Merge Games are delighted to announce a Collector’s Edition PC/Mac version of Frozen Synapse for retail in the UK – included in the (fancy blue) box are – a Sticker, Postcard (both in the cyberpunk style we now know and love), Soundtrack, Extra Steam gifting key and the RED Expansion pack making this Collector’s Edition a must have for Frozen Synapse fans old and new.

To celebrate the September 7 release of Frozen Synapse: Collector’s Edition, Merge Games is giving away a free copy – please go to their Facebook page for more information. Pre-order at http://www.mergegames.com/store/

Frozen Synapse is the ultimate tactical game on PC and Mac. It brings the simultaneous turn-based strategy genre bang up-to-date and lets you give detailed, accurate orders to your squad: classic game play with a modern interface. Plan your moves, test them out, then hit the “Prime” button: both you and your enemy’s turns are executed simultaneously. Competitive-but-intuitive multiplayer and a huge single player campaign mean that Frozen Synapse will give you hours and hours of tactical delight.

Key features:

• Get a FREE full copy of the game, including the Red add-on DLC, for a friend with every purchase
• 5 challenging multiplayer modes, including the innovative bidding-based “Secure” and “Hostage Rescue”
• 55-mission single player campaign with dynamic dialogue and thrilling near-future narrative
• Powerful Skirmish Generator
• Facebook, Twitter and YouTube integration
• 15 Steam Achievements
• Integrated IRC chat as well as various community features
• Random generation combined with hand-crafted content means that levels and maps are different every time
• Critically-acclaimed electronica soundtrack by musician nervous_testpilot

The award-winning indie strategy masterpiece is back with a brand new expansion pack. Frozen Synapse: Red adds awesome features like co-op play against the AI and a brand new unit, as well as a selection of additional music tracks plus an exclusive single player campaign.

Key features:

• Full co-op for the single player campaign and all new single player content
• A new unit (riot shield)
• A new multiplayer game mode (“Upload”)
• 15 mission single player campaign
• 10 single player challenge missions
• Three mutators (game play modifiers for advanced users)
• 6 additional music tracks by nervous_testpilot (2 previously available in the Humble Indie Bundle)
• MP3 and FLAC download of all Frozen Synapse: Red music
• Original music tracks “Deeper” and “Focus” unlocked during game play
• “Impeccable Micro” – a chiptune album from _ensnare_ (MP3 and FLAC)
• The infamous “Red Mode”…

“It has always been a dream of ours to see Frozen Synapse on the shelves of a retail store! Personally, I greatly look forward to touching the shiny box and endlessly boring my friends by pointing it out to them. This will be a great way for the game to reach a new audience and also an exciting *thing* for collectors of *things* to grasp and cherish.” – Paul Taylor of Mode 7

“Anyone who knows anything about gaming knows Frozen Synapse, knows its quality and knows it deserves every accolade it has received. The calibre and intelligence  of this game is outstanding and without question it deserves to be introduced to a wider audience with a retail box edition. Mode7 have been a pleasure to work with, and we both look forward to seeing some very satisfied new players.” – Luke Keighran of Merge Games

The article Frozen Synapse Slated for September 2012 Release appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

As the U.S. economy continues to improve this year, Paul Taylor, chief economist of the National Automobile Dealers Association, predicts more than 13.9 million new cars and light trucks will be purchased or leased in 2012.

Taylor, who is forecasting sales of 13.945 million new cars and light trucks for 2012 in the U.S., cites three key factors for the increase:

(1)   Aging vehicles,

(2)   Affordable credit, and

(3)   Aggressive incentives.

A key factor that will drive new-vehicle sales in 2012, says Taylor, is pent-up demand in the marketplace caused by more consumers shopping out of necessity to replace their aging vehicles.

“With the age of cars and trucks on the road today at nearly 11 years, consumers can no longer delay making a purchase of a new or newer vehicle,” he said.

Another factor that is likely to result in higher auto sales this year is the availability of affordable credit from competing lending sources for auto loans.

“Interest rates on new car loans will remain historically low in 2012, due in part to policy decisions by the Federal Reserve Board to keep rates low and the U.S. economy growing,” Taylor added. “As a result, affordable credit will be widely available in 2012 with more automaker finance companies offering low-interest and interest-free loans for up to 60 months.”

Taylor notes that both domestic and international automakers will wage an aggressive battle to capture U.S. market share in 2012 by rebuilding a diverse selection of vehicle inventory at dealerships, ranging from cars and CUVs to truck-based SUVs. A decline in gasoline prices will also result in car buyers considering a wider range of vehicles in different segments, he added.

“Auto sales typically increase with the exposure given to new vehicles during the auto show season in the first quarter and beyond,” Taylor added. “Lower vehicle costs for car buyers through manufacturer incentives and rebates combined with low interest rates will support stronger sales in 2012. And higher prices on used vehicles mean higher trade-in prices when shopping for a new car or truck.”

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