SFC OP game director and follow the folder path MetaAssets\ServerProfiles\SinglePlayer
Look for the file
Time.GF and edit it with Notepad
Option 1 :
You can edit these settings
[Clock/StartingDate]
BaseYear = 2263
0 = 0
1 = 10
2 = 20
3 = 40
0= Early
1= Mid
2=Late
3= Advanced
Altering the values will prolong the era..
0=0 stays the same
1=10 change to 1=20.. now Early era will last until 2283
Change 2 = 40.. Now Mid era won't end until 2303
change 3 = 60 Late era won't end until 2323
and advanced era is after that date.
Option 2 :
Another way is to increase turns per year
[Clock]
TurnsPerYear = 5
Change to [Clock]
TurnsPerYear = 20 (makes a year 4 times longer)
Option 3 :
you can change the amount of time a turn takes
MilliSecondsPerTurn = 60000 (This = 1 min)
can change to
MilliSecondsPerTurn = 3000000 (5 Min / Turn)
Now the problem with Option 1 suggestion about altering the Year dates.. it effects the shiplist as well (Ships of more advanced era produced by date, not my era.. as such.. will get Late ships in Early era).. so not recommended..
but option 2 and option 3 are viable.
I recommend only altering either Option 2 or Option 3, but not both (unless you really want each game year to crawl)
Now remember, there is no way to prevent the game from going into Late or Advanced eras.. but you can prolong the era's quite extensively with options 2 and 3.. though ship production will be slowed down tremendously.
fut all these settings are in the Time.gf file (Editable in Notepad) but do not change tabbing or spacing)
Excel works better.
IIRC, if you try to remove era's from the Time.GF file, when that date hits and the game cycles the shipyard.. game CTD's and won't launch until you delete the saved games manually.
Anyhow.. hope that this helps.