Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers coming to PC via Steam

So apparently Wizards and Valve have struck a deal to bring Duels of the Planeswalkers to PC gamers this summer.  Per a press release by Wizards PR, it will be available for pre-order via Steam on June 1st and will cost $9.99.  The package includes the core game and the first expansion along with all the goodies you would expect from a Steamworks game.  No information on if the second expansion pack will be available for purchase.  While my first impressions of the XBLA version of the game put the game somewhere around average, it has since grown on me.  Look for a review of the PC version here shortly after it comes out!

PORTAL IS FREE! (Until May 24th)

You may be thinking “how is this possible?!!?” 

Well my friends, it’s true!  Valve is offering Portal on PC and Mac for free until May 24th and there appear to be no strings attached.  Their generosity is most likely linked to the fact that Steam is now Mac compatible.  This will be an excellent hub for those starved Mac gamers to download to their heart’s content.   Welcome to the fold our considerably more hip brethren, it’s good to have you.

PNG Review: Plain Sight

 Publisher:  Beatnik Games

Developer:  Beatnik Games

MSRP:  $9.99 (PC)

Grade:  A-

Ninja robots.  It just kind of rolls off the tongue in such a way that brings a smile to every growing boys face.  The very sight of a robot ninja could make your eyes glow just like it was christmas morning.  At least this is the feeling I got when browsing through Steam’s offering during a boring and uneventful lunch hour.  That is when I stumbled across a little indie gem called Plain Sight.  Hit the jump for some more details, screenshots, and the launch trailer. 

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Preload = EPIC FAIL. Steam Kids RAGE.

If you preordered your copy of Bad Company 2 for a console and are just getting home from a midnight release, I (along with many Steam kids) envy you.  You see, there’s been a bit of a SNAFU with the digital PC version of the game for Steam.  This does not affect the Direct 2 Drive or EA digital versions of the game and those kids are most likely blowing each other up in a war-torn virtual landscape as we speak.  This is, however, not the reason I’m posting.  No, no, no PNG’ers… the real reason is the fallout one can witness on the Steam forums.  You’ll find internet memes, flame wars, and a lot of other nonsense in those forums.  An excellent time killer and source of instant amusement. 

As one of the many that preordered the game on Steam, I can understand the frustration.  Vecna knows that Valve’s servers are sometimes sub par and it may very well be a cluster frak if DICE/EA/Valve don’t get a preload kicked off soon.  That being said, Valve gives a clear timeline one when their preordered games unlock.  A quick look at Steam’s store page for Bad Company 2 shows the game isn’t even set to unlock until 2PM EST.  This has actually been bumped up from the original 6PM EST that was being displayed when I ordered the game.  DICE/EA/Valve also never stated that there would be a preload.  Fact of the matter is that it doesn’t really matter if the preload happens now or in the morning… we still can’t play it.  Until then there will be a whole lot of QQ and very little PEW PEW.

Oh, and I believe that’s (not) an actual picture of Gabe Newell.  I pixellated the tasty bits so as to leave something to imagination.

Left 4 Dead 2 Demo is out… If you reserved it.

Left 4 Dead 2’s Demo is available as of yesterday (If you didn’t know already) and you can play it only if you have it reserved.  There were codes given out to the people who reserved a copy that have to be activated through XBL or through Steam.

The demo allows you to play through the first two levels of “The Parish” and of course all 4 characters are available.  Also the demo allows you to play co-op with a friend for some Zombie Run-and-Gun.  I have to say I’m impressed with Valve’s sequel so far.  I didn’t expect much from the game at first, but they quickly won me over with a load of changes.

First off there are new guns and a there are a lot of them.  Ak-47’s Combat Rifle, Assault Rifle, Long-Barrelled Shotgun, Combat Shotgun, Magnum ( Infinite ammo since it’s a pistol), Sniper Rifle etc.  Also there are a bunch of Melee Weapons to replace your pistol if you so choose to.  From what I gather, they all perform the same action and damage so your free to choose the one to your liking.  I prefer the Electric Guitar.  A new addition to the throwables is the Boomer Bile.  I absolutely love the addition of this as when you throw it, The explosion acts like the Boomer’s vomit from the first game.  Hit a Tank with it, and watch the tank get mauled by zombies.  It’s awesome.

Add the fact that you have the 3 Special infected from the first game, and now 3 news ones, and you have a game that is much more a sequel then a cheap cop-out of an add-on.  The Spitter is all about launching an acidic attack from long rang, with AOE effects.  Charger will run at you and grab a character and then pummel them mercessily until stopped, and lastly is the Jockey who jumps on a character and then gains control of their movements.  Usually he will take you into the fray and force your group to chase after you.

