Yeah, I noticed the strange planet icon issue. But I gave him a pass on that as it was a minor bug. I’ve always had a problem with SOaSE giving me an “unexpected error was encountered” error when I close it. I think the program itself is a little unstable depending on your hardware/OS, so I think MODS are just going to highlight those issues.
So how are you liking the Mars Effect so far?
That was the first time I had it blow up like that on exit…and seems to do it every time when I use this mod.
Other than that and the minor icon thingy (which really is no big deal) I really like the mod. It lets you colonize gas giants (with a tech upgrade later in the tree) and I like the beefed up fighter/bombers and more in a squadron thing as well. I also like the new anti-fighter defense platforms.
-XT
Hope this isn’t long enough to be considered thread necromancy, but the Sins of a Solar Empire demo is finally up!
NeoGAF thread of screenshots and hype.
Official announcement and demo links!
It’s… actually pretty late here so I haven’t had a chance to try it, but I’m really hoping this game lives up to everything I’m expecting for it.
BRAAAIIINNNSS!!1
So I just started playing this game this week (on the recommendation of the SDMB Game of the Year thread). I’m slow like that. It’s pretty damn fun so far. I haven’t played an RTS since Empire Earth years ago. Thanks for all of your tips and tricks from last year!
Oddly enough, I’m reading up on my “new” game, only to find that the first official expansion was released just yesterday. FYI.
Anyone still playing?
It’s actually been available as a beta for months now. And I’ve been playing it off and on during that time.
Now that it’s officially out I will reinstall and conquer the whole of the galaxy! Muahahahaha!
Yeah, as soon as I get back home from my current trip (in theory Saturday afternoon) I plan to buy and download the expansion. I’ve been waiting for this for a while now. 
-XT
I bought the game when it first came out, played it for a day, then put it away. I restarted it up, with the expansion, a few days ago and have now been playing obsessively.
I’m a fortifier. I build up my base then take one planet at a time, slowly. I’ve been playing easy/fortifier lately on a personal map. I think I’m going to ramp up the difficulty and play a ready-made map.
I haven’t tried any other faction besides the TEC.
I am a fortifier too and the first expansion really helps that style. I never seem to start in a nice dead-end system though… I tend to play on Hard, you cannot afford to ignore the diplomacy at that difficulty, the swarms of ships exploding as they hit my defences is a glorious sight to behold and doesn’t happen enough at lower difficulties.
I like TEC because of their insane money making abilities. It allows me to heavily fortify all my outer systems quicker. I haven’t played much with the others because I’m a little stuck in my ways with the TEC.
The expansion star bases also allow a TEC player to further enhance their economy. You can now place the equivalent of trade ports in ‘empty’ systems, thus potentially lengthening your trade route. Sweet!