Blizzard’s San Diego Comic-Con Social Giveaways

I had never heard of Splurgy, or the fact that it’s an app (according to Blizzard’s description), until I noticed the Blizzard giveaway in preparation for San Diego Comic-Con 2014. The giveaway is simple: go Like everything Blizzard does on Facebook and get entered to win grab bags!

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YOUR CHANCE TO WIN EXCLUSIVE SDCC LOOT!

Click here to enter to win 1 of 25 Blizzard Comic-Con Goodie Bags! What’s inside, you ask? The 2014 Blizzard Comic-Con Goodie Bag contains some of the exciting prizes we will be selling at San Diego Comic-Con this year:

• (1) Heroes of the Storm Team Tee
• (1) Heroes of the Storm Lanyard
• (1) Diablo Whimsyshire Treasure Goblin
• (1) Starcraft Cute But Deadly Cloaking Zeratul
• (1) Starcraft Funko Pop! Vinyl Primal Kerrigan
• (1) Warcraft Nether Faerie Dragon Plush

Entering our giveaway is quick and easy, just follow the instructions on the giveaway link above. You can earn entries into our giveaway by completing a variety of social actions through the Splurgy app, including:

• (1) Visiting the Blizzard Gear store
• (1) Liking Blizzard on Facebook
• (1) Liking Diablo on Facebook
• (1) Liking Hearthstone on Facebook
• (1) Liking World of Warcraft on Facebook
• (1) Liking Starcraft on Facebook
• (1) Liking Heroes of the Storm on Facebook
• (1) Following Heroes of the Storm on Twitter
• (1) Subscribing to Heroes of the Storm on YouTube
• (1) Liking Legendary on Facebook
• (1) Liking Legendary on Twitter
• (3) Sharing a Status Update on Facebook
• (3) Sharing an Update on Twitter

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Want to get your hands on the items that aren’t exclusive to Comic-Con? Head to the Blizzard Gear store now by clicking here.

Neverwinter: Earn 1 Million Astral Diamonds With Nvidia

If you’re looking for a video card upgrade either now or at least before the end of the year, Neverwinter is offering a pretty sweet deal: purchase an eligible GeForce GTX and get 1 million Astral Diamonds. Easy peasy.

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The Forgotten Realms is unquestionably a beautiful setting. To fully reveal the intricate details of every feature, monster, and adventure zone in Neverwinter, you’ll need to equip yourself with the necessary tools to do so. Fortunately, Neverwinter and Nvidia have teamed up to provide you with the best in-game graphical experience possible!

You may be wondering, how? It’s easy. Purchase an eligible GeForce GTX video card or notebook and get 1 Million Astral Diamonds in Neverwinter! Click here to find out more about this special promotion. This promotion ends on December 31, 2013 so do not miss out!

What will you do with 1 Million Astral Diamonds? Let us know on the official Neverwinter forums.

The Secret World: Free Hoodie & Trial Keys Giveaway (Curse.com)

Curse is giving away free trial keys and a free hoodie (for everyone) in celebration of the latest content update for The Secret World. Details below! (Once you have your key, simply apply it to your Funcom account or begin a new trial account.)

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To celebrate the in-game event “The Whisper Tide” in The Secret World, we in Curse are proud to be the first partner of Funcom to give away both trial keys and unique Curse branded clothing.

Go here for the key.

By using one of these keys you can either append the very cool Curse hoodie to your wardrobe in The Secret World, OR start up a fully new trial account which also includes the stylish hoodie. Now, there is no reason not to try one of the most popular MMOs around. Please go to http://register.thesecretworld.com to use your key!

Be sure to check out the details of The Whisper Tide here!

TERA: Level Up Test Event! Limited Chance for a Free Level 58 Character!

The world of TERA is a big place — and we want you and your friends to experience as much of it as possible. That’s why we’re offering a free, permanent level 58 character for all new and existing accounts. The Level Up Test Event offers a great chance to bring a new or experienced MMO friend into TERA so you can group up and start adventuring together immediately. It’s also a great opportunity to try your hand at a new class without having to start from scratch.

