Just a few ideas that will improve ICO and the online community. All suggestions are inspired by what goes on in TA spring - A very sustainable community that does not rely on "competitive play" , but on "addictive play". I see sins in the same way. This would be great to come with 1.1 and the summer holidays.

1) Have game-time be a statistic in your player profile. I.e Player - 40 Games , 23 hours 40 mins. This is an important statistic as it will disregard those "restart games" , that still add to your overall games played. Also to mention, those Instawin games people sneakily host.

2) Team Balancing Hosting Feature - base it on game-time and allow it to auto-make teams.  Many newcomers get put off by stacking. In TA Spring , every game online is auto-balanced so that both teams have a mix of expierence . This is how newcomers should be welcomed into the game , because they will be the future regulars.

3) Show by players name ,a rank picture based on game-time. 0-5 hours gametime = Ensign. 6-10 hours = Officer . 200 hours gametime = star-rank. Infact having rank be based on game-time reduces the amount of quitters. In TA Spring... "atleast im getting game-time for my rank" - quote from a player who is losing. In Sins he might otherwise just "quit".

4) Players online but ingame - Greyed out but visable. Psychologically feels like more people online.

5) Games being already played online - Greyed out but visable.

6) Get rid of the win/loss ratio from public viewing (You can still view it yourself) . It might be harder to judge a players skill , but its a sacrifice I would be willing to make, inorder to have a community that doesnt quit to "save their stats". The fact that you can host insta-win games makes win/loss moot anyway.

7) Allow for hosts an option to set a minimum rank bar. However it should not physically stop under-ranked from joining. They will just get the message that they are under rank. Tho controversial this actually is important for newcomer aspiration to play sins to build up their rank. Many in TA spring feel the achievement of gaining the star-rank (100hours+). Also you dont have to be amazingly skilled to get the rank , you just have build up your game-time. The higher ranks are actually simply a testament to being a regular onliner.

7) FIX twin empires starting positions , and have option for random maps to have teams placed together.

Thanks , hope some of these suggestions are helpful.