Mac Gaming News

• Aspyr brings the best selling game of all time, Call of Duty: Black Ops to the Mac this Fall.
• Starting yesterday, ALL Call of Duty games are 50% off in the GameAgent Store! Sale goes through the end of next week.
• Aspyr are hosting a CoD 4 multiplayer event. Take on their development team and win prizes.
• Episode 2 of TellTale Game’s Walking Dead game is available now. Get it while it’s freshly rotted.
• Epics Games, makers of Gears of War, say Infinity Blade for iOS is their most $uccessful game yet. They want to do more mobile gaming in the future.
• Atari celebrates its 40th anniversary! In honor of the momentous occasion, 100 games were FREE in the App Store. If you missed it, maybe wait until the 50th?
• Snooki of Jersey Shore fame is getting her own iOS game called ‘Snooki Bling Bling.’ Game Gods help us all.
• From the depths of R’lyeh straight to your iOS device, Cthulhu Saves The World is now available for iPhone/iPad. Cthulhu Fhtagn!
•  Amazon has both Dragon Age titles marked down under $10 this week. Go grab one of the best RPGS of the past few years for your Mac.

Apple News

• Lots of Apple court news. First they won a huge patent case against Samsung. Now they pony up a $2.6 million bond to ban Samsung Galaxy tablets. And the Motorolla case was flatly dismissed.
• Mountain Lion will automatically download background system updates similar to Windows Updates, sources say.
•  In its 5 year life, the iPhone has generated $150 BILLION in revenue. Most impressive.
• Apple launches iTunes in many more countries around the world, particularly in Asia.
• Sources also indicate that this fall will see the biggest iTunes overhaul since 2003.
• There’s now a dedicated, Apple-created Podcast App available in the App Store for iOS. It looks pretty awesome.
• Apparently users of Apple products are becoming a legit ‘demographic’ and are willing to spend more on hotels. Orbitz plans to capitalize on that.
• Needs some help optimizing that Retina display? Apple’s released a FAQ to help.
• Instagram got an iOS update, and so did the Gmail app, which allows ‘Push Notifications’ now.
• Google’s Chrome browser is now on iOS.

Our Posts

• Call of Duty: Black Ops Coming to Mac
• Modern Pwnage: Strategies for Survival and Success in CoD 4 Multiplayer
• Tuesday’s 20%: Civilization V
• Review Round-Up: Civilization V: Gods & Kings

The biggest action series of all time returns to the Mac.  Will you answer the call?

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Reporting for Duty Fall 2012!

http://youtu.be/9nLfg479JI8

With over 25 million copies sold worldwide, Aspyr brings Call of Duty: Black Ops, the most successful game of all time, to the Mac this fall. Set during the Cold War in the 1960s, conduct CIA-backed  clandestine black operations (Black Ops) behind enemies lines. Travel all across the world to Russia, Vietnam, and even the Arctic circle as you try to prevent the lethal chemical nerve agent Nova-6 from falling into the wrong hands. Become fully immersed in this dire global situation as you encounter famous historical figures from the time such as President John F. Kennedy and Cuban lead Fidel Castro.

Features

• Epic single-player campaign
• Earn in-game COD Points that work like currency to purchase equipment, attachments, perks, and new customization options. This gives you the freedom to purchase what you want, when you want
• Customize the look of your soldiers with a variety of face paints, gun camos, and equipment options.
• Wildly addictive competitive multiplayer
• Signature zombie-slaying cooperative multiplayer
• And more!

Release date and pre-order details coming soon.

Start Training Now…For Cheap

Can’t wait to lace up your combat boots? All Call of Duty Mac games are 50% off this week, including the critically acclaimed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare! Discount available on both the Mac App store and of course in the GameAgent store. Sale goes through the 4th of July so get your now.

Test Your Combat Skills

Hey, sharpshooter, think you’ve got the skills to take on Aspyr’s dev team in Call of Duty 4?  Test us out on Friday, July 6! Have some fun, win some prizes and more. Check out Aspyr’s page for full details on how you can get in on the action.

