  We describe short-time kinetic and steady-state properties of the
non--equilibrium phases, namely, solid, liquid and gas anisotropic phases in a
driven Lennard-Jones fluid. This is a computationally-convenient
two-dimensional model which exhibits a net current and striped structures at
low temperature, thus resembling many situations in nature. We here focus on
both critical behavior and details of the nucleation process. In spite of the
anisotropy of the late--time spinodal decomposition process, earlier nucleation
seems to proceed by Smoluchowski coagulation and Ostwald ripening, which are
known to account for nucleation in equilibrium, isotropic lattice systems and
actual fluids. On the other hand, a detailed analysis of the system critical
behavior rises some intriguing questions on the role of symmetries; this
concerns the computer and field-theoretical modeling of non-equilibrium fluids.
