I need a game...

Homeworld 2 is excellent!

Only problem is that you can complete the campaigne is a few days. Still it's an absolutely brilliant game - a 3D real time strategy but you can issue orders whilst paused which means it not about clicking as quick as you can. Very well made with a user interface that is 2nd to none. I really like the way that you start the next level with whatever ships and resources you had from the previous level. Its a game that really keeps you on your toes.

As far as space games go it's better by far than any of other recent space game and that includes X2, X3, MOO3 (which is similar to space empires but not as good, though I did personally like it), Darkstar One etc..

I personly tired of homeworld 3 very quickly, heck i even mapped out the entire cheating process into a word document. Its all based around the text files of the saved games.

anyway my sujestion is X3: Reunion definatly a very good game, with a community even larger than this one. I would go into explaining what its about, but im just generaly really bad at that sorta thing >_<

I'd say Homeworld 1 is better than H2 in all ways except graphics( once you get used to the unique controls ). Homeworld Cataclysm, which is Homeworld 1.5 so to speak, is great too. For my part Homeworld 2 was the lesser experience of the three games. As previously mentioned, there's not so much to do in any of the games once you've finished the campaign, although there's standard skirmish/multiplayer mode( which grows old fast ).

X3 is a good game which also has countless mods available for it. I tend to loose interest in it rather quickly after loading it up though; the game offers a great range of options to the player, but it ends up offering all those options at mediocre quality. It's also pretty dead, featuring no real NPC interaction exluding the main quest/story.

MoO3 is a great game with the latest patch and the right mod, despite its ruined reputation earned by being released before it was finished. I'd say it's pretty different from Space Empires, though. It's also pretty different from the famous MoO2.

As for history, perhaps you should take a look at Hearts of Iron 2 if you haven't already. It's a rather special game though, so approach with caution.

Homeworld 2 is the most beautiful game I've ever seen. You have to try it just for that alone. The campaign is short but excellent: be it the story, the "cinematics" or the misic. I heard multiplayer is interesting too, but that it's hard to find other players.

Haven't tried X3 - but Homeworld 2 rocked. Did you see the upcoming 4x - lost empire? I just saw it on strategy firsts web page. It looks kinda interesting, sort of like SE5 and MOO2 but with a story it seems. U can see more at http://www.polluxgamelabs.com/lostempire/ - Ima try it out I think.