The first expansion pack to Star Control: Origins, Earth Rising, is broken into 4 parts that is being delivered as a season pass (that is, a new part every season).  The first part, Aftermath, was released in December and added a whole new region of space to explore, as well as new quests for your crew and the beginning of Earth's journey into being an interstellar power.

Part 2 is arriving soon and it concerns itself mostly on the mysterious Lexites. The Lexites first appeared in Dawn of the Singularity and started out as a small group of humans that developed strong AI, resulting in a controlled technological singularity. The Lexites contributed greatly to humanity in the mid part of the 21st century, but then suddenly, they left, with very little reason given. Their departure was the original impetus for the formation of Star Control.

Now, the player will learn more about why the Lexites left and what this means for the future for not just humanity, but for all the worlds that exist in Orion's Spur (the part of the galaxy that we live in).

As we put the finishing touches on it, we thought we'd share some of the first gameplay screenshots.  Note: these aren't final shots, but you can get an idea of what the Lexites, or at least the beings you encounter, look like.

The Lexites have their own set of ships that you'll get to see first hand.

Of course the Tywom dress up like humans.  Because: OF COURSE THEY DO.

New weapons and other goodies come with part 2 that you can experience in battle.

Encounter with a group of Lexites.

If you don't already have Star Control: Origins, you can grab it at www.starcontrol.com.  Earth Rising is also available there as well.  The nice thing about Star Control being a non-linear "sandboxy" RPG is that you don't have to have finished the game to enjoy the expansion.  In fact, you don't even have to have started the game to start experience the new content. It simply builds out the universe. What you do in that universe is up to you.

Greetings!

Lots to go over this month so I will do my best to keep it short.

## NEW Ashes Game ##

We are about to announce a new game in the Ashes of the Singularity universe.  It's in the tower defense genre.  This originally was going to be released as a DLC for Ashes but the gameplay changes required made it impossible to keep it part of the same EXE so it's being released as a stand-alone game.  Lifetime Founders of Ashes will get this added automatically.

We'll have more details about this later this week.  The good news for Ashes players is that a lot of new tech was experimented with and implemented with this game that will be coming back to Ashes of the Singularity this Spring.

## NEXT Ashes DLC ##

Many of the engineers at Stardock have been working on porting the engine to Linux.  I've mentioned this elsewhere but we've got it running.  The challenge now is that we need to do more optimization with Vulkan before we can make it publicly available.  

While the Vulkan work goes forward, we are in the process of creating a new DLC for Ashes that includes new units and buildings that should result in some new strategies and greater strategic depth.  We'll have more on that also this Spring.

## Ashes of the Singularity v3.0 ##

The new core engine features and bug fixes that we've made to Star Control: Origins and the upcoming tower defense game will be collectively referred to as Ashes v3.0.  We have a lengthy list of player requests (I'm working on a Hades bomber targeting update myself this week) plus a lot of other changes that will result in what will almost feel like a new game in some respects.

Dominate the Free Martian Market and Snub Capitalism at the Same Time with the Offworld Trading Company FREE Multiplayer Client!
New "Market Corrections" DLC also released today.

You're able to join online lobby games or ranked games and play against other Offworld entrepreneurs, even if you don't own the base game. If you enjoy yourself, you can upgrade to the core version of the game to gain access to the campaign, daily challenges, and skirmish mode.

70% Off the Core Game*
Buy from Steam  |  Buy from Stardock

 

------ Market Corrections DLC ------

Mars used to be the place where the unwanted went. The criminals, the men and women who were a menace to society. However, a crisis on Earth forced even more humans to flee to the Red Planet in order to make better lives for themselves. Technology had failed them, and dwindling supplies was threatening to doom them.

Market Corrections is a new piece of downloadable content for Offworld Trading Company that features 12 brand new maps and 3 new character campaigns that share why humanity began to colonize Mars.

Reni-6: A sentient robot who has spent years serving humans, Reni-6 seeks to change humanity’s perception on robotics. By providing food and aid to the colonies, Reni-6 hopes they’ll see that not all technology is bad - in fact, it can even be helpful.

