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e3-08-preview-free-realms

E3 08 Preview: Free Realms

by Emily Balistrieri on July 24, 2008 at 11:52 am

The first thing I noticed about Sony Online Entertainment’s family-oriented MMO, Free Realms, was the inviting and pretty art style–cartoony, but not obnoxious; colorful, but not garish. This is a place you want to come. It’s a place I could see letting kids play around in, and probably a place that parents wouldn’t mind playing around in, either.

Another thing that really impressed me was all the embedded functionality. The character creation screen is actually a website, and your character profile is part of a Facebook-like network. On the right hand side is a list of your online friends, and clicking on anyone’s name will zap you right to their location in-game.

Contrary to many popular MMOs, you won’t have to fight a single enemy if you don’t want to: “Combat is just our biggest mini-game,” the developers told us. There are lots of different jobs to perform, including the warrior/medic types, but also mail delivery, blacksmithing, gardening, training pets, and even just exploring the environment a la Assassins Creed, to find flags. In fact, you will never be attacked unless you walk through a big gate with a danger sign on it and change your outfit to an appropriate profession.

All your different jobs gain experience in their own way, whether by playing Bejeweled-esque puzzle games to mine crafting materials or by fighting enemies. As you level up you’ll earn visual upgrades that show off how advanced your character is at that skill set. The ninja starts off pretty tattered-looking, but the final armor gleams.

Actually the Realms are only 60% free, but a premium account only costs $4.99 a month. Microtransactions will be tied to your PlayStation Network account–the game will launch first for PC and later on PS3. They’re also introducing a pretty exciting family plan–five accounts for $9.99 a month. So, the demo spiel goes, kids can visit their grandma’s house. Honestly, I sort of hope that kind of thing happens. It just seems like a nice world for it to happen in. I’m really looking forward to the beta later this year.

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3 Comments »

  1. dandello09
    on April 19, 2009 8:56 pm

    Hey guys! Found this on twitter this morning, and thought I'd pass along:
    be one of the first players of Sony's all-new 3D interactive experience Free Realms. Follow Free Realms on Twitter to win a beta key this weekend at: http://twitter.com/freerealms

  2. sandy
    on July 2, 2009 6:11 pm

    Whoa! Free Realms has just passed the 4 million player mark! That is SO cool, and I'm glad that other gamers are enjoying this MMOG as much as I am! To celebrate the milestone, FR will be hosting an in-game bonus from July 2nd- 8th where players will receive double treasure tickets! These can then be used in Sanctuary to get sweets rewards.
    Find out more about the bonus here
    freerealms.com/article/detail.action?articleId=134

  3. sandrar
    on September 10, 2009 11:45 am

    Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.

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