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Third update hits for Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited

by Randy Nelson { Feb 4th 2010 at 3:00AM }

click to make resolution slightly less limited

When a free expansion hits for a free-to-play MMO -- in this case, Turbine's Dungeons & Dragons: Eberron Unlimited -- no one is really free to complain (though some no doubt will). Today's drably-titled "Update 3" brings with it a removal of leveling sigils, extending all of the game's items to every player, plus a new Casual Mode for solo players and parties up to the level cap of 20.

More dungeons have also been added, geared toward high-level players, and two live events -- The Traveler's Treasure Hunt and The Risia Ice Games -- are planned to "celebrate DDO's fourth birthday" with prizes (of the physical variety). Most importantly, Ski Lift Hot Cocoa and Candy Cane Ice Skates have been added to the DDO Store. (Finally!)

Gallery: Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited - Update 3

First issue of Mass Effect iPhone comic free on launch day

by Xav de Matos { Jan 31st 2010 at 8:30PM }

Beginning February 3, the first issue of the four-part comic series Mass Effect: Redemption will be available on the iTunes App Store. To celebrate its release, Dark Horse and EA have announced the issue will be free for a limited time. How limited is the "free digital comic" window? One day only. After February 3, the digital release is bumped up to 99 cents. Of course, if you're a Mass Effect 2 fanatic you probably own the collectors' edition, which included a mini-version of the first issue. But, if you love moving pictures, a free digital comic is a hard thing to ignore.

Blue Toad Murder Files: Episode 3 to be free in February

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 27th 2010 at 12:45PM }

Relentless Software's episodic PSN murder whodunit, Blue Toad Murder Files, continues next month. Best of all, it'll be available for the low price of free. Episode 3 will release in Europe on February 25th and will be free for one month. The free DLC will require Episode 1 to be installed which -- as you've deduced if your detective skills are sharp enough -- isn't free. Episodes 1 and 2 are currently available together for £9.99 (€12.99).

The remaining three episodes (4-6) of the Blue Toad Murder Files will then release on April 8th in a bundle for £9.99 (€12.99). Unfortunately for the rest of us, an American release has yet to be announced. Too bad, because this charming Professor Layton-esque game is a perfect family-friendly addition to the PSN.

Gallery: Blue Toad Murder Files

Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies gets Lite version on App Store

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 26th 2010 at 10:00AM }

Are you on the fence about whether or not you should pick up the cumbersomely titled Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies for your Apple-branded mobile device? First of all, fence straddling is dangerous. Get down from there! Also, there's no reason to be all wishy-washy anymore, as a free "Lite" version of the game has recently become available on the App Store.

Zombies Lite allows players to mow down three rounds of oncoming Nazombies in a single-player match, or two waves of the undead in a multiplayer match before coming to an abrupt end. That may come off as a little unsatisfying, but hey -- 'tis better to have murdered zombies and lost than to have never murdered zombies at all.

Gallery: Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies (iPhone)

GameDaily is giving away one hundred games

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 24th 2010 at 1:30PM }

We like to think we do our fair share of random game distribution, but GameDaily's really blowing us out of the water with this one. The site is currently running a contest where ten lucky winners will each win a pile of ten games randomly selected from a larger pool. It's like breaking open a piñata full of random video games, only without all the broken cases or fake animal cruelty!

You can put your name in the contest's hat by leaving a comment on this GameDaily post before 11:59p.m. EST tomorrow. Unless, of course, you don't like free games. You monster.

First-Person Tetris will spin you right round, baby, right round

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 15th 2010 at 2:15AM }

Do you like Alexey Pajitnov's timeless puzzler Tetris as much as you like succumbing to unrelenting waves of nausea? You'll probably want to check out the new Flash-based sensation, First-Person Tetris. There's not much of a learning curve, here -- it operates pretty much exactly like the block-dropping puzzler you know and love, only with a small twist. We'll let you figure it out for yourselves -- why not give it a spin, provided you've got some free time (and a strong, strong stomach).

Square's free-to-play MMO Fantasy Earth Zero coming to US

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 13th 2010 at 9:30PM }

As hinted at by a trademark filed late last year, Square Enix's microtransaction-supported MMO Fantasy Earth Zero will find its way to the US later this year, thanks to a partnership with Japanese publisher Gamepot. Fortunately, it seems the game will retain its free-ness on its journey to the West. We imagine it will also retain its focus on crystals and pointy-hatted mages, but that's just us speaking from our prior Squeenix experiences.

For more details on the MMO, check out the press release. Or, fort a firsthand account, sign up for the U.S. version of the game's open beta test.

Telltale giving away Trogdor-themed episode of Strong Bad today

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 13th 2010 at 1:34PM }

Happy Trogday, everybody! What? It's definitely a government-sanctioned holiday, steeped in tradition, and celebrated by millions of peoples across the globe. Telltale wouldn't make something like this up, just to help sell its adventure series Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, which has been temporarily discounted to $19.99 (when added to the cart). It's a real, legitimate holiday, based on an ancillary character from a popular web cartoon. Jeez. Maybe read an encyclopedia, sometime.

