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FTL (short for "Faster Than Light") is an indie-developed space sim survival game that came out a few days ago. I first heard about it from Penny Arcade and their VG journalism branch, and fairly basic graphics and sound aside, it looked enticing. People say it's reminiscent of Firefly (I can't say that since I never actually watched that show...*ducks for cover*); I'd say it's more like Star Trek in terms of the battles. Either way, I caved and bought it, and after a few hours of braving the vastness of the cold, unforgiving universe this game creates, I'll have to say I like it. I haven't even beaten the game yet (there probably aren't very many people who can say they have), and yet, I've been having fun.

Already, after a few hours of play, I could tell you tales of my attempt to navigate a nebula, twice having to summon my 2-man crew to defend themselves and the ship from intruders who managed to teleport aboard. Or, there's the time I lost all but one of my crew, who furiously manned the weapons system only to barely come out on top in a ship battle with most of my systems destroyed or severely damaged, and half the ship on fire.

I'll let the link above explain the game (which includes a little trailer), since it does a far better job at it than I could. Right now, it's available for PC, Mac and Linux (DRM-free or through Steam) for just $9. Might be worth your investment if you fancy this sort of thing. Been fun for me so far. Certainly not bad for $9.

Edit: Forgot to add it's an indie game.

It's available DRM-free from GOG.com. I haven't played it, but I've heard a lot of good things about it.

"Captain's Log.

.....Stupidity. Desperation. I suppose I'll never know what it was that drove these rock men to board my ship. Fire does little harm to them, but even they are no match for the flares of this nearby star.

Their remains now litter the medical bay floor. It was luck on our part that myself and the rest of the crew were able to draw them there. The medical systems healed our blows even as the rock men dealt them, and we soon overcame them.

But our luck goes no further than that. Our ship's shields are too weak to withstand the celestial buffeting for this long. Even as we dispatched the rock men, fires broke out in the engine room, knocking it out as well as our oxygen systems. The flames have spread too much for us to be able to put them out without being overcome by the flames or suffocating from the failing oxygen the fires so eagerly consume.

Now we sit here, and wait. Wait for the end. It's no longer a matter of whether or not we will die, but how. The fires could surround us and cook us. We could slowly suffocate from lack of oxygen. Or, the next solar flare could breach the ship's hull. We don't know how it will end, just that it will end. A somber and sobering atmosphere hangs heavier in the air than the smoke. There is no blame nor panic, for this is the outcome we have all gradually come to accept, and now submit to.

We only have to wait."

This is something else that makes the game fun, that its basic nature leaves plenty of room for one's imagination to easily fill. The above scenario is just one example of that, in an unfortunate, nasty combination I encountered about mid-way through a game last night. Good times, even though that particular encounter didn't end well.