Archive | PC Games
Filed under: Mac, PC, Meta (about Joystiq) The holiday shopping season is about kick into high gear....keep your stress down about buying presidents for your mother-in-law by checking out a week's worth of highlights from Big Download:Exclusive features Playing Together: Co-op in PC FPS Games: Doom started the whole co-op mod in PC shooters and we look back at the trend on the eve of the launch of Left 4 Dead. Microsoft talks about Games For Windows Live plans: Microsoft's Michael Wolf gives us the 411 on their plans to revamp their Games For Windows Live service include their upcoming Marketplace additions. America's Army AA3 screenshot comparisons: America's Army is developing an Unreal Engine 3 revamp of their free multiplayer shooter and we have detailed screenshot comparisons of both the current and upcoming versions. League of Legends interview: We chat with Riot Games about their upcoming multplayer fantasy action-strategy game. Reviews: We review the latest American McGee's Grimm episode King Midas MODMonday: Our mod column this week is about a graphical revamp of Wolfenstein 3D, WolfGL Big Iron: Our hardware column this week takes a look at the perils of system restores in PC rigs Mac Monday: This week's look at gaming on the Mac takes a look at the recent fantasy RPG Kivi's Underground. Independent Minds: Our regular look at the indie game scene takes a look at titles made with the Unity platform. Boot Disk and Virtual Bargain Bin: Both our retro gaming and value priced game columns this week are about the turn based strategy game Disciples: The Sacred Lands. Big Ideas: Our regular look at trends in gaming is all about game reviews and how useful they really are. Freeware Friday: Our regular look at free games this week is about the procedural RTS game Dyson. BigCast: Our weekly podcast on PC gaming has some guest chatters this time round from sister sites Joystiq and GameDaily. Contests: We are giving our readers a way to win one of three copies of the PC version of Quantum of Solace and we still have beta codes to give out for Battleforge. Continue reading The Best of Big Download: November 10-16The Best of Big Download: November 10-16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Action, First Person Shooters Although Orange Box Extreme might have been more apt, Valve's Complete Pack is a rather blatant title expressing what you'll get with the deal. For $99, the Complete Pack on Steam includes pretty much every one of the developer's titles, including its forthcoming Left 4 Dead.The individual price of all the games on the service would be $235, but for those who aren't multiplayer fanatics, you probably wouldn't be buying half those titles anyway. It's still a great deal for those interested in grabbing or gifting the Valve library at a reasonable price.Sweeter than an Orange Box: Valve 'Complete Pack' $99 on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Culture, Mac, PC Family. Family is a beautiful and precious thing in all its many forms. It gives a sense of love and belonging in an otherwise hostile world. The smile of your child, the eyes of your lover, the loving embrace of a parent. Family. Go and enjoy yours while you can because time takes away all things.Oh yeah, a World of Warcraft player named Nymh, on EU server Drek'thar, has hit the new level 80 cap in the expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, within a day. For those who don't know what that means, it basically involves tapping a keyboard, staring at a monitor and rubbing your mouse around for way too long.Now, go get some hugz.[Via WoW Insider]Player already reaches new WoW level cap, we hug our families originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Casual Get back behind the sandbags, soldier! No, not those, they're far too realistic. These, more cartoony bags are much better suited to protect your rounded corners and chiseled jaw while waiting for Electronic Arts to decide when Battlefield Heroes will roll onto the front lines. EA once more postponed the official release of its free-to-play shooter, while the closed beta will soon go dark until sometime next year.James Salt, senior producer on Battlefield Heroes, broke the news on the game's website, writing that the beta will close down Friday night at 6pm CET so the team can focus on "polishing the backend." In the meantime, we expect many brokenhearted, animated grenadiers to keep polishing their oversized rifles until early 2009.[Via Big Download]Battlefield Heroes beta in ceasefire until early '09 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PCclick for more Games for Windows Live screenshots With little (no?) fanfare, Microsoft has rolled out an update to its also-ran Games for Windows Live service, ready to shed some of that bad name just in time for this holiday's GFW-branded lineup (think Fallout 3 and GTA IV). So what's in store for you, PC gamers? Mostly, a much needed UI refresh. Gone is the ill-advised, console-inspired Blades interface - in its stead is a much slicker (much quicker!) menu that pops down from the top of the display. All the features you'd expect to be there are there: gamertag, friends list, messaging, achievements. As announced earlier this year, they've also done away with the tiered subscription service for PC gamers. No more "Gold" service - all of this is free, including TrueSkill matchmaking.Gallery: Games for Windows LiveIndeed, there isn't much new in the way of functionality with one notable exception: the Marketplace. Though it's not available just yet (we'll let you know when "in the next few weeks"), the standalone Marketplace app will be akin to its 360 counterpart, offering publishers and developers a place to host trailers, demos, and DLC - all integrated