Four new bits of Magicka DLC: Will greed ruin one of the better conceived games released this year?

A plethora of Magicka stuff is about to both delight and, sadly, disgust the fans. On the back of the release of free PVP mode on 21/6/2011, four new DLC 'packages' attempt to take advantage of a loyal fan base. Treading familiar footsteps, the content is once again on the ridiculously slight side and offers little value for money. On the positive side, at least it does offer all new content and some richly researched themes.

New Sid Meier's Civilization World videos

All right, we admit it. We might be just a little bit excited about a Facebook game. But it's not just a Facebook game. It's a Facebook game that is designed by one of the most acclaimed game designers of all time, and judging by the videos it might just be the correct blend of a real strategy game and Facebook-y social game tropes. Of course it could just be another Farmville, but I have faith that Mr. Meier will not disappoint us and deliver a game that, at least, is interesting. Anyway, watch and share your opinion with us in the forums, and feel free to call me us fools for suggesting the possibility of a good Facebook game.

In the meantime, click on to see the videos that has us excited for a Facebook game:

Review: Ace Gals Tennis (XBLIG)

Ever since the inception of gaming, the market has been full of tennis-like games. With so many of these titles available, it could be difficult for a fan of the sport to determine what warrants purchase. Thankfully, Ace Gals Tennis is a worthy contender for your cash, serving up a great deal of content and genuine fun for about a dollar.

It would not be comfortable playing tennis in that

The Peacock Network Comes to Xbox Video Marketplace

NBC was already available on Xbox LIVE under Inside Xbox, but now the American TV giant has a permanent home in the Video Marketplace. Microsoft's own Larry Hyrb (Major Nelson) reports that the video quality has been improved for the switch and overall content has been expanded to include the top offerings from the station as well as the Nightly News and The Today Show.

So what's your pleasure? Soft news... hard news... no news...

inFamous 2 From The Comfort of Your Couch

In news from the Sony front, inFamous 2 -- Sony's latest exclusive title -- has come to the PSN as a digital download for the full game. The price remains the same as the retail version ($60), but PlayStation Plus members can enjoy a 60-minute trial before biting the bullet.

This is pretty big news for digital distribution. inFamous 2 has only been on retail shelves for about two weeks now and is already coming to the PSN. This isn't really a surprise, considering how Sucker Punch brought the original inFamous to the PSN as well, but it is a nice treat for those of us who still want to enjoy the big-title games while still supporting the future of digital distribution.

Review: Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (iPad)

Sonic Racing on the iPad was so close to being a one star game. There is two control options for the game: the default, and the one that actually works. Why the developers decided make tilt controls for turning the kart default is baffling, but, once you change over to the touch screen controls, you’re in for a really good time.

It is a really bad first impression, to be told in the tutorial that you’re going to be tilting the iPad to steer. Not only will that mean you’ll never play this game in public, but the reflective screen of the iPad doesn’t lend itself well to tilting. Control option B places a small bar on the left hand side of the screen that slides back and forth to control steering, which works far better, but the game doesn’t do a good job of telling you it’s there. I discovered it by accident when I was about to quit the game in frustration, but paused first. It’s like the developers wanted us to use tilt controls.

Silly developers.

Wouldn't Sonic run faster?

Review: Avadon: The Black Fortress (iPad)

We’ve already reviewed the excellent Avadon: The Black Fortress on Digitally Downloaded, but the promise of an iPad version was just too good to ignore. As a rule of thumb I prefer playing games on consoles and touch screens – sitting in bed with an iPad is a more relaxing experience to me than sitting at a computer or with a laptop on a desk.

But for some game experiences, the iPad has struggled to provide quality content, and the RPG genre is one of those. A couple of Square-Enix efforts aside, there hasn’t been any truly gripping RPGs that make good use of the great iPad screen – and the western RPG has been all but forgotten. Avadon: The Black Fortress takes advantage of this gap in a big way, and is an even better experience this time around than it was on PC.

