This game would really be a lot more fun if you didn't have to constantly bid against your opponents to make the Pirates attact them instead of you.  If you don't bid then your spending your cash, metal and crystals on ships that the Pirates destroy and if you do bid your still spending much cash.  It's a stupid way to make you spend your assets to delay the game and make it longer.  The pirates will form for another attact even before you have destroyed the first wave. Soooo dumb.  The program has depth but it takes forever to dig into it because of the Pirates.  When I want to play a Shoot em up game I play Duke or Diablo.  Pirates? Enough already!