There was a post a while back about the main game, re: Precursors, Arnor, Dread Lords etc. Some people thought that copied MOO (Orions+Antarans), and other people thought it copied something else, though I don't remember the title of the game. I think most people concluded that if it 'copied' so many games, then it was more likely to just be a recurring theme for space games, rather than an attempt to rip off any particular series. I think the concept for the story is so simple, that it's bound to repeat itself again and again. Someone better at history might even be able to point to parallels with real-life events. Of course another explanation might be that it's a reference or homage.

well once you think of it what book/movie/ any creative art that has come out these days has not been a copy of some other artwork? all people do it either subconciously, purposely, or they truly want to create something original but they end up by accident being so similar to something that they never heard of that people accuse them of copying another creation

i think in this case its more of the first reason than any other

steam powered space ships.

hmmm... the logistics of that would be horrible, since the only way to move would be by expelling steam under pressure from nozzles. That would mean you'd have to carry a lot of water for relatively little gain Interesting idea though.

How about make the ships like those from Treasure Planet?

That theme is called "Steampunk". Final Fantasy VI was heavily based on steampunk concepts, so its no more or less hackneyed than any other recurring theme out there.

You mean like GDW's old Space 1889 game?

Beat me to the punch... haha, good times And definately a weird twist on the generic space setting

Who cares? Star Control is LOOOONG gone...