This event is for a limited time only. If the test is successful, we will use the feedback to further improve your TERA experience going forward.

Here are the guidelines on getting your level 58:

• New characters created between Thursday, September 19 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time and Sunday, September 22 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time will be eligible for this event.

• You must create a race and class of your choosing and assign a name ending in “.Levelup”

– Correct: Treeshark.Levelup, Tocker.Levelup, Goose.Levelup, Duck.Chicken.Levelup
– Incorrect: Levelup.hammer, Level.Up.Me, Please.Levelup.Mychar, Treeshark.Lvlup
– Characters without “.Levelup” at the end will be ignored, so please double check your spelling and don’t forget the dot!

• We will only allow one free level up per household for new accounts. 
• For accounts that existed before 9/19/2013 at 10:00 am Pacific time, we will allow one eligible “.Levelup” character per game account.

– If you try and make multiple characters on your account or on multiple accounts, only the first created will become level 58.
– For existing players, one eligible “.Levelup” character should accomodate those with existing multi-player households.

• Starting Monday, September 23, we will run a script that levels up eligible characters.

– We will update here when the script starts, and when it completes.
– If you’re on the character when the script starts, you will be disconnected. Things will process just fine.
– If you’re on another character, you won’t be affected.
– We hope to complete the script within 24 hours, but that depends greatly on the number of participants in the test.

• Characters will provided with:

– Level 58
– 1 Name change voucher (non-tradable)
– 1 beginner mount.
– T11 soulbound gear for all classes (feel free to use the extra as fodder)
– All items will be sent to parcel
– All story quests (available, but incomplete)

While we are taking measures to ensure that the Level Up Test Event runs smoothly, we want to remind you that this is a test, which may result in technical issues or delays. Expect updates to this thread regarding such matters as well as announcements when we start and finish the script. If all goes as planned, all participants can look forward to a brand new level 58 character to adventure with in the world of TERA.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – Free Digital PC Copy Contest – Winners Announced!

First, thanks to everyone who participated in our Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn giveaway!

Initially, we were only going to offer one digital PC copy. However, we literally couldn’t choose “the best” post as we had multiple favorites. We also had contestants who offered additional feedback, taught us a few new things (e.g. retainers, crafting), and who shared brilliant personal stories about why they really loved the Final Fantasy franchise.

So, we’ve decided to award EVERYONE who participated with their very own shiny new digital PC copy of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn! That’s 15 copies in all!

We will begin sending out the email containing the promo codes and instructions in just a few minutes. Simply enter that promo code at the pre-order website and it walks you through obtaining a pre-order code you then apply toward your account for “early access”. If you played in beta test 4/open beta, the client is already installed. However, you’ll definitely want to finish applying these codes today as early access begins tomorrow.

The email notifications will go out using the email you provided to post your comments on our contest thread.

Thanks again for participating! We look forward to offering other giveaways down the road (though probably not *quite* as generous as this round)!

Best of luck and perhaps we’ll see each other in Eorzea!

Organic
Managing Editor, /LFG

UPDATE: (August 23, 2013; 10:00 AM Pacific) All promo codes have now been sent!

UPDATE: (August 23, 2013; 10:50 AM Pacific) Please be aware, there is a ~1 GB patch required to update your open beta client to the Early Access version of the game. Be sure you update today so you can start Early Access by 2:00 AM Pacific tomorrow.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – Free Digital PC Copy Contest!

Update: The contest participation window is now closed. We will be sending out the winner announcement later today! Thanks for being a part of our first big giveaway!

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Since we began /LFG 10 weeks ago, we’ve posted over 230 articles, received over 6,600 hits, and have nearly 60 followers! In true gamey, nerdy fashion, /LFG is giving away one free digital PC copy of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. (Sorry PS3 fans!)

The game officially launches on August 27, 2013, but this copy is a preorder and will get you into the world of Eorzea on August 24, 2013 instead. If you’re unfamiliar with FFXIV, the game description (from Amazon.com) is posted below – after the contest rules.

What’s the catch? How do I enter? Who can win?

