SiN Episodes - Official News

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SiN Episodes Level Creation


All of the news posts published by Ritualistic Entertainment regarding Sin Episodes from the timespan of mid 2005 to late 2006 on their official now archived website is moved here for further preservation, clarification and organisation.

2006

Steam Website Relaunches September 5

The Steam website has gotten a makeover courtesy of Valve's web design team, so now you can find your favorite games even faster. Don't forget that the Steam version of SiN Episodes: Emergence recently dropped in price and can be downloaded for just $14.95 plus tax.

SiN Episodes Merchandise! August 18

Those of wanting to get some cool new SiN Episodes swag can check out the newly added Merchandise section of the site, where we have posters, t-shirts, and even a CD version of the Emergence soundtrack. More items will be added in the future, so keep your eyes peeled!

SiN Episodes Interview on Firing Squad August 18

There's a new SiN Episodes interview on Firing Squad, talking with the Levelord, Shawn Ketcherside and Ken Harward about Emergence and the future of the series. Have a read!

SiN Episodes: Emergence Now Only $14.95! August 10

SiN Episodes: Emergence is now available on Steam for the new low price of $14.95! Included in this offer are the original SiN, SiN 1 multiplayer, SiN Episodes Arena Mode, and SiN Episodes multiplayer (coming soon). Click here to find out more!

Ritual Editing Community Wiki Now Online! July 27

To go along with the just-released SiN Episodes SDK (see below), we've put together the Ritual Editing Community Wiki containing editing documentation and tutorials for SiN Episodes, Star Trek Elite Force II and Heavy Metal FAKK2. Of course, it being a Wiki means that any member of the Ritual Editing Community can add new tutorials as well as edit existing information. All you need to do is register an account. It's free!

SiN Episodes SDK Released! July 27

We have just released the Software Development Kit (SDK) for "SiN Episodes: Emergence" over Steam. The SDK allows players to create new single-player levels, new Arena Mode maps, and additional content for the "SiN Episodes" universe and can be installed from the Tools tab inside the Steam client.

SiN Episodes Statistics Site Live July 20

For a while now we've been compiling the statistics uploaded to us by SiN Episodes players and we have now put together a comprehensive Statistics section full of fascinating information about how you guys play the game. On top of that, we also have a page listing the top 10 highscores for all the Arena maps released so far, so you can see how you compare to the best players in the world!

SiN Episodes: Emergence Now Shipping in Germany! July 20

The German version of SiN Episodes: Emergence is now available in retail stores across Germany and on Steam! The German version also comes with Arena Mode out of the box, so you can start fragging those pesky grunts right away!

SiN Episodes Update Released! July 18

A little sooner than expected, the SiN Episodes update mentioned below is now available! Restart your Steam clients to automatically download and install it.

New SiN Episodes Update This Week! July 17

We're going to release a new SiN Episodes: Emergence update sometime this week, adding a couple more fixes and features, and, best of all, three brand-new Arena Mode maps! Here's the list of planned changes, followed by screenshots of the new maps: •Added three new Arena Mode maps (The Pit, Behind Zee Beaker, Vertigo)

  • Added confirmation prompt when deleting Arena Mode scores
  • Added opt-out stats collection for the regular campaign on the main menu
  • Added foreign translations for Arena Mode dialogs
  • Fixed issue where all secrets could not be collected in final map
  • Fixed issue where context look triggers could get "stuck" and the context look icon would appear for the remainder of the level
  • Fixed issue where Arena Mode rounds would end approximately 2 seconds too early
  • Fixed issue where players could be killed after the "Game Over" screen in Arena Mode
  • Fixed issue where stats exported to HTML from an Arena Mode game were incorrect
  • Fixed issue where players would get stats credited for the actions of NPC's
  • Fixed issue where subtitles would not appear during all of the "Next Episode" preview
  • Fixed issue where mutagenic gas would cause screen to black out on Radeon 9000, 9200 and 9250 series cards.
  • Fixed issue where player could not turn left or right using the keyboard without disabling the mouse.

SiN Episodes: Emergence Now Shipping in Russia July 17

We're happy to announce that a completely localized version of SiN Episodes: Emergence has shipped in Russia and is now available at retail stores throughout the country!

