Betas

The Tribes-like first person shooter Section 8 is due to be released in late August but if you want a taste of the game you can head over to Fileplanet and download the multiplayer beta for the game. The beta is now available to all US and Canadian players with a free Fileplanet account.

Just in case you are unfamiliar with Section 8, it's a sci-fi first person shooter where your character is enclosed in a one-man battlesuit to take on the enemy in various planetary locations. It's being developed by Timegate Studios (who previously created two expansion packs for the original F.E.A.R. Originally to be released by the now defunct Gamecock Media, its now found a home in Southpeak Games.

After a 24 hour delay, owners of Relic's Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II can now download the open beta update for the sci-fi RTS game via Steam. In order to access the beta, titled "There Is Only War" you first select "file" in the Steam client and then click "change" under the "beta participation" section. Then select "Dawn of War 2" and restart Steam. The beta patch should then start downloading.

You can check out the massive patch list at the game's official web site. The patch includes support for the World Builder map editor and the official web site also has a PDF file with documentation on how to map a simple map using the tool. The patch, as we have mentioned before, has also eight new multiplayer maps the new Observer feature and lots of other new features, balances changes and bug fixes. The beta period will last until July 13.

We've already reported that Relic and THQ are planning to release a major content update for their sci-fi RTS game Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II later this month. Today they plan to release an open beta version of the update which can be accessed via the Steam service.

The open beta for the 1.4 update, titled There Is Only War, will be made available at 2 pm PT (5 pm ET) and will include eight new multiplayer maps, the World Builder map editor, the new Observer feature and lots of other new features, balances changes and bug fixes. The patch will remain in beta until Monday, July 13. You can check out the entire patch notes at the Dawn of War II community site.

The full game client for the open beta for Red War: Edem's Curse has been released and can now be downloaded right here at Big Download. This is the latest in the long string of free-to-play fantasy MMO games with this particular one coming from publisher Uforia. You can check out more info on the game on it's official web site where a full guide to Red War is available.

Download the Red War: Edem's Curse Open Beta Client (490 MB) at Big Download

Last May, game publisher GameHi launched their first closed beta test for the US version of Sudden Attack, the free-to-play FPS that previously launched in Korea. Today GameHi announced that they are launching a second closed beta test for the game that will last until July 12.

While they are calling this a "closed" beta test, GameHi states that anyone who signs up for this second beta will gain access to the Sudden Attack game, which basically makes this an open beta. People who participated in the first closed beta will not need to re-register for the second beta but will gain access to new player characters. Sudden Attack is expected to officially launch in the US later this summer.

With Champions Online now set for release on September 1, many are asking, "when will the open beta begin for the game?" A good question and one which a fan site said it has learned during a visit to the game's developer Cryptic Studios.

According to the Champions Online Daily News site, "I can say that a firm date has been penciled in and although it's not 100% confirmed it is slap bang in the middle of August." While we are putting this in the rumor column since Cryptic itself is not the source of the info this date seems like a very good guess considering that the actual launch date is set for Sept. 1.

The indie game development company Hi-Rez Studios looks like they are getting closer to releasing their long-in-development sci-fi FPSMMO title Global Agenda. This week the game's official web site gave us more info on when closed beta testing for the Unreal Engine 3 powered game will happen.

According to the update, "Closed Beta Testing Phase 1 (CBT-1) is expected to begin in July." People who have been invited to test the game during its Alpha stage will get the first crack at the Beta test and more people will be admitted into the beta in several "waves" over the next few months. The game is expected to officially launch before the end of the year.

[Via Massively]

Kalypso Media is prepping their island dictator sim game Tropico 3 for release in September but you could be one of the lucky few that gets to play the game early if you get picked for its upcoming beta test. Today the publisher announced that sign-ups to beta test the title are now underway.

Yes, you could soon be oppressing your people (or being nice to them; your calll) while at the same time enjoying the island sun during the test. Sign-ups are being taken at the Haemimont Games web site (the game's developers). The actual test will launch on July 13.

Nexon America sent over word that they are now acceptings sign-ups for the upcoming closed beta test for Dungeon Fighter Online. The upcoming free-to-play online game combines arcade-style fighting with some RPG aspects and a cartoon art style.

Players in the closed beta test can take their pick from five different character classes (Fighter, Gunner, Mage, Priest and Slayer). Each character have their own different types of abilities and attacks. Travelling through the fantasy world of Arad, players will go on quests and used their fighting skills to take on enemies. Gamers will also be able to customize their weapons, armor and clothes, trade items with other players and more. There's no word yet on when the closed beta test will begin.

You have raced against AI opponents and raced against other players in offline and online multiplayer matches. Now racing sim game developer SimBin has announced plans to supposedly take the racing genre to the next level. Today they announced that they are taking beta sign-ups for an unnamed title that they claim will allow gamers to race against "professional drivers who, at that very same moment, will be driving real GT cars on a real race track."

Little has been revealed on exactly how this will work but SimBin said the technology for such a feature is being created by a company called iOpener. 5,000 people will be brought in to beta test the new game but there's no word yet on when that will begin.

Urban planning fans must have been going for some kind of record, because we distributed all 200 Cities XL beta keys within 24 hours of announcing the giveaway.

Thanks to everyone who participated and Monte Cristo for providing the keys. Hopefully, we'll have more keys to give away in the future. We'll still be hosting the Cities XL beta install files for anyone that wants to download them.

Download Cities XL Beta Client [Single File] (2.4 GB)
or
Download Cities XL Beta Client Multipart [1 of 3] (107 MB)
Download Cities XL Beta Client Multipart [2 of 3] (1.16 GB)
Download Cities XL Beta Client Multipart [3 of 3] (1.29 GB)

Cities XL, an urban planning and building game, expanded into new territory today as it develops into an MMO. The online beta started earlier in the week, and people are rushing in to create and share their dream cities in a persistent world. Big Download has 200 keys to the Cities XL beta to give away, and we're distributing them on a first come, first serve basis.

Want the key to your own city? Just send an email to contests@bigdownload.com with the subject line "Cities XL Beta" and we'll send you a free beta key. It's that simple.You can also download the Cities XL closed beta files straight from us, so you can get straight to playing. It's available both as a single file download or in multiple parts. Note: Run "CitiesXL_Setup.exe" to begin installation after downloading the files.

Email us to request a key and visit the official Cities XL website for more information about the game. We'll keep handing them out until they're all gone. A big thanks to Monte Cristo for providing the beta keys.

Download Cities XL Beta Client [Single File] (2.4 GB)
or
Download Cities XL Beta Client Multipart [1 of 3] (107 MB)
Download Cities XL Beta Client Multipart [2 of 3] (1.16 GB)
Download Cities XL Beta Client Multipart [3 of 3] (1.29 GB)