And it is fascinating. Provided you find this kind of backroom stuff interesting, anyway. Available for perusal are bug reports, milestone reports and, most interesting of all, a log of some of the project emails between Introversion and Microsoft, including how the developer reacted to the ESRB leaking the game announcement and how Introversion flirted with the idea of releasing two Darwinia titles for Xbox Live Arcade before Microsoft said "no, thanks".

Darwinia + [Introversion, via Offworld]

It's unclear what the fate of the game, currently in pre-production, will be; said Introversion's Chris Delay:

Ultimately we don’t know for certain if Chronometer will be going into full production – the conditions would have to be right for Introversion and for Channel 4, although they’ve been fantastic to work with during pre-production. We’re pretty much finished with this phase of Chronometer for now, and we’ll keep you updated about this interesting sixth game project as decisions are made.

The team is currently preparing for the launch of Multiwinia (shown), a multiplayer version of strategy title Darwinia, for PC.

Chronometer [Introversion blog]

ESRB Software Ratings

Sometimes it's better to give than to annihilate entire nations with thermonuclear bombs. That's the philosophy behind this lovely mod of the PC strategy game DEFCON: Everybody Dies, the WarGames-like Introversion title in which the goal is to destroy your opponent while suffering fewer losses.

From mod author hellcatv, comes this very uplifting description.

Your mission is one of the most important mission that has taken place every year for hundreds of years. This mission requires you to do the impossible: DELIVER PRESENTS TO ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS ALL OVER THE WORLD. You must position your distribution system before Christmas Eve. It's Christmas, and everybody wins. But maybe - just maybe - you can show your generosity the most.

Fun! If all that global destruction is getting you down, why not give the mod a shot and try distributing presents for massive giftage? Michael McWhertor

Christmas: In this game everybody wins. But maybe... [via Siliconera]

Ask the Kotaku Scouts, and ye shall receive. A reader whom I shall dub "Hamswaddle the Fierce" to protect his salty identity has written in to assure me that Introversion's swaggering is misplaced. To further protect Hamswaddle's precious alter ego, I have also obscured his voice with my handheld iPatois, which came bundled with a Buccaneer setting:

Avast! As Elizar be askin' fer stories o' the bounding main, I be givin' ye me own tale o' Introversion, honest as true.

'Tis ship-shape! If there be some yellow-bellied sneakery to stop honest gennelmen o' fortune from downloadin', they be weak as seasick chorus girls.

Any crew worth their salt be releasin' torrents emblazoned with their own pers'nal skull n' bones, so if there be unmarked versions they will very likely be under seeded and \, or e'en given the Black Spot. Puts a chill in me beard, it do!

Y'see, with certain crews ye be gettin' quality goods every time, tharfore Introversions' methodoggery seems a wee backwards. But sakes, I applaud their clever ways, an' give 'em full marks for effort.

'Tis an ironic thing... Soon as I test-sailed the buccaneerin' version of the game, I enjoyed it so much that I stepped out and bought the bleedin' thing with good coin!

A whole passel o' seadogs nowadays use the ol' Torrent as their own pers'nal demo station, digging up the whole trove and deciding if they are worth the 'orrible price. Be ye unsure if a game is worth the 50 bones? Plunder it, test the blessed thing, then make yer decision. 'Tis only good sense.

Thanks for your contributions, Hamswaddle. May the rest of your voyages be as pleasant and rewarding!Eliza Gauger

Rag Doll Kung Fu is heading to brick-and-mortar stores, according to GameSpot. The string-puppet fighter was the first truly indy game to hit Valve's Steam last October and garnered some great reviews. Publisher Merscom says they will start selling the game in stores for $19.99 this August. That's about $5 more than the Steam version, but the publisher promises to pack some extras in their cardboard box.

It's funny, I obviously play a lot of games, but I've never bothered to go online and get download only games. I'm pretty sure it's because I'm lazy and I'm also pretty sure that there are a lot of other gamers out there like me. Steam and the services like it are going to have to come up with a system for grabbing the attention of ADD gamers like myself if they want to topple retail outlets and that system will likely need to involve a large bat or big piece of pie of some sort. I love pie. Brian Crecente

Rag Doll Kung Fu Flails Into Retail [GameSpot]