Kneebouncers is the brainchild of Jim Robinson, the father of three non-brain children who was frustrated that his slightly older children could play on the computer while his young daughter could not. His solution? Kneebouncers, a collection of web-based video game activities that only require that the baby or toddler playing be able to hit the keyboard.

Most of the activities are simple flash animations with colorful characters that animate when a button is pressed, almost like turning the page in a storybook. They are primitive, and barely even games as we define them, but it's less dangerous than crawling about on the floor eating plastic and licking electrical outlets, so I approve.

Bring your drooling offspring to http://www.kneebouncers.com to play. It's free, though a percentage of donations and proceeds from the sale of shirts and plushies goes to the Children's Aid Society.

The cartoon version of DICE's award-winning combat sandbox game slipped quietly into open beta last month, and the lure of the word 'free' worked it's magic, bringing in the hungry, tired, huddled masses yearning for something they didn't have to pay for if they didn't want to.

"The team is really proud to have hit 1 million registrations at this early stage," said Ben Cousins, General Manager, Battlefield Heroes Team. "Creating a character and gameplay experience that is totally yours is what sets this game apart – your hero can be anything from a bazooka-toting pirate, a grenade-throwing ninja or even a mime assassin!"

Now that the reviews have begun trickling out and EA has seen fit to issue a press release, those numbers will only grow.

Cartoon Network Launches New Build-Your-Own Ben 10: Alien Force Game on CartoonNetwork.com

New Ben 10: Alien Force Game Creator and Current Record-Holding Ben 10 Digital Offerings Build Excitement for Newly Revamped Series of Hit Animated Show

ATLANTA—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Cartoon Network New Media today launched Ben 10 Alien Force: Game Creator, a new, free online game that merges the popular animated action franchise with user-generated content, marking the first game of its kind.

Beginning today, fans can access the tools and animations they need to build their own action-adventure game featuring the new series Ben 10: Alien Force, which premiered with record-breaking ratings April 18 on Cartoon Network. The game is based on the new Ben 10 series, which advances the plot five years into the future. The Ben 10: Alien Force Game Creator lets users easily build their own online games and share them with fans everywhere. Players choose their own hero from four of Ben's new aliens — Swampfire, Humongousaur, Jetray and Spidermonkey — each of which has unique powers and abilities that impact game play. Completed games can be shared with friends and sent to CartoonNetwork.com's game gallery for other fans to play and rate.

Ben 10 games are consistently among the most popular of the 190+ free games at CartoonNetwork.com. Most recently, the first game based on the new series, Ben 10 Alien Force: Forever Defense, smashed records on the site, scoring more than five million game plays in its debut week of March 10 - 16, 2008. The previous game-play record-holder for the site was also from Ben 10 with Ben 10: Savage Pursuit, which grabbed more than four million game plays its first week online in October of 2007.

"This year we will launch thousands of new games — or, rather, our audience will," said Paul Condolora, senior vice president, Digital for Turner's Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media Group. "Ben 10: Alien Force Game Creator gives kids the power and creative freedom to build and publish their own games and is a first step in our ambition to become the number one online destination where kids go to create, play and share games."

Ben 10 games currently dominate the top 10 most popular games at CartoonNetwork.com, holding five of the top ten spots, including Ben 10: Alien Force Forever Defense at No. 2; Ben 10: Alien Force Action Packs at No. 3; Ben 10: Battle Ready at No. 4 and Ben 10: Cannonbolt Pinball at No. 5.

Ben 10 characters are also part of Cartoon Network New Media's upcoming foray into the massively multiplayer online gaming market with Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall. In addition, Ben 10 has invaded the mobile space with its title on Cartoon Network's games channel on Smashing Games for Verizon subscribers. Ring tones and wallpapers for mobile devices also are available at CartoonNetwork.com.

Ben 10 premiered on Cartoon Network in January 2006 and has consistently been the network's #1 show on Saturday mornings. Along with the new series, Ben 10 has also spawned a tremendously successful toy and video game line as well as two hit television movies. The live-action movie Ben 10: Race Against Time set record ratings for the network when over 13 million viewers watched during its 2007 Thanksgiving weekend premiere.

