• The launch of Windows 7: On the occasion of Microsoft's launch of its latest OS, we examined if PC gamers should upgrade to Windows 7, gave some advice to Microsoft on how they can help PC gaming with their new OS, and chatted with a number of game developers on their opinons of Windows 7.
• Lucidity Review: We give our final verdict to LucasArts' recent downloadable puzzle-platformer.
• Mac Monday: This week's Mac gaming column checks out two games: Bullet Candy Perfect and Avenue Flo.
• Boot Disk: Our regular look at retro games checks out the classic Dungeon Keeper.
• Big Ideas: Our look at game themes this week examines why game developers should set more games in modern times.
• All You Need To Know: Just in time for the game's demo release, we examine all we know at the moment about Left 4 Dead 2.
• Freeware Friday: Our popular column this week looks at this mix of retro and rogue game in DoomRL
• Contest: You still have some time to enter our Order of War giveaway contest.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: October 19 - 25

The Best of Big Download: October 19 - 25 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• A Brief History of Windows Gaming: We look back at the various versions of Windows as they related to PC gaming history.
• Black Ops Games Redux Part 1: In the first installment of this multi-part series, we look back at some former games that were unannounced last year that finally were officially announced.
• Hands-On with Torchlight: We got to play the upcoming downloadable fantasy action-RPG from Runic Games before its release on October 27 and wrote up our impressions!
  
• Big Versus: City of Heroes Vs Champions Online: Our Versus feature returns as we compare the new super hero MMO with the first one.
• All You Need To Know: This week our game info feature looks at Bioware's upcoming RPG Dragon Age: Origins.
• Mac Monday: Our weekly Mac column takes a look at two titles this time out: Machinarium and QuantZ.
• Boot Disk: Our weekly retro game feature looks at the classic Shiny Entertainment-developed title, Earthworm Jim.
• Playing For Free: Our weekly look at free-to-play online games checks out the space-based title DarkSpace.
• Freeware Friday: Our always popular free PC games column checks out a game with the unusual title RRRRRPG.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: October 12-18

The Best of Big Download: October 12-18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Reviews: We give our final verdict for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising and also our first impressions of Aion.
• What PC Gamers Need To Know About Windows 7: Some tips and info on Microsoft's Windows 7 and how it will affect PC gaming.
• Left 4 Dead Guide: Crashing and Burning: It's our guide to the recent free mini-campaign for Valve's zombie shooter.
• Mac Monday: Our weekly look at Mac games checks out Miriel's Enchanted Mystery.
• Boot Disk: Our look at retro games checks out LucasArts' classic Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight.
• All You Need To Know: We take a look at all the info currently known about the upcoming RPG Alpha Protocol.
• Big Ideas: Our weekly look at game themes examines how realism really works in games.
• Playing For Free: Our weekly examination at free-to-play online games checks out Nexon's latest Dungeon Fighter Online.
• Freeware Friday: Our regular look at free PC games checks out the platformer RunMan: Race Around the World.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: October 5-11

The Best of Big Download: October 5-11 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Join Massively for new exclusive Star Trek Online screenshots every Monday We've got five new screens from Cryptic Studio's upcoming Star Trek Online to share with you today. Of particular note is the above shot of a Borg drone about to vaporize someone or something into stardust. However, there are also plenty of tantalizing new space images in this batch. For instance, this aft shot of what appears to be a Prometheus variant has an interesting hull design.

Choose my Adventure: There and Back Again At this end of our second trip through the Choose my Adventure series, it's time to say goodbye to Lord of the Rings Online, reflect on what we've accomplished and of course, vote for the next game. With last week's vote, I had you comment on what my final step should be, instead of leaving it up to a poll of choices by me. After reading a comment by Gamer52, I decided that was a wonderfully fitting end, and proceeded to plan Gibbi's retirement.

