While I enjoy the game (when it works) I have encountered game-killing bugs.  I have managed a work-around for some, but one has me stalled dead.

Bug 1: Lost items/fleets - randomly, the fleet and artifacts/powerups disappear from my captains.  Nothing like taking a strong fleet into battle confidently to discover on the battle screen you only have 14 basic fighters where dreadnaughts etc. used to be, and all your hard-earned powerups are gone, too.  Possible workaround - seems to happen more often when you have more than one captain.  In 2 captain starts I claim the second starbase and dismiss the captain.  Not a really happy solution because I am always limited to one fleet.

Bug 2: Disappearing captains - again randomly, when I move a second captain from the starbase he drops off my icon bar on the bottom left.  Sometimes I can manually select him, sometimes not.

Bug 3: Captains that refuse to die - when an enemy fleet beats a second captain docked at a starbase, the captain remains docked even though the base has changed sides.  The captain cannot be controlled or selected, but if I try to attack the base I simply go into swap mode between the two fleets.  Solve by never having a second captain, thus eliminating Tech attacks.

Bug 4: Equalized fleets - sometimes when I tried to ferry ships or powerups with one captain to my main fleet, when they docked together both had identical contents.  This can help or hurt, depending upon what is duplicated.

Bug 5: Random dismounting of powerups - sometimes after a battle, where I expected a range boost or tech boost, when I check captain's inventory all powerups are removed to the storage bar.

Bug 6: Game killer - frequently when attacking a starbase, after winning, goes to starbase screen and game locks.  Music plays, ship animations fly past, but no button is selectable.  Only option is to Alt-Tab out of game, close it manually from WIndows and reload.  Sometimes restarting the level from a prior save works, most times not.  Right now I am stuck on the second campaign, about the 3rd level (2 enemies, human and Ord bases).  Tried beating the starbases in different order, but second base always hangs.  Tried to defeat all fleets in space before attacking second starbase so it would bypass station screen and go to end dialog, no luck.

If the bugs were licked this would be a solid game with emersive gameplay.  When it works, it is great.  Unfortunately it simply doesn't work.

Some tweaks - end of level dialog sometimes obscures the salvaged ship dialog, preventing ending the level (you have to accept or decline the salvage before you can end the scenario).  You can click a bit of the hidden dialog box to bring forward, but clumsy.  Eliminate duplicates in Saloon trader's inventory.  Need tooltips on rare artifacts to say what they do.  Tooltips on power-ups should say which slot they fit, to save resources by buying items you cannot use.

I'm using Version 1.22 on a Dual core 3.02 ghz Intel, 2 gig memory, Nvidia GeForce 8800 video board.

This game could be a great addition to the space strategy genre, if it only worked...

So, I'm french and i just have the idea that i baught a bug...options, end turn, and patchs (1.1 and 1.2) which may repear thoses bugs...bugs...Did someone can play with this bug ?

Thx, it seem's it will go to the fire...