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Portal 2's PAX co-op gameplay footage introduces robot hugs
Just because you aren't at PAX Prime this weekend doesn't mean you can't experience at least some of the joys and wonders that the show floor has to offer. For instance, the 10 straight minutes of Portal 2 co-op gameplay that we've dropped after the break, courtesy of GameTrailers -- hearing the "oohs" and "aahs" of the crowd on all sides, you'll feel just like you're there! And sure, you might not get a free Portal 2 shirt like this session's attendees did, but you can experience a heartwarming robot hug. And isn't that more than enough?%Gallery-101341%[Update 9/9: We swapped out the cam-capture with a direct feed version, muy better. Also, happy birthday, Dreamcast!]
L4D2's next Mutations: Gib Fest on PC; Chainsaw Massacre on 360
Valve has announced the latest Mutations for Left 4 Dead 2 and it looks like the Survivors will have a leg up on the undead hordes. It's good to know that even in the apocalypse, humans can sometimes catch a break. In the PC version, players can check out Gib Fest, where all survivors are packing M60s with unlimited ammunition. Xbox 360 players will have to get a bit more up-close-and-personal in Chainsaw Massacre -- all survivors will have access to nothing but Chainsaws. Who wants zombie kebab?
Valve reveals 'The Sacrifice' DLC for L4D1 and 2, digital comic
Both Left 4 Dead titles will be getting a new DLC pack -- titled "The Sacrifice" -- in the future. Valve's Chet Faliszek announced as much on the latest episode of GameTrailers TV, detailing the DLC's story as an explanation of how the first L4D crew lost a member (during "The Passing") and saying that the content will work across both games. Owners of Left 4 Dead 2 will be able to play as the first game's fearsome foursome and even be able to choose which member of that crew will end up having his or her brains eaten by the horde. Faliszek also noted that the content will be free -- like usual -- for Steam users, and the series will be arriving on Steam for Mac as well. If that wasn't enough, L4D1's "No Mercy" campaign has been updated for the sequel and will be included with "The Sacrifice" when it ships. Though players will be able to choose which crew member passes in "The Sacrifice," a 150-page, four part digital comic details events leading up to the new DLC will have a more definitive finale which will effect the future content for the series (we can't be more specific without spoiling "The Passing"). Faliszek didn't give a price or a release window on the show, but he did admit that this "is not the end, we're gonna continue going" with future content for the series. Update: According to an interview with PC Gamer (via Shacknews), it seems "The Sacrifice" will be available (at least on PC) as of October 5 for free, though it will cost 560 MS Points ($7) on Xbox 360. We've reached out to Valve for clarification on the release date for 360 and Mac.
Valve breaks down Left 4 Dead 2 mode stats, 'Gib Fest' is latest mutation
Valve has posted some interesting stats for Left 4 Dead 2's mutation modes. The team has been watching you closely as you work your way through the zombie hordes, and it turns out you like realism and gore in your L4D games: Realism Versus and Chainsaw Massacre have been the two most popular mutations by far, with Realism Versus (which was later turned into a permanent mode) grabbing 41 percent of the player base during its featured week and 22 percent of the playing time. The Chainsaw mode was the "most tried" of the mutations, with 52 percent of the player base revving it up, and 14 percent of player minutes spent playing it. Outside of mutations, versus and the co-op campaign actually both nab about 40 percent of players every day. And while Valve doesn't mention any of the least-played mutations, it does give notice to the Infected-doubling Hard Eight mutation, which was only tried by 26 percent of players but still grabbed over 10 percent of that week's playing time. This week, it's a "Gib Fest," with everyone on the team getting M60s and unlimited ammo. That sounds like a hunting accident just waiting to happen.
Duke Nukem voice actor recorded for Valve's 'Defense of the Ancients'
We heard a while ago that Defense of the Ancients creator Icefrog had been hired by Valve to work on something that would make DotA fans excited, and now voiceover artist Jon St. John – better known as the voice of Duke Nukem – has tweeted that he visited Valve in Seattle to do some "recording for DotA." Interesting. There have been a few DotA-style games released already, including the popular League of Legends and Heroes of Newerth, but if Valve's collaboration with Icefrog is actually called Defense of the Ancients, it could be even closer to the classic game than any of the full-scale competitors. Of course, the original DotA was a WarCraft 3 mod based on an original StarCraft map, but with Valve on board, this would presumably be a standalone title with plenty of Icefrog insight. We've contacted Valve to see what's up and just how close that announcement might be, and we'll let you know if and when we hear back. [Thanks, Mark B.]