Continue reading Massively week in review

Massively week in review originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Five PC games console players would love to play: There are still some big PC-exclusive games that console players have never played. We take a look at five of them.
• The Top 10 PC Game News Stories for September 2009: We look back and give our picks for the news that was the most important for PC gaming in September.
• Left 4 Dead Crash Course Quick Impressions: We give our first impressions on the new (and free for PC owners) mini-campaign for Valve's zombie shooter.
• Second Skin Review: We review the recent MMO-themed documentary.
• Mac Monday: We check out two more games for the Mac: Zuma's Revenge and Creeper World.
• Boot Disk: Our weekly look at retro games checks out the original Majesty.
• Big Ideas: Our weekly thoughts on game ideas examines if having-game specific features actually takes you out of the game.
• All You Need To Know: Our regular look at upcoming games gives you all the info we know about Modern Warfare 2.
• Playing For Free: Our weekly look at online free-to-play games checks out the browser based MMO Ikariam.
• Freeware Friday: Our always popular look at free PC games checks out the newly free indie title Strange Adventures in Infinite Space.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: September 28-October 4

The Best of Big Download: September 28-October 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Reviews: As the fall season hits, we give our final verdicts to a ton of new PC games, including Batman: Arkham Asylum, Majesty 2, Resident Evil 5, Red Faction Guerrilla and Section 8.
• Alienware's new look and features: We go over the four new desktops and the new laptop from Alienware that was announced this week.
• Mac Monday: Our weekly Mac gaming column looks at two games this time, BOH and Cuba Letra
• Boot Disk: Our weekly retro game feature has two entries this week as we look at the Planet Moon Studios action game Giants: Citizen Kabuto and the original Red Faction.
• Big Ideas: Our weekly look at game themes and ideas examines if playing games is actually good for you.
• All You Need To Know: Our regular look at upcoming games gives you an idea of what to expect from Borderlands.
• Playing For Free: Our weekly look at free-to-play online games checks out Nexon's first person shooter Combat Arms.
• Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free PC games checks out the sandbox-themed game Clonk Endeavour

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: September 21-27

The Best of Big Download: September 21-27 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Nvidia 3D Vision Discover: Want a way to experience 3D gaming without spending a lot of money? Nvidia has a solution that works.
• AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! - A Reckless Disregard for Gravity Review: We give our verdict on this indie action game with a super-long title.
• Mac Monday: Our weekly look at Mac games takes a look at two titles: Crystal Cave Classic by Rake In Grass, and Awem Studio's Romance of Rome.
• Boot Disk: Our regular look at classic games checks out the Shiny Entertainment RTS title Sacrifice.
• Big Ideas: Our regular column that looks at game themes examines how a good game sequel is made.
• All You Need To Know: Our new regular feature on one particular (and recent) game gives you the 411 on Section 8.
• Playing For Free: Our column on online free-to-play games examines the NCsoft mech action title Exteel.
• Freeware Friday: Our explosive column on free PC games looks at BaboViolent2, the free predecessor to the recent downloadable commercial game Madballs in Babo: Invasion.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: September 14-20

The Best of Big Download: September 14-20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• PAX 2009: We still have some Penny Arcade Expo 2009 features, including impressions of Borderlands, Elemental, Supreme Commander 2, Global Agenda, All Points Bulletin, Mass Effect 2, and The Secret World.
• Champions Online review: We give our final verdict to Cryptic Studios' latest super hero MMO. Also we examine what you need to know about the game.
• Looking back: Prepare for the release of Red Faction Guerrilla with a retrospective of the first two Red Faction games. Also we look back at the Dark Forces/Jedi Knight series on the eve of their digital download re-release.
• Mac Monday: Our Macintosh gaming column this weeks looks at two games: Mad Skills Motocross and Monopoly Build-a-lot Edition.
• Boot Disk: Our retro games feature looks at the historical strategy title Conquest of the New World.
• Big Ideas: Our weekly game theme column looks at making games for different age groups.
• Playing for Free: Our weekly look at free-to-play online games looks at the recently released MMO Runes of Magic.
• Freeware Friday: Our always popular column on free PC games looks at the action-puzzle game Solar Plexus.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: September 7-13