into the game. Available now: the ability for a game to alert you to patches, and then download them and seamlessly patch them into your game. Boot it up again and - voila! - you're running the latest release. No messy files to download or delete.We'll have our writeup of the latest installment in the GFW Live saga tomorrow; however, for now, flip through some of these screenshots from yesteryear to see what's changed. If you've taken it for a spin, let us know what you think. Oh, hell with it: you'll let us know what you think regardless! (Full presser after the break).Gallery: Games for Windows Live (old)Continue reading Games for Windows Live redesigned - screenshots, detailsGames for Windows Live redesigned - screenshots, details originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Nintendo DS, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 We almost took the coward's way out for the third week running, insisting that there were too many great games to just feature one. But you know what? We're better than that. So it's Mirror's Edge, and you're just going to have to live with that.We know that if you like multiplayer first-person shooters you're stoked about Call of Duty: World at War, and if you're an MMO fan, the highlight of your week ... nay, your calendar year is the release of Wrath of the Lich King. But we're picking Mirror's Edge, because it's a new IP and it looks fantastic. So there.Continue reading New games this week: Mirror's Edge editionNew games this week: Mirror's Edge edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action The fourth and final animated teaser trailer for Mirror's Edge has made the leap, rolled, and landed safely on the 'net. (All without a net, naturally.) This installment of the lead-up to the actual game's release on Nov. 11 takes a stylized look at the role of Runners in the game world. (Hint: they run ... okay, and deliver stuff.)Want to be a better Runner in the Mirror's Edge demo's time trial mode? Check out this excellent, player-made, annotated video run-through of the Edge "course." We've managed to shave several seconds off our previous best time thanks to it. Download in HD (102MB) Catch this Mirror's Edge 'Runner' trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360 On the eve of Fallout 3's launch, Bethesda VP of Public Relations and Marketing Pete Hines has sent an email to our sister site Big Download, Shacknews and presumably others. Game Videos no longer has the trailers, although other gameplay clips still remain; as of this writing, Game Trailers still has the trailers online. Here's the full email:In connection with ESRB's advertising guidelines, you are instructed to remove immediately any of our Fallout 3 trailers from your website, pending further notice. Thank you for your attention to this matter.We're as confused as you are. We've reached out to Bethesda for more information.Bethesda asks sites to remove Fallout 3 trailers due to 'ESRB advertising guidelines' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action Remember a long time ago (OK, so it was at 8 a.m) when we complained about Eat Lead's generic game design and other problems we spotted during a demonstration? Well, forget them, because they've just been rendered moot by star power.What kind of stars, you ask? Well, how about Will Arnett of Arrested Development fame as lead Matt Hazard? Still not sold? OK, fair enough. But what if were were to promise ... ready? ... Doogie Houser himself, Neil Patrick Harris as publishing boss Wallace "Wally" Wellesley?! Yeah, we thought you'd change your tune.Take note, game publishers: Put NPH in your games and you can make them as generic as you please. Hell, we're ready to fax D3 our $60, just to make sure we Eat Lead as soon as possible. We're suckers like that.Will Arnett, Neil Patrick Harris star in Eat Lead originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, RPGs If, like us, you were frantically grasping at any excuse to avoid Fallout 3 and give the ol' wallet a break from its October pummeling, these glowing reviews of Bethesda's post-apocalyptic prance-about are sure to disappoint you. We realize Dystopic is hard to broach, but it seems we'll just have to (somehow) make time to explore the devastated landscape left in the wake of Fallout's radioactive return. 1UP (A): "Faults be damned, though; this is the kind of hugely ambitious game that doesn't come around very often, and when it does, you'd be a fool not to play it and enjoy the hell out of it and look forward to the day (next-next-gen?) when the fidelity of open-world RPGs takes another big step closer to the uncanny valley's far side." Eurogamer (100/100): "Despite so many worries, Fallout 3 almost effortlessly succeeds in its central aim of reviving a much-loved brand to appeal to the vast majority of players. It's a thrilling, all-consuming experience that will absorb you for weeks, whether you're attracted by the action, the adventure, or the role-playing, as you fall in love with the relentless excitement, incredible atmosphere, sense of place and sheer choice." Worth Playing (95/100): "In the end, Fallout 3 feels like a Fallout game, and that is absolutely the highest compliment. Despite the changes, much of the charm and fun of the franchise remains intact, and despite the similarities to Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, I never felt that I was playing anything but a Fallout game." Giant Bomb (80/100): "It's unfortunate that Fallout 3 is saddled with so many little- and medium-sized issues, because they get in the way of what's an otherwise fantastic experience. The world is well-realized and full of options. It'll be a struggle in spots, but I'm willing to guess that most people will be able to overlook a lot