Basilisk Games has released a new update for its old-school RPG Eschalon Book II, now available for download both automatically on Impulse and manually via the game’s official site.

The v1.03 patch brings several bug fixes (including odd little ones), tweaks and overall improvements to the role-playing sequel. Highlights include a higher resolution world map and a fix to the way HP and MP were calculated at level up.

The demo version of the title reflects the changes as well. From the change log:

Eschalon Book II v1.03

- Fixed several more typos and grammar problems.

- Fixed a rare condition that sometimes caused a crash on map loads (this includes Quick Traveling).

- Fixed an issue where player effect durations over 256 turns long were not beings saved properly.

- Fixed stat display issue on the final score screen, and improved screen layout.

- Encumbrance updated properly after you dump torches.

- Avatar graphics are updated properly if you overcharge an item and destroy it.

- A higher resolution world map is now included with downloadable game.

- Rare crash that happens when your player is facing NW and dies.

- Triggering trap while trying to pick lock properly fails True Thief Challenge.

- Fixed a miscalculation with the way MP and HP are gained at level-up.

- Fixed an odd little bug involving the swapping of rings when multiples of the same kind are involved.

- Updated the premade characters as the previous versions were saved under an old format, causing errors.

Frozenbyte’s excellent platform puzzle title Trine has been cut down to just $5 through the weekend on Impulse, 75% off the standard tag.

The game recently received a content update that brought the new level “Path to a New Dawn” which is unlocked upon the completion of the game. The patch also added info about experience and secrets to the inventory menu along with a fix for a co-op bug on the Iron Forge level.

The title typically runs $20 but its yours for $5 through Sunday, May 2.

Spring Cleaning Contest!

Did you know we are running a kickass forum contest where you could win a copy of Machinarium, Shattered Horizon, or Aaaaa! A Reckless Disregard for Gravity?

Check it out!

Omni has rolled out a new update for its unique space exploration title Eufloria, now available for download. The patch brings the game up to v2.03, adding some new features along with a bundle of bug fixes and improvements to the 2009 IGF Finalist.

A screenshot function had been added along with an attributes setting feature, with fixes for issues including AI, seedlings and a crash issue.

The patch is available now on Impulse via an update and can also be downloaded manually from here along with an updated demo. From the change log:

Eufloria v2.03

• Adds screenshots on F9.
• Fixes AI not planting flowers on Dyson trees.
• Fixes seedlings not attacking high-altitude enemies attacking trees.
• Fixes laser mine sending crash
• Asteroids can be moved in script at runtime with asteroid:MoveBy(x,y) and asteroid:MoveTo(x,y) (Cannot be moved out of world bounds)
• Adds flowers and mines to asteroids with script commands asteroid:AddFlower(), asteroid:AddFlower(faction) and asteroid:AddMine(), asteroid:AddMine(faction) (returns object created or nil)
• Queries number of present flowers, mines with asteroid:GetNumFlowers(faction) and asteroid:GetNumMines(faction)
• Accesses present flowers, mines with asteroid:GetFlower(faction) and asteroid:GetMine(faction) (may return nil if none present)
• Sends flowers and mines with flower:SendTo(asteroid) and mine:SendTo(asteroid)
• Sets attributes on any game entity (asteroid, seedling, tree, mine, flower, etc) using SetStrength, SetSpeed, SetEnergy – results are untested and may not work as desired
• Adds seedlings of a particular type to any faction on an asteroid with asteroid:AddSeedlings(number, faction, energy, strength, speed) where attributes are from 0.0 to 1.0
• Removes seedlings from asteroids using asteroid:RemoveSeedlings(faction, number) which will remove random seedlings up to amount ‘number’ or the currently present population

Frozenbyte’s unique co-op puzzle platformer Trine has been offered up by Impulse for 50% off through this weekend. This brings the price down to a very agreeable $10.

The fantasy action game has players creating and using physics based-objects to solve puzzles and defeat enemies, offering three completely different characters to use at any available time.

Trine is out now for both PC and PS3, with the Impulse sale going through the end of January 31. Check out our review of the title here and our interview with developer Frozenbyte here.

Arcen Games has released the latest update for its expansive space RTS AI War: Fleet Command, now available for download.

The patch brings plenty of balance tweaks, bug fixes and other improvements to the ever expanding strategy game. Impulse users who own the game should get the update automatically.

From the change log:

AI War: Fleet Command v3.016

-Previously, there were some glitches with the health of very high-health ships such as PermaMines, which was causing them to be targetable when they should not have been, and autoattacked in FRD mode, etc. Fixed.

-Human players must now have at least 100 military ships on an AI planet for the resistance fighters to join in.

-Previously, using shift+right click to deselect groups of units from the unit type selection box was not working properly. Fixed.

-Space tugs were not showing up correctly in the build queue. Fixed.

-Marauders and resistance fighers were starting way too far out in the middle of nowhere. Fixed so that they start around 10x closer now.

-The stream buffer size on game music is now twice as large, which should help avoid buffer underruns.

-When hovering over a marauder with your units selected, it was previously not giving targeting info. Fixed.

-Vampires, Cutlasses, and Wasps now have 2,000 more shields each.

-Fixed an issue with engineer beams flashing green right at the start when they are assigned to a unit they cannot actually assist at the moment.

-Previously, engineers were charging players for repairing space docks that they were assisting, even if they were not doing actual repairs. Fixed.

-Fixed a bug that could lead to indecisive AI units if they were simultaneously trying to escape and attack.

