Play the Magic Toy Chest Now - Public Beta 2 is Now Available!

Graduate Games is happy to announce that you can download our second (and probably final) beta starting today (7/7/08-7/14/08). The game has changed quite a bit since the last beta and hopefully everyone who has played the game before will notice the improvements.

You can download the Beta here.

What has changed since last time? Well there's now 20 Tutorial Levels that will teach you how to play and how all 16 toys work. There's also background filters for everyone that found the backgrounds too "loud." There's also a number of tweaks that make the easier tonavigate, etc and nicer on the eyes. Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback and helped us make these changes. Keep the changes and levels coming and you'll receive $5 off the final game...just make sure we have your email address.

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Watch the Game in Action

Indie Showcase: World of Goo Preview

World of Goo Gameplay Trailer
by 2dboy

I recently preordered World of Goo and was lucky enough to sample the first chapter (which I have almost completed....blasted tower of goo level!). Let me start off by saying that I absolutely love the art style. It's hard to explain exactly what it is, but it definitely has a pop-up book type feel. All in all, it's shaping up to be a very unique and slick game. Just as dragging and dropping the black goo got tedious, I was introduced to some mind blowing other goos such as inflatable goos and green movable goos. I am really excited to see what other goos make it into the final game. Hopefully, World of Goo will get the notoriety it deserves when it is finally released...I think it could make quite a splash on the Wii. Simple gameplay permeates this game, but you have to be smart with your goos or 2d Boy will cry.

Indie Showcase: Everyday Shooter

Everyday Shooter is THE BEST downloadable game I have played on a console. It takes the popular geometry wars formula and adds a chain system and puts it all to music. Playing the game really is like playing through a music album. Each level has a unique music track, mood, feel, and a new chain system to learn. Learning how to chain is crucial to beating the levels and progressing through the game. The game is a little hard, but the incentive is always there to unlock the next level and experience a new song and shmup system. I can't recommend this title enough. Check it out in the PS3 store.

Indie Showcase: Outpost Kaloki

In honor of Ninjabee and it's recent release of Band of Bugs on PC, we are showcasing one of Ninjabee's best titles: Outpost Kaloki. Outpost Kaloki is a simplified Real Time strategy game that challenges you to build a space station. It's a fantasic game that is also available for Xbox 360. We gave it a 94%...so no fears BUY IT NOW for only $14.95! At the very least Play the Demo below.

Indie Showcase: Steam Brigade

Steam Brigade is a fantastic and unique 2D action/Real Time Strategy Game. It has amazing graphics and oozes the style and individuality of the best Independent Games out there. Check out the free demo below or just BUY IT NOW, it's only $9.95.

Showcase: Video Game Thanksgiving

Mass Effect, Rock Band, and Undertow all release next week in time for Turkey Day. They join other AAA titles such as Assassin's Creed and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune making for a plethora of great gaming choices over the holidays.

Showcase: Undertow is given a Release Date

Undertow is one of the more high profile Xbox Live Arcade Titles out there. I am defintely anticipating it and have been yearning for a release date. Well, a new trailer has surfaced announcing a release date of Nov 21st, 2007. While it's great that a Live release actually gets a release date before say the Monday the week of, It sort of sucks that Mass Effect, Rock Band AND Undertow all come out the same week. Hopefully with the holiday, I'll be able to get to them all.

Showcase: Rock Band Xbox 360 / PS3

After playing the Guitar Hero III demo this week, let me assure everyone out there that Rock Band will be a FAR superior experience. While Guitar Hero III looks great, plays great, etc. it is ultimately Guitar Hero II with a facelift and some new tracks. If that warrants your $60-100 so be it. Rock Band stands to offer the same great Harmonix Guitar Action that they invented back in Guitar Hero I, plus expand it with new experiences such as drumming and singing. Plus who doesn't want to make their own Rock God with the customizable character features?

Showcase: Street Fighter II HD Remix & Street Fighter IV

Capcom has done it! I'm actually excited for not 1 new street fighter game, but 2. When was the last time I anticipated a Street Fighter game? Probably back when I was 10ish and waiting for SFII Championship Edition on Genesis. Kudos to Capcom for getting me excited for SF IV and SFII HD Remix. I hope the stylized visuals of SF IV make it into the final game, but I KNOW that HD Remix will be the SFII I've been waiting for. Check out these gorgeous makeovers:

Showcase: Storked!

It's only appropriate that this weeks showcase feature Storked, which was just released earlier in the week. Go ahead and try out the gamepage for all the info on the game and features. Or you could simply download the demo and just play it. There's more screenshots etc in both columns of the blog. Enjoy and more developing with Storked over the next couple weeks.

Showcase: Halo 3 and Bungie.net Stat Integration

Bungie.net is an addictive addition to Halo 3. Not only can you replay your recent games and analyze them in the game's theater...you can also track all your stats, service record, and recent game kill/death charts on Bungie.net. The Integration is pretty seamless and it's just one of those additions that really goes a long way. If you have Halo 3, you should definitely check out Bungie.net. Can't wait till Bungie Recommends starts incorporating User Generated Content. Bungie's website goes above and beyond the call of duty and is a definite bonus to a fantastic game. Give it a look if you haven't already.

Friday Showcases

This will be the most subjective and diverse feature. Friday Showcases may feature everything from a phenomenal indie game, an old retro classic, a great game trailer, a notable game story, developer interview, indie company, etc. The possibilities are endless, but the feature is planned to be on the shorter side. The Showcase will be cut and dry and to the point. It will highlight my particular tastes, favorite games, great art direction, etc. The Showcase will recommend second looks into old games and hopefully dig up some great gaming gems along the way for readers as well.