Stardock has announced that the next expansion to its space strategy title Sins of a Solar Empire, dubbed "Diplomacy," will be released in early 2010.

The expansion is set to "vastly increase the amount of diplomatic options available to players." Beta testing will begin this fall, with a release coming later on in the winter.

The talk began with a quiz. On screen, a few colorful pixels and jagged, aliased lines.

"Who can name this game?"

A few murmurs. Finally, one brave answer, in the form of a question: "Loom?"

Correct. Star Control? Yes. Definitely King's Quest. And who doesn't know that's Ultima?

"These games were once mainstream games," said Brad Wardell, CEO of Sins of a Solar Empire publisher Stardock, speaking of them fondly as he cycled through screenshots. "How long has it been since you've seen an adventure game at retail? Exactly."

But the subject of Wardell's GDC lecture was not how low the PC market has sunk, but rather how these sorts of games can still be made--and do very well.

Digital Distribution
As a case study, Wardell released sales statistics of Stardock's latest products as proof that the market for hardcore PC games can be a profitable one.... Read more

The first micro-expansion for Ironclad's acclaimed space strategy title Sins of a Solar Empire has officially launched.

The expansion, selling for $10 on Stardock's Impulse service, adds new starbases, mine fields, and other entrenching upgrades to the spaceship fleets.

Entrenchment marks the first of three planned micro-expansions to the game, all set to be released over the next year. According to publisher Stardock, the next expansion will focus primarily on enhancing the diplomacy features of the game.

The upcoming Sins of a Solar Empire (PC) expansion Entrenchment, set for official launch next Wednesday, is shown off in the following trailer.

Looking forward to this one more as an excuse to play the game again than for any specific content, but it's nice to see Ironclad's beefy, entrenchment-enabling starbases in action.

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The first expansion for Ironclad's strategy title Sins of a Solar Empire has seen additional delays due to the incorporation of beta feedback, according to publisher Stardock. The Entrenchment expansion is now due out on February 25.

"The additional time will allow for Ironclad's development team to incorporate feedback to date and allow for another round of beta testing," said a company representative.

Added Ironclad's Blair Fraser: "It's of paramount importance to everyone that what we're releasing is the best and most robust content we can."

Entrenchment is available for preorder on Stardock's digital distribution service Impulse, for the price of $9.95.

Originally expected to launch on February 4--and prior to that, in late 2008--the upcoming Sins of a Solar Empire expansion "Entrenchment" will instead launch a week later on February 11, according to publisher Stardock.

Stardock also sent along some new screenshots of the expansion, showing off the Starbase defense platforms and other weaponry that will entrench the game's races.

Entrenchment is available for preorder on Stardock's digital distribution service Impulse, for the price of $9.95.

Entrenchment, the upcoming "micro-expansion" to Ironclad Games' Sins of a Solar Empire (PC), has been delayed to January 2009, publisher Stardock has announced.

VE3D has confirmation of the delay of the defensively-oriented expansion from Stardock. Though its release has been delayed, Entrenchment will be released early to pre-ordering customers as part of a beta test to help balance the expansion. However, no date for the pre-order beta has been provided.

Entrenchment adds a Starbase defense platform to each race, giving them armored bases with a variety of weapon, and upgrades that make them capable of defending an entire planet. Adding to that are turrent upgrades, mine fields and a "Subspace Inhibitor platform" which will slow down nearby enemy ships.

Entrenchment is the first in a series of micro-expansions that will later include new ships, technologies, and diplomacy features. Come January, Entrenchment will be available on the Sins of a Solar Empire website and Stardock's Impulse digital distribution platform.

Publisher Stardock has released six new screenshots from its popular space-bound strategy game Sins of a Solar Empire, showing off some action from the micro-expansions announced in August.

Entrenchment, the first expansion, adds defensive capabilities and is set to arrive late this year at a price of $9.95 on the game's website and Stardock's Impulse digital distribution system.

Stardock CEO Brad Wardell made headlines recently with the debut of the "Gamer's Bill of Rights," a ten-point plan to revitalize PC gaming that he developed in conjunction with Gas Powered Games CEO Chris Taylor.

Always honest and never shy, Wardell has gained a reputation as an outspoken critic of many conventional responses to the problems facing the PC platform. Following the announcement, I caught up with him for a lengthy interview, covering everything from the Bill's conception to his controversial views on piracy.

Have any companies signed on to the Bill of Rights yet? What is his answer to charges of setting unrealistic goals in the interest of a publicity stunt? What does he have to say about Crysis developer Crytek's conservative stance on piracy? Does the Sins of a Solar Empire publisher read the Shacknews comments? Look inside for the answers to these, and many other questions.