Ok, so the Dragon isn't as intimidating as in, say, Dragon Age: Origins. But...

My Little Pony: The Fighting Game

I think this is the weirdest gaming news I've ever seen, but it's quite legitimate: there's a My Little Pony Street Fighter-style fighting game in development.

It's called My Little Pony: Fighting is Magic. We're going to buy this one on day one.

And if you still don't believe us, here's some footage:

Sonic Generations Demo Goes LIVE

Up right now for download on Xbox LIVE is the demo for the upcoming old school meets new school platformer, Sonic Generations.

For those not following the game, Generations brings the current slender Sonic the Hedgehog face to face with his original potbellied look. It's a tale of time travel and small animals turned into robots by a guy who's shaped like an egg.

Turn back the clock with the demo here, the full game will be on store shelves this fall.

HeroClix Online launches beta, and it looks good

You may not have even heard of the game, but HeroClix is a pretty big deal. It’s a collectible miniatures game. For the layperson, this means it’s something like a Magic the Gathering collectible card game, only instead of buying packs of random cards in the hope you get something rare and useful, you buy boxes of miniatures in the hope that you get something rare and useful.

From all those boxes of miniatures that you buy, you assemble a team of elite fighters, and then have at your opponent in tabletop battle style. So think of it as a weird mix between Warhammer and Magic the Gathering and you’re on the right track.

Reservoir Mages (and one of the funniest promo videos of all time)

Magicka is a brilliant game that was published by Paradox Interactive earlier this year. We reviewed it back in May, along with its first expansion Magicka: Vietnam, and I know it's a personal favorite of mine. I have it categorised in my Favorites section in Steam, after all.

Panzer Corps gets release date (new screens)

One of our most anticipated strategy games, Panzer Corps, has been given a final release date. You will be able to pick it up from July 11.

Who's acquiring PopCap for $1 billion, and why?

Casual game jaggernaught, PopCap games, is reportedly in the process of being sold for $1 billion. Only thing is, no one seems to know who is buying. A number of names are being thrown around – everything from Zynga through to Amazon.

Who do we think is a candidate for to make that acquisition?

Firstly, it’s worth noting that at a price of $1 billion, that leaves 99 per cent of the games industry out. There are just a few potential interested buyers with $1 billion to spare. Below are some of the companies suggested, and how likely we think it is that company:

Beyond Good And Evil HD Coming To North America

If you're a frequent reader, you might've noticed that we put up a review of Beyond Good and Evil HD for PSN, a high-definition re-release of the critically acclaimed Beyond Good and Evil from the PS2 and Gamecube. If you happen to live in North America, however, you might've noticed (as I did) that Beyond Good and Evil HD isn't actually available for purchase on the PSN. That's because, though it had been released over Xbox Live, the PSN version got caught in the mess that was the Sony hack.

Well no longer! According to the PlayStation blog, Beyond Good and Evil HD will be coming to the North American PSN next Tuesday, June 28th. It will run for $9.99, which is a damn good deal for a game that our local Editor-in-Chief gave four-and-a-half stars out of five. So keep your wallets ready; this isn't a game you'll want to miss!

XBLA Gets Smacked by Lucha Fury

Four masked luchadores take on the gods to get back their energy drinks in... wait... what?

Edit: Just found out this isn't available in all territories yet so your millage may vary at the moment.

Care to chuckle? Watch out for Grotesque Tactics 2

Grotesque Tactics was something of a unique game. It was a tactics RPG available for PC download, with a real sense of humour. For people used to the epics like Final Fantasy Tactics, the self-referential parody of Grotesque were like a breath of fresh air.

Retro Review: Metroid (3DS/Wii Virtual Console)

The original Metroid is renowned for giving birth to one of the first major female gaming icons, bounty hunter Samus Aran. She made herself known through her gritty space adventure that led players to believe she was a male cyborg. While her gender was initially shrouded in secrecy, Metroid’s quality by the standards of today is eerily apparent - it is no longer as relevant to today’s gamers as it was in 1986.

