Looks very promising and I will be following this game closely. However, when it comes to space combat and trade sims, I've heard all of this before. It seems like a very, very difficult genre to design with depth, freedom, and granularity, while also providing intuitiveness and accessibility. I've played things like the X series, and all the Elite and Freelancer clones. I've even played Battlecruiser, one of the most opaque, insane learning curve games ever made for my money.
One thing they all have in common is that they get bogged down in options and almost provide players with too much freedom for their own good. In my opinion good game design has rules and limits, but lets the player feel completely empowered and free within those limits and rules, while allowing the player to exercise that freedom and power through an intuitive, elegant interface. That's something almost no game in this particular genre has quite gotten right in my opinion.
Dark Star One got the elegant interface right, but because of its simplicity, it became extremely repetitive and ultimately boring. It's a baffling line to walk that I haven't seen anyone get right yet. But I think this gentleman seems to have the right philosophy and intent to achieve it with enough time and support. So, cautiously optimistic.
