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GameSpy has posted a preview of Interplay's Star Trek-based real-time starship combat simulator Starfleet Command 2: Empires at War. So, what is a real-time combat sim? SC2 puts you in command of a fleet of starships; you can control many aspects of the battle, including the weapons deployment, energy levels and shields and phaser settings of individual ships. According to GameSpy SC2 contains many improvements over the original title, such as new races, more playble ships, better modeling and lighting and more missions. Here is a clip with their description of the gameplay:

Before you jump into the seat of your starship, you must first select a sector from the Metaverse map and then a mission. But before that, you should visit the shipyard or supply areas of the game, where you can use Prestige Points, which are points you earn for succeeding at missions. When you begin the game, you will only have a few, but as you complete missions and rack them up, you can upgrade shuttles, missiles, and bid on new ships to add to the fleet. You can also repair your ships if they were damaged. The better you are at the missions, and the more thoroughly you trounce the enemy, the more points you will earn.

Starfleet Command 2 Web Site

Starfleet Command 2 Preview at GameSpy

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Starfleet Command II (add to watch list)

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