The last week, particularly the last few days, has been full of new PC game release dates and announcements. What will next week, which also happens to be Gamescom week, bring us? We'll just have to wait and see -- in the meantime, check out what the last seven days brought us.

Exclusive features

• StarCraft II: We conclude our strategy guide to Blizzard's game with entries on the Protoss and Zerg factions along with some of the game's achievements.
• Blood Bowl Legendary Edition Interview: We chat with members of Cyanide Studio about their upcoming update to 2009's fantasy-themed sports game.

Downloads

• Global Agenda Free Trial Client: Try out this recent first person shooter MMO for free.
• Mafia 2 demo: It's a playable slice of the upcoming open world crime action game from 2K Games.
• Victoria 2 demo: Check out this portion of the recent historical strategy game from Paradox Interactive.
• The Scourge Project Demo: This is a free look at the recent third person shooter that uses Unreal Engine 3.
• BioShock Infinite trailer: This is the first CGI trailer for Irrational Games' upcoming shooter title.
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution gameplay trailer: Check out this first look at actual game play from Eidos Montreal's action-RPG.

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There's nothing that hurts our feelings more than when video game companies tell us one thing and do another -- or when they don't tell us anything, and then do something truly bonkers. We cherish few things more than transparency, whether that transparency comes in the form of honesty from developers, openness from a particular company's executives, or a crystal clear glass of poison-free tap water.

Of course, some things should completely obfuscate our view of what lies beyond. Things like oh we don't know the bottoms of hot air balloon baskets? Or how about the bottoms of hot air balloon baskets. What about Japanese gaming hardware sales statistics posted after the jump? No, those are okay. See, those don't keep you suspended in the air, hundreds of feet above the deadly, deadly ground. Unlike the bottoms of hot air balloon baskets, you see.

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Hey, fans of Apple products love stacking things on top of other things to make bigger things too, you know. That's why NetDevil recently opened up Lego Universe's closed beta process to Mac users. Potential stackers and builders can hop on the wagon by going to the game's official Beta Center and applying to join up.

These new players are getting in at an opportune time -- though the beta's currently only playable on certain days of the week, the game's official site promises that "it won't be long before the game servers will be open 24/7, which means non-stop playtime - woohoo!" That was their woohoo, not ours, though we can certainly see why that's cause for celebration.

The internet is so cool, you guys. Check this out: Gamasutra recently did a feature on the XCOM first-person shooter reboot that's currently in development at 2K Marin. Julian Gollop, creator of the original X-Com: UFO Defense just happened to pop into the comments of said article to give his opinion on the current sorry state of the turn-based strategy genre, and revealing he's "now working on a turn-based tactical RPG which will be a 3DS launch title." Thanks, the internet! You're just full of surprises.

According to some investigation from TinyCartridge, Gollop's LinkedIn profile states he's been at Ubisoft Bulgaria/Sofia the past three years -- and Ubisoft has a turn-based strategy game titled Ghost Recon: Lead The Ghosts in the works for Nintendo's three-dimensional handheld. We've contacted Ubisoft to see if this cyclically-titled Clancy jam is indeed Gollop's next opus.

If you missed the latest episode of GTTV, fret not: just past the break, we've embedded the episode, which pulls back the curtain on Medal of Honor's campaign mode. Initially, all we knew was that the game would take place in Afghanistan and you'd be among one of the beard-sporting elite known as Tier One Operators.

However, thanks to executive producer Greg Goodrich, we now know a bit more -- specifically, that the campaign will be divided up into three parts and follows a team on the hunt for Al Quaeda. Goodrich also mentions the story will be told "from two different sides," implying that players will eventually be able to take up the mantle of the terrorists themselves.

But, hey, why are we still gabbing on? Head on past the break and absorb this intel first-hand for yourself, including a look at two never-before-seen single-player levels. Consider it an order, soldier!

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Brink developer Splash Damage's Quakecon 2010 panel played host to a few neat announcements about its FPSRPG, the highlight of which being the reveal of the game's cameo-tastic pre-order bonuses. Folks who reserve the game through GameStop will unlock the Doom pack, giving their Brink characters access to armor, guns, hats and a tattoo based on id's seminal FPS franchise. Those who pre-order the game from Best Buy will receive a similar pack based on Fallout 3.

Of course, if you're looking for more unique duds for your Brink avatar, several online retailers will offer "Psycho" and "Spec Ops" equipment, which will make your character resemble a psycho and special operative, respectively. Neither of those sound quite as enticing as "Space Demon Fighter" or "Nuclear Wasteland Savior," but we suppose they'll do.

It's been a pretty radical past few weeks for comics both online and off. There's the metric ton of news that came pouring out of Comic-Con 2010, there's the recently released film adaptation of Scott Pilgrim, and then, of course, there's the game adaptation of the film adaptation of Scott Pilgrim. Sadly, ev'ry rose must have its thorn, and earlier this week, said thorn was identified: The beloved Sunday funnies staple known as "Cathy" will come to a close in October. Should you find yourself in a beverage today, we humbly request that you pour one out.

If you're not too torn up about the news we just delivered, you should check out our seven favorite gaming-centric webcomics from this past week, posted below. Make sure you vote for your favorite in the poll after the jump!

Slippy (Brawl in the Family)
Intelligent Design (Virtual Shackles)
The Sixth Slave (Penny Arcade)
Shepard's Flock (Digital Unrest)
My Only Hope (No Cash Value)
Bat out of Hell (Awkward Zombie)
A Certain Type of Rush (ActionTrip)

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In our experience, there are two types of people in this world: Folks who think Harvest Moon 64 is the best game in the series, and total weirdos. The first group will likely be dismayed to read NerdMentality's recent interview with Natsume exec Graham Markay, who, when asked whether the title would ever make it onto the Virtual Console storefront, responded, "It will not. It will not. And it's not from lack of trying."

Markay explained that the code of the original title is "not an easy transfer," later adding "I shouldn't say it's never going to come out, but there's just a really, really, very small chance that it would ever come out." Great, Markay. Just leave that door open. Just keep us hanging onto that one sliver of hope as we attempt to get our fix by pulling 48-hour FarmVille binges. You're killing us, dude.