# Free PC game and free weekend notification thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [November 13, 2014, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513 "2014-11-13T08:16:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 63
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1245 "2022-02-28T02:54:32Z")
no one wants free pc games? wow … granted some of them are 20 years old or more … ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1246 "2022-02-28T02:57:01Z")
This should be good. [Aperture Desk Job](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py65lULJ8w0&ab_channel=IGN) coming March 1, free on Steam. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1247 "2022-03-02T11:34:37Z")
Looks like Paid Amazon Prime Gaming is doing Madden NFL 22 on Origin and Surviving Mars on Epic this month, along with a bunch of the usual digital ones, which I don’t recognise. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1248 "2022-03-03T19:20:03Z")
That seems crazy to me, but Madden has been working their way up to a microtransactions model for a few years now. Looks like they’re going all-in with that this year. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1249 "2022-03-03T21:29:32Z")
FWIW AngryJoe (a longtime YouTube video game reviewer) HATES Madden NFL 22. I’m not sure but I think this is one of his longest videos ever. Personally, I would not take it even if it is free. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2VEAA-D9vzY/hqdefault.jpg "Madden 22 - Angry Review (& Angry Rant!)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VEAA-D9vzY) ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1250 "2022-03-03T22:24:07Z")
its atari week on epic centipede recharged and black widow recharged until the 10th And if you play dauntless which I think is an online RPG they have an “epic slayer kit” until the 10th also ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1251 "2022-03-03T22:30:08Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > FWIW AngryJoe (a longtime YouTube video game reviewer) HATES Madden NFL 22. I’m not sure but I think this is one of his longest videos ever. Personally, I would not take it even if it is free. I added it to my Origin account. Anyone have a “too long, didn’t watch” summary of why Angry Joe thinks it is so bad? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1252 "2022-03-03T22:44:38Z")
At the time of his review he said it was glitchy and had bugs in it that have been present for 5-years. Maybe those are fixed now (I do not know). I think the main complaint of his is this is a yearly release and Madden-22 is in no way better than Madden 21 or even Madden games from 10+ years ago. EA phoned it in, barely did anything and charges a AAA price. But I guess free is good. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1253 "2022-03-03T22:47:13Z")
[Here’s one PS5 review which touches on the bugs:](https://www.operationsports.com/madden-22-review-beautiful-chaos/) > From early access to the full-blown retail version of _Madden 22_, glitches can be found everywhere. From presentation to on-field gameplay, these little inconsistencies and bugs were prevalent throughout my time with the title. > > From players switching uniforms in the middle of the play to offensive players with the ball trying to tackle the defender, warped logos, and final scores that aren’t indicative of the final score that took place. > I wouldn’t describe many of the bugs I experienced as game-breaking issues, but when added together, they start to take their toll on the overall on-field experience and greatly reduce the level of depth they were trying to create with the newly implemented Dynamic Gameday feature. > > ### Bottom Line > > My love affair with _Madden 22_ felt, at times, more like a toxic relationship. I want to love it, and it wants to love me, but all we do is argue about who should have done the dishes. > > _Madden 22_ has some issues this year, and clearly the development team is working as fast as it can to either mitigate or eradicate each of these issues. What is bothersome is that this title passed through quality control and the powers that be felt it was reasonable to release in this state. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1254 "2022-03-03T23:31:34Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > What is bothersome is that this title passed through quality control and the powers that be felt it was reasonable to release in this state. just now bothersome? its been this way for about a decade when DLC and patches were accepted … ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1255 "2022-03-03T23:43:19Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I think the main complaint of his is this is a yearly release and Madden-22 is in no way better than Madden 21 or even Madden games from 10+ years ago. EA phoned it in, barely did anything and charges a AAA price. But I guess free is good. That’s the same tired complaint everyone’s had for 10 years. If it really bothers them that much you’d think they’d learn by now. Either stop playing the fucking thing, or just play Madden '10 or whichever their “favorite” one is forever and ever and STFU. Nobody has a gun to their head. But NO, these people who are bitching are the same people who dutifully pay $60+ every single year seemingly _just_ to bitch and whine about it. I have zero sympathy. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1256 "2022-03-03T23:56:13Z")
Yeah, this has been a recurring complaint. All I can say is watch the video. I think this one has taken EA’s willingness to do nothing and milk the series for all it is worth to new lows (e.g. they reuse faces on some players…different players, same face). And I do not know the demographics of who buys these games but I suspect they are teens spending mom and dad’s money. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1257 "2022-03-04T02:47:05Z")
I thought the big complaint was their move toward micro transactions. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1258 "2022-03-04T03:18:27Z")
That’s not great either but at least you can skip that stuff. It seems it is annoying it is there though (I have not played it but seen a few videos) and it is mostly preying on kids. FWIW, I checked Metacritic and Madden NFL 22 has a 0.7 user score (out of 10 possible). ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1259 "2022-03-04T05:20:47Z")
Still infinitely better than my no Madden. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1260 "2022-03-04T05:34:32Z")
For free, sure (as long as you can withstand the pressure to use any purchases). But it’s probably good not to keep shelling out money for minimal effort games. This is why exclusive contracts for this sort of thing are a bad idea. They need the competition to innovate. But the only way that happens is if the NFL starts to think it could make more money without an exclusive contract. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1261 "2022-03-04T06:06:46Z")
Just bring back _NFL Blitz_. At least it was fun. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1262 "2022-03-04T14:54:11Z")
I’ll take Front Page Sports Football from Dynamix. It was mindblowing in the early 90s. Hey, looks like it’s freely available as abandonware… Unfortunately I have never since played any single football game that even approached its greatness. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1263 "2022-03-04T18:19:59Z")
IIRC I didn’t claim the Madden because it required linking my Origin account to my Epic account, and I don’t want Epic knowing my Origin account details. Just because, I don’t want to help them. And several of the Amazon Prime giveaways wanted my Epic account details. I’m not liking this trend, I know it’s free but “free” and “free with strings attached” are two different things. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513/1264 "2022-03-04T18:25:16Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I’m not liking this trend, I know it’s free but “free” and “free with strings attached” are two different things. They want to avoid giving activation keys since those get resold and devalue the game when you can buy a key on websites for $2. So you link your Amazon and Epic/Origin/Uplay credentials, tell Amazon you want it, they tell the game client and it gets activated without a key getting out of their hands. Edit: I should add this is the reason for the direct activations. Madden IS a game key and I did, in fact, give it away to a friend so they “lost” a sale one it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513.md?page=62) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-pc-game-and-free-weekend-notification-thread/704513.md?page=64)