First Bungie Aerospace game takes off September 1

In June, Halo creator Bungie introduced its Bungie Aerospace initiative, a partnership program intended to help independent developers launch their mobile and social games. Today the company set its maiden voyage for next month, confirming that Crimson: Steam Pirates will debut on the iPad September 1.

Crimson: Steam Pirates is a turn-based combat game about piracy in the Caribbean, with players able to command their own fleets of steampunk vehicles traveling beneath, on, or above the waves. Based on a freemium business model, the initial download includes eight free-to-play missions, and players can purchase a second chapter with eight more missions for $2. Beyond those offerings, eight more missions are planned for release at some point in the future.

Crimson: Steam Pirates is being developed by Harebrained Schemes, which was founded by Jordan Weisman. The developer has started up a number of operations in the past (including Crimson Skies developer FASA) and also devised Halo 2's "I Love Bees" alternate-reality game and helped promote Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero album with an ARG of the same name.