Mutants, Machine Guns And A New Arena Mode Descend On Germany With SiN Episodes: Emergence June 26

Grab a frag grenade and suit up for a futuristic fight for humankind’s fate! Today, Ritual Entertainment announced that SiN Episodes™: Emergence for the PC, one of the first-ever full quality episodic action games, will be available July 20 in Germany for download via the Steam™ distribution platform (www.steamgames.com), as well as distributed by EA for retail stores, for €19.99. Introducing a new single player Arena Mode, this release delivers increased re-playability to the first of a series of ground breaking, intense, affordable game episodes to fans in Germany and world wide. Read more...

SiN Episodes Update Relased - Arena Mode Available Now! June 26

A new update for SiN Episodes: Emergence is now available and includes, among other things, the long-awaited Arena Mode add-on! If you've never heard of Arena Mode, here's what it's all about:

Arena Mode is an all new competitive single player experience where you face off against an onslaught of SinTEK foes. The longer you survive, the higher your score, but this is no ordinary challenge. Every moment you’re in the game, the Personal Challenge System continues to shift the difficulty, keeping the pressure on. This makes Arena Mode an infinitely repayable single player mode where you continually try and beat your high score.

On top of that, Arena Mode also allows you to record demos of your finest moments that you can share with your friends. We are also working on getting a statistics website up soon, so you can see how you stack up compared to the rest of the world.

The patch also contains these fixes and additions:

  • Added Arena Mode
  • Added 4 Arena Mode Maps (Highrise Lobby, The Office, Turbine, U4 Processing Station)
  • Exposed some additional statistics from the Personal Challenge System
  • Updated manual with additional troubleshooting information, Arena Mode documentation
  • Minor asset rearrangement required for upcoming SDK release
  • Fixed issue where "Pipes & Crates, Inc." phone message would not play
  • Fixed visual issue with Elexis hologram on some DirectX 7 cards
  • Fixed issue where security bots could not be damaged from certain locations in Highrise
  • Fixed some closed captions
  • Fixed minor issues with U4 Lab 02
  • Miscellaneous bug fixes

You can download the update by restarting your Steam clients.

Signed SiN Episodes Retail Copy Giveaway June 26

Game Overdrive is giving away a signed retail copy of SiN Episodes: Emergence. Check out their contest page for all the details!

Dev Diary: GIANT Update! June 22

Shawn and Tom spill the latest information about the upcoming release of Arena mode, the statistics tracking website, the SDK, Episode 2, and all the crazy details from E3 2006! Read the latest blog to get the inside info!

SiN Episodes interview on Ritualistic June 16

There's a new SiN Episodes interview on Ritualistic, speaking with the Levelord and lead programmer Ken Harward about the response to Emergence, and the upcoming Arena Mode and SDK releases. Have a read!

The Hollywood Reporter Looks at Episodic Gaming June 16

The Hollywood Reporter has published an extensive feature on episodic gaming, quoting Valve's Gabe Newell and our own Levelord among others. Check it out!

SiN Episodes: Emergence Music Post-Mortem May 30

Music4Games has published a SiN Episodes: Emergence music post-mortem, written by Ritual's audio director Zak Belica. Zak talks about the different themes in the game and the inspiration for them. Take a look!

Steve Nix interviewed on GameOn Podcast May 30

Ritual CEO Steve Nix was interviewed in the latest episode of the GameOn Podcast, where he talked about SiN Episodes and episodic content. You can grab the entire 40-minute episode on this page.

Ritual Entertainment Launches SiN Episodes: Emergence in Europe May 26

Ritual Entertainment's SiN Episodes™: Emergence for the PC, the first-ever episodic action game, is now available in retail stores throughout the European territories, excluding Germany, in addition to being downloadable online via the Steam™ distribution platform (www.steamgames.com). Read more...

Ritual Podcast: Creating the Emergence Theme May 26

We've got a new episode of the Ritual Podcast for you today, with audio director Zak Belica explaining how he went about creating the main theme for SiN Episodes: Emergence. The episode is stuffed with various iterations of the theme, so head on over to the Ritual Podcast page and give it a listen!

Developer Diary: Feedback, Zee Germans & The Future May 24

A new installment of Shawn's Blog is up, jam-packed with all kinds of information - Emergence feedback we're looking at, the current status of Emergence in Germany, and all the good stuff we have coming down the pipe for Emergence players. It's a must-read, so check it out!

