As we head into the month that has both Octoberfest and Halloween we don't know whether to be scared or to get our party on. Ok, we can do both. But first check out Big Download's highlights from the past week:
Considering we know how diligently readers pay attention to bylines, we're sure it'll be instantly noticed that our beloved Ross Miller is not doing WRUP this week. He's simply gone missing. Fear not, he should be back doing this feature next week ... we hope.*
Alexander Sliwinski: I keep saying that I'll play something else, but I keep doing Fable 2 Pub Games. Also, getting my last Deity achievement in CivRev, which is the conquer one and I'm more of a culture player.
Christopher Grant: LBP beta of course, along with Beyond Good & Evil (still). I'm off to Tokyo tomorrow morning so I'll be cramming in as much time with them tonight as I can. Then it's all DS for me. The World End With You never showed up in the mail so I need a good DS game or two to bring. Sound off in the comments!
Kevin Kelly: I'm playing the wonderment of E For All and dragging Justin McElroy with me. The world may never be the same. Oh, and of course, LittleBigBeta.
Kyle Orland: Continuing to play around with the LBP beta and enjoying the vibrant animated antics of Wario Land: Shake It!
James Ransom-Wiley: Is trying to avoid a snarky filler comment by Ross (Ed note. This was before the news hit, now it just seems awkward) ... but is drawing a blank. Can we fast forward a few weeks?
Jason Dobson:Mega Man and I have come to an understanding, and I've just had to resign myself to the fact that he wears the pants in this relationship. To cope, this weekend I'll be cleaning up the street of Gotham City one brick at a time in Lego Batman.
Justin McElroy: I'm at E4, and so far Kevin Kelly and I ARE the media presence. On my flight home I'm going to be playing more Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.
Ludwig Kietzmann: I'll be going from horror (Silent Hill Origins) to happiness (Tales of Vesperia) in an attempt to utterly wreck my psyche. And it goes without saying that a LittleBig part of the weekend will be spent frolicking in the company of Sackboys. Well, I guess I just said it anyway.
Randy Nelson: If writing about Nintendo's Media Summit games can be considered a sort of game, then consider me booked for the weekend. I'll try to at least get in a race of WipEout HD in between each post.
Ross Miller: ... [Update: I wake up in an open field west of a big white house with a boarded front door. There is a small mailbox here. I've taken a mini-road trip to my parents' house, bringing Rock Band 2 for them to play, and Orange Box and Call of Duty 4 to finish the single player, in between bouts of homework and -- perhaps most frustrating of all -- Mega Man 9.]
*Ross is perfectly fine and safe with a beer in one hand and a narcotic in the other. Just like we love him.
Fall has arrived but don't let the leaves turning, the economy busting and the candidates feuding get you down. Big Download has been working hard to give its readers the best in PC game related news, features and downloads. Let's look at the highlights for the first week of autumn 2008.
Exclusive Features
Reviews: We give our verdict for the recent release of Introversion Software's multiplayer strategy game Multiwinia
Black Ops PC Games: What major PC games are being developed that you might not know anything about? This feature article has the word on the super-secret games under development.
Resurgence of Yesteryear: Classic PC games can be revived but which ones should get new versions using their original graphics and technology? We pick 10 PC games that we want to see come back in their original form.
Big Iron: Our regular PC hardware column comes back with a look at how a recent message board discussion over FIFA 09 generated a look at console vs PC hardware.
Boot Disk: Our new column on retro PC gaming takes a look at the classic adventure title Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Father
Mac Monday: Our look at the world of Macintosh gaming continues with examining the unusual action game Miriel the Magical Merchant.
MODmonday: Our weekly mod feature continues to look at Max Payne mods; this time its a Max Payne 2 total conversion called Sketchbook Sam that turns the game into a 2D stick figure.
Indie Showcase: Our weekly look at indie games continues with a look at titles from the recent Bootleg Demakes competition.
Big Ideas: Our weekly look at the "big" game themes goes over a recent Gamasutra article about game journalism
Alt-Tab: Our weekly op-ed talks about how "casual" gaming doesn't have to mean "simple"
Freeware Friday: It's our weekly look at free games; this time around its for the action-adventure Eternal Daughter
BigCast: Our weekly podcast is a special one as we chat with members of Mythic Entertainment to find out what's happening with Warhammer Online after its launch last week.
