Don't worry, I'm the same way. My last gen system of choice is still the 360. So I continue to pick up games on that system since the generally run better and I prefer the controller. Hell, I just picked up Metro Last Light for $20 since I own and played through 2033 for the 360.

But unlike XBL, I've only paid for one indie game on the PS3. Everything else I've gotten through PS+, and most I've tried. I would have never played games like Hotline Miami if it wasn't free, but I'm glad I was able to. And mostly everything that has came out on PS4 through PS+ so far has been great.

I'm one. I've only bought one game in the past two years, the rest I've played for "free" from PS+. I don't play online, so I don't care if I'm a year late.

Judging from the posts on the PlayStation blog, though, you're correct.

Well, I could try to find out, but if I do get a value, I don't think I can disclose anything.

I'll take a look at how many users actually downloaded the free games on PS+ to see what % of users are downloading games. I have a feeling that many PS+ users aren't actively using it.

Which is another curious question : Does Sony pay per PS Plus Subscriber or per "purchase"?

Ok, I looked at some of the data....and I'm probably wrong

A much larger % of the PS+ users do download the free games than I anticipated.

It may even be they pay a certain amount to the publisher for the month and that's it. Or they do pay that certain amount like $200k, then the price per "purchase" after 100K downloads goes down to $1 per transaction.

Spring Fever 2014: Discounts on TowerFall, Fez, and More

+ Posted by Chieh Chen on Mar 03, 2014 // Digital Distribution Manager, Sony Network Entertainment



Hi everyone! Spring is here (even if Mother Nature hasn’t quite realized that yet) and that means one thing: it’s time for our annual Spring Fever promotion. I’m super excited to announce that this year’s event will bring new indie titles to both PS3 and PS4.

Just like last year’s Spring Fever promotion, over the next four weeks we are championing indie developers who are bringing new and exciting experiences to the PlayStation platforms and giving PS Plus members 20 % off each title during each game’s launch week. The Spring Fever lineup features titles from stellar indie developers and I think it is safe to say that this year’s lineup rivals (and maybe even surpasses) that of 2013.

Here is this year’s Spring Fever line-up:

Launch Week Title PS Plus Launch Week Price Regular Price
3/4 to 3/10 Awesomenauts Assemble (PS4) $7.99 $9.99
Master Reboot (PS3) $11.99 $14.99
3/11 to 3/17 TowerFall Ascension (PS4) $11.99 $14.99
Vessel (PS3) $7.99 $9.99
3/18 to 3/24 SteamWorld Dig (PS4)* $7.99 $9.99
Luftrausers (PS3)* $7.99 $9.99
3/25 to 3/31 Fez (PS4)** $9.99 $12.99
Fez (PS3)** $9.99 $12.99

*Cross-Buy with PS Vita
**Cross-Buy with PS4, PS3 and PS Vita

Along with the new game releases, we are also featuring sales on popular video game franchises including Need for Speed, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto and BioShock. These sales will include both full games and popular downloadable content.

Here are the franchise sales available each week throughout Spring Fever:

Need for Speed: 3/4 through 3/10
Title Plus Price Sale Price Original Price
Need for Speed Most Wanted (PS3) $5.00 $9.99 $19.99
Need for Speed Most Wanted (PS Vita) $5.00 $9.99 $19.99
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit (PS3) $5.00 $9.99 $19.99
Need for Speed Carbon (PSP/PS Vita) $5.00 $9.99 $19.99
Need for Speed The Run (PS3) $5.00 $9.99 $29.99