SiN Episodes: Emergence Update Released May 17

An update for SiN Episodes: Emergence has been released and will be applied automatically when the Steam client is restarted. Here's the changelog:

  • Fixed a bug sometimes causing the challenge to never ease up on the player, making it unforgiving.
  • Fixed a bug that may have been causing sound-stuttering issues for some players.
  • Fixed a bug where changing the fov made you a cheater.
  • Fixed player stats not always reporting while you are in the car or otherwise locked in place.
  • Fixed the instantaneous challenge rating sometimes reporting 0.
  • Fixed a texture problem that was causing a lock-up on some video cards when loading in U4Labs.
  • Fixed a texture problem that was causing a crash on some video cards when fighting the Quadralex.
  • Fixed a texture problem that was causing a crash on some video cards when inside of green poison gas.
  • Fixed a path-finding issue preventing the game from progressing after talking with Radek at his headquarters.
  • Reduced point-size on some fonts to fix some close captioning to not fit for some languages.
  • Fixed a path-finding issue with one map.

Bianca Beauchamp Is G4TV's Babe of the Show! May 15

Bianca Beauchamp alias Elexis Sinclaire has been named G4TV's Babe of the Show! Congratulations! Apparently, Elexis always gets exactly what she wants...

SiN Episodes Soundtrack Now On iTunes! May 12

The SiN Episodes: Emergence soundtrack is now available on iTunes! For more information, visit the Soundtrack section.

Intelligence Section Updated May 10

The final update of the Intelligence section has arrived, spilling the beans on Freeport City, Arch-13, the X-380 Prototype Scattergun, the Recombinant Major, and the HC-969 HardCORPS Medical Transport Chopper.

SiN Episodes Now Unlocked On Steam! May 10

That's right, the moment you've all been waiting for! SiN Episodes: Emergence is now unlocked on Steam and can be played immediately by those who pre-ordered and pre-loaded. Enjoy!

Game Overdrive Visits Ritual Entertainment May 10

The guys at Game Overdrive recently had a chance to visit Ritual Entertainment and interview several of the core team members. A great article containing their impressions and information on the inner workings of Ritual is now available on their site. Check it out!

New SiN Episodes Video: E3 2006 May 08

In the latest SiN Episodes video, we outline the SiN Episodes: Emergence E3 2006 presence, showcasing some B-roll footage of the SiN girls, Bianca Beauchamp and Cindy Synnett at the SiN photoshoot, and demonstrating the new Arena mode being used at E3 for the Vigorgaming "Force Recon" PC giveaway! You can find a list of mirrors right here on the video page.

New SiN Episodes: Emergence Story Trailer May 04

There's an all-new SiN Episodes trailer waiting for you in the downloads section, showcasing some of the story threads we're weaving with this episode. As before, the trailer comes in High-def, high-res, PSP, and iPod flavors, so you'll get to enjoy it no matter where you are.

Ritual Podcast: Heliodisplay May 04

Several months ago, Ritual visited IO2Technologies in California to check out their innovative Heliodisplay technology, which basically takes a video signal and projects it onto a stream of air. The results are quite amazing, and IO2 actually allowed us to hook SiN Episodes up to their prototype machine and have it display several of our main characters. We captured the whole thing on video and you can check it out in the latest video podcast! There's even a bit of unreleased footage for those who already grabbed the Heliodisplay video off the SiN Episodes site.

Dev Diary: Huge E3 Announcement! May 03

The latest developer blog is up and it's full of exciting announcements regarding a new game mode for SiN Episodes: Emergence, as well as the upcoming E3 show and all the cool SiN Episodes-related events we've got planned for it. From the chance to win a customized SiN Episodes gaming machine, as well as real life versions of Elexis Sinclaire and Jessica, we'll have it all! Read the blog update to find out more!

SiN Episodes Voice Cast Interviewed May 03

Over at Ritualistic there's a new interview with several members of the SiN Episodes voice cast - namely Hannah Logan (Elexis Sinclaire), Jen Taylor (Jessica Cannon), and Billy O'Sullivan (J.C.) - who spill their guts about working on the game and the characters they play. Have a read!