In honor of LEGO Batman's release this week, we've decided to go LEGO crazy -- even if that's only in spirit. Here's what we'll be playing this weekend. Be sure to let us know what games will be occupying your time!
Alexander Sliwinski: The big push this weekend is to finish LEGO Infinite Undiscovery. It's still going along perfectly fine. I really believe the low scores are from reviewers tossing the game aside because of the horribly designed first few hours. Not that with the glut of games coming out now I'd recommend it, but there's nothing actually wrong with it JRPG-wise. Also, spending some time playing LEGO Batman co-op.
Christopher Grant: Keeping the PS3 fired up, I'll be alternating between wrapping up LEGO Beyond Good & Evil (it just keeps getting better!) and putting as much time as I can into the LEGOBigPlanet beta. Since this is my last weekend with the consoles before jetting off to the far-off world of Japan, I'll also try to finish LEGO Castle Crashers, play some LEGO Pure, and maybe some LEGO Geometry Wars 2 before someone kills me for avoiding it.
Griffin McElroy: While the rest of you will probably be satisfying your retro urges by spending your weekend with a certain blue robot, I'll be scratching that itch by finishing up LEGO Secret of Evermore, which I recently found within the darkest depths of my closet. Once that's done, I think I might start playing another (slightly less appreciated) SNES classic, LEGO Illusion of Gaia. I'm starting to wonder if LEGO Ross is going to stop including me in this feature as the majority of my weekend titles as of late were published in the Clinton era. [Edit: This post has had been once published in 1996.]
Kevin Kelly and Kyle Orland are attending The Coalition of People Whose Name Start with a K. They're taping a Sesame Street cameo.
Jason Dobson: I've taken to spending my weekends playing LEGO boardgames, and I'll be pulling myself away from the little blue klepto to take shotgun in hand. Next stop: LEGO ZombieTown.
Justin McElroy: As always, I'd encourage all of you to go out, have a few drinks and meet a nice guy or gal to fall in love with, because it's the weekend. As I'm now a married fella, I'll be playing LEGO Armored Core For Answer or LEGO Warhammer Online.
Ludwig Kietzmann: It's a weekend of technological contrast for me. When I'm not shaking my fist at LEGO Mega Man 9's robot masters and swearing that this will be my final attempt, I'll be diving into the 1080p paradise that is LEGO WipEout HD. Those Zone tracks are hypnotic!
Randy Nelson: Should I find myself in too happy a mood this weekend, I'll just fire up LEGO Mega Man 9 and nip that right in the bud. No matter how many games I've beaten over the years, or how many mad skillz (yo) I think I possess, it never fails to make me feel like I don't know nuthin' (but I can't. stop. playing.). Of course, it'll be pretty gorram hard to bring me down from the incredible heights of the LEGOBigPlanet beta and LEGO WipEout HD. Just try, little blue guy!
Ross Miller will be playing my favorite off-the-grid-and-on-the-grill-and-gridiron game: drinking while watching the (LEGO) Georgia Bulldogs take on Alabama in the comfort of my living room. As for video games, I've got one more rhythm in LEGO Rock Band 2 drum trainer to vanquish (Disco 4), then it's back to World Tour and maybe playing catch-up with whatever library of titles I didn't just sell to GameStop.
Yes, motorbikes have made it into Azeroth -- in the upcoming Wrath of the Lich King expansion, engineers will be able to make Harleys, and anyone who can get their hands on one will be able to drive it (though getting your hands on one might not be so easy). But that's not the only big news floating around sister site WoW Insider this week -- check the links below for news about Brewfest, Azeroth's favorite drinking (and ram riding) holiday.
It's been another busy week for news, downloads and original features at the PC Big Download site. We've got reviews of two highly anticipated PC exclusive games, a preview of an unusual MMO, our detailed look at the space stage in Spore and lots more.
BigVersus: It's our weirdest entry in our column comparing games as we compare the PC version of Spore to the DS game Spore Creatures and the iPhone title Spore Origins.
Previews: We go hands-on with FusionFall, an upcoming free browser based MMO based on the Cartoon Network universe of characters.
MODMonday: We begin a multi-part look at the best mods for Max Payne with a look at True Matrix.
MacMonday: Our latest look at Macintosh games has a review of the top down shooter (with an odd graphics style) SketchFighter 4000 Alpha.
Independent Minds: Our look into the Indie game scene takes a look at how developers can market their creations.
Big Ideas: Our column that looks at the big ideas in games takes a look this week at adaptations and how games translate into other entertainment mediumsand vice versa.