1. Reply to this post describing what you love most about FFXIV.

2. The response we like the best will win!

3. You will be notified this Friday, August 23, 2013 about the win and I’ll update this post so everyone can congratulate you (and rush out to buy their own copy!). I’ll email you the promotional code first, then follow-up with the preorder early access code when it ships.

That’s it!

Best of luck and see you in Eorzea!

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Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) for the PC platform that invites you to rediscover the realm of Eorzea with friends online. Designed as a relaunch of the 2010 PC release, Final Fantasy XIV, A Realm Reborn allows players to enjoy a true Final Fantasy flavored MMO experience the way game developer/publisher Square Enix intended. Game features include: a persistent and evolving world with immersive storylines, a flexible 18 choice class system, guild-based activities, optimized graphics, the choice of solo or group play, a breathtaking musical score, and cross-platform play with PS3 players.

Now Comes the Decline of the Seventh Umbral Era

The realm of Eorzea is ancient, with a conflicted history marked by cycles of prosperous “Astral,” and disastrous “Umbral” eras. Past interpretations of this led many to predict that the current Astral Era would last into eternity, but now the land stands poised to enter another age of decline, a period known as the Seventh Umbral Era. On the eastern border, the Garlean Empire masses its troops for invasion, while the native beast tribes summon their deities, the otherworldly primals. The threats facing Eorzea will not easily be overcome, but overcome they must be.

Gameplay

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that invites players to explore the realm of Eorzea with friends from around the world. The game is an updated version of the PC game, Final Fantasy XIV, which was originally released in 2010. In it, classic Final Fantasy type themes and environments are merged with MMORPG play mechanics as you form a party and adventure with a multitude of players from across the globe. Forge friendships, mount chocobos, and board airships as you and your companions create your own unique stories in Eorzea. Set out alone or enlist the aid of friends as you undertake epic quests, battle familiar Final Fantasy monsters, and acquire unique abilities and equipment. All the classic elements from the series that you have come to know and love are waiting. Embark on the adventure of a lifetime to help reforge the fate of Eorzea.

Key Game Features

• All the hallmarks of the Final Fantasy franchise, including genre-leading graphics and high-definition real-time cutscenes that advance the game’s rich storyline. Incredible new graphics engine that delivers a high level of detail and quality.
• A flexible class system that allows players to change to any of the eighteen different classes on the fly simply by changing their equipped weapon or tool.
• Guild-based activities focused on catering to players with different gaming styles.
• Breathtaking musical score by renowned Final Fantasy series composer Nobuo Uematsu.
• Cross platform play on Windows PC with PS3 players, and Robust gameplay features — such as Free Companies, story-driven player–Vs-player content, and primal summoning — to bring players together.

Additional Screenshots

PC to PS3 cross-platform play. View larger

More responsive battle system. View larger

Easily customized characters. View larger

Final Fantasy style monsters. View larger

Product Description

FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn is a massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) for Windows piece and PlayStation3 that invites you to explore the realm of Eorzea with friends from around the world. Form a party and adventure with a multitude of players from across the globe. Forge friendships, mount chocobos, and board airships as you and your companions create your own unique stories in Eorzea. Set out alone or enlist the aid of friends as you undertake epic quests, battle familiar FINAL FANTASY monsters, and acquire unique abilities and equipment. All the classic elements from the series that you have come to know and love are waiting. Embark on the adventure of a lifetime to help reforge the fate of Eorzea on PS3 or piece on 08.27.13. Eorzea. A Land embraced by Gods and forged by Heroes. Seeking control of this realm and its abundant crystal resources, the Garlean Empire sends forth a massive host on a campaign to conquer its southern neighbor. Driven by madness, the commander of the invading forces silently plots to tear the moon from the heavens and hurl it down upon the land. The people of the realm soon learn of this foul scheme, and join their hands in prayer in an eleventh hour attempt to entreat the aid of the gods, only to see their endeavors fail. From within the moon emerges Bahamut, an ancient terror seething with rage fueled by countless generations of imprisonment. Sensing the tug of Fate, a powerful magus channels the last of his strength to send Eorzea’s heroes into a temporal rift. There they wait, untouched by the flames of destruction, until they are needed again. Those heroes are you, and the hour of awakening is now. Come and witness a realm reborn.