-All of the weapons have been removed from the cloaker starships, as this would cause them to blow their own cover and was fairly pointless for them to have, anyway.

-Cleanup Drones are now able to dismantle enemy mines (including permamines) on allied planets.

-Cleanup Drones now work half as quickly as before. With all the other recent shifts, they were otherwise becoming too powerful when used alone or in pairs.

-Mobile Repair Stations now have infinite engine health, since there is no way for their engine health to be regained.

-Previously, there was a bug where steam achievements would reactivate on ever game load. Fixed.

-The logic for when harvesters are auto-created by command stations has been improved so that if any non-mine military units of the enemy are present, it will not auto-create them.

-The text in the tutorials window was being cut off in recent versions. Fixed.

-Command Stations will now only autobuild at planets that have supply.

-Engineers, cleanup drones, remains rebuilders, mobile builders, mobile repair stations, and space tugs are all now able to pass through enemy force fields. This prevents them from ever getting stuck while trying to do their work.

-The wording for when ships do not have supply has been improved so as to be more clear when supply is blocked for some reason other than distance from allied planets.

-Previously, if the low-energy text was being shown over a ship, then no other hover text (such as knowledge counts on science labs) was shown. Fixed so that it now shows both.

-Fixed a collision issue that could previously cause allied ships to dance around instead of stopping in rare cases.

-Remains are now omitted from the ship icon guide (F1), as they have no useful traits to show and took up too much vertical space on hover.

-Units that are hit by translocation shots are no longer translocated if they are already held by a tractor beam.

Updated in 3.015:

- Fixed the cold storage lag issue so that it kicks in more quickly as it did prior to 3.014.

Updated in 3.016:

- Fixed a crash bug in 3.015 (thanks HellishFiend for reporting).

- Reverted the music buffer size to a the prior smaller amount so that it will hopefully avoid any skipping on player machines that have a busy or slower hard drive.

Manual Installation

If you would like a simple zip file of the updated post-3.0 files, here it is: http://arcengames.com/share/AIWar3016.zip

Impulse has given a 50% discount to Aztaka as part of the digital distributor’s weekend sale, taking the game from its typical $15 price tag down to $7.50.

Developed by Citeremis, the action-RPG/plaformer hybrid is based on the ancient Aztec civilization. The game takes place during a depression in society and as the hero of the Aztecs you must right what is wrong and fix the trouble caused by the witch Cihuac.

The deal goes through the weekend ending Sunday, January 17. Check out our review of the title.

[Buy Aztaka]

Arcen Games has announced the release of The Zenith Remnant expansion for their large-scale RTS AI War: Fleet Command.

The expansion adds a ton of new content including 122 new ships, 12 new AI types, 4 Zenith alien minor factions, new AI behaviors, map styles, music and more. Remember that you can expect free DLC updates every month for the game as long as it has a community to support it.

Get the expansion from Steam, Impulse or Arcen itself for $10. To celebrate Steam has given the base game a 50% discount through Wednesday, January 20. Full description follows.

Happy Cyber Monday everybody and welcome to the best shopping day for the rest of the year for, you see, there are no lines, crowds or any loud, obnoxious, temper-tantrum throwing children anywhere near you… unless they are yours. Truly, today is the best day to do all your online shopping as deals deals are overflowing, even for a few choice indie games.

Like with Black Friday — or in Steam’s case this entire last weekend — each of the four main digital distribution services are offering ludicrously good deals on indie games for the rest of the day. While they are mainly focused around the mainstream games, Impulse, GamersGate, and Steam each have a couple choice indie game offerings as well.

So, just like with our Black Friday post, here are the indie games that are on sale. For those who want to browse all of the games, simply head to the bottom of this post and you’ll find links for the main sale pages of each site.

Update: Chris Park of Arcen Games has informed DIYgamer that the January 12 release date is currently tentative, but will most likely release on or around that day. Park explained that there’s still much to be done for the expansion and he’s against putting up a target release date and then having to release something that potentially may not be finished. Impulse users won’t have access to the beta right away, but don’t worry, Park states that he plans to have full license keys and beta codes sent out within a week.

Original Story: With the ever-developing beta in full swing, AI War: Fleet Command expansion ‘The Zenith Remnant’ has received a release date, set to arrive for PC January 12 according to Impulse’s pre-order listing for it. The expansion brings quite a lot of new content to the game including 80-100 new ships, at least four new map styles, 12 new AI types, an additional minor faction, new music and more.

Most of the features provided are estimates as the expansion is currently in beta with the developer constantly tweaking and updating based on community feedback. The beta is currently open to those who pre-order through the developer, though its unclear if the same is true for those who go through Impulse.

We’ve sent word to Arcen Games to get some confirmation on the release date listing as well as whether Impulse pre-orders get access to the expansion’s beta, any response shall be posted.

Features list after the break.

Wolfire Studios’ third-person action title Lugaru HD has been released onto Impulse and is now available for purchase. The game has players assuming the role of Turner, an anthropomorphic rebel bunny rabbit with combat skills as you seek out those responsible for destroying your village, which only leads you to uncover a far darker plot.

Features include a fast terrain engine, skeletal animation, facial expressions and a combat system that brings attack reversals, counters and more. The combat is the game’s primary feature as it uniquely has Turner fight logically and in context instead of a series of the same button mashing moves.

If you want to read more check out the game’s Impulse page. Lugaru is available now for $19.95.