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Test Drive Unlimited 2 due on Feb. 8, pre-orders detailed
Test Drive Unlimited 2 developer Eden Games is betting you'll be all done with Gran Turismo 5 and ready for a new driving game by early next year, announcing plans to drop TDU2's opening flag on February 8. It appears the studio is using its extra half year of development time -- the game was pushed back from September to "Q1 2011" this past August -- to create an unbelievably complex pre-order incentive plan at several different retailers, broken down after the break. We'll parse it for you real quick right here, should you not have the time: GameStop pre-orders get the Casino DLC while every other retailer just gives you a car. Sure, Walmart's offer of an in-game Bugati Veyron Supersport 2010 is tempting, but it's not a whole freakin' game mode.
Super Meat Boy PC adds Machinarium's robot to roster
The impending PC release of Super Meat Boy continues to amass an all-star team of indie game heroes, as Team Meat has revealed the identity of the PC version's third "exclusive" character to Big Download: Josef, the charming robot lead from Amanita Design's Machinarium.
GameStop throws its hat into the digital distribution ring
As brick-and-mortar stores are struggling in this day and age, digital distribution has been taking off into the stratosphere. Seeing where the winds of change are blowing, GameStop has announced that it is joining the ranks of Steam, Amazon and Direct2Drive by offering a digital distribution service through its website. If players are comfortable sacrificing a physical box copy in exchange for the speed and convenience of a digital product, GameStop's service will allow them to purchase and download games, trials, expansions and various add-ons in the comfort of their own home. Players will be allowed to install the game on one to three PCs, depending on the product. Unfortunately, because the service is being handled by a third party, GameStop gift cards and certificates are not accepted as payment. GameStop's downloads page features a number of MMOs for purchase, including Need for Speed World, LEGO Universe, Aion and Age of Conan. If you haven't given Final Fantasy XI a whirl, the Ultimate Collection is on sale for $9.99 in both boxed and digital form.
Direct2Drive offers Fallout: New Vegas collector's edition
Direct2Drive is pushing an awfully hard bargain to nab your business -- provided you're planning on purchasing Bethesda's upcoming apocalyptic RPG, Fallout: New Vegas. The digital retailer is offering pre-orders on an exclusive "Digital Collector's Edition," which includes a 48-page digital graphic novel titled "All Roads." The comic, created in conjunction with Dark Horse Comics and penned by Bethesda's Chris Avellone, tells the backstory of the town of New Vegas, and sets up the plot of the upcoming game. If digital comics aren't your thing, pre-orders of the Collector's Edition also come with the "Tribal Pack" -- a DLC pack which adds a handful of relatively primitive weapons to your arsenal, including a machete, doses of venom and throwing spears. Those sound ... nice. Just fine. We're going to stick with our gun that shoots mini nuclear warheads, though. But thanks, all the same!
Get Champions Online at a discount for a week
Champions Online put itself on the line during its anniversary by letting players have a full week of access to the game completely for free. The idea, beyond a doubt, was that once players had a taste of the metaphorical milk, they would simply have to purchase the equally metaphorical cow. But if you've been stymied by the fact that this month's cow budget is a bit on the tight side, there's good news on the horizon: for the next week, you can buy the game for only $6. The sale isn't being run at any brick-and-mortar stores, but is being run through two of the most popular digital distribution services, Steam and Direct2Drive. Both retailers will be offering the game at the discounted price for a week, with Steam getting a slight edge simply because it also has a free demo available for the game. Players interested in purchasing Champions Online at a steep discount can head to either service before September 22nd, perhaps encouraging the creation of a cow-themed superhero.
Direct2Drive offering free Civ 3 with Civ 5 pre-order
Let's be honest with ourselves: If you're the kind of person who's pre-ordering Civilization V, you're probably the strategizin' type. You likely called around, made comparisons (maybe even put together a spreadsheet -- we won't judge), and then chose the most strategically fortuituous preorder that you possibly could, finding the perfect balance of cost and value for your money. But just like all of those late game German Panzers, Direct2Drive is throwing a last-minute wrench in the gears. Preorder Civ V via it, and you'll get immediate and free access to the classic Civ III, the last iteration in the series to stay 2D, largely viewed as one of the best versions of the game. Plus, D2D preorders also get the new game's first bit of Scenario Pack DLC for free. That's a good deal. Of course, if you want to preorder the new Civ, you probably have the old Civ collecting dust somewhere on a shelf. But you might at least add this deal to your spreadsheet, just to see how it balances out.
