ALT+F4: Labor Day Sales, MMO News

There’s one metric crapload of ways to save money on grabbing some PC gaming goodness this Labor Day Weekend, Steam, GoG, Impulse, and the usual places are offering some really great deals. Star Trek Online has opened up applications for the upcoming closed beta, which will provide players the chance to captain a really expensive spaceship. Lord of the Rings Online is expanding into Mirkwood, as a download only expansion with a few details now available.

Check out all the great sales and some more information on Star Trek Online, and the new expansion for LOTRO, after the jump.

Set Phasers to Grind!

The upcoming Star Trek Online MMO from Cryptic has begun taking applications for the closed beta, which is slated to occur later this year. You don’t need to sign up if you’ve purchased either the six-month or lifetime subscription for Champion’s Online, because they already own a sizeable piece of real estate in your checking account.

There is not a substantial amount of information about the game available currently, but it should start picking up as we head into the beta period. But, what is known is that you’re going be putting on your Captain pants and plopping your Captain pants clad ass down in the fancy chair on the deck of your own ship, to boss around your AI crew, send red shirts to their untimely death, and more. One interesting feature is that you have the ability to craft your own species of character, if having big ridges on your head just isn’t enough for you.

Go fill out a beta app right here.

Lord of the Rings Online, Lost in the Woods

A new digital download only expansion for the Turbine developed Lord of the Rings Online will be tossing you out of the depths of Moria and into the dank, dark, spider infested forests of Mirkwood. In addition to adding Mirkwood players will be able to train up a group of AI soldiers and take them into skirmishes, taking place around the War of the Ring lore. Check out some of the snazzy new features for yourself, directly below.

• The Epic Conclusion to Volume II: Mines of Moria™ – Under the command of Celeborn and Galadriel, players will fight through vast armies of Orcs alongside the Elves of Lórien in a battle that will take them to Dol Guldur, the fortress of the Ringwraiths. This update includes Book 9 and the Epilogue to the sweeping epic tale begun with the award-winning Mines of Moria expansion.
• Increased Level Cap — Players will be able advance their characters up to level 65, gaining access to new traits, virtues, skills and class quests.
• Answer the Call of War! – Jump into the heat of battle with the new Skirmishes feature. Skirmishes offer endless action in repeatable, randomized instances where players can create and lead customizable soldiers into battle, training them to greater skill as they earn victories against the forces of shadow. Answer the call of war wherever violence erupts with the new “World Join” function that lets players and their fellowships band together to fight in various locations throughout Middle-earth.
• Take up Arms! – Infiltrate the dark jails, deadly arenas and savage stables of Dol Guldur, the fortress of the Ringwraiths, and strike a blow against Sauron’s forces in new 3 and 6-player instances. Call upon your fellows to adventure into the most deadly 12-player raid yet and face the ultimate challenge – the Nazgûl Lord!
• Major Gameplay Enhancements – Turbine continues to improve the award-winning experience of LOTRO with major improvements to the combat and Legendary Items systems. Players will experience improved responsiveness when in the heat of battle. Players will also be able to create and craft their own customized Second and Third Age Legendary Items from raw materials and grow their weapons’ power to level 60. Achieve new Legacies, new titles, and a fourth Runic slot that will make Legendary Items even more unique and powerful.

There is a teaser site up for the game, you can check out right here.

[Source: Curse]

Labor Day Deals!

• Steam

Street Fighter IV has had 50% of the price hadoukened right off, bringing it to $19.99.

Nation Red shuffles onto steam with a price of $7.49, down from the normal $9.99, if you happen to need a zombie fix.

F.E.A.R. 2 is 25% off, coming to a total of $37.00, just in time for the new $9.99 DLC pack./

• Impulse

Demigod is available for half off bringing this fantastic title down to $20 from the usual $39.99, well worth it.

Sins of a Solar Empire is available for $20, down from the normal asking price of $34.95, that’s a lot of game for twenty bucks.

World of Goo, the indie hit is available for 50% off, at $9.99, another great deal on Impulse.

Dawn of Discovery continues the half off trend by coming in at $24.99 for the weekend, a really well received city builder.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is 50% off as well, knocking this title down to $19.99.

• Go Gamer 48 Hour Madness

Prince of Persia is available for a crazy $2.90, awesome deal from some streamlined platforming goodness.

Jade Empire can be had for $2.00, a sweet deal if you haven’t played this original IP from Bioware yet.

Prey is a whopping $1.00, great shooter, unless you get motion sickness.

Lord of the Rings Online is also $1.00 during 48 Hour Madness, a great MMO if you need a break from staring at WoW, you addict.

• Good Old Games Anniversary Sale!

Good Old Games has a special going for their entire Interplay library, they’re all $5.99, and if you buy one, you get one for free. There are no combination restrictions aside from the fact they’re all Interplay titles. There are some incredible titles in there, such as Sacrifice, Freespace 2, SHOGO: MAD, MDK 2, and more.

Check it out right here. This is an incredible deal for anyone wanting some old school PC gaming action.