Are you prepared for Wrath of the Lich King? WoW Insider has you covered!

Xav de MatosToronto, Canada - http://www.thelevelgrind.com

It’s Xav de Matos. That’s like Have with a Z. Public Relations major by day, gaming journalist by night. Xav has been in the industry for over five years with stints in retail management all the way to blogging for Xbox360Fanboy.com; part of AOL’s Joystiq Network and AOL GameDaily's BigDownload.com! Xav's GamerTag is: Snypz. Why is Xav writing in third-person? Xav doesn't know.

Get Still Alive now with the free Portal Flash Version map pack


PC gamers quickly stood up in anger when Microsoft announced that Portal would see an exclusive expansion-esque release on the Xbox Live Marketplace with the upcoming Portal: Still Alive arcade game. That anger subsided when we found out what was in the Arcade title. As we recently reported, Valve's Doug Lombardi confirmed that the Xbox Live Arcade release of Portal: Still Alive would be comprised of the maps found in the Portal: Flash Version Map Pack which has been on the PC since May. Haven't picked up the completely free maps yet? Download them now to add to your collection. For free. Did we mention the price? It's 0MS points, which by our calculations equals to about FREE.

Download the Portal: Flash Version Map Pack now! (it's free!)

E3 08: Red Faction: Guerrilla trailer breaks through


Red Faction: Guerrilla returns Volition Inc. to its dramatic shooter roots (with a political underbelly) after a near 10 year absence. After releasing the critically acclaimed first-person original in 2001, Volition immediately jumped back into the Red Faction series with a 2002 sequel and has left the series on the shelf since. Bringing the series back, albeit in the third-person perspective, Volition hopes to recapture interest in the dusty franchise. From what we've seen the game looks impressive, touting fully destructible environments and a continuing storyline (which takes place 50 years after the events of the original) we're interested to see where Guerrilla can take the series when it releases in 2009.

Download the Red Faction: Guerrilla E3 2008 "Destruction" Trailer now!

E3 08: Saint's Row 2 drives-by with a new trailer


Looking for an open world game that has as much flare and humor injected into it as possible? Welcome to Saint's Row. While Grand Theft Auto IV took the serious approach to the sandbox environment, Saint's Row 2 turns the insanity and craziness upside down. From elaborate insurance scams to a ridiculous array of weaponry, The Row is sure to be one crazy place to visit when it lands this October. Looking for more on THQ's latest sandbox adventure? Download the E3 2008 trailer that focuses on the customization within Saint's Row 2, today.

Download the Saint's Row 2 E3 2008 trailer now!

E3 08: Brothers In Arms trailer showcases human side of war


Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway is an interesting game for a few reasons -- primarily its setting. While people are quick to knock World War II games, the latest Brothers In Arms focus on a battle that was historically unkind to the ally strategy is enough to forget we've seen it all before. The latest trailer for Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway also reminds us of another factor we forget all too often when playing games -- this happened. The characters themselves are based on the real men who fought for survival during Operation Market Garden and looks to pay homage to them and brave heroes who lost their lives during the epic encounter. Make sure to check out the latest footage for Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway by downloading the E3 2008 trailer, which clocks in at 111MB, today.

Download the Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway E3 2008 trailer now!

E3 08: Fallout 3 trailer explores a nuclear family's future


We've already presented the latest Fallout 3 trailer to you in streaming form but we're now happy to offer the entire HD version of the E3 2008 trailer for download. Clocking in at 152MB you can relive the live-action educational magic which includes such gems as a dishwasher buddy that looks suspiciously like a Star Wars Probot and a creepy old man who reveals a young woman's future as a re-population hub for a nuclear ravaged world. After the live action shenanigans are over make sure to stay for the gorgeous gameplay footage from Bethesda's latest role-playing epic. Fallout 3 is scheduled to release this October.

Download the Fallout 3 E3 2008 trailer now!

E3 08: Tom Clancy's HAWX flies into trailer town


Tom Clancy's HAWX is rad for a number of reasons. The game takes place above a battlefield that is comprised of other Tom Clancy game staples, like a Ghost squad. HAWX is also infinitely more awesome because it forgoes all spelling conventions and adds an X to the title -- for seemingly no purpose. According to Ubisoft the acronym stands for "High Altitude Warfare Experimental Squadron." HAWES seems like a lame choice and, let's face it, had the game been named HAWXS minds would undoubtedly explode. Developed by Ubisoft Romania, the team behind the Silent Hunter and Blazing Angels franchises, Tom Clancy's HAWX is set to fly onto store shelves early next year. Also, we're aware the use of "fly onto store shelves" is about as lame as it gets. Either way, check out the E3 2008 trailer today.

Download the Tom Clancy's HAWX E3 2008 trailer now!

E3 08: Borderlands trailer is half Mad Max, half Stargate


Have you ever played a shooter and thought, "this game would be infinitely more awesome with about 3 million weapons." Good news, Borderlands from Gearbox Software has you covered ... well, kind of. Touting the largest array of weaponry of any first-person shooter before it, Borderlands kind of cheats when deciding what is considered a new weapon. Those different scopes added to a sub-machine gun? Those all count as different weapons. Different ammo capacity? Totally counts as a new weapon. Different colors? Count it. So, while Borderlands doesn't have a million different weapons it does offer some highly customizable weaponry. You'll need it all to survive this one which is a cross between Mad Max and Stargate. Looking for more? Check out the E3 2008 trailer available for download today.