The Tribe Gets A New Toy May 01

The SiN Episodes development team got their hands on a very special item the other day - one rather similar to Jessica's weapon of choice. Custom-built by Bob Mustaine, this puppy is meant for a very special event that we'll reveal more about shortly. In the meantime, check out some of the Tribesmen posing with the new toy:


Se1 dev guns.png

Intelligence Section Updated May 01

More new data profiles have been added to the Intelligence section, spilling the goods about Viktor Radek (including a new wallpaper!), The Cartel, G50 Phosphorous Incendiary Grenades, a SinTEK Research Facility, the SiNTEK A.R.C. Probe, the GLG-20 SinTEK Assault Chopper, and Mutagen Poison. Don't forget to check out the latest two pieces in our Media of the Day section while you're at it!

New SiN Episodes Previews May 01

Those of you eagerly awaiting the unlock of SiN Episodes: Emergence can check out two brand-new previews of the game on Game Overdrive and Telefragged, both chock-full with information from hands-on time with Emergence!

Ritual Podcast: SiN Episodes Gold Celebrations April 28

The second episode of the Ritual Podcast is available now, allowing you to watch the development team as they celebrate SiN Episodes: Emergence going gold! Hit the Ritual Podcast page for a list of all the episodes released so far.

Developer Diary: GOLD! April 26

The latest developer diary is a very special one, revealing that SiN Episodes: Emergence has officially gone gold and is headed off to replication! Read all about it here!

Ritual Podcast Launches April 26

Today we have another new feature around these parts: The Ritual Podcast. We'll be releasing new episodes regularly, chock-full of information about the inner workings of Ritual Entertainment and our latest projects. The first episode is out now and covers the creation of one of the music cues from SiN Episodes. Head over to the Podcast section on the Ritual website to grab it.

Intelligence Section Updated April 26

The Intelligence section now has several new profiles, filled with information about Jessica Cannon (including a new wallpaper!), the Bayside Development Sector, the SinTEK Heavy Gunners, and Transibiotic Canisters.

Zak Belica interviewed April 25

Ritualistic has a new interview with SiN Episodes audio director Zak Belica, covering everything related to the sounds and music you'll be hearing in the game. The interview also includes the cover art for the SiN Episodes soundtrack, so be sure to have a look!

Developer Diary: Episode 2 April 24

The latest blog update is all about Episode 2, with Shawn discussing in-depth what the various hunting groups at the Tribe are up to. It's an exciting read, so check it out now!

Introducing Media of the Day April 24

With a little more than two weeks to go until the release of SiN Episodes: Emergence, we've decided to introduce a new feature: Media of the Day. Every day up until release, you guys will get brand-new media from SiN Episodes. These can be anything from screenshots and developer desktops to enviroment studies and even sneak peeks at Episode 2! The first two images are up now - keep checking the Media of the Day gallery every day for new material!

SiN Episodes Steam Skin April 24

Get your Steam client ready for SiN with this slick blue and yellow design featuring Jessica Cannon! Download it here!


Se1 steam skin.jpg

SiN Episodes Gameplay Video: Car Action April 19

We've just released a new gameplay video, showing 1 minute and 27 seconds filled with exciting footage from one of the car segments in Emergence. Head on over to the video downloads page for a list of mirrors!

SiN Episodes interview on Shacknews April 19

Shacknews has a new interview with the SiN Episodes team, chatting extensively about the first episode, Emergence. The interview comes with two brand-new screenshots and be found right here.

Intelligence Section Updated April 19

The Intelligence section has been updated with several new profiles, containing information about Elexis Sinclaire (including a new wallpaper!), SinTEK Industries, the U4 Lab, the M590 Assault Rifle, and Regenibiotic Canisters. Start digging!

Developer Diary: Tackling Episodic Content April 17

The latest blog update is here, talking about one of the fundamental concepts of SiN Episodes: The episodic model. This update offers a lot of insights about how we're approaching episodic content with SiN Episodes and why we're structuring the series the way we are. The update also contains two new screenshots, so go check it out!

PC Zone goes hands-on with SiN Episodes: Emergence April 11

British magazine PC Zone recently stopped by the Ritual Cave to test drive SiN Episodes: Emergence. You can read all about their exploits and see some new screenshots in their preview.