To celebrate this big announcement and community gaming event, look for a blog later this week detailing combat strategies for multiplayer. We want you to be as powerful and in-the-know as possible to take on the Dev Team!

Hey Call of Duty fans. In case you hadn’t heard, Aspyr is giving you the opportunity to take on their Development Team in an all-out multiplayer frag fest. Not only can you earn bragging rights but they’re also throwing in plenty of cool prizes! The game of choice is Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The fun takes place on July 6 so head over to Aspyr’s website and sign up now.

Want to take on our development team but need some help brushing up on your tactical skills? Well look no further soldiers! We want it to be a fair fight so we’ve compiled some tips, both basic and advanced to help you perfect your game before the big day.

The Basics

• Practice Makes Perfect: I know this seems like a “duh” but it’s true. Continual play and drilling yourself on the toughest maps and situations can do wonders for your game. Some people may be “naturals” but just like anything in this world, the more you do something, the better at it you become.
• Going Solo: What better way to get down the basics than to complete the single player campaign? It introduces you to different styles of gameplay and different strategies for using the variety of weapons and ammo the game has to offer. Speaking of which…
• U + Weapons =BFF: Ok, that’s a silly way to put it, but seriously. You have to be a master of each of your weapons. Just how far away can you snipe someone? How much damage does each of your weapons do? What’s the blast radius on a frag grenade or a rigged car? Knowing these sorts of answers can save your life or be the loss of your opponent’s. Oh, and don’t be afraid to knife someone if they’re close enough.
• On the Surface: be familiar with which surfaces have certain properties. Some walls are perfect for taking cover from enemy fire, but some are just as damage-prone as ammo travels through them. Use this to your advantage whether you’re planning offensive or defensive maneuvers.
• Radar Love: You better learn to love your radar because it could end up saving your life! Use it to locate your enemies, but remember, it only picks them up if they’re firing. If they’re campers or using silencers they may not show up.
• Cat-Like Reflexes: Take advantage of crouching. You are heard less when crouching. Always be on the move! A moving target is always harder to it. Especially when in open spaces, sprint. Even when you’re a sniper, move constantly because you’re never safe. Also, stay close to the walls. Enemies will have a harder time hitting you because you’re more camouflaged depending on the wall.

Here’s a great video with map-specific strategies:

http://youtu.be/QDoWS2PBUis

Advanced Tactics

• Controlled Gunfire: The thrill of the kill tends to make one trigger happy, but don’t do it. The more you fire in succession in automatic mode, the more your accuracy drops. It’s best to fire in controlled bursts, no more than 3 or so shots at one time. Your clip and teammates will thank you.
• Flanking: This is another that seems obvious but you’d be surprised at how difficult and under-used it is in most multiplayer frays. While your teammate lays down a heavy rain of fire distracting the other team, work your way around them to get BEHIND enemy lines so you can shoot them in the back and hem in your foes. Sometimes it’s not possible to get behind them because of certain map layouts, but always keep trying.
• The Element of Bafflement: Jumping is more useful than you might think. In close combat use steady aim and healthy amount of jumping and you can actually avoid a fair amount of damage and lay the smack down. Turning corners with a dramatic jump can baffle oncoming adversaries so that while they’re trying to process this odd move you’re turning them into Swiss cheese.
• Camper Killer: As sure as the sun sets in the west every game will have campers. Be familiar with all the maps and recognize what are the most obvious camping spots for each. Taking out campers first can save a lot of frustration later when you forget about them because of the more aggressive players attacking you. When approaching known camp spots, just use a stun or flash as you enter. And don’t forget, campers usually have claymores surrounding them, so don’t get too close.

Whether this is your first time playing or you’re an old pro who needs a refresher these tips should get you off the ground and running in no time. Aspyr would love to see all of you guys sign up to play, but hurry! You only have until July 2 to enter. See you on the battlefield!

With all of the Gods & Kings excitement around here, you know we had to do it. This week’s Tuesday 20% is Civilization V! Get the game that won “2011 Mac Game of the Year” for the discounted price of $31.99!