These talking GlaDOS Curiosity Spheres probably want to kill you
"Well, you found me. Congratulations. Was it worth it? Because despite your violent behavior, the only thing you've managed to break so far ... is my heart. Maybe you could settle for that and we'll just call it a day? I guess we both know that isn't going to happen."
Alien Swarm and Source-based SDK launching for free this Monday
In an announcement perhaps meant to obliterate the definition of "Valve Time," the publisher announced that Alien Swarm has been rebuilt in Source Engine and will be released -- for free, no less -- tomorrow, Monday, July 19. The team that originally built the mod for UT2004 has since been hired on by Valve for work on the Left 4 Dead series and Portal 2, but luckily found enough time to move their game over to Valve's game engine between bouts of working on those other two games. If you're so inclined, you can pre-load Alien Swarm starting right now before it goes live tomorrow. Oh! And when it does go live, Valve will also release the full SDK for the game, allowing users to get a more thorough look at what makes the game tick. Us? We're just excited to blast swarms of aliens with the totally insane looking flamethrower seen above. Hit the break for a trailer of the game in action. [Thanks, Morey]%Gallery-97701%
Day of Defeat Source now playable on Mac
Valve's steadfast assimilation of its catalog of games on Steam into The Mac Collective continues with Day of Defeat Source, its WWII-based mod. Thanks to Steam Play, those of you who picked it up already for Windows will be able to play it on Mac instantly. Fear not, green horns, your itch for battle can too be scratched ... for $10 in wartime bonds. What? You thought the democratic war machine simply ran on the blood, sweat and tears of its determined populace? Nope, cash also helps. Cold, delicious cash.
Team Fortress 2 Engineer update now available
Following its various stages of development, the Team Fortress 2 Engineer update is complete and its final addition has been revealed: The Gunslinger. It's a glove that gives the Engineer +25 extra health, a new combo attack and the ability to drop a mini-sentry, which Engies can build much faster than normal sentries, and for less metal. The update will automatically be applied the next time you boot up the game. Aside from all of the Engineer upgrades, there are also three new maps to wage war on: Thunder Mountain, Hightower and Upward. Now go, go kill all of those evil [insert enemy team color here]s!
Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter is half-off, free to play on Steam this weekend
This coming weekend, from July 8 until July 11, Steam will play host to a free-for-all multiplayer event for Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter. Additionally, the game will also be 50% off -- only $10. The only problem is that apparently nobody told Devolver Digital's boss, Fork Parker. "This is total bullshit," he said. "How are we supposed to make any money by giving away our sweet multiplayer juice for free?" Well, we're no businessologists, but maybe make another game? Show full PR text SERIOUS SAM HD: SECOND ENCOUNTER MULTIPLAYER FREE-FOR-ALL IS FREE FOR ALL THIS WEEKEND ON STEAM Gamers Get a Delicious Taste of Multiplayer Madness and 50% off Purchase Zagreb, Croatia, July 8, 2010 – In an effort to spread the Gospel of Sam to those non-believers who still haven't bathed in the redeeming light of high-definition, Croteam has decided to allow the few remaining heathens to partake in the visual delights of Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter's over-the-top multiplayer modes. From July 8 through July 11, Steam users around the world will be able to play all the brilliant new modes of multiplayer fun with up to 16-players. New converts will be able to experience divine gameplay modes like Co-Op Survival, My Burden and Beast Hunt along with classic deathmatch and campaign co-op modes. "This is total bullshit," said Fork Parker, Chief Financial Officer at Devolver Digital. "How are we supposed to make any money by giving away our sweet multiplayer juice for free?" Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter will also be discounted by 50% during the promotion. Seriously. Half off a game that already costs less than $20. That's $10 sucka. "Goddamnit," replied Fork when asked for further comment. About Croteam Croteam are the creative force behind the massively successful Serious Sam series, which is recognized across the globe for its all-action and entertaining game design and its powerful Serious Engine technology. Founded in Zagreb, Croatia in 1993, Croteam has grown to become one of the most successful and respected developers in Eastern Europe. More information about Croteam can be found online at www.croteam.com. About Devolver Digital Devolver Digital is a small, laser-focused production and publishing company based in Austin, Texas, (also with one very lonely desperado in London) from an unnamed group of industry veterans/outlaw refugees. The company aims to take large wads of fun created by great game developers worldwide, and help create large wads of cash from it by getting it into the hands of rich, entertainment-starved gamers around the world, wherever they happen to be hanging out, and for whatever currency is handy. Our Twitter handle is @DevolverDigital so hook it up.