More LotRO news brings delays, sales, and screenshots
The news about the launch of Lord of the Rings Online free-to-play just keeps rolling in, with today's dose including LotRO store gossip, new screenshots, and an unfortunate delay for European players. Codemasters delivered a disappointment this morning with the announcement that there were some major difficulties behind the scenes. The European launch of LotRO free-to-play will be delayed possibly until the end of the month. The post making the announcement seems to be regularly updated, so keep an eye out for further word. On a happier note for those with access to the game, Turbine has given the LotRO store a boost in the form of its very own Twitter feed and a sweet deal on a VIP starter pack via Direct2Drive. Finally, Turbine delivered a pile of new screenshots for the F2P version today, so check out the gallery below for the latest look at LotRO. %Gallery-101902%
Direct2Drive sympathizes with back-to-school woes, offers $10 discount
Digital retailer Direct2Drive certainly remembers the hardships brought about by the beginning of a new school year -- that's why, in an attempt to help you get your mind off your scholastic troubles, everything over $50 in the store has been temporarily marked down by $10.
Hunted: The Demon's Forge crafts exclusive pre-order content
Americans anxious to get down to the business of paying money for a game should know that Bethesda has announced pre-order incentives for its upcoming Unreal Engine 3-powered fantasy RPG, Hunted: The Demon's Forge. Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Steam, Direct2Drive and GameStop will all offer specific bonus content, so head on past the break to get it all straight. (Why does buying a game have to be like this?)
Forgive the TARDIS-ness: Doctor Who games arrive today in the US
PC gamers in the US who felt like they were getting sonic-screwdrivered-over by not being able to play the BBC's free Doctor Who: The Adventure Games have some good news today. Direct2Drive has made the first two episodes, City of the Daleks and Blood of the Cybermen, available exclusively via its download service, for a price. The two Sumo Digital-developed installments can be had as a bundle for $4.95. What you won't find at Direct2Drive: the Mac versions of the Adventures. Though out in the UK, they seem to have just missed the TARDIS before it vanished. We're getting in touch with the D2D folks to find out if us Yanks who think different will ever see Who here -- and if there are plans to bring over the two yet-to-be-released episodes, as well.
NPD: PC retail and digital distribution sales reaching parity
The NPD's "PC Games Digital Downloads: Analyst Report" states that in 2009, 21.3 million "full-game" PC titles were downloaded through digital distribution networks, while 23.5 million physical units were purchased at retail. Yes, despite the explosion of digital distribution in the PC space, retail is still important. Overall, digital distribution "accounted for 36 percent of dollar sales," but the initial cost of a PC product -- if it even has any upfront cost -- doesn't really give the full picture of the financial potential. The top five "frontline" digital retailers (those who have the games that are also typically offered in stores) were: Steam (SURPRISE!) Direct2Drive Blizzard.com EA.com Worldofwarcraft.com We've listed the top five casual digital retailers after the break. NPD notes that casual distributors have lost market share due to the rise of "social network gaming" (Facebook) and free, inexpensive mobile titles.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for $30 on Direct2Drive (Dragon Age was yesterday!) [update]
Direct2Drive has the PC version of Dragon Age: Origins for $20 today err, yesterday. Update: Due to an East Coast vs. West Coast timey-wimey thing involving flipping of internet switches, the deal had left the building before this story made it to our front page. We apologize for the miscommunication. Today's deal is Battlefield: Bad Company 2, which ... does have some RPG elements in it! And rocket-propelled grenades.
Direct2Drive's Spring Sale: Star Trek Online, Civ 4, Torchlight and more discounted
Once again, downloadable gaming retailer Direct2Drive has chosen to reduce the price of a whole gaggle of its offerings. Encheapened titles as part of the "Spring Sale" include interstellar MMO Star Trek Online ($29.95), Nazi-vanquishing sim The Saboteur ($14.95), mine-raiding RPG Torchlight ($9.95), world-dominating strategy title Civilization 4: Complete Edition ($9.95) and every X-Com game ever made, except for, you know, the new one ($4.95). To see the complete list of discounted games, click past the jump. Now look, Direct2Drive. You really, really need to chill out with all of these sales. If you keep discounting the prices of your games with such regularity, then people are going to start thinking that these are your normal going rates for these titles. During the off-times when you're not holding a sale, they're going to start thinking that you're just having a temporary ... expensiveization. That can't possibly be good for business.
Mac games on sale at Direct2Drive until March 11
Wow, Macs as a gaming platform is totally en vogue this week. First, we've got Valve teasing something Apple related. Now, Direct2Drive is holding a sale on all its Mac games ... you know, all five of them. Kidding, there's way more than five. Some big ones in there too, like Dragon Age: Origins, offered at 50 percent off ($33). Other highlights include: Sims 3 – $25 Prince of Persia (the latest one) – $25 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 – $15 World of Goo – $10 The sale lasts one week, until March 11, 2010, at 10AM Pacific. Looks like Direct2Drive wants to get one good sales push in before Steam allegedly comes to Mac.
