Further bolstering its lineup of innovative indie games, Stardock and Positech Games are pleased to announce the release of Kudos, Kudos: Rock Legend andDemocracy 2 onto Impulse, free of DRM. Each of these unique simulations has won Positech acclaim in the press and indie community.- Games from 2k, Capcom, Tilted Mill and more; Cloud Computing, Match-making and Rankings; New Developer Tools, MyImpulse beta and New Applications Round Out Impulse Phase Two -
Plymouth, MI – August 27, 2008 – Stardock announced today that “phase two” of its digital download platform, Impulse, has begun and all updates, new games and software applications will soon be live. Phase two of Impulse sees new games from 2k (Civilizations III, Shattered Union, Sid Meier’s Pirates! and Sid Meier’s Railroads!) and Tilted Mill’s Children of the Nile enhanced edition. New software applications include a host of Corel applications like WordPerfect Office X4, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4, and Corel Paint Shop Pro X2 as well as software applications from Genie Soft, Iolo, and AVG Internet Security and Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware software.
All new titles and software applications are now available at www.impulsedriven.com.
Concurrent with the new games and software applications, Impulse additions now see a refreshed user interface and a major new set of developer features called ImpulseReactor. Stardock’s recent release, The Political Machine 2008 will be the first game to utilize features of ImpulseReactor, and the upcoming Demigod will incorporate the features which consist of the highly anticipated match-making feature, cloud computing, rankings, achievements, multiplayer, NAT negotiation, and more.
Brad Wardell stated, “Impulse is somewhat unique in that its power is mostly on the server and not in the client. Developers who want to make use of the features of Impulse don\'t have to force their users to install Impulse because it\'s not Impulse that provides these features; it\'s the ImpulseReactor platform behind it providing the Common Virtual Platform APIs (CVP).”
Multiplayer strategy games especially benefit from the features on ImpulseReactor because it uses a back-end server farm to support NAT negotiation, meaning it will take care of the port negotiation instead of users having to figure out which ports to open or why the firewall may not be functioning the way the user needs it to.
Wardell continued, “The ImpulseReactor will serve multiplayer traffic in ways that should virtually eliminate connectivity issues in online gaming.”
Phase two of Impulse also adds the ability for users to install and update third-party freeware programs that are available via Impulse. This makes the transfer of the catalogue of programs installed on a user’s machine extraordinarily simple from machine to machine as it’s all centrally located on Impulse.
A private beta of MyImpulse also begins with the launch of Impulse phase two: With MyImpulse, a developer or publisher can package up products as they see fit, agree to a standardized royalty agreement, and submit it directly to Impulse. A team of Impulse moderators evaluate the submission and (if accepted) could go live within one business day. Moreover, it allows developers to easily update their existing programs, and creates an easy and efficient way to vastly expand the Impulse product library.
Phase two has already addressed user feedback and incorporates significantly faster load times, downloads, a smart queue option and a smarter updating process which exponentially decreases processing time for updates.
More games and software is scheduled to be announced later this summer from Stardock. To learn more about Stardock, please visit www.stardock.com.
About Stardock
Stardock is one of the world’s leading developers and publishers of PC games and desktop software. Its PC games include Sins of a Solar Empire, the highest rated and best selling PC strategy game of 2008 as well as the critically acclaimed Galactic Civilizations series. Its desktop software includes Object Desktop, WindowBlinds, and a host of other programs for customizing the Windows experience. Learn more about Stardock by visiting www.stardock.com.
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', 'url' : 'http://www.impulsedriven.com', 'news_breif' : 'Stardock announced today that “phase two” of its digital download platform, Impulse, has begun and all updates, new games and software applications will soon be live. Phase two of Impulse sees new games from 2k (Civilizations III, Shattered Union, Sid Meier’s Pirates! and Sid Meier’s Railroads!) and Tilted Mill’s Children of the Nile enhanced edition. New software applications include a host of Corel applications like WordPerfect Office X4, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4, and Corel Paint Shop Pro X2 as well as software applications from Genie Soft, Iolo, and AVG Internet Security and Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware software.' } , { 'title' : 'Rule as Pharaoh in Children of the Nile Enhanced Edition', 'subtitle' : 'City-building simulation now available on Impulse', 'media_id' : '1092', 'media_type_id' : '15', 'date' : '8/26/2008 2:21:11 PM', 'description' : '
Tilted Mill Entertainment and Stardock are pleased to announce the release of Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile Enhanced Edition on Impulse today. This new version of Children of the Nile includes a number of new features over the original retail release including Vista compatibility, a new Brickyard building, new city decorations, new shrines, a quickstart tutorial, and much more.VideoStudio 11.5 Plus is video editing and DVD authoring software for anyone who wants to easily produce professional-looking videos, slideshows, and DVDs. Work quickly with intuitive wizards, or express your creativity with hands-on editing tools.
