Shrapnel Games, publisher of strategy games like Dominions 3: The Awakening and War Plan Pacific, has announced a new science-fiction strategy game, Star Legacy.

Currently slated for a late 2011 release for PC, Star Legacy will be an open-ended turn-based game that focuses on creating a civilization and exploring the universe.

Included in the list of game features in the press release, Shrapnel says that you'll be able to design your own starships, research new technologies, colonize new worlds, and when all else fails go to war. Everything in the game is player driven and modders will be actively encouraged to tamper with the 2D graphics and XML based files to customise the experience and create their own universe.

Shrapnel explains more:

"With Star Legacy we're trying to create an addictive open-ended 4X game that anyone can customize. By default the game will have between 12 and 15 alien races that you can ally with or fight against, plus the technology to explore a uniquely generated universe with your friends, or just blow them up. Make war on your enemies, fend off pirates-heck, you can even be the pirates. Make your own races, starships, technology, you name it. We're giving you a universe. "

For more information on Shrapnel Games and its catalogue of titles visit the official site.