Direct2Drive indie award finalists named, threatened with Chobot lick
Aside from a spot on Sony's The Tester, we can't imagine a contest in the game industry with a much more ominous prize than Direct2Drive's Vision Award winner. Aside from the $10,000 bounty, apparently the trophy will be presented onstage at the 12th Annual Independent Games Festival by IGN's one and only lick-happy reporter, Jessica Chobot. We've listed all five of the games up for the Vision Award after the break -- a list that includes Hello Games' Joe Danger and Edmund McMillen's Super Meat Boy. The awards presentation will be held during GDC 2010, specifically taking place on Thursday, March 11. We here at Joystiq would like to wish all the contestants luck. Also, you might wanna bring a towel. Just in case, ya know?
Direct2Drive discounts Civilization IV, Supreme Commander this weekend
Perhaps in celebration of Civilization V's recent reveal, Direct2Drive is offering Civilization IV -- as well as the standalone Civilization IV: Colonization -- for 33% off. Other deals on the direct download service this weekend include Supreme Commander: Gold Edition, Majesty The Fantasy Kingdom Sim: Gold Edition, and more. If you're one of the few who doesn't "get" the Civilization addiction epidemic, which has swept the world over the last two decades leaving workplace productivity in shambles, consider yourself luckier than the folks in the video after the break. Yes, Civilization Revolution was solid, but CivIV has the uncanny ability to turn the sweetest old lady into a crazed destroyer of all mankind. Basically, It's fun for the whole family. Shortcut: See all weekend deals on Direct2Drive
Pre-order BioShock 2, get BioShock free on Direct2Drive
(We apologize in advance for the acidic nature of this post. Keep in mind, it's only directed towards people who managed to miss out on the first BioShock, but plan to pick up the sequel when it launches next week.) Hey there, you big, dumb animal. So, you're just going to skip right over BioShock and hop right into BioShock 2, huh? That's your master plan? Don't worry, we're sure you won't be at a loss when you're hurtled into Rapture without knowing jack about its rich history. We'll give you a quick refresher: Big Daddies are the guys in the diving suits, ADAM's the stuff that gives you super powers, and also, you're an idiot. Direct2Drive is offering you one chance at redemption -- the digital retailer is offering 10 percent off pre-orders for BioShock 2, and tossing in a free copy of BioShock with the reservation. Pick it up, and maybe we'll talk about reconciliation. Maybe. Update: As a number of our commenters have pointed out, the same deal is available on Steam as well. Coincidence? Or shrewd business tactic? You decide!
Direct2Drive opens European-centric online store
Dear Europe, Man, you guys don't even know it yet, but you just got access to something wonderful. Direct2Drive recently launched a European-focused branch of its digital distribution racket, which allows shoppers to purchase games using Euros, instead of America's bizarre, chartreuse currency. If you've shied away from D2D's storefront due to its adoption of dollar bills, you've got no reason not to use it anymore. At the very least, give it a look-see whenever the store is doing one of its absolutely ridiculous fire sales. Oh, there's one right now! Red Faction: Guerrilla for 12,50€? You so crazy, Direct2Drive!
Stargate: Resistance pre-orders open for Feb. 10 delivery
So, yeah, Stargate fans. That whole Stargate: Worlds MMO you've been waiting for since forever? Well, at least you'll get to shoot things while you wait some more. Stargate: Resistance, the third-person online shooter that FireSky and Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment inexplicably dropped news on last month in lieu of anything to say about the game fans have actually been anticipating, is set to hit next week -- February 10 -- and can be pre-ordered for $19.95 from Direct2Drive. Hey, it could be good -- or it could be a quick-and-dirty attempt to recoup the costs incurred developing an MMO that may never come out. (C'mon, we were all thinking it.) [Via GateWorld; Thanks, Robin!]
Write Star Trek Online fic and win a free digital download
Hailing Frequency, a Star Trek Online fansite, has teamed up with Direct2Drive and has some pretty nice prizes up for grabs: three copies of Star Trek Online: the Digital Deluxe Edition. So what do you have to do to score one of these prizes? Well, get ready to flex your creativity muscles, because it's a fiction competition. Hailing Frequency has provided a scenario to work with, in which your characters are about to enter a star system that long range scanners show was recently abandoned by the Borg. The given scenario ends fifteen seconds before your ship enters the area, and it's up to you to tell what happens next. The three most interesting entries win one of the digital downloads. This is a short contest, ending this sunday at 11.59pm GMT with winners being announced shortly thereafter. Winners will be contacted immediately with a redemption code. Full details on how to enter can be found at Hailing Frequency. Good luck to all who enter!
