Kamis, 18 April 2013

The 10 Best free games - The Independent

The 10 Best free games - The Independent

An epic sci-fi shoot 'em up with a similar aesthetic to Halo. The massively multiplayer game has you scrambling around a dystopian landscape fighting for territory.

planetside2.eu

2. Mr Smoozles Goes Nutso

Based on the online comic Mr Smoozles, this was the first indie game released by the award- winning writer and developer Steve Ince. It was originally a paid-for game, but Ince decided to release it for free in 2011.

juniper-games.com

3. Slender

Terrifying stuff. This is one of those games that are just so eerily quiet you'd jump if someone came into the room while you were playing it. The artful indie horror game involves wandering around a forest collecting pages armed only with a flashlight, while avoiding the "Slender Man" who is perpetually chasing you through the fog.

parsceproductions.net

4. Wonderputt

There are a ton of brain-numbing golf games on the web, but none as beautiful as this one.It is colourful, clean and creative. You should play it to appreciate the graphic design as much as the game itself.

dampgnat.com/wonderputt

5. Bumperball

Available online as well as for iPad, this is a fun arcade sports game that combines bumper cars with football. Possibly one for the retro game geeks out there.

bumperball.com

6. Yeti Sports

The super addictive Yeti sports collection is a true Olympiad of online mini-games, which can also be downloaded as apps. Highlights include Albatross Overload and Scrat Jump. Almost all of them involve throwing a penguin as far as you can.

yetisports.org

7. Numpty Physics

If only learning science at school could have been this fun. Use crayons to solve puzzles on a piece of paper and experiment with your drawings that come to life according the rules of physics.

numptyphisics.garage.maemo.org

8. Drifting Afternoon

One of many tranquil online games by designer Ferry Halim. In this one you are a joyous cat bounding through a field with pastel-coloured bubbles floating overhead. All you have to do is jump on the bubbles. It is as blissful as it is relaxing, five minutes of playtime is like therapy.

ferryhalim.com

9. Flow

Hypnotically immersive, this simple, yet multi-award winning game is the result of one student's academic game design thesis.

interactive.usc. edu/projects/cloud/flowing

10. Rebuild 2

Put down that baseball bat, this is not your usual zombie massacre arcade game. Instead, this strategy game is set in the aftermath and you need to survive with the resources you have, scope out new buildings to protect your population and avoid further attacks from the dreaded flesh eaters. It's for the thinkers, not the shooters.

armorgames.com


Source Article from http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/the-10-best-free-games-8577462.html

Future EU PlayStation Plus Free Games Discussed, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD ... - PlayStation LifeStyle (blog)

Future EU PlayStation Plus Free Games Discussed, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD ... - PlayStation LifeStyle (blog)

April 17, 2013 Written by Jason Dunning

finalfantasyxhdscreenshot2

The European PlayStation Plus free games for next month were detailed earlier today, but knowing what is happening in May just isn’t enough. Many people peppered Chris Howe, PlayStation Store and PS+ Content Manager at SCEE, with questions, and he answered quite a few of them, giving insight into the near future of PS+ for Europe:

  • LEGO games “are on the radar,” news “possibly in a couple of months time”
  • Due to Disgaea 3 not being available “in quite a few territories,” it won’t appear in the Instant Game Collection any time soon
  • “Dishonored is not available in quite a few territories at present so unless we can find a solution to that and the publisher wishes to participate in Plus we won’t be getting it anytime soon”
  • Ninja Gaiden Sigma+ is a possibility, though “there is a little rating issue to resolve around it”
  • No plans for Tales of Graces f or Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk
  • They will “be looking to update the PS3 long term titles soon but at the moment I can’t say anything I am afraid.” They are referring to games like inFamous 2, LittleBigPlanet 2, and MotorStorm, which have been free for a while now
  • Grand Theft Auto discounts are lined up for the future (likely something similar to what North America is seeing), though they haven’t finalized the details yet
  • When Chris was asked if there’s any chance Demon’s Souls would be added to the IGC, he replied with, “Maybe….”
  • Someone suggested that, because of Iron Man 3 hitting theatres soon, it would be fun to see a Marvel sale on the PSN. Chris responded by saying, “Marvel is a difficult one as there are a lot of stakeholders to take into consideration which makes discounts and contracts difficult to negotiate but we will see what we can do”

Separate from PS+, a comment did mention the fact that the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster on PS3 popped up on the Sony Entertainment Network Online Store, though it is without a price, carries a release date of April 17th, which clearly isn’t true, and doesn’t show up on the physical PS Store. What this news does point to is that the Remaster might be coming to the PSN, but we’ll have to wait for word from Square Enix before we can tell for sure.

What do you hope to see from PlayStation Plus in the future? Let us know in the comments below.


Source Article from http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2013/04/17/future-eu-playstation-plus-free-games-discussed-final-fantasy-xx-2-hd-remaster-pops-up-on-eu-psn-online-store/

May 2013 European PlayStation Plus Free Games Include Hitman: Absolution ... - PlayStation LifeStyle (blog)

May 2013 European PlayStation Plus Free Games Include Hitman: Absolution ... - PlayStation LifeStyle (blog)

April 17, 2013 Written by Jason Dunning

hitmanabsolutionscreenshot2

The games joining Hitman: Absolution this May in the European PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection have been revealed, with two more PlayStation 3 titles and two PS Vita titles being added.

