Free Games

• Xbox One

  • Override: Mech City Brawl

    • 2018
    • Gigantic robot mech brawler with single player and Voltron-style 2-4 player co-op, where every mech has special moves and skills, and you can fight in arenas around the world

  • Tom Clancy’s The Division

    • 2016
    • Online-only action RPG / third person shooter where you play a special agent tasked with helping rebuild Manhattan and combat criminal activity after a viral outbreak. It has a combination of shared and instanced areas that have co-op and pvp multiplayer, in addition to missions and a story that you can run on your own

  • de Blob 2

    • 2014
    • Platform puzzle game originally for the Xbox 360 that has you jumping around, mixing colours and bringing life to the cityscape. There’s also a basic two-player mode similar to Super Mario Galaxy

  • Gamepass

    • We don’t normally mention new games on Gamepass, but this month some new highlights include Resident Evil 7, Crusader Kings 3, and Destiny 2 with the Shadowkeep and Forsaken expansions
    • Unfortunately Red Dead Redemption 2 is leaving on September 7th

• PS4

  • Street Fighter V

    • 2016
    • Fighting game similar to the other 2D style Street Fighter titles, it initially released without a story mode and only had a basic roster meant for tournament style gameplay until updates in 2018 and 2020 added in single-player modes and additional fighters

  • PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

    • 2017
    • One of the original battle royale titles, it started life as a mod for ARMA 2 but evolved into a standalone title where you and 99 other players are dropped on to an island with the clothes on your back, and need to gather resources and take down the other players on a shrinking map

• Epic Games

  • Into the Breach

    • 2018
    • Control powerful mechs from the future to defeat an alien threat. Each attempt to save the world presents a new randomly generated challenge in this isometric turn-based strategy game from the makers of FTL.

• Twitch

  • Pumped BMX Pro

    • 2019
    • Promoted as a BMX trickathon, it has you mastering 60 different levels and over 200 challenges while pulling off as many stunts as possible

  • Effie

    • 2020
    • 3D action adventure game that combines combat, platforming, and puzzles with the exploration of a large, expanded world where you live a unique fantasy adventure in the style of Crash Bandicoot or Ratchet and Clank

  • Impulsion

    • 2018
    • First person platformer designed to play with your nerves and reflexes, that has you making your way through 25 levels by manipulating physics and shooting forcefields to speed up or slow down

  • Outcast – Second Contact

    • 2017 remake of the 1999 adventure game of the year and cult classic, Outcast
    • Third or first person open world shooter where you play an ex Navy SEAL stranded on an alien world trying to get home

  • Tiny Troopers: Joint Ops

    • 2014
    • Arcade-style twin stick shooter that has your tiny troopers battling evil adversaries from around the world with a multitude of weapons and specialties

  • Autonauts

    • 2019
      • Travel the universe and colonize uninhabited planets, starting with sticks and stones and going all the way up to art, space travel, and intergalactic export

Updates

• Apple has officially terminated Epic Games’ account on its App Store, a move that won’t affect Unreal Engine but it does mean that users can no longer download Fortnite or other Epic titles for their iDevices
  • Anyone that’s already downloaded the app can still play, but can no longer make ingame purchases
  • This comes down as, despite the court’s recommendation that Epic comply with App Store guidelines while the case moves forward, they’ve instead repeatedly submitted Fortnite updates with the direct payment option in question intact
• While Epic continues to cry foul to its users about updates now being blocked, Apple has been promoting another big battle royale title PUBG Mobile for iOS users, which is great timing as the game is also free this month on PS+
• It seems like Facebook is trying to get their foot in the door when it comes to the Epic vs Apple payment fees conversation
  • Facebook has a new feature that lets users buy tickets for online events. Unfortunately since online events count as digital content, they’re subject to the standard 30% fee
  • Facebook tried to include wording on these purchases to say “Apple takes 30% of this purchase”, but according to Apple that’s irrelevant information and they blocked the update that would have added that wording
    • It probably falls under the usual terms and conditions that prevent developers from talking about other payment options from within iOS apps
  • Google devices were reportedly supposed to get a message saying “Facebook doesn’t take a fee from this purchase”, which makes the warning on iPhones seem really targeted, but that message doesn’t show up on the Android version either
  • Between showing the planned screens then publicizing the difference, it seems like Facebook is playing the same blame game as Epic in trying to get attention by breaking the rules and crying foul when they’re enforced

Cryptic Studios is under fire this week for “mis-advertising” content packs for Star Trek Online, something that Reddit users are saying is a common trend for the publisher

• Apparently on multiple occasions they’ve announced content bundles that include ships, modules, and keys for lootchests, but then when the actual pack is released people purchase it to find things like the keys completely missing
• The worst part of that is all of the blogs and advertising material have been stealth-updated to remove any mention of the missing rewards, leaving only services like the Internet Wayback Machine with proof of the change
  • Once they were called out loudly enough they honoured the missing content for people that had purchased prior to the revision, but anyone working off of old information is left out in the cold
• According to some users, they’ve historically done the very same thing in free to play titles like Neverwinter, and each time they just apologized and moved on
• This is apparently the same studio working on the Magic: The Gathering MMO slated for a 2021 release, but with this kind of track record it’s hard not to be worried