SiN Episodes: Emergence Box Art Revealed April 06

With the retail version of SiN Episodes: Emergence officially announced, Electronic Arts has also revealed the cover art, so you know what to look for when the game hits the shelves. Click the image to enlarge.


Se1 box art.jpg

SiN Episodes: Emergence Pre-Loading Now April 05

SiN Episode 1: Emergence is now available for pre-load and pre-purchase via Steam. The pre-load is free to anyone with a valid Steam account. Those who pre-purchase prior to the game being made available on May 9 will save 10% off the $19.95 price and receive instant access to the original SiN game (single and multiplayer). For more information, visit the Pre-Order section.

SiN Episodes: Emergence in Stores May 9 April 05

Ritual Entertainment® and Valve® today announced that SiN Episode 1: Emergence will be available in retail outlets on May 9, 2006. Distributed throughout Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand by Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), Emergence is the first in a new series of episodic adventures from Ritual that are powered by the award-winning Source™ game engine technology developed by Valve. Click here to read more.

SiN Episodes Website Relaunched! April 05

As you can probably tell, we've relaunched the site and added several new sections filled with The Good Stuff. Episodes contains information on the individual episodes, while Intelligence will be slowly filling up with details about the SiN Episodes universe. W hile, you're at it, don't forget to check out the new screenshots and the new John Blade desktop!

Steve Nix interviewed on Next Generation March 28

Next Generation recently stopped by the Ritual offices to interview The Tribe's CEO Steve Nix about the business side of SiN Episodes and the episodic development model. The resulting interview is a rare and very informative look into the thinking behind the project, so be sure to give it a read!

SiN Episodes GDC Coverage March 24

SiN Episodes: Emergence is on display at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose right now, and several sites have posted their impressions. You can check them out at GameSpot, IGN, Firing Squad, and Shacknews. If reading isn't for you, both GameSpot and IGN also have several gameplay videos.

Developer Diary: Holographic SiNs March 22

Recently Ritual VP Tom Mustaine had a chance to visit IO2technology and hook up SiN Episodes: Emergence to one of their Heliodisplay units. His exploits are detailed in the latest developer diary, along with exclusive footage of SiN Episodes running on the Heliodisplay. Don't miss it!

SiN Episodes interview on Firing Squad March 15

A new SiN Episodes interview has emerged (ha ha) on Firing Squad, talking with the Levelord, Steve Nix, and Steve Hessel about the series, and even comes with a few snippets about episode 2. Fire away!

2404 interviews the Levelord on SiN Episodes March 15

2404 is the latest site to chat with the Levelord about SiN Episodes: Emergence. Take a look!

TotalVideoGames interviews the Levelord on SiN Episodes March 15

TotalVideoGames got ahold of the Levelord for an extensive interview about SiN Episodes: Emergence and the future of the series. Have a look!

SiN Episodes Featured on MTV.com March 15

MTV.com takes a look at the episodic games coming our way, with SiN Episodes as one of the games featured in the article. Check it out!

SiN Episodes Video Interview on GameTrailers March 08

Last week, GameTrailers.com dispatched a camera crew to the Ritual offices to chat with several of the SiN Episodes team members and managed to squeeze a few interesting bits of information out of them. The resulting video is now available for download, so be sure to watch!

GameDaily interviews Levelord and Tom Mustaine March 06

The Levelord and Ritual VP Tom Mustaine talk to GameDaily about SiN Episodes, including the distribution model, playing as different characters, and more. Make it so!

Status update and new screenshot March 06

Gaming website VoodooExtreme managed to get a brief SiN Episodes status update out of Shawn Ketcherside, along with a new screenshot showing Freeport City. Have a look!

SiNEpisodes.net interviews Steve Hessel March 05

SiN Episodes fansite SiNEpisodes.net sat down with Community Relations Manager Steve Hessel to chat about SiN Episodes: Emergence. Topics covered include bosses, vehicles, weapons, and more. Get reading!

Shawn Ketcherside interviewed March 01

Computer & Video Games has a new interview with SiN Episodes head honcho Shawn Ketcherside, revealing a few interesting story bits and covering plans for upcoming episodes. Check it out!