The example I usually hear is that a game comes out for the PC, and it sold five gazillion copies on consoles, and on the PC it only sold a tiny number. Well first of all, if piracy was the cause of it, if piracy is so rampant on the PC, then why are the console numbers still high? If game X comes out for Xbox 360 and the PC, and piracy is the scourge, then why wouldn't it also affect the Xbox 360 sales? I mean, what's the percentage of Xbox 360 owners that don't own a PC? So that begs the question, I mean you can do a Shack survey: how many Xbox 360 owners do not own a decent PC? Read more..

The Sins of a Solar Empire world will expand with several expansions during the next year, publisher Stardock announced today.

The first expansion is titled Entrenchment and will be available later this year for $9.95.

Entrenchment will add a Starbase defense platform to each race--giving them armored bases with a variety of weapon, and upgrades that make them capable of defending an entire planet--along with turrent upgrades, mine fields and a "Subspace Inhibitor platform" which will slow down nearby enemy ships.

Other micro-expansions in development will add new diplomacy features, as well as additional technologies and ships. Development of all these expansions is being handled by series creator Ironclad Games.

The expansions will be available from the Sins of a Solar Empire website as well as through Stardock's Impulse digital distribution platform.

Publisher Stardock today revealed a preliminary change log for an upcoming update to Ironclad Games' space RTS Sins of a Solar Empire (PC), due out later this summer.

Bringing the game to version 1.1, the update includes an updated graphics engine and visual effects, new damage animations and more alongside the standard gameplay balancing changes.

The update will also debut with a new multiplayer system called Alloy, which the publisher says will eliminate the need to configure routers or change port numbers for online play.

The patch will launch as a public beta next month before its summer release. For more details, check out the complete change log.

For people with problems using the auto-updater, the Sins of a Solar Empire 1.04 update is now available as a stand-alone download. The 17mb update comes with balancing changes, bug fixes (including one for the bug where save games wouldn't remember custom game options), AI and UI tweaks, and multiplayer improvements. ... Read more

Publisher Stardock revealed that an expansion is in the works for Ironclad Games' 4X space strategy title Sins of a Solar Empire (PC).

Company president and CEO Brad Wardell told Game|Life that an expansion for the game would feature a fully-fledged campaign mode as well as new playable factions. Wardell could not specify a particular release date for the Sins expansion, but noted that it would arrive in the near future.

The title has enjoyed brisk sales since its early February debut, selling over 100,000 copies in just under a month at retail. For more on Sins of a Solar Empire, check out our review.

A Sins of a Solar Empire singleplayer demo is now available at FileShack, for those of you interested in trying out Ironclad's recently released 4X space strategy game. The 536mb download includes four tutorials, two small maps, one randomly generated medium map and a 90 minute play limit. For more on Sins of a Solar Empire, check out Nick Breckon's review of the game.

Fans of Ironclad and Stardock's innovative PC strategy title Sins of a Solar Empire will be pleased to know that the game is selling strong, with 100,000 copies unloaded after 23 days at retail.

Sins also beat out Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade to take the top spot in North American PC game sales last week, according to Gamasutra. The title is sold in stores and through Stardock's online distribution platform Stardock Central.

Stardock reports that a demo for the game will be coming soon. For more information on Sins, check out our review.

The first patch for Ironclad Games' stellar real-time space dynasty simulator Sins of a Solar Empire (PC) has been released.

Bringing the game up to version 1.02, the patch resolves several bugs, including problems with networking, and rebalances several abilities and weapons. Scope out the full changelog for the scoop on all the nitty gritty details.

Owners of the title can acquire the patch by logging into the game's official site. To learn more about Sins of a Solar Empire and the glory of galactic domination through pew-pew lasers, check out Nick Breckon's informative review.

Like spaceships? Like lots of spaceships? Wondering what the hell this game is about, and whether the hype is justified? Hopefully this review will help a little.

I'm going to knock this game around a bit, but it will be a fatherly sort of beating, tough love with well-meaning intentions underneath the gruff, abusive exterior. Because I really do love Sins. It's a well-rounded, mostly-polished hardcore space strategy game for the PC. How often do you see that on a store shelf anymore? If the concept at all piques your interest, you will likely not regret a buy.
Read more..

Joystiq has posted a Sins of a Solar Empire Q&A, asking Ironclad's Blair Fraser about his company's 4X space based strategy game which is coming out this week.

Publisher Stardock Entertainment just sent over 15 new screenshots from Ironclad Games' upcoming 4x space strategy title Sins of a Solar Empire (PC).

According to its official site, the game will arrive in "just over two weeks," with retailer listings indicating a February 4 ship date. Once released, it will be available through both traditional retail outlets and digital distribution via Stardock's TotalGaming.net.

We received new media from Sins of a Solar Empire, the 4X space strategy game in development at Ironclad Games. We have twelve Gamma version screenshots as well as a multiplayer gameplay movie.

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