Tech-Gaming Technology, Gaming, and Culture
For the last few years, digital downloads have altered the traditional pricing model for console games, often offering shorter experiences at a reduced price. With the release of two free titles this week, that trend has finally reached fruition. Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious is a no-cost download for the next two week, offering both past and present-gen Xbox owners with an innocuous reminder of the upcoming film. Meanwhile, Neverwinter is rolling the dice, hoping that a free action-driven MMO can gain traction with Xbox One fans. Even if both games are middling, it’s nice to see publishers think beyond the hackneyed model of a sixty dollar game and obligatory season pass.
Header image: Toukiden Kiwami
PlayStation 3
Anna: Extended Edition (PSN, $14.99)
MLB 15: The Show (also on PSN, $39.99)
MX vs. ATV Untamed (PSN, PS2 Classic, $9.99)
Shadow Tower (PSN, PSOne Classic, $5.99)
Tabletop Cricket (PSN, $12.99)
PlayStation 4
Axiom Verge (PSN, $19.99)
MLB 15: The Show (also on PSN, $59.99)
Paperbound (PSN, $9.99)
Rack N Ruin (PSN, $14.99)
R.B.I. Baseball 15 (PSN, $19.99)
Toukiden Kiwami (also on PSN, $59.99)
Woah Dave! (PSN, $4.99, cross-buy)
Wii U
Dot Arcade (eShop, $4.99)
Namco Museum (eShop, $6.99)
Super Mario 64 (eShop, $9.99)
Yoshi’s Island DS (eShop, $9.99)
Xbox 360
Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious (XGS, Free for limited time)
Xbox One
Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious (XGS, Free for limited time)
Neverwinter (Free to play)
R.B.I. Baseball 15 (XGS, $19.99)
3DS
Jet Dog (eShop, $7.99)
LEGO Ninjago: Shadow of Ronin (also on eShop, $29.99)
My Pet School 3D (eShop, $TBA)
Story of Seasons (also on eShop, $39.99)
DSi
Titanic Mystery (DSiWare, $TBA)
PS Vita
Doodle Kingdom (PSN, $5.99)
MLB 15: The Show (PSN, $19.99)
Run SackBoy! Run! (PSN, Free)
Toukiden Kiwami (also on PSN, $39.99)
PC
Age of Fear 2: The Chaos Lord (Steam, $TBA)
ArcheAge (Steam. Free to play)
Arms Dealer (Steam, $11.69)
BattleLore: Command (Steam, $9.99)
Bloodsports.TV (Steam, $9.99)
Captain Forever Remix (Steam, $TBA)
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round (Steam, $35.99)
Fortress Forever (Steam, $TBA)
Grim Legends 2: Song of the Dark Swan (Steam, $5.99)
Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (Steam, $8.99)
Ironcast (Steam, $10.49)
Jones on Fire (Steam, $TBA)
Keebles (Steam, $TBA)
Nightbanes (Steam, Free to play)
Paperbound (Steam, $9.99)
Pillars of Eternity (Steam, $44.99)
Pixel Puzzles 2: Anime (Steam, $TBA)
Princess Evangile All Ages Version (Steam, $31.49)
Rampage Knights (Steam, $TBA)
Ride (Steam, $39.99)
//SNOWFLAKE TATTOO// (Steam, $TBA)
Son of Nor (Steam, $16.99)
Star Ruler 2 (Steam, $24.99)
theHunter: Primal (Steam, $23.99)
The Spatials (Steam, $9.74)
Unium (Steam, $TBA)
Venusian Vengeance (Steam, $TBA)
Robert’s Pick: The Harvest Moon/Rune Factory franchises have been the interactive equivalent of comfort food, extending such a relaxed, indulging experience that binging play sessions are often the norm. After an extending fasting from a diet rich in Natsume nutrients, I plan on feasting on Story of Seasons. While the game isn’t a true sequel, it carries the pedigree of Yoshifumi Hashimoto who served as producer for the Harvest Moon series. Hashimoto-san has promised a number of improvements, from expedited farming, character customization, a more involved market system, and even a bit of Street Pass connectivity. Now, strangers will finally know how obsessive I am about cultivating my virtual veggies.
Gonçalo’s Pick: To this day, there are three Kickstarter funded games I fully regret not having backed, Shadowrun Returns, Wasteland 2 and today’s game, Pillars of Eternity. Having grown up playing the Baldur’s Gate series and other Infinity Engine titles I could not be more excited to see Obsidian playing to its strengths in this isometric team-based RPG. We may have lost Black Isle Studios a long time ago, but these past two years I’ve felt like their spirit has not only lived on, but is now making a grand return.
I’m pretty sure than Namco-Bandai will still be pimping Namco Museum after the sun burns out. I bought that game two generations ago.
I was just reading about how scammers duped the Axiom Verge devs for a code then sold them on CAG. They nearly got caught red handed.
I used to love the site. Now it’s filled with jerk, so it’s easier for me to check out the Reddit game deals, where I can ignore the scammers, trolls, and creepers.
Reddit steals from CAG, as do most sites. (FW, SD, etc) If you want the deals go to the source.
“The Harvest Moon/Rune Factory franchises have been the interactive equivalent of comfort food, extending such a relaxed, indulging experience that binging play sessions are often the norm. After an extending fasting from a diet rich in Natsume nutrients, I plan on feasting on Story of Seasons. While the game isn’t a true sequel, it carries the pedigree of Yoshifumi Hashimoto who served as producer for the Harvest Moon series. Hashimoto-san has promised a number of improvements, from expedited farming, character customization, a more involved market system, and even a bit of Street Pass connectivity. Now, strangers will finally know how obsessive I am about cultivating my virtual veggies.”
The food metaphors are strong with this one.
Two lolis and an guys with a horn coming out of his head? We almost hit the lolita jackpot that pays out worn panties.
No this is a contest I need to get in on.
I still have MLB 14: The Show unopened. No way will I buy 15 at full price.
I’m waiting for the Viat versions of The Show to get back on track. It seems like they farmed them out the last two years and they ended up pretty weak, just giving roster updates and bug fixes.
Still, $20 ain’t bad.
I downloaded Fast & Furious but didn’t get a chance to play it yet. I’m keeping my expectations under 25 mph.
Charging $5 for Dot Arcade seems criminal.