VD 1 was fun but... limited due to its design. I have VD 2 but it doesn't seem to enjoy running on my current PC - looking for workarounds as it SHOULD be my ideal game. Similar to Starpoint Gemini and Gemini Warlords - I should LOVE them but I bounce off them at the moment.
I think what I want is Mass Effect mixed with this - the crew and character interaction as well as the bleak endless space combat.
Doing some necromancy to promote this game because, well, it's frankly amazing. Also, it has DLC - the Dev has released a soundtrack and is about to release some faction related DLC:
Take homeworld and then scale it so you can fly the ships. You start in a tiny fighter and can grow all the way up to running a faction. You send resource collectors to asteroids, set up trade ships and set escorts.
And it's done in a way that is SO MUCH EASIER than any of the X games I've played. Literally - just open the map and command units like an RTS - and they carry on their mission orders.
Best way to describe the game would be a hybrid between House of the Dying Sun and X3, but with more colorful graphics and a greater emphasis towards combat. You start off with a junker of a starfighter, but over time can find a better craft and eventually work towards commanding a fleet. The command aspect is where the similarity to House of the Dying Sun comes in: you can jump from one starship to another, and give orders to others you're not currently controlling on a tactical map. Furthermore, you can build and capture starbases, establish trade routes, mine for resources, and then use those resources to build your own starships (purchasing starships via vendors is possible, but expensive).
Only complaint I have so far is the the game doesn't seem to have a working console control setup; you have to create your own unfortunately or rely upon the KB+M, which at least isn't terrible (but I still greatly prefer controlling my spaceships with joysticks). And while the campaign is meant to serve as a tutorial, it's still pretty vague and confusing.