on-the-house
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Litter-bomb warning! Theme Hospital is free on Origin
Theme Park may be the Bullfrog game that led to many a follow-up, but for my money Theme Hospital is just as good if not better. It's not just the amusing illnesses - such as Slack Tongue, Bloaty Head and Baldness - or its proficiency at filling up your hospitals with patient barf. The 1997 classic is also an excellently balanced management sim, and it still stands out as unique. How many other hospital management games are there? Luckily, my money isn't on the line, nor is anyone else's. For a limited time Theme Hospital is free to download and keep via EA's PC portal Origin, as part of its On the House program. If you've never tried the game, we'd recommend checking in with this page - doctor's orders. [Image: EA]
There's a swingin' game I know called SimCity 2000, and it's free
You can reticulate splines like it's 1995 by grabbing the truly classic SimCity 2000 for free, thanks to Origin. EA's PC portal is offering the normally $5 special edition as the latest On the House freebie, but only for a limited time. Once you download it, it's permanently yours to play whenever you want [insert always online gag here]. Everyone had their go-to names for SimCity 2000 creations. Mine were always hints at the egocentric, self-infatuated Sinan lurking beneath. Atrocities like Sinville, Sintown, and the incredibly culturally ignorant SinCity. For real. So, how did you christen your cities? Feel free to name and shame in the comments. [Image: EA]
Wing Commander 3 free to fly on Origin
Wing Commander 3 is currently free to download through Origin as the latest "On the House" freebie for the platform. The game is free until September 2, at which point it will reapply its usual $4.99 price tag. The third game in the Wing Commander series, which dates back to 1990, first launched for PC and Mac in 1994. The space combat series was devised by Chris Roberts, who returned to the games industry in September 2012. Roberts crowdfunded his next initiative, Star Citizen, reaching $6.2 million in November 2012. Not that Star Citizen stopped earning big bucks; as of July the game has racked up $48 million in pledges from fans. [Image: EA]
Bjorn to make you happy: Peggle free on Origin
Thanks guys, that was amazing, thanks so much. I'd say I was speechless, but I've one more thing to announce... PEGGLE! FREE! Yeah! (cue music) Yeah! (ow my spine and dignity) No really, PopCap's ball-dropper is free right now for PC and Mac on Origin, and it's staying free until August 5. So what are you waiting for? Get cracking, Tyrone!
Love is a Battlefield 3 that's free for a week on Origin
If you make games free, they will come. Battlefield 3 (of dreams) is next up as Origin's On the House freebie, and you can get it for free right now. DICE's military shooter - remember when Battlefield was a military shooter? - will remain free on the PC portal until June 3. EA's also extending the freedom of Plants vs. Zombies, so you've now got until June 16 to grab Popcap's flower struggle for free. [Image: EA]
Dead Space is the first freebie in Origin's new On the House program
Origin is following the leads of PlayStation Plus and Games with Gold by offering selected free games across limited times - the difference is you don't pay to be an Origin member. It's unclear how often Origin's new On the House program is going to trot out its freebies, but for starters members can get dismembering with third-person survival horror Dead Space, which is free to download now. According to EA's FAQ, "once you've claimed your game, it's yours to keep." You've also got plenty of time to claim Dead Space, because it's staying free to download until May 8. [Image: EA]
