Lighthouse announced Wednesday that the PC space simulation expansion pack Sword of the Stars: A Murder of Crows has gone gold, meaning it is nearly ready for release.

In addition to the debut of the Morrigi (the sixth new race in the Sword of the Stars universe) new ships, sections, and weapons are available for the Human, Zuul, Hiver, Liir, and Tarkas races, which brings a competitive and fresh style of gameplay to the series.

A Murder of Crows is available exclusively at GamersGate.com beginning October 9. Players are required to have either Sword of the Stars: Collector’s Edition or Born of Blood to play “Crows”.

Six never-before-seen screens have been released to go with the news.

For more information about Sword of the Stars: A Murder of Crows, visit: www.swordofthestars.com or www.lighthouse-interactive.com.

Lighthouse Interactive released images of three of the ships from the upcoming oceanic real-time strategy game Easy India Company.

Pictured are the Cutter, the East Indiaman and the Flute.

East India Company is a PC title and is scheduled for release across North America early next year.

Game summary:

In the 17th century, European powers created East India companies — nations within nations that conquered cities, local towns, and villages to establish large commercial centres. In East India Company, you will assume the role of Governor Director of one of the East India Companies or other rival companies. There are eight nationalities to choose from: British, Dutch, French, Danish, Portuguese, Swedish, Italian or Spanish – with the goal of bringing new colonies and wealth, such as: tea, spices, gold, diamonds, and other precious cargo back to Europe, but you must dominate the other rival empires along the way. With mighty fleets and armies at your command, the power to choose between diplomacy or war is yours.‚ Starting modestly, you will build your fleet, establish connections to far away countries, and keep the rivalling nations at bay. Choose from an array of ship classes, types of transport, and military vessels: the Cutter, East Indiaman, Flute, Frigate, Ship of the Line or Xebec. Create different fleets and assign them to specific trading routes. Controlling well situated ports and upgrading them is one key to success.‚ Conflicts and wars are inevitable. When hostile fleets engage each other, the spectacular naval battles are fought at a real-time tactical level. Devastating broadsides are fired with a deafening roar and cannon balls tear through enemy ships and their crew. At a tactical level, you have direct command over your ship and give independent orders to each of your other fleets. Create a trading empire that will rule above all others!

Game features:

Fight!

• ‚ Declare war on rival empires fought at a real-time tactical level
• ‚ Command ships and fleets independently
• ‚ Wage war on the vast open sea
• ‚ Sink your rivals’ ship or board them to take control in bloody hand-to-hand combat

‚ Manage!

• ‚ Hire and manage your own crew
• ‚ Buy guns and ammo
• ‚ Repair and upgrade your ships at port
• ‚ Buy and sell goods
• ‚ Establish profitable trading routes
• ‚ Open diplomatic relations or declare war
• ‚ Negotiate tense political situations‚ 

Rule!

• ‚ Lead the most powerful company in history
• ‚ Take over colonies and expand your empire
• ‚ Build a powerful fleet to rule the seas
• ‚ Conquer strategic ports
• ‚ Accomplish tasks ordered by your company or the Crown

Multiplayer (Internet or LAN) Features:

• ‚ Supports up to 8 simultaneous players
• ‚ Player statistics tracked on the EIC game server
• ‚ Raise your ranking by thwarting your opponents
• Head-to-head missions are a true test of strategic skill

Lighthouse Interactive and developer Kerberos Productions reelased a teaser trailer for A Murder of Crows, the upcoming expansion pack to the PC space strategy game Sword of the Stars

‚ 

“Players are introduced to the Morrigi — the sixth new race in the universe, engaging in fierce battles against the five other races introduced in‚ Sword of the Stars‚ and‚ Born of Blood,” the companies said Wednesday. “This new race features a style of gameplay that will challenge even the most avid‚ Sword of the Stars‚ fan.”

“The gang here at Kerberos is very excited at the thought of fans, old and new, getting their hands on the next chapter in the evolving SotS universe,” said Martin Cirulis, CEO and Lead Designer of Kerberos Productions. “From a gameplay standpoint the game enters subtler realms of a burgeoning space empire; civilian populations, space stations, spy ships, police vessels, and inter-species science project, are just a few of the new options available.”‚ 

Game summary:

While the four civilized races battle back the voracious Zuul and seek advantage over each other, a ghost from the past returns to the galaxy in the form of the manipulative Morrigi. Already known for their dark crow-shaped attack drones and deadly traps, this race once thought long extinct, returns looking for vengeance.‚ ‚ Using never-before-seen weapons, ships and tactics, the Morrigi fall upon the other five races of the Sword of the Stars universe, who must now adapt to the ancient masters of space or be destroyed.‚ ‚ Time is of the essence as world after world falls to the black winged ships that surge out of the dark like A Murder of Crows.‚ ‚ 