Ilana Kamat: A brilliant scientist, Ilana was there when a mysterious algorithm wiped out Earth’s technology. Her mentor, Silas, is keen to make certain that the same doesn’t happen to Mars, and for the time being she’s left in charge of the company to make sure things keep operating smoothly.

Frank Dawson: Frank doesn’t talk much about why he was sent to Mars - and most people are afraid enough not to ask. It is a reputation that he never asked for, one that he seeks to change for himself, as well as the rest of the colonists who first came to Mars as prisoners.

10% Off Market Corrections*

Also available from Stardock

NEW MAPS: Korolev Crater East The Eastern side of the largest ice-filled crater on Mars.  Two-Points Lakebed Pointed formations created by flowing rivers, which later formed a lake (now devoid of water) as the rivers were drying up. Atlantis Chaos An equatorial basin region filled with rugged features. Korolev Crater West The western side of the largest filled crater on Mars. Ma'adim Vallis An ancient riverbed. Thymiamata Part of the brightest desert region on Mars, heavily pocketed with craters.   Aurorae Chaos Sprawling rugged lands that were once underwater. Melas Craters A small section of land, marked by craters, located south of the solar system's largest canyon. Mangala Valles An intensely cratered area south of one of the ancient great seas. Korolev Crater North The northern side of the largest ice-filled crater on Mars. Masursky Crater A unique ancient crater, partially worn away by rivers that once flowed through and near it, all long dry. Mangala Fossa A deep canyon with one section filled in by intersecting flows of ancient lava.

To learn more about Offworld Trading Company, visit www.offworldgame.com 

 

*Sale ends March 7, 2019 at 1PM EST. Steam keys are issued when purchasing from Stardock.

 

 

Galactic Civilizations III: Retribution
is Now Available in a Galaxy Near You

What started as a crusade has become a war of retribution.
Save 10%* on Retribution and 70%** on the Core Edition!

Galactic Civilizations III: Retribution adds Hypergates, Precursor Artifacts, new major civilizations, and much more.

Across the galaxy, you and your rivals are discovering ancient alien artifacts that grant powerful new capabilities. Meanwhile, as civilizations try to carefully balance building an economy, funding an ever growing war machine, and engaging in diplomacy, the humans of Sol III have invented a game-changing new technology - Hypergates - which, when connected, allow for rapid transit across the galaxy.

With two new major civilizations and the concluding campaign to the Galactic Civilizations III backstory that serves this massive space 4X sandbox game, Retribution asks the question: How will you rule your galaxy?

The new features in Galactic Civilizations III: Retribution include:

• Artifacts - Powerful items buried on planets across the galaxy will give your civilization instant-access to new abilities.
• Hypergates - Construct powerful gateways that, when linked, allow your fleets to travel rapidly across hyperspace.
• Major Civilizations: Drath and Korath - The manipulative Drath pull the strings across the galaxy while the Korath rely on extermination. Each has its own set of special abilities, bonuses, and ship parts.
• Supply Ships - Supply ships can be constructed to deliver goods and services to your other planets to aid in their development.
• New Technology Tree - A top to bottom overhaul of the technology tree adds depth and sharpens the strategic choices in your research options.
• Retribution Campaign -The malevolent Drengin Empire made a terrible mistake underestimating humanity’s strength, and the climactic battle that will follow may end in their extinction.

For more information, visit www.galciv3.com/retribution

About Galactic Civilizations III
Galactic Civilizations III is the largest space strategy sandbox ever made. Start with a single world and expand across the galaxy through diplomacy, trade, cultural hegemony, or military conquest in this single or multiplayer 4X strategy game. How will you rule your galaxy?

*Sale ends 2/27/19 at 1PM EST. Steam and Galactic Civilizations III is required to play this expansion.
**Sale ends 2/23/19 at 1PM EST on Steam and 2/27/19 at 1PM EST direct from Stardock. Steam required to play.

Want to play a game about the free market on Mars while snubbing your nose at capitalism?
Now you can, with the Free Multiplayer Client releasing on February 28th!

