Stardock Magazine: April 2017

This edition of Stardock Magazine brings you an editorial from Brad Wardell, Fences on Steam, a huge update for Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion, and more. Stardock Magazine March 2017 By Brad Wardell (@draginol) Editorial from Brad [Spring is here](=/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9kcmFnaW5vbC9zdGF0dXMvODUxNDc0NjYwODg1NzcwMjQzP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9c2RtYWlsJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09c2RtYWcmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9QlJBRFRXVCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U3RhcmRvY2slMkJNYWdhemluZSUyQkFQUjIwMTc=). Which means, of course, that another anniversary of the launch of OS/2 2.0 has come. In fact, this year marks the 25th anniversary of OS/2 2.0 - or as my wife calls it, the 25th anniversary of our first date (which she reminded me of as I was holding up my OS/2 2.0 box). [The Register has a lot to say on this](=/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9kcmFnaW5vbC9zdGF0dXMvODUxNDc2MTI4NjYxNDc1MzI4P3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9c2RtYWlsJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09c2RtYWcmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9VEhFUkVHSVNURVImdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVN0YXJkb2NrJTJCTWFnYXppbmUlMkJBUFIyMDE3). In the meantime, I'll be sleeping out on the lawn. Discord I have fallen in love with [Discord](=/aHR0cHM6Ly9kaXNjb3JkYXBwLmNvbS9kb3dubG9hZD91dG1fc291cmNlPXNkbWFpbCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXNkbWFnJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PURJU0NPUkQmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVN0YXJkb2NrJTJCTWFnYXppbmUlMkJBUFIyMDE3). And yes, it's romantic love. Don't judge me. I use Skype™ constantly and there's a time and place for both. Now, if it can add in the power of Google Hangouts (where I can just give out a link to join a hangout at a certain time), then my life would be complete. What makes Discord special is that it combines Skype + IRC + the Web. I can give out a link to a Discord server, which is super nice. I can also manage permissions in a channel (I can't do that in Skype, which is frustrating). But it's also like a BBS (I started out running Commodore 64 BBSes) where things can stay, like posts (I'd love to have more features like that where I could have topics or something). Here are two links: Windows® desktop stuff: [(=/aHR0cHM6Ly9kaXNjb3JkLmdnL3R0aDNqeDY-dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1zZG1haWwmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1zZG1hZyZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1ERVNLVE9QRElTQ09SRCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U3RhcmRvY2slMkJNYWdhemluZSUyQkFQUjIwMTc=) Ashes of the Singularity™: [(=/aHR0cHM6Ly9kaXNjb3JkLmdnL2dGYzhiVU0-dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1zZG1haWwmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1zZG1hZyZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1BU0hFU0RJU0NPUkQmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVN0YXJkb2NrJTJCTWFnYXppbmUlMkJBUFIyMDE3) We'll be sharing more soon. Let us know what you think. Feedback The Stardock forums are possibly the longest running Windows based forum software on the net. People sometimes suggest we move to a different forum software. For instance, [Quarter To Three](=/aHR0cHM6Ly9mb3J1bS5xdWFydGVydG90aHJlZS5jb20vP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9c2RtYWlsJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09c2RtYWcmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9UVVBUlRFUlRPVEhSRUUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVN0YXJkb2NrJTJCTWFnYXppbmUlMkJBUFIyMDE3) recently changed to a new forum system, and it's pretty slick. Meanwhile, [Neowin has a super customized](=/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmVvd2luLm5ldC9mb3J1bS8-dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1zZG1haWwmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1zZG1hZyZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1ORU9XSU5GT1JVTSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U3RhcmRvY2slMkJNYWdhemluZSUyQkFQUjIwMTc=) forum system as well. The reason we persist with our forum setup is that it allows us to directly integrate customer features into the forums and gives us a lot of flexibility in how it's used. For