Preview: Portal 2 (co-op)
.portal-left { padding: 10px; background: #CCC; margin: 20px 0; min-height: 85px; } .portal-right { padding: 10px; margin: 20px 0; min-height: 85px; } .portal-right img { padding-left: 5px; } .portal-left img { padding-right: 5px; } Chris Grant: So, lucky us, after the first full day of E3, you and I were the only pair to play Portal 2 together, cooperatively, without Valve. Valve writer Erik Wolpaw has been giving the the demo while playing as the second player, but he said he thought we looked like we could handle it on our own. Richard Mitchell: It was surprising to me how quickly we fell into step, actually. If you've played Portal before, it's kind of amazing how soon you start thinking cooperatively -- figuring out how you need two people to solve a given puzzle. It's a different experience, but it's still Portal.
Portal 2 heading to PlayStation 3 with Steam Cloud support
Wait, what? Yep, we're just as confused as you are, but Gabe Newell himself announced Portal 2 heading to PS3 with some form of Steam Cloud support in-tow. Weirder? He claims the "best version" will arrive on Sony's console. We've got about a million questions to ask and we'll be putting them to Valve this week, so keep an eye out. Oh, and also, there's a really fantastic trailer that we'll be grabbing for you as soon as possible. Sorry about the tease, but we felt you should know. Update: Valve has sent along a press release confirming Steamworks integration in the PS3 version -- the only console version featuring that functionality, actually -- providing the game with "auto updates, community features, downloadable content, and more."
Macs running Steam are more powerful than PCs, on average
No matter which three-legged sentry turret you pick, Steam games run fine if it houses a decent graphics card. That said, stick this in your breech and shoot it -- the latest edition of Valve's hardware survey shows the glossy white Apple models outgun Windows counterparts in a number of areas. Whereas the majority of Windows PCs have 2GB or 3GB of memory, 53 percent of Macs sport 4GB of RAM -- though that's likely attributable to the popularity of 32-bit OS. While 17 percent of Windows users are also stuck with a single CPU, over 90 percent of Macs running Steam have a dual-core... and internet connectivity's biased towards Mac gamers too, with 65 percent reporting download speeds over 2Mbit compared to under half of PCs. Of course, where it truly counts for games, Macs still sorely lag behind; the top six Windows GPUs reported are all capable performers, but only 32.5 percent of Macs surveyed had anything but a bottom-barrel graphics card. Get with the times, Apple -- even your mobile guys know gaming's not a niche anymore. [Thanks, Ryan B.]
Portal 2 delayed until 2011
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Portal_2_delayed_until_2011'; In another cheeky press release, Valve has announced that Portal 2 has been delayed until 2011. The sequel to 2007's innovative (and tardy) first-person disorientation dissertation was originally scheduled to arrive on Xbox 360 and PC this holiday -- and we all believed it. Still, there are worse fates to befall the industry, as Aperture Laboratories correctly notes that "all life on earth won't instantaneously stop as every molecule in your body explodes at the speed of light, which is what would happen should a rip ever appear in the fabric of Valve Time." We'd offer some helpful advice on getting the game out quicker -- like, have you tried making it a Left 4 Dead game? -- but we're already reeling from three disappointments in a row: The cancellation of the Portal 2 E3 press conference, the continuing mystery of its supplanting "surprise," and the numbing absence of Half-Life 2: Episode Three. This is a tri-HMPH!
Portal 2 E3 event cancelled and replaced by a 'surprise'
In one of the most entertaining PR missives we've received recently, an Aperture Science memo (via Valve) has revealed that the Portal 2 event originally scheduled during E3 at Los Angeles' Regal Theater has been canceled. The game itself will still be showcased at Valve's booth, but whatever shenanigans that may have been planned for the event have been put on the back burner. Of course, E3 won't be completely devoid of Portal 2-themed monkeyshines. The memo promises, "the event will be replaced by a surprise," adding, "the cancellation of the event is not THE surprise," and furthermore insisting, "the time, date and content of the actual surprise will only become available as you experience the surprise." After a build-up like that, whatever this surprise might be, it better be awfully surprising.
