Free Realms launches tomorrow (4/28)

[ManaByte]

http://www.massively.com/2009/04/27/free-realms-launches-tuesday/

In what is quite possibly the shortest 'closed' (public) beta ever, Sony Online Entertainment has decided to bring their free-to-play family fun game of clicky-addictiveness Free Realms live - tomorrow! Yes, this means just a few days past two weeks after those from last year's Fan Faire were given beta access to the game, SOE now feels that the game is ready for prime-time. According to a post on the Free Realms forums from Jason "Pex" Ryan, Community Manager, the servers will be going down this morning at approximately 8:00 AM Pacific, and will remain offline all day today while they push their final patches and run internal tests. They note that they will also be deleting all beta Free Realms characters as well.

Now, the good news for those who participated in the beta test is that the SOE team will be giving all testers a unique in-game item as a way of saying thanks for helping to test the game - although they didn't say what that item might be. (We're hoping for a booster pack of rare cards or a special pet, personally.) Also, they will be bringing memberships and the Station Cash Shop online when the Free Realms servers come on line, welcome news for those who wanted to pick up pets or try out members-only content but were unable to. It will be interesting to see how demand goes for memberships, and just how many decide to opt-in for the paid model. But for now, we wish a hearty congrats to the Free Realms crew, and look forward to seeing the finishing touches tomorrow!

[ManaByte]

http://www.viddler.com/explore/massively/videos/3/

[Joe Molotov]

Awesome, should be a lot of fun for a week.

[Joe Molotov]

So far this "casual" MMO is really appealing to my weaksauce gamer sensibilities. I played it for about 4 hours tonight just doing cooking minigames and playing hide-and-seek. I think this could work out for me.

[demi]

You'll make a good lonely housewife, Joe

[pilonv1]

is it free?

[Joe Molotov]

The food harvesting minigame is a Puzzle Quest ripoff demi, you should check it out.

is it free?

As free as free-to-play MMOs ever are. There's a $5/month Premium Membership, you have to pay for pets, all the usual BS, but yeah the core game is free. It's pretty fun without bothering with any of that extra crap, though.

[pilonv1]

what sort of griefing can i do?

[demi]

Me? Play a PC game? lol, Joe

[Joe Molotov]

It's coming out on the PS3 also. YEAR OF PS3

[Great Rumbler]

Free Realms is actually pretty awesome. Well, not like AWESOME awesome, but it's a great time-waster and there's always something to do it seems.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I'm seriously contemplating putting down that first $5 for a membership.  :'(

[close]

[chronovore]

It's coming out on the PS3 also. YEAR OF PS3

Will the users be able to play the same account in PS3 and on PC? It seems like that'd be normal, since this stuff is all hosted serverside...

[chronovore]

Free Realms hits over 2 million users

Sony Online Entertainment's free-to-play MMO Free Realms has notched up over two million unique users since launching a month ago.

According to the developer, 75 per cent of users are under 17 years of age, with 46 per cent under 13. Nearly a third of all players are female.

"In less than a month, Free Realms has captivated a core player base of tween and teen gamers, while also strongly resonating with MMO gamers," commented John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment.

"We wanted to create a game to play with our families and are excited to have hit the mark with our intended audience."

Although free-to-play, users can buy Station Cash game cards from Best Buy, Blockbuster, Rite Aid, 7-Eleven and Target to upgrade to Membership status and buy in-game items for the game.

EB PEDOPHILE BRIGADE, ASSEMBLE! Hordes of MMORPG loving girls (and boys ) are waiting for you!

[pilonv1]

what sort of griefing can i do?