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Ironclad Games' sinful MOBA, Sins of a Dark Age, now on Early Access
Sins of a Dark Age, the upcoming MOBA from Sins of a Solar Empire developer Ironclad (who maybe want to get to a confessional or something, since they seem to like sins so much) is now available on Steam Early Access. Soada - as Ironclad refers to it in shorthand - will be free to play when it launches, but Early Access will cost you $4.99. For that price, you'll gain entrance to the game, as well as a Welcome Chest containing one of three bundles. Each bundle contains a rare skin, an uncommon piece of Hero Gear, a rare skin recipe, and both common and uncommon quality materials for crafting. The game's final pricing structure isn't set in stone, but Ironclad states in its Early Access FAQ that the content of each Welcome Chest includes "far more" than $4.99 worth of content. [Thanks, Tyler!] [Image: Ironclad Games]
Sins of a Dark Age plans to evolve the MOBA genre
Over the past few years, the Defense of the Ancients-inspired MOBA genre has spawned some of the biggest games on the planet. League of Legends has become one of the most played PC games in the world, and both it and Dota 2 now pump millions of dollars per year into competitive tournaments. It looks like MOBAs are here to stay, but the genre is still relatively young and there's plenty of room to experiment with new gameplay. Upcoming MOBA Sins of a Dark Age plans to evolve the genre with the addition of a new Realm Quest feature. At random points throughout a match, quests may spawn that change the rules of the game and provide new opportunities for conflict. Developer Ironclad Games, known for its Sins of a Solar Empire franchise, hopes this will add a new strategic level to the game that favours players who can adapt to changing circumstances and take advantage of the opportunities that quests present. Sins of a Dark Age will be free-to-play on release but you can join the closed beta now by purchasing a Founder Edition package. Read on for our interview with Ironclad co-founder and producer Blair Fraser on the Realm Quest system and plans to support competitive gaming in Sins of a Dark Age.%Gallery-175225%
Sins of a Solar Empire engages digital distribution systems June 12
Intercepted communiques reveal Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion will be strategically deployed on June 12 for PC on Steam and Impulse. Those who pre-order will gain access to the second beta, which is currently active and all set to teach galactic generals across the galaxy how to control vast space armadas.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion transmits intro cinematic
Standalone expansion Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion is quite the odd space duck. As this clip reveals, there is a backstory explaining why the factions in the universe are dealing with insurrection, but none of this actually plays out in the game (which has no campaign). It does deliver a hefty amount of space battles, though!
Sins of a Dark Age announced, new team-based RTS from Sins of a Solar Empire dev
Ironclad announced Sins of a Dark Age today, its follow-up to the epic space armada strategy game, Sins of a Solar Empire. The new game will be a free-to-play project, blending classic real-time strategy with the MOBA genre (League of Legends, DOTA 2).Players work in teams, which consist of one commander and up to four heroes, who can face off against other players or AI. The commander is responsible for building the base, directing units and positioning defenses. The commander can also call upon "Realm Powers" to turn the tide of battle. Heroes have their own set of powers, but are tasked with assisting the commander's units and capturing resources.More details should shake out at the Game Developers Conference in two weeks. The game will begin its beta this summer.%Gallery-148131%
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion warps in first screens
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion, expected to launch sometime this run around the sun, splits the existing factions of the epic real-time strategy series into loyalist and rebel groups. Today, publisher Stardock released the first screens of the intergalactic game's standalone expansion.
Plextor outs M3S SSD: SATA III and an 'ironclad' five-year warranty from $199
Harken to the news of Plextor's latest 2.5-inch SSD, which beats previous offerings with three things you can't complain about: a lower price, a modest spec bump and an extra two annums beyond the usual three-year warranty. The M3S employs SATA III and a Marvell controller to deliver speeds of 525MB/s and 445MB/s for sequential reads and writes, and 70,000 and 65,000 IOPS for random reads and writes. The lowest 128GB capacity will sell for $200 from the end of this month, alongside a 256GB variant for $350 and -- from early next year -- 512GB for $700. The company's proprietary True Speed software is also in attendance, which claims to preserve "like-new" rapidity even as the drive fills up with fragmented data. You'll find further specs in the PR after the break, but alas it has none of the third-person narrative flair we saw last time.
