In time for their annual PAX event, the web comic Penny Arcade has announced they are creating a video game in conjunction with Hothead Games to be released for Mac OS X, Windows, Linux and even consoles. Titled Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, the game will be episodic and has been described to be in the same vein as the LucasArts classic, Sam & Max.

Here's more from the report at Kotaku:

"We're really excited to be working with Hothead Games on our first electronic adventure," said writer Jerry "Tycho" Holkins. "From the moment we laid eyes on them, it was clear they had the technical and creative chops to execute our grim vision. Now that we have pooled our strengths, our dark work may truly begin."

While the team is excited about the possibility of the game, they also realize how important it is they get it right.

"This is something that they've always wanted to do, but at the same time they know how risky it is," Khoo said. "We have to ensure it is nothing short of awesome."

Penny Arcade Adventures

Kotaku Report: Penny Arcade Game

Macgamestore.com has begun shipping the boxed version of Halo, which is now in Universal Binary format. The new version will allow Intel Mac owners to run the game at native speeds on those machines. Halo is available for $29.95.

On the casual games front, Shell Whirl is now available through Macgamestore.com for $19.95. Kick off your shoes and transport yourself to an island paradise where you while away your time spinning shells at the beach. Choose from four different beach themed games while you relax to island music or natural ocean sounds. Photo-realistic island imagery and soothing animations will clear your mind and relax your world. A free demo is available for download.

And last but not least, Crusader Kings is now available as a digital download purchase through Macgamestore.com for $19.95. Crusader Kings is a strategy game that focuses on the feudal kingdoms of medieval Europe in the time period of 1066 to 1453 A.D. Take control of one of the Great Christian Dynasties of Europe and forge the bonds of your vassals from a circle of friends into a Nation. Play Dynasties as the Houses of Normandy, Gorm, Plantagenet, Rurik, Capet, Salian, Luxemburg, Navarre, Piast and the Ducas

Macgamestore: Halo

Macgamestore: Shell Whirl

Macgamestore: Crusader Kings

Pangea Software, makers of popular Mac games such as Nanosaur, Bugdom, and Enigmo, has posted a small teaser on their website hinting at a new game called Pangea Arcade. No details are available yet on the website besides a "coming soon" picture but Pangea's Brian Greenstone promises to reveal the game in the coming weeks. Be sure to stay tuned.

Pangea Arcade

audioMIDI has deals on a wide variety Mac compatible hardware and software products including: Audio-Technica ATH-T44 Headphones - buy one and get one free - for only $59.00!; control your digital audio workflow wirelessly with the Tranzport from Frontier Design Group for only $195.00!; UF5 49-note Controller with Cubase SE (while supplies last) from CME Controllers for only $189.42!; Traktor DJ Studio 3 - a comprehensive DJing solution - for only $99.00!; Behringer DFX69 Tweakalizer - a powerful desktop DJ effects processor for only $99.00!; get hypersampled production pianos w/Reason Piano Refill from Propellerhead for only $99.00!; and much more. Get all the details at the following URL: 

http://hotdeals.apple.com/audiomidi/index.php

MacConnection has deals on a wide variety Mac compatible hardware and software products including: run Windows on your Mac with Parallels Desktop free w/purchase of any Intel-based Mac! (Microsoft Windows OS sold separately); Olympus Evolt E-500 8-megapixel SLR digital camera w/14-45mm lens and 1GB Compact Flash card for only $749.95!; LaCie 250GB Porsche Design external USB 2.0 hard drive for only $99.95!; Adobe Macromedia Studio 8 upgrade w/free 1GB USB 2.0 DataTraveler flash drive for only $409.95!; Samsung 205BW 20" widescreen LCD Monitor for only $289.95!; project your ideas with the IN24 DLP Projector from InFocus for only $599.00!; and much more. Get all the details at the following URL:

http://hotdeals.apple.com/macconnection/index.php

Small Dog Electronics has Hot Deals exclusive prices on selected items including:  the iSongBook iPod speaker system/clock radio from Tivoli for a Hot Deals exclusive $259.00!; the Edge I (black) laptop carrying case for the MacBook from Brenthaven for a Hot Deals exclusive $39!; the Edge II (light blue) laptop carrying case for the MacBook Pro from Brenthaven for a Hot Deals exclusive $39!; 2GB Kingston Data Traveler USB Flash Drive for a Hot Deal exclusive $49.00!; Microsoft Office 2004 Student/Teacher Edition for only $138.00 - and get $50 back w/mail-in rebate!; 300GB LaCie d2 FW/800/400/USB 2.0 external hard drive for only $169.00!; ; and much more. Get all the details at the following URL: 

http://hotdeals.apple.com/smalldog/index.php

Lexaloffle Games is offering Swarm Racer for OS X, a unique racing title in which players must control an entire swarm of bees. To navigate the track and collect gems as fast as possible requires strategic formation changes to avoid obstacles. The retro title also features "funky chip music and plasmatronic backgrounds."

