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How Hearthstone won over a skeptical Magic veteran
I started playing Magic: The Gathering in 1995. I've loved the game ever since a friend introduced me to it. I've played both face to face and online, in one-on-one tournaments and in 12-player free-for-alls. It's the only collectible card game I've ever committed myself to playing. Then along came Hearthstone. I received an invitation to the closed beta. I gave it a few hours and then I dismissed it. I had a long list of reasons. The game was too simple. I felt helpless during my opponent's turn. I couldn't protect my most valuable creatures by keeping them out of combat. I didn't have enough interesting cards to develop the quirky strategies that I prefer in Magic. A few weeks ago, on the advice of a fellow Magic player who had been playing Hearthstone nonstop since open beta, I gave it another shot. I tried to approach the game without my Magic prejudices. I soon discovered that Hearthstone has a lot more to offer than I first thought. Here's how Blizzard won me over.
PSN's best selling games of 2011 list dominated by games not from 2011
We're practically knee deep in 2012 at this point, and yet 2011 still refuses to give up the limelight, dropping financial data and sales reports on its way out the door in a desperate final attempt at relevance. So here we are, with a list of 2011's top sellers on the PlayStation Network ... and we've got two lists dominated by one game from 1985, and one from 2010.Speaking only in terms of full games, not "paid downloads" (like DLC packs for Black Ops) and PS Minis, the list is a hodgepodge of nostalgia-fueled favorites from yesteryear (like Tetris in its curiously lofty number one spot), and digitally distributed future-classics like Castle Crashers and Limbo, which ranked in at six and seven respectively. There's on important thread tying those together: none of those games launched in 2011.When all digital sales are taken into account, however, the list becomes an entirely different beast, and the only actual game present within the top 10 is Angry Birds, of all things (a PS Mini). In fact, the three best-selling anythings on the PlayStation Network in 2011 were Black Ops DLC packs, followed closely by a cavalcade of FIFA Soccer 12 and MLB 11 sundries. At least the DLC came out in 2011! Hop past the break for the full breakdown of both lists, care of Game Informer.
Magic: The Gathering taps XBLA for 500K sales
Stainless Games, purveyor of the magical duels sim Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers has announced that the title has sold half a million (digital) copies on Xbox Live Arcade. First released in June 2009, Duels of the Planeswalkers crossed the 500K mark at some point last week. It's worth noting that this figure only applies to the XBLA release. Factor in the PC and PSN versions of Duels that were released last year and Stainless is probably tapping an awful lot of mana out there.
MicroBot, Magic Pack 3 join Raskulls on XBLA today
If you haven't already purchased Raskulls through a fellow "Games for the Holidays" title, A World of Keflings or (the officially unreleased) ilomilo, Halfbrick's puzzle-platform is now very clearly available on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). Additionally, dual-stick, Innerspace-esque shooter MicroBot (800 points) makes a surprise invasion on the service, in addition to the long-awaited third expansion pack (400 points; free multiplayer version) for Magic: The Gathering. And now for the but-back-to-Innerspace link of the day ... [Thanks, Daniel]
Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers summons third DLC pack on Steam
While the console versions of Magic: The Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers are stuck waiting on that third DLC pack, PC users can now boost their virtual card collection through a Steam update today. The third content pack will set budding planeswalkers back $4.99, for which they get two new decks, a plethora of new cards to unlock, new challenges to conquer and, of course, a new single-player campaign to tackle. If you've checked out either of the previous two DLC packs, then you know this is pretty much par for the course. There's still no timetable for when the DLC will be available on consoles, though we've contacted both Wizards of the Coast and Stainless Games for comment. In the meanwhile, feel free to tap our gallery below for some magical screens. %Gallery-106678%
Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers summoned to PC June 15
Our compatriots at Big Download report that Wizards of the Coast has nailed down a release date for the PC version of Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers. The game is slated to hit Steam on June 15 and is currently available for pre-order. If you plan on summoning Duels of the Planeswalkers, be prepared to tap 10 Green Monies.
Magic: The Gathering on deck for Steam
Wizards of the Coast has announced that it plans to release Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers on Steam. Unfortunately an actual release date has not yet been confirmed by WOTC. We're guessing the date isn't too far off, as the game will be available for pre-purchase on Steam starting June 1. Those who pre-order Planeswalkers for $9.99 will receive both the original game as well as its first expansion pack, which was released last year on XBLA. The release will also support future content. A second DLC pack is already available on XBLA, with a third pack expected this summer.
Users report Magic: The Gathering 'Expansion Pack 2' DLC breaks the game [update]
Update: We managed to get in touch with both Wizards and Microsoft PR, who acknowledged that the launch of the DLC did give users a few problems. However, the "DLC is now running smoothly," so happy downloading! You can find the original post below. Original post: It would seem the recent injection of fresh cards into Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalker has had an unintended effect for some players, with the new DLC apparently crashing the game and displaying only a black screen. Users on both the GameFAQs and Wizards of the Coast forums have reported the same issues. Downloading the Title Update gave us some hiccups -- specifically, we were booted back to the dashboard after downloading it and then were forced to download the entire Magic: The Gathering - Duel of the Planeswalkers game again. But the actual DLC pack itself didn't give us any problems. We even played a game online and tried restarting the title multiple times to repeat the effect to no avail. Eric Sorensen from Wizards of the Coast's community team is aware of the issue, and WOTC is working with Microsoft to resolve it. We'll let you know when we're all in the clear. Source - Wizards of the Coast forums Source - GameFAQs forums
Second Magic: The Gathering DLC pack out tomorrow
Wizards of the Coast is set to shuffle things up once again, having announced that the second Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers expansion will arrive tomorrow, May 12. The DLC will include three new decks and a new single-player campaign. It will also come packing three new cards for each original deck and the three decks from the first expansion. Finally, the DLC will also offer five new challenge levels, three new Achievements, multiplayer host migration and even some Avatar attire awards. The second expansion will set you back 400 ($5).
