Cast your minds back a month or so, alcohol consumption permitting, to a game that we at Unit Lost got very excited about: Amplitude Studios’ Endless Space. Sty’s Alpha review and subsequent livestream left us drooling over the potential of this game and we wanted it bad.
Well, everything comes to he (or she) who waits, so they say, and today is the day. Steam opened up pre-orders with two seperate packs, both get you beta access and a 10% discount.
The Admiral Edition (£20.69) gives you the following:-
Admiral Edition
500 G2G – Boost your Amplitude account and add 500 G2G to the value of your votes for the game art and design on our website.
“Endless Space” Forum Account Award – Adds a unique “Endless Space” Award on your Amplitude account profile*. Available at the release of the game.
Official Digital Soundtrack – Available at the release of the game.
The Emperor Special Edition (£24.29) has some other doodads:-
Emperor Special Edition
Includes the Admiral Edition content, plus:
United Empire “Emperor’s Guard Extra Skin” Pack – The community will vote for the look of the United Empire “Emperor’s Guard Extra Skin” Pack through a special GAMES2GETHER vote.
A unique “Endless” Hero – Hire a unique and mysterious hero, direct descendant of the Endless civilization. The community will vote for the look of the hero through a special GAMES2GETHER vote.
500 G2G – An additional 500 G2G.
“Dev Team” Forum Award – Adds a unique “Dev Team” Award on your Amplitude account profile*. Available at the release of the game.
Your Amplitude forum name in the credits.
Your picture in our offices in Paris.
About the Game
This galaxy is ancient, and its first intelligent life was the civilization we call the Endless. Long before our eyes gazed upon the stars they flew between them, though all that remains of this people is what we call Dust. A substance found scattered or in forgotten temples, it once gave powers to admirals and galactic governors. The galaxy will belong to the faction that can take control of the Dust and uncover its secrets…
A Born Leader: Guide one of eight civilizations as you strive for galactic dominion. Will you control the entire galaxy through subtle trade and diplomacy, explore every corner of the universe to find powerful artifacts and resources, overwhelm other civilizations with your advanced technologies, or destroy your enemies with massive armadas?
Endless Discoveries: With hundreds of star systems to explore, different planet types, luxuries and strategic resources to exploit, the mysteries within the Dust to master and a host of strange scientific phenomena to deal with, the player will have no lack of challenges. Hire heroes to become fleet admirals or system governors and discover five hero classes and their unique ability trees and specializations.
Space Opera: Experience Endless Space with state-of-the-art graphics and interface, switch between strategic battle decisions and long-term planning. Optimize each fleet for epic battles around contested stars. Create the perfect combinations from dozens of unique ships per civilization. Customize your ship with modules, armament, engines and special mods. The player has a plethora of choices of how to best destroy or dissuade his enemy.
Take on the Universe: Play against up to seven opponents and build up – or break – alliances at will. Discover an innovative and dynamic simultaneous turn-based gameplay. Permit instant jump-in for your ongoing online games. Define your own custom civilizations and confront the ones created by your friends.
Endless Replayability: Control every new game’s scope, from a quick match-up to an endless war. Generate an infinity of random galaxies where every start begins a new adventure. Modify the size, shape, density, age and a lot more to create your ideal galaxy. Choose from different victory conditions and adapt your strategy on the fly.
Creating GAMES2GETHER: Track the dev team’s objectives, progress and achievements. Participate in the creation of the game via the GAMES2GETHER initiative. Access early versions of the game and give your feedback to the dev team. Discuss actual and future game features and expansions with the dev team.
If you do nothing else today, you have got to check this out, even if you are only vaguely interested in Space Sim RTS. Not sure? Then watch Stylosa’s alpha footage; it looks amazing and if all that potential from the Alpha is carried through Beta and into release, then this should be on your ‘must buy’ list.
I suspect Sty will do a follow up on this so keep checking back here and on the Youtube Channel. Or, if you decide to take the plunge, let us know what you think in the comments or hop over to the forums and tell us all about it.
