So,

I beat the game... took the hard way around and decided to help the rebels. And while I was still on "easy", it was pretty hard and laborious at some parts. Took me about 2 to 3 years of game time. This is not a game for the "casual" player, although you can play at your own pace.

I also took the "good guy" route (as much as possible in the game, that is). I treat all my people well, even been turning them to servants rather than convicts/slaves. Turning a convict to slave is rather expensive in terms of influence. No prostitutes where used during the making of this gameplay (well, for 2 or 3 days, I wanted to try it out and found it a bit mehh; I guess it depends on gameplay).

The story is top notch. I think it's well above your average game story (and by all means, "budget" does not make a good story). The game's setting also fits really nice. I'm not too happy about the map "navigation", but that is a detail. There is also room for growth in map size, new maps, new settings and new locations within the current map. There is room to grow in "size" and content for sure.

The "sandbox" aspect of it could also, in my opinion, grow a bit also. I think there is a bit too much emphasis in making money and/or beating the crap out of some raiders. And while beating punks and collecting slaves is fun, making money is a bit too tedious (also getting way too many slaves). While sometimes you don't have anything to do and just keep advancing days.

When you don't know the "tricks" it's just hard grafting. Once you know them, it's easy. Basically just build as many workshops as possible, pack them with workers and that is it. Buy resources, make rifles and automatics and sell them at Hamma. Rinse and repeat. I understand that investing in businesses does pay off. When we look at it, we get a small amount of money, but that is per day. So, every little helps. But it takes a long, long time to get some decent income going that way and at times it barely covers the cost of keeping the workers (salaries + food). Also, dealing with other houses is pretty much all about money (or items, but money works). I guess it's accurate. Just throw money at them. But I would like to see a lot more interaction between MC and the houses. I took out house Carzolla and they just disappeared. All that money and power should have been mine... MINE!!! muahahaa... sorry. I know, WIP probably. Would like to see in fighting between houses. We take the side of A and get on the good graces of B, things like that.

But apart from the slavering and some meagre investments, there aren't many "mischievous" ways to make money. Contracts to run guns, girls, booze, smuggling deals and whatnot. Maybe put the horse and cart to good use.

Also, the "benefits" of donating to a faction aren't clear. And it should probably be in tiers, not just an all or nothing thing. Get a little money of influence per level or something like that. I think this is the area were the game needs to grow more. The rest naturally will evolve but the factions and relationships with MC and other factions are a bit too bland for me. I honestly still don't quite understand how the factions work and I managed to finish the game.

The house is OK, but I get the feeling that individual rooms are underpowered. I get better "gains" from the annex than at individual rooms at the player's floor. I've even considered sending my wives (the Helm twins) to the annex to prevent them from losing affection. If we do build an annex, we can send everyone in there (is there an actual limit to the annex?) and the dorms will be empty. Could maybe be converted to a pool room or a strip joint :) A few more images and settings for the house would nice, like some girls hanging around the lounge or cooking in a bikini ;)

Taverns (MC) are OK. They don't really play a part in the "gameplay" apart from making money, but it's nice flavour. Would like to have content to make owning a tavern more interesting. Some "random" quests only available at MC taverns, more influence, shady dealings, supply shortages that we would need to fix... They should also make a bit more money IMO. A tavern with 8 staff making only 1.5k a day (no prostitution) is a bit low. OK, wages are low especially if they are slaves.

Speaking of random quests, the game needs some. We have the bounties from city hall and that is about it. If there were a few rotating random quests, like the bounties. IDK, but catching and escaped slave (city hall or some other place), having an escaping slave show up at our door asking for help (if you have a good reputation, maybe low fear, low corruption in the house) which in turn could trigger an attack or some other event, secretly impregnating some rich married woman in exchange for money or influence (and hope the husband doesn't find out), kill a certain beast (or beasts), get rid of squatters... the kind of small quests that could be re-used (just change the names and locations) over time. More random events. Even people "offering" themselves or a family member to slavery in exchange for some money (especially if prosperity is low) or some rich guy asking for a particular slave toy (if prosperity is high). "Here, take my daughter in exchange for 2k", "take me in exchange for 1k to pay off the debts of my father" or something like that. On occasion, also have family members offer to pay for the freedom of one of yours if they are not happy in your house. Here and there have "special" slave sales. Like some rich dude dies and his "estate" goes for sale, including the slaves (bulk buy or one by one). Maybe at city hall.

