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You can queue up June's Xbox One freebies for download now
Xbox One owners that have waited since Friday's announcement of this June's Games with Gold freebies to click that shiny download button are now able to do so. This month's free games, available only to Xbox Live Gold subscribers, are Max: Curse of the Brotherhood and twin-stick shooter Halo: Spartan Assault. Microsoft announced last month that June would be its newest home console's first time dancing with the both the Games with Gold and Deals with Gold programs. The month's discounted Xbox One games are NBA 2K14 and Call of Duty: Ghosts, which join a handful of sales on Xbox 360, including Saints Row 4 and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. Additionally, Xbox One players can pick up Crimson Dragon for half-off ($10). Xbox 360 owners will need to wait until June 16 for Charlie Murder and Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition, while Dark Souls is available as a freebie now and until June 15. [Image: Press Play]
Equip an Infinity Blade for free this week
We may be up to Infinity Blade 3 now, but you can explore the first game in Chair's smash hit series for absolutely nothing. The official Infinity Blade account tweeted this morning the swipey iOS brawler is going for free on the App Store all this week. Infinity Blade is famous for being the first to bring Unreal Engine 3 to iOS, as well as doing Infinity sales, but it's also a great game. As our five-star review put it back in 2010: "You might find games that are a more perfect fit for the platform, but in terms of recreating a console-level experience on the iPhone, you simply will not do better than Infinity Blade."
Microsoft gifting complete Killer Instinct roster to select Xbox users
Microsoft is giving away all the Killer Instinct characters to select Xbox users, effectively unlocking the game in full (minus costumes and accessories it seems). Hundreds of social media users are reporting their Christmases have come early, after they received emails from Microsoft telling them they'll get the full roster of fighters as a freebie. The Xbox One launch game is otherwise a free download with one character unlocked. The seven remaining characters are priced $5 each, and there's a $20 all-in-one bundle that unlocks all eight fighters, including two extra ones not initially available. The giveaway isn't limited to Killer Instinct, because a seemingly much smaller group of users is getting the console itself completely free. Just a few Twitter users at the time of writing, including some Microsoft MVPs, are reporting they've received a code today that entitles them to a free Xbox One - just like that. For the record, Microsoft MVPs (Most Valuable Professionals) are not company employees, but people who've been recognized by Microsoft for "their exceptional achievements in technical communities." Microsoft's official Xbox Support Twitter accounts have confirmed the emails for both the Killer Instinct and the Xbox One freebies are legit. We've reached out to Microsoft to confirm the specifics of what's going on, and who exactly is entitled to receive what. We're not seeing any obvious rhyme or reason to the people receiving the Killer Instinct freebies, but if you were one of the lucky ones, please let us know in the comments. If not, come give us a hug, because we'll get through this.
Sony rolls out another batch of free PSN credit in North America
Another selection of lucky so-and-so PlayStation Network users in North America received XMB messages with $10 credit from Sony yesterday. Following last month's influx of PSN credit, doled out to "loyal" customers and fans of the service, a further group of users, including some of our readers, received messages yesterday with the digital moolah attached. Once more, it's unclear just how many did and why.When approached, a Sony Computer Entertainment America spokesperson provided Joystiq with this statement: "While we don't disclose the exact criteria used, we can say that select active PSN users were chosen to receive an XMB message that included a credit for their SEN [Sony Entertainment Network] Wallet as part of this special promotion."It should be noted SCEA's Morgan Haro provided the same statement when asked about last month's credit giveaway. However, unlike previously, this time the XMB message makes no mention of loyalty. So it's unclear if this is a separate rollout from the one last month, or if Sony just wised up to not deeming a select group of its userbase as "loyal." We tease, Sony - free credit is just capital.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sony is giving away free PSN credit to 'loyal' customers
