I might need to pick that game up. If not for a netbook, for regular play. I believe they have multiplayer co-op, and my wife and I are always looking for games that support that (there aren’t many of them ).

I am suddenly not really sure if a smart sales strategy is good for gamers, too…^^

One of the developers of “Sins of a Solar Empire” is promoting the game. Some key features:

- low price tag of the game, 20-25$, the 3 planned “micro-expansions” are sold for 10$. If you buy them all, you paid even a bit more than the usual price for a game. But people accepted and embrace the concept.

- the game runs on older hardware, even on a laptop not really made for gaming.

- it still looks pretty, despite the low hardware requirements.

I feel the game is a bit lacking in single player, and multiplayer needs too much time. Nevertheless, it became game of the year of some magazines. And I bought it, plus the first micro expansion. Despite it not being entirely my kind of game, with some apparent flaws. It is just well done, both graphically, in terms of interface, general feel and distribution.

I think there might be some lessons for MMORPG makers in the truly stellar success of this space RTS game.

Tesh will probably like the payment options, Muckbeast might like the low hardware requirements, scifi freaks will love the visuals and theme, and even I cannot resist to love it, too, despite some flaws, for some odd reason.

I have been reading some info about the chip NVIDIA is making that can run Left 4 Dead at 20 fps. Not great, and not the platform I’d play Left 4 Dead on, but still great evidence of the possibilities.

Ultimately though I see netbooks themselves going extinct between lightweight laptops and expanded smartphones.

I’m idly wondering how Puzzle Pirates is faring on netbooks.

Thanks for reposting this article, Muck.