Features

• An intuitive interface eases both new players and Civ veterans into the game. Guided by a set of trustedadvisors who will explain game functionality and provide counsel for significant decisions.
• Expanded visuals and immersive audio invite would-be kings to take up the reigns of power and forge a mighty empire. Civilization V Mac offers a limitless variety of vast, realistic and diverse landscapes for players.
• Wars between empires feel massive as armies dominate the landscape, and combat is more exciting and intense than ever before.
• Write your own epic story each time you play. Choose one of eighteen historical civilizations to lead from the stone-age to the space age on your quest to build the world’s most powerful empire.

If you’ve been tempted by the awesomeness of Gods & Kings but didn’t have Civ V already, now’s your chance to get this game cheaper than usual. But hurry! This empire-creating on a budget offer doesn’t last long. The sale is only until Midnight on Tuesday, June 26, 2012!

Grab your copy of Civilization V today and create an empire in your image!

Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter if you want the latest deals and Mac gaming news!

It’s that time again dear readers, where we bring you a selection of reviews for a brand new Mac game. This time we bring you the world’s thoughts on Civilization V expansion Gods & Kings, released yesterday day and date along with the PC version. Thanks to this awesome simultaneous launch, there are already plenty of reviews out there to check out. Here are some of the best:

Current Ratings

As of 6/25/2012

• Inside Mac Games: 9 out of 10
• MacWorld UK: 4 out of 5 stars
• IGN: 9 out of 10
• 1up: A-
• Escapist: 4 1/2 out of 5
• Forbes: A

(more…)

Mac Gaming News

• Civilization V expansion Gods & Kings is now available! Get your copy here at the GameAgent Store.
• Great Scott! The first episode of TellTale’s awesome Back to the Future game is FREE in the Mac App store. Hurry and get it for nada while it lasts!
• A game based on Disney’s new movie Brave is now available for the Mac.
• A remake of a remake, Bard’s Tale arrives for iOS.
• Our friends at Feral Interactive are bringing Sega games to the Mac.
• Alkemi’s puzzle-shooter hybrid Transcripted is coming to the Mac. Look for it in late July.
• Played Temple Run? Of course you have. Read the incredible ‘Cinderella Story’ of the game’s two developers.
• Quirky indie game ‘Tiny & Big’ arrives for Mac.
• Ever thought the fun game Draw Something would make a great TV show? Well somebody did.
• Ok, so not really a game, but how cool is it that there’s now a Reading Rainbow iPad app? Complete with La Forge, I mean LeVar Burton. My inner child is squealing with delight. But don’t take my word for it…

Apple News

• First impressions of Apple’s Map program are coming in. Luckily, they look pretty good.
• Speaking of maps, Apple and Google are under scrutiny for using “military grade” spy planes for photography used in their maps programs.
• Big brother fears you say? That’s nothing compared to this Apple patent for cloning users’ online identity.
• Spotify’s latest update for iOS includes free mobile radio. Watch out Pandora, they’re coming for you.
• Apple’s back in court. This time they’re on the receiving end of a suit with Kodak.
• We’re gonna need a bigger…data plan? Using FaceTime with 3G/4G is apparently a bandwidth behemoth. 
• App Store sales triple in China. Yet the developers aren’t seeing the profit?
• Rumor has it the new iPhone 5 will have a smaller dock connector. This makes it incompatible with any previous charger. I can already hear the indignant cries.
• All’s well in the tablet sales forecast. iPad sales are still growing.

Our Posts

• Use Religion & Espionage to Build an Empire in Gods & Kings
• Giveaways and Savings
• Tuesday’s 20%: Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
• Civilization V: Gods & Kings Mac Launches Today!

Welcome enthusiastic Civilization V: Gods & Kings players! We hope everyone’s been enjoying this rich and detailed expansion. If you’re outside of North America and shaking your fist, don’t worry, only a little while more to go, so chin up.

