I've read a ton of good things about this game, so I started it this week. I'm a couple of hours in now, but all I'm doing is floating around in the little space ship so far, and respawning every so often when I do something dumb.
Without spoiling it for me, is this really what this game is about? Does it get interesting at some point (soon I hope)?
UPDATE 1 DAY LATER: OK, so, using my ship log helped and I found something amazing. So I think I've found my way now and will stick with it. Thanks @tetraodon and everyone – y'all rock!
Use the ships log computer to give you an objective. It should have some areas filled in now from your exploring. Find something to do from there.
Once you start blasting off with an objective it becomes so much more fun.
You haven’t been playing wrong, but the transition from aimlessly exploring to “going out on a mission” is something that loses people.