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Microsoft says it's 'doubling down' on PC games
Well, it looks like the forthcoming launch of Microsoft's browser-based Games for Windows Marketplace could just be the beginning of a broader PC gaming push from the company. Speaking with Kotaku, Microsoft's Peter Orullian, group product manager for Windows PC and Mobile, said rather boldly that PC games "is a place where we are doubling down." Exactly what that means beyond the new Games for Windows Marketplace isn't clear, but Orullian did mention that Microsoft has a "healthy list of features we're going to start bringing out once the store launches" in response to a question about further integrating PC and Xbox 360 gaming (something the company is also exploring with the revised Xbox.com).
IGN liveblogging Starcraft 2 announcement
Charles Onyett of IGN is in Korea right now liveblogging the Starcraft 2 announcement. Here's what I've pulled out of his hurried updates so far. Game is playable (pray for a demo at Blizzcon), but nothing is final. Protoss Zealots have their psi blades and shield, along with a new charge ability. There's a new Protoss unit called an Immortal, with a shield that activates when damaged-- looks like they're already implementing Paladins then. A new Protoss unit called a Stalker can blink around-- Blizzard wants Protoss to quickly put an army anywhere on the map. Three more new Protoss units: Colossus has long legs and can move quickly, Warprey is a flying unit that does more damage the more it focuses a ray on a target, and a Pheonix can overcharge weapons, but have a cooldown afterwards. Zerglings can now become suicide bombs in a kind of rolling form. There's a physics system in the game-- destroyed units can roll down ramps. System can handle at least 100 units at a time, and looks "similar to SC1 - both in unit and map designs." It must be 3D, though. Right? Still more to come, including hopefully video of the event. An opening cinematic was shown as well-- shouldn't be too long before we see that online.
Wii Warm Up: PC games
Every week, the Virtually Overlooked column seems to lead naturally into a topic of discussion. This week, since we talked about a delightful freeware game, we're thinking about PC games in general. Let's say our wishes come true and Cave Story becomes a Virtual Console download. The floodgates would be open for classic PC games to make their way to the Wii. It's not that far fetched-- Japan's getting MSX computer games. What would you want to play? We'll give everyone Doom as a freebie. That'll be ported to the Wii somehow, by someone. Doom on any piece of electronics is an inevitability.
