide (I think these are the correct types - haven't noticed many Oxy gas giants) gives quiet a bit of an advantage.
When I meet another race, odds are they are Rock or Ice types and I simply demand their colonization tech from em - never been turned down yet. Opens up a world of, well, worlds.

[Nyx]

In the full game, with the equal start option turned on, you still have a good reason to play gas giants as you will always get to have at least 4 facilities on each world.

Rock with no atmosphere is also fun because all those tiny rock moons with no atmosphere hold 5 facilities. But there are so few larger worlds with no atmospheres that it's not such a great idea over all.

[Cryptotec88]

Nyx-

Gas Giants do come in Medium size, they are just rare to see.