Call of Duty: 3/11 through 3/17
Title Plus Price Sale Price Original Price
Call of Duty: Black Ops II With Revolution Map Pack (PS3) $35.99 $39.99 $59.99
Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Season Pass Bundle (PS3) $53.99 $59.99 $99.99
Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Season Pass (PS3) N/A $24.99 $49.99
Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Revolution (PS3) N/A $7.49 $14.99
Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising (PS3) N/A $7.49 $14.99
Call of Duty: Black Ops II Vengeance (PS3) N/A $7.49 $14.99
Call of Duty: Black Ops II Apocalypse (PS3) N/A $7.49 $14.99
Call of Duty: Black Ops & Black Ops II Game Bundle (PS3) $62.99 $69.99 $109.99
Call of Duty: Black Ops with First Strike (PS3) $31.49 $34.99 $49.99
Call of Duty: Black Ops Ultimate Edition (PS3) $67.49 $74.99 $94.49
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 With DLC Collection 1 (PS3) $26.99 $29.99 $39.99
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Ultimate Edition (PS3) $62.99 $69.99 $99.99
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 with Stimulus Package (PS3) $17.99 $19.99 $29.99
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare with Variety Map Pack (PS3) $17.99 $19.99 $29.99
Call of Duty 4: MW 1-3 Bundle (PS3) $58.49 $64.99 $89.99

Grand Theft Auto: 3/18 through 3/24
Title Plus Price Sale Price Original Price
GTA IV (PS3) $4.79 $5.99 $19.99
GTA San Andreas (PS3) $3.59 $4.49 $14.99
GTA V (PS3) N/A $39.99 $59.99
Grand Theft Auto 3 (PS3) $2.39 $2.99 $9.99
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PS3) $2.39 $2.99 $9.99
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PS3) $2.39 $2.99 $9.99
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (PS3) $2.39 $2.99 $9.99
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (PSP) $4.79 $5.99 $19.99
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City (PS3) $4.79 $5.99 $19.99
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PSP) $4.79 $5.99 $19.99
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (PSP) $4.79 $5.99 $19.99

BioShock: 3/25 through 3/31
Title Plus Price Sale Price Original Price
BioShock (PS3) $5.00 $9.99 $19.99
BioShock 2 (PS3) $5.00 $9.99 $19.99
BioShock Infinite – Burial at Sea – Episode 1 (PS3) $7.34 $10.49 $14.99
BioShock Infinite – Columbia’s Finest Pack (PS3) $2.44 $3.49 $4.99
BioShock Infinite – Clash in the Clouds (PS3) $2.44 $3.49 $4.99

Not worth copying it over again, but this week's Playstation Plus Weekly Update post is up.

Dead Nation Apocalypse Edition for PS4 and Tomb Raider for PS3 are the freebies tomorrow.

Need for Speed Sale and Spring Fever games as above.

Just a heads up, Dragon's Crown is on sale at NewEgg for $19.99 if you didn't already pick it up during the sale

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9205133&cm_sp=

some great deals on those Need for Speed games. I had a lot of fun with Most Wanted and Hot Pursuit.

Are the GTA games (San Andreas, Vice City) just PS2 ports on PS3? Such low prices I might want to pick them up again.

Yes. They're not HD, updated or changed in any way other than being playable on the PS3.

I think it's a flat fee. But the rate changes depending on the game, and the length of time it remains in the collection. Like maybe they get more money if they stay in the collection for 3-6 months over what the game of the month gets.

What I am seeing, especially with the game of the month, is that most of GOTM have DLC. So you look at something like BioShock Infinite, which is a single player game that's dropped to the $20 price point in stores. There are probably a ton of them available used, and the new price has been lowered to reflect that. At the same time, a season pass for the game is also $20. Why not get some money from Sony for a game they're not likely to get too many more buys out of? And at the same time, maybe this new install base will be more inclined to buy a season pass or some DLC for the game since they paid nothing extra for the game.

Personally speaking, I bought the DLC for Sleeping Dogs when it was on Plus (they also put the DLC on sale, which made the decision easier). And I will likely do the same for BioShock when I get around to starting it. I even bought the DLC for Quantum Conundrum.

