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Even if Playstation and Xbox are the rage, there are still some old-style games that can keep the game adventurer in you more than interested. Scorched3D, a turn-based strategy game based on the DOS game Scorched Earth, is a perfect example.

The objective is the same: blow up the other players who are equally armed. However, this modern day battle takes place in a 3D environment and probably as a sign of the times, a trove of weapons are available at your disposal (after you earn them). While you still can't actually move your tank (a holdover from the game’s DOS origin), Scorched 3D allows some room for strategy. After each successful round, you can purchase new missiles and weaponry with money earned from your battles. To give you a semblance of real battle, you will have to deal with a variety of changing environmental conditions and terrains. Best of all, you have an option of playing the game over a local area network or on the Internet with up to twenty-four other players.

This classic “blast-‘em-up” game is available for both Microsoft Windows and Unix (Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, Solaris etc.) operating systems, giving you no excuse for not downloading it.

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Atari fanatics who long for legacy arcade games for the PC will enjoy Jardinains, a reincarnation of the much loved Pong and Breakout games, but with a twist. As with the Breakout games of yore, Jardinains features different levels of play, with each level getting more difficult as you advance. But this souped up version goes beyond breaking bricks; it features a level editor, player-by-player statistics tracking, and cheat codes.

Most importantly, developers have added garden gnomes which look (and sound) cute at the outset, but eventually transform into an obsessed enemy that will take advantage of every opportunity to throw flower pots and little potted cacti on you! With the weekend looming, indulge in this much acclaimed freeware that is bound to provide you with a challenging and exciting diversion. The numbers tell a story, don’t they? Over a million downloads and still counting.

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Starting today, Friday is Avoiding Work Day at Free Download A Day. We launch Avoiding Work Day with MAME — the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator.

Do you remember the first time you played a video game in an arcade? Joust, Time Pilot, Street Fighter … The graphics might have been a bit chunky, but you had a blast. MAME beings back the video games of yesteryear with a free, open source program. The application emulates several different arcade platforms — thousands of games — with just one program. The player is free, but it is important to note that the game ROM files generally aren't. You can get some ROMs for free from MAME's ROM page and Legal Arcade Games. In addition, you can purchase many game ROMs from StarROMs. So if you long for the days of Pac Man and Frogger, look no further than MAME for a dose of nostalgia.

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Are the Street Fighter series of arcade games part of your gaming roots? Then you'll love Little Fighter 2, an action-packed street fighting game. You can invite all of your friends over — the game supports four human players, and four more computer-based fighters. The graphics are great as are the sound effects. If you get tired of the characters, visit the designer’s website, where you can download new characters and moves to keep the game fresh. So if you have the overwhelming urge to beat the stuffing out of your best friend, go ahead and do it with Little Fighter II.

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Do you remember playing Breakout on your Atari or Arkanoid in the arcade? LBreakout 2 is an open-source version of those classics, revved up with a huge array of levels and features. The game seems simple: bounce a ball off of your paddle to break rows of colorful bricks. There are fifty levels to choose from, and the option to create your own levels, too. Every level is full of surprises: watch out for growing bricks and explosive balls, among others. Best of all, you can download level sets and themes designed by other fans of the game, so it never gets old. Windows, Mac and Linux users can enjoy this addictive game: so pull up a chair and prepare to get hooked.

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About the only thing we love more than an unannounced three-week vacation in which no one has any idea where you are (ahem) is a classic driving-around-blowing-stuff-up game. Wild Metal by Rock Star Games is a must-have for any video game buff. The 3-D graphics are top notch, and you get to save the universe in a tank. What could be better? The premise is that you are on an alien world set for destruction — it's your job to save the world, and your hide. The file is rather large at 165MB, but is well worth the download. For best performance, you will need a fairly powerful graphics card but you can adjust the rendering to play on almost any system. Practice your driving skills and prepare to save the universe in Wild Metal.

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First released in 1999, Grand Theft Auto 2 has become a classic, a game that has endured thanks to its unique premise and fun (although not friendly) gameplay. The premise: you're a thug asked to perform various thuggy tasks (little things like car-jackings and so on) to earn cash and reach the next level. Formerly commercial software, the program's publisher has optimized it for play on modern PCs and released it for free. Although it's a few years old, this version offers great graphics and hours of game play. The file is rather large, at 350MB, but is worth the download time. So rev your engines and get ready for some intense game play.

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Step games are all the rage, and Step Mania is jumping on the bandwagon — er, dance pad — with both feet. The application supports games similar to Dance Dance Revolution, Pump It Up, EZ 2 Dancer, and Para Para Paradise. You will need a dance pad, and the site offers step-by-step instructions on connecting a variety of different pads to your computer. The application features cool 3D graphics and visualizations, and is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. You can download additional songs, announcers, and graphics to keep the game fresh. Want to start dancing? Step to it!

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In the mood for an addictive, action-packed space game? How about this: you’re piloting your spaceship through the "Maelstrom" asteroid belt, the "deadliest stretch of space known to mankind." You find yourself surrounded by massive asteroids and pursued by deadly Shinobi fighter patrols. If that's not bad enough, your best friend — as well trained as you are, with the exact same ship as yours and who knows everything about you, including your defense tactics — is piloting a sister ship and decides to fire at your cockpit. Intrigued? The realistic graphics and game intensity will transport you to space.

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Everyone — even hardcore Linux fans — needs a break sometimes. Enter Tux Racer: imagine yourself as a sleek Linux penguin sliding down a steep snow-covered mountain. The objective is to collect as many herrings as possible. This is more fun that it sounds, given different weather options, such as fog at night and high winds. You'll be impressed by Tux Racer's unique 3D courses and realistic physics. Tux Racer is easy to grasp but challenging, making it suitable for all ages — which is good, because what kid wouldn't want to try out being a penguin for a while?

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