OK, all my problems are fixed. My problem was that my game wasn't updated. I downloaded the 1.3 update for the game and all is well now. I can both open included maps in the editor and make new ones that show up.
I am brand new to the game, and so far I'm quite impressed. This is my first shot with a space based RTS or any modern game of this type. In the past I've been a Starcraft / C&C fan, but the limits in unit production and scope of the battlefield led me here. What I'm finding though, is that learning how to play Sins is a very slow process. The tutorials built-in are very weak and all I can find out there for tutorials are youtube videos that are filled with "um, yeah
Sins Forums