Also, it can lead to future purchases. When Sony had their PSN meltdown, they gave out 5 games for free. One was InFamous, which I grabbed and liked. InFamous 2 was later free on Plus. I grabbed that and liked it as well. I then bought Festival Of Blood when it was on sale. If I can swing it, I'll likely buy Second Son on the PS4 because of all of that.

Same path with LittleBigPlanet. I never would have tried that game if I hadn't got it free from the meltdown. I liked it so much that I bought all the DLC for the game and LBP2 on disc before it came to Plus for free. I then bought the DLC for Part 2 that didn't come with the special edition. I also bought LPB Karting before it went free as well (not a great decision, but still).

So I think these companies that put their games on plus have many ways to recoup whatever lost sales they might have beyond what Sony pays them for it.

I've wanted to play Fez for along time. That's a day one purchase for me.

Nice Survival Guide for the new PS4 freebie from the PS Blog:


Dead Nation Tips and Tricks: Dead Bodies Everywhere

+ Posted by Sid Shuman on Dec 03, 2010 // Social Media Manager

What’s old is new again! Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition hits PS4 on March 4th, 2014 with a host of new features and enhanced graphics. We’ve dusted off this comprehensive strategy guide from the game’s 2010 PS3 launch, which should get you a head start with the Apocalypse Edition. Enjoy!

Dead Nation’s nonstop shooting and scrambling will test the mettle of even a veteran gamer — and that’s part of the fun! I’ve compiled my battle-tested tactics gleaned from beating the game on the “Grim” difficulty, plus bonus tips shared by PlayStation Twitter followers. Earn more gold, find more health, beat back mobs efficiently, and choose the right upgrades. Be sure to leave your own battle-tested tips in the comments!
Mob Rules

Rush makes you (briefly) invincible. Pressing L2 grants you a burst of speed that makes you untouchable for a nanosecond. Use it to dodge angry Bombies, power through a zombie crowd, or sprint over flames. But even the Rush won’t save you from the dreaded Cutter…
Master the Melee. Melee attacks (R2) knock away all zombies, even those lurking behind you, so it’s a must for crowd control. To be a real melee monster, collect fashionable ExoGear armor pieces hidden throughout the game and equip them at the Weapon Shop.
Melee while reloading. Stuck in a reload animation just as a mob is closing in? Jam on the melee button (R2) to fend off the onrushing zombies — it won’t interrupt your reload progress. So no excuses: Reload at every opportunity!
Learn to love car alarms. That telltale red warning light is your cue to open fire — the resulting racket will bring every nearby zombie running, giving you time to slink away before the ensuing explosion.
Trick the Jumper into smashing other zombies. When you hear its distinctive shriek, Rush away. With practice, you can use this technique to direct the Jumper right into a zombie crowd with lethal results.
Listen to the music. Dead Nation’s dynamic soundtrack gets the blood pumping. But, more importantly, it can give you clues about the next threat. If you hear the music kick into overdrive, ready a powerful weapon!
When all else fails, throw a grenade. It’s tempting to solve every problem with bullets, but equipment like flares and mines are absolute lifesavers. Use them regularly or suffer the consequences!


Cash is King

Keep your enemies close. Those gold and red orbs that gush from defeated zombies? They boost your cash and score multiplier, respectively, but their value decreases rapidly over distance. For maximum cash, stay as close as possible to the carnage.
It pays to wait. Glowing blue boxes always carry ammo; all other boxes alternate between red (score multiplayer) and gold (money for weapons and upgrades). If you’re strapped for cash, wait for each box to turn gold before opening it.
Cash 4 Health. Topped off on life? Don’t let that health kit go to waste. Tap R2 — you’ll squash it and gain bonus cash. Protip: This doesn’t work in real life.
Junk in the trunk. Car trunks always contain gold, so be sure to loot them at every opportunity.
Leave no gravestone unturned. Take some time to venture off the main path. Dead Nation is riddled with secret nooks and crannies loaded with item boxes and cash, and you’ll need every last dollar if you want to max out all of your gear.
Ammo comes first! Remember to buy ammunition and items before spending all your cash on upgrades and new weapons.

