Stardock Lays Out Release Plans, Teases Master Of Magic-alike

As part of an extensive customer report released today, publisher and developer Stardock (Sins of a Solar Empire, Galactic Civilizations II) laid out its short-term release plans for 2008 and 2009, and gave indications of longer-term projects. Galactic Civilizations II First up on the games docket is a content update for the company's flagship turn-based space strategy game. Available free to any owners of either of the game's two paid expansions, GalCiv2 Version 2.0 is described by Stardock as "the biggest free update to a PC strategy game that we’re aware of." It includes new graphics, espionage options, and other still-unrevealed features, and will ship next month. Sins of a Solar Empire Also on tap in the expansion department is the first of three "micro-expansions" for Ironclad Games' large-scale space RTS. The first, entitled Entrenchment, is themed in part around defensive structures, including massive starbases. The expansion will ship this year. Demigod Slightly farther out is Gas Powered Games' Demigod, which Stardock describes as an "RTS/RPG combo" which "aims to be the 'Counterstrike' of real-time strategy while still providing a compelling single-player game as well." The Defense of the Ancients-inspired Demigod is slated for a Q1 2009 release. Strategy Game 2010 ("Not Master of Magic") It has been known for years that Stardock has designs on the long-dormant Master of Magic franchise, but complications with license owner Atari have stymied the developer's attempts at a true sequel. As CEO Brad Wardell told Gamasutra in 2006, "We were able to agree on the money, so we thought everything was set, then their legal guys got involved, and that's where it stalled." But the company's MoM-themed project is still in the works minus the license, according to today's report (teaser picture inset). Referred to as Strategy Game 2010 and Not-MOM, the game is "a turn-based strategy game that supports random map generation, integrated modding, city building, unit design, tactical combat, multiplayer, incredibly powerful magical spells, and much more" and is scheduled to enter public beta by next June. Society? Completely absent from the report was any mention of Society, Stardock's long-in-development fantasy RTS MMO. My Name is Stardock, and I'm a PC One thing the company doesn't plan on doing? Moving to other personal computing platforms. Stardock "does not, nor does it plan to, support the Mac or Linux markets," the report states. "Our focus is to help make the Windows platform as successful as possible. Stardock’s entertainment group may eventually make console games as well, but when it comes to application software, Windows is the platform."