gameranger posts

A free multiplayer server software product and service that many PC gamers might not even know exists is celebrating its 1 million player this week. Australia-based GameRanger announced today that its 1 millionth player signed up to use the software on Sunday morning.

Originally launched in 1999 as an Mac gaming alternative to server browser software products like GameSpy, GameRanger expanded to include support for PC games in 2008. Today GameRanger supports over 600 PC games, close to 200 Mac games and 29 games that are cross-platform compatible. Last month over 3.2 million online games were player via the GameRanger client.

Announced late in December and noticed by almost no one, the Mac version of Firaxis Games' strategy title Civilization IV: Colonization is now available from publisher Aspyr. The Mac port is also available to purchase and download exclusively via Aspyr's GameAgent service.

As we reported last month, Aspyr has apparently suffered through some massive layoffs late in 2009. The company has yet to officially comment on the layoffs, despite several phone calls and emails to Aspyr. At the moment the only upcoming game project Aspyr has listed is the Mac port of the LucasArts action game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Ultimate Sith Edition.

Well, what do you know? We talk a lot about downloading games on the cheap here at Big Download but there's also some games that that you can get for absolutely nothing. Today that list just got a new addition; Stubbs the Zombie. There is a way to get the 2005 released zombie action game from developer Wideload Games without paying a penny.

Head on over to Game Agent's web site; that's the PC and Mac game download store for Stubbs the Zombie's publisher Aspyr Media. When you see that game listed hit the "Download Now" button. In the promo code section type ASPYRTHANKS inside and activate it. POOF. That $9.99 game just turned into a $0.00 game. There's no word on how long the promo code will last, however, so we suggest grabbing it now.

Update: Looks like the free promotion is done. The game has gone up to $19.99 and the promo code knocks the sales price down to $4.99. Super-cheap . . .but not free.
[Via Worthplaying]

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Homeworld series, Relic Entertainment and THQ have released the OEM version of the game, also known as Homeworld: Raider Retreat. Raider Retreat was given away by the original publisher (Sierra) to those that pre-purchased Homeworld: Cataclysm in 2000, and now it's available to everyone. It has five single player missions, including one that wasn't in the original Homeworld, and supports LAN (TCP/IP) multiplayer.

Players who are interested in digging up their old copies of Homeworld (or purchase a new copy somewhere for cheap) can install the v1.05 patch to start playing one of the best multiplayer games in PC history. Alternatively, players can just download the standalone Homeword: Raider Retreat demo, which has the extra mission. Both can be installed, but they don't work with each other (Homeworld games don't see Raider Retreat game listings and vice versa). In either case, Relicnews.com suggests installing GameRanger for online multiplayer support.

For a trip further down memory lane, the original single player demos for both Homeworld and the Homeworld: Cataclsym expansion are available to download and play.

Download Homeworld v1.05 Patch (2 MB)
Download Homeworld: Raider Retreat OEM Demo (195 MB)
Download Homeworld Demo (63 MB)
Download Homeworld: Cataclysm Demo (49 MB)

10 years ago this week, Relic Entertainment released their first game title, the revolutionary 3D space-based RTS game Homeworld. The game was a huge hit, both in sales as well as critically and the game got a number of "Game of the Year" awards from a number of media outlets. This week the official Relic web site is looking back at the game's 10th anniversary by chatting with two current Relic employees who worked on the original game.

Principal Designer Quinn Duffy and Senior Artist Dave Cheong talk about their memories of helping to make the first Homeworld game (a sequel was released in 2003). Duffy states, "We created a visually sophisticated universe with a great deal of implied depth, crafted an evocative story and told it well, and had a pretty fun and immersive game on top of it all." And what about the rumors of a new Homeworld game in the works? Duffy points out that very few of Relic's current team worked on the first game and says, "Personally, I'd love to see another Homeworld game – I'd love to see the universe breath again, but only if it were done with the same passion and drive of the original."

In related news, fan site Relic News have posted up an article on how to play the original game in online multiplayer modes using the GameRanger matchmaking service.