Free Meat Friday: Rock of Ages (Steam)

The "free meat" prize today is a copy of Rock of Ages on Steam. I really enjoy this game and it's in large part because I adore its art style—which is very reminiscent of Monty Python/Terry Gilliam—and just find it rather beautiful. Much of the scenery and whatnot looks like photographs cut out and placed in the game and I find it captivating in motion. The game itself is fun but flawed—a bit of tower-defense mixed with Marble Madness—though, it's still a solid game and definitely worth playing for the experience alone.

All you have to do to enter is click THIS and then click "Retweet." -- Make sure you follow me, @Kush3, so I can DM you with details if a winner is you. Otherwise, a winner is who? Seriously though, a failure to follow simple instructions can turn a potential winner into one of many "losers." And if you'd like a second entree to double your chances, leave a comment on any post during the duration of the giveaway and you'll be entered twice in this here giveaway. You-all have until Sunday (05/27/12) at 12PM CST to enter due to the now common later-than-usual start and the winner will be contacted soon after.

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The "Bundle In A Box" Adventure Bundle

Who doesn't like a good indie game bundle? I know I don't, but that's because I love 'em! (That was cheesy, but I'm half Sicilian and cheese flows through my veins.) A new indie bundle—the "Bundle In A Box"—has just joined the now crowded bundle scene and it's first bundle is full of adventure games—five for meeting the minimum price and seven for beating the average price. The bundle contains some familiar games—Gemini Rue, Ben There, Dan That!, and Time Gentlemen, Please!—as well as a few fresh faces worth checking out.

Like most bundles, the "Bundle In A Box" is a great way of supporting indie development and charity and I don't know about you, but I doubt I'll ever tire of seeing such bundles; well, as long as they always contain at least some new content. This particular bundle, like every bundle, also contains bonuses like soundtracks and the bonuses grow and grow as specific sales milestones are met. If you're interested, click on either link and remember that the sale ends on June 6th, so you have roughly two weeks to make your move.

The "Bundle In A Box" Bundle

A Lovely Sale "Because We May"

If you call yourself a fan of video games and enjoy supporting indie developers, you better check out the "Because We May" promotion running now until June 1st. The promotion is full of well over a hundred games ranging in platform from mobile to PC—services that allow developers to freely adjust their prices—and will remain open to developers wishing to join until the sale ends. That said, now is the time to click on either link to the official site and start perusing the vast and varied array of games for all tastes. But if I may as they have, let me throw out a few random games I highly recommend.

(Please note some of the games listed below are available on other platforms/through other services, I'm just linking to my preferred platform/service if multiples exist. Make sure you visit the official site for the complete list.)

"Because We May" [Official Site]

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The 'Hitman: Absolution - Sniper Challenge' is Quite Lovely

I usually pay little attention to pre-order bonuses, not caring about a poster or some in-game outfit I'd never wear, but Hitman: Absolution - Sniper Challenge is a rare exception that grabbed my attention immediately. Sniper Challenge is a little mini-game, a non-demo demo, a taste of Hitman without representing the actual retail game, at least the majority of the retail game. It's not the first pre-order bonus of its kind—Fable II Pub Games says hi—but it's still a rarity and something I'd like to see more of.

Now the game itself is a single-level sniper challenge with leaderboards and about a dozen or so challenges that increase the score multiplier upon completion. It's extremely simple upon first viewing, but it's full of so many small details and different ways of accomplishing the various goals and challenges. You can shoot a guard as he's leaning over an edge to knock him off the building, taking him out and hiding his body in one quick shot—ignore the commotion that would come as said body hits the ground; you can shoot out this or that to cause a distraction; and plenty more I don't want to mention because much of the fun comes in trial, error, and the discovery of something unexpected.

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Xbox LIVE 'Deal of the Week' for 05/22 - 05/28/12

This week's Xbox LIVE 'Deal of the Week' is a nice rehash of some great XBLA games all published by Ubisoft (minus one: A Kingdom for Keflings). If you missed out on earlier sales or happen to be new to the 360, today is a great day as I'd recommend picking up every game on sale if you have the money/points/balls/ovaries to do so.

Outland is a beautiful "metroidvania"-esque game with online co-op; Clash of Heroes is a fun and interesting match 'em/strategy/RPG mash up with online and offline versus and a meaty single-player campaign; A Kingdom for Keflings is an awesome "God" game with a nice sense of humor, but it's sad that only the original game is on sale and not the sequel; and Beyond Good & Evil HD is beloved action-adventure game I still haven't played despite owning on it on both XBLA and PS2. Once again, I'd recommend picking up any game on sale you don't already own as every game on sale this week is easily worth its full price, making the sale prices that much sweeter.

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