I started this site about 18 months ago because I thought it might be nice to take advantage of the experience I have with running much larger gaming sites to mentor the next generation of writers and have some fun in the process.  Since this was never intended to be a money-making enterprise (thankfully), I thought we’d roll the dice and see what happened.

Although we put up some 60-plus articles and countless news items, we never quite picked up enough momentum for the site to be self-sustaining (although we came close).  Since I could no longer wear as many hats as I used to, the quality and frequency of our content fell dramatically.  I wrestled for some time about whether to just take the site down and be done with it, but I decided instead to “hit the pause button”.

We had too much fun doing interviews with Terraria, Serious Sam, et cetera, not to mention game reviews, editorial pieces… it seemed a great shame just to pull it all down.

So we won’t.

We’re going to leave things just as they are until such time as the hosting costs bankrupt me (probably not going to happen), the interweb collapses or we find the time to do it properly again.

In the meantime, there have been several old friends making some pretty big games out there (you know who you are) that have promised us some of their time.  So we still may add some content from time to time while we are in “pause mode”.

Besides thanking all the usual suspects (the kind folks at Valve, Red Orchestra, et al) – who have given so graciously of their time and attention – I’d like to take a moment to thank all of the Steam Addicts contributors (in order of hire):

• TheLostSoul
• Walter McDaniel
• Fred Barats
• Sam Beck
• John Metz
• Vic
• Daniel Casey

Thanks guys!  Whether your contribution was large or small, you gave of your time freely for our readers to be entertained and it is greatly appreciated.

Also, thank you dear reader.  I hope our paths will cross again soon.  Until then…

best,
-d.

We’re freaking out over here! It is so exciting to share this news with you!You can now Download the Black Mesa Soundtrack, courtesy of our very own Joel Nielsen, at the very generous price of whatever you want! Enjoy and share!

• In the near future you’ll see our Website, Wiki and Forums all taken down temporarily for renovations.
• On September 14th you will see the first release of Black Mesa! This will include our re-envisioning of Half-Life all the way up to Lambda Core. We believe this is a great way to provide a complete-feeling 8-10 hour experience with a solid ending, make our fans happy and help us make the best overall game possible.

We are still working hard on Xen and BMDM, but instead of making you wait we are giving you Black Mesa as soon as it’s ready! We’re doing our best to help bring the immense vision of this project into reality, and we are very excited for what the future brings!

High-Fives Yo,
Carlos Montero – Project Leader

For the very latest on the release hoopla, head on over to blackmesasource.com.

]]> http://steamaddicts.com/2012/09/black-mesa-announces-a-september-14th-release/feed/ 0 http://steamaddicts.com/2012/08/the-international-begins/ http://steamaddicts.com/2012/08/the-international-begins/#comments Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:32:39 +0000 Danny Scot http://steamaddicts.com/?p=8298 Second Annual Dota 2 Championships Broadcast Live This Weekend

Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Portal, and Team Fortress) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced the start of The International Dota 2 Championships 2012.

The event takes place today through Sunday at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, WA.

The tournament is being broadcast worldwide, free of charge, with play-by-play commentary in multiple languages, the ability to view the games from multiple angles, and more – all in full HD quality – from a dedicated client (available here: http://www.dota2.com/international/mainevent/watch/). A browser-based broadcast of the action is also available.

Meanwhile, those in the Seattle area this weekend attending PAX Prime may attend The International, free of charge with a PAX Badge (based upon space availability in the Hall).

The International was launched last year in Cologne, Germany during Gamescom with 16 of the most elite Dota teams competing in a group stage, double elimination playoff format for a grand prize of $1 million.

Coming soon to the PC, Dota 2 promises to take the unique blend of online RTS and RPG action that has made Dota popular with tens of millions of gamers around the world.

For more information on The International and Dota 2, please visit http://www.dota2.com/.

Step into the world of interstellar travel, where Space Pirates lurk at every corner. Kaptain Brawe, a Space Police officer will embark on a journey filled with quests, conspiracies and general chaos, as he follows the lead of two kidnapped alien scientists.

Set in a beautiful, hand drawn alternative 19th century world, Kaptain Brawe’s cartoon appearance will suit younger, as well as mature players, who enjoy games filled with humorous storyline and challenging puzzles.

• Reveal the greatest conspiracy in the Space Age
• Travel and explore 4 planets
• Be part of an intriguing and hilarious storyline
• Meet space pirates, Interstellar government, secret agents and more
• 2 game modes (core gamer/casual gamer)

An awesome starter adventure game good for kids and beginners, now just $4.99, down from $9.99.  Get it here!

]]> http://steamaddicts.com/2012/08/daily-deal-kaptain-brawe-a-brawe-new-world-2/feed/ 0 http://steamaddicts.com/2012/08/steam-addicts-anonymous-weekly-roundup-58/ http://steamaddicts.com/2012/08/steam-addicts-anonymous-weekly-roundup-58/#comments Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:06:59 +0000 Walter McDaniel http://steamaddicts.com/?p=8290 Many AAA titles such as Guild Wars 2 are making their somewhat buggy releases. Remember, beta is the new alpha, release is the new beta, so let us see what else is going on.

• Torchlight 2 has an official release of September 20th, 2012 now.
• DOTA 2 has not been getting a lot of characters recently. They are probably too busy playing cards. DOTA 2 cards.
• PlanetSide 2 is now out of NDA so you should try to get in when you can. Apply on their main site.
• Super Crate Box was a beloved indie title for ages. Now you can play a better version on Steam.
• Smite is extending their closed beta. This new take on a MOBA will certainly come to Steam eventually.