Developer Diary: Using Context Look to expand the story March 01

We have a new developer blog update for you guys today, revealing more about one of the little talked-about features of the game: Context Look. Among other things, Context Look allows us to convey more story information to those who want it, which is great for players who have to know every little detail. Check out the blog section for the scoop on Context Look.

ELGN to air live SiN Episodes interview tonight March 01

Internet radio service ELGN will be interviewing members of the SiN Episodes team tonight at 10 PM EST on The G-Spot Show. To listen in, head on over to ELGN.net and select 'Steam 1.'

SiN Episodes to be featured on G4TV Feburary 24

SiN Episodes will be featured on G4TV's Cinematech this Monday at 2 PM Eastern Time. Set your TiVos!

Developer Diary: Beta! Feburary 23

The latest SiN Episodes blog update is here, announcing that the game has officially gone beta! Shawn also talks about the growing trend of episodic gaming, so be sure and give it a read!

The SiNful advantages of episodic distribution Feburary 23

With episodic gaming being the new buzzword around the industry, Ritualistic takes a closer look at the benefits episodic distribution offers to gamers in an article titled "Why Go Episodic?" Check it out!

SiN Episodes: Emergence interview on Mod HQ Feburary 16

A new SiN Episodes: Emergence interview can be found on Mod HQ, talking with the Levelord and Steve Hessel about the engine, the episodic model, community input, locations, and more! Give it a look!

SiN Episodes: Emergence is PC Gamer UK's Most Wanted Feburary 13

SiN Episodes: Emergence soars to the #1 spot of PC Gamer UK's submission-based Most Wanted list! For more information, pick up the March issue of the magazine, which will be hitting the shelves this week.

SiN Episodes: Emergence interview on Extreme Players Feburary 10

The folks at Extreme Players sat down with the Tribe to chat about SiN Episodes: Emergence. Topics covered include the premise of the game, the episodic format, engine changes, and more. The interview comes in English and German.

SiN Episodes: Emergence Gameplay Trailer Released! Feburary 08

The first official SiN Episodes: Emergence Gameplay Trailer is now available, showing off no less than 2 minutes and 50 seconds of action-packed footage from the first episode. It comes in four flavors - low and high resolution PC, as well as PSP and iPod - so you can enjoy it no matter where you are. We also have a new blog update talking about the footage shown in the trailer as well as the current status of the game. Enjoy!

SiN Episodes Featured on Yahoo Games Feburary 01

Yahoo Games is the latest site to take a look at SiN Episodes in this two-page preview. There's also an extensive interview, talking with director of development Tom Mustaine about the game.

SiN Episodes Among GameSpy's Most Wanted Feburary 01

SiN Episodes is among GameSpy's Most Wanted Games of 2006! Have a look!

New SiN Episodes Screenshot, Music, and Blog Update January 26

We're beginning to open the SiN Episodes goodie bag with a brand-new screenshot showing off the new SinTEK soldiers, a music track from the game, as well as a new blog update discussing the latest happenings in the world of SiN.

CES 2006 Pictures January 24

As previously reported, Ritual Tribesmen were on hand at the International Consumer Electronics Show 2006 to show off SiN Episodes in all its glory at the Microsoft booth. For those who couldn't make it to the show, we now have this convenient photo set on the Ritual website, so you too can experience a piece of the trade show cake.

Dynamic Difficulty System Explained January 20

Ritualistic has an article explaining the inner workings of the Dynamic Difficulty System in SiN Episodes. Check it out!

GameDaily Previews SiN Episodes January 20

The GameDaily folks got to spend some play time with SiN Episodes at CES and have written up their impression. Give them a read!

More SiN Episodes CES Coverage January 19

More great previews of SiN Episodes based on hands-on gaming time at this year's Consumer Electronics Show can be found on both Shacknews and Digital Entertainment News.

SiN Episodes CES Coverage January 11

Several members of the gaming press stopped by our booth at CES to check out SiN Episodes, and they all walked away quite excited, to say the least. The first round of hands-on previews can be found on 1UP, GameSpot, IGN, and GameSpy, while game footage and video interviews are up at both 1UP and GameSpot.

2005

SiN Episodes to be at CES 2006 December 22

We will be showing SiN Episodes: Emergence at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show, taking place from January 5 - 8 in Las Vegas. The game will be part of the Games for Windows display at Microsoft's booth, located at Central Hall / 7144. If you're at the show, don't hesitate to stop by and check out SiN Episodes: Emergence!