To find out what they are and when they’re arriving, see them all below:

Entering:

  • Hitman: Absolution â€" May 1st
  • Catherine â€" May 1st
  • Malicious â€" May 1st
  • Sine Mora (PS Vita) â€" May 8th
  • Velocity Ultra â€" May 15th

Leaving:

  • Okami HD â€" May 1st
  • F1 Race Stars â€" May 1st
  • Quantum Conundrum â€" May 1st
  • Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward â€" May 8th
  • Thomas Was Alone â€" May 22nd

While undated at the moment, May will also bring PlayStation Plus discounts of 60% to Back to the Future, Beyond Good and Evil, and Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD (PS3 only at the moment).

Which free game are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments below.

[Source]

Essential Reading:


Source Article from http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2013/04/17/may-2013-european-playstation-plus-free-games-include/

iPad 'free' games: parents must know their controls on their devices, says ... - Telegraph.co.uk

iPad 'free' games: parents must know their controls on their devices, says ... - Telegraph.co.uk

Figures suggest that eight out of 10 of the most popular games are now free to install but raise revenue through paid-for extras, with single purchases ranging from a few pence to more than £70.

But the OFT claim that children are particularly vulnerable to the trend as they increasingly access the internet without parental supervision.

Earlier this year, a five-year-old boy racked up a bill of £1,700 playing a “free” game on an iPad.

Cavendish Elithorn, OFT senior director for goods and consumer, said: “We are concerned that children and their parents could be subject to unfair pressure to purchase when they are playing games they thought were free, but which can actually run up substantial costs.

“The OFT is not seeking to ban in-game purchases, but the games industry must ensure it is complying with the relevant regulations so that children are protected. We are speaking to the industry and will take enforcement action if necessary.”

According to officials, the OFT will investigate how companies providing free web or app-based games market their products to children.

Parents and consumer groups will be asked to contact the watchdog with information about “potentially misleading or commercially aggressive practices” in relation to these games.


Source Article from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/apps/9990095/iPad-free-games-parents-must-know-their-controls-on-their-devices-says-Office-of-Fair-Trading.html

Selasa, 16 April 2013

Giveaway — Guild Wars 2 free weekend preview keys - PC Gamer Magazine

Giveaway â€" Guild Wars 2 free weekend preview keys - PC Gamer Magazine

Guild Wars 2

If you haven’t dipped your toe into the world of Tyria yet, here’s your chance to try it without having to pay the usual toe-dipping toll. We’ve got 10,000 codes to give away that will give you access to Guild Wars 2 at no charge from Friday the 19th until Monday the 21st. Read on to find out how to claim one!

Your quest is to head over to the form on our Facebook page to get your code, enter it at https://register.guildwars2.com, and download the trial client. That’s all! Your copy will become playable Friday at 12:01 a.m. Pacific time, and shuts off at 11:59 p.m. next Monday.

If you’re wondering whether you’d get your click-some-links-and-free-up-some-hard-drive-space-worth, you can refer back to our Guild Wars 2 review, and an editorial I wrote about why I like ArenaNet’s PvP.


Source Article from http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/04/15/guild-wars-2-trial-key-giveaway/

World of Tanks dev could bring free-to-play games to PS4, currently experimenting - VG247

World of Tanks dev could bring free-to-play games to PS4, currently experimenting - VG247

Tue, Apr 16, 2013 | 08:25 BST


Source Article from http://www.vg247.com/2013/04/16/world-of-tanks-dev-could-bring-free-to-play-games-to-ps4-currently-experimenting/

iPad 'free' games: parents must know their controls on their devices, says ... - Telegraph.co.uk

iPad 'free' games: parents must know their controls on their devices, says ... - Telegraph.co.uk

Figures suggest that eight out of 10 of the most popular games are now free to install but raise revenue through paid-for extras, with single purchases ranging from a few pence to more than £70.

But the OFT claim that children are particularly vulnerable to the trend as they increasingly access the internet without parental supervision.

Earlier this year, a five-year-old boy racked up a bill of £1,700 playing a “free” game on an iPad.

Cavendish Elithorn, OFT senior director for goods and consumer, said: “We are concerned that children and their parents could be subject to unfair pressure to purchase when they are playing games they thought were free, but which can actually run up substantial costs.

“The OFT is not seeking to ban in-game purchases, but the games industry must ensure it is complying with the relevant regulations so that children are protected. We are speaking to the industry and will take enforcement action if necessary.”

According to officials, the OFT will investigate how companies providing free web or app-based games market their products to children.

Parents and consumer groups will be asked to contact the watchdog with information about “potentially misleading or commercially aggressive practices” in relation to these games.


Source Article from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/apps/9990095/iPad-free-games-parents-must-know-their-controls-on-their-devices-says-Office-of-Fair-Trading.html