The Best of Big Download: September 7-13 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• PAX 2009: We've been all over this year's Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle. Check out our primer for the show, a chat with show organizer Mike Fehlauer, pictures from the show floor and pictures of the cosplayers and booth models. Plus hands-on and eyes-on PAX 2009 impressions of games like Star Trek Online, Left 4 Dead 2, James Cameron's Avatar The Game, Serious Sam HD The First Encounter, InstantAction Tribes, Split/Second, Torchlight, Divinity 2 and Deathspank.
• F.E.A.R 2 Reborn Review: We give our final word on this week's new single player expansion to Monolith's first person shooter.
• Hearts of Iron 3 Review: We let you know what we think of Paradox's latest historical strategy game.
• The Top 10 PC Game News Stories for August 2009: We look back at the big PC game news events for last month.
• Steam's new hardware survey before Windows 7: What does Steam's hardware survey show we have in our rigs before next month's launch of Microsoft's next OS? We have the info.
• Other PC Games Due In Fall 2009: We look at a lot of upcoming downloadable PC game titles due out in fall 2009.
• Quick Hit Football: We chat with the head of a PC game developer planning to launch a web browser based pro foootball game with current and former NFL players and coaches.
• Mac Monday: Our weekly Mac game column looks at two more games: Heileen and Burgertime Deluxe
• Big Ideas: Our weekly look at game themes looks at villains in games.
• Boot Disk: Our weekly retro games column looks at the classic strategy Heroes of Might and Magic 3.
• All You Need To Know: A new feature at Big Download, we look at what you need to know about the upcoming PC port of Batman: Arkham Asylum.
• Playing For Free: Our new column on free-to-play online games continues with a look at Battlefield Heroes.
• Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free PC games checks out the open-source shooter OpenLieroX.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: August 31-September 6

The Best of Big Download: August 31-September 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Fall 2009 For PC Games: We are on the edge of the biggest part of the year for new PC games. Check out Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of our feature that looks at the entire list of games and also check out our top 10 most anticipated PC games on our list.
• Reviews: Check our our verdicts on the second chapter of Tales of Monkey Island along with the indie game Osmos.
• Team Fortress 2 Hats Checklist: Want to know what hats are available in Valve's multiplayer shooter? We got you covered (so to speak).
• Mac Monday: This week Mac gamers have two games to check out: Big Kahuna Words and Mega Brickbash 3000.
• Boot Disk: Our retro games column this week looks at a true PC game classic: Outcast.
• Big Ideas: Our weekly look at game themes takes on the question on how old can you be to get into playing PC games.
• Playing For Free: It's the debut of a new column that looks at the growing genre of free-to-play online games. This week we look at Quake Live.
• Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at conventional free games takes a look at a classic title: Starsiege Tribes.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: August 24-30

The Best of Big Download: August 24-30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• BlizzCon 2009: We were at Anaheim this weekend to get some hands-on time with Diablo 3 and StarCraft 2. We also got even more info on Diablo 3 and its newly revealed Monk character, learned about the voice cast for StarCraft 2 (with a special appearance by Number Six), learned more about its gameplay features (including some cool dev created mods) and got the first info about Battle.net 2.0 (selling your maps and mods for money . . cool). Oh and we have pictures from the registration line, Day 1 (Felicia Day is so cute) and Day 2 of the event. Oh, and did we mention the folks in costumes?
• Mac Monday: This week's entry is all about the hidden object title Coyote's Tale: Fire and Water
• Boot Disk: This week look at retro games is about the 1999 FPS Quake 3 Arena
• Big Ideas: This week's column on game themes tries to answer the question on if games are actually evolving
• Freeware Friday: Our look at free games this week checks out the music-rhythm game Stepmania

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: August 17-23

The Best of Big Download: August 17-23 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• QuakeCon 2009 coverage: We were all over id Software's free LAN event-game convention this week with features like our impressions of the first live Rage gameplay demo, a chat with the Rage team, coverage of John Carmack and Todd Howard's speeches , a chat with Splash Damage's Paul Wedgewood on Brink and more. Oh, did we mention our picture galleries from Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 and our always popular BYOC case mod gallery?
• Back and Forth: Time Travel in PC games: We examine how time travel and temporal powers have been featured in new, older and upcoming PC games.
• Mac Monday: This week we look at the Mac beta for Warhammer Online.
• Boot Disk: Our weekly retro game feature looks at the original Command and Conquer: Red Alert.
• Big Ideas: Our weekly feature of game themes examines the growing trend of acquiring games via digital download.
• Freeware Friday: Our look at free games for the PC this week examines the arcade action game GearToyGear.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: August 10-16

