DcZCocraine

I would think you would simply mess with the competition, size of machinery and you could make it more advanced. This defines simply would get better as time goes on but if the engines, weapons etc. could be improved that is another massive part of the game. Some group could build a giant research facility either as a ship or underground or as one station. This means someone you out tech everybody els as a way to compete. There could also be tech treaties between factions of even espionage ( it is is possible) to steal someone else's tech from there facility. AS the post above states, you could shoot down a really advanced fighter and then take the tech from it. You could have weapon testing ranges like in real life were they get to blow stuff up all day.