Indie Game Studios’ Stronghold Games upcoming Kickstarter campaign to fund the next expansion for the popular territory building game Terraforming Mars, will include a retailer partnership program, ICv2 has learned exclusively.

When the Kickstarter for Terraforming Mars: Turmoil launches on April 16, participating retailers will have the option of taking orders directly in their store, to be delivered the same time as regular Kickstarter backers. More information will be available once the campaign launches.

The Turmoil expansion was teased at the GAMA Trade Show last month (see “'Terraforming Mars' Adds 'Turmoil'”). Turmoil introduces a new area control element to the game: The Terraforming Council. The Council is comprised of six parties, and players hope to place enough delegates with a party to become Party Leader and ultimately, Chairman of the Council. Meanwhile, new Global Events threaten the biosphere each generation, and the will of the Terraforming Council’s Party Leaders will affect benefits or penalties.