The Best of Big Download: March 29 - April 4

We're about to enter a very slow period of the year, not typically known for seeing many major PC game releases. However, we should be keeping busy with lots of big announcements in the next few months leading up to E3 in June (at least, you know, we hope). In the meantime, let's take a look back at the highlights from this Passover-April Fool's-Easter week:

Exclusive features

• PAX East features: We made it to the first ever PAX East show and we report back on Nvidia's GeForce GTX 480 launch, a Civilization V preview and a panel discussion on the future of PC games.
• Boot Disk: Our retro games feature checks out the classic LucasArts Western shooter Outlaws.
• Freeware Friday: Our look at free PC games looks at the Mobile Bomb Squad.
• Contest: There's still time for you to enter to win one of three Intel Core i7 920 processors.

Downloads

• Hearts of Iron 3 1.4 patch: It's the latest update to Paradox's WWII strategy game.
• Ghost Recond Future Soldier Trailer: Check out this teaser to the upcoming live action short film based on Ubisoft's upcoming shooter
• Command and Conquer Motion Comic Issue 3: It's the third of fourth installments based on EA's RTS game.

News

• Guardians of Graxia announced
• Burn Zombie Burn confirmed for PC release via Steam
• Darksiders announced for the PC; coming in June
  
• New GTR racing sim game announced for 2011
• April Fools: Civilization V to add "Extreme Diplomacy" gameplay mode
• The Peregrine PC gaming glove begins shipping
• Blood Bowl Legendary Edition announced
• Free MechWarrior 4 game release still not in sight