Dark Messiah gets Steamed, Limited Edition

New Might and Magic will be downloadable through Valve's service; special edition adds soundtrack, in-game goodies, videos.

Dark Messiah's limited-edition box art.

When the first Might and Magic game was released back in 1986, the idea of digitally distributing computer games was almost as far-fetched as flying cars and time travel. Twenty years later, the franchise's next game will see its first simultaneous retail and digitally distributed launch with Dark Messiah of Might and Magic for the PC.

Ubisoft has agreed to sell the game through Valve's Steam, an online distribution service that has also pushed games such as Half-Life 2, SiN, and Darwinia through the Internet pipeline.

The partnership isn't completely unexpected, asince Dark Messiah runs on the Source engine, Valve's tool that powered its top-seller, Half-Life 2. Though the Might and Magic franchise is a traditional role-playing series, Dark Messiah is a first-person action game with role-playing game elements.

While shopping from a keyboard is convenient for some people, real fans of the game might want to pick up Dark Messiah directly from a brick-and-mortar shop. Ubisoft today also announced that a limited edition of the game will be released on launch day. The $59.99 set will include the game, extra in-game content (a multiplayer skin and four single-player weapons), a "making of" video, trailers, 12 collectible cards, and the game's soundtrack on CD.

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic will retail for approximately $50 when it is released in October. It is being developed by two studios; Arkane Studios is handling the single-player portion and Kuju Entertainment is producing the multiplayer portion. For more on the game, download the game's demo or read GameSpot's previous coverage.

54 Comments

  • ulricboel

    Posted Nov 7, 2006 10:55 pm PT

    Hi,

    I got the boxed version (Collector edition) and installed it...at the end of the installation process, you've got the option to link the game to your Steam account...allowing you to get the Steam Limited Edition...the only drawback is you have to download the complete game (more than 3GB...as I already downloaded 320Mb and Steam says"12% of the game") which is a problem here in Belgium where we have a 10GB/month traffic limit (the reason I bought the DVD version!!!).

    Regards,

    Ulric

  • polymathes

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 2:21 pm PT

    Nothing wrong with Steam except I don't like the invasiveness
    of it. As soon as clicked on the install button, it tried to contact home base. Ya know, it could at least ASK me if
    it's all right to use my Internet connection! If any other program
    does this sort iof thing we call it maleware.

    Plus, I like to have the install disk in my hot sweaty fingers,
    especially when I go to reinstall the game five years from
    now and Steam is nothing but a memory.

  • menelKiN

    Posted Sep 20, 2006 10:57 pm PT

    what do they mean when the limited edition will come with "four single player weapons?" does that mean that if you dont get the limited edition your stuck with crappier weapons? thats kinda really gay and not very fair i dont think. the extra making of and cards and stuff i see, but why take content out of the game for a lesser selling version? i dont get it?

  • bill787

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 5:09 am PT

    Steam rocks!!! I really like steam alot it makes it so easy to not have to insert a computer disc everytime you want to play and it keeps the games updated with new patches, etc frequently

  • DonTsetsi

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 5:44 pm PT

    It's better for pirates, too. STEAM games are cracked faster and are easier to install!

    Not that I am a pirate, I just know.

  • _Sam_

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 3:08 pm PT

    I prefer the disks

  • focult

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 10:11 am PT

    i for one and elated that this game will come out for steam, I love steam!
    I recently purchased a new gaming laptop. All i had to do was install steam and download all my half life goodness, no digging for install disks, and most importantly i did not need to have the disks to play the games. the only thing they need to do (besides get more games on steam) is set up steam so you can keep your save games on-line, instead of local.

    also for the questions regarding steam and having to re-install your os or something, no problem. you just log into your steam account and re-download the game. easy as pie. I have steam and my hl2 games installed on 3 of my computers, and can play it on any of them (just not all at the same time)

    If you have a high speed Internet connection give steam a try, i think you wil be surprised.

  • snipercia1

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 10:46 pm PT

    Why so much beef toward steam guys? I would perfer more games to be available for electronic delivery...never have to worry about seeking out patches or the lost software...just logon and go

  • Chironex

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 7:32 pm PT

    Download through Steam? Are they serious? The demo install file alone was 1.3GB, so how big is the full game going to be? 2 DVDs? 3? I just don't see the benefit of getting a game off of Steam. The only game I ever bought through Steam was The Ship, and that's only because wasn't out at retail. If both the Steam and retail versions are released at the same time, I know which I'll be going for. The special edition sounds nice, but christ, that box art looks like crap.

  • Maximiliator

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 3:09 am PT

    What happens if you buy it from steam, and the download brakes down !? Or your PC got a Virus !? Is your money gone then !?
    max

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 2:58 pm PT

    For some reason I prefer to buy Steam games physically rather than digitally...I guess because if I buy games digitally it doesn't really feel like your getting anything....stupid I know but I guess I just like to have the box and stuff (it costs the same anyway so who cares ya know?)

  • Nuclear_Kernel

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 11:56 am PT

    50 $ retail price are they nuts ? I' ll buy a good phone with that kind of money.