Sins of a Solar Empire Trinity is $21 this weekend
The full Sins of a Solar Empire experience, known as Trinity, is on sale this weekend through Impulse. The game is 33% off, bringing the total asking price to around $21 in United States, Earth credits. Trinity includes the original Sins of a Solar Empire, along with micro-expansion packs Entrenchment and Diplomacy. It should be noted that Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion, which is described as a "full-fledged expansion" to the series, will be available later this year. Brian Clair, director of publishing for Stardock, told us in early March that Rebellion will build upon the gameplay introduced in the original Sins and its micro-expansions. You'll have to make the strategic decision whether to grab Trinity now or save the credits to go toward a fuller cargo bay (at, likely, a higher cost) later. %Gallery-15134%
Razer debuts wireless Naga MMO mouse, Ironclad mousepad
While our eye-hand clicking capabilities are usually relegated to "upload image" and "RT" and the occasional "ban commenter," that doesn't stop us from dreaming of a world where we're an elite vid-gamer (that's "video gamer" to any n00bs out there), an entire virtual world at our beck and call. Razer can help us live that dream with its Naga MMO mouse, which has a wild assortment of numbered buttons on its side to be theoretically assigned to those high-powered abilities we've theoretically invested countless hours into obtaining -- or theoretically paid a good price to a gold farmer for. Now Razer has a wireless version of the 5600 dpi laser mouse, using the same wired / wireless tech of the Razer Mamba (which is nice for when a theoretical gaming session stretches beyond the 12 hour continuous use mark the mouse is rated for) to let you plug in at will. There's also a charging dock that conveniently doubles as the 2.4GHz wireless base station. "That's great, Razer," you might say, "but what will I put this mouse on top of?" They're glad you asked. Razer is simultaneously launching a new ultrasmooth mousepad dubbed "Ironclad," built out of a single piece of aluminum. The pad will retail for $60 this month, with the mouse following for $130 in November. %Gallery-104998%
Sins of a Solar Empire for $4; Mass Effect and Dragon Age bundles part of Impulse sale
Impulse's Memorial Day sale this weekend has Sins of a Solar Empire at the heavenly price of $4. Go buy it now -- full stop. Whatever nit-picky issues the 4X strategy title may have can be thrown out an airlock at that price point. It may lack a single-player campaign to teach the ropes of glorious galactic armada warfare, but setting up a medium-sized map using normal AI is a good place to start. Which reminds us: Gratuitous Space Battles is also on sale. Impulse also has a more mainstream space opera experience on sale with the first two chapters in the Mass Effect saga bundled for $42. Want something not involving spaceships? There's a Dragon Age: Origins bundle, which includes the original game and Awakening, for $48 -- that'll definitely keep you busy all weekend. Check out the rest of the Impulse weekend sales after the break. %Gallery-15134%
VC in Brief: Ironclad (Neo Geo)
This week's Virtual Console release should please fans of intense shmups, because that's exactly what Ironclad is! It's quite the example of how to make a really fun and intense shoot-em-up -- yet, many may be a bit apprehensive due to its hefty price tag. Well, that's what VC in Brief is for! Sample the game for yourself in our video above and decide if it's worth your double sawbuck. Ironclad (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 1,000 Wii Points) Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer VC in Brief as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks like that.
NintendoWare Weekly: Mr. Driller, Game and Watch, Fishie Fishie
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the DSiWare service launch, and Nintendo is observing the occasion by putting interesting content on the service! Every week should be some kind of milestone. And speaking of annual observances, there's a Neo Geo game on Virtual Console. %Gallery-89767%
European Nintendo downloads: Ironclad, Nectaris
Okay, so it isn't Rondo of Blood this week in Europe. Nintendo instead chose to inaugurate the latest Hanabi Festival with the pre-rendered Neo Geo shooter Ironclad and Lode Runner for NES. It's pretty novel in and of itself to have two Virtual Console games in a single week, not to mention a Neo Geo game! They're joined on Wii by the WiiWare version of Military Madness. Lode Runner (NES, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points) Ironclad (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 1,000 Wii Points) Nectaris: Military Madness (WiiWare, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points) Elemental Masters (DSiWare, 1-2 players, 800 DSi Points) Pop Island (DSiWare, 1-8 players, 500 DSi Points) Simply Sudoku (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points) Simply Mahjong (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points) 4 Travellers Play Spanish (DSiWare, 1-4 players, 800 DSi Points)
Hanabi Festival returns to Europe with Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Nintendo of Europe is bringing back the Hanabi Festival, its occasional celebration of import games, starting March 12 -- and it's bringing what might be the most anticipated import Virtual Console game ever (by us). Castlevania: Rondo of Blood is among the small lineup of games to be released in Europe as part of the Festival, along with Milon's Secret Castle and Lode Runner, both for NES, and Ironclad for Neo Geo. We aren't entirely certain from the wording, but the announcement mentions Castlevania, and then says that the other games will "continue in the following weeks." So it's pretty likely you're going to be able to buy Rondo of Blood tomorrow. Happy Hanabi Festival!