On slaves, some other forms of acquiring slaves would be nice. I suggest mainly 2. One, order a batch. It could be a batch of "unnamed slaves" that we could transfer directly to mines, fort sera or somewhere else. Another option is custom order. You pay a fee to your local dealer to find a certain type of slave. Price would be a bit of a premium too. Let's say you want am 18 y.o. female that is good at domestic, administration or a good dancer (or multiple specs and you pay a fee for each criteria). Place the order, pay (1k for each specs required?) and wait a couple of days for the guy to present you with 2 or 3 choices, with a certain degree of stats guaranteed (or not). You can then keep one, some or all (or neither). Price could be regular price +25%/50%. There could be a chance that those slaves where "stolen" and someone comes knocking on your door :D Also, you could order some virgin, but that would cost you.

You could also have the option to have some "random" cheap slaves delivered at your doorstep. Just pay a 1k fee and the guy will roll up in his cage cart with 10 or so totally random (mostly crappy) slaves. You take your pick or take them all. Prices would be as good as the skills, but mostly low. Like when selling slaves to Furry's.

I would also suggest a change to the prison. Maybe have one or more prison cells (individual) and one big holding cell (maybe 10 capacity). All slaves processed, delivered and whatnot would directly go into the cell (or call it holding room). Then you have to assign release them from that room manually (or leave them to cool down a bit if needed). It doesn't make sense to me that you have slaves secured with ropes and that you can travel all the land with them in tow. No risk at all. But once you process then to the house they are totally free and you have to fight them to place then in a cell. The guards should also be a part of this process, but all slaves should go into a cell to start with. Maybe the risky part should be to take an angry slave out of a cell... lol

Why do we have horses? It would make sense to me there were some cars, bikes, hover vehicles, Rickshaws around. Why would you bring horses across the galaxy on a space ship? Again, a workshop is much better use of space than a stable as the game stands.

We need more Metasphere content. It's just too small. More spaces to visit, a good working bar, some special training, vendors, special gear (we already have the cyber weapons). Some possibilities for in fighting amongst spheremasters. A couple of missions to undermine Lord Farquaad or something and maybe a few deal possibilities. If MC reaches a certain influence, he could take over slave supplies to the Metasphere. Maybe run a full blown top tier brothel with top girls for the uber rich, smuggle booze and drugs. Maybe some of the purchases that can be had at the transit department should only be possible in orbit. I also think it's a bit too easy to go to the Metasphere (even if just for sightseeing). Take examples like Elysium and many more, where no way a "grounder" could go up there unless it's a very special circumstance. The USS Seneca should be huge. It did bring over 5.000 people plus a crap load of gear. Ok, most of it is off limits but still makes the station look tiny with basically only 2 visitable places (to start with).

The mines are unbalanced. They either produce too much or last too short a time (or both). They both get depleted in months. Mines usually go on for years and years.  I would propose a lower wield but longer time span. The farm looks about right (although there is much free land near the city for it to be needed to farm in some island, but I get the idea). The lumbermill is also OK. I would prefer a mix of planting and cutting to make it a steady (lower) supply, but not big a deal. Maybe send Mai Lynn (or someone with gardening xx+) over there to act as a botanist or something.

Then there are places I have no idea what they actually do, or it's just too superficial. Like Hunt Research only serves to offload prowlers or get the seeds. By the time you can train a slave to their specs (and sell for a good price) you don't really find it that interesting. And it's only 3. But could be a lot more and maybe even have some proper quests, like jungle expeditions looking for some fauna (random recyclable quest maybe). Unless the quest of the 3 slaves goes further, haven't even bothered with it.

I'd like to do more for the Orphanage, but it is a good source of influence if you have the food. Can't they throw us some servants or slaves when they turn 18?

Well. I could go on, but this is huge already, sorry. All in all, a great game.

P.S. Is this game coming to steam?