Sony is sending $10 vouchers for free PlayStation Network credit to "loyal" customers of the service, although it's not clear what constitutes that loyalty exactly. Multiple PSN users from North America, both on Twitter and the NeoGAF forum, are reporting they received messages this morning with $10 credit enclosed. We've also received a tip confirming the credit being added to a user's PSN account. Meanwhile, some users are reporting they received $5 credit, and a Twitter search suggests that freebie was sent out last week.The $10 credit message (see below the break) reads: "Thank you for being a loyal customer and fan of PlayStation Network. As a token of our appreciation, we've sent you $10.00 to spend on the PlayStation Store."So far, the free credit is apparently restricted to North American customers, and there aren't any clear patterns as to who's entitled to it and why; we've reached out to Sony for more details. Sure, the timing suggests this is all about stirring up further buzz amongst the already fervent PlayStation Fourplay, but free stuff is pretty much always lovely.[Thanks, Sean]
Microsoft rewarding longstanding Xbox Live users with free Xbox 360s
Microsoft is sending out free Xbox 360 consoles to gamers who've used Xbox Live the longest. One Reddit user received a 10th anniversary-themed unit (full image below the break) along with a code for 12 more months of Live membership. Xbox's Major Nelson then confirmed Microsoft is indeed sending out consoles to "some of the Xbox Live members who have been with us the longest."If you've been using Xbox Live since it was first available for Xbox back in November 2002, our advice is you make sure to answer your phone and check your snail mail over the next few days. Reddit user TonySki got a call last month about the anniversary, telling him he was one of Xbox Live's most valued members. A few weeks later, he gets a 360 in the post.Now, we're not exactly sure how Microsoft deems who's deserving of a new unit. Is it just about being there from the start, or are other things taken into consideration? Does it matter how many units you've seen red-ringed? Maybe your GamerScore needs to be at least six figures worth. For now, while we meditate on who really are worthy of the new 360, we can look at it in all its green-grey-and-orange glory after the break.
Wings Over Atreia: BlackCloud Marketing 101 -- freebies!
Footsteps echo off the cobblestones paving the marketplace streets. The sunlight streams through the merchant stalls, and the wind tugs at the awnings as trinkets and baubles spill out of baskets on every counter. One merchant eyes a possible patron drawing near. "Oh, have I got a deal for you. Special for you, only for you! Come see, come see! Ack-ack-ack-ack-ack." But the Daeva continues to pass by. Thinking quickly, the furry shopkeeper calls out, "FREE!" You stopped, didn't you? OK, so maybe this is not what shopping is like really in Aion's BlackCloud Marketplace (though it is fun to envision), but the principle is the same. Marketing 101 teaches that above all else in the world, be it Earth or Atreia, one simple word hooks people and reels them in like a first-rate fishing lure: free. Don't believe me? Well, you clicked on this story, didn't you? And if you want to see what free cash shop items you can get your hands on in Aion, you'll also click past the break!
City of Heroes announces Paragon Market Freebie Fridays
Everyone loves free things, and the folks at Paragon Studios know it. That's why the studio has announced a new treat for City of Heroes players: Paragon Market Freebie Fridays. The program is exactly as it sounds: Every week, the studio will choose a new item to be that week's freebie. Players then simply have to log on during the specified time frame, claim their free items, and enjoy! That's all there is to it, folks. The premiere Freebie Friday will be taking place this week, beginning on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. EDT and ending at the same time Friday, giving players 24 hours to claim their free stuff. The announcement states that the freebies "could be almost anything currently available in the Paragon Market," so be sure to log in each week and get your goodies!
The Road to Mordor: Gated communities
This past week, many of us were shaken out of our self-absorption with LotRO's F2P switch as we were suddenly joined by -- of all things -- the good folks at EverQuest II. I don't think anyone could've predicted two such high-profile MMORPGs moving to a subscription/free-to-play hybrid model this year, which makes LotRO and EQII comrades-in-arms for the time being. Both titles are currently in testing, with their F2P release coming this fall. Other than the mutual surprise of two game communities that were taken off guard (except for that one guy who, y'know, totally called it and won't stop crowing about it), there are a number of similarities as both SOE and Turbine look to replicate DDO's F2P success and bolster both the number of players and number of dollars coming in to both games. However, there's certainly a major difference in how the freebie players will be handled: LotRO is integrating them with subscribers on normal servers, whereas EverQuest II Expanded will segregate the free players on their own unique servers. So I thought that this would be an excellent time to talk about one of the crucial factors of F2P switches, which is the potential growth and/or fracturing of the game's community. Which MMO has the better idea, LotRO or EQII? Hit the jump for my thoughts.
