In my opinion a big win for a game no one really knew about. SINS is a truly a sucess story. This game is everything I have always wanted in a space strategy game. If that wasn't enough, join the SINS microexpansion Entrenchment BETA now for $9.99. If you do, I'll play you. Let's hope Demigod is the winner next year, it sure looks like it will get my vote. Here is what IGN had to say about SINS fo game of the year:
This is a controversial choice, to be sure, as many games scored higher than Sins of a Solar Empire. Yet during our discussions it was the one game we kept coming back to; considering it shipped way back in February that was telling. This is the game that we may have easily played the most in 2008. It's that much fun. It's also a game that has had incredible post-release support in the form on free enhancements and additions from developer Ironclad Studios, which proved to be the little studio that could. Thanks to its wildly original and fresh take on RTS and its compelling gameplay that kept us up late at nights, this is our PC game of the year.
In the Best Strategy Game article, IGN said:
Many PC gamers were weaned on space operas, from Star Wars to Star Trek to Wing Commander. A penchant for interstellar warfare is embedded in our DNA. Yet that's just part of the reason we're so drawn to Sins of a Solar Empire. The other, bigger, reason is that we've never quite seen anything remotely like this awesome game from a relatively tiny developer. This massive strategy game lets you easily command humongous fleets spread out across multiple star systems in real-time. It's brilliant, addictive, and a triumph in every way.
In the Best New IP article, IGN said:
It's so easy to put together a sci-fi setting; just throw together some funky looking alien species, come up with strange names, and throw it all together. Yet it's much harder to create a sci-fi universe that actually captivates and interests you. With Sins of a Solar Empire, Ironclad has created a setting that makes you want to learn more. Even the warships in the game convey a large amount of character. There's a rich universe to discover in Sins of a Solar Empire, and judging by the success of the game, it's safe to say that we'll have a chance to learn more.
In the Most Innovative Design article, IGN said:
In a game that encapsulates so much--from maintaining vast research trees to the infrastructure and orbital makeup of conquered planets--it doesn't cease to amaze us how well all the information is structured and presented to the player. This isn't a turn-based game like Civilization; it's all in real-time. Yet its scope reaches far beyond RTS games such as Command & Conquer. It's a true fusion of 4X and RTS, and the delightfully complex, endlessly replayable result is something nobody could really appreciate without the fantastically intuitive interface around which developer Ironclad wrapped its various systems.