Giveaway: C9 – Raebin Expansion Free Items

Thanks to MMOBomb and WEBZEN, there are thousands of keys available for a special loot chest for Continent of the Ninth’s (C9) expansion: Raebin. Be sure to visit MMOBomb’s official offering page to collect your giveaway key!

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To celebrate C9 Continent of the Ninth Seal latest expansion, MMOBomb have teamed up with WEBZEN to give away a promotional Chest with free in-game items. To get your key you just need to click on the button below. Don’t miss out on this exclusive offer!

How to get and use your Key:

1. Log in to your MMOBomb account to get your key. If you don’t have one, register for free HERE.
2. Copy and paste your key to a safe place as you may not be able to retrieve it once closing your browser.
3. Visit HERE to download the game client. (Please skip steps 2-4 if you are already a C9 player).
4. Choose a server and create a new character.
5. Visit http://c9.webzen.com/events/redeem and enter the item key. Click “redeem” and begin your adventure!
6. Make sure you never miss a giveaway, follow our updates via Facebook, Twitter!
7. Have fun!

The Key Includes:

Each code can be redeemed for a free Promotional Chest which includes:
• 10 – Resurrection Scrolls
• 5 – Extreme Training (100%) 1 hour
• 1 – Town Travel Level 1 (3 days)
• White Beach Wear Gear (7 days)

C9 Gameplay Video:

Free & Legal (Older) Copy of Photoshop (DigitalTrends.com)

While it’s not a copy of the latest and greatest, this is a pretty great way to set yourself up with possibly THE photo editing title. You can go here to read the original article.

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A FREE (AND LEGAL) VERSION OF PHOTOSHOP? HERE’S HOW TO GET IT

Disclaimer: Adobe may have canceled its license management servers due to a technical glitch, but the CS2 download is intended for those who have purchased the software previously and already posses the existing CS2 licenses. Adobe no longer updates or supports the 10-year-old software either, so it’s prone to instability issues when running on the latest operating systems. If you’re looking for a free, legal (albeit old) version of Photoshop, read on … but use it at your own risk. 

Photoshop has long been heralded as one of the champions of the image-editing software world. It’s been feature-packed and relatively user-friendly from the beginning, allowing users to carry out simple functions such as cropping and resizing while offering a hearty selection of more advanced features for those tech aficionados looking to take their image-editing skills to the next level. The latest version of the software, bundled in Creative Suite 6, continues to push boundaries with its lightning speeds and content-aware components for pixel blending and other impressive features, but it’s far from cheap.

Fortunately, Adobe decided to axe its CS2 activation servers in January, essentially offering a free – and legitimate – download of CS2 for anyone with an Adobe account. It may be ancient by today’s tech standards, and nowhere near as capable as the most recent versions of the software, but it’s still one of the most powerful image-manipulation and content-creation tools available for download. Plus, it’s the only way to legally get your hands on Photoshop without paying for it.

Here’s our guide on how to get Photoshop CS2 for free so you can crop, cut, and lasso to your heart’s content. Also, check out our picks for the five best free image-editing tools or download the free trial of Photoshop CS6 if you want something a little more… err recent. See our hands on with PS CS6 for all the details.

Step 1: Sign up for a My Adobe account. Head over to My Adobe to sign up for an Adobe ID if you don’t have one already. Enter your email address, name, password, and country of residence before accepting the Terms of Use and clicking the yellow Create button at the bottom of the page. Afterward, enter your job information or skip the page to continue to your newly created profile.

Step 2: Download Photoshop CS2. Once signed up, download the appropriate Photoshop CS2 resources from the CS2 downloads page. Windows users shouldn’t have much trouble meeting the requirements, but CS2 is a PowerPC application, and Mac users must therefor be using an older PowerPC Mac or an Intel-based Mac running OS X 10.4 through 10.6 with the necessary translator installed.

