Starting to get bored.

Try a One Planet Challenge. Never colonise other planets, and abandon any planets you conquer or take by influence.

don't exploit then.. jeez... what a drama queen.....

I would recommend downloading the beta, or wait for the official 1.2 in a week or so. The game is much harder, before this patch I could win most of the time on suicidal, but now I have just got absolutely smashed on the level below after the patch

I try not to use 'exploits', so I cant say whether the improvement will be enough to beat you if you use them though - as moiiska said - ban yourself from using them!

you will definitely notice the improvement though - mostly I think due to the fact that enemy planets acually have useful things like factorys and labs on now instead of embassies and entertainment

oh, the patch seem pretty stable for me too, despite being a beta.

I'm sorry to say, the game is getting a tad boring. Furthermore, after reading all the new patch bugs, I'm glad I didn't load it up. My version plays fine as is. I turned off tech trading and play on the highest level. It's just that i know the "exploits" now and it's hard not to pursue them. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make my game more challenging? After I build a spin control center the game is virtually up for my opponents. I do that and then research up to Dreadnaught ship and then take my time the rest of the game. I wish I would have never read that post. I would appreciate all your replys. Thank you.

most people dont play 1 game a time. If you do that you really lose interest in it quickly. I cycle between 2-5 games and i find that i play them alot longer then i would normaly. And i realise that i am playing them less but here is how i know.
Dungion Siege II - with out cycling the games i play i would play it 1 time threw and just get bored with cycling it with other games i have played it 2.5 times threw and i still enjoy it a few times threw.

A few good games for cycling are classics, such as Gunbound (free online "Worms" type game), TFC / CS, or anything else that you have always liked.

I've got an abilities mod pending approval that'll allow you to put negative scores... if you want a challenge, you could always give yourself negative scores on some of the more useful abilities.

This is why i wish their was multiplayer. I'm getting bored as wel but I have like 3-4 friends who want to do a long involved multiplayer campaign with me. They want to meet 2 days a week to do it as well so we could easily finish a game. Seriously, this game needs it or else i'm going to quit due to boredom and wait for Space Empires 5 that will have that feature.

dont build the spin control centre. Try other difficulties. get some fibre in your diet...er, that was just general advice and is probably not applicable to the OP

I hate having to "handicap" myself in how i play the game intentionally. It makes it even MORE boring, for many people. The game shouldn't require you to personally limit yourself to play it. I ALWAYS hated that excuse for any game, it was the #1 comment for Master of Orion 3 dont bring it here.

If he thinks its easy just play at a higher difficulty. Problem solved. I just dont feel like fighting computer opponeants non stop and would rather play games that I can play with friends. I like being social.

I know a lot of people though who say "theirs no challenge" dont play on any difficulty that is high.

Definatly stop using the exploit and play the game. The beta makes the AI much better and as I play mostly on challanging I think its more fun. The AI also builds better and Ive gotten into some good fights with other races and I also am able to make alliances as well. I dont disable anything, though I usually play on medium to large galaxy's with either very slow-slow research depending. I find it much more fun with research this way and I seem to actually get to use a few of my wps before they are outdated. I also randomize the opponents and how many so I never know how many im facing..adds quite a bit to the universe if I dont know who and how many are waiting. Just IMHO and just get ready for the offical 1.2 patch soon..the mods will completly change the game in a good way. I

Thanks for all the input. I just did a huge galaxy with 9 races and didn't put in a spin control center. It was much better.
But.... then i find myself create new ways to blast the piss out of everyone, almost seeking newer shortcuts to victory. I did a quickbuild of my home planet and went apeshyt on soldiering and attacked the closest planet I could find, it was kind of funny. I usuall y take a passive play so it was a change for me.

I do play a couple other games also. I am playing BF2, Sid AC, Aces High and Roma Victa. I'm waiting for Hitman 3. that will entertain me for a bit. Come to think of it, Ima hit Ares Galaxy and DL some games. Cya all and thanks for the replys.

I think you guys would agree some additonal depth in some areas would make the game more enjoyable. i.e. entertaining, throughout the gameplay.... Such as more depth in the UP, the Espionage area, random galatic events, random anoymalies, maybe some tactical combat, or even some ground combat, maybe more options in the ground attack arena.

I'll admit, I was getting a little bored a while ago. Then school ended, I moved back home for the summer, and due to space issues, I can't set up my computer. I've been off gaming now for a month, and while it's not bad (I went for two years with out them, ended a year ago), I've definitly gotten more excited to play it again, especially with all the new updates.

Nothing wrong with getting tired of something, if you're getting bored it's better to cut back then to burn out. Play something else, read a book or two, take up painting, come back ina few weeks. Byt ehn your skills will have gone down, and you might be able to resist any "exploits", plus have an upgraded AI.