The update gave the saved game errors and I already over written the game. But on that easy/normal thing.
I played the humans. Yes, I know it even states that the beginning is difficult, how ever.
1st time made a 20 planet map and there were only 3 planets in range, max was 6 population. I fought as much as I could but died.
2nd time I bit the bullet and colonized a 6 and a 3 pop planet and just stayed out of everyone's way. when I finally had 7 destroyers and one cruiser, a race declared war on me and ate me without stopping. I couldn't even research ground defenses fast enough.
Then there was this
http://i.imgur.com/ax15nBA.jpgIn all the systems I went to I was surrounded by fail. This was a max planets in a small universe. This did have a 6 pop and a 9 pop planet. Yet everything else was barren and inhospitable. With pirates all around me and bare bones, I'm not even sure how I could work this up to a sizable force to even protect myself. I was able to upload game 528 if , I hope that makes it.
I'm gona stay away from the humans for a while.