The newest Ben 10 series, Ben 10: Alien Force, premiered Friday, April 18, 2008 at 8 p.m. (ET, PT), and was the most-watched original series premiere in Cartoon Network history. The new series began the next chapter in the Ben 10 saga five years later, when 15-year-old Ben Tennyson chooses to once again put on the OMNITRIX. He discovers that it has reconfigured his DNA and can now transform him into 10 brand new aliens. Joined by his super-powered cousin Gwen Tennyson and his equally powerful former enemy Kevin Levin, Ben is on a mission to find his missing Grandpa Max. In order to save his Grandpa, Ben must defeat the evil DNAliens, a powerful alien race intent on destroying the galaxy, starting with planet Earth. Ben joins forces with other young heroes to save the galaxy and his Grandpa Max, while passing along his knowledge to a whole new generation.

Engage in Deadly Battles in The Witcher: DuelMail

WARSAW, March 31 2008 - CD Projekt RED is very pleased to announce the launch of The Witcher: DuelMail closed beta, based on the company's best-selling PC role-playing game, The Witcher. The Witcher: DuelMail is a completely free-of-charge next-gen web-browser game that offers depth seldom found in similar products. The start of open beta is planned for April 7th, with the final version scheduled for release on May 9th.

The Witcher: DuelMail is centered around battles between two players digitally incarnated as one of three completely different character classes. Winning consecutive fights against other real-world people gains the player experience which allows them to advance to higher levels of character development, along with gaining new skills and items to use in combat. Players queue up attacks, magical spells and defensive maneuvers, then send their challenges to other players, who must create their own counter sequence in hopes of being the last one standing. In order to join, the game requires only a PC with an internet connection and a web browser with Flash installed.

What distinguishes The Witcher: DuelMail from a large number of similar Flash games is the high level quality throughout, which would usually be found in higher-budget products. The company responsible for The Witcher: DuelMail's development, one2tribe Company, has been able to include spectacular battle visuals with high-quality animations created using motion-capture technology, as well as extraordinary special effects along with full sound implementation.

The Witcher: DuelMail is further distinguished by special events and regular updates that will keep the game alive and constantly expanding. Besides fighting for the top spot on the game's ladders, top players can also expect to collect precious rewards in battle. To avoid feeling rampant loneliness, players can invite friends via e-mail in order to play together.

"id Software is among the proverbial godfathers of modern gaming and we are thrilled to be working with them on their first title in our 'freemium' category," said Justin Townsend, CEO of IGA Worldwide. "This partnership is only the latest testament to the increasing acceptance of in-game as an effective, measurable advertising medium and a strategic revenue opportunity for publishers and developers."

While I know many of you folks aren't too fond of in-game advertising, this is free Quake we're talking about. It's not like they are delivering some Peggle clone or something. And the features? It's like they're packing a mini Xbox Live into the website. Seems like a fair trade-off for a few "Sponsored By" banners to me.

IGA is banking big on Quake Live, hopeful that other forward-thinking publishers will give the "freemium" concept a go. No word yet on when the game will officially launch, but you can bet we'll be keeping you posted!

IGA Worldwide Partners with id Software on Forthcoming QUAKE LIVE title

IGA Selected Exclusive Provider of Advertiser Sponsorships; In-Game Brand Integration Opportunities within Revolutionary QUAKE LIVE Portal

San Francisco, CA- February 19, 2008 -IGA Worldwide Inc., the leading independent in-game advertising network announced today from the 2008 Game Developer Conference that it has partnered with id Software to manage all advertising, sponsorship and creative branding opportunities within the forthcoming QUAKE LIVE web site and free-to-play version of the popular action series.

Created by id Software as an all-new way to deliver the excitement and energy of first-person multiplayer action to a broader audience than ever before, QUAKE LIVE offers game players of all skill levels a totally free and easily accessible multiplayer gaming experience and community through a single website at quakelive.com. Every element of the experience, including friends lists and communication, sponsored events and tournaments, matchmaking, stats tracking, and even the game itself is accessed and delivered free of charge through the web browser. Integrated with IGA's proprietary SDK, QUAKE LIVE will offer companies and agencies fresh opportunities to dynamically-target brands to audiences within a broadly accessible version of one of the world's premiere game franchises, while also offering gamers a totally free premium game, fun events and a vibrant, active community of other players.

