I am on the verge of finishing my first GalCiv1 game (loving it, by the way), but there is something I don't understand:
I got the message that my civilization was the most culturally dominant, and that if I could upheld 90% domination for one year I would win. The months went by and ticked down, but suddenly it stopped and reverted to 95% culture in the winning conditions box. This happened the first time I demanded tribute from the Drengin (my only hostile act). Can I not win culturally if I bribe or go to war, even if I still have more 90% cultural domination?
And one other thing: The Altarians had two systems which both flipped to me, but they are still in the game. They have starbases, a few ships and I can still trade with them. Is it possible that they have a system hidden by the fog of war? Or is there another explanation?