-- New "Market Corrections" DLC also releases on 2/28 - Add it to your Steam wishlist. --

Stardock and Mohawk Games have announced a new multiplayer client for their critically acclaimed real-time strategy game, Offworld Trading Company, that will allow players to face off against each other for free, even if they don’t already own the game.

Offworld Trading Company is an economic strategy game by Civilization IV’s lead designer, Soren Johnson. Players find themselves trying to build a corporation on Mars, but the competition is fierce - others are standing in the way of success, and victory is hard-earned through mastering and manipulating the Martian stock market.

Players who enjoy the free multiplayer mode can upgrade to the full version of the game to gain access to the campaign, daily challenges, and skirmish mode starting on February 28, 2019.

The Market Corrections DLC tells the story of why Earth needed to colonize Mars through the eyes of the people currently trying to survive there. It features 3 new single-player narrative campaigns that focus on three different CEOs - Reni-6, Ilana Kamat, and Frank Dawson.

Market Corrections also contains 12 new maps modeled after various locations on Mars, including the pointed formations of Two Points Lakebed, the cratered land of Mangala Valles, the deep canyon of Mangala Fossa, and more.

The Market Corrections DLC will be available for $3.99 on Steam on February 28th, 2019.

Screenshots:

Base Game Screenshot Market Corrections DLC Screenshot

 

To learn more, visit: www.offworldgame.com  |  Contact: press@stardock.com 

Ironclad Games and Stardock are pleased to announce the opt-in for version 1.94 of Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion on Steam. This latest update contains a number of balance changes and enhancements.

Click here for a full change log.

Galactic Civilizations III: Retribution arrives on February 21
The expansion to the massive space strategy game adds new civilizations, hypergates, supply ships, new technology trees and much more.

See our brand new trailer for Galactic Civilizations III: Retribution below!

Add it to your Steam Wishlist today.

For more information, visit www.galciv3.com/retribution.

Start with a single world and expand across the galaxy through diplomacy, trade, cultural hegemony, or military conquest in this single or multiplayer 4X strategy game. How will you rule your galaxy?

The new features in Galactic Civilizations III: Retribution include:

• Artifacts -  Powerful items buried on planets across the galaxy will give your civilization instant-access to new abilities.
• Hypergates - Construct powerful gateways that, when linked, allow your fleets to travel rapidly across hyperspace.
• Major Civilizations: Drath and Korath - The manipulative Drath pull the strings across the galaxy while the Korath rely on extermination. Each has its own set of special abilities, bonuses, and ship parts.
• Supply ships - Supply ships can be constructed to deliver goods and services to your other planets to aid in their development.

• New Technology Trees - A top to bottom overhaul of the technology tree adds depth and sharpens the strategic choices in your research options.

• Retribution Campaign - The malevolent Drengin Empire made a terrible mistake underestimating humanity’s strength, and the climactic battle that will follow may end in their extinction.

Galactic Civilizations III: Retribution is coming February 21!
Add it to your Steam Wishlist today.

For more information, visit www.galciv3.com/retribution

Greetings!

Star Control has definitely been the most...dramatic franchise we've ever worked on.  No doubt the diabolical work of the Crimson Corporation indeed!

So what's next? What's happening?  

Right now, we're working on Part 2 of Earth Rising which revolves around the Lexites.  You might ask, what is the process for creating these?  Well, broadly speaking it goes like this:

1. General story.  What is the overall meaning for the story.
2. Design up the quests for players to go on.
3. Write up the quests.
4. Playtest the quests.
5. Decide what writing is going to be voiced by voice actors.
6. Send to translation

1,2,3 are reasonably fast to get to the first stage.  The longest part is the play testing.  Are these quests fun?  The first part of Earth Rising, Aftermath, actually took a month longer than anticipated because of iteration on the quests. 

Quests are...tough.  I should say, quests are super easy to do but hard to make worthwhile.  I mean, how hard is it to whip up a fetch quest?  Go bring us back 25 Krizak tails and we'll give you a new weapon.  Fetch quests are pretty standard but that isn't why people play Star Control.    Star Control is about telling a story and in the case of Star Control: Origins, the story is about Earth's entry on the intergalactic scene in the late 21st century, far earlier than anyone would have expected.

