honestly, would you really build your research stations in outer space?

Mir and ISS are research stations for the most part, and we have much more trouble with space travel than the humans in Sins.

There could be several reasons.
Zero gravity or dangerous experiments. Testing "space technology" in actual space is also logical I would assume.
The shortened travel time might also be a reason, since even with advanced technology the energy and effort to bring something into orbit makes some things more effective if they are completely orbit bound.

Enough lore reasons for you?

I say thier are plenty of reasons, as Therlun just explained. Many things just can't be done without freefall.

Also, it waould make it easier to keep a controlled environment in space than it would on the Earth.

Added to the fact that these are large facilities, almost a city in space which could theoretically be much cheaper and easier to maintain in space...

I can think of several reasons...

-Weapons experiment. Something goes wrong. Do you really want to UberWTF explosion/radiation on your planet?

-Space is cold, very cold, so testing out stuff in the enviorment that it will be used in, would make it ready for field use.

-Plus, there is artificial (sp) gravity. So, it's just like a planet, it's just flying.

ehm.

1. Wouldnt you get research done much faster if your right next to a sun? Or next to an anomaly. Im thinking of having to get the data back and forth...

2. Space isnt always a battleground... atleast not for us... yet anyway:P

3. Saves space? Cost reduction (solar power)

4. Experiments

5. Techs gone wrong

And probobly alot more reasons

Considering how often my planets get bombed, yes, I'd prefer my vital installations to be in space.

1. need a vaccuum chamber for experiments? just open an area to space and let it decompress...
2. space is very chilly, as mentioned above.... meaning less material needed to lower the temperature of lab equipment, most physics experiments these day IRL require supercooled magnets to run effectively, exposing them to the freezing cold of space would lower their temperature, reducing the need for as much cold materials such as liquid hyrdogen (or was it helium...) and liquid nitrogen

lol @ Brillig's comment (I agree with it too!)

No doubt. There are many legitimate reasons for doing such a thing. This also applies to military tech as well.

Well, if you're going to test new space weapons and technology, what better place to test it out than in space.

wow. thanks for all the input. i can see the reasoning now. i was narrow minded in how i was thinking of it. thanks a bunch for the great answers:)

This is pedantry, and I hope you forgive me But these research stations aren't built in outer space, as the title says - they're built in orbit. Remember that outer, in the terms of our solar system, applies to the space outside the asteroid belt. All else is inner space. I suppose where ambiguity in solar systems such as in Sins are more prevalent, it would be safe to restrict inner space to orbit, and outer space as the regions between the outer planets or something...
But orbit isn't outer space
Sorry - it's a pet peeve

But I agree with everyone else. Since things are, it seems, easier to "proof-test" in non-inertial reference frames, it would be better to do so in free-fall.

I'm pretty sure it would actually be much MORE expensive to maintain a station in orbit than on earth.. solar bombardment, stellar dust particals.. a TON of dangerous radiation.. constant shipping of necessary stuff from the planet..

What irks me is the 'solar systems' in sins. I mean, with something as dumb as that they could have just completely dropped the pretense of using words like 'solar systems' and called it .. I dunno, 'sack of orbitless motionless planets'.

To be honest, regardless of how good this game is, I'm ashamed to show it to my nephews because even the 5 year old would look at it and say 'who's the idiot who drew this then?'

Sorry, but do the planets spin? If not, then I agree with you.
However, a question about the time scale of this game has to be asked. As an RT4X, is there any sort of accelerated timing? If that were so, I'd also agree with you.
But if it plays out in true real time, and is not a simulation for accelerated time (as are, obviously, most 4x games - note the hundred year jumps in the early game for the Civ games), then it makes perfect sense that the planets don't orbit visibly, eh?

But it's true - we need fewer planets to a star, the way it looks. BUT this is in serious danger of hijacking, so never mind

I wouldn't mind a more realistic view of a solar system instead of a bunch of planets connected to each other in a symmetrical way. Although there are some maps that look better. I've always hated symmetrical maps in any game. Although they're fair for every player, it just doesn't feel real.

Hm, this post has nothing to do with the original thread. Sorry.

That made me laugh - thank you

"I'm pretty sure it would actually be much MORE expensive to maintain a station in orbit than on earth.. solar bombardment, stellar dust particals.. a TON of dangerous radiation.. constant shipping of necessary stuff from the planet.."

Sheilds and transporters (teleporters), my freind, sheilds and transporters.

military research yes, Zero G construction could require zero G research,
Civilian, mostly no.
However we are talking about a game here right?

The Vasari rule planets from orbit.

Yes, I think research in space makes a lot of sense when you are creating prototypes for new spacecraft and asteroid mining technologies.

...you mean like Earth and the International Space Station?


Regardless, realism gets thrown completely out the window when you can fill up an entire terran planet's surface with population within two hours of completely glassing all of the infrastructure that a different race had built on it and then landing a few shuttles from a single small colonizing starship on it.

-- Retro

That was the best line i have ever heard!

As a physicist, I would say there's a lot of good reasons to have labs in space - especially when you're researching technology that would be used in... wait for it... space .

I've got news for ya: You would not hear weapons, engines, explosions from other ships either. Not to mention smoke, drifting as if blown by a breeze!