Alt-Tab: Our feature gallery this week takes a look at why we should take a gander at Warhammer Online.
Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free PC games examines the music title Frets on Fire.
BigCast: Our weekly podcast interviews (and says a sad goodbye) to our now former Big Download producer Barb Dybwad as well as other topics.
We've all decided that this whole Joystiq thing may not be for us (and unlike the last time, we're totally serious now). Thanks to the Fallout 3 G.O.A.T. exam, we know exactly what we'll be doing with our future selves. Oh, and here's what we'll be playing this weekend. Be sure to let us know what games will be occupying your time!
Alexander Sliwinski: The GOAT tells me I'm a "Fry Cook." Coincidentally, I like making fried food. Anyway, this weekend I'll be playing Infinite Undiscovery, Company of Heroes and seeing if I can get the hang of Civ IV: Colonization.
Christopher Grant: This Vault Chaplain will spend the weekend helping others, as is my want. I'm at my sister's new house helping her fix the place up. Some sheetrock; some trimwork; some demolition; good times. I've brought my good friend Professor Layton along to pitch in with sage advice at opportune times: "Every puzzle has an answer." When I return back home I'll be repenting for my sins ... namely the sin of not having played Beyond Good & Evil earlier! Just a few hours in, BG&E has already revealed itself to be one of the best games I've played in the last couple years.
Griffin McElroy: According to the GOAT, I'm the Vault Chaplain. While not attempting to save some post-apocalyptic souls, I wager I'll be spending this weekend as I likely will spend most from now on -- playing Rock Band 2 with the roommate. Unfortunately, on more than a few occasions, the drum part of "Aqualung" has made me lose my religion (an activity not befitting a man of the cloth such as myself).
Kevin Kelly: I'm playing in traffic, for the most part. Plus I'll be visiting the Arcade UFO in Austin, TX to get some quarter-licious gaming on. Oh, and GOAT tells me I'm a Clinical Test Subject.
Kyle Orland: This Waste Management Specialist is taking out the trash... all the way to Maryland, where he's paying his family and friends a visit this weekend. My sister and mom both really want to try out with Wii Fit, so it seems that's what I'm going to be forced to play all weekend.
James Ransom-Wiley: This PIP-Boy Programmer is considering a new career. In the meantime, he'll find some time this weekend to accept the 5¢ trade-in value for the original Rock Band at GameStop -- at least it's something toward Rock Band 2, right?
Jason Dobson: GOAT says I'm a Pedicurist, who knew? Now that I'm with consoles again (unboxed!), this weekend will be spent lacing up and taping my virtual stick as I hit the ice in NHL 09. It may be the only way I ever get to see the Buffalo Sabres lift Lord Stanley, after all.
Justin McElroy: This Pedicurist is going to be enjoying some Warhammer Online, with occasional breaks for Force Unleashed. Or at least, that's what I would be playing if I played video games on the weekends, instead of doing what you all should be doing: Partying hard. Like, Andrew WK hard.
Ludwig Kietzmann: With the Prince of Persia trilogy behind me (much like my career as a Clinical Test Subject), I imagine this weekend will be dedicated to finding the answers to Eternal Sonata's mysteries -- chief of which is, "Why am I still playing this?" If I can break the level-up cycle, I'll almost certainly be giving Tomb Raider: Legend yet another replay. Gotta be prepared for Underworld!
Randy Nelson: When I'm not busy with my work as a PIP-Boy Programmer, I'll be hacking my way through The Force Unleashed with an elegant weapon (though not a very elegant camera) for a more civilized time. Then it's time to get up-to-speed – quite literally – with the Burnout Bikes expansion. Vroom!
Ross Miller: The Fry Cook inside me (wow, that sounds awkward) will be making up on hours of missing sleep. If I do have any energy this weekend, I will be overcoming the mid-chorus fill in the expert drums of "Everlong" for Rock Band 2. Once I master that, I will have the whole song and feel an overwhelming sence of silly pride.
Huge news this past week from the World of Warcraft -- not only did PvErs get a break from Blizzard, but we heard about the Wrath of the Lich King release date and Collector's Edition, and the Public Test Realm gave players their first open preview of what the new talents and abilities will be like. News is coming fast in the world of WoW, and if you want to stay on top of it, check Joystiq's sister site WoW Insider.
News
3.0.2 hits the PTR Here are the patch notes for what's new before the expansion.
