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The Best of Big Download: October 19 - 25

Windows 7 is now out and about, but what will it mean for PC gaming? That was our main theme this week at Big Download. Let's look at the features, downloads and news items from PC gaming for the past seven days:

Exclusive features

  • 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.

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The Best of Big Download: October 12-18


We are just a few days away from the official launch of Windows 7. Will it create the push that gets more console gamers into PC gaming? Only time will tell. While we wait to find out, Big Download takes a look at the previous seven days of news for the already converted:
Exclusive Features
  • 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.

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The Best of Big Download: October 5-11


Another busy week for news, downloads, and exclusive features at the PC game-oriented Big Download. As we always do around this time of the week, we look back at the highlights of the last seven days:
Exclusive features

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Massively week in review


When it comes to MMO news and special features, Joystiq sister site, Massively.com, has you covered. Whether you're looking for info on the hottest new MMO, or you're just curious about an old favorite, you'll find it at Massively. Check out our biggest news of the week:
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.

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The Best of Big Download: September 28-October 4


Once again there was a lot to report on and talk about in the world of PC gaming last week. Big Download has all the highlights for the past seven days:
Exclusive features

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The Best of Big Download: September 21-27

We had a very busy week for original features on Big Download in the past seven days. Let's take a look at our output for the past week:

Exclusive features

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The Best of Big Download: September 14-20


It was an especially busy week for demos at Big Download, but we also had our usual allotment of features and news as well. As we do every Sunday, let's look back at the past week with fondness and delight (or something like that):
Exclusive Features:
  • 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.

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The Best of Big Download: September 7-13


Another seven days has gone by and Big Download had yet another busy week of features, news, and downloads. Let's look and see all we did, shall we?
Exclusive features

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The Best of Big Download: August 31-September 6


First QuakeCon, then BlizzCon and now PAX 2009 - It's been a packed month for Big Download. Let's look at the past seven days before things calm down ... a little:
Exclusive Features

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The Best of Big Download: August 24-30


The last full week of August has news and downloads take something of a breather compared to the past few weeks, but there was still plenty to report on in the PC gaming world. As usual we break down the last seven days on our site for you.
Exclusive Features
  • 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.

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The Best of Big Download: August 17-23


Big Download's trip to BlizzCon 2009 was extra-busy (they pack a lot into two short days) and we have got a bunch of Diablo III and StarCraft II news and hands-on impressions to tell you about. Oh, and there was some other PC news that happened this week too:
Exclusive features

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The Best of Big Download: August 10-16


Yes, QuakeCon 2009 was indeed a big deal, but there were other events, news items, and downloads of interest to the PC game community this week:
Exclusive features

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The best of WoW.com: August 4-11, 2009


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.

News
Features

The Best of Big Download: August 3-9


The dog days of August are hitting us hard, but Big Download has been quite busy with lots of features, news and a number of new demos and other downloads. Check out what we have been writing about in the last seven days:
Exclusive features
  • 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.

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The best of WoW.com: July 28 - August 4, 2009


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!

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