so if were playing this sequencially (player A playing for 500, and than player B starting where player A left off) than it seems it would get easier as it goes along, because player A would have to establish the coloney, get the ore supply, stabolise morale and population, and set up an effective defence, while player B would start out will all of that established, they may wish to destroy the AI coloney, but that would leave player C with nothing but housekeeping
so as you can see, it gets more boreing as you go along (this is my opinion, I like the early coloney play the best, and I think it gets boreing when all you do is build agradome, residence, med center, MHD, DIRT, Forum, agradome, residence...)