I am new to the game as well.  How do I view the game replay?  Also, how do I make copies of my games?  And if I make copies of the games will other fans view them and constructively criticize so I can improve gameplay?

The single player menu has a 'watch' tab, then you can click onto different sets of replays, first single player then multiplayer.  They should have autosaved, unless you've turned autosave off.

If you put a link to a replay up there'll usually be some interest, I try to watch the replays that have been posted.  If you want criticism a short random 1v1 is easier for others to watch than a vast game on a custom map.  Once you can defeat a hard AI 1v1 multiplayer is better for your game, single players reach a plateau because of AI limitations.

Ok but do I save it into a specific folder to watch it in game or......??? I guess i am looking for the how to do it part so i can watch it.

From the in-game menu 'Single Player', 'Watch Game', 'Single Player Auto-Recorded Games', select the one you want and 'Watch'....If you play a 1v1 with autosave on it should be there, the last one you played is on top. 

If you play a game, put it up for download somewhere and post a link I'll take a look at it for you, or anyone else that wants some commentary.  What level are you playing at?

If it's your own replay, it will be automatically saved to the correct folder for viewing.  By default, every game you play is recorded for replays.

In order to view a replay someone else posts, you must put it in the correct folder.  First go to "folder options" in your "control panel" and turn on the option to reveal hidden folders.  Next, go to C:\users\<username>\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\

You'll see the record and auto-record folders here.  This is where you can find your own replay files and place other replay files you've downloaded.  Notice that if you download an Entrenchment replay (like the one I just posted) you will need to view it in Entrenchment.

I am starting at normal.  Ok, I can get to where to watch movie's...but i want to watch the one that darvin3 posted.  I have it saved on my computer now but its not showing up.  I assume I have to save it to a specific folder so I can watch in the game, do you know where i save the file to?

You will need to play Entrenchment in order to watch my replay.  If you bought the Trinity edition of the game, you have Entrenchment.

The correct folder for replays would be:

c:\users\<username>\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Record-SinglePlayer

The "appdata" folder is a hidden folder, so you will need to change your windows settings to reveal it.  You can do this from folder settings in your control panel. 

Thanks for the help darvin.  I watched your whole game.  A few things came to my attention while watching the game.

1.  I noticed there were no pirate attacks.  I assume you turned them off.  Is that just a personal preference or does it help with the overall gameplay?

2.  Was there any reasoning behind your settlement pattern?  Did you just branch out until you found the enemies main base then focus on expanding towards it?

3.  Obviously the use of the ability of the navigators to capture asteriod fields was huge, what do you do when you use TEC or advent that dont have that ability?  Does it slow your expansion rate? 

4.  It seems most of the initial pirate spawns were light ( i.e. only 2-3 light frigates in most).  Is the standard you used for light spawns with asteriods to take it with a navigator then build a defense platform to kill the spawn then mine and leave it be? 

5.  Do you normally use only your inital capital ship to clear the first planets?  Do you ever wait for some support frigates etc?  Do you normally use the same strategy as with the asteriod spawns by immediately colonizing and building defense platforms while you engage the rest of the pirates?

This is all i could think of as of right now.  Any help would be awesome!!!

A little of both.  Most multiplayer gamers play without pirates.

I was quite focused on expanding directly towards the enemy.  That doesn't mean I wouldn't make an effort to take other planets (notice how I picked up that terran later on with frigates alone)

Absolutely; this is one of Vasari's core advantages.  On the other hand, Vasari are widely considered the weakest faction in the early game if not for this advantage, so it kinda evens out.  I only won the early fights because the AI allowed me to complete repair bays on the desert and a starbase on his homeworld.

What you need to do as Advent or TEC is to send units (including light frigates) to these important gravity wells to chase off Vasari scouts.  If you do that early enough you can compete for most of these wells.  The two uncolonizable well near the TEC should have been a challenge for me to hold on to, but they weren't because the AI was too easily distracted.

Yup, that's exactly how you take asteroids.  Also works on lightly guarded planets (though I usually bring along a few frigates for those).  The catch is your migrator needs enough antimatter to capture the planet.  Since you lose 100 antimatter after each jump, this can mean you spend a long time waiting for that antimatter to come back, so it doesn't work quite so well for more distant asteroids, which is why I sent a couple frigates along to assist.

Normally, you jump in and get to work so you can move on to the next planet sooner.  Imagine if I'd been a minute slower with my capital ship; the AI would have owned that desert and I'd have had to fight for it.  Because I got there so fast, I was able to colonize it before he could.

Sending a couple frigates to assist isn't a bad thing, but you don't want to wait for them.  Very few types of militia are capable of seriously threatening a capital ship, and usually those are only on desert and terran planets.  Normally you avoid these in the first 10 minutes of the game, since it just takes too much time and you're better off colonizing other things.  You can always come back to heavily defended planets later.  If anything, it's a great way to bring your second capital ship up to speed in terms of levels. 

Right, thanks for the tips, everyone. 

In the end I downloaded Entrenchment, as I was fascinated with the Star Bases I've been hearing about so much. As a 'quick try-out game' before going off shopping in town today, I fired it up, and was pleasantly surprised, nay, shocked to not only win the game, but also win the game in 1hr 33mins! The Star Base seemed to have a huge effect on the game.

So, this is my first ever win on Sins Of A Solar Empire. I was using the 'Point Blank' small map (7 planets, pirates inactive). If anyone wants to see my haphazard and rushed approach (by rushing and being aggressive I eventually won the game, though, as well as being able to catch my train into town!), then I will upload the replay as soon as I can find out how to do that.

Cheers again!

Ah, Point Blank, such an aggressive map.  This map is about all-out offensive, so much so that it's often a good strategy to delay colonizing your asteroid and pour that money directly into attacking the enemy.  I can typically beat the unfair AI in 20-30 minutes (that includes bombarding its planet) on this map.  For a beginner, it's not uncommon to have to take your time, but the next step is to speed things up and try to make your moves sooner and more decisively.