Why wait? Register for free for Macworld Expo 2011 today!
Readers of TUAW know that we all enjoyed this year's Macworld Expo a great deal, and that we were able to talk to hundreds of vendors and Apple fans during the week that our team was on site. Many of you chose to join in virtually through our frequent livecasts and videos during and after the show. During Macworld 2010, IDG World Expo announced that next year's event is planned for January 27 - 29, 2011 at Moscone Center West in San Francisco, and today they surprised us all by announcing a one-week free registration window for the show. They're giving away free expo passes (no admittance to conference sessions or special events) for the next week. All you need to do for your free pass is to click here and fill in the requested information on the form. We want to see you in San Francisco next January, so take advantage of this great offer today.
On the first night of Christmas, my true love game to me - free game apps
The folks at Blacksmithgames have come up with a really nifty idea. They've created an Advent calendar, or in their words, an appventcalendar. Each day from now until Christmas, a new door will open showing an iPhone game app that you can get for free, but only for one day. Being December 1st, the first door just opened and what's behind it is 33rd Division [iTunes Link] a line-drawing stealth game where the goal is to escort your troops while avoiding enemy patrols. 33rd Division is for any iPhone or iPod touch running OS 2.2.1 or later. Tomorrow its price will go back to US $0.99 and another door will be opened. Blacksmithgames promises a mix of well known and undiscovered games to keep things interesting. So go on over and pick yourself up a free game. Then keep checking back for new surprises.
A Dozen Daily Deals, Day 3
Well, Black Friday is here! If you're looking to save some money, here are another dozen deals from DealNews.com to consider once you wake up from your tryptophan-induced coma: Walmart: [Black Friday] Walmart Black Friday Sale now live Other World Computing: [Store Events] OWC Black Friday Sale: Accessories, HDDs, speakers, RAM, LCDs, more Apple Store: [Black Friday] The Apple Store Black Friday Sale: Up to $101 off select items Dell Home: [Black Friday] Dell Home Black Friday Sale now live iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] App Store Freebies: UpNext 3D Cities, Sip-N-Store, PhotoScatter, Super Shock Football, more Staples: [Black Friday] Staples Black Friday Early Bird Specials available online OnSale: [Black Friday] OnSale.com Black Friday Sale live now TigerDirect: [Black Friday] TigerDirect.com Pink Friday Sale now live eForCity: [Black Friday] eForCity.com Black Friday Sale: Deals from $3 + free shipping MacUpdate Promo: [Mac Games] MacUpdate 2009 Black Friday Game Bundle: 11 Mac games for $30 AT&T Wireless: [iPhone] Refurbished Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB for $49 + free shipping, 32GB for $149 eForCity: [Black Friday] eForCity.com Black Friday Web Buster: 30% off sitewide
Burger King offering free Wii toys in exchange for money, good health
It's that time again, everybody: time to sheepishly visit Burger King every day and buy a Kids' Meal for Nintendo freebies, all while trying to shut out thoughts of how disappointed your father would be to see you like this. Shame, shame.The fast food chain is giving away a bunch of different toys based on the Wii and its games, and all it wants in return is cash and a willingness to clog up your own arteries. We like the "Chain Chomp Launcher" the best, though the "Float and Go Boo" and "Light-Up Luma" are also nice. Plus, we can always keep telling ourselves we'll sell all this on eBay in the future for a small fortune. Yes, that'll do: it's an investment in our future. Pictures and details of all ten follow the break.
