Hands-on

Many MMO fans got upset when it was revealed that the playable Klingon faction in Star Trek Online will be PvP online with no real single player PvE online campaigns. However, our sister site Massively got a chance to go hands-on with the playable side and according to them, there are a few instances where you fight Federation NPC ships.

However most of the Klingon campaign is PvP themed. The article goes into some details on battles, the ships (including using the classic cloaking device) and more. It should be interesting to see how many players take on the Klingon side when Cryptic and Atari launch Star Trek Online on February 1.

Welcome back to Mac Monday, where we take a look at interesting titles available for the Macintosh platform. We took a month off to have a look at the state of the industry as it relates to Apple, and it must be said that things are as they've always been -- popular PC games arrive late, if at all, and Apple itself seems to just want to focus on the iPhone.

However, the indie games sector remains healthier than ever, and it's with pleasure that we use Mac Mondays to focus on games that might otherwise slip mainstream notice. Read on for the latest picks!

Last week, we asked developers to reconsider the idea of creating games for simultaneous release on both PC and Mac platforms. However, we cannot control what others do; we can only ask. So let's concede for the moment that things will continue as they are now -- very few games coming out on both systems at the same time, and Mac getting ports of popular PC games much later than their original release. What's an avid Mac gamer to do?

Short of actually buying a PC just to play games -- and it must be said that the cost of a decent PC has dropped dramatically over the past few years -- there are a few options available, and they all contain the crazy voodoo called virtualization. Bear in mind that these are only the applications that I've personally tried myself. Check 'em out after the jump!

Today, developer Eugen Systems and publisher Ubisoft plan to launch the closed beta test for their upcoming and rather unique real time strategy game R.U.S.E. However, Big Download got an early chance to play the beta build this weekend. Press folks got to play some 1v1 matches against the gamers who attended the latest Dreamhack LAN event in Sweden, who also got early access to the beta test build

If you have read our previous articles about R.U.S.E., then you know it's basic premise; it's a real-time strategy game that uses a World War II setting. Now before you run away screaming about yet another WWII RTS game, you should know that it takes some different design tracks right off the bat. Instead of a typical "fog of war" you can technically see what the enemy is doing in matches to a limited degree and vise verse. The catch? You and your opponent can use various R.U.S.E. abilities to conceal your activities, build dummy units or buildings and basically make your enemy think twice about attacking your positions.

Welcome to Mac Monday, where we highlight some games for your Macintosh that you might want to try ... or try to avoid. This time around, we're looking at Big Fish Games' Drawn: The Painted Tower, and New Star Games' New Star Soccer 2010. Two completely different games, and both intriguing for different reasons. Find out more after the jump!

Last week we were given a look at how Cryptic Studios' highly-anticipated spacefaring MMO Star Trek Online was coming along, and let me be the first to say that my fears have been dispelled. STO looks amazing, and from what I saw of it will feature enough interesting gameplay to keep both fans of the franchise and those new to it -- as Jean-Luc Picard might say -- engaged.

Well, you knew some kind of pun was coming, didn't you? Please forgive me. I'm a little giddy with the fact that Big Download has been blessed with three exclusive screenshots from the game -- thanks Atari! Check 'em out below, remember to click on them to see them in full-res, and read all about what we saw after the jump!

It's time once again for Mac Monday, where we take a look at a couple of games new out for the Mac (and sometimes the PC too). This time around we're checking out Anawiki Games's Spooky Runes, and Sandlot Games's Boonka. One of these games has an atmospheric vibe, and the other is vibrant and goofy. Guess which one and find out after the jump!

When Croteam released the original Serious Sam game over eight years ago it was considered a bit of a novelty. It was a $20 game that was a throwback to the beginning of the first person shooter genre with only a tiny plot, tons of enemies on screen and co-op play through the single player levels. By 2001, first person shooters had begun to evolve away from these kinds of features to include stuff like real storylines and acting, only a few enemies on screen but with smarter AI and small levels.

Serious Sam The First Encounter didn't have any of that. What it had was fast arcade-like shooter gameplay, massive outdoor areas for levels, and lots and lots of weird but wonderful monsters. For those of you who played the game for the first time, tell us you didn't get scared when the headless kamikaze bombed-filled men started charging at you. You can't tell us that because you would be lying. You were frightened out of your minds. That's the kind of impact the original game had on our young minds back in March 2001.

Welcome once again to Mac Monday, where we preview the latest Mac game releases. This time around, we look at Trapped: The Abduction by Gogii Games, and Harvest: Massive Encounter by Oxeye Game Studio. And once again we find ourselves in a situation where one of these games isn't so great and the other is surprisingly compelling. Find out which after the jump!

Welcome to another edition of Mac Monday, where we shine a light on Mac games that might otherwise not get the notice they may deserve. This time around we're looking at Christian Teister's Grappling Hook and Dingo Games' The Three Musketeers. Read about 'em after the jump!

Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. This time around we're looking at Bullet Candy Perfect by Charlie's Games, and PlayFirst's Avenue Flo. Both of these games are entertaining in their own ways, and one of them even has its own song! Who, what, where, when, why? Find out after the jump!

For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past few years, first of all, welcome back to civilization. Second of all, remember Diablo? Yeah, they're making the third one finally. But we don't know when it's coming out, so to hell with them ... literally. Because third of all, Runic Games's Torchlight is dropping on the 27th! Yes, of this month!

What? You've never heard of Torchlight or Runic Games? Well, then, let me school you big money style. Read on to find out why Torchlight is going to stave off those waiting-for-Diablo 3 jitters.

Welcome to another edition of Mac Monday, your source for the latest and greatest Macintosh game demos! This week, we're taking a look at Machinarium, by the fine folks at Amanita Design, who gave us Samorost and Samorost 2. After that, we'll have a peek at QuantZ, a casual title by Gamerizon that offers a new look at the Match 3 genre. Check 'em out after the jump!

Every time a new MMO comes out, it is often heralded as the "WoW killer." The one MMO that will manage to dethrone Blizzard's impossibly popular epic once and for all. This is a ridiculous expectation for any game to have, and thusly, MMOs need to be judge on their personal merits rather than in comparison to how popular they will be beside World of Warcraft. Aion is one of these games, and while it is rather generic, it manages to offer up a good mix of storytelling, graphics, and gameplay that make it a game to at least try out.

After what feels like forever, we've got a single game to review this week, rather than the two-fers we've been doing. This time around, we're looking at Miriel's Enchanted Mystery, by Game House, the publisher who brought us Miriel the Magical Merchant. This sequel offers the same basic gameplay as the original, but offers a few new twists that make owning MEM worthwhile. Find out more after the jump!