First of all, let me begin by saying that I haven't preordered diplomacy (perordering is something I rarely do). However, the talk of faster game settings has got me thinking. One of the problems with sins multiplayer (for me and doubtlessly for many others) is the length of games. A quick 1v1 battle is still tolerable, though sometimes it can stretch to as much as two hours if the players are evenly matched; when you reach larger amounts of players and bigger maps, however, things start to get icky.

What I suggest is to implement a game mode that has a fixed time limit. At the limit of the timer (which will of course be a selectable and adjustable option at the beginning of the game), the game will end and the victor will be decided according to certain objectives. The tricky part is deciding what elements could determine victory. Number of planets controlled seems like the most obvious one, but it doesn't add much in the way of new and intersting gameplay. Perhaps a better system would be to have certain space-objects (planets, asteroids etc) grant victory points to the team that holds it. These objectives would grant a certain amount of points per second, and the team with the most points at the end wins. Obviously, there will always be the option of simply eliminating the opponent from the game in order to achieve victory.

Such a system will change the face of multiplayer quite considerably. If successful, online matches would become quick and intense, as each team frantically reaches for more points as the timer counts down. In my opinion, it would make multiplayer matches more interesting and accessible, as it will guarantee fast and decisive action.