SI is a great game – it must be or I and others wouldn’t be playing it for years, but there are a couple of things that could be done to enhance the playing experience. The addition of the “Stars” program Is great! It really helps the new players advance quickly and more fully participate in the game. With that in mind, below are a few other enhancements and additions that could make the game even more fun and challenging:

• On the Interdimensional Transmitter, when returning the “You Get another free spin”, also include something with it (resource, ships, urplasma, etc.) to make it truly a good thing. As it is now, it’s more of an annoyance: you get nothing out of it.
• It’s nice that ships can traverse from Universe 1 to Universe 14, but this essentially makes the galaxy “cylindrical,” which galaxies are not. Why not also make it possible to go from system 1 to system 400 in the universes? This would make the galaxy circular, which is more like it is naturally.
• If the galaxy is circular, have only 360 systems in it, as in the degrees of a circle, not 400.
• Vary the number of planets in a system. Right now all star systems have 16 planets; it would be more interesting if that number varied, as they are in real life.
• Some universes, such as Retro, have many players; others, like Int, have fewer, yet all have 14 universes within – which means that players can be far more separated in the less populous system and thus have less contact. In the less populated Unis, why not “contract” the universe down to 10 or 12 uni until an increase in players needs the additional planets? More contact = more fun and challenge!
• Allow multiple asteroids, or “moons”: a 2^nd or 3^rd one?
• If there’s a battle at a planet with an asteroid, or at the asteroid itself, allow some of the rubble to “fall” to the asteroid and increase its size, to a new maximum of 60 fields. If 60 fields is reached, then the possibility of creating another asteroid/moon. Also, if this occurs, half of the improvements on the existing asteroid are destroyed by the impacts.
• To eliminate confusion on when an event ends, such as the flower/rubble event just completed, include an event timer counting down how much time remains in the event. Perhaps include it on the main page just below where the number of flowers was shown?
• In these events, perhaps keep track of how many flowers/how much rubble was collected and award 1^st, 2nd, 3^rd prizes for the most recovered?
• Display a notification when a construction is completed, just as when an achievement is reached. The same display bar could be used but color-coded to reflect the different things being completed.
• Prefix a planet’s asteroid with the planet’s name. Right now they are all called “asteroid,” which can be confusing. If multiple asteroids are allowed around a planet, then add a numerical suffix to the asteroid’s name.
• At the bottom of the main screen, there the “Intergalactic planet overview” is located, add a similar function “Intergalactic fleet overview,” listing fleet ships by planet & what’s being built.
• At the bottom of the columns of resources in “Intergalactic planet overview” (and similarly in “Intergalactic fleet overview,” if added), add a “total” line at the bottom, totaling each column.
• Add a new category of “colony”: a “Fire base.” These are not full-fledged planetary colonies but a war base of limited capabilities. On a fire base, only shields can be built for defense, and only fleet bases, development centers, Microsystem Accelerators, and teleporters can be built – no manufacturing or mining facilities! After all, it’s a military base! Allow a player a maximum of perhaps 2 or 3 of these. The choice of what’s to be built—colony or fire base-- can be made as the colony ship is sent out, and a fire base cannot later be converted to a regular colonial planet.

Some of these are likely easier to implement than others, but all would enhance the game. Players: if you agree, let Admin know by posting it here!