Share your movies everywhere, on iPods, YouTube, or the latest HD home theater systems, with full support for AVCHD, Blu-ray and HD DVD discs.
Available for $109.97 on Impulse.
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Genie Backup Manager Home 8.0 (GBM Home 8.0) is a total system and data protection solution. GBM Home 8.0 is a reliable and robust backup and data recovery solution yet combines ease-of-use and user-interface consistency - containing everything under one roof.
GBM Home 8.0 is ideal for the computer user who does not require the additional features present in GBM Pro 8.0.
GBM Home offers better data management and greater data availability than ever before.
Available for $49.98 or $69.99 for Pro on Impulse.
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Meridian4 and Dialogue Design\'s Tank Universal roars onto Impulse today! Tank Universal is a huge, virtual \'Tron-like\' world where you take part in immense 3D tank battles involving scores of units with wide open levels. Players can bombard enemies from a distance or close the cap to point blank range in an immersive first-person perspective.
Muzzy Lane Software\'s popular World War II strategy game, Making History: The Calm & the Storm Gold Edition is now available on Impulse. The GoldEdition includes a number of new features, including a Game Editor and a brand new scenario that focuses on Germany\'s rise to power.
Stardock and Clear Crown Studios are pleased to announce the release of Shattered Suns, now available on Impulse. Set in space, Shattered Suns gives players command of a fleet of player-designed space ships fighting 3-dimensional battles amid the ever-changing battlefield of orbiting planets and moons.  |
Corel® WinDVD® 9 Plus Blu-ray is DVD, Blu-ray Disc and video playback software that delivers quality and entertainment in style.
Play spectacular Blu-ray and HD DVD discs on your PC, or enjoy standard DVDs with state-of-the-art HD-quality upscaling.
Choose WinDVD 9 Plus Blu-ray for the ultimate DVD and video playback experience.
Available for $99.99 on Impulse.
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Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 is filled with easy automatic photo fixes and precision editing tools. Plus, the NEW one-of-a-kind Express Lab helps you quickly view and fix dozens of photos in the time it used to take to edit a few.
Corel® Paint Shop Pro® Photo X2 is the ideal choice for any aspiring photographer’s digital darkroom.
Photo X2 is available for $79.99 at the Impulse Store.
Available on Windows XP and Vista.
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Blast hordes of rampaging alien fighters in Sahmon Games\' stunning arcade space-scroller, Astro Avenger II, now available on Impulse. Astro Avenger II is set in the distant future where mankind has entered its second golden age. However, before humanity can bring its grand plans to fruition, an alien invasion occurs and the human race is brought to near extinction.PLYMOUTH, MI – August 04, 2008 – Stardock announced today several new video game titles from Capcom and new software applications from Genie-Soft have been added to the Impulse catalogue (www.impulsedriven.com). Launched in June, Impulse is a cohesive, integrated virtual platform for consumers and developers that is designed to simplify buying, supporting, and developing PC games and applications for Windows XP and Vista.
New to the Impulse lineup from Capcom are the upcoming Plunder, MotoGP 2008, Flock, Neopets and Dark Void. Genie-Soft software applications now available for download include disaster recovery solutions Genie Backup Manager Home 8 and Genie Backup Manager Professional 8.
Stardock launched Impulse with companies Epic Games, AVG, Gas Powered Games, Hothead Games, Ironclad Games, Meridian4 and many others and currently offers more than 150 games and software applications. For consumers, Impulse is expected to have the largest selection of digitally-available software on the market within its first year of operation.
