Couldnt you just do that on 'low' AI difficulty?

You guys suck 

You know you want it

I do like to play a challenge free version of gc2 at times but I do like a few other empires around to crush at my leisure so I'm with those who say best to play with a small number of ai opponents on easiest setting for that.

Meh? I'd not oppose the option but I don't see myself using it.

This just seems to go against what the game is all about. Doesn't interest me in the least. But having said that, if it takes no resources/time away from the game's normal development process I see no harm in having it as an option, though I would never use it. If it does take too much away from development time then I agree, it should only be a mod.

that also makes you a jerk along with everyone! its so trivial yet controversial and sad.

Avatar137 I know very very very veeerrryy little about computer code, but I believe this would be as easy as changing one or tw digits. I will continue to fight for this because it's fun.

DARCA.

I also like the simulation mode idea, for several reasons...

1]  Sometimes I'd like to watch the game, but don't have the energy/time to battle my way through the galaxy.  Sometimes it's just fun to watch.  YouTube knows this.  Sometimes I just like to be a spectator.

2]  It's also quite interesting to see how the various races play.  There is a lot that can be learned from watching each of the races conduct their strategies.  This would be an interesting way to learn different strategies - especially when people upload new AI strategies.  Let us watch them, and learn from them.

3]  With the improved graphics of GC3, it would be nice to just sit back and enjoy the cut scenes & space ships & planets without being distracted by 4X considerations.

4]  There are people who are interested in the genre, but afraid of the massive commitment to play the game.  Let's call them casual players.  This option could be a way to 'test the waters' before committing up front to a life or death struggle that will last for days, and may not deliver a sufficient reward for the time spent on the endeavor. 

All this being said, I think there would be more code required than many people realize.  For example, what kind of display options would be available?  How would we freeze time and observe planet development, or space ship design?  Could we switch races to observe at will, or be stuck with just one race?  In the end, however, I do feel that this option would be interesting & useful to a significant number of different kinds of players, for different reasons, and have multiple uses.  I think it would be worth the coding resources.

Spawn only Minor Civilizations and disable all victory conditions except Ascension

delete

You're a real joy, you know that?

Yeah. Very much (so relax, much peace).

Having "peaceful" mode is a double boon. First, it allows me to enjoy building/shaping process without (b)locking enemy first in games which are not exactly a "builder" genre, like old Sins of a Solar Empire, where we could play without opponents and do any form of stupid things. Not that I don't like "builder" genre (hmm, I wonder if it affected my choice of occupation?), but sometimes I want something else, when Caesar, Zeus, Pharaoh, Cities, Banished, Gnomoria (grr, year 15 saves are corrupted) or you name it, because I could be tired of those and wanting for something else.

Second, I do enjoy contemplation and exploration in games. I do not mean games which complete themselves without your input and/or put a tonnes gigabytes of scripts just for show (exploding helicopters and alike). Doh-va-kin? Sorry, not interested - I want to know what I could see from top of that hill. And the next. And the next after that. I don't mind to see how game "simulate life" (Space Rangers are still best, IMHO), or how mechanic is works - whether on it's own, or how what I've built functions. Just like X-series (except X-Rebirth, which is, well, "reborn" and need to learn how to talk, walk and do the potty) - getting into busy sector, or, better, building one and seeing how your freighters move around. Or seeing how they crash into stations, making you facepalm and relocating that Cahoona bakery placed wrong. Part of three things people can look at endlessly - how fire burns, how water flows, and how other people working.

So yeah, I'd gladly welcome such "endless" mode in Galactic Civilizations, Fallen Enchantress, and its return to Sins of a Solar Empire. Make stuff not war. Dixi.

I don't understand you guys, you would really like to play GalCiv without any challengers? A universe without death, destruction and carnage is simply wrong!!!

Also, this is a 4X game

Xplore - Xpand -Xploit -Xterminate!!

So what you are proposing would turn it into a 3X game .