Silverlode Interactive and Wahoo Studios have completed alpha testing of Saga, their upcoming online real-time strategy game. An open beta test will begin on July 5. Players can go to www.playsaga.com to sign up.

Set in a world built by Dallan Christensen, lead programmer of Starcraft: Brood War, Saga allows players to create a fantasy empire that continues to function even while they’re offline. Free to play with no subscription fees, Saga features a collectible system that allows players to either buy booster packs to enhance their armies with rare troops and abilities or to enter the barter-driven market to trade units and resources with others from around the world.

Battles involve armies of humans, orcs, elves, mech giants and dragons. Players can engage in espionage, sending assassins behind enemy lines to destabilize their forces, and ally themselves with other nations to partake in large-scale guild wars, earning experience to improve their troops, gain valuable resources and to create an even larger army.