try the X series as I said, it is exactly what you are describing here.

You start with a small ship and have to do trading, mining or even hunting pirated to get money, you can start bulding fleets and assign them as your "wingmen". You can even build space stations later on and commandeer entire capital ships!

And you have a small storyline too laugh

EDIT: But beware, the first one (X - Beyond the Frontiers) is from 1998 so expect crappy graphics, the newer ones (X² and X³) look very nice!)

Last edited by Michael_Schwarz; 01/19/09 21:51.
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