Skip to Content

MacHeist 3 begins

by Christina Warren Feb 7th 2009 at 2:30PM

Everyone's favorite app bundle/puzzle game, AKA MacHeist, is back! MacHeist, now in its third year, combines a pre-bundle game, where users solve puzzles to unlock free apps and bundle discounts, and an actual bundle of apps, which go on sale at the end of the "heist."

MacHeist is a fun way to waste some time and get some free apps by solving puzzles (or you can just read the forums and cheat) and the app bundle is generally a pretty good deal (assuming you don't already have the included software -- if you do, you can gift the licenses to the switcher in your life). You can view the first mission by logging into your MacHeist account; if you participated in the Mac Giving Tree promo you already have one, but new users can signup at the main page.

Happy heisting! You can read our previous MH coverage here.

(Also, a personal shout-out from me to MacHeist's new video host Lisa B -- even with the cheesy accent, she's still the best.)





View Tags

Related Stories

Categories

Software Deals

Everyone's favorite app bundle/puzzle game, AKA MacHeist, is back! MacHeist, now in its third year, combines a pre-bundle game, where users...
 

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

20 Comments

Filter by:
paperless

I don't even have a mac...yet but i've been collecting some free apps to use when i switch.

March 11 2009 at 12:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
soms

Good god, some people...
You do puzzles and get free apps as well as dramatically reduced prices on apps, what more do you want?

February 09 2009 at 3:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
reallycrazyguy

How are MacHeists a ripoff? You complete a puzzle, and as a reward, you get a license for some software.

Now, some people have come across glitches in the process for getting the license for the software, but from what I've seen in the MacHeist forums, they get worked out, and generally faster if you are polite about it.

And there have been problems with the 'deal' part (where you buy a license to a bunch of software for a reduced fee), such as last years issue with Speed Download of giving out a license, then doing a paid upgrade a couple of weeks later (which they did eventually make right by giving out free upgrades to MacHeist customers). Problems like these can take some time to resolve, and then individual problems with getting a specific license in a timely fashion also can take some time, but the MacHeist team seem to work hard to make sure people are happy.

But getting mad about having problems accessing something being offered to you for free is lame, IMHO.

February 07 2009 at 10:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to reallycrazyguy's comment
SubGenius

MacHeist is not a ripoff.
However the people behind it are less than forthcoming about why they have wasted our time with their other venture called "My Dream App".

Until they offer an explanation, I will not participate in any other ventures they undertake.

February 08 2009 at 6:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Albi

If you want how to solve heists completely,
see this YouTube video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS6Y72VWCKs&feature=channel_page

February 07 2009 at 9:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
amoun76

Oh come on! Last year i feel for the same thing and visited the same site. And this year like last was a big dissapointment. And a fing ripof.. Are TUAW sponsorded by this deal?! I would really like to know! How about telling me about what im supposed to buy? I dont want to be a member of some fing club, i want a good deal on software. So tell me what im about to get if i am interested! I wont be buying. So bad advertising practices. FU Heist People. FU TUAW!

February 07 2009 at 8:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to amoun76's comment
Christina Warren

No, TUAW is absolutely unaffiliated with MacHeist. I'm sorry you're not a fan, but the bundle is generally one of the better software bundle deals out there, and the pre-bundle heist is an easy way to get some free apps. That's why we posted about it.

Last year, I was quite happy to get CSSEdit 2, Pixelmator, Vector Designer, 1Password and SnapzPro. I'll give you the Retail Bundle from the summer wasn't as enticing (at least if you had purchased any of the previous bundles), but the bundle itself from last year was more than worth my $40.

Obviously, you're free to skip it -- but I figured that some readers would be interested.

February 07 2009 at 11:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff

I think it's a fun thing. Why are people complaining about the poor girl's fake accent when it's just an entertaining game that nets you FREE software?

February 07 2009 at 6:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
leganto

Anyone from London find that vault image familiar? :-)

February 07 2009 at 5:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave

I don't get forum commenters. The MacHeist website looks nice, the puzzles are fun, and you get free software for playing games (really quickly, I might add, if you cheat and go here: http://mhwiki.channelblue.net/wiki/Main_Page). Don't people have better things to do than rip up other people's work?

February 07 2009 at 4:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Macroy

I know it's going to cause a lot of controversy, but I just have to come out and say it:

I THINK MACHEIST IS ENTERTAINING AND FUN.

Please don't flame me, guys :(

February 07 2009 at 3:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Macroy's comment
Karen

Lighten up. Free software for solving silly puzzles. What's not to like?

February 07 2009 at 3:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
oakie

checked out Lisa B's MacHeist video hosted elsewhere. the accent is so bad i cant bear to register for MacHeist if i'm forced to listen to that crap, even if it's for a free copy of Adobe Master Collection CS4.

i'm barfing all over my keyboard splashguard.

February 07 2009 at 3:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to oakie's comment
theoldcoot

Well if it was for Adobe Master Collection CS4 I'd just put my ear plugs in.

February 07 2009 at 3:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David

Give the girl a break and stop bashing her accent. She's Canadian ;)

February 08 2009 at 7:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buy an ad here

Hot Apps on TUAW

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.