Now that I think about it, there really hasn't been a exceptional space colonization game for a long while before Galactic Civilizations 2. A few "classics" now might be:
- Masters of Orion
- Ascention
- Sid Miers Alpha Centuri (I only mention this - I'm not going to recommend it, just not a very good game overall)
That's about it. Oh yeah, Star Control 2 is still an amzing game.
DJ