Following in the honored Trogday custom, Telltale has a present for you: The fifth chapter of SBCG4AP, titled 8-Bit is Enough, for free. Appropriately, this particular chapter is very Trogdor-centric -- but we find it difficult to get excited about that. We only have room for one Trogdor-based game in our hearts, and that game is Peasant's Quest. Why not dust off the ol' Videlectrix Diskbooter, and give it a spin?

PSA: MAG open beta starts today

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 4th 2010 at 3:45PM }

If you haven't managed to weasel your way into the MAG beta through the dozen or so channels that have popped up over the past few months, you've now got a sure-fire way to enlist in the Shadow War. Starting today, anyone can download and play MAG, without the cumbersome requirement of a GameStop pre-order or Qore subscription. If you're interested, hop on it with a quickness -- the beta's only running until January 10!

Your chocobo Avatar pet is in the mail

by Xav de Matos { Dec 31st 2009 at 9:30AM }

Last month -- utilizing the spamming power of Twitter -- Microsoft and Square Enix partnered to offer Xbox Live users a free baby chocobo pet for their Avatars if they registered their Gamertags during the social media promotion. After weeks of waiting for the marketing plan to run its course, codes for the tiny companion have been sent to participating users via email. Sadly -- as Major Nelson points out -- those who did not participate in the promotion cannot get the pet, but we anticipate the baby chocobo will find its way onto the Avatar Marketplace at some point.

Reminiscent of the baby chocobo that nests within Final Fantasy XIII hero Sazh Katzroy's gorgeous afro, our baby chocobo only seems to flutter around, refusing to nest within our own Avatar hairdos. We presume that feature will be some kind of pre-order bonus for Final Fantasy XIII when it launches on March 9, 2010.

Break into the PlayStation Store, get Armored for free

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 30th 2009 at 5:00PM }

It appears someone has sneaked a free movie onto the PlayStation Store. Armored, which is still playing in theaters right now, can be downloaded to your PS3/PSP with a minimal amount of cleverness. Go to the PlayStation Video Store and click the "Search" icon at the top right. Search for "Armored" and you'll find a free download of the movie, compatible with both the PSP and PS3.

If the price of entry (free) isn't incentive enough, consider this: the cast features Matt Dillon, Jean Reno and Laurence Fishburne. That's gotta count for something, right? See the trailer after the break.

[Thanks, Ryan!]

Continued →

Dante's Inferno demo now available on XBLM

by Mike Schramm { Dec 24th 2009 at 3:15PM }

Because nothing goes with the egg nog and sugar cookies as well as baby murder, right? As expected, the demo for Dante's Inferno has descended into the seventh level of the Xbox Live marketplace, which means that you Xbox Live Gold members can hack and slash your way past all of the buzz and see if the gameplay floats your ferry right across the River Styx.

The demo is 1GB in size, and while we didn't see it available on the console itself (though it should be there soon), you can follow this link on over to the Xbox website and queue up the download from there. Just don't come crying to us when Grandma's shocked after walking in and seeing what you're doing on the "gamebox." Make sure you know where the smelling salts are.

Unlock Xbox contest down to eight finalists, voting begins for final three

by Ben Gilbert { Dec 4th 2009 at 5:00AM }

Last year's free Xbox Live Arcade game from the Unlock Xbox contest, Dash of Destruction, may not have been the best game we ever played, but it was certainly far from the worst. Also, it had that whole costing nothing thing going for it, so that helped our opinions considerably. This year, our chances of getting a fun game have doubled, with the contest's 1,500 competitors vying for two spots rather than one.

The final eight contestants have been culled from the initial submissions (listed after the break), and are now available to be voted on over at the contest's website, ultimately determining three game ideas to be given final pitches at Microsoft. From there, we get two XBLA games full of Doritos' "bold, intense" branding -- and at the very least some free Achievements.

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PSA: Free NFS Shift 'team racing' DLC out for 360, PC

by Randy Nelson { Dec 3rd 2009 at 4:00PM }

EA has opened the garage door and rolled out its Team Racing Pack for Need For Speed: Shift, adding five new cars and a cooperative online racing mode to its superb driving game. Available today for Xbox 360 and PC, the DLC is priced at ... wait, it's free? Five cars and a new mode are free? This is obviously an error and the DLC should be downloaded before EA starts asking like 1500 space bucks for it. Oh, EA did this intentionally? Kudos, giant publisher. (We're still not sure if this is some kind of trick.)

XBL Gold members can grab the expansion from the Xbox Live Marketplace at this link. PS3 owners in the UK will find the free DLC on PSN today, with the US PlayStation Store getting it next Thursday, December 10.

Europe gets more incentive to purchase PSP Go with new bundle

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 1st 2009 at 12:30PM }

Alright, Europe. We're not sure what you did to get into Sony's good graces, but we wish you'd share that information with your pals in the States. Not only do you guys have access to the PSP Go incentive program, which grants owners of UMDs three free game downloads through March 31, but Sony Europe just went ahead and threw another complimentary game on the pile. Anyone living in Europe who owns a PSP Go is eligible to receive a free copy of Gran Turismo, MotorStorm: Arctic Edge or Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines (or, in Germany, LittleBigPlanet) until January 10.

For more details on the promotion, visit Sony Europe's official site. We've contacted Sony America to find out if we'll be getting a similar offer stateside.