beta posts

This client installs the open beta for Darkspore, the sci-fi action role-playing game where players can upgrade their heroes with various body parts and gear. The open beta allows access to the first few levels of the game and ends on April 22, 2011. Participation in the beta requires an EA account and an active internet connection. Continue reading after the jump for system requirements.

Darkspore is currently scheduled to release on April 26 in North America and April 28 in Europe.

Download Darkspore Open Beta Client (5.2 GB)
Check out all Darkspore downloads

Big Download will be working alongside EA and Maxis all month long to giveaway beta access to Darkspore, the unique sci-fi action role-playing game where players players can completely customize their heroes with creature parts and powers.

We're giving away 3,000 keys throughout the week for the final two beta sessions in March. The first session starts today Friday, March 4th 6pm PST and ends on Saturday, March 5th at 11:59pm PST. The fourth and final beta session starts Friday, March 11th 6pm PST and ends on Saturday, March 12th at 11:59pm PST

Continue after the jump for system requirements and to watch a beta gameplay trailer.

Additional features will be added as the beta period progresses. Darkspore is currently scheduled to release on March 29, 2011 (April 1 in Europe).

Want to get in the beta? Getting a key is easy!

1. Send us an email at contests@bigdownload.com with the subject line "Darkspore Beta Key Request."
2. We will reply with your own personal beta key (supplies limited).
3. Visit beta.darkspore.com and click "Join Beta" to register your key. You will need to create an EA account if you don't already have one.
4. Download and install the game client.

The game will automatically update itself with the latest patches and registered players will be eligible to participate in all upcoming Darkspore beta sessions. System requirements and game description are shown after the jump. A special thanks to EA and Maxis for providing the beta keys.

UPDATE: All keys have been distributed. Check back for when we provide keys for the next beta session.

Big Download will be working alongside EA and Maxis all month long to giveaway beta access to Darkspore, the unique sci-fi action role-playing game where players players can completely customize their heroes with creature parts and powers.

We're giving away 500 keys for this weekend's beta, which starts on Friday February 25th 6pm PST and ends on the following Saturday February 26th at 11:59pm PST. Continue after the jump for system requirements and to watch a beta gameplay trailer.

More keys will be given away each week until the beta period ends on March 13. Additional features will be added as the beta period progresses. Darkspore is currently scheduled to release on March 29, 2011 (April 1 in Europe).

Want to get in the beta? Getting a key is easy!

1. Send us an email at contests@bigdownload.com with the subject line "Darkspore Beta Key Request."
2. We will reply with your own personal beta key (supplies limited).
3. Visit beta.darkspore.com and click "Join Beta" to register your key. You will need to create an EA account if you don't already have one.
4. Download and install the game client.

The game will automatically update itself with the latest patches and registered players will be eligible to participate in all upcoming Darkspore beta sessions. System requirements and game description are shown after the jump. A special thanks to EA and Maxis for providing the beta keys.

UPDATE: All keys have been distributed. Check back for when we provide keys for the next beta session.

Big Download will be working alongside EA and Maxis all month long to giveaway beta access to Darkspore, the unique sci-fi action role-playing game where players players can completely customize their heroes with creature parts and powers.

We're giving away 250 keys for this weekend's beta, which starts on Friday February 18th 6pm PST and ends on the following Saturday February 19th at 11:59pm PST. Continue after the jump for system requirements and to watch a beta gameplay trailer.

More keys will be given away each week until the beta period ends on March 13. Additional features will be added as the beta period progresses. Darkspore is currently scheduled to release on March 29, 2011 (April 1 in Europe).

Want to get in the beta? Getting a key is easy!

1. Send us an email at contests@bigdownload.com with the subject line "Darkspore Beta Key Request."
2. We will reply with your own personal beta key (supplies limited).
3. Visit beta.darkspore.com and click "Join Beta" to register your key. You will need to create an EA account if you don't already have one.
4. Download and install the game client.

The game will automatically update itself with the latest patches and registered players will be eligible to participate in all upcoming Darkspore beta sessions. System requirements and game description are shown after the jump. A special thanks to EA and Maxis for providing the beta keys.