Lockheed Martin introduces 'PC on a stick' flash drive -- yes, Lockheed Martin
Our coverage of Lockheed Martin here on Engadget normally focus on things like laser weapons or futuristic airships, but it looks like the mega-defense company is now trying its hand as something a little closer to home for us: an ultra-secure USB flash drive. As you can see above, that's done with a little help from the folks at IronKey, but Lockheed Martin does seem to have made its new IronClad its own, and included some custom software that promises to let you carry your entire computer with you and securely use it on any public computer. Of course, exact details are a bit hard to come by, but the drive is available with "at least" 8GB of storage, and includes 256-bit encryption, built-in virus protection, and a variety of networking features that will let organizations keep watch on individual drives and control what can or cannot be installed on them. No word on pricing, but Lockheed Martin is apparently ready to talk with any companies that are interested in using the drives.
Sins of a Solar Empire 'Diplomacy' beta begins fall, releases winter 2010
The second micro-expansion for PC sleeper hit Sins of a Solar Empire will release in winter 2010. The Diplomacy add-on will increase the number of ambassadorial options to players in their conquest of the galaxy. You know, sometimes it helps to talk through the issues. Ironclad and Stardock plan to have a beta for the expansion this fall in order to work out any Vasarian bugs. Entrenchment and Diplomacy have both suffered delays while jumping into the digital distribution galaxy. A third micro-expansion for Sins was previously announced, so the full 4X RTS space opera experience should be completed sometime next year -- unless there are more delays, of course. %Gallery-15134%
Trailer of 'Entrenchment' for Sins of a Solar Empire shoots lasers, flies around
We already told you about developer Stardock's upcoming expansion "Entrenchment" when it was announced last August. We told you about the delay that hit the expansion and pushed back its release window and then when it finally got dated (we were so proud!), only to get pushed back to February 25th (what a downer!). Well today, we've got no bad news for you. The brand new trailer you see above and the less than brand new screenshots you see below in the gallery are all we've got for you on the Impulse digital download service-exclusive expansion coming in a few weeks. We apologize for the squished format of the video but we get what we get and we don't get upset. %Gallery-34571%
Sins of a Solar Empire's Entrenchment DLC delayed until Feb. 25
We're "Vasari" to report that Sins of a Solar Empire's first "micro-expansion," Entrenchment, has fallen out of warp and suffered a delay until Feb. 25. Only available through Stardock's Impulse digital distribution service, the $10 add-on was recently given a Feb. 11 release date. Stardock's Brad Wardell stated the extra time will be used to incorporate more feedback from the open beta. The expansion was originally expected to release sometime late last year. Hopefully production of the next micro-expansion, featuring diplomacy upgrades, will go a lot smoother than Entrenchment's development. Gallery: Sins Of A Solar Empire: Entrenchment
Sins of a Solar Empire: Entrenchment digs in Feb. 11
Sins of a Solar Empire's first "micro-expansion," Entrenchment, received an official release date today of February 11. The $10 add-on, which will add several powerful defensive structures to the grand 4X RTS, will only be available through Stardock's Impulse digital delivery service.Entrenchment is the first of three mini expansions expected to enhance tactics this year. The next addition will add diplomacy features and the last is still under wraps. With this much tactical choice, we fear having to put a week aside to actually finish a basic mid-sized match.[Via Big Download] Gallery: Sins Of A Solar Empire: Entrenchment
Sins of a Solar Empire v1.1 available; features AI, graphic, trade upgrades
Stardock and Ironclad have put a capital (ship) amount of work into the free Sins of a Solar Empire v1.1 patch. The crisp Advent laundry list of fixes and upgrades is incredibly long, but many players will be happy with the simple fact that the buy/sell and pirate window is now on the main screen.Stardock also reiterated that those who pre-order the recently delayed $10 Entrenchment expansion will be included in the upcoming beta, which will have its details "announced soon." Now, in all seriousness, could Sins pretty please get a campaign mode to flesh out the lore?
