Gamespot has posted our first new Sins gameplay trailer for the masses. The video (available in both high-res and low-res versions) features Stardock's Brad Wardell as narrator as he walks gamers through the various features of Sins of a Solar Empire. Check it out here .

To help celebrate the release of Beta 4, we've posted some new screenshots of Sins and a brand new wallpaper!  The wallpaper is available in a variety of resolutions that should cover most standard desktop sizes. Head over to the Downloads section to check out all the new goods.

Ten millennia have passed since you and the few survivors of the once mighty Vasari Empire fled from an unknown threat that all but exterminated your kind. You now find yourself at the fringe of the galaxy in a sector occupied by a pathetically primitive species - one obsessed with trade and lacking any central organization or military technology. Calling themselves the Trader Emergency Coalition, they would have been ideal slaves in the glorious days of the past, but time is of the essence. U...

Tyler Sager over at Gaming Nexus has just posted his hands-on preview for Sins of a Solar Empire. The article gives a nice overview of the game for new players concluding with, "I have a feeling this is going to be the Really Big strategy title of 2008, and I anxiously await the final version of this galactic empire gem." Give the full preview a read at: http://www.gamingnexus.com/Default.aspx?Section=Article&I=1614

We've just completed the first version of the Sins of a Solar Empire retail box that will be showing up in a store near you come February 2008. This is the box for the standard retail version of the game; we're currently looking at a premium Collector's Edition edition too. Click on the image for a larger version and let us know what you think!

Lead Sins producer and developer, Blair Fraser, has posted his first developer diary on the game. In his first article Blair discusses the ongoing issues with getting AI targetting priorities just right. Give it a read at the link below: https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/?forumid=452&aid=165619

Continuing on with all the new Sins coverage, GameSpy has just published their first hands-on look of our upcoming RT4X today. Here's a snippet of what they had to say, "...even at this early stage, Sins of a Solar Empire looks and plays great." Check out the full article at the URL below: http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/sins-of-a-solar-empire/827936p1.html

GameZone has published their first hands-on preview of Sins of a Solar Empire. Here's a quote from their article, " All in all, Sins of a Solar Empire is showcasing a great amount of innovation and tense gameplay, as well as some very deep research and diplomacy elements." You can read the entire preview here: http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/p30977.htm

GameShark has published their first hands-on preview for Sins of a Solar Empire, giving readers a two-page article on their thoughts of the game. Here's a quote off the preview, "Even with this relatively sizable article, I can’t help but feel I’ve barely scratched the surface of what the game has in store for gamers." You can read the entire preview here: http://www.gameshark.com/previews/3279/p_0/Sins-of-a-Solar-Empire-Preview.htm

Recently we've added a special section to the Sins forums for Developer Journals. Finally giving way to my long running history of procrastination, I've just posted my very first one . Over the next few weeks, other members of the Sins team may also post journals which will promote here from time-to-time.

We will be closing access to Sins of a Solar Empire Beta 3 to new customers tomorrow, October 12th. Anyone who pre-orders the game after Beta 3 is closed will be able to join up when Beta 4 launches next month.

The first Beta 3 update for Sins of a Solar Empire pre-order customers is now available for download via Stardock Central. Version 0.83 contains many bug fixes and improvements to the game, including much easier multiplayer setup for modern routers supporting UPnP and more. For more details, check out the Change Log .

Games Radar has published their first preview for Sins of a Solar Empire, based on hands-on time with the beta.  Here's a quote from the article, "...we think Sins will be particularly appealing to those looking for something different from the traditional isometric C&C/StarCraft gameplay that's been recycled to death." You can read the entire two-page preview here .

Gamer 2.0 has posted their first Sins of a Solar Empire preview today.  Here's a small quote off their article, "The game is so chock-full of strategic and tactical gameplay that any self-declared Admiral would find themselves remiss not to check this game out." You can read the full preview at their website: http://www.gamer20.com/gamehub/sins-of-a-solar-empire-pc/previews/758

Stardock and Ironclad Games are proud to announce the release of Sins of a Solar Empire Beta 2 for all pre-order customers. Anyone who has pre-ordered the game may now download Beta 2 through Stardock Central. (If you still have Beta 1 installed, we recommend uninstalling it before installing Beta 2 - your save games will not be compatible.) Sins Beta 2 is a gameplay test where you may play as the Trader Emergency Coalition in single-player mode. If you'd like to participate in the beta,...