Dead Nation control scheme

Tips for Healthy Living

Rest a little. Your character automatically regenerates 20% of his or her life bar. If you’re low on life and facing long odds, grab that next health kit after you regenerate and you’ll come out ahead.
Health-o-Matic. Soda machines are scattered throughout the environments, and can provide one of two effects. Shoot it to create a noisy diversion; Melee it (R2) to gain a quick health boost.
Max out your Endurance. If you’re having trouble surviving, equip ArmoShell armor upgrades at the next Weapon Shop to boost your defense.
Rush the flames away. Flames and poison goo will melt down your health bar in milliseconds. Rushing (L2) will slough off any harmful substances and get you back in the fight.


Weapon Tips

Rifle: Limitless ammo makes this a handy fallback, and its charged “powershot” drills through a crowd like a hot knife through butter. The powershot can also snipe out a dangerous target in the middle of a crowd. Upgrade it early, but don’t rely on it.
Shotgun: Upgrade early and upgrade often. Perhaps the single most useful weapon in Dead Nation, the Shotgun makes mincemeat out of the toughest zombies. Don’t get trigger happy, though: ammo is painfully limited.
SMG: This rapid-fire weapon is best used against weaker zombies such as skeletons. On higher difficulties, the SMG will barely faze tougher enemies — use it with caution and upgrade it gradually over the course of the game.
Flamethrower: This specialized weapon fits a niche role. You’ll need to top off every upgrade to reach its full potential — a pricey proposition. It’s best for crowd control, as flaming zombies move slower and tend to scatter.
Blade Cannon: A keeper! The bladed projectile will carve through an entire horde, instantly killing all zombies — including the dreaded soldiers and fat men — with one well-placed shot. It’s also a one-hit kill against Bombies, though Jumpers and Cutters will barely shrug. It’s definitely worth upgrading.
Launcher: This powerful rocket launcher is the ideal choice against Cutters and Jumpers, though it starts with only five shots. Upgrade the ammo capacity posthaste, and always fire from a safe distance!
Shocker: This lightning gun can flash-fry a huge horde in seconds — if you have the cash to max out its upgrades. The Shocker will also immobilize lesser enemies, making it a powerful alternative to the Flamethrower.


Equipment Tips

Flare: Invest in the Duration upgrade to keep zombie mobs distracted longer, then let loose with the Shotgun, Blade Cutter, or Shocker.
Grenade: Zombies will lunge for the blinking light, making Grenades a great choice for redirecting rampaging mobs. Stay clear of the red explosive radius!
Mine: Upgrade these bad boys as quickly as possible, especially to gain multiple Explosive Charges. Even though mines don’t attract special enemies like they do with zombies, you can still utilize them by standing behind mines and luring them in.
Molotov: Handy in a pinch, but self immolation is a constant risk. Molotovs are perhaps most useful for creating a literal firewall between yourself and an angry horde. Use with caution!
TNT: This screen-filling explosion inflicts the most damage of all, making it valuable against the rock-hard Cutters. As with the other items, zombies will be attracted to its blinking light.


Co-op and Community Tips

Make sure to balance the weapon loadouts for co-op play, so you can handle all types of zombies (via @EGjonas)
In co-op, play back-to-back to keep lights surrounding the area and you’ll have fun mowing down hundreds of the undead. (via @MeatRations)
Pump the first few rounds into the cars BEFORE you need them to blow up. Prime ‘em. (via @BenKuchera)
Always exploit the exploding cars AFTER you’ve looted them. (via @Geofortean)
Use a charged shot to quickly set off a car alarm or a soda machine. (via @psnstores)
Upgrade the default Rifle to max power, then use bottlenecks in the environment to line up the zombies. Boom! Multi-kill! (via @Essmithsd)
Always be moving while engaged in combat. If you need breathing room, melee and rush are an effective way to buy precious seconds. (via @driftingdrafts)
Reload, switch weapons, and switch back to the original. The weapon will be at full stock without the wasted time. (via @Taggart451)
In co-op, stick side-by-side in a narrow alleyway and lure the zombies in while backing up. Using Molotovs for a line of fire and Mines (via @GameOnGreggy)

The use of lighting in that game is amazing. I look forward to running through it again.

