Update: The response from GarageGames now indicates that the beta program is now nearing its limit of players due to "unforeseen demand." Thanks to Shacker Xevo for the tip.

Original Story: Independent developer GarageGames is currently accepting beta applications for its multiplayer shooter Fallen Empire: Legions (PC), with the next round set to begin "in this coming week."

For an advance look at the Tribes spiritual sequel--which runs through the web-based InstantAction platform--send an e-mail to FELopenbeta@garagegames.com from the same address used for your InstantAction account. After sending a blank e-mail, Shacknews received the following response:

Congratulations! By mailing this address you've added yourself to the list of approved Legions beta testers. Full access to FE:L will be granted during the next round of user admission in this coming week.

As pointed out by NeoGAF moderator and all-around good guy Teknopathetic, the e-mail address was hidden within a recent Fallen Empire blog post. GarageGames has yet to specify the number of applicants that will be accepted in the next wave.

Independent developer GarageGames has clarified a number of details about the beta test for Fallen Empire: Legions (PC), the Starsiege: Tribes spiritual sequel that will someday debut on the company's web-based InstantAction platform.

With the multiplayer title currently in a closed beta, the company will begin to add roughly 100 InstantAction users to the test every few days in order to increase load and feedback.

While the studio previously expected a public beta to begin by late March, Shacknews was today told that it has yet to determine an "official" date for the open beta. A representative for GarageGames noted that the title is expected to stay in closed beta "for a while."

Unfortunately, outside of the recently-concluded Fallen Empire beta contest, we were told that there is nothing InstantAction users can do to increase their chances of being selected as a beta participant.

For more on Fallen Empire: Legion, check out our recent batch of hands-on impressions.

Indie developer GarageGames has opened the floodgates on its web-gaming application InstantAction.com.

While an official announcement is not due for another day or so, a GarageGames representative confirmed to Shacknews that anyone who signs up for the beta via the service's official site will be able to instantly access the beta.

The beta currently contains four titles from multiple studios--Marble Blast Online, ScrewJumper, Think Tanks, and Cyclomite--with a prototype version of TRIBES spiritual sequel Fallen Empire: Legions slated to arrive by the month's end.

For more on InstantAction and its upcoming titles, check out our past coverage.

Though several titles have been announced for GarageGames' web-based 3D gaming venture InstantAction.com, what could certainly be the most anticipated title has yet to be unveiled. A source close to GarageGames told Shacknews a team-based online shooter in the vein of Dynamix' Starsiege: Tribes will be coming to the gaming service soon from GarageGames' own developers.

GarageGames was of course founded by many ex-Dynamix employees, and the source said the company would most likely be making an official announcement for the game in December. Shacknews has separately learned GarageGames has increased its employee count severalfold throughout 2007, with the goal of moving more into full game development alongside its Torque middleware and engine products. Development of the Tribes-like title began two months ago, the source added, but the cycle should be relatively short compared to most projects.

Combined with the instant online distribution of InstantAction.com, a 2008 release would seem fairly probable. For more on InstantAction.com, check out the Shack's coverage of the venture and previews of a few already announced titles.

During a recent venture to the relatively far out west, this Indiana farm boy got a sneak peek at GarageGames' latest project, InstantAction.com. Meant to fill the void left by traditional casual gaming portals, InstantAction aims to provide hardcore gamers bite-sized nuggets of addictive, skill-based gameplay.

Backed by a variety of talented independent developers, including Wideload Games and Frozen Codebase, and featuring games such as Marble Blast Online, Cyclomite, and Screwjumper, it's looking like InstantAction has a good chance of meeting GarageGames' ambitious goals.

But as I came to find out, InstantAction is more than just a standard gaming portal. When it launches next year, the site will offer a variety of community features that rival those of Steam Community and Xbox Live....Better yet, this all occurs in a web browser, meaning it will be accessible from almost any location with a computer. That means no more waiting to get home from work to play a quick game with your friends, and no more fussing about as you all decide you want to play a different game and have to invite everyone all over again. Read more...

The first title for GarageGames' web-based 3D gaming venture InstantAction.com has been announced, and it's coming from Bungie spinoff studio Wideload. Titled Cyclomite, the game is being created by Wideload Shorts, the developer's team for digitally distributed titles, and will debut early next year after the launch of InstantAction.com.

"The moral of the story is, indie game developers are guys who let you be a zombie," Wideload CEO Alex Seropian said at the Independent Games Conference keynote today in reference to Wideload's commendable work on Stubbs the Zombie: Rebel Without a Pulse (PC, Xbox). "So if you want to kill the zombies, you're probably a publisher. If you want to be a zombie, you're one of us. That's what I think an independent developer is."

Cyclomite requires players to drive the titular vehicle--represented by a multicolored ring--through a meteor storm, catching runaway space rocks to save the universe. The game will feature both cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes. Cyclomite will be previewed at the Independent Games Conference, so expect Shacknews' own Chris Faylor to report more on the title.

Flush with cash from an agreement with IAC, GarageGames' revealed its plans to make web-based gaming site InstantAction.com last month. The site will be a community of sorts with 3D online-only games when it launches in January of next year, and aims to push web-based gaming toward a less casual gaming audience.