In a distant galaxy, an advanced alien race called the Crogenitors specialized in genetic manipulation, which leads to discovery of E-DNA, an experimental gene sequence that opens up whole new branches of bio-engineering. However, E-DNA proves to be very unstable and gives rise to a violent breed of mutants called Darkspore. The Darkspore threat spread across the galaxy, destroying everything in its path, including the Crogenitors that created them. Players take the role of one of the last Crogenitors, awakened from a millennium of hypersleep to find that Darkspore have completely taken over the galaxy. But before your race died out, they managed to stabilize the E-DNA and used them to create heroes to fight back the dark tide. It becomes your duty to pick up where they left off by gathering an army of genetically modified heroes to reclaim the galaxy.

Check out all Darkspore downloads

Big Download will be working alongside EA and Maxis all month long to giveaway beta access to Darkspore, the unique sci-fi action role-playing game where players players can completely customize their heroes with creature parts and powers.

We're giving away 3,000 keys throughout the week for the final two beta sessions in March. The first session starts today Friday, March 4th 6pm PST and ends on Saturday, March 5th at 11:59pm PST. The fourth and final beta session starts Friday, March 11th 6pm PST and ends on Saturday, March 12th at 11:59pm PST

Continue after the jump for system requirements and to watch a beta gameplay trailer.

Additional features will be added as the beta period progresses. Darkspore is currently scheduled to release on March 29, 2011 (April 1 in Europe).

Want to get in the beta? Getting a key is easy!

1. Send us an email at contests@bigdownload.com with the subject line "Darkspore Beta Key Request."
2. We will reply with your own personal beta key (supplies limited).
3. Visit beta.darkspore.com and click "Join Beta" to register your key. You will need to create an EA account if you don't already have one.
4. Download and install the game client.

The game will automatically update itself with the latest patches and registered players will be eligible to participate in all upcoming Darkspore beta sessions. System requirements and game description are shown after the jump. A special thanks to EA and Maxis for providing the beta keys.

Rift, an upcoming fantasy MMORPG enters into its first beta tomorrow, and this video provides a big look at what players can look forward to. Besides the stunning graphics, the game features a unique class system that allows players to select from different branches, and dynamic content so that there's never a dull moment. Those interested in participating in the beta can do so by visiting the official website.

Download HD Rift 'Enter the Rift' Trailer (441 MB)

The development team at Eden Games and publisher Atari are hard at work on the upcoming open world driving game sequel Test Drive Unlimited 2. This weekend the game will be getting a closed beta stress test and Big Download has both the beta client and 500 beta keys to give away to our readers.

The stress test itself will be held this Saturday from 3 pm to 7 pm Eastern time (noon to 4 pm Pacific time). All you have to do is sent an email to contests@bigdownload.com with the Subject line "Test Drive Unlimited 2 Beta". We will send out beta keys until we run out. The beta client can be downloaded here at Big Download.

If you get a beta key from us you have to register it at the game's official web site. You will also need to register at the game's official web site in order to participate in the game's beta forums. You can check out the beta's system requirements after the jump:

Download the Test Drive Unlimited 2 Beta Client at Big Download

Earlier this past summer we first reported on Lead Meets Dead, an upcoming top down third person zombie shooter from new game developer Keldyn Interactive. Today the development team announced that it was taking sign ups from people who want to beta test Lead Meets Dead.

To sign up for the beta, folks just need to create an announce on the game's official community web site in order to be considered. While spots in the beta are said to be 'limited" there's no word yet on how many will be picked or when the beta test will start. In the meantime, a new Lead Meets Dead teaser trailer has been released and can be seen after the jump.

Download the Dead Meets Lead Teaser Trailer (51 MB)

Publisher Bethesda Softworks has been making efforts to expand its business as it attempts to break out of "just" being known as the publisher of its own Bethesda Game Studios titles. Today it announced that it has opened up a new office to serve the Benelux region of Europe (that includes the countries The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg).

The office will be located in Eindhoven, The Netherlands and joins previous Bethesda Softworks offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt and Tokyo. Next month the publisher plans to release Fallout: New Vegas and in 2011 it will publish Brink, Hunted: The Demon's Forge and Rage. Furthur down the road it will release id's next Doom game, the next game from Bethesda Game Studios and the new title from Arkane Studios.