If running Windows, click the download link for “PhSp_CS2_English.exe” near the bottom of the page and to the right of Photoshop CS2 in the Downloads column. If running Mac OS X, click “PhSp_CS2_English.dmg.bin” instead. Choose a save destination for the resulting file and click Save in the bottom right-hand corner of the window.

Step 3: Install Photoshop CS2. Open the installation file when the download completes (this may take several minutes). Next, designate an appropriate save location for the new folders, accept the license agreement, and enter your user name and serial number. The latter can be found be found to the right of the Photoshop CS2 download link on the CS2 downloads page. Then, simply clickNext through the next couple windows (Designation Folder and Setup) and click Install when you reach the end of the setup assistant. Click Finish to complete the installation.

Step 4: Launch Photoshop CS2 and enjoy. Open Photoshop CS2 when the installation is finished and complete or skip the requested registration information. Then, enjoy the decade-old goodness of Adobe’s powerhouse image-editing software.

Free Android Guide: Take Better Photos with Your Android Device

For a limited time, Google Play is offering for free a beginner’s guide to taking photos with an Android device.

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Peachpit Press is pleased to offer this book to Google Play customers for FREE for a limited time. Even though the price is $0.00, you will be prompted to complete the transaction with Google Wallet. This is necessary in order for the book to be delivered to your account. If you don’t have a credit card associated to your Google Wallet account, or if you don’t have a Google Wallet account at all, you’ll be prompted to add a new payment method upon first adding music or books from Google Play.

This invaluable guide on how to better use the camera on your Android phone will make all the difference in the world as you capture and share the world around you with others.

With Android Photography: Take Better Pictures with Your Android Phone by photographer Colby Brown, you’ll learn:

• How to take a photo, including different grips for holding your phone
• How to use all the controls and modes of the Android camera
• Which third-party apps to use
• Different photography styles and techniques for shooting portraits, travel, low-light, and wildlife
• How to edit your photos with the stock Android app and third-party apps, including Snapseed
• How to share your images
• Some of the fun accessories available

Grab your Android phone, and start documenting your life today!

Google Play Offering

Defiance: “Play the Game. Join the Show.” Contest Underway

During all the pre-launch hype for Defiance, the developers and TV cast made it clear that players would have opportunities to crossover into the the TV show from the game. Unfortunately, they didn’t really mean the “players”, they meant the player’s “characters”. That said, here’s the second push from the Defiance franchise to get players into the actual TV show. There are different ways to register based on using PC, Xbox 360, or PS3, so go to the official page to get specific details.

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PLAY THE GAME. JOIN THE SHOW.

The first Season of Defiance the Show has come to an end but your journey continues. Replay all of the Defiance cross-over content in the game from July 8th through July 30th and enter for a chance to have your character written onto the TV show. Get started now.

CONTEST DETAILS

How will the winner be chosen?
The top 10 ark hunters who complete the most arkfall events during the time period July 8th 10am PT to July 30th 10am PT will qualify to have their character written onto the show. The top 10 players will have their characters submitted to a Facebook voting contest. The top 5 players from this vote will then be submitted to the writers staff at Syfy. The final winner will be selected by Kevin Murphy, the lead creator the TV show.

How do I enter?
Follow the contest registration steps above, then complete the most arkfall events during the time period July 8th 10am PT to July 30th 10am PT will qualify.

What are Major Arkfall events?
Major Arkfalls happen in the game daily and are random events where players can salvage the most loot. When the event occurs the player will be notified on his player map.

What can I win?
The winner will have his/her character appear on the next season of Defiance the TV show. The writing staff will create the characters back story and give the character an appearance on one of the episodes.

When will winners be announced?
Top 10 finalists will be notified by email on August 2nd. The finalists will then be announced via Facebook on August 9th. Final Winner will be selected By September 15th.

How can I get alerts for future crossover contests?
Subscribe to the Defiance newsletter! You’ll get early info on upcoming contests, content, and offers from Defiance. To subscribe, log in to your Trion account, check the Defiance box in your “Newsletters” tab, and click “Save.”

Click here for official Contest Rules.