In space... there's nothing

Sonic discounts hit European PlayStation Store and Xbox Live

Have you been lusting after recent Sonic titles, but couldn’t bring yourself to fork over the cash? Sega has two  limited-time offers for users of the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live in celebration of the hedgehog’s 20^th anniversary.

The first deal applies to all Sonic titles and downloadable content, including Sonic and Sega All-Star Racing. Every item is discounted by up to 50 per cent, meaning now would be a good time to purchase the more expensive games.

The second offer is a new bundle called “Sonic the Hedgehog Anniversary”, featuring four of the blue blur’s outings for €17.99/£13.99/AU $27.99. The bundle expires on July 12^th.

*Please note, this deal is for European and Australian users. Similar deals are likely to hit other regions relatively soon, though it remains to be seen.

First Mortal Kombat DLC Out Now

Skarlet, the first downloadable character promised for Mortal Kombat 2011 is now available on LIVE. Click on through for a bloody, bloody, trailer-

Review: Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy (PC)

It’s safe to say that you need to approach Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy a little differently than you are used to with most modern games. I, in my infinite wisdom, jumped straight in without even a glance at the manual. That was a big mistake. At first, I persisted in trying to learn as I go but after struggling through the tutorial scenarios, after taking way to much time to finish them, I gave up and started reading. I’m not one to shy away from a juicy manual and I kind of miss their presence in most modern games.

Where there's smoke...

Review: Beyond Good & Evil HD (PS3)

Putting out a HD version of an aging but well loved game is a risk. On the one hand, it’s a chance for a publisher to take advantage of nostalgia, while winning some new fans with the sparkling new coat of paint. On the other hand, you’d better hope the gameplay holds up, because as we know in this industry, it’s entirely possible for a well loved game to age badly. Upsetting nostalgic fans and boring newcomers could easily spell the doom for any chance of a series revival.

Not sure about the green lips, though...

Airport Mania: First Flight (DSiWare)

DSiWare is not dead. Indeed, since the 3DS can play DSiWare games, and there are no 3DSWare games hitting up the 3DS eShop right now, DSiWare and Virtual Console are ruling the Nintendo roost right now.

Of course, DSiWare games also tend to be small in size and throwaway games at the best of times, and shovelware in most cases. Airport Mania: First Flight is, indeed, a throwaway little game but it's just enough fun that it doesn’t deserve to be considered shovelware at all.

That's one happy plane

Review: Storm: Frontline Nation (PC)

The hardcore strategy genre has seen a number of all-encompassing, 'grand' wargames. Whilst there are a few that get it right (Pride of Nations) there are others that fail to balance the interlocking aspects and create broken games where exploitation of rules makes it difficult to enjoy (the vast majority). It is somewhat comforting to go to a game like Storm: Frontline Nation, which endeavours to focus entirely on the battle aspect of the genre, relegating the complex diplomatic, colonial, technologic, economic and national building elements that feature so strongly in its competitors to the background, replacing them with rudimentary mechanics.

'Hey, stop pointing at me!'

Review: Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 (PSN, XBLA, PC)

Last year, something strange happened. A casual-orientated Magic the Gathering video game was released on PS3, PC and XBL download services. Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers was an “arcade” Magic experience. You had preset decks, and you played against other people with preset decks. With an even playing field, the typical “he’s spent more money to get the good cards,” complaint levelled at collectible card games (CCGs) like Magic was immediately resolved, and the game was a resounding success in convincing non-Magic players to give the game a go.

One year later, the unimaginatively-titled Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 does exactly the same thing as its predecessor, with a minor visual update and a weak attempt to introduce a more cohesive story to the structure. Messing with a good thing is often a bad idea, but you have to question the value of investing in a game that has less new stuff than a new FIFA or Madden sports game. Updated rosters do not make a must have game, guys.

Magic the Gathering remains a special game after all these years in no small part because of the amazing art work