steam posts

Direct2Drive won't sell Modern Warfare 2; indirectly blames Steam

by John Callaham Nov 5th 2009 @ 6:00PM

Modern Warfare 2 must feel like everyone is piling on it. From the reveal of some controversial scenes to the lack of dedicated servers for the PC version to a unfortunate release of a PSA, the upcoming shooter from Infinity Ward has not had the best publicity. Now yet another issue has popped up as IGN's Direct2Drive site has openly stated they won't provide the downloadable PC version of the game to download.

In a listing for the game on their site, they state:

At Direct2Drive, we believe strongly that when you buy a game from us, you shouldn't be forced to install and run a 3rd party software client to be able to play the game you purchased. Because COD MW 2 requires you, the consumer, to do that, we aren't able to offer the game via Direct2Drive at this time.

They are clearly calling out the game's use of Valve's Steam service to offer automatic updates, among other things, for Modern Warfare 2 as their reason for their refusal to run the game. Direct2Drive is offering a $5 online coupon code on their site to purchase any other game from Activision until Nov. 30. We do find the arguments suspect since other games on Direct2Drive have installs for Steam (like Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II) and Games For Windows Live.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 2

Filed under: Downloads, FPS, Multiplayer, Modern Warfare 2

Weekend PC game sales appear on the net

by John Callaham Nov 5th 2009 @ 4:00PM

While everyone else is waiting for pre-Black Friday sales, PC gamers know that sales on downloadable PC games can be found all the time, especially on Thursdays.

Steam has cut the price of the original Mass Effect to just $9.99 for the weekend
Impulse has a number of weekend game sales going on including Flock for $7.49, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl for $9.99 and Mosby's Confederacy for $12.99.
GamersGate has cut the prices of several of their games. That includes Painkiller, Painkiller Overdose and Painkiller Universe which are down 30 percent each. It has also put Grappling Hook (for PC and Mac) on sale for 50 percent off its normal price this weekend.
Direct2Drive offers up $5 off Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising if you put in the promo code 5OFFOPFLASH at checkout.
Telltale Games is offering full seasons of Sam and Max Seasons One and Two, Strong Bad and Wallace and Gromit for $20 each, a savings of $15 each from their original price.

Filed under: Downloads, Action, FPS, RPG, Mass Effect Series

Steam gets Earthworm Jim PC games and other additions

by John Callaham Nov 5th 2009 @ 2:00PM

Valve's Steam PC game download service has added a classic character to its library. Earthworm Jim, the weird but cool action game mascot of the now defunct Shiny Entertainment, is now available to download via Steam in a bundle that contains the original game, Earthworm Jim 2 and Earthworm 3D. The bundle costs $19.99 and is the only way to get the games via Steam; they are not sold separately.

In different but related news, Steam has added the three Massive Assault strategy games from Order of War developer Wargaming.net to the service. You can get each game (Massive Assault, Massive Assault: Phantom Renaissance, and Massive Assault Network 2) separately or all three in a bundle package for $59.99. The bundle saves you $29.98 if you bought each game on its own.

Finally Steam has added the recent adventure game Fatale and the action shooter Doom Rails to its library.

Filed under: Downloads, Action, Adventure

Mid-week sales include games at EA Store for 20 percent

by John Callaham Nov 4th 2009 @ 7:30AM

Electronic Arts is getting a few weeks ahead of the annual Black Friday sales push by holding their own in-house sale at their online EA store. From now until Saturday all in stock games are on sale for 20 percent off their normal price. This sale doesn't apparently include the most recent EA release Dragon Age: Origins.

More mid-week sales include GoGamer.com which has a number of PC games on sale until 3 am Eastern Time Saturday. Sales price cuts include F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin for $14.90, Borderlands for $36.90 and Overlord 2 for just $9.90. Finally Steam has taken 30 percent off the recent zombie shooter Nation Red.

Filed under: Biz, Downloads

Left 4 Dead 2 demo now available to all PC users

by John Callaham Nov 3rd 2009 @ 7:00PM

For all of you cheap skates who don't want to spend money ahead of time for Left 4 Dead 2, your time to play the demo for Valve's upcoming zombie co-op shooter sequel has come. Now everyone with a Steam announce can download the demo for free.

Yes, you can check out the campaign and solo modes for the sequel as you run around the zombie-fied city of New Orleans while dealing with new boss zombies and using new melee weapons like our favorite the machete. If you like the demo you can still pre-order the full game for 10 percent off, plus get an exclusive Team Fortress 2 in-game hat.

