Meta BD

This Week In PC Games: November 16-22

Posted Nov 16th 2009 8:00AM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD, Left 4 Dead Series, The Sims 3

This week we get a second Lego game version of a famous adventurer, the first expansion pack to one of the biggest PC games of the year, and a weird merge between a Japanese RPG maker and a casual games developer. Oh, and Left 4 Dead 2.

Left 4 Dead 2: Valve's 2008 zombie co-op shooter gets a quick sequel as we follow a new set of four characters as they try to avoid being part of the undead apocalypse in the New Orleans area. New weapons, new melee items, new zombie bosses and new gameplay modes are all a part of the sequel.

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2

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The Best of Big Download: November 9-15

Posted Nov 15th 2009 7:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD

We played Modern Warfare 2 for the PC and lived to tell about it. But that wasn't the only thing that happened in the PC gaming world last week. As we always do let's look at the last seven days on the site.
Exclusive features

Reviews: We give our final verdicts on Modern Warfare 2, Dragon Age: Origins and League of Legends.
Star Trek Online preview: We go hands-on with Cryptic's upcoming sci-fi MMO.
Interviews: We have lots of interviews this week including chatting with the developers of Prometheus, the Archon remake and Dino D-Day.
Minuteman feature: We find out about an upcoming sci-fi movie that will use a specially created game as part of the plot.
Jace Hall feature: The former Monolith head talks about his new projects as a Hollywood producer including the newV TV show remake.
Mac Monday: This week our look at Mac games checks out two titles: Spooky Runes and Boonka.
Boot Disk: Our retro games feature checks out the original Diablo.
All You Need To Know: We have the 411 on Blizzard's upcoming RTS sequel StarCraft II.
Freeware Friday: Our weekly free PC game feature checks out the new Flash-based RPG Dragon Age: Journeys.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: November 9-15

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This Week In PC Games: November 9-15

Posted Nov 9th 2009 8:00AM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD, Modern Warfare 2

This week's new PC game release includes the PC version of one of the most anticipated game titles of 2009. We also get a downloadable movie tie-in game and an RTS title that finally shows up in the US after its 2008 release in Europe:

Modern Warfare 2: Developer Infinity Ward releases the next game in their first person shooter series as they de-emphasize the "Call of Duty" in the title. The global hopping single player game deals once again with high stakes terrorists and is complimented by the Special Ops co-op levels and their multiplayer modes. Many PC players have expressed their dismay over Infinity Ward's decision to do away with dedicated servers for the game.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 2

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The Best of Big Download: November 2-8

Posted Nov 8th 2009 7:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD

The first week of November 2009 kept us at Big Download on our toes with a ton of news, downloads and special features. As usual we take some time to smell the roses and look back at the past week. If you wish, feel free to join us.
Exclusive features

Unreal Development Kit: We were all over the release of Epic Games' free version of Unreal Engine 3 with a feature on the UDK itself and interviews with the teams behind the first two free UDK games; Whizzle and The Ball.
Reviews: We give our final verdicts for Borderlands, Torchlight, AI War: Fleet Command and Shattered Horizon
Interviews: We had interviews with the CEO of the gaming PC maker Maingear and the lead designer behind Shattered Horizon.
Serious Sam HD Preview: We go hands-on with a near final version of Croteam's FPS remake.
Mac Monday: Our look at Mac-based games checks out two titles: Trapped: The Abduction and Harvest: Massive Encounter
Boot Disk: Our look at retro games checks out the classic space strategy title Master of Orion II.
Big Ideas: Our regular look at game themes examines what people's perceptions are on beauty in a game.
All You Need To Know: Our 411 feature gives you everything you need to know about Blizzard's upcoming Diablo III
Playing For Free: Our weekly look at online free-to-play games has our opinion on CrimeCraft which recently turned into a free-to-play game.
Freeware Friday: Don't turn out the lights. This week's column on free PC games checks out the super-spooky Au Sable.
Contest: You still have some time to win one of three Steam download codes for Shattered Horizon.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: November 2-8

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This Week In PC Games: November 2-8

Posted Nov 2nd 2009 8:00AM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD

After a massive amount of new games last week, things settle down just a bi for this week. However this week also includes a game which could get some Game of the Year nods before 2009 concludes

Dragon Age: Origins: BioWare's return to a straight fantasy RPG has been long awaited by PC fans and this week they get their wish in this massive single player title. The game will come with some downloadable content, including an all new quest, for free for the first copies of the game to be sold.

