EA Origin: Here's a price cut 'off games you'll actually play'

Photo from Digital Game Deals

Take that, Steam.

EA's trying to compete with the online marketplace of PC gaming with their service, Origin, and they're throwing punches in Valve's direction.

With gamers not being happy about Steam apparently allowing any game on their service (anyone for Goat Simulator?), a lot of crap goes on sale that people just pick up because it's a few bucks. We've all been victim of it. Those that have Steam or have just an iOS or Android device sitting in their pocket.

Just a couple of bucks here and there is easy to spend, especially the $0.99 apps.

Well, many people have a backlog of crap they'll never get to -- me included in the PlayStation ecosystem and abundance of free games and sales on the service -- EA knows it has the arsenal to hand out more appealing games at a fraction of the price.

That's exactly what they're doing.

Over at the EA Origin homepage, a smarmy headline of "70% off Games You'll Actually Play" sits with a crapload of games on sale. The Sims 3, Mass Effect 3, Dragon Age 2, Mirror's Edge, Crysis 2, Bulletstorm, and more are just $5.99 or less.

Even better? Former IGN star Craig Harris, who now works at EA, was behind all of this.

What has two thumbs and is responsible for this “controversial” sale headline? #thisguy. http://t.co/UxFWazmbxX
— Craig Harris (@crankycraig) June 3, 2014

Awesome.

July's PS+ Instant Game Collection: Battlefield 3, Metal Slug XX, Dokuro

PlayStation Plus subscribers will be getting five new games in July, and one of them right out of the gate will be a high-selling first-person shooter.

Battlefield 3 was announced a few weeks ago for PS+ in Europe, and the American audience will surprisingly be receiving the same update beginning tomorrow. Other games on the list include:

• Jet Set Radio (PlayStation 3)
• Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD (PS3)
• Dokuro (PS Vita)
• Metal Slug XX (PSP/Vita)

None of the games have high value, but BF3 is likely the best option for those that are thinking of moving into a new shooter if Call of Duty has gotten stale. It serves as a good demo for what to expect in DICE's next installment of BF being released in late October.

Jet Set Radio was released late last year on the Vita, which shouldn't be confused for this version -- this one is exclusively for the PS3.

Of course, Metal Slug XX is re-release of the Metal Slug X cult classic that serves as a perfect portable game and an instant download for anyone that enjoys the shoot-'em-up arcade genre. Which should be everybody that breathes.

Again, BF3 comes out today with the others being scattered throughout the month.

The games that will be leaving this month are Deus Ex Human Revolution (today), Joe Danger 2: The Movie (7/9), The Cave (7/16), Germinator (7/23), and Zero's Escape: Virtue's Last Reward (7/30). ZE still is a $40 value and a must-grab for RPG fans on the go. Make sure to grab it before it goes away!

[Source: PlayStation Blog]

[Image credit: Flickr/jit]

Battlefield 3 Free for PlayStation Plus Subscribers in Europe this July

The list of free games for July have been revealed for PlayStation Plus owners in Europe, and its' highlighted by Battlefield 3 from DICE and Electronic Arts.

It's a little bit different when it comes to free releases in Europe. Their rotation is per month while the releases in North America are staggered through the month, giving gamers an early heads up two weeks in advance to not purchase those games. BF3 is included with the following set to be launched on July 3rd:

• PayDay: The Heist
• Saints Row: The Third
• Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus (Vita)
• Unit 13 (Vita)

Yes, outside of BF3, those games have been free in America as there is some crossover, but not every game has been the same with a different free date. For example, Europeans were able to get Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and Rayman Origins (Vita) for free.

All that can be taken in consideration for America is that the games could see an eventual release on this side. Or possibly never.

The chances of seeing this game free are probably slim. First-person shooters are the highest-selling franchise in the states for years now and that trend won't falter until the Call of Duty franchise slows down.

[Source: PlayStation Blog Europe]

[Image credit: Flickr/jit]