The Best of Big Download: February 16-22

It's been an extremely busy week, especially for breaking news, over at Big Download this week. In case you missed it here are the many highlights from the past seven days:
Exclusive features

• Unreal Tournament III Titan Pack hands-on preview: We get some playing time with Epic's upcoming free expansion for their 2007 shooter.
• First look at NASA's MMO project: We have some of the first concrete info on the upcoming MMO project funded by NASA; Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond.
• Puzzle Quest: Galactrix impressions: We go hands-on with a build of the PC version of Infinite Interactive's sci-fi puzzle-RPG.
• Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box review: Did Criterion Games' first PC title hit the mark? We give our final verdict on the results.
• Mac Monday: Our latest look at gaming for the Mac takes a look at the kingdom sim KingMania.
• Independent Minds: Our look at indie games this week takes on the issue of comparing a game concept to a full version
• Big Ideas: Our look at game themes this week is all about how much developers owe gamers and vice versa
• Freeware Friday: Our weekly free game is a 2D shooter inspired by Team Fortress 2 called Gang Garrison 2

Downloads

• Men of War demo: Check out a single player sample of the upcoming WWII RTS game from Best Way and 1C Company
• Red Alert 3 patch: We have the latest update to EA's RTS game to download
• Crysis Warhead 1.1 hotfix patch: Download this quick update to Crytek's FPS game
• Black Rock Studios teaser trailer: It's the first brief footage from the still mysterious racing game
• Mass Effect 2 trailer: Check out this first footage from BioWare's sci-fi RPG sequel; that ending is a trick . . .isn't it?

News

• BlizzCon 2009 announced
• StarCraft beta in 2009 'unless something crazy happens'
• Heroes Over Europe release in trouble
• Impulse taking pre-orders for PC Braid, release set for March 31
• EA CEO reveals new American McGee's Alice game
• Ex-Ensemble team members light a Bonfire (Studios, that is)
• Quake Live finally launches open beta next week
• California's video game law dissed (again) by court system
• Codemasters to publish new Leisure Suit Larry game; coming in April
• Valve shares their PC game rigs
• Team Fortress 2 Scout update due next week; reveals new weapon
• X3: Terran Conflict expansion announced: retail release on April 7