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First off, I'm very happy that you fixed some of the programming for the game.  I was having trouble using the "Launch" button in my itch.o window, and had to use local files to get the game to start.  It works fine again :). 

Second, I LOVE the new exploration feature!  It is so cool!  We finally get to see more of Aven Prime (at least in map form) and get to explore places that aren't on the city maps!  I know it costs quite a few nanites, but the exploration platform and ship are worth it.  

Speaking of maps, will this game give you a mini-map eventually?  In most of the city-building games I've played, there was always a mini-map of your city that you could bring up and click anywhere you wanted.  Well, the Black and White 2 games didn't have that, but in those games, you could just scroll out and double-click to the site you wanted to visit.  Trouble is, you can't scroll out nearly as far in this game, but you can still double-click to the location you want, after hunting it down from above.

We used to have mini-maps, but had to take them out as we couldn't justify making them a priority.

Anything is possible in the long run, though, if the game does well enough!

Great job done so far.

I am also a lover of the new exploration feature having mentioned something similar as a desirable on the itch.io forum previously. A lot more has been implemented than I had anticipated for sure and am having loads of fun testing that new feature out. The research centre now includes the improvement tech for the expeditionary forces and allows greater longevity to the function of that building too.

The new wind turbines look cool and general game play has definitely improved.

I also took the Steam key option and now play through there and in the process had no saves or previous ranking status to mention, as if I had just started out as a new governor. I honestly thought I didn't deserve to be demoted and that was rectified by copy and pasting my old itch.io files to the new Steam folder and thereby re-establishing my High Chancellor ranking without having done the now retracted Arido Mesa campaign mission (Sandbox mission still available). Steam achievements for the game are not working properly neither.

Anyway. My only real disappointment was not seeing a governor's residence to enjoy as if I was a real member of the colony instead of me floating above everything all the time with a jet pack on. I know I can monitor things using the cameras or clicking on one of the colonists and seeing how they're doing, but thought I'd have a place that I could call home from home. Maybe that could be one of those possible things introduced as well as the fast track ground system or monorail before the long run?

In most of my city-building games, I didn't really need a "governor's residence," though I think some kind of government building would make sense in this one.  In Children of the Nile, the first building I had to make was a primitive palace for the ruling pharaoh.  In the Zeus and Poseidon games, I did have to build a palace of sorts, but it wasn't for a ruling monarch.  It was a place to house the city treasury, direct the military, and I guess in real life, it would have been a place for citizens to cast votes in elections.  It would have also been a place for politicians to meet, make decisions, and pass laws in real life too.  (Kind of like the U.S. Capitol Building).  

So perhaps some kind of public government building would work for the game, but I don't believe a personal governor's mansion is really necessary.  Chances are (if you want to use your imagination) you as a governor live in one of the habitats or skyscrapers with everyone else.

I can see your reasoning for the types of games you previously played but I got the impression that Aven Colony is going to be something different than the standard.

Most of the building games I have played have had a base of operations and from there the buildings were assembled. Aven colony has drone facilities for that and I think that works fine and would not want to disrupt that feature.

However, I was thinking that maybe the governors residence can be functional just like the expeditionary forces building. Political opponents/friends or even ordinary citizens can be requesting things of you individually and accordingly if you decide to help them they will show you their gratitude or their disapproval if not in favour of their request. Those actions you take as the governor might have consequences further down the story line and could also tie in to the rebel situation or something to do with the Alien artifacts.

Interesting idea.