"By continuing to add the best offering of applications and games we’re delivering the most advanced digital distribution option to PC users everywhere," said Brad Wardell, president and CEO of Stardock Corp.
Stardock will be releasing Impulse in three phases. June marked the initial launch of the Impulse client, with the immediate availability of titles from multiple PC game publishers and software developers. Phase two, scheduled for mid-August, will include Impulse Reactor and the beta of MyImpulse, a utility that will allow developers to automatically submit their games or software to Impulse under a streamlined, uniform royalty agreement for moderation. Phase three will be launched in early 2009 and will greatly automate the ability for developers to publish their games and software on Impulse as well as include virtual drive management tools.
To learn more about Impulse visit www.impulsedriven.com. Impulse is also included on the retail version of Stardock’s new PC strategy game, The Political Machine 2008.
PLYMOUTH, MI – July 30,2008 – Harley-Davidson is a symbol of freedom around the world, and today enthusiasts can put the legend of the road into their PC desktops. The Harley-Davidson branded desktops are ornamented with classic or raw imagery while retaining the PC’s functionality, included a branded media player, and customized icons. The images can be viewed here: http://mycolors.stardock.com. The Harley-Davidson desktop themes can be downloaded for $19.95 on Windows XP or Vista and features the following:
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Stardock is pleased to announce the release of SkinStudio 6.2. SkinStudio is an application that allows you to design custom visual styles for Windows Vista and Windows XP. These visual styles (skins) can then be applied using WindowBlinds. When creating a new skin you can change the complete look of Windows by changing the start button, taskbar, buttons, titlebars, and pretty much everything in between.
This update includes several major feature updates.
SkinStudio 6.2 is available as afree download. SkinStudio is also available in a Pro version which adds a start-menu animation builder, sub-style syncing, code editor, and more. SkinStudio 6 Pro is also part of theObject Desktop Ultimate available stand-alone for $19.95 and $29.95 which includes WindowBlinds.
 Example of a shine layer over a texture layer |  Skin recolor feature |
Gamespot has just released the official Demigod trailer along with a Q&A from Gas Powered Games, Chris Taylor and Stardock’s very own Brad Wardell.
Demigod is the new team-based action game, set in a future-fantasy world, that casts you as a demigod battling for a position in the pantheon of the gods.
Pre-order Demigod for $44.95, by Gas Powered Games and gain access to the exclusive limited beta program, scheduled to begin Summer, 2008. This beta program is only open to those who pre-order the game directly through Stardock/Impulse.
Check out the interview and trailer on Gamspots homepage.
The next major update for Sins of a Solar Empire, the best-selling PC strategy game of 2008 that puts the player in command of an interstellar empire at war, is here!
Since the new update is so huge and contains several brand new technologies, that we\'re going to be offering it as an optional beta for those who want to help test and provide feedback.
Version 1.1 not only includes a host of play balancing changes but new content such as an updated graphics engine, updated visuals, new damage animations, and more. It also includes a new multiplayer system called "Alloy" which eliminates the need for configuring routers or changing port numbers.
This beta update will be available only through Stardock\'s new Impulse platform.
Sins of a Solar Empire is available at most retail outlets worldwide, as well as available for digital download at www.sinsofasolarempire.com or through Stardock\'s new digital distribution platform, Impulse.
See the full change log to find out exactly how big this new update really is.
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Stardock is pleased to announced the release of WindowBlinds 6.2 today. WindowBlinds is an application that lets users easily change their Windows interface by applying a new skin. These "visual styles" can be applied across the entire user interface (title bars, push buttons, start menu, taskbar, etc.) of the operating system. As a result, users gain complete control over the way Windows looks.
What\'s new in version 6.2:
WindowBlinds is available in both a free version and a an enhanced version which adds many additional features like the ability to change color/hue/brightness on the fly, change toolbar icons of IE and Explorer, and much more. WindowBlinds is available as part of Object Desktop, Stardock\'s ultimate suite of desktop customization tools, or at stand-alone for $19.95.
More information can be found at www.windowblinds.net.
To view a full library of free and purchasable WindowBlinds skins, visit Wincustomize.
