aaron's blog

Waiting around for Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight?  EA has released Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun for free now to try to satisfy your thirst till it comes out.  

From the site:

Set in the early 21st century, Tiberian Sun once again pits the Global Defense Initiative against the Brotherhood of Nod in a struggle for control of the planet. With an epic storyline that unfolds as play progresses, players learn the reasons behind the worldwide outbreak of Tiberium and what happened to the notorious Nod leader Kane, who was presumed dead at the end of the first Command & Conquer.

http://www.commandandconquer.com/classic

GamesRadar.com has a list of great commercial games that have been released for free.  Included are some of my favorites like Archlord, Battle Chess, Fallout, and many more. 

From the site:

We like free stuff. That’s why we posted links to download and play 365 free games so you could have a decent game to play for every day of the year, free of charge. Unfortunately, GamesRadar has yet to wrestle the most formidable type of free games into submission so that they can be preserved in their proper list form for eternity. We’re talking about the free games that were good enough to sell, important enough to review, and memorable enough to warrant a second play through years later.

http://www.gamesradar.com/f/30-commercial-games-released-for-free/a-20100202122153157099

From the site:

For two weeks starting December 22nd, enjoy "Silent Night", a holiday-themed remake of the popular arena "Distant Screams" from Team Arena. During this time Santa himself along with his festive helper Vixen, will be playable character models across all game types.

Quake Live is a completely online version of Quake that is free for everyone.  It features 50 areas, 5 game modes, off-line bot competition, and you can select your skill level so that you can play with others like you. 

http://www.quakelive.com/#preview/winter2009

Dungeons and Dragons Online is now free which is following in the footsteps of other MMO's that have decided to give the free-to-play model a try. I've read reports that some have been successful. If your looking around for something new, this may be exactly what your looking for. It's based on the D&D 3.5 ruleset. Here's some information from the site:

Dungeons & Dragons Online®: Eberron Unlimited™ (or DDO for short) is the only FREE to play premium Massively Multiplayer Online game (MMO) of its kind. Set in the vast and dangerous online world of Eberron, gamers discover hidden treasure, pummel monsters, and look to evade traps left behind by an ancient race. By leveraging the most active, most realistic combat system of any online game, DDO players deliver and feel every blow that goes into a baddie’s demise.

http://www.ddo.com/

Aeria Games is proud to announce the launch of the official Wolf Team website! Now is your chance to reserve your spot in the upcoming Closed Beta that will begin at the end of June! Wolf Team is a fast paced First Person Shooter (FPS) online game. However, blazing gunfire is just the beginning:

* Fast-paced FPS action for up to 16 players!
* Large assortment of different weapons
* Transform into werewolf for up-close combat
* 15 different maps in a variety of environments
* 7 game modes including Death Match, Destruction, and Conquest
* Best of all it's Free to Play!

About the game:

Wolf Team is a fast paced 3D MMOFPS that features the ability for players to transform between playing as a Human or as a Werewolf. Humans have an assortment of weapons available at their disposal giving them an advantage at a distance. Wolves on the other hand have no ranged attack but are faster and stronger than their human counter parts.

The ability to switch between human and wolf at any time adds a new element of strategy to Wolf Team over other traditional shooter games. Players will never need to worry about running out of ammunition because Wolves have their own distinct advantages such as running on walls and dropping in on other players unexpectedly. In certain modes players can even play as other types of wolves such as ghost wolves that can turn invisible.

Wolf Team has several addictive game modes to choose from ranging from the traditional deathmatch style to Conquest mode that allows players to work in a team to capture as many bases as possible, and Destruction mode where one team tries to blow up the other team's base. The game also features a large selection of weapons players can acquire as they progress through the game.

* Features Fast-paced FPS action for up to 16 players at a time!
* A large assortment of modern weaponry
* Transform into a werewolf for up-close combat
* 15 different maps in a variety of different shapes and sizes
* 7 exciting game modes including Death Match, Destruction, and Conquest

Sign up for closed beta