Whether it’s planning for your first game in the future or some insight into a current game, we’ve tried to dig in and give you some advice and tips that should help you in your quest to rule the new world of Gods & Kings. First some insight into the game’s two big new aspects, then some general advice for gameplay and strategy.

In celebration of the release of Gods & Kings this week, GameAgent and Aspyr are offering different ways to get discounts on Apsyr titles and win FREE games! Here’s the offers we have going currently:

Aspyr’s Civilization Sweepstakes

Excited about the launch of Gods & Kings? Would you like to get a copy for FREE? How about a huge Civilization game prize pack? Head over to Aspyr’s Facebook page and click on the giveaway link which should bring you to an image like this:

* Remember, you have to let the Sweepstakes app connect to your account so make sure you click the “Log In with Facebook” button when it pops up. You will then be taken to a confirmation page once completed.

Hurry, time’s running out!

Winners are announced on Friday so hurry and get your name in to win some great games.

GameAgent 20% Off Coupon Code

You like GameAgent, right? Of course you do, that’s why you’re here. Well now you can be rewarded with a sweet 20% off discount (good for any game in the GameAgent store) just for liking us! Here’s how:

• Head over to the GameAgent Facebook page and “Like” us.
• Click on the “Exclusive Offer” button
• Enter your email address and click submit
• A window will pop up asking you to allow the discount app to connect to your FB account. Click it to connect
• Success!

You should see a victory message that looks like this:

See how me we love you guys? Now get out there get your hands on some winnings and savings!

I sense a disturbance in The Force…it’s our weekly Tuesday 20%! Today only you can get the Star Wars classic Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast for 20% off. That makes it the low low price of $7.99. At prices like that, even a scruffy looking nerf herder could afford this great game.

Here’s what this great game has to offer:

• Use your Lightsaber and the full power of the Force to combat a new evil plaguing the galaxy.
• Wield over 8 Force abilities including the Jedi Mind Trick, Force Lightning and Force Grip.
• Choose wisely from an arsenal of 13 weapons including disruptor rifle, thermal detonators, trip mines and Wookiee bowcaster.
• Play on-line with 2-32 players or against a variety of AI Bots – and gain an additional 7 Force powers.
• Test your skills in 24 single-player missions and in 6 different types of multiplayer games including Jedi Master, Holocron, Capture the Ysalamiri, Duel, Deathmatch and Capture the Flag.
• Interact with legendary Star Wars characters such as Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian (featuring the voice of Billy Dee Williams as Lando.)

Just to get an idea of the gameplay and some of the cool things you can do in this title, check out this old school trailer for the game:

Deals like this aren’t Jedi Mind Tricks, but they only last for a limited time. Remember, this 20% off is only good until Midnight tonight, June 18th, 2012 so get Jedi Outcast now!

Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter if you want the latest deals and Mac gaming news!

Dust off your emperor’s robes and prepare to conquer the world all over again…

Civilization V: Gods and Kings is now available on the Mac!

This is the first full-fledged expansion to the 2011 Mac “Game of the Year” Civilization V and it’s filled to the brim with new and intriguing gameplay mechanics. Create a more complex and detailed play experience than ever before! This release is launched day and date with the PC version, so you’re getting brand new to the world content.

Features

• Expanded experience:  addition of new technologies, 27 new units, 13 new buildings, and 9 new Wonders, including including Neuschwanstein, the Great Mosque of Djenne, the Terracotta Army, the Great Firewall, and the Hubble Space Telescope.
• Religion: A righteous people will seek out Faith to found a Pantheon of the Gods. As your Faith becomes stronger, you can cultivate Great Prophets who build on these simple beliefs to create a religion that you can customize and enhance as desired. Beliefs can even unlock custom buildings that only people of your religion can construct.
• Enhanced Diplomacy and Espionage: Establish embassies at foreign courts for closer ties or send spies to steal information and technology!
• Naval Combat: Your navy is now split into two different ship types, melee and ranged. This means that no coastal city should be considered safe, and can now fall to a surprise naval attack.
• World Domination: Battles more dynamic than ever before with a reworked combat system and AI that puts more emphasis on a balanced army composition.