First impression

[bcline]

Loader: Clean interface with sharp graphics and I appreciate the built in updater with a solid and informative patch history.
Intro Screen and new game: Same details, clean interface and the game options seem extensive and all the choices I like to see. I will be curious to see how exhausted those options get after ten or twenty games but right now it seems like a solid amount of customization.
5 Minutes in: Again I enjoy the interface, not too cluttered but the right amount of detail as I am not having to hunt around to find what I need. Side note I was delighted to find unit customization and that it was simple but powerful. Exploring the planet is fun so far, you conveyed that sense of exploration very well, the quotes and science background is a really nice touch.
15 Minutes: Decisions to make, do I attack the hive I found or ignore them for a while and expand more, keep building units or dump it all into science? The choices and openness are excellent, I hate to compare but so far I am more addicted and more enthralled then the experience Civ gives. This takes me back to Alpha Centauri and way beyond what that offered.

It will take more time to see how well the AI is flushed out, are the opponents manic and change there mind turn to turn or do your choices actually make a difference, will they let me park ten nukes on their back porch and not get upset or will that piss them off. I'm looking forward to finding out, great first impression so far. Thanks'