free posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Warhammer Online's free trial becomes endless, caps level at 10

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 6th 2009 at 2:00PM }

Most MMO players tend to spend significantly more time in their virtual environs than a 10-day free trial could possibly permit -- that's why Mythic Entertainment recently made some drastic changes to its trial program for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. From now on, folks who demo the game for free will have an unlimited amount of time to try it out -- however, their characters can only reach level 10 before they stop accumulating experience.

Sounds like a wise move on Mythic's part to increase interest in the title, but we're worried that it might create a new breed of Warhammer trial players who get treated like second-class citizens by their subscription-paying counterparts. "Keep walking, ten-capper," they'd say without making eye contact, "we don't take kindly to you folks around here."

Spore Islands launches on Facebook, prepare to drown in invites

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 6th 2009 at 3:00AM }

You likely spend a great deal of your time on Facebook informing your so-called "friends" that, no, you don't want to see their farm, or join their mafia, or become a vampire, or fight their superhero, and so on. We're afraid you'll be adding a new form of denial to your repertoire: "No, I don't want to birth a species from the loam, and force it to fight against your species in an adorable Flash-based display of survival of the fittest." It's a tad verbose -- but if you're not interested in EA's Spore Islands Facebook app, you're going to be saying it a lot in the coming weeks.

If genetic engineering is your bag, Spore Islands sounds like a fairly robust offering -- well, as robust as games built into social networking sites get, anyways. Players can create a species, plunk them down on an island, watch them fight for territorial dominance, improve their stats through evolution, then move them to a friend's island to attempt a hostile takeover. You can check out the game for free on EA's Facebook page -- just go easy on the invites, okay?

Hyundai Genesis Coupe coming to Forza 3 for free

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 3rd 2009 at 3:05PM }

In one of those "We feel sort of gross about this, but it's okay 'cause we get something cool for free" kinda ways, Microsoft today announced a partnership with Hyundai to bring the Genesis Coupe to Forza 3 as DLC on November 17. And not just one measly version, but three: a Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hundai Genesis Coupe, an HKS Genesis Coupe, and a "one of a kind" Genesis Coupe will arrive as a pack – free of charge! And though the name Hyundai may not exactly be synonymous with high speed racing, we're assured their modded counterparts will help to clear any misconceptions.

Gallery: Forza 3 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Reminder: Champions Online is free to play this weekend

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 30th 2009 at 2:00PM }

We know you guys have the memory of a ... well, whatever the polar opposite of an elephant is in regards to memory. (A fruit fly?) So, we thought we'd remind you that Cryptic's made its superheroic MMO Champions Online free to play this Halloween weekend in an attempt to promote the game's spooky pseudo-expansion, Blood Moon.

You can download it for free at 1PM EST today, then play it to your heart's content -- or November 2. You know, whichever comes first.

[Via Big Download]

Fairytale Fights DLC free for first 90 days with online registration

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 28th 2009 at 12:01AM }

Playlogic Entertainment's Fairytale Fights may have just been released today in North America, but the game's developer is wasting no time at all in kinda, sorta announcing the first downloadable content. We say "kinda, sorta" because the promised four "new playable characters" and three "new PvP arenas" aren't detailed whatsoever in the press release. Instead, Playlogic opted to announce the DLC with the promise that those who sign up on the Fairytale Fights website will receive a code giving them free access to the digitally-distributed content.

The various content is alleged to be "valued at over $15," so it would serve you wisely to snag your free code if you have any interest whatsoever in picking up a copy of the game. Hell, even if you're renting, free is free, right? And hey, at least "part of" the DLC will be exclusive to those who register online. Seems like a no-brainer to us.

Gallery: Fairytale Fights

Pumpkin Head mask returning to LBP in time for Halloween

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 26th 2009 at 1:45PM }

If you missed your chance to grab the LittleBigPlanet Pumpkin Head mask, which was offered as a free Halloween promotion last year, don't fret -- Media Molecule is bringing the complimentary costume piece back to the game this Thursday. We're not certain how long the wearable gourd will be available to download, so make sure you act quickly, lest you be forced to wait another year before you get your Sleepy Hollow Sackboy on.

[Via VG247]

Champions Online going free-to-play on Halloween weekend

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 25th 2009 at 7:30PM }

If you've yet to acquire plans for this Halloween weekend to go along with your totally rad costume, Cryptic Studios has a pretty great diversion you may want to sign up for. Starting October 30, you'll be able to download Champions Online at no cost, and take on the mantle of the superhero of your own design until November 2.