The Best of Big Download: August 10-16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Exciting times in the World of Warcraft lately -- patch 3.2 is out, and with it comes brand new instances, new items to find, and a multitude of changes to make the game more fun. Oh, and don't forget about BlizzCon -- speculation is at a fever pitch with the event just 10 days away, and as you can see from the first post below, the leaks are starting to come already. Here's a sampling of the news you'll find on Joystiq's WoW.com.

• Cataclysm races leaked
  WoW.com reveals the new playable races in the Cataclysm expansion, to be announced at BlizzCon next week.
• Player reaction to the 5-man Trial
  What did players think of the brand new 5-man instance?
• Patch 3.2 Known Issues
  Here's what's still broken in the newest patch.
• BigRedKitty gets his own gun in Azeroth
  Our friend and former coworker BRK gets honored with his own piece of ingame gear.
• 53 Emblems per day
  Want to take advantage of the Emblem changes in the new Heroics? Run this route and farm as many emblems as you can.

• Every kind of player's guide to patch 3.2
  Not sure what to do in patch 3.2? Let us help.
• Arcane Brilliance: Good and bad in patch 3.2
  The Mage column examines the pros and cons of what's happening to them in the recent patch.
• Insider Trader: Progressive professions
  How to move professions forward in the future of the game.
• Time is Money: On patrol
  Have only a little time but want to make a lot of gold? Join the Troll Patrol!
• World of Warcraft Patch 3.2 Mounts guide
  The mount changes have affected the game a lot -- here's the rundown of everything that's new.

The best of WoW.com: August 4-11, 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• 10 Upcoming Mac Games: The Macintosh gamer has a lot to look forward to in the next several months. We take a look at 10 PC games that are slated to be ported to the Mac.
• Delayed to 2010: The Upcoming PC Game Backlog: A ton of major games are slated to come out in the first half of 2010. We take a look at these delayed titles and speculate if they will be successful.
• Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta Review: We give our final verdict for the last official DLC for Bethesda Softworks's RPG
• Mac Monday: Our weekly look at Mac games looks at two titles: Star Defender 4 and Bionic Heart
• Boot Disk: Our retro games feature looks at Blue Bytes' classic strategy game The Settlers 2.
• Big Ideas: Our weekly look at game themes examines how real voices will affect players while playing MMOs.
• Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free games checks out an older title, the RTS game Warzone 2100.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: August 3-9

The Best of Big Download: August 3-9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's Patch Day in the World of Warcraft, and if you've never actually played the game, then we'll tell you: it's a lot like Christmas, except it comes a few times a year. A huge patch of free content has been added into the game, and WoW.com is your HQ for all the information you need about all the new instances, items, and features. Check out our most popular posts below, and if you are a WoW player... then what are you doing here? Go see the Argent Tournament! It's out!

News

• WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.2
  Everything you need to know (and then some) about the game's newest patch of content.
• World of Warcraft 3.2 release patch notes
  The official word on all of the changes going into the game today.
• WoW China hit with more censorship on relaunch
  China has made some more changes to the game overseas.
• Priest Q&A released
  Blizzard answers some questions about the game's biggest healing class.
• Class Q&A: Rogue
  More class Q&A, this time about the Rogue class.

Features

• Arcane Brilliance: Six essential Mage addons for PvE
  Here's a real treat for raiding Mages: six addons you probably should be using.
• Which class gets invited as what?
  This number cruncher examines the different roles that classes play in groups.
• World of Warcrafts: Baby Hordie shirt
  Wait, the Horde gets to be evil and look this cute? Unfair!
• Drama Mamas: Loot and leaving early
  Our new column about drama and how to prevent it examines what to do with that loot your raid is earning.
• Friday Night Gin: Your weekly blue roundup
  Have a glass of gin with Ghostcrawler and the other forum blues on Friday night.