  • supamancam

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 11:11 am PT

    Mandate of Heaven > Xeen Steam's ok. But with no CE, I sure won't be purchasing it from there.

  • rvig11

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:33 am PT

    Xeen was an awesome game

  • Autolycus

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 5:34 am PT

    World of Xeen, best one, by far. Bring the turn based rpg/fps back!

  • tony_fjellborg

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 3:23 am PT

    steam is not good, not good at all..

  • Syao4

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 2:13 am PT

    Wait..so there is Collector's edition AND limited edition? or its the same thing,cuz i pre-orderd the collectors edition from ubisoft's site

  • JLCrogue

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 11:22 pm PT

    I'm definately going to get the Limited Edition!

  • DontEatCream

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 11:06 pm PT

    Hmm...I wonder if the boxed version of Dark Messiah will make us jump through the same hurdles as the boxed version of HL2 will. If I remember correctly, the boxed version of HL2 still required Steam authorization to fully install correctly. Other than the engine, DM has no relations with HL2, so this probably won't occur. But you'll never know...

  • Charlie2688

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 9:27 pm PT

    nambor100...NEWS FLASH no were in the article said that the limited edition would be on steam...how the hell are you gonna get the collectible cards thru steam?

    LEARN TO READ (and write) there are commas for a reason...

  • Theuser6668

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 9:06 pm PT

    You wouldnt lose the game because Steam tracks the purchase and has it always credited to your account, so you'd just have to re-download steam and re-download the games you had before the crash...sheesh

  • nambor100

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 8:56 pm PT

    WTF!!! are they stupid! as if you would have a imited edition only downloadable through steam! what if your comp went spazzo and you had to re-format it? you would loos the game! they arnt thinking! they should bring the limited edition thingo out in a cd so you can bye it! get more money that way, But meh there a bunch of kewl game making ideots! =)

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 7:38 pm PT

    cool

  • the_real_VIP

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 7:36 pm PT

    I rather have the physical product.

  • Mohamadouf

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 6:43 pm PT

    Valve is growing up faster than weed.

  • moocow21

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 5:31 pm PT

    I wish my PC could handle this game

  • j14rk1n

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 5:30 pm PT

    Nice

  • Neoyamaneko

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 5:06 pm PT

    The Steam version should be around $40-$45 if you aren't paying for packaging or a manual hardcopy. If it's the same cost, you might as well just buy the box.

  • dmn_link

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 4:47 pm PT

    The Demo ( Both ) is awesome, wonder why Some dont like it.

  • Kenshin836

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 4:45 pm PT

    The demo was awesome, you guys don't know what your talking about.

  • 3jsmk

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 4:37 pm PT

    that game sucks in my opinion

  • QualityJeverage

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 4:25 pm PT

    Damn...what a choice...

    On the one hand, I've had no problems with Steam at all, and Digital purchases are quick and require zero effort.

    On the other hand...The special edition has all that extra stuff...

    Decisions Decisions...

  • guylapierre

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 3:31 pm PT

    Awesome.....Down with CD/DVD distribution...long live steam.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 3:15 pm PT

    im probably not gonna get it

  • Mindphaser

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 3:09 pm PT

    The demo was crap... what a huge letdown.

  • Kastef

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 3:07 pm PT

    Real fans of the game should also consider buying it through Steam so more of the your $$$ goes to the developer and not the publisher.

  • kaim_i

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:52 pm PT

    sweet!! :-

  • koopi

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:51 pm PT

    Cool ... maybe I'll be aiming for the Limited Edition.

  • Charlie2688

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:37 pm PT

    Sounds sweet..
    Probably the people that know me already know that I am sure to pick up the Limited edition !

  • prostar343

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:36 pm PT

    That's pretty good of Valve. Thought I'm pretty positive they will be getting a cut of the profits from those who buy on steam.

  • FRoStYisGoD

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:33 pm PT

    nice

  • premanna

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:20 pm PT

    AWESOME

  • gertish

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:14 pm PT

    Great to hear

  • Alphawolf102

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:12 pm PT

    when they sell it over steam ill buy it that way and if they sell the extra content on steam ill probably end up buying that too

  • Basinboy

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:11 pm PT

    Very cool. The game looks much more involved than ESIV:Oblivion, but I'll have to do some upgrading before I can play it. It's also going to be quite interesting to see how Valve's download campaign turns out not only with this game, but with all their games.

  • MrOpinionated

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:03 pm PT

    The demo was pretty cool. I'm going to get, but probably retail. Steam will probably be required, for authentication at least. I wouldn't mind that!

  • capthunt

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:01 pm PT

    COOL!

  • pwlodarczyk

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 2:01 pm PT

    I'm getting it. I wonder if there will be a limited edition on Steam too?

  • kozzy1234

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 1:56 pm PT

    This game is going to kick butt!!!!

  • blackIceJoe

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 1:56 pm PT

    Well Limited Edition's are mostly a waste of ten more dollars but I still like to get them if you get some thing extra. But this one sounds like a good one.
    So I can easily say I will pick this one up.

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