The Best of Big Download; June 22-28, 2008

Wow. We have had tons of news, downloads and new content for Big Download this week . . .and that's just for Diablo III. Let's take a look at the highlights for the past week.

Exclusive Features

• Games for Windows Press Conference: We attend Microsoft's press event where they give their views on the future of PC gaming.
• Guide to TF2 Pyro Achievements: Want a details look at all of the new achievements you can get while playing the Pyro in Team Fortress 2. Then check out the first five parts of our series: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and Part 5.
• Shattered Suns Interview: We have an extensive interview with Chas. Cooper of Clear Crown Studios about their upcoming space based RTS game.
• Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford: We chat with the head of the extremely busy game developer on Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway and their other projects.
• Alone In the Dark Interview: We chat with Atari US producer Todd Slepian about their just released survival horror game.
• Hands-On: Deer Hunter Tournament: We get hands-on with the newest entry in the hunting sim series from Atari.
• In-Depth: Armaggedon Empires: We take a detailed ook at this acclaimed indie strategy game.
• In-Depth: The Political Machine: We offer a look at the just released political strategy game from Stardock
• Big Ideas: Why do we play video games?: Our editorial takes a look at why we need playtime with games anyway.
• BigCast 001: Our debut podcast has three of our team members chatting about, what else, PC gaming
• Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free games has a look at Freeciv, a free tribute to the great Civilization games.
• Spore Creature Creator contest: You still have time to participate in our contest; make the best creatures and win some cool prizes

Downloads

• Diablo III trailers: Download the cinematic, gameplay and artwork trailers for Blizzard's just announced action-RPG sequel
• Crysis Warhead trailer: It's the first bit of gameplay from the PC shooter from Crytek and EA
• Call of Duty: World at War trailer: Check out the first gameplay footage from the upcoming WWII shooter from Treyarch and Activision
• Stronghold Crusader Extreme demo: Check out this free snip of gameplay from the revamped historical RTS game from Firefly Studios
• Wall-E demo: Play a portion of the family game from THQ based on the acclaimed Pixar movie
• Call of Duty 4 patch:Get up to date with the latest patch for Infinity Ward's 2007 shooter

News

• Blizzard's newest game: Diablo III
• More Diablo III info and first screenshots
• DICE confirms three new Battlefield games in the works
• Left 4 Dead set for release in November
• Limbo of the Lost developer finally defends itself (sort of)
• Jagex confirms Runscape: High Detail
• Novint Falcon to support more Valve game titles
• New Duke Nukem Forever screenshot appears
• The Orb and the Oracle announced
• Crytek CEO: One legit PC game copy equals 20 pirate copies