We are hoping that the Lexite story will be ready to send to voice acting by the end of the month (and simultaneously sent to translation) so that we can get this out to you guys next month (depending on QA resources which will be pushed to their limit with OTC expansions, GalCiv expansions and multiple new titles in development).

Beyond Earth Rising

Then there's the question of what happens after Earth Rising.  

The engineering team is focused on porting our underlying engine so that we can have console and even mobile releases of Star Control games in the future (including Origins).  We anticipate that work to be largely done by the time we're done working on Earth Rising.  So then what?

That really depends on a lot of factors.  One path is to go and do a sequel.  Another path is to do a second expansion for Star Control: Origins.  Which path we ultimately take depends a lot on you guys and what you want and where you want us to take Star Control next.

Let us know in the comments!

Greetings!

Lots of exciting things happening with Ashes of the Singularity.  With Star Control: Origins released, we've been able to give Ashes some new attention and I wanted to use this post to update you on where we are.

Engine porting

Under the game is the game engine which in Ashes 1.0 was pure Nitrous.  These days, we have taken the Nitrous engine and integrated all the cool stuff we've developed over the years (Game engine wise) to create a game-specific engine we call Cider.  So right now, we're porting Cider to Linux with Ashes being our first test.  

The good news is that we have Ashes kind of sort of working natively on Linux.  The bad news is that the performance isn't quite there yet.  Vulkan is the graphics platform we're targeting and it's still very young.

New entries in the universe

We are working on a new game in the Ashes of the Singularity universe that we will be announcing next month.  Ashes founders will get it either for free or at a steep discount depending on what type of Founder they are.  

Ashes sequels

So the short version is that we aren't going to be making new expansions for Ashes of the Singularity I.  There might be more DLC but the changes we want to make are a little too radical to have as an expansion.   My next post will be talking about what we have in mind for the sequel so you guys can opine on it.  But if you liked SupCom or TA then you will really like where we want to take the sequel.

Stay tuned!

What started as a crusade has become a war of retribution.

Stardock's award-winning space strategy game, Galactic Civilizations III is about to get its biggest expansion yet.  Galactic Civilizations III: Retribution adds new playable civilizations, a story-driven campaign, Precursor artifacts, Hypergates and much more.

Across the galaxy, ancient alien artifacts are being discovered, giving civilizations powerful new capabilities. Meanwhile, as civilizations try to carefully balance building an economy, funding an ever growing war machine, and engaging in diplomacy, the humans of Sol III have invented a game-changing new technology - Hypergates - which, when connected, allow for rapid transit across the galaxy.

With two new major civilizations and the concluding campaign to the Galactic Civilizations III backstory that serves this massive space 4X sandbox game, Retribution asks the question: How will you rule your galaxy?

The new features in Galactic Civilizations III: Retribution include:

• Artifacts - Powerful items buried on planets across the galaxy will give your civilization instant-access to new abilities.
• Hypergates - Construct powerful gateways that, when linked, allow your fleets to travel rapidly across hyperspace.
• Major Civilizations: Drath and Korath - The manipulative Drath pull the strings across the galaxy while the Korath rely on extermination. Each has its own set of special abilities, bonuses, and ship parts.
• Supply Ships - Supply ships can be constructed to deliver goods and services to your other planets to aid in their development.
• New Technology Tree - A top to bottom overhaul of the technology tree adds depth and sharpens the strategic choices in your research options.
• Retribution Campaign -The malevolent Drengin Empire made a terrible mistake underestimating humanity’s strength, and the climactic battle that will follow may end in their extinction.

Galactic Civilizations III: Retribution is coming this Winter!
For more information, visit www.galciv3.com/retribution

Galactic Civilizations III is the largest space strategy sandbox ever made. Start with a single world and expand across the galaxy through diplomacy, trade, cultural hegemony, or military conquest in this single or multiplayer 4X strategy game. How will you rule your galaxy?