The Best of Big Download: April 12-18

by John Callaham @ on Apr 18th 2010 11:30PM

Once again we're getting loads of new game announcements -- not to mention the rebirth of the X-Com franchise -- though the new game's first-person shooter design is already getting mixed responses from fans of the original. As we do each week, let's look back at the past seven days with remembrance and a hint of frivolity ... or something like that.

Exclusive features

Throwing down at the WCG Ultimate Gamer Season 2 Casting Auditions: We report on the people who decided to audition for the second season of this game-related reality show competition series.
Plain Sight review: We give our final verdict for this multiplayer-oriented action game from Beatnik Games.
Boot Disk: Our retro games feature checks out the classic turn-based strategy game M.A.X.
All You Need To Know: We give you the 411 on the just launched episodic game series Sam and Max: The Devil's Playhouse.
Freeware Friday: Our look at free PC games checks out the retro-like side scroller Action Fist.
Contest: You still have one more day to enter our giveaway to win a Razer DeathAdder Left Hand Edition gaming PC mouse. Get on it!

Downloads

Sam and Max: The Devil's Playground -- Episode One demo: Check out either the PC or Mac demos of Telltale Games' latest release in the Sam and Max series.
Heroes of Newerth open beta client: You can now download the PC, Mac and Linux clients for the open beta version of S2 Games's upcoming action-RTS title.
Alien Domination demo: It's a free sample of the recent retro space shooter game.
Grand Theft Auto IV patches: Download the new patch for the PC version of GTA IV along with a patch for the recent follow-up Episodes from Liberty City.
Zombie Driver patches: Download the patch which adds the Slaughter gameplay mode for this top-down shooter plus get the follow-up bug patch.
Mount and Blade: Warband patch-demo: Update your copy of the multiplayer RPG expansion with this patch. You can also play the full game as a timed demo release.
Serious Sam HD; The Second Encounter Debut Trailer: Check out the first footage from the Croteam-developed first person shooter remake.