PC Gaming Roundup - January 28, 2009

We're starting the morning early with a few tidbits, but look for more to hit this space throughout the day.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Multiplayer Beta
Last night Valve announced that the multiplayer beta of Relic Entertainment's real-time strategy game, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, is now open for all gamers via Steam. As stated by the website, the beta allows players to command of the Space Marines, Orks, Eldar, or Tyranids and face off against your friends on 5 unique multiplayer maps.

EA's Crosswords for Dummies Now Available
Crossword puzzle fanatics can now pick up a copy of the PC version of EA's Crosswords for Dummies at local retail outlets as well as purchase the digital version through Pogo.com.  Crosswords novices and pros can learn, practice, and play challenging puzzles featuring multiple difficulty levels and in categories with wacky themes, like “Spaced Out,” “Eats and Treats” and “Extra! Extra!” The game retails for $19.99.

Design the CITIES XL Collector's Edition
That's the latest promotion from Monte Cristo, handing the reigns over to gamers in the design process of CITIES XL Collector's Edition. Visitors to the official Web site can submit suggestions and vote on current ideas for the Collector's Edition, which Monte Cristo is planning to release alongside a standard retail package in Q2 2009. To get involved, just head here.

BattleForge Ships March 24
This morning Electronic Arts announced that its fantasy-based real-time strategy PC game BattleForge is heading to retail shops on March 24. However, to get an early taste, gamers can head here and register for the BattleForge Upen Beta. The company also said that pre-order customers will receive four exclusive units, one from each faction: Fire, Frost, Nature and Shadow. These units will feature exclusive card artwork and in-game animation. They will also be leveled-up, giving player's a head start as they prepare for battle online.

GamersGate Goes "Client Free"
Earlier this morning, GamersGate announced that it will go "client free" starting today, offering its entire catalog from over 90 publishers including Eidos, SEGA, THQ, @k and Bethesda. “GamersGate will now offer gamers more convenient access to their games without forcing them into a client,” said Theodore Bergquist, CEO of GamersGate. "We want to offer the most accessible experience with the quickest loading times and this is a big step in that direction. With the evolving nature of retail, we’re extremely pleased to help reinvent the process by putting the power in the gamers’ hands.”

Warrior Epic Heads to Europe
GOA (Orange's Games Unit) signed a deal to exclusively publish, distribute, and operate True Games / Possibly Space's upcoming MMORPG, Warrior Epic. GOA was responsible for launching EA Mythic's MMORPG Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning last September in Europe. Warrior Epic is an online, action role-playing game set in an original fantasy world.

NeoSteam Heading to Europe Too
Gamigo AG's "innovative" steampunk free-to-play MMORPG NeoSteam is heading to Europe thanks to a deal signed between the company and Korean publisher HanbitSoft. Currently European players can head to the official website and register for the upcoming beta test; "tens of thousands" of American players have already joined the open beta program. As stated on the official website, NeoSteam was created with a "cute, 3D comic look," transporting gamers into a world quite different from our own. "Complete quests, harness the power of NeoSteam, learn battle skills, find new friends, and battle against other players!"

UFO: Afterlight v1.7 Patch Released
Two years after its original release, ALTAR Games is still spouting out patches for its squad-based strategy game, UFO: Afterlight. The 1.7 update includes an application called Localization Pack Manager, used to change the game's language. The patch also addresses the add-on duplication bug, offers a way to fix the corrupted ground textures problem, removes some shader restrictions, and more.

Weekend Events the Norm in Cronous
Lizard Interactive's popular MMORPG Cronous will hold various events every weekend starting February. According to the company, these events are planned and activated by GMs and varies from increased EXP, item drops, summoning boss monsters near town, giving out buffs and more. GMs will also receive opinions and ideas from players on how to improve weekend events.