Your English was perfect Jochen (much better than my German

)
Although graphics aren't what make or break a game to me by any means...in Aftershock they were so bad on the planet screen it felt like I spent my money on a game that was made 15 years ago...
Looking at the screen shots for Afterlight; I'm concerned they are a bit "cartoony".
In terms of gameplay: thanks for the input trembor. I think you hit on some of the things that made me bored with the other UFOs. I totally agree that RANDOM maps can make/break a game.
It is so hard to believe a game made in 1993 would be better at that than something 14 years later?!?!
Sid Meier really understands the value of the RANDOMNESS to make games fun/replayable.
I never been one to truly enjoy games where you go from point A to point B and pick up the shield, kill the big monster...cut screen to cheesy movie...rescue princess...etc etc. Planned out set campaigns are fun at times, but never long lasting...
Give me a game where you say: Here is the randomly generated world/universe/town/galaxy...whatever. Here are the "rules", if you will and then "Go do whatever you see fit". Ten turns in your game is completely unique everytime.
Final Fantasy and the ilk try to embrace this philosophy by having many branch points per game...but it's just not the same...