 In Action |  Changing Explorer |  Layering Demo |
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Link: Want to see more? Check out the new The Political Machine 2008 trailer!
', 'url' : 'http://www.politicalmachine.com', 'news_breif' : 'The Political Machine 2008 version 1.04 is now available to all registered owners of the game. This update includes various tweaks, as well as new elements to help you create your own bobble-head. Also, a new enhanced chat feature that allows players to smack-talk opponents in multiplayer during the final votes. Version 1.04 also adds several new \'Dark Horse\' candidates, such as the wise-cracking Minister Mike Huckabee, the rock skipping Mike Gravel, and media stud Dennis Kuchinich.' } , { 'title' : 'Stardock Releases MyColors 2.5', 'subtitle' : '', 'media_id' : '1073', 'media_type_id' : '15', 'date' : '7/22/2008 1:08:46 PM', 'description' : '  |
Stardock has released MyColors 2.5 today. MyColors is a software program that includes everything you need to change your Windows experience. MyColors changes your Windows visual style, icons, wallpaper, and even adds gadgets to your desktop. These gadgets can range from media players to weather forecast gadgets depending on the theme. It doesn\'t modify any system files and enables users to easily switch between themes and back to default Windows with just a few clicks.
MyColors 2.5 now comes with the ability to have themes with sub-styles. This will allow you to choose variations of a specific theme to let you further customize your desktop experience . A new "Wallpapers" tab has also been introduced that allows users to choose and switch between different wallpapers in the selected theme. The biggest announcement with MyColors 2.5, however, is the fact that it is now compatible with Windows Vista 64 bit.
To help kick off the release of MyColors 2.5, Stardock is including the new "Think Green" MyColors theme. This theme has a beautiful Vista animated start menu, a detailed set of icons, and a matching weather forecast gadget. Now you can show your passion for the planet, with the new Think Green MyColors theme.
Along with the MyColors 2.5 release, Stardock is unveiling the brand new Rockstar theme. This new theme gives you the ultimate backstage pass to the MyColors experience. Current WinCustomize subscribers can get the Rockstar skin for free at http://www.wincustomize.com/subscribers.aspx or the entire theme for a discount.
If the Rockstar theme isn\'t playing your tune, Stardock has teamed up with the NHL, the NCAA, NBA, GM, Ford, and many others to create themes for everything ranging from the Corvette Desktop to the Boston Celtics. In addition, dozens of totally original themes have been created as well as hundreds more are on the way.
Stardock is also providing 2 free themes on the MyColors website so that users can try MyColors for themselves. One theme, Diamond, can make Windows XP look virtually identical to Vista and gives Windows Vista users a more polished desktop experience. The other, Quest, is an elegant theme that includes everything you need to transform your windows desktop to a new, smooth, lively look. It even includes a unique, animated start menu.
You can download MyColors for free from www.mycolorsdesktop.com. MyColors is available for Windows XP (32 bit), and Windows Vista (32 and 64 bit).
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The world\'s most powerful, easy to use desktop customization program gets a major update: DesktopX 3.5.
DesktopX is a program that lets users extend their Windows desktop to support true objects (as opposed to just icons). These objects can be cosmetic in nature or using a plugin or some scripting a user can make a desktop object do virtually anything. These objects can then be combined together to make widgets or used to build an entirely new desktop.
DesktopX 3.5 has been in development for over a year. Getting DesktopX 3.5 to work seamlessly on Windows Vista was a significant challenge but worth it.
DesktopX 3.5 isn\'t just a Vista update, however. It allows users to export their creations as Windows sidebar gadgets! This is significant because by default, Sidebar gadgets tend to be limited in functionality. DesktopX objects, however, have no limitations, a user can make plugins in C++ or virtually any other language allowing Sidebar gadgets to be incredibly powerful.
DesktopX 3.5 also includes a completely revamped website along with a major overhaul of the DesktopX documentation.
If you\'ve ever wanted to see what kinds of cool stuff you can do with your desktop, DesktopX is a great and easy way to do it whether you\'re a novice or an expert PC user.
DesktopX is available on its own or as part of Object Desktop.
Download: DesktopX 3.5 
Visit: www.desktopx.net New Documentation: DesktopX docs 
Screenshots: Desktops & Objects