$5.00 for NFS Most Wanted is a heck of a deal for anyone on PSPlus. Game is alot of fun by the Burnout crew. I think the annualization of the NFS series kind of hurt the game though.

I have it for the 360 already, but think I'll pick up the Vita version for $5. It probably doesn't look anywhere near as good as the PS3 version, but still would be a fun pick-up-and-play racer.

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PlayStation Plus: Lone Survivor: Director’s Cut Free for Members

+ Posted by Kristine Steimer on Mar 10, 2014 // Sr. Community Specialist

It’s easy to look at Lone Survivor’s art style and think it’s not going to scare you, but this game is legitimately freaky. You’ll take the role of a creeptastic guy attempting to survive in a city overrun by disease, which apparently turns you into a nasty walking ball of fleshy bits. Given the scarcity of ammo, you’ll likely be focused on hiding from the flesh monsters roaming the world versus conducting constant head-on assaults. The story unfolds based on your choices throughout the game and there are multiple endings to discover as a result. The final bonus is that this title is Cross-Buy, so PlayStation Plus members will receive both the PS3 and PS Vita versions of the game.

The Spring Fever sale continues this week with day 1 discounts on Towerfall Ascension and Vessel. The franchise portion of the sale this week focuses on Call of Duty, so check out all of the discounted bundles below.

You can download Lone Survivor: The Director’s Cut after the PlayStation Store updates tomorrow, 3/11.

PlayStation Plus 3-11-2014

PlayStation Plus: Instant Game Collection
Lone Survivor: The Director’s Cut (PS3)

Free for PS Plus members
Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut
In this psychological survival adventure, the masked protagonist must escape from a city ravaged by disease, by any means necessary. Lone Survivor: The Director’s Cut is a new kind of adventure where the choice of how to survive is up to you. Sneak through without firing a single shot, or kill everything in your path. Eat and sleep well, or resort to drugs to keep going. Search for survivors, or try to escape the city alone. Look after your mental health, or descend into madness. Lone Survivor is a game where your choices genuinely matter.

PlayStation Plus: Discounts
Title Plus Price Original Price
Ethan: Meteor Hunter $8.54 $9.49
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2 And Season Pass Bundle $53.99 $59.99
Call Of Duty: Black Ops Complete Bundle $67.49 $74.99
Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Bundle $17.99 $19.99
Call Of Duty: Black Ops II With Revolution Map Pack $35.99 $39.99
Call Of Duty: Black Ops With First Strike $31.49 $34.99
Call Of Duty: BO1+DLC1 With BO2+DLC1 $62.99 $69.99
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 With Stimulus Package $17.99 $19.99
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 With DLC Collection 1 $62.99 $69.99
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 With DLC Collection 1 $26.99 $29.99
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Game Bundle: MW1+MW2+MW3 $58.49 $64.99
Towerfall Ascension $11.99 $14.99
Vessel $7.99 $9.99

Thanks as always Decker! You're providing a great service to the 'internet at work' challenged.

Thanks, Decker, for the posts and thanks, cruz, for the invite. Picked up Need for Speed: Most Wanted, if anyone wants to play.

You're all very welcome!

Boy the PS Store is really late on updating this week. It's 5PM Pacific and the store is still showing last week's deals.

lone survivor still not showing free for me?

Yeah the store never updated. That's the first time (since the dreaded outage) that they missed an update.