Nerds rejoice! Stan Bush’s ballad “The Touch” from the 1986 animated film Transformers: The Movie will soon be available as a free download for Guitar Hero World Tour, according to a letter from the artist.

It wasn’t mentioned when the track would hit, though.

GameTap has launched volume three of American McGee’s Grimm today with the release of The Frog King, the first episode in the new season.

As usual, the episode is free to play for 24 hours, after which a subscription is required. Here’s the deal: "In this episode of American McGee’s Grimm, a naïve young princess discovers just how messy love can get when she hooks up with an unusually charming (albeit slimy) frog. What would drive her to seek cold comfort in amphibian arms? Violent threats, or dastardly blackmail perhaps? Not quite. Grimm dives into the ooze with Frog King, keeping things greener than St. Patrick’s Day parade through a field of clover!"

On an unrelated and yet somehow related note, Serious Sam 2 has been rotated to their free-to-play area, so if you’ve missed out on the game’s awesomeness, you can do so now for free until February 19.

Can’t get enough of Rock Band? Or Energizer batteries, for that matter? The dudes at Energizer have decided to give away one piece of downloadable content with their new Advanced Lithium Batteries.

This site has more details. It is applicable to both PlayStation Store and Xbox Live.

This post on the Battlefield Heroes website carries word that testing on the shooter will end tomorrow. The developers are incorporating feedback earned during the closed beta into the final game and that they plan on reopening the beta “early next year.”

The subscription-free multiplayer shooter will be released sometime next year. It was originally marked for release this winter.

Codemasters Online sends word that their popular subscription-free MMORPG ArchLord has opened a new hardcore PvP server to cope with increasing demand for the game.

The server will exclusively focus on PvP combat for both new and existing players alike. To celebrate the launch of “Cyripus”, the company is running a number of in-game events to challenge players. This includes various in-game leveling contests to being the actual ArchLord. Prizes will be given away, too.

Ed Relf, Director, Marketing, Codemasters Online commented, “This is a hugely significant development for ArchLord. The new server has been brought online to cope with the massively increasing demand for the game. We are still attracting tens of thousands of new players each week and with almost ¾ million players now registered, there’s never been a better time to play this great free-to-play MMO.”

Cyanide sent out word that they are developing Dungeon Party, a free-to-play MMOG for PC. They are going for a humorous, more casual game, as Patrick Pligersdorffer, CEO of the studio, describes the title “as a game that leads two teams of intrepid players deep into a dungeon in search of treasure. Each team not only has to overcome the dirty tricks of the other side, but they also have to survive the numerous traps and monsters that lie within. The first team that gets out alive, WITH THE TREASURE, is the winner.” Here’s more:

DUNGEON PARTY is a free MMOG for the PC platform. Two teams of up to 5 players compete over one or more rounds and victory is only assured when one of them gets out of the dungeon with the treasure. Players can choose from one of 6 character types and they can customize their hero with various items of clothing or other objects that might come in useful in a dark corner! Regular tournaments promise games of even greater intensity and will allow all players to measure themselves against the best, thanks to a real-time ranking system. Get ready to don your finest magic robes or your must sturdy armor and let’s see if you have what it takes to become masters of the dungeon.

It is due out during Q4 2008.

In a surprising move, a free track for Guitar Hero 3 will be offered for PS3 gamers on Thursday, June 5. The free track in question will be inspired by God of War, Sony’s insanely awesome action game. This was revealed through a PlayStation Underground mailing from Sony (attached in this post), with no additional details provided.

This may seem odd at first, but Neversoft and Microsoft teamed up for a similar promotion that saw them giving away a free Halo tune for the Xbox 360 edition of the game.

Those who still have the time-bending TimeShift game will be glad to know that five brand new maps for the game’s multiplayer mode have been released. The maps support all forms of gameplay modes, including One-on-One, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch as well as Capture the Flag.

AMD/ATI fans are in luck, as the company announced that owners of ATI Radeon graphic card owners are entitled to a pair of free games from Steam, Valve’s content delivery service. Eligible gamers can visit this page for details on how to get free copies of Half-Life 2: Lost Coast and Half-Life 2: Deathmatch as well as discounts on other Valve games.

Developer Auran and publisher Gamecock sent out word that Fury will adopt a new business model of “free to download, free to play” with the December 14 release of the “Age of the Chosen” update.

“FURY was built around giving players options that suit their play style and their wallet,” said Tony Hilliam, CEO of Auran. “With the AotC update, we are introducing a new player category called “Chosen”. As one of the Chosen, players can access all game types, equip all weapons and unlock all 400 abilities – and they can play as much as they like absolutely free. This is a fantastic opportunity for players to jump into battle with their mates and discover the frenetic pace of the fastest RPG combat ever. Chosen will earn less gold and essence, and will not be able to trade with other players.”

Chosen players will be able to purchase gold from the game’s store or upgrade to “Hero” status to earn more essence and gold. The add-on also features two new game types – Carnage and 1v1 Elimination.

Sierra Online sent out word that a premium upgrade subscription is no longer required to play through Freestyle Street Basketball, a MMO sports game that is now completely free. The game offers 45 levels of basketball action, having players meet up on virtual courts to challenge each other in dynamic pick-up games. It features cutting-edge music, latest fashions and various basketball moves.

Brand new content and a new zone for Flagship Studio’s upcoming free MMORPG Mythos have been announced today. The expansion to the closed beta program will see the introduction of a new zone, Bloodbristle Heath, and the outpost town of Tulin’s Hope. They will roughly double the size of Mythos’ universe and will also add new levels, monsters, quests, items and skills. Gamers are invited to apply for the closed beta here.

The game is in development at Flagship Seattle, a subsidiary of Flagship Studios, which has just completed Hellgate: London. Mythos offers players three races – human, satyr, or gremlins – to play out in a fantasy world. The game, once released, will be free to download and play.

Slippery-handed gamers will be delighted to know that Nintendo will offer the Wii Remote Jacket, a durable, silicone cover for the controller, freely for current customers and will pack it in new units starting October 15.

The Wii Remote Jacket provides cushioning for the Wii Remote for people who might accidentally throw or drop their Wii Remotes while playing games. Use of the Wii Remote Jacket is meant to supplement, not replace, the basic game-play instructions: keep a firm grip, don’t let go of the controller, use the wrist strap and make sure your play area is free of people or objects. The Wii Remote Jacket also serves as a cover for the Wii Remote. Nintendo recommends players use the new Wii Remote Jacket as a cushiony shield, though the current Wii Remote is a safe product when used properly.

Current Wii owners who want it will have to go to the company’s website, or call 1-866-431-8367 to place an order.

As reported earlier, the freeware BMW M3 Challenge game has been released via its official website. Racing fans can download the game, which offers only the new BMW M3 Coupe in a variety of modes, including multiplayer.

It was announced earlier this week that 10tacle Studios, Europe’s largest independent developer, has developed and will publish a freeware game BMW M3 Challenge in anticipation of the release of the new BMW M3 Coupe.

The project is part of a free-of-charge distribution system that has been financed by a mid-six-figure development budget, carried by BMW and other sponsors through in-game advertising. The game is set to be released later this month ahead of the car’s release.

Additionally, 10tacle revealed that it is currently in negotiations with a world-renowned company looking to commission a comprehensive game project as part of an upcoming marketing campaign. They plan on beginning work on the project before the end of this year; the budget is said to be in the double-digit millions.