of the game's problems and still have a very good time exploring the irradiated wasteland formerly known as Washington DC." Metareview -- Fallout 3 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Mac, PC, RPGs, MMO Blizzard plans to have a few special midnight signing events for the Wrath of the Lich King's launch on Nov. 13. Blizzard developers and executives are expected to attend, but no details have been given on who will be where. There are four events scheduled in the United States, but similar signings are planned for major metropolitan areas around the globe.With World of Warcraft currently claiming 11 million souls subscribers, it comes as no surprise that there are hundreds (more likely thousands) of midnight openings expected for the box that will grant access to Northrend. We've asked a couple retailers (and Blizzard itself) for a list of known midnight opening locations and we'll be sure to post those when we get them. The four US locations holding signing events can be found after the break.[Via Big Download]Continue reading Wrath of the Lich King special midnight launchesWrath of the Lich King special midnight launches originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Action While it still won't operate on our trusty Macintosh Performa 5200, PC gamers with less-than-stellar rigs will be pleased to know that Valve recently lowered the previously announced system requirements for Left 4 Dead. Well, okay -- the only thing they lowered was the video card memory requirement from 256 MB to 128 MB, but we imagine that this will allow access to a much larger number of casually outfitted PCs. To find out if you'll be able to join in all the zombified reindeer games upon Left 4 Dead's Nov. 18 release, check out the full list of requirements we've posted after the jump.Continue reading Valve lowers system requirements for Left 4 Dead
Filed under: Culture, Mac, PC GameTrailers' excellent retrospective series is back this week with two new installments for different game franchises. The first new series its premiering is the Warcraft Retrospective, which has its debut episode (in the four-part series) covering the original two installments in the Warcraft RTS series. It's hard to recall Warcraft ever being a humble RTS series considering the behemoth World of Warcraft has become.GT will also premiere a one-part Fallout retrospective this Saturday, Oct. 25. The episode will cover the evolution of the series from its days at Interplay to the current, Bethesda-helmed Fallout 3. The first episode in the Warcraft Retrospective can be found after the break.Continue reading Warcraft Retrospective: Part I up now, Fallout Retrospective this Saturday
Filed under: Culture, Mac, PC GameTrailers' excellent retrospective series is back this week with two new installments for different game franchises. The first new series its premiering is the Warcraft Retrospective, which has its debut episode (in the four-part series) covering the original two installments in the Warcraft RTS series. It's hard to recall Warcraft ever being a humble RTS series considering the behemoth World of Warcraft has become.GT will also premiere a one-part Fallout retrospective this Saturday, Oct. 25. The episode will cover the evolution of the series from its days at Interplay to the current, Bethesda-helmed Fallout 3. The first episode in the Warcraft Retrospective can be found after the break.Continue reading Warcraft Retrospective: Part I up now, Fallout Retrospective this Saturday
Filed under: Culture, Features, PC, MMO Joystiq's sister site Massively.com has all the news you'll need about MMOs. Here's the best, brightest, and most interesting stuff from the last week, all in one convenient place for your MMO minute. Star Wars MMO announced as The Old RepublicWe've waited for it for a long time, we knew it was coming: BioWare has announced the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic-inspired MMO at last: the title is Star Wars: The Old Republic! Commence rejoicing with Ewoks and Gungans in the streets! WAR has only just begun to compete with WoW, declares Mark JacobsIf you've been following this particular exchange you'll know the score, but let's recap: Blizzard's Jeff Kaplan just like turned around and said some stuff about Warhammer Online, about how he wasn't even in the Beta and stuff, and Mark Jacobs was like whoa, and he totally turned around and said some stuff about World of Warcraft, and now Mark Jacobs is all, like, dude, bring it, and everybody's like, ohmygawd, it is so on. Blizzard: Next MMO won't be WoW 2Go ahead a strike the possibility of a World of Warcraft 2 off your list of possible next-gen Blizzard MMOs because it's officially not happening. In an interview with Wired, Blizzard's recently talkative Mike Morhaime flat out said that their next MMO project isn't a sequel to their first. Of course, he wouldn't divulge exactly what it was either or this would be an entirely different sort of news post. Massively in Metropolis: Making friends with SupermanIf you blow off Superman by ignoring his pleas for help, he'll be cranky at you. Meanwhile, Batman will be spending his time just waiting for you to turn on him and his family ... poised to take you down. Some discussion of quests with personality, plus exploration of the DCUO faction system called 'causes' below the cut! State of the Game reveals Blazing Sun Knights, Black Guards coming to WARIt's been a full month since the launch of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, and general manager for Mythic Entertainment Mark Jacobs has now offered up the 'first annual' State of the Game address to players. Continue reading Massively week in Review
Monday, November 17, 2008
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