magicka posts

A few days ago, fans of the sleeper hit action-RPG Magicka were asked to vote for which of two challenge maps would be released for free. Today the results were reveal and gamers can now download an update via Steam that will automatically add the new Caverns map to the game.

For folks who want to get the whole experience, the Mashlands map is also available to purchase and download via Steam for a mere $1.99. The map adds two new challenges, each with 20 waves of enemies, and some new spawn situations such as zombies coming out of the ground and goblins that use the elevator (apparently they were too tired to use the stairs).

Hot on the heels of the release of the Magicka: Vietnam action-RPG expansion pack, developer Arrowhead Game Studios and publisher Paradox Interactive have announced that two more challenge maps for Magicka will be released on April 26.

The maps (Marshlands and Caverns) would normally cost $1.99 each to download, but Paradox has decided to release one of the challenge maps for free and is letting players vote for which map will be released next week for the price of nothing at all via the game's Facebook page. You can check out a trailer for the maps after the jump:

It was a busy day for news, as we predicted. We wonder what will happen tomorrow:

• In less than 12 hours the Humble Frozenbyte Bundle has generated over $300,000 in revenues.
• New automatic updates on the Steam service are now available for Magicka, Total War Shogun 2 and ProtoGalaxy.
• New League of Legends Easter-themed character skins have been discovered.
• As promised, the US-based servers for World of Tanks have now launched.
• Yet another Trackmania 2 screenshot has been posted on the Maniaplanet forums.
• The Bulletstorm Gun Sonata DLC map pack has been released for consoles; the PC version is due out "soon".
• Trainz Simulator 12 has now been released.

The sleeper PC game hit Magicka is getting an expansion pack next week titled (and we still can't quite believe it) Magicka Vietnam. The expansion for the fantasy action-RPG from developer Arrowhead Game Studios will only cost $4.99 but if you still think that's too much money to spend without some sort of preview, the Total Biscuit video preview has you covered.

It managed to get a beta code for the expansion and uploaded over 13 minutes of narrated video footage from the game that puts wizards deep in the jungle and fighting creatures with both magic and Vietnam War-era weapons. Enjoy.

It's another busy new PC game release day tomorrow. We can already feel our bank account screaming that it can't take much more:

• Steam has new automatic updates to Magicka and Team Fortress 2.
• Europe's big game trade show Gamescom is now selling tickets for the 2011 edition.
• The space based MMO Black Prophecy has now officially launched in Europe. US players will get a closed beta test "soon"
• BioWare is warning fans to beware of various Star Wars The Old Republic beta testing scams.
• Check out this Team Fortress 2-Portal crossover map.
• A Dead Space movie is still being developed.

The weekend has finally arrived but next week will be full of big PC game releases. Will you go for Crysis 2 or maybe The Sims Medieval or perhaps the PC port of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood? So many games ... so little available funds.

• Steam has new automatic updates for Magicka, Wings of Prey and Farming Simulator 2011.
• NCsoft has announced that it will donate a massive $6.2 million via its Japan office for Japanese earthquake relief
• Ubisoft is offering a free copy of Silent Hunter III if you purchase the upcoming WW II flight sim IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover from its online store and also via Steam.
• What is the biggest PC game of the decade? According to Peter Molyneux it's Minecraft.

That's right folks; just average reviews for a game can send a publisher's stock price down the crapper. Lesson learned.

• Steam has new automatic updates available for download for Team Fortress 2 and Magicka.
• Earlier tonight sales of Minecraft crossed the 1.6 million mark.
• Black Mesa Source has finally gone gold. Well at least the soundtrack has.
• In related news, Valve's Gabe Newell says he thinks it would be fun to see Half-Life 1 get a graphical remake.
• Ubisoft is accused of using torrent-based files for the Assassin's Creed Brotherhood pre-order soundtrack.
• Finally check out some ShakyCam Portal 2 gameplay footage from PAX East.

After releasing a small DLC pack for free a couple of weeks ago, the team at developer Arrowhead Game Studios have now released the first paid downloadable content pack for its hit fantasy RPG Magicka.

For a mere 99 cents, Magicka players can add the Wizard's Survival Kit to the game. The kit adds a Wizard' Hat, a Sharp Sword, a +1 Staff and a new magic spell, the Meteor Shower that brings down burning rocks on your foes. As reported last week, a new expansion pack, Magicka Vietnam, is set to be released by Arrowhead and publisher Paradox Interactive "soon".

While it's a bit surreal to see a game about conjuring magic delve into the Vietnam War as its first expansion, we can't say that we are too surprised. After all, Magicka is filled with pop culture references, and you can even get a modern light machine-gun (the M60) to blow apart goblins and trolls. This trailer for Magicka: Vietnam is primarily focused around guns and explosions, but there's also plenty of magic using to be had. After all, who wouldn't want to be able to summon an instant barricade against enemy fire? We also love the little send-off at the end to Bad Company 2's menu screen.

Download Magicka: Vietnam Announcement Trailer
Check out all Magicka: Vietnam downloads

Magicka, the surprise downloadable RPG sales hit, is getting an expansion pack but its one that you never saw coming. Today publisher Paradox Interactive announced Magicka: Vietnam from developer Arrowhead Game Studios.

Yes, you will soon be able to control those four goofy wizards in places and locations that Chuck Norris and Rambo used to shoot people. The press release states that the wizards "try to do what so many 80's action stars have done in the past: blow stuff up." Magicka Vietnam (that still sounds weird) will be available via download "soon" but no price point was announced today. You can check out a trailer for the expansion after the jump.