Hell isn't just for Diablo and Doom clones anymore! Now strategy gamers will get their chance in Cryptic Comet's next title, Solium Infernum, a turn-based game about Archfiends vying for control of the Underworld. You can read more particulars on the official page. Kieron Gillen's write-up at Rock, Paper, Shotgun has some additional details and bigger images of the evocative artwork.

Frankly, the feature list of Solarium Whateverum doesn't interest me. This could be a game about reading phone books in the waiting room of the dentist's office and I'd be there on day one. There are two reasons for this:

1) Cryptic Comet developer Vic Davis can write feature lists until the cows come home, but what really piques my interest are some of the informal comments he's made on his blog and internet message boards. If you have a useless liberal arts degree, there's this tidbit:

My primary inspiration is that line from Milton's Paradise Lost: "To reign is worth ambition, though in hell. Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven." I've tried to have some fun though with some careful tribute nods to other visions of hell, Dante, Bosch, and even [Mystery Science Theatre 3000].

Never mind the MST shout-out; developers who read books and can name painters are a precious commodity. And if you're a board game geek, this should get you pumped:

Diplomacy meets Dune meets Ticket To Ride with a bunch of A Game of Thrones for good measure.

Seriously, I think that got my palms a little sweaty. Is that weird?

2) Davis' last game was Armageddon Empires, one of my Top Ten from last year and a bellwether that it doesn't matter that the big publishers aren't doing turn-based strategy games anymore. Who cares? With games like Armageddon Empires, Dominions III, Galactic Civilization II, and Kael's Fall from Heaven mod for Civilization IV, the indie scene has enough talent, creativity, and energy to sustain the genre. Let the big boys make their Calls of Duty and Oblivions and GTAs and Command & Conquers. Turn-based strategy gamers are doing just fine without them.

As for the name, hopefully "Solium Infernum" is a working title, because I have no idea what that means. And I took Latin in high school. I think it has something to do with Rome, or maybe conquering Europe, or something educational about history. At least it's more exciting than "Dentist Office Phone Books".