Xbox Live Marketplace in May: Rocket Knight, Dragon Age DLC and more
You know that dusty piggy bank you've had sitting on the shelf forever? Look, forget the kid's college fund -- she's not going to college for, like, years -- and bust that thing open! There's going to be some solid content on Xbox Live Marketplace this month. In the mood for XBLA games? How does Rocket Knight or Zeno Clash tickle your fancy? Oh, so you want some DLC -- Dragon Age: Origins will have more to offer the tireless adventurer later this month. Want to learn the Secret of Monkey Island? During the week of May 17, the secret will be half-off. See what we mean? Head past the break for more XBLM release highlights for the month provided by Microsoft.
Second Magic the Gathering expansion DLC detailed
Jonesing for a few handfuls of new decks for Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers? You could try throwing your real-life Magic cards at the screen as hard as you possibly could, hoping they'll somehow break into the virtual plane of existence. Or, you could take the more intelligent route and wait for the next batch of DLC to drop -- GamerBytes reports the expansion will add three new decks and "a slew of new cards" to the XBLA title. In addition, the DLC will feature a new single-player campaign (in which two of the new decks will be unlocked), as well as new challenges, personas, Achievements and Avatar Awards. There's no release date on the new content, but we'd previously heard a Spring launch window. Oh, hey -- it's Spring right now!
Wizards of the Coast signs new deal with Stainless Games
Wizards of the Coast today announced that it has signed a new deal with the developer of Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers, Stainless Games (also responsible for the upcoming Risk: Factions). The press release states that Duels of the Planeswalkers has been a great success for Wizards of the Coast, noting that it has been among the top 10 Xbox Live Arcade games since it was first released in June 2009. No specifics are given regarding the deal, so we'll have to wait to see what projects Stainless has going, though it's probably safe to assume there is more Magic on the way. Wizards of the Coast has already confirmed that versions of Planeswalkers are headed to both the PS3 and PC later this year. Given the collectible nature of Magic, it wouldn't be surprising to see Stainless produce more DLC for all platforms, either. Of course, Wizards of the Coast also has some other lucrative properties under its belt, notably Dungeons & Dragons and Star Wars, both of which could easily be turned into video game properties. We know, the idea of a Star Wars video game sounds crazy, but it just might work.
Xbox Live deal of the week taps Magic: The Gathering for $5
Magic: The Gathering, with its power to summon high school social ostracism, is now available for a mere $5 (400) on XBLA to gold members. Football quarterbacks and members of the Young Republicans can now participate or learn the monumentally successful card game in relative anonymity and at a great price -- especially if you factor in the cost of the real card game. Veterans may find the well-crafted XBLA version to be for "beginners," due to its lack of fully customizable decks, but there is an incredible amount of value stacked in there for $5. Another great and relatively overlooked feature is the game's two-player co-op, which allows you to cut a spouse or friend into the deal. Once all the social stigma is stripped away, it's pretty easy to see why the game has had the staying power of a Drudge Skeleton. Shortcut: Add Magic: The Gathering to your download queue
Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers on PS3, PC in 2010, XBLA getting more content
Wizards of the Coast has announced that PC and PS3 gamers have more to look forward to than just Magic: The Gathering Tactics. In spring 2010, Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers will hit PCs, followed by a PS3 version in the fall. Previously available only on Xbox Live Arcade, Duels of the Planeswalkers features traditional Magic gameplay with plenty of unlockable cards as well as online versus and co-op play. The PS3 and PC versions will include similar gameplay, though the press release notes that the PC version will include "an extra bonus." It's up in the air as to what this bonus might be, though more complex deck building would certainly be welcome. Meanwhile, the XBLA version of Planeswalkers will also receive two more expansion packs in spring and summer 2010. These expansions -- like the first, released earlier this year -- will include new cards, characters and some "surprises" as well.
Magic: The Gathering DLC summoned Oct. 21
Wizards of the Coast -- the company, not actual wizards -- has sent word that the previously revealed Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers DLC will hit Xbox Live Marketplace on October 21 (next Wednesday, to be specific). The expansion will include three new decks, three new cards for each of the original decks, new co-op levels and three new challenge levels. The DLC also contains a new single-player campaign. Those who wish to partake of the expansion will have to summon 400 ($5).
XBLA in Brief: Rocket Riot, Magic: The Gathering, Sam & Max
Now that Xbox Live Marketplace is working properly again, we finally got to try our hand at this weeks new Xbox Live Arcade releases. There are five very different games available this week. We've got the collectible card RPG Magic: The Gathering (800 / $10), the point-and-click adventure Sam & Max Save the World (1600 / $20) and even a straight-up action game in Rocket Riot (800 / $10). Check out the latest XBLA in Brief and see if any of them tickle your fancy.Download the trial version of Rocket Riot Download the trial version of Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the PlaneswalkersDownload the trial version of Sam & Max Save the World [iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes.[Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly.[RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA deals out Magic: The Gathering on June 17 [update]
Wizards of the Coast has announced that Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers will finally release on Xbox Live Arcade this month. Specifically, the game will launch on June 17. Have no fear, Magic fans, unlike the Xbox version of Magic: The Gathering, Duels of the Planeswalkers is a straight-up card game. And, based on our time with it at PAX last year, it's a pretty good one.Unfortunately, we still don't know how much green damage the game will deal to your wallet.Update: We now have the price. Duels of the Planeswalkers will cost 800 ($10).