Swarm Racer is available for download from Macgamefiles.com. Click the links below for to learn more.

MGF: Swarm Racer 2.0

Swarm Racer Website

Lexaloffle Games

The freeware Descent 2 game D2X-XL has been updated to version 1.6.147, fixing a variety of bugs and adding network support for Macs.

Here's a list of changes in 1.6.147:

• Added teleporter cameras
• Fixed a massive networking bug
• Fixed many memory leaks
• Fixed hires animation flaws and crashes
• Fixed screen resolution menu not working properly

MGF: D2X-XL 1.6.147

D2X-XL Website

Click to enlarge

Aspyr Media's promised Universal Binary update for Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy has been released, giving owners of Intel Macs the chance to enjoy the popular action game. The patch also fixes network gaming and adds support for Apple's version of OpenAL, a 3D audio library.

In Jedi Academy players assume the role of a student who must choose between the light and dark sides of the Force while facing a new threat to the Jedi Order.

Here are the release notes for the patch from Aspyr:

• Jedi Academy is now a universal binary. Mods that use code DLLs will likely have to be rebuilt as Xcode-based universal binaries.

• The multiplayer app now disconnects from servers properly, and no longer forces you to quit and relaunch.

• Now uses Apple's version of OpenAL, which allows for true 3D audio.

MGF: Jedi Academy 1.0.1e

LucasArts

Aspyr Media

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy

Buy Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy

Click to enlarge

In an interview with Games Industry Blizzard Entertainment's Chief Operating Officer Paul Sams revealed the company's plan to release a new expansion for World of Warcraft every twelve months. The Burning Crusade, the first expansion for the game, is on target for a winter release according to Sams, with a specific release date and details on the beta to be announced in the near future.

So will all this extra content mean the game costs Blizzard more to run? "What costs us more to run it is people," he says - as the number of subscribers ramps up, so must the technology.

"We need more firepower on the server side, so we're upgrading the entire global network and we'll be adding new data-centres as well. When you add more players, you also have to increase the number of game-masters and staffers to support all of those players, as well as you have to increase the bandwidth in sizable costs."

But it won't be down to WOW fans to pick up the bill - "We'll be keeping the subscription fee flat," Sams confirms. Though, of course, players will have to pay a one-time fee for the expansion pack itself. Blizzard is considering a releasing bundle pack which include the original game, and perhaps a collector's edition - but nothing's been confirmed so far.

Even with the arrival of The Burning Crusade, though, can Blizzard really sustain such a rapid rise in subscriber numbers? It's a question that Sams is careful to answer cautiously.

"Will we have the same number of subscribers in two years? I don't know. I certainly hope so, but being realistic, that's a tall order."

Sams believes the key to keeping subscribers, and attracting new ones, is to continuously offer new content. "So, starting with The Burning Crusade, every year thereafter we plan on bringing out out a new expansion set every 12 months."

To read the rest of the interview with Sams, which discusses Blizzard's reluctance to bring WoW to consoles, click on the link below.

GamesIndustry: Paul Sams Interview

GamesIndustry: WoW Winter Release

Gamespot: Burning Crusade Reaches Alpha

Blizzard Entertainment

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade

Buy World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade

Click to enlarge

Desktop guru Brad Custer is back with another desktop, titled "Conspiracy". This week's desktop features Runesoft's title, Cold War.

Here's what Brad had to say about his latest creation:

We're returning this week to the realm of Cold War from Runesoft. After my first venture into this game, there's been a steady interest in having another desktop created for it. I enjoy games based on your ability to stealth through the game so featuring this title again wasn't a problem for me. I was able to make this week's feature with the help of Runesoft.

IMG Desktop: Conspiracy

Cold War

Buy Cold War

Search for other Mac games news stories or browse our Mac Games News Archive.