Hey, who doesn’t like free stuff, right?  There has been a lot of talk in gaming circles the last few years about microtransactions, which are typically small monetary transactions for digital content.  These could be actual games, like WiiWare or Xbox Live Arcade.  Or they could be add-on content for games, like map packs, skins, songs, new weapons, new levels, and the like.  Or they could be new themes, or gamerpics, or avatar clothes… usually anything to get the consumer to fork out more money.

Not that I’m taking some moral high road here… I’ve bought my fair share.  Probably more than I’d like to admit.  But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things you can get for free with the right timing and a little patience.  Here are a few I’ve heard of in just the last few days:

1.  You can get 3 new Resistance 2 themes, available today.

2.  If you have the original Resistance: Fall of Man (see my review), and like multiplayer, then grab the multiplayer map packs for the original game for free, starting today.

3.  There have been a variety of downloadable Sackboy costumes for LittleBigPlanet, some free and some not so free.  Sony says they will be giving away a free costume every week, and today Sony added the first part of a two-part free Santa costume, the Santa coat and trousers.   Next week the hat and beard will be available for free as well.  Both will be available till January 8th.

1.  Yesterday, Microsoft added a free Holiday theme to the Xbox live marketplace, perfect for the next few weeks.

2.  If you are interested in some good free video entertainment, check out The Guild season 2, with new episodes coming out every Tuesday.  Catch season 2 at www.watchtheguild.com.

1.  If you own the PC version of Far Cry 2, you can download 2 new free bonus missions.

Nintendo is too busy counting its money to give away anything free.  Although in all fairness, Nintendo hasn’t bought into the microtransaction game outside of new full WiiWare games, except for a few daliances like My Life As A King.

Not a bad list for things just being thrown together in a few minutes from things I was aware of.  Keep an eye out for other free videogame-related deals and if you see anything I missed, let me know!  Microtransactions don’t always result in an empty wallet.