SiN Episodes to be shown at CPL Winter Event December 05

Attendees of the CPL Winter Event will get an exclusive first at SiN Episodes during Ritual Entertainment's workshop on episodic gaming. Click here to find out more!

SiN Episodes interview on Game Guru Mania December 04

Game Guru Mania chats with the Levelord about SiN Episodes, covering story, the episodic format, SiN 1's influence, gameplay, and more. Have a look!

SiN Episodes Media Update November 30

The media section has been updated with four brand-new screenshots from SiN Episodes: Emergence. We've also got a new wallpaper showing Jessica Cannon ready to kick some ass. The piece of art used for the wallpaper is also featured in the latest issue of Girls of Gaming, now available on store shelves throughout the United States.

SiN Episodes fan interview on Ritualistic November 30

Ritualistic has an extensive new SiN Episodes interview, consisting entirely of questions submitted by fans. A multitude of topics is covered, so give it a read!

Developer Diary: Voice Recording, and More November 16

The latest developer blog update has arrived, talking about the recently completed voice recording session, the just released screenshots, and the current status of the game. Drive over to the Blog section to give it a read.

Feast Your Eyes, Gentlemen! November 15

A picture says more than a thousand words. With that in mind, we've updated the Media section with all-new screenshots and concept art! While you're at it, don't miss the latest wallpaper featuring none other than SiN Episodes hero John R. Blade! This is going to be the first of a regular stream of media updates, so keep checking back for more.

SiN Episodes interview on Ritualistic November 15

Over at Ritualistic there's a new interview with the SiN Episodes development team, chatting about the current status of the game, lessons learned during development, music, and more. Check it out!

Developer Diary: Alpha, Script and Media October 26

A new entry in the SiN Episodes developer blog is here, revealing that the first episode is really close to Alpha and that new media is on the way. Head over to the Blog section to read it!

PC Zone Previews SiN Episodes - Part Deux October 19

The second part of PC Zone's SiN Episodes coverage is online now, filled with juicy information straight from the development team. Take a look!

Developer Diary: Dynamic Difficulty September 31

The latest entry in Shawn's developer blog is up, discussing the game's dynamic difficulty system and how a unique logging function helps the team to analyze play testing sessions. Check out the Blog section to read it!

New SiN Episodes Downloads September 26

We have some brand-new stuff for you to deck out your desktop with, including the first of several Steam skins and new wallpapers. Surf over to the downloads section to grab it!

PC Zone Previews SiN Episodes September 25

The latest issue of British magazine PC Zone contains the first half of a two-part feature on SiN Episodes. The article is also available online and comes with one new screenshot, so take a look!

SiN Episodes on the Cover of Hungarian PC Games September 01

Jessica Cannon is all over the cover of this month's PC Games in Hungary, which features a six-page preview of SiN Episodes and an in-depth interview with select members of the development team. Click here for more information about the magazine.

New Developer Diary August 31

The second installment of Shawn's Blog is up, announcing that SiN Episodes: Emergence has reached the important milestone of being gameplay complete! Shawn also spills the beans about writing the script for SiN Episodes, and delves into the challenges this task brings with it. Hit the Blog section to read it!

SiN Episodes Featured on 1UP August 30

SiN Episodes is featured prominently in an article about episodic gaming on Steam over at 1UP. They also have a video interview with Ritual's director of development Tom Mustaine, so have a look!

SiN Episodes Website Updated August 26

We've updated the SiN Episodes website with all sorts of new stuff, including all-new game media, a development blog, a fan site kit and a list of our fansites. While you're at it, don't forget to take the SiN Episodes multiplayer survey to help us shape the SiN Episodes multiplayer experience.

PC Gamer UK's SiN Episodes Preview Now Online August 11

GamesRadar.com now has a reprint of the large SiN Episodes cover story that originally appeared in the August issue of PC Gamer UK. It offers a ton of information on the game, so be sure to give it a read!

SiN Episodes interview on SiNEpisodes.net August 09

SiNEpisodes.net is the latest site to feature an interview with the SiN Episodes team. The piece is accompanied by a render showing the updated Magnum pistol, so don't miss it!