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2

Filed under: Downloads, Demos, FPS, Multiplayer, Left 4 Dead Series

It's a Team Fortress 2-Left 4 Dead official crossover (sort of)!

by John Callaham Nov 3rd 2009 @ 12:00AM

In comic books, crossover events between two super hero universes are considered to be a huge deal. Remember when Superman met Spider-Man? When Batman met Predator? When Archie met The Punisher? Well two of Valve's game universes are about to have a (tiny) crossover of their own.

The deal is if you pre-order Valve's upcoming zombie shooter sequel Left 4 Dead 2, not only do you gain early access to the game's demo and pay 10 percent off its regular price but if you also happen to own Valve's multiplayer shooter Team Fortress 2 you get an extra in-game bonus. It's Bill's hat. Yep, now your TF2 characters will be able to wear the same hat design Bill has for Left 4 Dead 1. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come. The Heavy mowing down the Tank in a game? We would love to see that.

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2

Filed under: Downloads, FPS, Multiplayer, Left 4 Dead Series, Team Fortress 2

Men of War: Red Tide available via Steam

by John Callaham Nov 2nd 2009 @ 11:00AM

Earlier this year we reported that 1C Company's recent WWII RTS game Men of War would be getting a quick stand alone follow up game called Men of War: Red Tide. Late on Friday the game, developed by Best Way, was quietly added to Steam's line-up of games to purchase and download.

As we reported earlier this year when the game was first announced, Men of War: Red Tide has players commanding the he Soviet Marines, also known as the "Black Coats", as they fight battles during the Black Sea Campaigns of WWII. There are 23 missions and over 100 different units to control in the game. The game is priced at $24.99 and a bundle deal combining the new game with the original Men of War can be bought on Steam for just $34.99. That's a $20 savings if each game were bought separately

Filed under: Downloads, RTS

Borderlands remains on top of Steam top 10 best-seller list [Update}

by John Callaham Nov 2nd 2009 @ 10:00AM

Gearbox Software's PC version of their hit first person shooter Borderlands continues to do well on Valve's Steam download service. Steam's regular weekly list of the top 10 best selling games on the service (based on revenue) for the week ending November 1 has Borderlands on top for the second week in a row.

Valve's own upcoming game Left 4 Dead 2 stays in the number two spot for a second week as well. Dragon Age: Origins, which will activate on Steam tomorrow, comes in fourth this week in its digital deluxe edition. Runic Games' debut title Torchlight has made an impressive debut this week on the list coming in at number three.

Update: Valve has for some reason changed the top 10 list from what it originally posted on its Steam site.

1. Borderlands - Gearbox Software/2K Games
2. Left 4 Dead 2 - Valve
3. Torchlight - Runic Games
4.Dragon Age Origins Digital Deluxe Edition - BioWare/EA
5. Football Manager 2010 - Sega
6. Killing Floor - Tripwire Interactive
7. Modern Warfare 2 - Infinity Ward/Activision
8. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Infinity Ward/Activision
9. Dragon Age Origins - BioWare/EA
10. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl - GSC GameWorld/THQ

Filed under: Downloads, FPS, RPG

RTS game Sacraboar due for release on November 6

by John Callaham Nov 1st 2009 @ 9:00AM

Sometimes a concept for a game comes out that just makes you smile a goofy grin. Such is the case with Sacraboar, the debut PC game title from developer Makivision Games. It''s a fantasy RTS title that the game's web site describes as a "capture the pig" game.

Yep, that sentence is correct. The game is centered around you protecting your . . .pig . . . while also trying to capture your opponent's . . .pig. Is it just us or does this sound an awful lot like a game that Monty Python might come up with in their heads? In any case, Sacraboar (love the title too, by the way) has both single, skirmish and multiplayer modes (LAN and Internet) and will be released on November 6 via Impulse and Steam. You can pre-order the game now for 25 percent off its planned $19.99 price and get instant access to the game's beta test.

Gallery: Sacraboar

Filed under: Downloads, RTS

Feature: Left 4 Dead 2 Demo Impressions

by John Callaham Oct 31st 2009 @ 7:00PM

Just as they did a year or so ago for the original Left 4 Dead, Valve has allowed people who pre-ordered the zombie co-op shooter sequel Left 4 Dead 2 to have early access to the game's free demo. Everyone else can download the demo via Steam on November 3 and the demo is expected to shut down when the full game is released on November 17.

As we did last year for the original game we are offering up some quick impressions of the Left 4 Dead 2 demo release which features two levels in the game's introductory Parish campaign.

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2

Continue reading Feature: Left 4 Dead 2 Demo Impressions

Filed under: Downloads, Demos, Expansions, FPS, Multiplayer, Left 4 Dead Series

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