this is my first post here.
I've been waiting for many years for this kind of game. As many others I'm a big fan of BARIS.
After several hours playing SPM, I've found several flaws, especially in R&D:
1. starting reliability is always 0 regardless of previous designs (this make sense only for couple of years, when you have to design everything from scratch - in reality Gemini program was based on Mercury collected experiences, etc.)
2. maximum number of assigned SET employees is limited to 4.
3. I see no reason for sequential planet probes research (maybe except of landers) - these are based on similar designs, in connection with point 1 gameplay is annoying.
4. Failed mission slows down project for several years
This way each development is going to be extremely slow, regardless of previous experience, available budget and personnel (I've started development of Saturn probe in 1983, having excessive amounts of funds and stuff, I don’t see any chances to send Apollo 11 to the Moon in 1969).
Second thought - missions endurance: in reality flyby time of first Jupiter probe (Pioneer 10) took only 1,5 years (launched march 72, approached Jupiter in November 73). In SPM Jupiter flyby takes 20 seasons.
Third thing – basing on experience of playing long term missions (like Jupiter probe) I would suggest 2 changes:
1. ability to use assigned mission control stuff for entire mission
2. ability to skip mission screens - watching identical screens for 18 seasons is really boring.
At last - sorry for my bad English
