So, the game doesn't freeze on me any more but it does crash fairly consistently in a conquest only game when I have multiple fleets invading multiple planets. I'm forced to save the game before executing the end of a turn. I think it's memory based as when I free up memory, shut down background applications and enable extreme game mode it appears to not crash as easily. And i'm playing in one sector games with four major races. I can't imagine how bad the crashing would be in multiple sector games with a lot more races.

It bothers me the different races don't have different tech trees and construction options. I find it quite boring to research the same tech tree options no matter what race i'm playing as and think it ruins the replayability of the game. So much so that when I do manage to finish a game I don't immediately want to pick it back up and re-play. Doesn't it make sense that Humans would have different tech from Dregens or the Yor? The techs for all of the races are the same. The buildings and planetary construction is the same. The weapons are the same. The defenses are the same. The combat is the same. Ship combat is the same. BORING!!!! Nothing is unique about the races except for their bonuses and detriments at the beginning of the game and their photos on the customize race screens. It would be a lot cooler if the different races had different techs, build different items and more unique features for planetary construction, weaponry, etc.. 

I wish the ship to ship combat was more similar to Star Control: Origins. Something with more of an arcade feel and control over your ships in combat. Right now, ship to ship combat is basically our math vs. enemy math with no playability for the game player. It's just a sit and watch approach of maybe I won or survived or died. There's no fun in that. That's another place where Star Control shined in comparison. That, or introduce hex based combat where you can select moves to new hexes for your ships, which weapons to fire at which enemy ships, etc.. This could also be implemented into ground combat for planetary conquest which is largely ignored in this game. Something like heroes of might and magic only space based. If the Drath are space-dragons, why are their ships not firing fireballs or dragon breath? Why aren't the altarians using some sort of mind beams? Why is the Bartoc Grove not using some sort of supervine to tangle and ensnare enemies so they can't move in combat? Nope, it's lasers or kinetic slugs or missiles for all offence and shields, armor and chaff for all defense. We deserve better in the fourth iteration of this game series.

All total, it's a good game. It's just not a great game. Not yet.