Star Wars Empire at War on Steam, LucasArts Adventure Pack 50% off
Soon you will know the true meaning of power -- that is, should you decide to download Star Wars Empire at War, the latest RTS available on Steam. Developed by Petroglyph Games way back in 2006, it takes place during the events leading up to Episode IV. The Gold Pack edition on Steam even includes the Forces of Corruption expansion, which adds a host of new units, heroes and planets, as well as an expanded multiplayer suite. Sorry, Mac owners -- this one's Windows only. Not a big Star Wars fan? No worries, because Steam is also slashing 50% off the Lucasarts Adventure Pack, a collection of four classic adventure titles: Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, LOOM and The Dig. All four of these titles are Steam Play compatible and will run on your Mac. You can get 'em for $5, only a little more than a buck a game. That's a pretty damn good deal, if you ask us. [Thanks, CCC] Source - LucasArts Adventure Pack Source - Star Wars Empire at War: Gold Pack
Steam for Mac adds Half-Life 2 with cross-platform Steam Cloud support
The Mac Steam release list is a bit thin in terms of quantity this week, but the additions are pretty substantial. As promised, Half-Life 2 is now available for Mac and -- as we dearly, dearly hoped -- Episode One and Episode Two are also available. All three Half-Life 2 games feature cross-platform Steam Cloud support, meaning that players' games are saved on Steam's servers and can be opened from any computer, PC or Mac. Additionally, Half-Life 2 and Episode One have been updated with over 40 new achievements. All three titles are currently 30 percent off: HL2 for 7 bucks; and Eps. 1 & 2 for $5.59 apiece. The complete Orange Box collection (with cross-platform Steam Cloud support across all games) is also currently discounted ($21), with the Team Fortress 2 for Mac release promised soon. Finally, EVE Online: Tyrannis will launch for both PC and Mac later today, making it Steam's first game to launch simultaneously on both platforms.
Free Portal downloaded 1.5 million times
If you release it for free, they will download it. Valve has revealed that its free download of Portal, offered as part of the launch for Steam on Mac, has been anxiously grabbed by 1.5 million users. Using the power of math, that's 187,500 downloads each day for the eight days the game has been free to download -- about 7,812 downloads each hour. If you have yet to acquire your own free copy of Portal, get on it. You've only got until May 24. [Via USA Today]
Hey Steam users: Join the Joystiq group on Steam Community!
We're not angry ... just disappointed. No, this has nothing to do with your Jonas Brothers tattoo (which we think is oh emm gee killer, by the way) and everything to do with the fact that you haven't joined the "Joystiq" group on Steam Community. Mac users, you're excused. After all, you didn't have access to Steam until today. Just promise that you'll go here and join the group when your free copy of Portal is finished downloading, okay? Everyone else with a Steam account, what were you thinking? You didn't want to play games with your fellow Joystiq readers, LOLing, even potentially ROFLing while discussing that "one funny thing you read" or maybe "that one Photoshop with the manatee" or ... you get it. Did you even stop to think about how we felt? If your excuse was "it's hardly ever updated" then, well, you've got us. Guilty as charged! So we're looking to deputize some admins. If you play a ton of games on Steam and want to corral the Joystiq herd, leave a comment indicating your Steam username and why you'd be a good choice. Everyone else: join up!
Steam for Mac now available, 57 launch games including free Portal, and LucasArts classics
[Update 3:15pm ET: And Valve has sent word that the service is now officially live, the store is operational (look at those deals!) and all is right with the world. There are 57 titles available for launch, and listed after the break. We've bolded out some of our picks, but don't let our recommendations stop you from downloading Wedding Dash 2: Rings Around the World. Of note, the Diablo-esque Torchlight is only $9.99, a cool 50% off. Too pricey for you? Valve's own Portal – which it calls "the first of Valve's Source engine based games available on the Mac" – is available for the even cooler price of $0.00 on both Mac and PC until May 24th. Don't believe us? Look here.] Tipsters are telling us that the Steam for Mac service is now live ... sort of. While the client makes the rounds, and the beta whitelist has been lifted, it appears Valve isn't quite ready to break out the cigars. The game store isn't live, and it's still not clear which titles will be available for launch. In this writer's case, games I had purchased on Steam for Windows previously (hello, The Dig!) downloaded just fine for me on Mac OS, though I'm unable to purchase new games in the app. (You can always use the web store!) We'll update this post as the service prepares to takes its first steps, say its first words, and make its first million. Let us know how you fare in the comments! Download Steam for Mac [DMG download]