First Club Nintendo North America details unexpectedly awesome [update]
Last month, Nintendo revealed that Club Nintendo, Japan and Europe's ace consumer rewards program, would launch in North America. Weeks of silence followed, but now Cammie Dunaway has started talking up the service. Here are five crucial facts she divulged to MTV Multiplayer: Club Nintendo in North America is still on schedule to launch before the end of 2008. It will be more like the Japanese program than the European, in that there will be more physical products than digital. As is the case in Europe, you gain points (known as gold coins in North America) by purchasing a product and entering a code on the Club Nintendo site, and can reap further points by completing surveys on the product you bought. In Europe, it's worth mentioning that these are hardly time-consuming: just five or six questions with tickboxes. Unlike in Europe, you can gain points for indicating an interest in purchasing before buying. Noice! Some items from the Japanese service will make it to North America (Yay! And also: please include this). If you'll excuse us, we're now going to randomly hit our keyboard in a fit of wild, unabated excitement. YAKJFDAIWOQBHKJGFEDRYUVBEIUQ[Update: A clarification: the service will be coming to North America as a whole! Apologies for the geographical confusion!] Want to see Club Nintendo's greatest gifts to Japan and Europe? OF COURSE YOU DO. So go here.
UK teachers getting free DSes, bloggers rethink career paths
Hands up -- do we have any UK-based teachers in the audience today? If so, you may wish to turn your head towards the Handheld Learning Conference, due to take place in London between October 13th and 15th. Apparently, organizers of the event will be dishing out free DS Lites and a copy of Brain Training to every attendee.The point of this? According to conference founder Graham Brown-Martin, it's not a gimmick, but a chance for delegates to "experience an environment that would typically not be allowed in a classroom," while the conference itself is all about "exploring the convergence between consumer electronics, entertainment software, educational technology and learning" and HAY GUISE TOTALLY FREE DSES.On a serious note, it's actually really satisfying to see any gaming device viewed as potentially helpful to the chil'n. Maybe in a few years Dr. Kawashima will teach all of the world's kids. His blunt manner would be a winner at parent teacher conferences, and he'd never do what we now know as a "Mr. Brown" and run off with Mrs. Carruthers.
Second Life holiday shopping guide - December 8th edition
I probably had something witty to say when I started this list, but that was 7 solid hours ago, and I'm not even sure I want to look at another Second Life ad listing again! However, I've found more amazing listings from 89 incredible designers for your shopping enjoyment. If you followed along with last week's guide, you'll notice that the list more than doubled! Keep in mind that some of the deals from the December 1st edition are still going on.With that said, I structured this week's guide differently because of the sheer size of it. The categories are: Freebies, Cheapies, Free to group members, Sales, Regular-priced, For men, and Home and Garden. Once again, they are listed with the shop name linking to a store SLURL and what they're selling, with a link to their blog or forum post about the item. If you release something in the coming week, let me know, or leave a comment here, and I'll include it in next week's guide. Happy shopping!Freebies: Adam n Eve - Free men's boxers, lingerie in red or green ADIMU - Freebie Xmas boots Alchemy - Free dress in gold or silver [Via Mui Mukerji] ANIMAH - Freebie animations Chicanery - Three freebie santa hats to choose from, including traditional, dirty, and black and red Corduroy - Freebie green-striped wrist warmers Gnomenclature - Freebie Christmas Jester Hat Immortelle - Freebie Silver Felicity Top Ingenue - Weekly Christmas gifts on Mondays until Christmas Kess Creations - Free Christmas ornament necklace Rave Nation - Free Sexy Christmas, Merry Mistletoe, and Candycane Bitch outfits Reaction - Daily freebies under the tree until Christmas eve! Sy Designs - Free red tucked sweater Sylfie's Prim Seduction - Merry Xmas 2007 Stilettos [Via Alienbear Gupte] Talisman Designs - Ornament Necklace and Nixon animation Tres Beau - Free Diamond Slippers and earrings Read on for cheapies, group members only, sales, regular-priced items, menswear, and home and garden items ...