Spore, Spore, Spore and did we mention Spore? Yep we were all over this past week's release of the long awaited game at Big Download but we did talk about some other things as well. Let's check out the past week's highlights at the PC gaming site:
We tried making a story but failed miserably. Instead, we're going to give you a list of palindromes and ask you to use at least a few of them (as well as some of your own) to give us an interesting tall tale: Racecar, deed, level, civic, madam, eye, radar, redivider, detartrated, solutomaattimittaamotulos, saippuakuppinippukauppias (the last two are Finnish -- bonus points for using them logically).
Here's what we'll be playing this weekend. Be sure to let us know what games will be occupying your time!
Alexander Sliwinski: Playing Rock Band 2, which we can't officially talk about until Sunday. Check back with us then for some of our impressions regarding the game, the new instruments and other incidentals. I'll also be continuing on with Infinite Undiscovery. It's actually quite enjoyable, but the first two hours do not make a good impression.
Andrew Yoon isn't allowed to say what he's playing this weekend.
Christopher Grant: pleads the fifth, sixth and seventh. He forget which one it was.
Griffin McElroy: I'm hoping I'll be able to finish up Super Metroid before Sunday, when my entire existence will be taken over by Rock Band 2. Unfortunately, I find myself torn between conquering Mother Brain and mastering the drums on Who Are You. Also, pinatas.
Kevin Kellyis too busy with Toronto Film Festival stuff to talk to you.
Jason Dobson: Now a newly transplanted resident of the Silicon Forest, I'm patiently waiting for my games, consoles, and other worldly possessions to arrive sometime early next week. I did, however, think ahead, and kept the DS on my person during the move. While not exploring the city, this weekend I plan on spending some free time at the beach playing Lock's Quest, which came out of nowhere and is a terrifically original take on gameplay I haven't seen since Atari classic Rampart with a cute anime twist.
Justin McElroy: If it finishes downloading and if I can tear myself away from Spore, I'll be playing Warhammer Online. Also, I want to have four beers. ... Does Ross even read this far? I'm going to go to Ross' house and steal his TV, how about that game? Let's see if that makes it in. [Ed. -- I added this in out of spite.]
Ludwig Kietzmann: I'm working my way through Ubisoft Montreal's Prince of Persia trilogy! I consider the Sands of Time, which I've completed numerous times, a flawed masterpiece. Jumping straight into Warrior Within is a pretty jarring experience, especially now that we haven't waited a year in-between instalments. It's like going to bed one night and then waking up in another country. The less linear level design is a clear improvement and platforming is still a joy, but the combat is even more tedious than before. Aesthetically, the game is an embarrassing example of why you shouldn't let the marketing department design your game. I can't wait to get to The Two Thrones, which, from a gameplay standpoint, is my favorite in the trilogy.
Randy Nelson: I was looking through my game library trying to find something that rhymes with "Rock Band" to play until Sunday and settled (well, I had no choice, really) on God Hand. I'll also probably get sucked back – yet again! – into using my "God" hand to control the destiny of my Spore creations, er, evolutions.
Ross Miller:I'm driving to Justin's house since he's threatened to come over here, and then we'll meet somewhere in between and have a rawk off on top of our cars just like the intro of Rock Band 2. Which I'm currently playing all weekend but can't talk about until Sunday.
It's dancin' time in Azeroth -- theWrath of the Lich King expansion is just around the corner, and we couldn't be happier. News is flying off the beta, all the classes are getting upgrades, there's new content to explore, and it all just makes us so happy we can't help but get on down. Here's the top stories from the past week in Warcraft, courtesy of Joystiq's sister site, WoW Insider.
After a long dry spell for major PC games this summer, we are looking forward to playing a lot of cool titles in the next three months. In the meantime let's look on the first week of September and see what we can come up with for news, downloads and our exclusive features: Exclusive features
That's right, folks, this week we've gone recursive. Who says we can't be our own special edition? Here's what we'll be playing this weekend. Be sure to let us know what games will be occupying your time!
Alexander Sliwinski: With my upgraded PC, I've been checking out some higher end games from the last three years. FEAR, not so bad. Black and White 2, gorgeous but flawed. The big plan for this weekend is Spore ... now I just need to get a copy somewhere.
Andrew Yoon: Braid. Second ending.
