This is the greatest news I've heard in GameDev so far. One of the drawbacks to replayability for the game for me is the master tech tree. It's incredibly repetitive to research the same basic tech tree no matter what species you choose to play in the game. Each species should have it's own unique tech tree based on unique characteristics of that specific species. For example, the Bartak Grove are a sentient plant based species and should have all organic techs based on living plants. They should have extreme bonuses in their tech tree to agriculture and have living space vessels that run and store solar power. Even the ship design, weaponry and defensive systems in the tech tree should be curtailed to the species. They should be the exact opposites of the Yor Singularity, which is a sentient computerized A.I. species. The Yor's tech should have bonuses to construction and digital adaptations. They should have no need of agricultural techs and should have bonuses related to collective processing power, energy consumption and high tech weaponry/defenses. 

So, yes. This. A thousand times this. I've wanted to see this for so long in the GalCiv universe. Completely unique species with wholly different tech trees, adaptations, ship and combat designs and so much more that would make the game immintely re-playable without getting bored of researching the same tech tree over and over again.

I want gaseous, but they have to be able to colonize gaseous planets that are dead for other races. Other races might invade them but all they can do is to wipe the inhabitants with no way to live on them. All the planets need to have different life expectancies based on the species colonizing them. Maybe even if something basic like -80% all production if not wanting to do the "can't live there at all"

I would like to see influence only affect similar biologic species or require late game tech to affect other life forms. I dont see any reason why a non-aquatic based species couldnt live harmoniously on a planet in the same solar system as an aquatic species without them culture flipping each other's planets. They are very different, cultural influence should be applied differently.

Also, War should severely reduce the cultural influence of an enemy, or during war give options for xenophobic war propaganda to reduce foreign enemy influence.

I think Influence has been one of the least developed game aspects and has much more potential.

Off topic, can you contemplate being able to research two technologies simultaneously?

Right now there are what four color coded trees? Have one tech selectable from the Red & Orange Trees, and one selectable from the Blue & Green Trees.

If you ever add espionage into the game, changeling would be a good option to introduce with that mechanic

(I don't think this is necroing a thread as it is still relevant)

I think the Gaseous got turned to Ammonia as best it could?

I've been thinking "Code-based". It's not Synthetic or silicon. It's not made of material, it's based on re-generative adaptable coding which has absolutely no limitations and doesn't have a specific form, shape or optimal environment. It can generate whatever form, shape and durability a world needs to function. It can also survive into objects for an amount of time(like it could transfer and/or replicate tiny bits of tech to form a PC type device on a piece of wood) but is self transferable and attempts to take over Galacticivs it finds in outer space. For the same reason its difficult to die, so one can't be sure unless they completelly destroyed their every trace. And then even they could survive in a transmitted message or something(that would make techs like jamming more useful against them in securing there isn't anything of them left out that could help them rebuild).

I'm thinking they could prey on minor civs in particular. One turn you see a peace loving minor you can trade with, the next you're suddenly at revenge war with a formidable foe you thought you eradicated.