The free-to-play weekend is being offered in an attempt to promote the title's first live update, Blood Moon. We expect that more than a handful of partially illiterate heroes will appear during the update's launch, and will be confused as to where all the sexy teenage vampires are located.

[Via Big Download]

Get a free episode of Naruto Shippuden Uncut

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 23rd 2009 at 3:00PM }

Time for another PlayStation Video Store freebie. You can get the first episode of Naruto Shippuden Uncut on your PS3 or PSP for zero dollars. The "Shippuden" story takes place a few years after the events of the first Naruto series, and covers the latter half of the manga's story. Note: the free episode is presented dubbed in English and presented in 4:3.

Reebok goes Madden, gives free PS3 DLC

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 27th 2009 at 6:45AM }

Hopefully, this redemption works a bit easier for you than today's LittleBigPlanet offer. Reebok is offering PS3 owners free DLC for Madden 10. The AFL Legacy Pack, which originally costs $7, adds eight original AFL teams and 15 AFL Legacy Game matchups. American PlayStation Network users will be able to register for this Reebok contest and get a free DLC code.

Enjoy!

[Via Slickdeals]

Sony Wonder-ful: get a free LittleBigPlanet DLC pack

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 26th 2009 at 9:45PM }

There are a lot of LittleBigPlanet DLC packs out there. However, thanks to a tip submitted by Marius, you can get access to one pack absolutely for free. Sony Wonder is giving away free codes for the "Norse Mythology" content pack, which adds all sorts of costumes and stickers for inquisitive creators. All you need to do is have a US PlayStation Network account and click here. It's as easy as that.

[Thanks, Marius!]

ASCIIpOrtal is now available, full of character

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 23rd 2009 at 8:00PM }

We admit, this post started out as a "hey, check out this quirky ASCII remake of Valve's transporting masterpiece" kind-of-post. At least, that's how we intended to write it two hours ago, at which point we were ambushed by how incredibly fun and charming the game actually is. Now, with two hours of play time under out belt, we're trying to write it again. It's not going very well, is it?

Sorry gang. ASCIIpOrtal is difficult to write about, because we feel bad pausing it to continue writing this terrible, terrible post. You're going to need to go ahead and download it, because it's free, and you'll love it.

UT3 is FTP on STW

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 17th 2009 at 9:00PM }

Oh, sorry -- do you lack the cryptologic know-how to decipher that headline? Excuse us as we get our Layton on:

UT3 is not a shorthand way of saying three urinary tract infections -- rather, it's the acronym commonly used to refer to Unreal Tournament 3.
Though the internet-savvy may assume FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, that doesn't make much sense with the previous piece of the puzzle in place. However, "Free-to-Play" fits quite nicely.
STW obviously means "Steam this weekend." If you couldn't figure that out, you should probably go jump off a cliff or something.

Every puzzle has an answer -- this time around, the answer is "Unreal Tournament 3 is free-to-play on Steam this weekend," beginning today at 1PM PST. Unfortunately, we've got no Picarats to distribute. As any true gentleman knows, cerebral satisfaction is its own reward.

Get a free episode of Gunslinger Girl from the PlayStation Store

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 11th 2009 at 6:30PM }

Who doesn't like a freebie? You can get the first episode of the second season of Gunslinger Girl -- presumably about a girl that slings guns (that's totally a lie) -- absolutely free from the PlayStation Video Store. Browse the "Anime" section of the Store, and look for the episode entitled "Distance Between Two: Brother and Sister." The offer is available on both PSP and PS3 until September 17.

Catch a trailer after the break.

Continued →

PAX attendees can grab free Avatar shirt, angelic glow sold separately

by Xav de Matos { Sep 4th 2009 at 9:30PM }

If you're in attendance at PAX 2009, make sure to head over to Microsoft's special Xbox table on the 4th floor of the North lobby and grab a redemption code for a free Xbox Avatar PAX shirt. Supplies are limited, but Microsoft will be handing out codes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Pacific) on Saturday, in case you missed today's giveaway rounds. Sure, it isn't as awesome as proclaiming your D&D skills ... but it's a great way to make your online friends jealous that you made it to the sold-out Seattle event.

Wushu like a free download of Invincible Tiger's soundtrack?

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 27th 2009 at 3:15PM }

Side-scrolling Fu-'em-up, Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao, is available on both PSN and XBLA today. To celebrate, developer Blitz Games is giving away the game's entire original soundtrack for free. The ten-track OST fuses the sounds of asian instruments with '70s orchestral funk and soul. It's the perfect thing to have on your iPod while you're going around town, beating up fools.

Download from BigDownload