While using real distance as OP suggests would be awesome, it is much more complicated. As long as we have a grid I much prefer hex to square for all the reasons others have already mentioned. Also, especially in a space strategy game I think the hexes just look so much better.

^Your funny.

I always perfer my hex grid on in any game I play. Because it has more of a game feeling which I like. I know most my friends perfer to turn the grinds off in games we play like AOW3, CIV5 Warlock etc. 

A lot of the facing rules for squares can be taken care of by the use of octagons. There are 8 faces and gives more gradation. The usage here is that squares provide a nice tessellation, in combat, it could easily switch to placing an octagon around the individual to indicate the different faces, we do not need to be trapped using a single polygon for our immersion. The hexagon grid just looks like a skewed brick pattern to me. It doesn't provide any better immersion or look for myself. I don't think that the graphical map behind the map should necessarily adhere to the hexagonal grid pattern.

There will be no changes to the hexagonal map in this game anyway and I'm not for one system over another for the purposes of game play. There are limitations to both that can be exploited or can become an annoyance. When I look at dungeons and such I prefer squares, when it comes to overland maps and open areas, hexagons tend to be a nice flavor. If it comes down to space combat, I'd prefer 3 dimensions. But I think the 3 dimensions would have to come with a technology change for computers.

I do find it interesting that although space is 3 dimensional galaxies tend to be more 2 dimensional in look and shape. Thus, a good model for a galaxy space game is 2d.

Lol, George, there is no refunds!

In my opinion, hexes are always better than squares for any wargame.  The greater amount of options available for movement, combat, and placement of stuff in general can't be beat.  Now, octagons would be interesting. 

i don't care as long as movement and combat is represented in an eye pleasing form.

Movement isn't right now, but somewhere here i read it is being considered WIP. And we are still in alpha, so i am ok with it atm.

edit: 'is'

Of course you change the playing field in mid-development,when you're in alpha stage, especially if you're going in the wrong direction.  I mean how much of a game have we really got at the moment ?  A little bit of AI, stuck in War-Mode, and I'm sure there must be something else but I can't remember what !

Hmmm...yes let's remake the entire system to a format most likely unfamiliar with SD best AI programmer frogboy. Or maybe we can add a entire FPS into ground combat!

Really, do you have the beta? Because every program would have to be reworked to accommodate the 3D and some things like the AI would not work to well. Mainly because I don't think they teach 3D TBS programming in college, and to do it in a few months would be near impossible for even the most creative...like solving a rubics cube. (lost many hours on those.)

Its not that cost is my concern but believing or imaging this is difficult given how nearly impossible this is. IMHO.

DARCA.

I agree the snakey thing looks weird but honestly if it's one "bug" that never gets fixed I'm not going to be particularly concerned. And who knows? Maybe in the 2200s (if we're that developed) spaceships will move like that. Maybe they could add something like how your battleship crew have developed spaceshipsickness from zigzagging across to the Drengin planets and can someone else protect the transports please while we barf?...

I was just trying to point out to everyone that the game is very much in early Alpha stage therefore it should be easier to make changes now rather than when it gets to beta stage.  The thing that I forgot the game has, at the moment, is the game engine and the starship-workshop, also perhaps a quarter of the Tech-tree.  I can't see that pointing out such stuff is trolling and I am not criticizing the devs and their leaders for only rolling out one feature at a time.  It's just that I was expecting more from a 3-rd generation game rather than what now appears to be emerging as more of an expansion pack as regards new features.  I'm just as entitled to my opinions as anyone else and will continue to highlight when someone makes a generalisation and declares it a cast-iron law.