Stardock

Sins of a Solar Empire GotY Edition Announced

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 00:33

This Friday sees the launch sci-fi fans have been waiting for as the critically acclaimed strategy title Sins of a Solar Empire receives a special Game of the Year Edition.

Following the tremendous success of the US version (selling over 100,000 units and reaching the number one spot in the PC charts) Sins of a Solar Empire launched across Europe in Summer 2008 and quickly established itself as a sci-fi classic securing an enviable list of media awards including IGN.com Editors Choice Award, 91% PC Zone Classic Award, PC Gamer Editors Choice Award and Gamespy Editors Choice Award.

As a celebration of its global success, Sins of a Solar Empire Game of the Year Edition rewards fans with a fully enhanced version of Sins of a Solar Empire (includes all updates) as well as an audio CD of the orchestral soundtrack composed by Paul Shuegraf and a huge double sided tech tree poster all available in special edition packaging.

Real-time strategy. Unrivalled scale.

Sins of a Solar Empire and Entrenchment Hotfixes Released

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Wed, 10/07/2009 - 20:59

Ironclad Games and Stardock Entertainment have released hotfixes for Sins of a Solar Empire and Sins of a Solar Empire: Entrenchment today. These hotfixes resolve issues discovered by players after the release of the previous updates.

Changes include:

+ Fix for Akkan's colonize potentially creating neutral resource extractors.
+ Fix for Adept Drone Anima not behaving correctly in original Sins.
+ Fix for NanoHullRepair sound effect.
+ Jam Weapons will now only be autocast when a threshold number of enemy strike craft are in range. (Entrenchment Only)
+ Improved AI and autocast usage for Flak Burst, TelekineticPush, MassDisorientation and PhaseOutFighters. (Entrenchment Only)
+ New AIUseTime for modding: OnlyWhenManyTargetsInRange. (Entrenchment Only)
+ Fixed bug with mines not targetting or detonating if their owner player didn't have vision at their planet. (Entrenchment Only)
+ Included dll's to make sure ConvertData runs correctly for modders.
+ Included Developer builds for modders.

A Most Remarkable Achievement

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 19:20

After a roughly eighteen hour struggle, I have finally emerged victorious in my Sins of a Solar Empire campaign. This is a most remarkable achievement - no, not because of any brilliant strategizing on my part, but simply because this game has managed to hold my attention for eighteen hours!

You have to understand that in a world of “hardcore” and “casual” gaming, I am firmly in the latter camp. I play a game not because of any burning passion to “beat” a game, but simply because it stimulates me at some level. As long as the stimulation is there, I will stick with the game. But as soon as my interests shift and my motivation decreases, I will move on to a different title and may not return for weeks or months. It is no exaggeration to say that I can count on the fingers of one hand all the games that have held me attention to a firm finale.

Sins of a Solar Empire

Submitted by Scott Tortorice on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 00:00

Ever since reading Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card’s science fiction masterwork, I have been continually searching for a way of putting myself in the shoes of a conquering Ender Wiggin. Over the years, the only 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit and eXterminate) game that ever came close was the ‘90’s classic, Stars! Designed by two former Microsoft employees, Stars! was the preferred title of hardcore strategists and often described as the “Harpoon of 4X games.” Unlike other games that seemed determined to force the gamer in the role of ship-designing engineer or paper-pushing bureaucrat, Stars! kept the gamer focused on the big strategic picture with an interface that resembled a war room more than anything else. Stars! has now passed into gaming history and I have been on the prowl for a suitable replacement ever since. Well, at long last, I can say that the successor to Stars! is here and it is called Sins of a Solar Empire, a 4X strategy game as deep as it is beautiful.