The US government is getting even more involved with the forced sale of TikTok, now forcing some companies to back down in their offers

• Apparently Walmart was set to make an offer to be the majority owner, teamed with with Alphabet and Softbank to invest in minority stakes, but the United States government apparently said they wanted a tech company to buy it instead
  • Why they get a say is beyond me, but I guess they could move forward with the ban anyway if people don’t listen?
• From the sounds of it Walmart is interested in getting into TikTok’s e-commerce and payments business, so since they were blocked they instead are teaming up as a minority shareholder with Microsoft taking the lead
  • Alphabet couldn’t take the lead of Walmart’s original plans because of a potential antitrust investigation due to its ownership of YouTube
• It looks like now the two options for TikTok are Microsoft/Walmart or Oracle, but though a deal was set to be made already China has now made a change to its export controls list to cover TikTok’s recommendation algorithm, which means that thanks to TikTok’s “For You” page the Chinese government will now get a say in whether the sale goes through

Apple’s release the new iOS 13.7, and once you’ve got that installed you’ll be able to easily see if your area supports COVID-19 exposure notifications

• The update has new options under Settings > Exposure Notifications (just below Emergency SOS), which include showing you if your area has an official contact tracing app and, if not, gives you a switch to be alerted once one is available
• Just a reminder that these apps are secure, battery-friendly, and become a lot more effective in keeping people safe if everyone’s using them

Mario 35th Anniversary Direct

Game and Watch: Super Mario Bros.

• A throwback to the old Game and Watch handhelds that Nintendo used to make
  • This version has a bright colour screen
  • You can play the entirety of Super Mario Bros
  • There are also mini games that put Mario in the place of Mr. Game And Watch
  • The clock function is very animated, more than just a static clock to watch
  • Limited Production, Available November 13th

Super Mario World + Bowser’s Fury

• Super Mario 3D World and all the fun and frustration it included is coming to Switch
• As well as new content titled Bowser’s Fury
  • Only shown in a brief teaser with a dark giant spiky cat bell powerup, on a rainy beach in a storm with purple lightning
• Slated to release February 12th, 2021

Super Mario Bros. 35

• In the vein of Tetris 99, this is Super Mario Battle Royal!
  • Exclusive and free for Switch Online Members
• You play original Super Mario Bros in the center of the screen
  • In the UI around you, are 34 other people, racing to play Mario Bros faster than you
• To attack other players, you defeat enemies as normal, and it sends them off to another player’s queue
  • In your queue, you see that as you progress in the level, desaturated enemies are waiting to spawn in your path
  • Everyone is racing against the clock, which you get more time by defeating enemies
  • And like Tetris 99, you can target opponents by Lowest time, Most Coins, people attacking you and random
  • And it seems like coins, not sure if they are acquired the same as in game, or some sort of bonus
    • And it appears you can buy a power-up for 20 of these coins.
• Available October 1st
  • Will be playable until March 31st, 2021

Mario Kart Live: Home Tour

• OMG Mario Kart in real life!
• This is an augmented reality game
  • You purchase a Mario Kart RC Kart
    • Mario and Luigi seem available first
    • Looks like a traditional Kart, but if it had a large scoop for the engine, behind the racer, that has a camera
  • These karts must come with a kit to make 4 arches
    • You start by driving your kart through the arches, painting the track behind you
    • When you connect to the track, it paints the width of the arches to make a race track
• The commercial shows 2 kids playing on the same track
  • On the Switch, an augmented reality race shows other digital characters racing with the 2 RC karts
• October 16th, 2020

Nintendo Rewards for limited pins!

• Everyone with a My Nintendo Account can complete Super Mario related missions
• You may recieve cool rewards
  • Including a Pin set of 10 Mario’s from games ranging from 1985 to 2020
  • Will release in 2 waves, US and Canada Only
  • September 3rd to March 31st 2021

Mario Kart Tour Event!

• Special appearances of Mario and Donkey Kong Junior from the original Super Mario Kart for SNES
  • September 8th, 2020,  11PM PST

Limited merchandise

• Historical Super Mario items and special 35th Anniversary items
  • Only at the Nintendo New York store
  • And store.nintendo.com
  • Starting in October

Mario Maker 2 Course

• A special 35th Anniversary Ninji’s Speed Run course
  • November 2020

Super Smash Bros Online Tournament

• Limited to Super Mario franchise characters
  • Stages and Items
• Later this year

Splatoon Splat Fest

• Which Power-up would you prefer?
  • Super Size from a Mushroom
  • Invincibility from a Super Star
  • A My Nintendo reward item of a Mushroom and Super Star that got inked
    • To release closer to the SplatFest
    • Physical SplatFest shirts available online, now
• January 2021

Animal Crossing

• Super Mario themed furniture
  • March 2021

And Licensed Super Mario products!

