Matrix Games Forums

Explore the universe across the endless stars and make it yours!

Matrix Games and Code Force (www.codeforce.co.nz) are thrilled to announce that they have reached a publishing agreement for Distant Worlds, a vast real-time 4X space strategy game sporting massive galaxies and limitless possibilities!

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said, “Distant Worlds combines all the great features of a classic 4X space strategy game with plenty of exciting new elements. Both long time fans of space 4X games and the newcomers should definitely give Distant Worlds a look!”

Distant Worlds is a vast, real-time, 4X space strategy game. Experience the full depth and detail of large turn-based strategy games, but with the simplicity and ease of real-time, and on the scale of a massively-multiplayer online game.

Vast galaxies are made to order: up to 1400 star systems, with up to 50,000 planets, moons and asteroids. Galaxies are so deep, fun and immersive that you won’t want to finish the game... Build, expand and improve your empire endlessly. The galaxy is packed with life and activity. Encounter other empires, independent alien colonies, traders, pirates and space monsters. Explore star systems, asteroid fields, gas clouds, supernovae, galactic storms and black holes. Discover evidence of civilizations long since past, uncovering secrets about the galaxy's troubled history...

Best of all, you can play the game your way: enjoy a quick, intense game in a crowded galaxy or take your time in an epic game spread across a vast galaxy!

Features include:

• Truly Epic-Scale Galaxies: Play in galaxies with up to 1400 star systems and 50,000 planets, moons and asteroids.
• Private Enterprise: The private citizens of your empire automatically take care of mundane tasks like mining, transporting, migration, etc.
• Intelligent Automation: Automate the various tasks in your empire, so that you can focus on the areas that you enjoy most.
• Explore: Explore the vast galaxy, discovering valuable resources, potential colonies for your empire and making contact with other empires.
• Colonize: Send out colony ships to found new worlds for your empire.
• Defend: Patrol the outlying areas of your empire, construct defensive bases, and build up your fleets to protect from raiding pirates or space monsters.
• Diplomacy: Interact with other empires, discussing treaties, making trade offers or just giving them a piece of your mind.
• Espionage: Covertly seek out information about other empires, or even disrupt their progress with acts of sabotage.
• Research: Develop new technologies for use in building your own unique ships and star bases.
• Build: Design and build the ships and star bases in your empire. Construct military behemoths at your space ports. Build mining stations, research installations and more.
• Built-in Game Editor: Fine-tune your own galaxy, adding or removing star systems, planets, asteroid fields, ships or anything else.

Get more information on Distant Worlds from its official product page.

When is a release date for this? I'm excited!

Indeed, i cant wait.
I'd pay right now today even if i only got a "pre-relase demo/beta" to download so far. *hint hint*

Don't get too excited. Chances are you won't see a digital download version until it's been released in retail stores.
So it might take a while I think, same thing with Armada 2526, fans were anxiously waiting for the game to be distributed to retail stores, before they could purchase it online.
And since no date has been announced yet, I think if you expect it to be out sometime in february then you won't get too dissappointed. Instead of constantly refreshing the forums hoping for news :p

It is strange that most publishers tell you the release date and let you pre order the game,but not here.

ORIGINAL: Epsilon

Don't get too excited. Chances are you won't see a digital download version until it's been released in retail stores.
...

Where did you see that this was going to be available in retail stores?

ORIGINAL: elmo3

ORIGINAL: Epsilon

Don't get too excited. Chances are you won't see a digital download version until it's been released in retail stores.
...

Where did you see that this was going to be available in retail stores?

I read a post from one of the moderators that they were working on getting it in retail stores.

ORIGINAL: Epsilon
I read a post from one of the moderators that they were working on getting it in retail stores.

This will release through our Online Store, not through retail. As usual, you will be able to get it as a download and/or a boxed physical copy.

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: Epsilon
I read a post from one of the moderators that they were working on getting it in retail stores.

This will release through our Online Store, not through retail. As usual, you will be able to get it as a download and/or a boxed physical copy.

ETA, Erik? Not necessarily an exact date, just some idea so I can budget for it.

We are close, but I'd rather answer that in another week as we are still working out the final details.

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

It is strange that most publishers tell you the release date and let you pre order the game,but not here.

