EA Sports, Amazon, and DirecTV have released details on great deals included in the upcoming limited-edition version of the Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition video game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

These deals equal more than $400 at a $99.99 Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition game price, which is now available for pre-order exclusively on Amazon (quantities are limited).

This “Ultimate NFL Experience”  includes the game, a Madden Ultimate Team subscription, and various offers from DirecTV/NFL Sunday Ticket.

The Madden Ultimate Team subscription includes one pack every week (starting Week 1 and ending on Week 17).  The Anniversary Edition packs feature two rare players, four silver players and four bronze players.

Users can enjoy DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket services whether or not they are a subscriber when purchasing this special anniversary game edition.

• Free access code (computer, tablets, and mobile devices) for DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket for 2013 NFL regular season (17 weeks) including DirecTV Red Zone Channel access (user who do not receive DirecTV service)
• $10 off per month for 1st year of DirecTV service + NFL Sunday Ticket MAX free (users who receive DirecTV service but are not currently subscribers)
• Free NFL Sunday Ticket access on computer and mobile devices (current DirecTV and NFL Sunday Ticket MAX subscribers using current username/password)

Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition features Barry Sanders on the cover and will officially release on August 27, 2013. Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition will feature 30 new moves with various combinations plus the all-new precision modifier.

Gangster Rio

If you ask most ‘core’ gamers about the products Gameloft produces, chances are the words ‘shameless ripoffs’ will be uttered fairly quickly. But most of those same folks who like to game on iOS and Android devices (such as myself) will also admit that most of their games are polished, well-produced … and fun. This weekend you can get two of their more recent releases – Gangstar Rio: City of Saints and N.O.V.A. 3 – for free!

Gangstar Rio: City of Saints is a combined ‘Saints Row’ and ‘Grand Theft Auto’ clone set in … Rio de Janeiro. Like those games, you take on missions in a semi-free-roaming world, and essentially gain more and more strength and reputation through committing criminal acts and not getting caught. I honestly thought this one was better than the original ‘Saints Row’ (which itself was a shameless GTA clone). Loads of fun.

N.O.V.A. 3 – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance – Gameloft is Gameloft’s take on Halo. It is a space-based shooter with expansive multiplayer options and plenty of missions. The shooting elements remain some of the best on a smartphone, and everything flows well.

So head to the iTunes App Store and grab Gangstar Rio: City of Saints and N.O.V.A. 3 for free!

Looking for a way to protect your iPhone 4S? Maybe you’re still early in your contract and want to protect your investment. Or, like me, you want your phone protected and safe until the iPhone 5S comes along. Either way, if you want an incredibly protective case at a jaw-dropping price, Eversave has you covered with a Lifeproof for the iPhone 4/4S for only $29!

If you need a refresher, Lifeproof is a waterproof, impact proof, dust proof case that’s also thin and stylish. Dan and I have both raved about it, and we thought they were great cases at $79.99. So for $29 this is an outright steal!

Sign up for Eversave and get yours now!

Stream Daft Punk Random Access Memories

My son is a HUGE Daft Punk fan, something he got as part of his introduction into the electronica world – courtesy of me. The group is one of the most influential in electronic pop, with people like Skrillex and Deadmau5 owing them a huge debt. The last recording they released was the soundtrack for Tron: Legacy (which was the best thing about that movie), and a live album before that … so it has been eight years since 2005′s ‘Human After All’.

Right now you can pre-order the upcoming album “Random Access Memories” on iTunes (for $11.99) or the CD version on Amazon.com (for $10.99, apparently without ‘AutoRip’). We already have it pre-ordered, but iTunes is sweetening the deal once again – for the next week you can stream the entire album for free! As they have done before, this is a single file that plays straight through, but you can manually move about the file. Based on my initial listening, it seems like a solid new entry that will require multiple listens to truly appreciate all that is happening.

Head to iTunes and stream the whole album for free now!

Not everybody’s mother is a golfer. I know mine never was because every year when I was gone away to college she would give away my clubs to Goodwill. “But you didn’t use them all winter!” Arrgh.

But of course I still love her, and if she did like to knock around the little white ball, I would seriously consider buying her the new SensoGlove, the world’s first digital golf club. To incentivize you, they are offering a special deal for Mother’s Day with 20% off until May 13. That makes the $89 glove only $71.20 if you use the coupon code MothersDay13. That’s a lot cheaper than a couple of gold lessons.

But does it work?

continue reading

Getcher 35% off on select EVA Grid-it cases right here!