• Puma Sneakers
  • September 4th
• BlackMilk Clothing
  • October 5th
• Mario Monopoly and Jenga
  • Now
• Mario Doll
  • Now
• Lego
  • Lego Mario course
  • Lego NES with Retro TV

Super Mario All Stars

• Coming to the Super NES collection on Switch
  • Updated to fit Widescreen tvs!

Super Mario 3D All Stars

• Super Mario 64, Sunshine and Galaxy in one game
  • Also has a music player, like Smash Ultimate
• Limited physical release
  • September 18th

This Day in Gaming History

August 29 – 2013 – Game Dev Tycoon – Windows

• ”Game Dev Tycoon” is a business simulator game where you control a game company.
  • The game starts in the garage as many single video games developer did in the 80s.
  • As you release successful games, more genres, employees and options are unlocked.
  • As time progresses consoles and home computers are unlocked, but often using silly fictional names like PlaySystem and grPhone.
  • The game is inspired by Game Dev Story in both name and gameplay.
• This is a game I really enjoy and like to go back to from time to time
  • Some of the achievements are for naming your Studio or Games based on real companies or releases.
  • And some powerful characters you can hire are references to big game developers

August 30 – 2002 – Go! Go! Beckham! Adventure On Soccer Island – Game Boy Advance – United Kingdom Only

• It’s football with a unique twist.
  • David Beckham is called on to save Soccer Island from the evil Mister Woe, who has taken over the island by turning all of the animals into monsters.
  • Not only that, he’s stealing all of the important items for himself.
• Using David Beckham’s football skills, you must guide your hero through each level, kicking enemies and doors down with your football to the end of each level.
  • Knock down the locks during the game to unlock the exit door and kick your ball through to complete it.
  • Boss characters then require special attacks with your football to defeat them.

August 31 – 1997 – Final Fantasy 7 – Playstation

• The seventh installment of the Final Fantasy series takes place in a post-modern, steampunk, sci-fi world where high technology reigns and where robots and bio-engineered mutants co-exist with humans and dragons.
• To my surprise, the site I source for a lot of these games, Moby Games, had Final Fantasy 7’s North American release as the only game for August 31st, 1997

September 1 – 1984 – Klondike Solitare – DOS

• A mouse-only game for DOS, Klondike Solitaire is a simulation of its namesake.
  • Using the mouse to click cards, you move cards of alternate suits onto each other in an effort to move them off the tableau.
  • Cheating is technically allowed, but doing so will get you “yelled at” by the program.
• Felt this would be appropriate, as basically anyone to be stuck on a computer without an internet connection, has played solitaire
  • And this may the first Klondike Solitare

September 2 – 2014 – The Sims 4 – Origin Windows

• The Sims 4 is the fourth main game in the real-time life simulation / management series. Just like the previous games one or more custom characters are created through Create-a-Sim to live in a house designed by the player.
  • As their lives unfold based on the environment, relationships and specific traits, the player gets to manage the life, needs to organize activities, attend to needs, and react to moods, with non-linear gameplay and no direct control.
• I’ve been way into it again, as I bought Get Famous on a sale, before the latest expansion Eco Lifestyle came out.
  • I reviewed that I really like the social media, and fame meter. As well as the Acting career
  • And Eco Lifestyle added Ladders, as well as ways to produce your own water and power.
    • Which you can sell back to the grid for a profit.
• If the fanily found it interesting, I was considering making Alan and I, and doing a Twitch stream.

September 3 – 1998 – Hong Pong – DOS

• Hong Pong is a Pong variant set in five different war zones (including one hidden) and with tanks instead of paddles.
  • Played with two tanks, one on each side of the screen, players need to prevent a spinning nuke from touching their side of the screen, while shooting missiles at the opponent or forcing the nuke to hit his side.
  • In the middle of the screen different kinds of vehicles pass and these hurt the player when touched. It is also possible to activate a shield to block the incoming missiles, but while it is up firing is disabled.

September 4 – 1998 – Dune 2000 – Windows

• Dune 2000 is a remake of the classic Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty, updated for Windows.
  • In this real-time strategy game, you can play one of the three houses: the noble Atreides, the insidious Ordos, or the evil Harkonnen.
  • Each has different sets of units and tactics while maintaining an overall balance.
  • The Atreides have air superiority and rely on their honor and alliance with planet natives, the Fremen.
  • The Ordos rely on guerrilla tactics and superior technology, as well as mercenaries.
  • The Harkonnen just go brutal, with no care for lives of their own troops or destruction, as long as they are victorious.
• This game made me fall in love with the Dune franchise
  • If you are interested in playing it again, I recommend OpenRA
  • OpenRA is a project that recreates and modernizes the classic Command & Conquer real time strategy games.
  • Relive the original Command and Conquer, C&C: Red Alert, and Dune 2000
  • https://www.openra.net