Background pictures (scientist, engineer, ...) should offer several versions based on game progress.
I think the game is about progress and discovering new things, the background pictures takes serious amount of gameplay time but they are still the same. Result is, game feels static, frozen in time - boring.
Proposal :
Make a system where background picture and responsible person are two entities.
Then
- link the background picture to general game progress - make 4-6 versions showing new tech or even some destruction (after base attacked)
- link person visuals to projects done - engineer build an air-plain >> put WW1 air-plain googles on; scientist make research of lizards - his hand is bitten off and replaced by artificial steel hand.
and so on. I can make dozens of these in no time. :-]
Target is clear I guess, offer variety for players and some fun on top. Avoid static scrreen for whole gameplay - it is specially deadly for re-playability.
Also would be nice make background a form of animated gif. e.i. a small moving parts in a loop. Which helps remove the static feel of the whole base interface.
Thanks for reading