Direct Download Run-Down

May 5, 2008 by CJ

As far as most people are concerned, Direct Download is just a way for the big names in gaming to separate you from your hard-earned cash. However, Direct download has another important use as well – it offers smaller publishers a chance to shine, creating an invaluable source of vitamin D that's great for any gamer that never sees the sun (i.e., all of us).

Direct Download looks very promising so far, especially considering the announcements made at Game Developers Conference (GDC). At this year's GDC, Microsoft made a sizeable splash with their XNA community announcement, drenching everyone in the first three rows. Two of them drowned.

Everyone else had a great time.

In addition to XNA, Direct Download will benefit from Nintendo's Wiiware, which is starting in May. Xbox Live has been going strong, possessing a large library that will only get bigger once XNA really kicks off. Sony is slowly expanding their Playstation Network (PSN), and Steam has become the PC version of the aforementioned three services. Creating games from one's garage just became a lot more realistic. Scoring a date with Jessica Alba did not.

In the near future, you'll be seeing some notable Direct Download games that will cost less than a meal at your local T.G.I. Friday's. From the initial launch of XNA games, there's The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai. In this title, players assume the role of a man who is supposed to be dead, but wakes up in a kitchen to find he's under attack. (I'm fairly certain this plot was based on the last bachelor party I attended.) The visual style in Dishwasher is reminiscent of a darker Alien Hominid, but with a bit more polish. Dishwasher is a game in the classic 2-D beat-'em-up style, with combos similar to those of Devil May Cry. On top of that, you've got gruesome God of War-like finishes. Lastly, the game boasts a wide variety of quick arcade missions to complement the story mode and co-op play (both locally and over Xbox Live).

Audio Surf is a downloadable game available via Steam that you may want to look out for. It's a rhythm-racing game based on your own music, and positive word-of-mouth about the title has been spreading faster than the legs of a prom date.

Finally, keep a look out for Fez, a 2-D puzzle platformer in the vain of Crush and Super Paper Mario. You rotate your character in a 3-D world, but the play perspective always remains 2-D. This seems like it will be a very light-hearted game that's easy to just pick up and play.

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