This is TM v2. Same designers, same framework.

What I like about Gaia Project is that the metaphors are so much clearer and more obvious. Like remember the various upgrades you could buy in TM? Like “ships” and cheaper terrain-changing? Those and other effects are folded into six technology tracks in GP instead. Super obvious, very clear, no extra layer of abstraction. Or rather, it’s an abstraction I found way easier to plug into. And then your advancement along those technologies takes the place of the “cult track” stuff in TM which is really just more weird abstraction.

I kind of want to go back and play TM and see if the game clicks for me more now that I have a different way of modeling what’s happening in my head.