"IGA understands game developers and game players which makes them the perfect partner for QUAKE LIVE. Whether it's been the ease of implementing their SDK or just their excitement about QUAKE LIVE, they have been fantastic to work with," said Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software. "As we work to bring QUAKE-style deathmatch excitement to the masses, IGA has fully supported our vision."

"id Software is among the proverbial godfathers of modern gaming and we are thrilled to be working with them on their first title in our 'freemium' category," said Justin Townsend, CEO of IGA Worldwide. "This partnership is only the latest testament to the increasing acceptance of in-game as an effective, measurable advertising medium and a strategic revenue opportunity for publishers and developers."

IGA predicts more progressive game publishers like id will create what the company has coined "freemium," or free-to-play premium games based on their most popular titles in order to attract new audiences and open new revenue advertising revenue streams. A recent eMarketer forecast estimated the current video game advertising market to exceed $502MM and is expected to grow 23 percent year-over-year over the next five years.

About IGA Worldwide
IGA Worldwide, Inc. is the market-leading in-game advertising network offering brands and agencies a single point of access to an exclusive range of opportunities within the world's premium videogame franchises. IGA's proprietary Radial NetworkSM enables advertisers to dynamically-target over 15 million uniquely engaged consumers and has successfully delivered campaigns for brands such as Intel, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Nokia, Gillette and Unilever. IGA also provides brands with customized branding solutions including integrated product placement and co promotion. IGA Worldwide is headquartered in New York with offices in London, Los Angeles, Connecticut and Berlin.
For more information please visit www.igaworldwide.com.

About id Software:
Id - defined by Freud as the primal section of the human psyche; id Software, located in Mesquite, Texas, was founded in 1991. From inception to present day, id Software has relentlessly provided technical, design and artistic leadership as an independent game developer and technology provider. Transcending the games industry, id's iconic brands such as Wolfenstein, DOOM, QUAKE and Enemy Territory have become staples of popular culture for generations of gamers. More information on id Software can be found at www.idsoftware.com.

Bonus points if you can guess which side I'm on. Hint: It's the Autobots.

Starting tonight, players will be able to register for the game, choose a robot from their favorite side, and battle it out in real time for the fate of the planet. Players gain points for their faction, and each week the high scorers will win prizes, while the winning side gains exclusive access to special sections of the site.

Sounds like an unbelievably wonderful way to bring players from around the world together, not to mention an incredibly addictive timewaster for those of us stuck behind desks all day. Hit the jump for the press release, and then check back at TransformersGame.com tonight for the official launch of the battle to end all battles. Michael Fahey

THE BATTLE FOR THE ALLSPARK IGNITES ONLINE WITH THE LAUNCH OF TRANSFORMERS: THE GAME WEBSITE

Santa Monica, CA - April 27, 2007 - It's time to choose your side! The fight for earth is being waged online with the launch of The Battle for the AllSpark web game on the official TRANSFORMERS: The Game site from Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), under license from HPG, the licensing division of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS). Starting tonight fans can log on to http://www.transformersgame.com to get the latest news and information on the highly anticipated game, as well as sign up as an AUTOBOTS or DECEPTICONS character and join forces with a global team vying for prizes, exclusive access to game information and control over Earth.

"The TRANSFORMERS: The Game website gives fans a unique and interactive way to experience the TRANSFORMERS universe," said Will Kassoy, senior vice president of global brand management, Activision, Inc. "Fans will become part of a global community where they can join forces with other players, chat live with TRANSFORMERS fans, as well as watch and engage in battles to capture power of the AllSpark."

The Battle for the AllSpark is a worldwide online multiplayer experience that allows fans to play on the AUTOBOTS or DECEPTICONS team to face off in real time challenges that pit one side against the other in a struggle to take over the world. Players contend in one-on-one skirmishes that continually earn points for themselves and their team. Each week, individuals with the highest scores will be rewarded with a variety of prizes, while the side with the largest score takes control of the AllSpark and is granted exclusive access to special sections of the site.

Based on TRANSFORMERS, the upcoming live-action feature film due out on July 4th from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, in association with Hasbro, TRANSFORMERS: The Game lets players choose to protect the Earth as AUTOBOTS or destroy it as DECEPTICONS. Playing as OPTIMUS PRIME, BUMBLEBEE, MEGATRON, BARRICADE and other characters, gamers will experience the unstoppable power and massive scale of their favorite ROBOTS IN DISGUISE as they battle for Earth.