The thing about having so many gizmos available to The Average Person nowadays–well, maybe not the thing, but at least one of the things–is that of transportability an haulage.  Not only do the devices themselves require carrying around, but also their accoutrements–cables, adapters, mice, track pads, spare batteries, and all the other stuff you’ve learned you need in the World o’ the Geek, right?  And even if you’re a middle-aged guy with a complete wardrobe of cargo shorts and pants, you can’t shove everything into their pockets.  So you need bags and organizers.  (Or at least I do.)

continue reading

IndieGameStand Guns of Icarus

IndieGameStand is an excellent site that launched last September as the first pay-what-you-want site to put a new, hand-picked indie game in the spotlight for a full 96 hours. So rather than ‘a game a day’, you have a full four days to pick up the deal, ensuring you won’t miss the great ones – like this! There have been a ton of great games featured, and to celebrate their six month anniversary they are offering up Guns of Icarus Online. Wait, didn’t I just write about Guns of Icarus here? Yes, that is for the new Adventure Mode – this is the core game!

The game will cost you a minimum of $1, which will get you a Steam key that works for PC, Mac or Linux. If you beat the average you also get Collectors’ Edition DLC and an MP3 soundtrack (a $33 value). Developer Muse Games has selected The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to receive 10% of the proceeds. The current average is less than $1.75, which is an amazing deal. Paying $10 or more gets you all content for Guns of Icarus, as well as the last deal (Voxatron) and the next game offered (still a mystery). Considering the core Guns of Icarus normally sells for $20, this is an amazing opportunity!

Here is some of the description of the game:

It’s not an easy life, but there’s nothing else like it. Plenty of folks like yourself have decided to slip the surly bonds of earth and take to the skies after hearing tales of bold Captains, fearless Gunners, and cunning Engineers and their high-flying exploits. Think you have what it takes to join their ranks?

Raising the stakes on team-based PvP combat with an emphasis on strategic competition and truly cooperative play, Guns of Icarus Online is the premier airship combat game that’s all about teamwork, tactics, and fast-paced action. With a good ship and the right crew, you can conquer the skies!

Head to IndieGameStand and grab Guns of Icarus now!

Some gamers hate Steam, so it is worth noting: Guns of Icarus Online is available exclusively through Steam. A direct download is not available for this game.

With all the devices available to me at home, it might surprise you that one of my “most-used” devices is my 5th Generation iPod touch. With this device, Apple got closer to parity between the iPhone and iPod touch than ever before. The current generation iPod touch has the same screen size and resolution as the iPhone 5, sports Siri, has a good camera and flash on the back, and has a “more than usable” front-facing camera for FaceTime chats. The iPod touch also has a connection point for the included “Loop” wrist strap. It is there because Apple wants the iPod touch to replace your point-and-shoot camera. (Assuming you still have one.) On the whole there is very little you can do with an iPhone 5 that you CAN’T do with the current iPod touch. That even includes making calls since, with an app/service like Line2, the iPod touch can even be used for making calls. And despite all these features the 5th Generation iPod touch has a strikingly thin design and gets excellent battery life.

So why is it one of my most-used devices when I am home? Simple, as thin and light as the iPhone 5 is the iPod touch is even thinner and lighter and can be carried around the house without my so much as knowing I have it with me … until I need it. I honestly love just how thin the iPod touch is and I enjoy holding and using it more than pretty much any other device. And when I want to dock my iPhone and charge it at night I can still listen to music or check email and RSS feeds on the touch without fear that I’ll start the day with a charge-less iPhone. And there’s another reason I like to carry it around — pricing. Yes, the touch isn’t cheap, but it is still far less than an off-contract iPhone 5. That makes it a (pricey) insurance-policy of sorts for my iPhone. Best of all, the iPod touch is now available as a refurb from Apple. That means you can now get all the iOS 6 goodness for under $250 with no contract and no monthly data costs to pay. Check out the refurbs here, on Apple.com.

(Updated)

It was a little under a year ago that I decided to up my photography game. After much research, I purchased a Canon T3i and a couple of lenses. I was beginning to look for a good camera bag, when the folks at Think Tank Photo reached out. In rapid succession they sent me an assortment of bags to review. All of them impressed me, and it was simply a matter of which bag fit ones specific needs and taste.

Check out our videos and reviews!

ThinkTank Photo Street Walker HardDrive Backpack Review

Think Tank Photo CityWalker 20 Camera Messenger Review

Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise 35 V2.0 Review

Think Tank Photo StreetWalker Camera Backpack Review

Think Tank Retrospective 7 Camera Bag Review

Now Think Tank Photo has let is know about some great specials they are running. First off, they are now offering Free Shipping on all orders of $75; get the details here.

In addition, they have rolled out a $50 Rebate on the Airport 4-Sight, the company’s first rolling camera bag. Anyone who orders one of these rollers through the end of April will receive $50 back. Learn more here.

Finally, Think Tank Photo is launching their Lucky 13! Promotion. Through the end of April, every other day they will randomly pull the name of one lucky person who will win an Airport 4-Sight, a Sling-O-Matic 20, and a Change-Up multifunction beltpack. You can find out more by clicking here.

But wait … there’s more! Each prize package we will include surprise gifts.

I’ve been impressed with the quality and design of ThinkTank Photos products, and with these special promotions a good thing gets even better.

Receive a free gift from Think Tank Photo!