Samsung is offering a selection of its apps for free for a limited period in an effort to drive consumer demand for its app store and attract software developers to its proprietary bada platform.

The move coincides with the launch of its new portfolio of bada-powered Wave smartphones (the Wave525, 533, 575 and 723, announced earlier this month). “New Wave handset users can now download selected game apps, dictionary apps, and theme apps for free, including popular programs such as FIFA 10, Tetris Refresh, Spore Creatures, Assassin’s Creed II, DioDict French/English dictionary, Princess Magic Therapy e-book and SSkin theme series,” noted a statement from the South Korean vendor. “FIFA10, Tetris Refresh and Spore Creatures will be free for the first 250,000 downloads; Assassin’s Creed for the first 300,000; and the remaining apps for a limited time.”

Samsung’s apps store for the new Wave devices is currently available in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France and Singapore, with more countries to follow as the new phones are rolled out.

The company claims its apps store has passed the 10 million download mark in Europe, with the store available in 34 European countries. Last month Samsung marked the first anniversary of its Samsung Apps store by announcing that it was available in 109 countries. According to a recent Dow Jones Newswires report, Samsung’s online market currently has 4,000 apps available, and the company aims to hit at least 10,000 by the end of the year. Kwon Kang-hyun, VP of Samsung’s content service team, noted that this target is dependent upon offering a wide portfolio of phones that support its proprietary operating system, bada.

Samsung has a huge task on its hands as it attempts to lure developers away from mass-market platforms such as iOS and Android, and into its bada community. The SDK for the Wave family is available for download here.