The following tips are intended to help the novice player familiarise themselves with the game and to generally stay alive.

• Use the Space Key to pause the game when things get ‘hot’. The long range scanners, tactical screen and status screens can all be freely accessed in order to formulate a suitable combat strategy.
   

• Don’t horde missiles, they’re relatively cheap and very effective. Also be aware of the type of missile that will be fired next from the magazine – if in doubt pause the game and check via the status screen.
   
• Buy Enhanced Short Range Scanners at the earliest opportunity.
   
• Be aware of your enemy’s strengths and weaknesses. In particular if the hostile spacecraft possesses multiple engine arrays then the quickest way to disable it is a frontal missile barrage on the cockpit.
   
• To earn a decent profit through trade requires a super freighter. If you own a smaller ship then bounty hunting, deep space salvage or piracy are the quickest ways of becoming rich.
   
• If you’re targeted by a missile then head for the nearest super freighter – with any luck it will hit this before it hits you.
   
• Space Stations and City Landing Pads are safe havens. If you're outgunned then dock at the earliest opportunity.

• Save the game regularly via the F12 key – it’s quick and not particularly intrusive. Remember to clean up the save directory and recycle bin on a regular basis though.
   

• The recommended control method is via the mouse. It is also worth stressing that whilst the ‘fly to pointer’ option is probably the most intuitive method, the default ‘Pitch+Roll’ provides more freedom of control and is worth persevering with. If the ‘fly to pointer’ method is adopted then the mouse sensitivity will probably need to be raised.
   
• Install some music - if nothing else it can give an audible indication of when you come under attack.
  
  
  
• If you’re new to the game then unprovoked attacks can be inhibited by selecting the ‘passive aliens/pirates’ in the option preferences menu. It may also be a good idea to jump to a new system as this will cause current attackers to be disengaged.