It doesn't get you the game any faster when you do that. [&:]

It's just me, but I am tired of going to Steam, Gamersgate, Impulse, and D2D only to see an almost endless display of "Pre Order Now" Flash boxes. When I order a game, I want to download it when I finish the payment information. Pre Order to me has become a too popular pain in the patience wallet. [;)]

After being on the other side of the gaming creation issue for a while, I vow to never again hound Erik for release information. Now if I can just keep my promise... [;)][&o]

Well pre-order like pre-order. You can do it or not. And believe me Larry you are not alone when it comes to pre-order madness. But plethora of pre-orders is not the worst thing about on-line shopping.

"North America ONLY" is (Impulse is very good at this game [:@]), and ripping off people in Europe by overwhelming majority of 'on-line only' stores by charging 1 Euro (or more) for every 1$. Gamersgate lately just went totally over the top by charging people 50 Euros(=43.5 GBP) for standard Star Trek Online. Same game, different store. 30 Pounds+2.95 for S&H of DVD to the continent = 32.95 GBP (+option to instantly download after concluded transaction). Same with other games. Just on Wed this week I bought Supreme Ruler 2020. 15.25 Pounds (including S&H). GG download only 30 Euros=26 GBP. Draw your own conclusions...

I just wonder how companies like GG are still afloat. You must be completely bonkers to shop there (excluding here of course people which don't know what to do with the ca$h, you know: footballers, stock brokers, Sheiks, oligarchs in Russia. You know the line-up [:D]).

To end on a positive note. Can't wait for DW. Drooling with excitement! [:)]

ORIGINAL: ypsylon

To end on a positive note. Can't wait for DW. Drooling with excitement! [:)]

I can add a lot to what you said in agreement, but I best stay on topic for this forum. [;)]

I wish I could say that DW will be released at such and such date. I can say this though... it should be worth the wait. [&o] I have a ton of space games (12+) and I would play DW before any of the ones I own.

ORIGINAL: LarryP

ORIGINAL: ypsylon

To end on a positive note. Can't wait for DW. Drooling with excitement! [:)]

I can add a lot to what you said in agreement, but I best stay on topic for this forum. [;)]

I wish I could say that DW will be released at such and such date. I can say this though... it should be worth the wait. [&o] I have a ton of space games (12+) and I would play DW before any of the ones I own.

Well that's a ringing endorsement if I ever heard one! [:D]

Roll on release day! [&o]

ORIGINAL: LarryP

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

It is strange that most publishers tell you the release date and let you pre order the game,but not here.

It doesn't get you the game any faster when you do that. [&:]

It's just me, but I am tired of going to Steam, Gamersgate, Impulse, and D2D only to see an almost endless display of "Pre Order Now" Flash boxes. When I order a game, I want to download it when I finish the payment information. Pre Order to me has become a too popular pain in the patience wallet. [;)]

After being on the other side of the gaming creation issue for a while, I vow to never again hound Erik for release information. Now if I can just keep my promise... [;)][&o]

AGREED. I understand it taking a position of prominence if a pre-order also gives access to an open Beta or something like that, but enough with the pre-order madness!

pre-order to OB access....[&:]...[X(]

[:-] NO! I must be strong! I must wait!

but now, the thought, the possibility! Even though the chance is near impossible!

DARN YOU ARCTIIIIC![:@]

Remember, it's said that "the thrill of the hunt is better than the hunt itself." So waiting must be the best part?! [&:]

Nahhh! Never mind. [:-]

Hi folks

I've just read almost all the threads and have watched all the videos...my question is: what hasn't this game got?! DW looks very promising indeed.

I must confess, being a PC gamer who tends to enjoy games that are very mainstream, I've never heard of Matrix games or Code Force...but I'm glad I've stumbled upon them! [8D]

ORIGINAL: LarryP

Remember, it's said that "the thrill of the hunt is better than the hunt itself." So waiting must be the best part?! [&:]

Nahhh! Never mind. [:-]

SHHH! you biased! Mr Beta Tester!

ORIGINAL: Webbco

I've just read almost all the threads and have watched all the videos...my question is: what hasn't this game got?! DW looks very promising indeed.

If you watch the videos and pause them when Elliot opens menus, look at all the detail that's shown in them. The statistics and options of more you can do is amazing. What's also really neat that I haven't seen mentioned, is that you can choose to micromanage this game quite deep, but if you choose not to it still plays out fine. Choosing the Advisers gives you the options to interact with the game as much or little as you like. However you don't pay a price either way. The game just plays differently either way. [;)]