GT: Will the game’s Metaverse be similar to that in the original game or are there change sin store for it?

BW: The biggest change is that this time, the Metaverse is integrated into the game.

The Domestic Policy screen.

GT: What factors will players be able to customize when creating their own race?

BW: Players can choose which techs they start with and they have a specific number of points to distribute into racial abilities. They can also choose what they look like, their logo (both of which use PNG files so you can make your own), which star ship design and which interface color/style.

GT: How many new technologies will be available in GCII? Will there be any entirely new tech trees?

BW: The tech tree is entirely new this time and it’s pretty huge. We’re trying to go for a more streamlined tree than we had the first time around, allowing players to use the tech tree to go off and build their own unique strategies.

GT: Do you have any advance gameplay tips that you can share with our readers?

BW: Pay very close attention to what your opponents are designing. Ships have 3 types of attacks and defenses. Phasers (for instance) are countered by deflectors, missiles by ECM and mass drivers by armor. So look carefully at what your enemy is researching and equipping their ships with.

GT: Is there anything else about the game that you’d like our readers to know about?

BW: The game should be out at retail by the end of February. Users who pre-order are going to get some extra goodies (currently EB Games and Gamestop are taking pre-orders) such as a Galactic Civilizations desktop and extra graphics to add to their ships.

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