The Best of Big Download: January 19-25

Once again its been a busy week for features, downloads and news at Big Download. So let's don't waste any more time and check out the week's highlights:

Exclusive features

• A look at fictional US presidents in PC games: We celebrate the inarguration of a new president by looking at the fictional Commanders-in-Chief that have showed up in PC games over the year.
• From Ink to Bytes: Turning pen-&-paper RPGs into PC games: We look at a number of RPGs that have been adapted for the PC game platform and speculate on other titles that could get the treatment.
• Stardock reveals details on next version of Impulse Reactor: We chat with Stardock head Brad Wardell as he reveals how the the next version of Impulse Reactor could be a help in protecting games from piracy
• More Spore on the horizon: We chat with EA's Maxis team on the next PC game versions of their best selling alien evolution title
• Impressions: Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II multiplayer beta: We give our hands-on impressions of the multiplayer beta for Relic's upcoming RTS game
• Mirror's Edge PC review: We give our final verdict to the PC port of Digital Illusions' first person action game
• Mac Monday: Our weekly Mac game column looks at the fantasy-themed puzzle game 4 Elements.
• MODmonday: Our weekly mod column looks at the original Team Fortress for Quake.
• Indie Showcase: Our weekly Indie column this week looks at a number of new indie games including the contraversial title Kristallnacht along with The Manipulator, Mirror Stage, and This Game is Wizard.
• Big Ideas: Our weekly column on game themes asks what makes the perfect game experience.
• Big Iron: Our weekly hardware column this week looks at how processors are using smaller and smaller integrated circuit etchings.
• Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free games takes a look at the shooter-strategy title Tremulous.
• Virtual Bargain Bin: Our weekly look at cheap games checks out Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War Soulstorm.

Downloads

• Puzzle Quest: Galactrix demo: It's the real PC demo for Infinite Interactive's RPG-puzzle game.
• F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin demo: Get a sample of the full upcoming horror shooter from Monolith
• World of Warcraft 3.0.8 patch: Download the latest patch for Blizzard's MMO
• Starcraft patches: Download new patches for Blizzard's hit RTS game.
• DC Universe Online trailer: Check out the new gameplay trailer for Sony's upcoming MMO title.
• F.E.A.R. 2 trailers: We've uploaded a number of new trailers for Monolith's shooter

News

• Dawn of War II goes gold, new ship date announced
• America's Army 3 announced: beta sign-ups begin
• Tom Clancy's EndWar finally confirmed for PC
• World in Conflict: Soviet Assault finally coming in March
• Battlefield Heroes beta sign-ups begin again
• Why has Gamestop stopped selling Dawn of War II?
• Section 8 begins beta sign-ups
• Microsoft layoffs affect games division
• Exclusive: Dark Sector PC port coming to US
• Microsoft Flight Simulator series to continue?
• Games for Windows Live head among Microsoft layoffs