The Best of Big Download: October 19 - 25

Windows 7 is now out and about, but what will it mean for PC gaming? That was our main theme this week at Big Download. Let's look at the features, downloads and news items from PC gaming for the past seven days:

Exclusive features

• The launch of Windows 7: On the occasion of Microsoft's launch of its latest OS, we examined if PC gamers should upgrade to Windows 7, gave some advice to Microsoft on how they can help PC gaming with their new OS, and chatted with a number of game developers on their opinons of Windows 7.

• Lucidity Review: We give our final verdict to LucasArts' recent downloadable puzzle-platformer.

• Mac Monday: This week's Mac gaming column checks out two games: Bullet Candy Perfect and Avenue Flo.

• Boot Disk: Our regular look at retro games checks out the classic Dungeon Keeper.

• Big Ideas: Our look at game themes this week examines why game developers should set more games in modern times.

• All You Need To Know: Just in time for the game's demo release, we examine all we know at the moment about Left 4 Dead 2.

• Freeware Friday: Our popular column this week looks at this mix of retro and rogue game in DoomRL

• Contest: You still have some time to enter our Order of War giveaway contest.

Downloads

• Painkiller Resurrection demo: try out a sample of the single player portion of JoWood's upcoming shooter

• FIFA Manager 10 demo: Try out a sample of EA's upcoming sports management sim game.

• Eufloria demo: Try out a little bit of this acclaimed indie strategy game.

• Death Rally (Full Game): Remedy release their first ever game for free.

• Unigine DirectX11 benchmark: It's the first PC benchmark that supports the new DirectX11 API.

• Wolfenstein 1.11 patch: It's the latest update to Raven Software's recent FPS.

• Shattered Horizon trailer: It's the first gameplay trailer to Futuremark Games' upcoming FPS.

• Dirt 2 DirectX11 trailer: Check out the new graphical features in Codemasters' upcoming PC port of their racing game.

• Left 4 Dead 2 Cinematic Trailer: It's the opening trailer for Valve's zombie shooter sequel.

• RUSE Multitouch trailer: Check out how playing Ubisoft's upcoming RTS game might look like when players can touch the monitor to manipulate the game.

• StarCraft II Battle Report 4: This is the latest lengthy gameplay movie from Blizzard's upcoming RTS title

News

• Infinity Ward sees matchmaking as good for the PC game community

• Uncensored version of Left 4 Dead 2 to remain banned in Australia

• THQ to publish Metro 2033 in early 2010

• RUSE to use Windows 7's touch screen features

• Dragon Age Journeys launches first chapter

• Borderlands PC early owners may have to wait to play

• Modern Warfare 2 to use Steamworks features