Game features:‚ 

• A New Sixth race – The Morrigi, who appeared as a series of mysterious random events in Born of Blood (the first Sword of the Stars expansion pack), continues to evolve the ever-expanding Sword of the Stars universe
• New Ship Sections – Over a dozen new ship sections for all races to match against your opponents
• Unique “ËœGrav Flock’ Drive System for Morrigi Ships – The more Morrigi ships in a fleet, the faster they can travel, continuing the racial diversity unique to the Sword of the Stars gameplay experience
• 15 new weapons
• 27 new technologies and the new Xeno-Cultural and Drones tech trees
• Sword of the Stars gameplay continues to deepen with Civilian populations, independent worlds, Espionage options, and demands for planetary surrender
• Drone carrying ships in all three size classes
• Construction ships, a variety of orbital stations, spy ships, Police Cutters, and more
• A whole new set of GUI enhancements and additions

For more information about Sword of the Stars: A Murder of Crows visit:‚ www.swordofthestars.com‚ or‚ www.lighthouse-interactive.com.

We had a chance to preview and get some info on a new game acquired by Lighthouse Interactive called Pirate Party: Adventures of the Black Corsair.

This is the latest Wii-based family-friendly party game chock full of mini games and innocent mischief.

It’s set for release early next year, also on the DS, as Lighthouse promises big things on the horizon.

“2009 will be a significant year for us,” said Steve Wall, vice president of business development for Lighthouse Interactive. “Pirate Party has a wonderful mix of Adventure and party-style gameplay that gamers will love.”

Game summary:

Pirate Party: Adventures of the Black Corsair invites players to become a marauding buccaneer in 17th century London. Double-crossed by their pirate Captain and branded traitors to their country, players will face countless perils as they struggle to clear their names and become the most famous Black Corsair “" defender of the Crown. A fantastic new adventure is about to begin!

Game features:

• Family friendly fun
• User-friendly and accessible for everyone
• The only ‘party’ game that allows gameplay in versus, single, cooperative, and story modes
  Explore 3 vast worlds, including: London City, The Tower of London, and The Royal Court
• Interact with a cast of humorous characters
• Conquer mini-games to unlock special game features
• Easy-to-use In-Game HUD featuring a diary, log, map, inventory, and puzzles
• Save Points and Check Points are spread throughout each level
• Simple navigation made possible by positioning the main character on the Map

We also got a first look at some new screens from the upcoming game:

For more info, visit www.lighthouse-interactive.com

Lighthouse Interactive released a new trailer today for their upcoming thriller/adventure, Overclocked: A History of Violence, coming to American PC’s in November.

Game summary:

Set against the backdrop of a catastrophic thunderstorm raging over New York City, step into the world of Overclocked as former army psychiatrist, David McNamara. You are called to the Staten Island Forensic Hospital in New York City to consult on a case that requires your expertise in forensic psychiatry. Tasked with exploring the minds of five young men and women who were found scared, screaming, and without memory, you make alarming discoveries as you begin to cautiously probe the psyches of your young patients. Throughout the game, you will play as five other characters in this chilling interactive psycho thriller.

The trailer reveals more of the game’s plot and introduces the other characters including the five young patients who were found wandering the streets of New York City — distraught, scared and screaming, Lighthouse said Monday.

Lighthouse Interactive and developer ClockStone Software announced Thursday that a new update patch for their fantasy-based action RPG Avencast: Rise of the Mage has been released.

“The update adds several new enhancements upgrading the game to version 1.03,” Lighthouse said in a statement.

Upgrades in version 1.03:

• Monster health bar instead of “wounded text”
• Low mana/health feedback improved
• Bugfix: unexpected monster health refill
• Bugfix: monster disappears
• Bugfix: planetarium laser
• Balancing: Kalios fire dwarf quest easier
• Balancing: Tertius boss monster in vault level easier
• Workaround: ‘disable videos’ option for users with codec/driver problems

The complete list of new features included in the upgrade, is available at the Lighthouse forums and at www.avencast.com.

Download the Avencast 1.03 patch (file size: 8.8 MB) FREE from Blast Magazine

Game sumary:
As the sun rises over Avencast, the renowned academy of magic; a young adept begins his perilous journey. In a world of wizardry, wonder and untold mystery, you must undertake some of the most diverse quests to hone your abilities in spell casting, weaponry and melee combat. Your martial skills are soon put to the test as demonic monsters of unknown ancient origin descend upon Avencast turning the academy into a horrific state of chaos and destruction. Armed with over 50 combat moves and spells, and a vast arsenal of equipment items, you must uncover the source of these ominous happenings while vanquishing an onslaught of fiendish enemies. Treachery and deceit reveal themselves as the vicious army of adversaries beleaguers your frail haven threatening Avencast’s very existence. Amidst the mayhem, an astonishing truth unfolds which will forever change the battle scarred Wizard.