Second Life holiday shopping guide - December 1st edition
It's Christmas season already, which means Limited Editions, holiday outfits, and freebies! Sifting through all the blogs, ads, and forum posts can be quite tedious. I'm going to be taking care of the work for you every Saturday!In order for you to get the most out of your Second Life shopping experience, I've broken the items down by pricing. They are categorized as freebies, cheapies, group only, sales, and regular priced items. They are listed with the shop name linking to a store SLURL and what they're selling, with a link to their blog or forum post about the item. If you release something in the coming week, let me know and I'll include it in next week's guide. Happy shopping!Freebies: Dawnshop/Dazur - Christmas outfit Ephemeral Creations - Free Holiday Chenille Scarf Essentia - Christmas tree earrings Inspired - Stocking treasure hunt - 12 in all! Ivalde - Freebie gifts under the Christmas tree MANTRA - Free Christmas tree Pixeldolls - Free holiday decorations Second Mirage - Advent calendar - Stop by daily to get a free ornament only available on that day. This event runs until Christmas. Sin Skins - Pearl treasure hunt - 12 items, including skins, manicures, and lashes! Style Your Destiny - 8 Days of Hanukkah freebies, starting December 4th Subtle Submission - Lucky chair Christmas tattoo and shirts Talisman Designs - Free snowman earrings The Body Politik - Snowman necklace and earrings WRONG - Daily freebies until Christmas Eve! Cheapies: Callie Cline - 99L Reindeer antlers Dark Eden - 50L Candy Cane..."prim attachment" (Warning: Website NSFW) She's So Unusual - 25L Googly-eyed Rudolph slippers Subtle Submission - 100L 3-pack Christmas stockings, 50L each for holiday separates, 50L Bettie Page Christmas necklace, and a *cough* 100L Santa's Little Whore costume Talisman Designs - 1L snowman shoulder pet, 40L Frosty snowman choker Read on for group only, sales, and regular priced items ...
Japanese Club Nintendo members get too-awesome-for-words bonuses
Just look at that. Isn't it glorious? What you're seeing above, folks, is a Wii-compatible SNES pad. Let's say that again, shall we? A Wii-compatible SNES pad. Don't get too worked up though, because unless you're a member of Club Nintendo in Japan, these are off-limits (not that using a SNES pad for your VC games is impossible, but still, this is the real deal).Yep, it's another reason we really should move to Japan. Hit the link below, and you'll see two more: a 2-disc Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack and a Mario desk calendar. All of which are horribly, tortuously unobtainable. Sob.[Thanks Daniel!]
Nintendo gets its philanthropy on
As we all know, there's a ridiculous number of very good reasons to own a DS. But here's another anyway, for those who reside in Canada: right now, for every 20 DS Lites sold at a Canadian branch of Wal-Mart in the next week (November 3 - 10), Nintendo has agreed to donate one Lite to your local Children's Miracle Network Hospital.A most considerate gesture, Ninty, and if any of our Canadian readers were wavering over whether or not to pick up a DS, here's your perfect excuse.
iTunes: Free Tuesday
Welcome to this week's edition of iTunes: Free Tuesday. This week brings a nice collection of free music for both US and International readers. Don't forget to follow the jump to discover the entire list of this week's freebies. A quick note to Australians and New Zealanders: the free item has been having some issues today so if you have any problems downloading your freebie, try again tomorrow to see if that gets resolved. US Music US: The Rain by K-OSThis new cut from Ontario's k-os is taken from his album, Atlantis: Hymns for Disco. "The Rain" is a departure from the verbose hip-hop of his previous releases. This track shows k-os using his voice to sing with some palpable passion. The rhythm feels like a slight deviation on James Brown's "This Is A Man's World," but k-os has made his own epic soul track here. While the strings stab along with the syncopated rhythm, a scratchy, noir-tinged guitar line rears up and practically grabs your hand and leads you into the promised land. Get it now. US: Casting Off by This Beautiful RepublicThis Christian punk-pop group was the best kept secret in Toledo, Ohio, until the people at Forefront Records decided that this five-piece needed to be heard by the rest of the world. One listen to "Casting Off" and you can hear the appeal. Lead singer Ben Olin has a pained, emotional range that fits the group's urgent, spiky rock. US: You Got Me by AdassaReggaeton y Hip-Hop.
