LucasArts’ and BioWare’s big announcement = PC Gamer’s next cover story (PC)

If the history between these two companies, the internet rumor mill, and the leak from EA’s CEO himself left any doubt in your mind what LucasArts and BioWare are working on, one of the industry’s worst-kept secrets will be revealed on October 21. On November 11, our Holiday issue will hit newsstands (lucky subscribers will start getting it earlier) with an exclusive in-depth look at the game, featuring interviews with BioWare founders Drs. Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk and their design team. We’re not allowed to say what the nature of the game is just yet, but LucasArts just sent out an invite to the announcement event that says more than any hints we could drop.

Holy crap! Golden Joysticks breezes past 600,000 votes (PC)

You read that right number fans – this year’sGolden Joystick Awardshas now amassed 600,000 votes. Immense! The actual official tally currently stands at 640,000, which – we’ve discovered through typing 640,000 into Google – is exactly equal to the number ofTexans left without powerin the wake of Hurricane Ike. Amazing! Coincidence? Yes.

And the breaking of the mighty 600K barrier was celebrated with the generous distribution of a N96 handset to the fortuitous person who cast the 600,000th vote. N96 maker Nokia describes its fancy handset as “stunning to look at, feature packed and Mensa smart”. So just like us. Wahey.

PC Gamer Showdown a success (Mirror’s Edge)

PC Gamer’s first live event, the PC Gamer Showdown, has been judged an ‘epic success’ by gamers. Over 2,000 gamers gathered at Stoneleigh Park in the West Midlands to play in prize tournaments of Team Fortress 2, Call of Duty 4, Counter-Strike: Source and World in Conflict, to try fantastic new games like Left 4 Dead, Far Cry 2 and Mirror’s Edge before release, or to meet, greet, and hug PC Gamer staff.

“The event turned the conventional LAN party on its head,” said Gavin Weeks, manager of E-Sports team 4-Kings. “Not a great deal of events can showcase future games as well as bring a whopping 35,000 worth of prizes to the table! The whole atmosphere was electric and the level of competition fierce. Great balance, great mag, great time! May there be many more Showdowns to come.”