Gallery: Dragon Age Origins

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The Best of Big Download: October 26-November 1

Posted Nov 1st 2009 11:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD

Wow. We had a ton of original features this week and it doesn't look like it will let up anytime soon. Let's take a look at what transpired on Big Download in the past seven days:
Exclusive features

Reviews: We give our final verdicts to Tropico 3 , Eufloria and Cities XL along with impressions of the Left 4 Dead 2 PC demo
Orson Scott Card Interview: The best selling novelist talks about his love of games and reveals a dream game project he would like to make.
Natural Selection 2 Interview: We chat with Unknown Worlds about their upcoming and long awaited FPS-RTS game on the occasion of the release of the game's first screenshots.
Guide to Team Fortress 2 Scarechievements: Valve released a new Halloween themed update to Team Fortress 2 and we have the skinny on the five new achievements added to the game.
How 10 US cities would fare in the zombie apocalypse: Left 4 Dead 2 is set in New Orleans but what about other major metropolitan area. We speculate on what might happen.
An Open Letter to Infinity Ward: We give the Modern Warfare 2 developer our feelings on how we think the PC community has been marginalized by their recent actions.
The Top 10 PC Game News Stories for October 2009: We look back in the past 31 days for the big stories that affected the PC game industry.
Mac Monday: Our weekly Mac game feature this week looks at two titles: Grappling Hook and The Three Musketeers.
Playing for Free: Our latest look at a free-to-play online game is with the RPG La Tale.
Boot Disk: Our latest retro PC game column takes a look at the FPS title Uprising.
Big Ideas: Our weekly look at game themes checks out if games are less challenging now than they were in the past.
All You Need to Know: Our latest 411 article on upcoming games gives all the info on EA's WWII action game The Saboteur
Freeware Friday: Our popular weekly look at free PC games checks out the odd platformer We Want YOU!.

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The Best of Big Download: October 19-25

Posted Oct 25th 2009 5:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD

Windows 7 is now out and about, but what will it mean for PC gaming? That was our main theme this week at Big Download. Let's look at the features, download and news items from PC gaming for the past seven days:
Exclusive features

The launch of Windows 7: On the occasion of Microsoft's launch of its latest OS, we examined if PC gamers should upgrade to Windows 7, gave some advice to Microsoft on how they can help PC gaming with their new OS, and chatted with a number of game developers on their opinons of Windows 7.
Lucidity Review: We give our final verdict to LucasArts' recent downloadable puzzle-platformer.
Mac Monday: This week's Mac gaming column checks out two games: Bullet Candy Perfect and Avenue Flo.
Boot Disk: Our regular look at retro games checks out the classic Dungeon Keeper.
Big Ideas: Our look at game themes this week examines why game developers should set more games in modern times.
All You Need To Know: Just in time for the game's demo release, we examine all we know at the moment about Left 4 Dead 2.
Freeware Friday: Our popular column this week looks at this mix of retro and rogue game in DoomRL
Contest: You still have some time to enter our Order of War giveaway contest.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: October 19-25

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This Week In PC Games: October 19 - 25

Posted Oct 19th 2009 8:00AM by John Callaham
Filed under: Action, RPG, RTS, Simulation, Meta BD

This week gamers can be a evil Sith apprentice, a ruthless dictator and other roles in two retail releases and three downloadable titles.

Tropico 3: Publisher Kalypso Media revives this sim game franchise that was first started by 2K Games. Developer Haemimont Games created this third title in the series which puts the player in charge of an island nation. Will you be the typical island tyrant or a more benevolent leader? As usual there are pros and cons to both choices.

Gallery: Tropico 3

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The Best of Big Download: October 12-18

Posted Oct 18th 2009 5:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD

We are just a few days away from the official launch of Windows 7. Will it create the push that gets more people into PC gaming? We will soon see. In the meantime Big Download takes a look at the previous seven days of work on the site:
Exclusive Features

A Brief History of Windows Gaming: We look back at the various versions of Windows as they related to PC gaming history.
Black Ops Games Redux Part 1: In the first part of this multi-part series we look back at some former games that were unannounced last year that finally were officially announced.
Hands-On with Torchlight: We get to play the upcoming downloadable fantasy action-RPG from Runic Games before its release on October 27.
Big Versus: City of Heroes Vs Champions Online: Our Versus feature returns as we compare the new super hero MMO with the first one:
All You Need To Know: This week our game info feature looks at Bioware's upcoming RPG Dragon Age: Origins.
Mac Monday: Our weekly Mac column takes a look at two titles this time out: Machinarium and QuantZ.
Boot Disk: Our weekly retro game feature looks at the classic Shiny Entertainment created Earthworm Jim.
Playing For Free: Our weekly look at free-to-play online games checks out the space-based title DarkSpace.
Freeware Friday: Our always popular free PC games column checks out a game with the unusual title RRRRRPG.

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The Best of Big Download: October 5-11

Posted Oct 11th 2009 9:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD

Another busy week for news, downloads and exclusive features at the PC game-oriented Big Download. As we always do around this time of the week, we look back at the highlights of the last seven days:
Exclusive features

Reviews: We give our final verdict for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising and also our first impressions of Aion.
What PC Gamers Need To Know About Windows 7: We give you some tips and info on Microsoft's Windows 7 and how it will affect PC gaming.
Left 4 Dead Guide: Crashing and Burning: It's our guide to the recent free mini-campaign for Valve's zombie shooter.
Mac Monday: Our weekly look at Mac games checks out Miriel's Enchanted Mystery.
Boot Disk: Our look at retro games checks out LucasArts' classic Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight
All You Need To Know: We take a look at all the info currently know about the upcoming RPG Alpha Protocol.
Big Ideas: Our weekly look at game themes examines how realism really works in games.
Playing For Free: Our weekly examination at free-to-play online games checks out Nexon's latest Dungeon Fighter Online.
Freeware Friday: Our regular look at free PC games checks out the platformer RunMan: Race Around the World.