SiN Episodes interview on Ritualistic August 01

There's a brand-new SiN Episodes interview over on Ritualistic, talking with Steve Nix, Tom Mustaine, Shawn Ketcherside and the Levelord about the game. Check it out!

SiN Episodes interview on GameCloud July 07

GameCloud chats with Steve Nix, Levelord and Shawn Ketcherside about SiN Episodes. Take a look!

Ritual Entertainment Unveils "SiN Episodes" July 07

Action-Packed Return to Freeport City Powered by the SourceTM Engine


Dallas, TX - July 7, 2005 -- Ritual Entertainment™ today announced the development of SiN Episodes™, featuring the highly anticipated return of Elexis Sinclaire, the world's most dangerous and seductive biochemist, and the only man who stands in her way, John R. Blade. The sworn enemies face off in Freeport City, a near-future mixture of San Francisco, Tokyo and New York, all set inside the unrestricted SiN universe.

The upcoming SiN Episodes chapter entitled Emergence is the first in a series of episodic adventures powered by the award-winning Source ™ engine developed by Valve®. Delivered on Steam™, the online content delivery system, Sin Episodes takes a bold new step into the future of gaming.

"Combining the incredible power of the Source engine with episodic content delivery via Steam has empowered us to raise the bar on key features of the SiN universe, interactivity, character driven gameplay, and emergent AI," said Tom Mustaine, cofounder and Director of Development for Ritual.

"Digitally delivered episodic content is the next frontier in the games industry," said Steve Nix, Ritual CEO, affording the award-winning development studio unprecedented flexibility. "Episodic development gives Ritual the opportunity to be much more responsive to community feedback and industry trends. We can adjust our content to deliver maximum entertainment value with each installment."

"One of our goals for Steam and Source is to provide a viable platform for independent developers who would rather be working on original IP," said Gabe Newell, founder and president of Valve. "It's great to be working with Ritual again as they take this pioneering step for the industry. I look forward to purchasing my copy of SiN: Emergence."

SiN Episodes expands on the role of Colonel John R. Blade, a battle worn hero in charge of HardCorps, an elite strike force with a long history of conflict with SinTEK, a powerful multibillion dollar empire headed up by Elexis Sinclaire, a beautiful, brilliant, and ruthless scientist who is out to remake humanity according to her own twisted vision. Joining Blade on his mission are JC, a HardCorps hacker with a secret to keep, and Jessica Cannon, a fiery rookie who can find her way into any secure facility.

SiN Episodes: Emergence features never before seen weapons, characters and environments along with a host of interactive options, paying homage to its predecessors, SiN and its expansion pack, Wages of SiN, which set a new bar for interactivity. Additional information and purchasing options will be announced on www.sinepisodes.com or www.steampowered.com at a later date.

An 8-page preview of SiN Episodes: Emergence is featured in PCGamer UK's August issue, which hits newsstands on July 7th, 2005. The article includes exclusive images from the game along with additional materials available on the accompanying PCGamer UK DVD.


About Ritual

Ritual Entertainment, a Dallas, Texas-based game development studio, has been a consistent leader in the evolution of content and technology for some of today's most successful console and PC games. Established in August 1996, Ritual is known for its ability to develop both internal and external properties with award winning results. More on Ritual Entertainment can be found at www.ritual.com.


About Valve

Valve is an entertainment software and technology company founded in 1996 and based in Bellevue, Washington. The company's portfolio of entertainment titles includes Half-Life®, Counter-StrikeTM, Day of Defeat™, and Team Fortress®. Valve's portfolio of titles accounts for over 18 million retail units sold worldwide, and over 88% of the PC online action market. In addition, Valve is a developer of leading-edge technologies, such as the Source game engine and Steam, a broadband platform for the delivery and management of digital content. For more information, please visit www.valvesoftware.com.

Valve, Source, Steam, Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Day of Defeat and Team Fortress are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation.

© Ritual Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. Ritual Entertainment and Sin Episodes are trademarks or registered trademarks of Ritual Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For all press information, contact [email protected].

SiN Episodes interview on Next Generation July 06

The Next Generation guys sit down with Ritual CEO Steve Nix to talk about the business side of SiN Episodes. Have a read!

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