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.

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.

First Impressions: Left 4 Dead 2 Demo

When Valve first announced Left 4 Dead 2 back at E3, I won’t deny that I thought that Mr. Newell was not just content with making it rain at will… but that he wanted it to rain cash to fill Valve’s private swimming pool.  The original Left 4 Dead was less than a year old at that time, hadn’t been supported that well on 360, and felt a little incomplete.  The more and more you look back at the first Left 4 Dead, the more it seemed like a concept that they weren’t sure was going to be a hit rather than a full-fledged game.  Now we are on the cusp of Left 4 Dead 2’s release and the gamers that preordered it have been playing the two level demo for roughly a week.  Does Newell and Co. still have the touch and the power, Or is this the original reskinned with some new weapons and a blatant cash grab?

PNG Bro-down Episode 29 – The Dads You Always Wanted

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PNG Bro-down Episode 29 – The Dads You Always Wanted It’s that time again, PNG fans!  Just like a loving and supportive father figure, we here at Pixels and Grids take pride in delivering quality audio content to you in … Continue reading →