The best of WoW.com: July 28 - August 4, 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• The Top 10 PC Game Stories For July 2009: It was a fairly slow month but there were still some interesting news for PC gamers that popped up in the past 31 days
• FUEL Review: We give our verdict on the Codemasters off-road racing game
• Mac Monday: Our weekly Macintosh gaming column takes a look at two games: Archibald's Adventures and Blockland
• Boot Disk: Our retro PC game column takes a look back at the anime-inspired FPS Shogo.
• Big Ideas: Our weekly game column examines how a player can be a hero in an MMO when everyone else in the game is trying to do the same
• Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free PC games takes a gander at the odd looking title Within a Deep Forest
• Contest: There's still a little time to enter our League of Legends beta code contest

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: July 27-August 2

The Best of Big Download: July 27-August 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Reviews: We have our final verdicts on Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood and Overlord II.
• Mac Monday: This week's Mac game feature looks at two titles, A Vampyre Story and Pandora's Pests.
• Boot Disk: Our look at retro games takes a look at the classic RPG Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn
• Big Ideas: What's your dream game? We give our ideas in our latest game themes column
• Freeware Friday: Our look at free games is a retro title from 1993 Jetpack.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: July 20-26

The Best of Big Download: July 20-26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• The Top 2009 PC Games (So Far): We look back at the first half of the year to give our picks for the best PC games released so far and also pick a couple of game that didn't meet our high expectations.
• Rebellion CEO reveals plans for new entries in former Vivendi Universal games: We got Rebellion's head man Jason Kingsley to give us the heads-up on plans for new games for Empire Earth, Ground Control and other game series.
• Street Fighter IV PC review: We give our final verdict on the PC port for Capcom's hit fighting game.
• Time Gentlemen, Please! review: We let you know what we think about this new indie retro-style adventure game from Zombie Cow
• Mac Monday: Our regular look at Mac games goes old school with a review of the Mac version of te classic RTS game Warzone 2100.
• Boot Disk: Our retro games column takes a look at Relic's debut title, the 3D RTS game Homeworld.
• Big Ideas: SEX SEX SEX! Now that we have your attention, our weekly look at game themes deals with sex in games.
• Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free PC games takes a look at the recent free release of the classic RPG Daggerfall.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: July 13-19

The Best of Big Download: July 13-19 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• The Top 10 Best LucasArts PC Games: To celebrate LucasArts' PC titles appearing on Steam we pick the the 10 best games the publisher has released over the years
• Tales Of Monkey Island: Launch of the Screaming Narwhal Review: We give the final word on this first episode in Telltale Games' revival of LucasArts' classic adventure series
• Trine Review: We give our final verdict on this downloadable puzzle-action game from Frozenbyte
• Mac Monday: Our weekly look at Mac games has two titles on the docket: Burdaloo and Swarm
• Boot Disk: Our weekly retro games feature takes a look at the original Master of Magic game
• Big Ideas: Our weekly look at game themes ask if Blizzard's hit MMO World of Warcraft will ever be toppled
• Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free PC games takes a look at the sci-fi RPG Notrium

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: July 6-12

The Best of Big Download: July 6-12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Microsoft Games For Windows Interview: We chat with the marketing manager of their PC gaming team to find out more about their future plans.
• The Top 10 Biggest PC Game News Stories of June 2009: We look back at a particularlly busy month for gaming news.
• Light of Altair review: We give our final verdict to the recent indie space strategy game.
• Mac Monday: Our weekly look at Mac games takes a gander at the space action title Escape Velocity Nova
• Boot Disk: Our retro PC game features looks back at 3DO's turn based strategy game Heroes of Might and Magic 2.
• Big Ideas: Our look at game themes wonders if games should move away from the typical fantasy setting.
• Freeware Friday: Our look at free PC games this week checks out the space shooter title Tyrian.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: June 29-July 5

The Best of Big Download: June 29-July 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.