All in all, this demo is good.  All the nay-sayers out there might change their tune once they play.  It may not be for everyone, but with the game being much different than Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 I think this game has a real decent shot this year considering what its up against.

The Demo goes live for everyone else on November 3rd.

PNG TGIF 10/23/09 – Killing Floor and Dragon Age: Journeys

Got a PC and some time to kill this weekend?  Have an unreasonable hatred for the undead?  Well Steam has a deal for you!  This weekend only, the 6 player co-op zombie killing extravaganza called Killing Floor is free to play!  It also appears to be on sale for $14.99 (regularly $19.99) if you find it to be enjoyable and wish to support Tripwire Interactive.  After looking over everything it has to offer, it looks to be pretty tight and very meaty.  I mean, look at the guy with the sword in the picture!

If a flash browser based tactical RPG is more your deal and you’ve been clamoring for any bit of Dragon Age content you can get, you might want to check out Dragon Age: Journeys.  From the little I’ve played, it’s quite interesting and has a simple but pleasing art style.  You can tell right away that they put some serious thought and time into it. 

Have at it PNG’ers and we’ll see you next week!

The PC release of Braid is finally here!

I wish I could reverse my life to play this game again for the first time

Just a quick “Go and buy this game if you haven’t played it yet” moment from your friends at Pixels and Grids.  Braid dropped on Steam today for $14.99 and there is not one reason in the world that you can think of that should stop you from buying this game.  Critically acclaimed across the board, this is the time for you PC owners to jump on one of gaming’s most ingenious and unique titles.

I in fact, will be buying this game a second time just to show support for the work that went into this game.  I’m hopeful my investment might aid in future works by Jonathan Blow.  I want to hear from you guys on this game, so please e-mail on your thoughts if you have played it, or if you are just playing it for the first time.   Now go buy this game.

PNG Daily 3/24/09: Consoles Are Not Immune

Welcome to PNG’s 100th post!  We have a little surprise for you guys after the break.   We have to get this little matter of some news out of the way first.  Not a whole lot going on interesting even with GDC 2009 happening as we speak.

If you’re an owner of Fallout 3 for Xbox 360, you’ll find that Bethesda’s much awaited second DLC pack was unceremoniously yanked off of Xbox Live shortly after it was made available.  Apparently, they uploaded a corrupt version of the English file that was resulting in some pretty crazy glitches.  Giant Bomb has the story here.

Ubisoft’s deal of the day on Steam happens to be a game near and dear to Logan’s heart.  Prince of Persia is on sale for 50% bringing it to a paltry $24.99 over here and in the Steam client.  No word on if they’ll discount the ending for you also.

Your delicious surprise after the break…

PNG Daily 3/23/09: Bring Out Your Dead

Welcome back PNG’ers.  It’s been a long weekend of Peggle, Resident Evil 5, and Warhammer Online so I am glad to be here typing up this very special Daily for you.  Well, it’s not so much special as much as it’s just chock full of creamy game news goodness. 

Awhile back I informed you that Gabe Newell was going to make it rain with some free downloadable content for the PC and Xbox 360 version of Left 4 Dead.  Gabe Newell has finally proclaimed the day he shall make it rain, and that date is April 21st per Joystiq.  He is both a saint and a sage.

Steve Jackson Games has a post up on their Daily Illuminator letting us gamers that enjoy some tabletop gaming in the vein of an FPS know that FRAG Gold Edition has arrived in their warehouses and will ship out next week.  Notable changes from the original version is the board is solid instead of being a folding glossy piece of paper, figures are now plastic instead of being folding cardboard pictures in plastic bases, 18 dice, and dry erase character sheets!  In my opinion, this is well worth the $49.95 and I’ll be hoping they have a copy at Gencon.

Rockstar Games has finally confirmed that there will be a Max Payne 3 and even gave it a launch window of Winter 2009.  The post is on their slick website under the games tab.

Run, don’t walk, over to Steam if you’ve been looking to play Assasin’s Creed on PC and want to only pay $10.  It’s Ubisoft week over there and they are offering a deep discount on a different game each day.  Look for updates at Ubi’s publisher page here or in your Steam client.

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World of Goo is STEAM’s Crazy Weekend Sale

If you couldn’t justify spending $20 on World of Goo, boy does STEAM have a deal for you!  There is no way you can’t not buy this game for $5, and if you don’t, you hate freedom.  Pick it up in your STEAM client or you can buy it off of their website here.  I played the demo when it was released and immediately fell in love with the game.  I’ve been holding off on buying it as I’ve had so much other stuff to play, but this is a price that demands I pick it up now so I can play it later.  Jim did it with Prey and he’s still waiting!