Release Information
From SOTS
Contents |
Version Info
| Previous Version | Next Version |
|---|---|
| <=== | ===> |
Version 1.6.6 
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Version 1.7.1 
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| Latest Version by Release | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sword of the Stars | Born of Blood | A Murder of Crows | Argos Naval Yard |
Version 1.2.2 
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Version 1.5.3  
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Version 1.6.7
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Version 1.8.0 
|
All future updates will be made as patches for Argos Naval Yard.
Information on any future update will be available on this wiki, on the versions page and here.
Developer Information
The Developer is Kerberos Productions.
Music/Soundtrack Information
The music for Sword of the Stars was produced by Studio X Labs, located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They previously worked on the music for Homeworld and Homeworld: Cataclysm. Paul Ruskay—a composer, sound designer, and project manager—was awarded best soundtrack by PCGamer and EuroGamer for his work on Homeworld in 1999 and in 2002 received the Leo Award for Sound Editing for his work on the film Mon Amour, Mon Parapluie. Greg Sabiz's — engineer, composer and sound designer — Battle Track 1 for Homeworld Cataclysm was featured in a Future Music magazine competition shortly after release, wherein readers were invited to remix the track.
With the combined experience of five people in interactive, new media, film and TV, the Sword of the Stars soundtrack is in good hands.
"If you've watched the trailers though, you've likely gathered we're not interested in repeating the same Strings–In–Space territory you've heard before." — Castewar
Each race has their own theme.
Where to Buy
Digital Distribution
| Service | SotS | BoB | AMoC | SotS:UC | ANY | SotS:CC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GamersGate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Steam | no | no | no | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Direct2Drive | Yes | no | no | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Impulse | Yes | Yes | no | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Release Media
Lighthouse has used SecuROM copy protection on the CD release of the original SotS. The release of expansions saw the SecuROM copy protection removed from the expansions retail disks at the request of the developers. Consequently the installation of the expansions removes the requirement to have the original CD in the drive.
SotS EU Box Cover Art
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SotS NA Box Cover Art
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SotS:BoB Box Cover Art
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SotS:CE NA Box Cover Art
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SotS:CE EU Box Cover Art
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SotS:AMoC Box Cover Art
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SotS:UC Artwork
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SotS:ANY Box Cover Art
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SotS:CC Box Cover Art
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Outlets
Sword of the Stars has been available at major retail chains.
Confirmed retail chains that were / are selling SotS:
- Target
- Wal–mart
- Wal–mart Canada
- Best Buy
- Best Buy Canada
- Future shops Canada
- Comp USA
- Nebraska Furniture Mart
- Eurpac
- Amazon.com
- Circut City
- Fry's Electronics
- London Drug Canada
- Micro Center
Publisher Information
Paradox Interactive
On April 14th 2009, Paradox Interactive became the publishers for the entire Sword of the Stars franchise.
Paradox Interactive, the parent company of GamersGate, was the first to directly pick up the Sword of the Stars franchise after Lighthouse Interactive entered receivership.
Lighthouse Interactive
Lighthouse Interactive were the initial publishers for the entire Sword of the Stars franchise — the original game and both expansions — worldwide.
Lighthouse Interactive went into receivership in late 2008 and were officially declared bankrupt in March 2009.
- ...Kerberos owns the SotS IP and thus the game, and more importantly for you guys, the support for it continues without a hiccough. While we are saddened by this setback for our many friends at Lighthouse. I wish I could say that over the past year of economic sturm and drang that something like this is shocking or unheard of but sadly it is not. The crunch has hit all sectors of the business world and in gaming even the largest publishers have been forced to step back and regroup while those with smaller resources to fall back on have suffered greatly.
SotS will always remember and be grateful to its first step parent but it will go on. Never fear on that score.
— Martin E. Cirulis
CEO Kerberos Productions
Release Date
Demo Information
The demo initially premiered on FilePlanet on July 25th 2006. An updated demo was released on October 16th 2006. It includes the 1.1.1 update and the ability to build and field a cruiser. A new demo with some of the CE Version 1.5.2 updates was released on May 27th 2008.
The Demo can be found at this link:
The size of the demo download is 231MB.
Demo 1.1.1
The 1.1.1 demo covers the Destroyer age, 2 races (the Humans and the Tarkas), 4 player multi–play, the fission– and beginning of the fusion–power era, and first–generation medium and small weapons. There is no limit on the number of playable turns. It allows for sphere–type galaxies (one of six galaxy configurations), with a maximum of 40 stars. There are no scenarios in the demo (other than a limited tutorial). Due to the truncated tech tree and ship limitations, the AI in the demo is much less sophisticated than what is seen in the full version.
Demo 1.5.2
The 1.5.2 demo covers the Destroyer and Cruiser age, 3 races (the Humans, the Liir and the Tarkas), and the fission– and fusion–power era. It includes 3 maps, the flat Disk map, star Clusters and the 3D Sphere, a less truncated tech tree, 3 player multiplayer and a video tutorial pack that can be downloaded separately and installed into this new demo. It is limited to 150 turns only.
Sword of the Stars
The in–store release date was August 29th, 2006 for USA and September 7th, 2006 for Europe. Sword of the Stars was released on IGN Entertainment's Direct2Drive and Paradox Interactive's GamersGate on August 17th. The game is also available via StarDock's digital distribution Impulse Driven service.
Direct2Drive FAQ can be found here, and mention of copy–protection used by Direct2Drive here.
Born of Blood
The first expansion for the game became available for purchase as a direct download at various major portals like GamersGate.com beginning June 6th, 2007. The retail version hit retail shelves in June 2007 in the UK and various other European territories. The expansion is also available via StarDock's digital distribution Impulse Driven service.
Collector's Edition
The Collector's Edition of SotS, which included the original game, the first expansion BoB and other new updates was released around the world on May 28th, 2008.
The official Gone Gold press release can be found here.
A Murder of Crows
The second expansion for the game became available for purchase as a direct download exclusively at GamersGate.com beginning October 3rd, 2008. The retail version hit retail stores across the United Kingdom October 10th, 2008. The North American retail box version's release date has not yet been determined. Players are required to have either Sword of the Stars: Collector's Edition or Sword of the Stars: Born of Blood in order to play this new addition to the franchise.
The official Gone Gold press release can be found here.
The official Early Release press release can be found here.
Ultimate Collection
The Sword of the Stars: Ultimate Collection — including the original game and the two expansions — was released on April 17 2009 via digital download portals GamersGate, Steam, Direct2Drive, Impulse and Gametap.
The third expansion for the game became available for purchase as a direct download beginning June 17th, 2009 via digital download portals GamersGate, Steam, Direct2Drive and Impulse.
Complete Collection
The Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection — including the original game and the three expansions — became available for purchase as a direct download beginning May 28th, 2010 via digital download portals GamersGate, Steam, Direct2Drive and Impulse.
