mac posts

Portal 2's release was by far the biggest story for PC gaming last week but there were other interesting news bits throughout the week. As we always do let's look back at the past seven days:
Exclusive features

• Hoard review - We review the recent PC port of the downloadable action game where you control an evil dragon.

Downloads

• Two Worlds II Castle Defense Demos - Download the PC and Mac demos of the upcoming spin-off from the Two Worlds RPG series.
• Rage Dead City Video - The newest video for id's next first person shooter is an extended gameplay look at a portion of the game.
• Duke Nukem Forever Come Get Some Video - Hide the kids from this very mature look at the long awaited shooter game.

PC gaming got a lot of attention in the last week thanks in part to the ongoing Valve ARG for Portal 2 involving 13 indie PC games. Let's look back at the last seven days in the genre:

Exclusive features

• Elements of War Interview - we chat with Lesta Studio about their unusual RTS game.
• AI War expansion packs reviews - we give our verdict on the expansion packs for the indie space strategy game.

Downloads

• Theater of War 3 Korea demo - Try out a portion of the recent Korea War-themed RTSgame
• Anomaly Warzone Earth demo - It's a free slice of the recent sci-fi strategy game
• The Next Big Thing demo - The upcoming adventure game gets a free demo

The end of the month of March hit us and so did a ton of April Fool's jokes on Friday. But PC gaming managed to survive. Let's look back at the last seven days.
Exclusive features

• Reviews: We give our verdicts to Crysis 2, Mass Effect 2 Arrival and Fate of the World.
• Choplifter HD interview: We have the first ever interview about the upcoming remake of the classic arcade game.

Downloads

• Pebble of Time - Check out this free game that's an April Fool's joke and also a promo for Rock of Ages.
• Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City trailer: It's the first teaser for the next game in the zombie themed series.
• Guild Wars 2 Commando trailer: Download this cool April Fool's joke from ArenaNet.

It was a big week for PC gamers with Crysis 2 and other titles finally making their debuts. Let's look back at the past seven days on the Big Download site:

Exclusive features

• Reviews: We give our final verdicts for Homefront and Rift.
• War Inc Battle Zone interview: We chat with the COO of Online Warmongers about its upcoming free-to-play shooter.

Downloads

• Starpoint Gemini Demo: Check out this slice of the recently released space-based RPG game.
• Dead Meets Lead Challenge Demo: It's a free portion of the upcoming "zombies meets pirates" action game.
• Crysis Day 1 Patch: We have the first PC update to Crytek's first person shooter.
• StarCraft II 1.3 Patch: Get the latest update to Blizzard's hit RTS game.
• Portal 2 Panels Trailer: It's another glimpse at Valve's upcoming puzzle shooter sequel.

While Microsoft has its own game development and publishing arm, one of its biggest rivals, Apple, has long been rumored to be in the running to purchase a game publisher like Electronic Arts. But according to a new report at IndustryGames that isn't likely to happen.

The story quotes Panoptic Management Consultants analyst Asif Khan who states he spoke personally with Apple founder and head man Steve Jobs at Apple's shareholder meeting. He states, " ... I can tell you with confidence that Apple will not acquire a game company. They would rather rake in the 30 percent of App Store sales that they currently have set up with developers."

The article points out that Apple does have a war chest of $60 billion in cash that could be used to acquire companies. But if this report is true, game developers and publisher shouldn't look to Apple for a big payday anytime soon.

As promised, Apple has now launched its Mac App Store for owners of Macintosh-based PCs. Much like the App Store works for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad devices, the Mac App Store allows Mac owners to directly purchase and download software programes to their Mac PCs. Developers can also publisher their programs directly through the new Mac App Store and set their own prices.

The Mac App Store launched with over 1,000 software programs and as expected there are a number of games available to purchase and download via the store. For example the casual game publisher MumboJumbo has a number of its games on the store including its popular Luxor arcade title.

The app store tool for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch mobile devices have been hugely successful, especially for both small and big game developers who can publish their titles directly to consumers. Can Apple do the same thing for their iMacs, MacBooks and Mac desktops? We are about to find out as Apple has announced it will launch the Mac App Store on January 6.

Like the app store for the Apple mobile products, the Mac App Store will have a variety of software to purchase and/or download and that will include games. Developers can set their own prices, can release free apps with no additional costs and keep 70 percent of the game's revenues for themselves. The big question: Will the Mac App Store be a big rival to services like Steam, Direct2Drive and others in the Mac game digital download business?

Earlier this year Valve launched a Mac version of its Steam game download service. So far the evidence says that moving to the Mac platform has been successful for Valve. However it looks like Apple is looking to offer a software download service of its own for its Mac desktops and laptops.

This week Apple announced plans to launch the Mac App Store which expands on the App Store features found in its iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad products. Users will be able to download games and other software programs for Macs and the store will keep those downloads up to date with the latest versions. It's not yet clear what games will be available on the Mac App Store and Apple announced no deals with game publishers. However Apple will start taking submissions for apps to be included in the store next month. The Mac App Store is scheduled to launch within the next 90 days.

[Via Engadget]

Today, Sony Online Entertainment announced that it was working alongside TransGaming Inc. to bring its popular family-friendly MMO, Free Realms, to the Mac platform this fall. With over 14 million registered players, Free Realms is an online adventure role-playing game where players can go on quests and connect with friends in a safe environment. No specific date was mentioned in the announcement, but Mac gamers can expect their chance to enter Free Realms later this fall.

The weekend is here. What will you be doing to rest and relax? Or will you be working hard?

• Bethesda Softworks has launched its own official podcast called (natch) The Bethesda Podcast.
• A new patch for Blacklight: Tango Down has been released via the game's auto-updater. The patch is mostly for bug fixes but does add support for Steam achievements.
• New Steam updates for Global Agenda, Puzzle Dimension and The Guild II Renaissance are now available.
• Ubisoft has officially launched its browser-based MMO Might and Magic Heroes Kingdoms.
• The 10th "issue" of the Star Wars: The Old Republic comic Blood Of the Empire is now online.
• Check out this cool replica of Mass Effect's M8 Avenger rifle.