[FREE] One Weekend In The Old Republic

On tap for free MMO play this weekend: Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Starting Thursday, May 17 at 1:01 a.m. EST and ending Monday, May 21 at 3 a.m. EST, the Weekend Pass Free Trial allows previously unsubscribed players can play for free up to level 15.

From the SW:ToR website:

• No credit card is required to take part in the Weekend Pass Free Trial.
• You can play for up to four full days free.
• Characters you create during the trial will be saved to your account, so allowing you to continue on your journeys once you've purchased the game and redeemed the Game Product Registration Code at the Code Redemption Center.
• You'll be able to experience the first fifteen (15) levels of the game, allowing you to explore the Origin Worlds for each character class, as well as possibly seeing your faction’s Capital World.
• You will also be able to join other players take part in Player-vs-Player Warzones, or group with friends to take on one of the numerous Flashpoints in the game.

Perfect for the padawan on your Nubian cruiser!

SOURCE: Rock, Paper Shotgun via Bioware

Electronic Arts Named Consumerist's 'Worst Company in America'

The Consumerist's infamous 'Golden Poo' award, given each year to their 'Worst Company in America' winner

The picture you see above is a physical manifestation of the collective contempt for publishing giant Electronic Arts shared by hundreds of thousands of their customers. It's The Consumerist's 'Golden Poo' award and it only honors a select breed of scumbag companies - this year, EA triumphed over them all.

Between the launch of Origin, EA's new digital distro service (see: drunkenly stumbling PR disaster), day-one DLC that uses assets already in the release code and the Star Wars: The Old Republic fallout, distressed fans have plenty to fling gilded feces over.

A look back at the best and worst (... mostly worst) of EA's customer "service" after the jump...

Notch's New Game Provoking Another "Scrolls" Fiasco

So, Notch has a new game in the works - this time it's set in space. No word yet on if it's space made up of like, 2x2 blocks. The interesting part is the name: Mars Effect. Apparently, Notch has learned nothing from his legal tussle with Bethesda over his previous title, Scrolls. 

Alternatively, he's learned that messing with corporate publishers is fun, albeit a little risky. But if I had to choose to meet Bethesda or EA in court, I think I'd pick Bethesda. 

Details on Mass Effect Mine Effect Mars Effect after the jump...

Electronic Arts CFO Eric Brown moves to Polycom

Another story about someone leaving EA.

This time, it's not a customer - it's upper management. Maybe ex-EA CFO Eric Brown is also having problems with his Origin account?