Time is not a factor in your score, at all.
High score results from high population and tecnology.
As you can see, even a fairly low difficulty can
obtain through massive population the same score as
a much more difficult game, but lower pop game.
This is something I have been pointing out for weeks,
and while it is better then it was before, the same
problem still exists and I wouldnt hold my breath
looking for it to be fixed.
If you want to get to number 1 on the metaverse, watch
KseAli, he will have it within a week.
That is sergey, he first started over, getting rid
of the massive dead weight all the games prior to 1.05
represent.
He will then achieve near total domination on crippling
difficulty, building all wonders, fully colonizing
all planets and researching all techs before
ending the game with a fairly massive population.
There is pretty much nothing I can do to stop him
without also ditching my name and playing on crippling.
And the sad thing, the game massively rewards playing
games that are over. KseAli will spend about 70%
of his turns playing a game that is essentially over
with only one AI left cornered on some system while
he finishes poping and teching. Why this extremely
boring behaviour is being rewarded with much higher
scores, I dunno, I guess they think only a few people
will do it, and thats those guys sickness.
Of course, the reality is its the systems sickness
and its only more pronounced at the top, it will effect
pretty much everyone to some extent.