example, check out the new [games website](=/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdGFyZG9jay5jb20vZ2FtZXMvP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9c2RtYWlsJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09c2RtYWcmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9R0FNRVNXRUJTSVRFJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TdGFyZG9jayUyQk1hZ2F6aW5lJTJCQVBSMjAxNw==). This page is just custom view of our forums. We'd like to hear from you: what are some features that you'd like us to add to our forums? Speaking of hearing from you, visit [here](=/aHR0cHM6Ly9mb3J1bXMuc3RhcmRvY2suY29tLzQ4MjUwMC9TdGFyZG9jay1NYWdhemluZS1BcHJpbC0yMDE3LWZlZWRiYWNrP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9c2RtYWlsJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09c2RtYWcmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9RkVFREJBQ0smdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVN0YXJkb2NrJTJCTWFnYXppbmUlMkJBUFIyMDE3) to give feedback on this issue of Stardock Magazine. Fences on Steam If you are reading this and don't already have Fences®, then stop reading this and [go get it](=/aHR0cDovL3N0b3JlLnN0ZWFtcG93ZXJlZC5jb20vYXBwLzYwNzM4MC8-dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1zZG1haWwmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1zZG1hZyZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1HRVRGRU5DRVMmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVN0YXJkb2NrJTJCTWFnYXppbmUlMkJBUFIyMDE3). Seriously. If there ever was a program that every computer user should have, I would rate [Fences](=/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdGFyZG9jay5jb20vcHJvZHVjdHMvZmVuY2VzLz91dG1fc291cmNlPXNkbWFpbCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXNkbWFnJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PUZFTkNFU1dFQiZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U3RhcmRvY2slMkJNYWdhemluZSUyQkFQUjIwMTc=) above any other app. [Fences image](=/aHR0cDovL2RyYWdpbm9sLnN0YXJkb2NrLm5ldC9pbWFnZXMyMDE2Lzc4ZWFkMjk1ZmZjYl9BRjFBL2ltYWdlLnBuZz91dG1fc291cmNlPXNkbWFpbCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXNkbWFnJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PUZFTkNFU0lNRyZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U3RhcmRvY2slMkJNYWdhemluZSUyQkFQUjIwMTc=) I actually use it to quickly hide all my desktop icons (double click on the desktop) so I can use my desktop as a staging area. It's, by far, our most popular program. Fences is the first non-game we've put on Steam®. You can find the link to it below: Here's Fences in action: [[CLICK HERE](=/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g-dj1KbDUyT2d5dktZayZ1dG1fc291cmNlPXNkbWFpbCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXNkbWFnJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PUZFTkNFU1ZJRGFtcDt1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U3RhcmRvY2slMkJNYWdhemluZSUyQkFQUjIwMTc=)] Get Fences on Steam: [[CLICK HERE](=/aHR0cDovL3N0b3JlLnN0ZWFtcG93ZXJlZC5jb20vYXBwLzYwNzM4MC8-dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1zZG1haWwmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1zZG1hZyZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1GRU5DRVNTVEVBTSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U3RhcmRvY2slMkJNYWdhemluZSUyQkFQUjIwMTc=)] Windows Creator Update Microsoft is doing a major update to Windows 10. Dubbed the Creators Update, it has a bunch of new features and updates. [Windows Central has an article on it](=/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53aW5kb3dzY2VudHJhbC5jb20vd2hhdHMtbmV3LXNldHRpbmdzLWFwcC13aW5kb3dzLTEwLWNyZWF0b3JzLXVwZGF0ZT91dG1fc291cmNlPXNkbWFpbCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXNkbWFnJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJTkRPV1NDRU5UUkFMJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TdGFyZG9jayUyQk1hZ2F6aW5lJTJCQVBSMjAxNw==). Our QA team has reported that some of our programs have problems with it. Ashes of the Singularity is crashing on DirectX 12 on some machines and we had to update many of our [Object Desktop](=/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdGFyZG9jay5jb20vcHJvZHVjdHMvb2RudC8-dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1zZG1haWwmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1zZG1hZyZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1PRE5UJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TdGFyZG9jayUyQk1hZ2F6aW5lJTJCQVBSMjAxNw==)™ programs to support it. So if you have any problems, make sure you update the program in question. Galactic Civilizations® III: Crusade The biggest expansion we've ever done for any game is nearly complete. [Galactic Civilizations III: Crusade](=/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5nYWxjaXYzLmNvbS9jcnVzYWRlP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9c2RtYWlsJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09c2RtYWcmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9Q1JVU0FERSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U3RhcmRvY2slMkJNYWdhemluZSUyQkFQUjIwMTc=). You can read more about that [here](=/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdGFyZG9jay5jb20vZ2FtZXMvYXJ0aWNsZS80ODIyMTQvQ1JVU0FERS1ESUFSWS02LVdoYXQta2luZC1vZi1DaXZpbGl6YXRpb24tZG8teW91LXdhbnQtdG8tYnVpbGQ-dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1zZG1haWwmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1zZG1hZyZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1ERVZESUFSWTYmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVN0YXJkb2NrJTJCTWFnYXppbmUlMkJBUFIyMDE3). Sins of a Solar Empire: Anniversary Update This past week we released a huge update for Sins of a Solar Empire®: Rebellion. [Sins of a Solar Empire](=/aHR0cDovL2RyYWdpbm9sLnN0YXJkb2NrLm5ldC9pbWFnZXMyMDE2Lzc4ZWFkMjk1ZmZjYl9BRjFBL2ltYWdlXzMucG5nP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9c2RtYWlsJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09c2RtYWcmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9U0lOU0lNRyZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U3RhcmRvY2slMkJNYWdhemluZSUyQkFQUjIwMTc=) Performance improvements, graphical improvements and high DPI support and more are amongst the improvements. Learn more about the big update [here](=/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdGFyZG9jay5jb20vZ2FtZXMvYXJ0aWNsZS80ODI0NjYvU2lucy1vZi1hLVNvbGFyLUVtcGlyZS1SZWJlbGxpb24tLS1Gb3JnaW5nLWFuLUVtcGlyZT91dG1fc291cmNlPXNkbWFpbCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXNkbWFnJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVNJTlNVUERBVEUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVN0YXJkb2NrJTJCTWFnYXppbmUlMkJBUFIyMDE3). That's all for now It's been a super busy month here. Within the next few weeks we should be able to start talking about Object Desktop 2018, the big expansion we're working on for Offworld Trading Company™, some [Star Control](=/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdGFyY29udHJvbC5jb20vP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9c2RtYWlsJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09c2RtYWcmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9U1RBUkNPTlRST0wmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVN0YXJkb2NrJTJCTWFnYXppbmUlMkJBUFIyMDE3)® news, and more. [Stardock](=/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdGFyZG9jay5jb20vP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9c2RtYWlsJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09c2RtYWcmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9U1RSTE9HTyZTdGFyZG9jayUyQk1hZ2F6aW5lJTJCYXByMjAxNw==) Stardock, 15090 Beck Road, Plymouth, MI 48170. This message was sent to [{EMAIL}](=/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3RhcmRvY2suY29tL2FjY291bnRzL3N1YnNjcmlwdGlvbnM-ZW1haWw9dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTJAZ21haWwuY29t). Click here to [unsubscribe](=/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3RhcmRvY2suY29tL2FjY291bnRzL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlLmFzcHg-ZW1haWw9dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTJAZ21haWwuY29tJmxpc3Q9MSZ1dG1fc291cmNlPXNkbWFpbCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXNkbWFnJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVVOU1VCU0NSSUJFJlN0YXJkb2NrJTJCTWFnYXppbmUlMkJhcHIyMDE3). If you have any questions, email [promotions@stardock.com](mailto:promotions@stardock.com?subject=Stardock%20Magazine:%20April%202017). © 2017 Stardock and Stardock Entertainment. Fences is a registered trademark of Stardock. Galactic Civilizations is a registered trademark of Stardock Entertainment. Ashes of the Singularity and Star Control are trademarks of Stardock Entertainment. Oxide is a trademark of Oxide Games. Offworld Trading Company is a trademark of Mohawk Games. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and copyrights are the properties of their respective owners.