Download the Borderlands E3 2008 trailer now!

Shipping this week: Mmmm, pie charts


With E3 grinding to a halt we enter a strange time of light news and even lighter releases. Publishers usually take this time to focus on developing new marketing strategies for their Triple-A titles or correcting issues spread throughout those games. Basically, nothing really gets released into stores the week after E3 because people are still reeling from the 'OMG-megatons' dropped during the show.

One particular release this week is for the pie and flow chart baseball crowd -- it's Baseball Mogul 2009. Strategize from behind the desk of a GM to create a strong championship competitor while maintaining the ever growing demand of ballpark franks. Also, as it often happens with PC releases, a few notable delays from previous shipping weeks have come up.

Jump in for the full listing of releases for the week ending July 26.

Continue reading Shipping this week: Mmmm, pie charts

BigCast 004 -- English Is Hard!



In a post E3 world thoughts and words are difficult to form in our fragile minds!

Listen as Xav stumbles about trying to pronounce simple words! This week we cover some of the biggest PC news from the world of E3, talk classic gaming habits and throw around the idea that maybe games are meant to be played instead of examined. Crazy thoughts and more in the epic episode with guest hosts Kyle Horner, Samuel Axon and first-timer James Murff. It's time to go big, right here at the BigCast!

Question? Round-Table Suggestion? Email us: podcast [at] bigdownload [dot] com

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS MP3] Add the BigCast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[AAC] Download the Enhanced BigCast (AAC) directly.
[MP3] Download the standard BigCast MP3 directly.

Hosts: Xav de Matos, Kyle Horner, Samuel Axon & James Murff

Produced by Xav de Matos

Music: Intro/Outro: "Am I Awake" by They Might Be Giants. Bridge: "Mercy" by OURS

Find Us On Facebook: Big Download Fan Page


Continue reading BigCast 004 -- English Is Hard!

Wrath of the Lich King goes beta


Late Thursday evening, as E3 winded down, word around the campfire says that Blizzard has begun the Wrath of the Lich King beta. According to the team at WoW Insider a source says the alpha phase shut down a few days ago and invites for the beta will soon be distributed. Adding fuel to the fire, a Blizzard site has appeared with details on setting up the World of Warcraft expansion beta test. Have you been selected to participate? Let us know! In the meantime, can check out the patch notes here.

E3 08: Bionic Commando trailer swings into action

The trailer train keeps on-a-rollin'! Bionic Commando is a rarity for the gaming industry. Ordinarily when a company revamps a classic title they are met with great hostility unless it holds true to the original vision. When Bionic Commando was first revealed gamers shrugged it off to the side expecting it to be a train-wreck -- a cash-in on nostalgic memories, if you will. But then something happened, the game started to look good. Real good. Now, we can barely get enough of it. Coming soon from Capcom, Bionic Commando has the potential to be something special and from what we've seen we're hopeful.

E3 08: Dragon Age: Origins trailer round-up


Coming soon from famed developer BioWare is Dragon Age: Origins. Returning to its Baldur's Gate roots, BioWare promises epic party-based combat, deep customization and (considering the dev team) a million hours of various story arcs and dialog trees. The last point might be a little skewed but, based on these two trailers, the storyline is an important part of the Dragon Age: Origins experience.

Excited? You should be because BioWare is. "We're thrilled to be returning to BioWare's fantasy roots, with Dragon Age: Origins representing the culmination of over a decade of experience," said Bioware CEO Ray Muzyka. "Dragon Age: Origins is a dark heroic fantasy that doesn't pull any punches. Our fans are in for the most emotionally intense gaming experience we've ever created, and we hope to surprise them with just how dark and gritty it gets!"

Continue reading E3 08: Dragon Age: Origins trailer round-up

E3 08: Warhammer: Battle March trailer

Featured on Xbox360Fanboy, the trailer for Warhammer: Battle March is pretty self explanatory - factions fight to the death. Releasing in two flavors, as an expansion pack for Warhammer: Mark of Chaos on the PC and as a retail console release, Battle March continues the real-time strategy Warhammer storyline. Published by Bandai Namco the upcoming release will hopefully add some juice to the experience which at this point is as dry as the paint on our pewter miniatures.

E3 08: Dragon Age: Origins is PC exclusive, for now


During the Electronic Arts press conference, BioWare president and co-founder Greg Zeschuk took the stage to reintroduce the world to Dragon Age: Origins. As Zeschuk outlined the vision for the game -- specifically attempting to bring BioWare back to its Baldur's Gate style roots -- he revealed Dragon Age: Origins would eventually find a home on consoles. Zeschuk made the comment in passing during his presentation for EA and eluded to a console version being planned for the future. Once confirmed as a PC exclusive, Dragon Age: Origins is now simply a timed-exclusive for PC gamers.

E3 08: Project Origin trailer

Alma is back and she doesn't seem happy. Project Origin, the storyline sequel to F.E.A.R. from developer Monolith, is a first-person horror shooter. Big Download went hands-on with the game earlier today and had some interesting things to note about the title. Take a look at the latest trailer for the game, courtesy of Xbox 360 Fanboy, and let us know what you think. Do it quickly, it'll be night out soon and you might not want to watch this in a dark room!

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