Totem Arts has kicked off open beta testing for Renegade X, marking a huge milestone for the indie project that started life as a mod and is now a bonafide game in its own right. Inspired by the strategy-infused first person shooter gameplay of the ill-fated Command & Conquer Renegade, Renegade X brings the base building, Mammoth Tank driving multiplayer action into a modern aesthetic with Unreal Engine:

Renegade X is not a direct remake of C&C Renegade. Yes, you will see familiar maps, characters, weapons, and vehicles - the fundamentals of the game are the same. But, no weapon is identical to the way it was before. Certain vehicles play quite differently (Artillery, MRLS, Mammoth Tank, Apache, Orca, Transport). A moderate amount of recoil and weapon spread has been given to guns (and you'll see why). The graphics, audio, and physics have received a complete overhaul. Secondary weapons and new items have been added. Capturable buildings have been added. There's so much that is different - but keep in mind that we are die-hard Renegade fans, and we are very careful with the things we change.

Read the full heartwarming blog post for full details on the beta launch, and download the game client locally from AusGamers (1.6GB).