In the initial chapter, “Shards of Nereid,” you fight for the Mars faction as you investigate a distress call near one of Neptune’s moons. Taking control of the Martian Light Fighter, you must fend off swarming waves of invading Kj’hal. The Light Fighter is equipped with a standard laser with access to more powerful missiles. It offers two unique control styles, and an achievement system tracks your accomplishments.

The controls are fully customizable, and it supports multiple input methods like the mouse and keyboard or console controllers. You have a full range of motion in 3D space, with multiple, upgradable weapons and shields. The gameplay is supported by a sweeping, complex narrative. And all of this happens directly inside of Facebook.

In future expansions, additional maps will be playable from the perspective of each faction. Additional ship types will be added, and weapons, shields, and other power-ups will be tradable items among Facebook friends.

Take flight in the Martian light fighter and give us your feedback by leaving your comments on our Facebook wall or on our Forums. We take your input to heart as we plan Episode II. Thanks for being one of the first to experience Ascension.

We will have a booth set up in the expo area where we will be debuting Ascension: Incursio, a true social, online, 3D experience for Facebook. We have special prizes that we’ll be giving away for whoever can claim the high score of the day, and possibly an uber-prize for the high score of the conference. If you’ve never seen DR at a conference, our booths are high energy and fun. Come by and check us out.

Also this year, our own John Lyons will join Tripwire Interactive’s Alan Wilson (makers of the popular Killing Floor and Red Orchestra) on a special panel about generating investment capital for start-up game companies.

Zach Inks and Glen Joyner will also be speaking, as part of the Unity developer’s panel.

WordBRIDGE is an interdisciplinary laboratory that “seeks to empower pre-professional playwrights to achieve the next level of craftsmanship through collaboration with seasoned professionals from around the world.” Over the years, WordBRIDGE has helped shape many scripts that have gone on to become successfully produced plays, and we hope that Ascension War will one day be counted among them.

Ascension War is a space opera. It takes us from the cellblocks of an interplanetary prison to the terrifyingly state-of-the-art laboratory of a brilliant scientist. It whisks us away to the space between life and death (or death and life) before depositing us on Earth and sending us to the moon. Yet beyond the adventure, it examines questions of science and humanity while navigating the bits of interstitial and amorphous space that bind us all together.

For more information, contact digital.roar@digitalroar.net

The folks over at dimeRocker are champions of bringing high quality, 3D, multiplayer games to Facebook and other social media. Their mantra: “You concentrate on making great games. We’ll concentrate on making great tools to support them.” We are extremely happy to be partnered with dimeRocker and to be joining their already successful lineup of games like “Battle Bears” and “CosmiCube.”

In Incursio, you take on the role of a Martian pilot fighting against waves of invading aliens. You will be able to upgrade your ship and customize your weapons as you gain rank as an ace pilot. Your friends can increase your offense and defense by helping you add upgrades to your ship.

Look for Incursio on Facebook in the near future.