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The Best of Big Download: September 28-October 4

Posted Oct 4th 2009 5:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD

Once again there was a lot to report on and talk about in the world of PC gaming last week. Big Download has all the highlights for the past seven days:
Exclusive features

Five PC games console players would love to play: There are still some big PC exclusive games that console players have never played. We take a look at five of them.
The Top 10 PC Game News Stories for September 2009: We look back and give our picks for the news that was the most important for PC gaming in September.
Left 4 Dead Crash Course Quick Impressions: We give our first impressions on the new (and free for PC owners) mini-campaign for Valve's zombie shooter.
Second Skin Review: We review the recent MMO-themed documentary.
Mac Monday: We check out two more games for the Mac: Zuma's Revenge and Creeper World
Boot Disk: Our weekly look at retro games checks out the original Majesty.
Big Ideas: Our weekly thoughts on game ideas examines if having-game specific features actually takes you out of the game.
All You Need To Know: Our regular look at upcoming games gives you all the info we know about Modern Warfare 2.
Playing For Free: Our weekly look at online free-to-play games checks out the browser based MMO Ikariam.
Freeware Friday: Our always popular look at free PC games checks out the newly free indie title Strange Adventures in Infinite Space

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: September 28-October 4

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The Week In PC Games: September 28-October 4

Posted Sep 28th 2009 8:00AM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD

After a very busy past few weeks for new PC game releases, things calm down a bit this week with just one major retail game, a downloadable title and a free major update to a popular shooter:

Risen: Developer Piranha Bytes, best known as the creators and developers of the first three games in the Gothic series, launch a new fantasy RPG franchise with this new title from developer Deep Silver. The game takes place on an volcanic island teaming with creatures in an open world environment. Risen has the dubious distinction of being part of a select group of games this year to be banned for sale in Australia.

Gallery: Risen

Continue reading The Week In PC Games: September 28-October 4

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The Best of Big Download: September 21-27

Posted Sep 27th 2009 5:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD

We had a very busy week for original features on Big Download in the past seven days. Let's take a look at our output for the past week:
Exclusive features

Reviews: As the fall season hits, we give our final verdicts to a ton of new PC games, including Batman: Arkham Asylum, Majesty 2, Resident Evil 5, Red Faction Guerrilla and Section 8.
Alienware's new look and features: We go over the four new desktops and the new laptop from Alienware that was announced this week.
Mac Monday: Our weekly Mac gaming column looks at two games this time, BOH and Cuba Letra
Boot Disk: Our weekly retro game feature has two entries this week as we look at the Planet Moon Studios action game Giants: Citizen Kabuto and the original Red Faction.
Big Ideas: Our weekly look at game themes and ideas examines if playing games is actually good for you.
All You Need To Know: Our regular look at upcoming games gives you an idea of what to expect from Borderlands.
Playing For Free: Our weekly look at free-to-play online games checks out Nexon's first person shooter Combat Arms.
Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free PC games checks out the sandbox-themed game Clonk Endeavour

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: September 21-27

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This Week In PC Games: September 21-27

Posted Sep 21st 2009 8:00AM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD, Aion

There's not one but two retail MMOs being released this week along with not one but two WWII themed games. Who would have thought that?

Aion: NCsoft's fantasy MMO is already a huge hit in its native Korea and even before its US release the game has generated nearly 400,000 pre-orders. The game, which uses the first generation Cryengine for its graphics, is noted for its combat which can take place in the air as well as on the ground.

Gallery: Aion

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The Best of Big Download: September 14-20

Posted Sep 20th 2009 7:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Meta BD

It was an especially busy week for demos at Big Download but we also had our usual allotment of features and news as well. As we always do during this time we look back at the past week with fondness and delight (or something like that):
Exclusive Features:

Nvidia 3D Vision Discover: Want a way to experience 3D gaming without spending a lot of money? Nvidia has a solution that works.
AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! - A Reckless Disregard for Gravity Review: We give our verdict on this indie action game with a super-long title.
Mac Monday: Our weekly look at Mac games takes a look at two titles: Crystal Cave Classic by Rake In Grass, and Awem Studio's Romance of Rome.
Boot Disk: Our regular look at classic games checks out the Shiny Entertainment RTS title Sacrifice.
Big Ideas: Our regular column that looks at game themes examines how a good game sequel is made.
All You Need To Know: Our new regular feature on one particular recent games give you the 411 on Section 8.
Playing For Free: Our column on online free-to-play games examines the NCsoft mech action title Exteel.
Freeware Friday: Our popular column on free PC games looks at BaboViolent2, the free predecessor to the recent downloadable commercial game Madballs in Babo: Invasion.