Christopher Grant: I've returned from a brief respite in the woods, but I wasn't alone. Something else came back with me. Specifically, my appreciation of the very portable Professor Layton & The Curious Village. I've got 30-some puzzles left and an intense desire to crush them using little more than my carefully honed intellect and a plastic stylus. Also: I've been winding my way through an advance copy of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – I should be able to wrangle a couple hours this weekend to polish that one off. Still in various stages of completion, waiting to return to favor: Castle Crashers, Siren, Fable 1.
Griffin McElroy: My new roomie recently hooked up his slimline PS2 to our big screen, so I've been playing some classics as of late -- Shadow of the Colossus, Tony Hawk's Underground (you know, the last good one), and a copy of Chrono Cross I recently found at this awesome used game store in Chicago. Also trying to hit the level cap with Mr. Orange in Castle Crashers, and anxiously waiting for GameFly to deliver me into pure pinata pleasure. ... Also, for the theme: perhaps something football related, as the season just started? Or perhaps, the inaugural use of the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, which could ostensibly create a micro black hole, instantly destroying our world on Sept. 10? WRUP: The World Ends with Large Hadron Collider Edition?
Kevin Kelly: I will be playing this thing called "finish your damn PAX posts while doing interviews and watching movies at the Toronto Film Festival." By the way I highly recommend The Brothers Bloom. Great movie. If they made a game out of that, I would die happy.
Kyle Orland: I'm also looking for a copy of Spore to see whether it's a new paradigm in gaming or, as the meta-review seems to indicate, a disappointment. Also hoping to get some more time with The Last Guy and maybe finally take a look at Castle Crashers.
James Ransom-Wiley: Goin' down the shore for one last weekend. Friends are asking me to bring that thing the kids are doing these days ... The Wii.
Justin McElroy: If I can bring myself to ignore the title, I'm going to be playing some Infinite Undiscovery in between checking on my new and improved pinata garden.
Ludwig Kietzmann: I hope to double my efforts in stopping the evil Count Waltz in Eternal Sonata, provided I can even manage to switch on my Xbox 360 without instantly firing up Geometry Wars 2. I also plan to feign struggle against and almost immediately succumb to the desire to play through the post-Trophy Uncharted. Again.
Randy Nelson: Like several of my fellow Joystiqers, I'll be tracking down a copy of Spore (no, my attendance at last night's launch party hosted by Mr. Wright did not come with "perks"). I also plan to brush up on my SOCOM skills thanks to the Confrontation beta, although I won't be playing it with the benefit of Sony's nifty new Bluetooth headset. Also: Castle Crashers (go orange!) and The Last Guy (go Himalayan zombie hero!).
Ross Miller: I've got a tough choice to make. I've finally caught up on school work (thanks, PAX!) and PAX articles (thanks, school!), and my copy of Too Human came in early this week – a bit late, yes, but now I get to play it without all the controversy and anger and hype. So I'll finally be trying it out. In between hours-long sessions of Spore, that is.
Of course, if you know Blizzard at all, you know it doesn't really like the whole concept of "release dates" -- the developers prefer to say they'll release the next WoW expansion "when it's ready." But a bunch of retailers have recently pointed their noses at November 4th (with a November 3rd midnight release, so says the sign from an Australian store above), and if that turns out to be true, it's gonna be a busy Election Day. That story and more, all in these highlights from the last week of WoW Insider.
News
1-60 in 20 minutes The Recruit-a-Friend program allows level granting, which lets this Paladin level up to 60 in just a few minutes.
New titles for Wrath Blizzard expands its player title system big time. Want to be a "Grand Master" or an "Ambassador"? Better get started on those achievements.
Skill Mastery: Arcane Barrage Our new look at the various skills coming out of the beta examines the spell that might save the Mage class.
Death Knight solos Onyxia It's been done before, but the new class proves it can down the old dragon, too.
Chilton content to endorse multi-boxing Blizzard has always been on the fence about multiboxing -- it's never really had a problem with it. But here's the first time it will actually support it.
WoW Machinima: The basics Our machinima writer posts an in-depth look at how and where to start with making in-game movies.
To demonstrate LittleBigPlanet's level creation tools in a way that we haven't seen or written about ad nauseum, the gang at the PAX 2008 Sony booth helped us model the Joystiq logo and vomit stickers all over it. The entire video initially clocked in at just over 10 minutes, so in the interest of time we've sped up the creation part.
Here's the full LittleBigJoystiq logo -- click for a (slightly) higher-resolution version:
