It’s that time again! You can now semi-blind pre-order Indie Royale’s forthcoming Valentine’s Bundle. The good news is that every PC platform has something in there. The bad news is that nobody loves you. Awww.

As these pre-orders are to be conducted in a semi-blind fashion, we cannot reveal to you what the games are but we can confirm the platforms they are available for and give you a little hint as to what they are all about. Well, we can’t personally but the Indie Royale chumps can, as it says on the site:

“The games offered this time include a fantastical first-person action-adventure game (Steam for PC), an IGF-nominated puzzle adventure title (Steam for PC and Mac, Desura for PC and Linux, DRM-free PC, Mac and Linux download), a ‘scorching’ single and multiplayer arcade-strategy game (Steam for PC and Mac), and a world premiere on PC for a pair of retro RPG-defense games (Desura for PC, DRM-free PC download).”

You can follow this link to choose your price and slam your pre-order down, or you can wait like a patient little fowl when the bundle eventually cocks its doodle-doo. It’s entirely up to you. The minimum price for a pre-order is set at $3.99, but it’s recommended at a more round $10 or $5.

If you do pre-order you will also receive One Life Left’s eclectic ‘Music To Play Games By Too’ compilation as a lovely little bonus which you can keep. Forever.

More information on the Valentine’s Bundle will be available when it launches later this week on the official Indie Royale website.

This article originally appeared on our sister site, The Indie Game Magazine, written by Chris Priestman

Last week when I covered Hothead’s Deathspank getting a PC release on October 26, I apparently missed a coinciding announcement for Klei Entertainment’s Shank heading to the platform on the same day. That’s mah bad, so let’s talk some good.

Steam is offering 15% off a bundle of both games, dubbing it Shank and ‘Spank. The titles will run $15 each upon release (currently $13.50 for pre-orders) but those who purchase before launch can get the two titles for $25.50. That’s slightly more savings than paying early for each title individually, and better than the standard Steam pre-order offer of 10% off.

Read up on our Shank review if you’re a PC’er who didn’t take a look because of its former console exclusivity, or if you’d just like a little refresher on the side-scrolling beat ‘em up.

[Klei Entertainment]

Update: Arcen Games has informed us of the release of the Tidalis launch trailer, which you can view below.

Original: Arcen Games next stop on the video game genre list Tidalis is set to arrive this Friday via digital distribution.

The casual puzzler promises hardcore depth (See dev’s other title AI War) with “a new addictive mechanic,” over 20 game styles, two player co-op and competitive play, the ability to create levels, themes and adventures. Even options for colorblind players, players averse to lots of light and motion, and those running the game on older computers.

Impulse has listed the $10 title as available for pre-order, offering beta access prior to the game’s release on July 16. Check out the launch trailer.

Here’s some encouraging news. Mode 7 Games has opened Frozen Synapse to pre-orders, and you don’t have to wait until release to play the game.

Everyone who puts down the asking price — £16.99, €18.99 or $25.99 depending on where you’re from — gets access to the beta. For a few more units of your currency, you can get music, your face in the game and a copy of Determinance, the game that combines flying and swordplay. Oh, and you also get a copy to give to a friend.

Frozen Synapse is a top-down tactical game. Each side plans out their turn, and then the movement plays out simultaneously. So whoever is better at anticipating the other player’s actions holds the advantage. You can even run simulations with the other player’s team while you’re planning, so you can fine-tune your strategy.

Right now the beta focuses on the multiplayer modes, but a solo campaign will be included in the full release, which is expected near the end of 2010. And for those who missed it the first time, the trailer is below.

[via Mode 7 Games]

Unknown Worlds has made it official that their upcoming shooter/strategy hybrid Natural Selection 2 will be heading to Steam. Those who pre-ordered the title will be able to activate a Steam copy of the game with their key, the dev has confirmed with Valve.

While a Steam version of NS2 was always assumed, Unknown Worlds wasn’t able to confirm that pre-order keys would be transferable until now. It’s also been revealed in an interview with ShackNews that “voice support, friends lists and server browser” will be implemented through SteamWorks with the dev noting “we’ll probably use their anti-cheat as well.”

NS2 can be pre-ordered now for $20 from Unknown Worlds, which offers beta access, with a $40 ‘Special Edition’ also granting access to the alpha and to a pre-alpha engine test due soon, plus exclusive black armor. The level editor is already available for pre-orderers to create content which has a shot at being included in the final release.

Natural Selection 2 doesn’t have a release date, with the developer simply stating it’ll be out “when it’s ready.”

Though the game doesn’t release until next Tuesday, Nimblebit’s indie kart racer Zero Gear has released an update that can be downloaded by those who pre-ordered and have access to the beta.

If you’re unaware, those who buy the game before its release on January 12 get a 25% discount off the total price along with early access to the vehicle combat racing game. If you do have the beta set-up on Steam the update will begin when you restart the client. Full change log after the break.

Update: Chris Park of Arcen Games has informed DIYgamer that the January 12 release date is currently tentative, but will most likely release on or around that day. Park explained that there’s still much to be done for the expansion and he’s against putting up a target release date and then having to release something that potentially may not be finished. Impulse users won’t have access to the beta right away, but don’t worry, Park states that he plans to have full license keys and beta codes sent out within a week.

Original Story: With the ever-developing beta in full swing, AI War: Fleet Command expansion ‘The Zenith Remnant’ has received a release date, set to arrive for PC January 12 according to Impulse’s pre-order listing for it. The expansion brings quite a lot of new content to the game including 80-100 new ships, at least four new map styles, 12 new AI types, an additional minor faction, new music and more.

Most of the features provided are estimates as the expansion is currently in beta with the developer constantly tweaking and updating based on community feedback. The beta is currently open to those who pre-order through the developer, though its unclear if the same is true for those who go through Impulse.

We’ve sent word to Arcen Games to get some confirmation on the release date listing as well as whether Impulse pre-orders get access to the expansion’s beta, any response shall be posted.

Features list after the break.

Positech Games has announced the release of their space strategy title Gratuitous Space Battles, an RTS/Tower Defense hybrid game that offers colorful, sprawling battles with hundreds of ships at the player’s command. The gameplay starts in the design stage of this ships, from there you position your fleet and give out the pre-battle orders, then you sit back and watch like a proud papa.

GSB has been in beta for a couple of months and now the full release can be picked up now from the dev’s website, a demo is available to try as well.

Interestingly, while the game’s not yet available on Impulse, the $3 off pre-order deal still is, and probably will be until the digital distributor updates the title’s status sometime later today.

Makivision has announced that their upcoming RTS Sacraboar has moved into beta and is now available to play for those who have pre-purchased the title. The game pits players against one another in a ‘capture the trophy’ scenario, toting fast paced gameplay with less emphasis on building up and more on the action.

The early beta access ends up being around a week as Sacraboar arrives November 6 on both Steam and Impulse. Pre-orders get 25% off the launch price.

Digital distributor Impulse has listed Makivision’s fast paced RTS title Sacraboar as now available for pre-order. Even better, they’re offering beta access to those early birds who throw down for the game before its release on Friday, November 6.Why Friday you ask? Because then you get the whole damn weekend to play. (Seriously, screw Tuesday’s monopoly on game releases.)

Sacraboar has you competing against your opponent to capture each other’s boar trophy, offering nearly 90 missions for single player as well as a multiplayer with all the trimmings. The title looks to pick up the pace of the RTS genre by removing “lengthy and tedious construction phases.”