Allen "Delsyn" Rausch has checked out beta 3 of Galactic Civilizations II.  Allen is not just any old preview editor, however.  He was the one who reviewed Galactic Civilizations for GameSpy back in 2003.

Quote: "Galactic Civilizations II may very well turn this game into everything Master of Orion III should have been. Watch for it when it releases in February 2006."