Hi everyone, I'm new here and i'm just downloading the Trial Client.

But I would like to know wich are the advantages of being a paying member. Does the trial have an expiration period or something like that??? Sorry to ask this here, but q didn't found this answer on the main page.

Trial lasts for 'eight hours' of game play.

I know it is on the site somewhere... not exactly well advertised though...

You also get to feel good because you are supporting this game and Guild Software, Inc.

Thank you AlienB for pointimg that out and allowing me to fix it.

Here I was thinking the place was called Guild Software. Thanks for clearing that up.

The free download trial is for 8 hours.
The retail box comes with a free 30 day trial.

In 8 hours, you will not have gained all that much, and so by not paying, will only cost you about 8 hours of invested time.

If however, you decide that you enjoy playing, and you even remotely value your invested time, then by all means, pay, and enjoy the game ad infintum.

The game is consistantly updated(but currently they are working on a large relese so it's been awhile). The devs LISTEN to what the userbase has to say. They fix bugs when they are reported. They actually have taken suggestions from people. Example: Sedina B-8 became known as the sector where a lot of fighing took place. So they had the cap ships all meet there to do battle as a branch off of another request to make B-8 a fighting sector thingie.
The community is insanely awesome. People gladly help each other out. We are friendly with each other, and don't usually have many flame wars if any.

Not to mention that the devs are really cool people, and by paying for the game, you will be supporting an ever evolving game. And trust me, paying for it, will pay off.

Heck, somebody gave me a hint on where to find a rare mineral once when really it was in their best personal interest not to.

Probably not. I give locations that other people use, and keep the ones i use to myself. clever isn´t it?