Just got in before the beta cutoff... played for about 1hr
My view.
I find that it doesnt feel like your in space - planets look great etc but take a look at X2 Reunion for how to do space with ships and get the feel right - i feel thats the direction you should take X2 reunion feels like the ships are in space but this looks like they are floating in a giant orange ice block

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Diplomacy appears to be a non event .
Research is confusing in the beta IMO.
Maybe you should consider something like Galactic civ 2 planet management with icons on the surface.
I find the zoom sometimes doesnt work and ships can crash into asteroids for no ill effect .
But all in all i look forward to the final product - please consider the same style of space as X2 Reunion - this just doesnt feel like your ships are in space with an orange haze.
Stu