Everything seems to be going free-to-play now. It sounds fun, but I’ve bought some free-to-play games in an equal amount to 4+ times now. I guess that’s supposed to be four times the fun.  As usual, be sure to leave us feedback on what you would like to hear about next edition. Help us help you!

Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Portal, and Team Fortress) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced the launch of Steam Greenlight, a new platform feature that enlists the community’s help in selecting some of the next games to be released on Steam.

Announced earlier this summer, Steam Greenlight allows developers and publishers to post information and media about their game in an effort to convince the Community that the game should be released on Steam. Greenlight piggybacks on Steam Workshop’s flexible system that organizes content and lets customers rate and leave feedback.

“We’ve been working on this feature for the last few months with the input from a group of indie partners, and the response has been extremely positive,” said Valve’s Anna Sweet. “With the additional help of beta testers, we are able to launch with a solid line-up of titles for the community to start viewing and rating. And, as we’ve done with all Steam features, we intend to continually grow and modify Greenlight as more and more developers and community members have a chance to get involved.”

As well as serving as a clearing house for game submissions, Greenlight provides an incredible level of added exposure for new games and an opportunity to connect directly with potential customers and fans.

For more information, please visit www.steampowered.com/greenlight.

• Single-player campaign mode
• Single-player puzzle mode
• Team-based multi-player
• Cross-platform multi-player – Play with both your PC and Mac friends

Buy Vertex Dispenser today for $3.39 and save 66% off the regular price of $9.99.

A once proud America has fallen, her infrastructure shattered and military in disarray. Crippled by a devastating EMP strike, the USA is powerless to resist the ever expanding occupation of a savage, nuclear armed Greater Korean Republic.

Abandoned by her former allies, the United States is a bleak landscape of walled towns and abandoned suburbs. This is a police state where high school stadiums have become detention centers, and shopping malls shelter armored attack vehicles. A once-free people are now prisoners… or collaborators… or revolutionaries.

Join the Resistance, stand united and fight for freedom against an overwhelming military force in Homefront’s gripping single player campaign penned by John Milius (Apocalypse Now, Red Dawn). Stand alongside a cast of memorable characters as an emotional plot unfolds in this terrifyingly plausible near-future world. Experience visceral, cinematic first-person shooter action as you fight your way across Occupied USA using guerrilla tactics, and commandeer military vehicles and advanced drone technology to defeat the enemy.

Multiplayer brings epic warfare to the online arena as infantry, tanks, attack helicopters and combat drones battle across huge, open battlefields. A rich feature set offering layers of tactical depth combined with a game-changing innovation in the multiplayer space will set a new benchmark in online warfare.

• Discover a terrifyingly plausible near-future world – the familiar has become alien in this nightmare vision of Occupied USA
• Fight for a cause – join a cast of memorable characters as your resistance cell wages a guerrilla war against overwhelming military odds in the name of Freedom
• Witness the human cost of war – a gripping story from the pen of John Milius is told through immersive, interactive 1st person cut scenes
• Experience explosive FPS gameplay – battle through a dynamic mix of infantry and vehicle combat in a gripping single player campaign boasting intense, memorable set pieces
• Take the battle online – experience large scale multiplayer action like never before in epic infantry and vehicle warfare
• XBox 360 controller support

Buy Homefront today for $4.99 and save 75% off the regular price of $19.99.

• The world’s top stars return – The top players in the world return, joined by some of the most exciting up-and-coming contenders. An all-star line-up of 19 players includes Nadal, Federer, Murray, Sharapova, Wozniacki and Williams.
• Tennis stardom awaits – A totally new World Tour sees the VT career mode go ‘RPG’. Designed to encourage replay value and with an element of off-court fame, each decision affects a player’s career path meaning no two careers will ever be the same.
• A true online hub for our community – The new online centre will offer the world’s first engaging online tennis experience. Designed using the popular Virtua Fighter 5 technology, the matchmaking system promises more competitive games, and online tournaments will seek to find the ultimate Virtua Tennis champion.
• Experience the drama - A brand new on-court feature making for more dramatic matches. Build up your Match Momentum gauge over the course of a match and revel in your form as your player grows in confidence, allowing them to play shots mere mortals can only dream about.
• Putting the fun back into mini-games – Breaking the mini-game mould to include new weather conditions and put a real focus on multiplayer action, the VT mini-games will give players a real alternative mode to compete in both multiplayer and online.

Completing missions earns experience points and money to be used to refuel, repair and upgrade the lunar module. In addition to missions there are time trial challenges complete with online leader boards and a globally ranked ‘pilots’ leader board, ranked by experience. To round out the game there are a variety of achievements to provide additional challenges and objectives.

A truly unique and challenging flight simulation experience, Lunar Flight will give you many hours of immersive, addictive and rewarding gameplay.

• Authentic Newtonian space physics
• Addictive challenging flight simulation
• Earn money and experience from transport, survey & lost cargo recovery missions
• Random mission generation
• Purchase upgrades and action items for the lunar module
• Online time trial and pilot leader boards
• Achievements
• Spectacular graphics and effects
• Amazing immersive soundscape
• Quad view display
• Comprehensive replay system
• XBox 360 controller support

Buy Lunar Flight today for $2.50 and save 75% off the regular price of $9.99.

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