Free Realms

Free Realms was a massive multiplayer online role playing video game, developed by Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) for Windows, Mac, and PlayStation 3, set in a fantasy-themed world named Sacred Grove. The game was released on April 28, 2009 for Windows. The game restricted to free-to-play up to level 20, although there was access to additional game content via a membership fee. The game allowed the player to fight, interact with other players, and more. The game was shut down on March 31, 2014; SOE stated that it didn't have the resources to keep the game going.

Free Realms
Developer(s)Sony Online Entertainment
Publisher(s)Sony Online Entertainment
EngineForgelight Engine
Platform(s)PlayStation 3, Windows, Mac
ReleaseWindows
April 28, 2009
Mac
November 2, 2010[1]
PlayStation 3
March 29, 2011[2][3]
Genre(s)Massively multiplayer online, adventure
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Business model

The game was available to download and play free of charge. The PC version was accessed via the Free Realms web site[4] or, through game arcade sites Candy Stand[5] or Miniclip.[6] During character creation a 3D client downloaded in the background and then streamed as the user played; the same method was used to download new content or updates, which reduced file size and download times. A version of FreeRealms for Mac was announced at SOE Fan Faire 2010 for release "within the next 3 months."[7] The Mac version was released on November 2, 2010.[1]

The PlayStation 3 version was released on March 31, 2011 on the US PlayStation Store and on September 11, 2011 in the EU and was accessible via the PlayStation Network.[8][9][10][11]

Free Realms offered an optional membership for a single player, which allowed for 3 characters to be created per account (plus other benefits such as member-only quests, jobs, and items).[12] Only one character can be played at a time; the game will kick extra active characters.[13] Before Free Realms was shut down, SOE planned to offer a "family" membership that would allow multiple logins at the same time.[14] Separate to memberships is the Station Cash currency which can be used for premium features across Sony Online Entertainment games (including Free Realms).[15]

Reception

In the New York Times, Free Realms was well received. The reviewer, Seth Shiesel, noted "For Sony Online, Free Realms is a triumph of the company’s own reinvention."[19] USA Today reviewer Marc Saltzman gave Free Realms a 4/5 score, noting "Sony Online Entertainment's Free Realms is an extraordinary online adventure that is sure to please tweens and teens looking for a fun and free fantasy world."[18] Eurogamer gave the game a largely positive review, MMO editor Oli Welsh describing the game as "an effortlessly light and addictive indulgence".[16] MMOHuts gave the game a 4/5 and noted that "Free Realms is one of the most feature-rich free MMORPGs currently available and it’s all delivered in a beautiful package".[20] In a review of Free Realms at USA Network's Character Arcade, David Chapman stated that the game "is a surprisingly deep game experience for a free to play model. There's never a shortage of things to do ... even if you never pay a dime to Sony." [21]

John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment, revealed that one million users had signed up to Free Realms 18 days after its launch;[22] a month after release Free Realms reached two million users,[23] and registrations have continued growing at a steady rate since then. As of July 24, 2009, it had nearly five million registered users.[24] Sony Online Entertainment announced in February 2010 that the game had eight million registered users.[25] In April 2010, it was announced that the game had ten million players, with two million players signing up in March 2010.[26]

Comic

A Free Realms tie-in comic, published by DC Comics' Wildstorms and released for $4.99 per issue, held twelve issues each of which contained a unique one time code redeemable for an in game virtual reward. The comic was written by J.S. Lewis, writer of the "Gray Griffon" series of young-adult fantasy books, with art by Allen Martinez and Jon Buran.[27]

The comic featured Dane Kensington, an aspiring Brawler who set out on his adventure in hopes of becoming stronger.

References
  1. "Maintenance for November 2, 2010". Forums.station.sony.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  2. "Free Realms Available on PSN March 29 – PlayStation Blog". Blog.us.playstation.com. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  3. Eric Caoili (March 11, 2011). "SOE's Free Realms Releasing For PS3 On March 29". Gamasutra. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  4. "Welcome To Free Realms". Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  5. "Free Realms - Candystand.com".
  6. "Free Realms - Miniclip.com". Archived from the original on 2009-05-06. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  7. "Breaking: Free Realms Headed To PS3 And Mac In The Next 3 Months!". Freerealmsinsider.com. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  8. "Free Realms Available on PSN March 29". Playstation Blog US. 2011-03-11. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
  9. Welsh, Oli (2009-02-12). "Free Realms to launch in early April News". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
  10. "Free Realms hits PSN today with Voice Chat, Trophies". Playstation Blog US. 2011-03-29. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
  11. "Free Realms News". SOE. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  12. "Free Realms Member Benefits". Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  13. "Free Realms - Support". Help.freerealms.com. 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  14. "Free Realms - Support". Help.freerealms.com. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  15. "SOE". SOE.COM. 2013-09-16. Archived from the original on 2013-09-05. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  16. Welsh, Oli (2009-05-27). "Free Realms Review". Eurogamer.
  17. Krause, Staci (2009-05-06). "Free Realms Review". IGN.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  18. Saltzman, Marc (2009-05-21). "'Free Realms' offers world of family-friendly fun". USA Today. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  19. Shiesel, Seth (2009-05-20). "Pick a Role, Any Role, Then Live Nine Lives". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  20. Altay, Erhan (2009-05-24). "Free Realms Game Review". MMOHuts.
  21. Chapman, David (2010-05-19). "'Review: Free Realms (PC)". USA Network. Archived from the original on 2010-05-26.
  22. MacManus, Christopher (2009-05-24). "SOE's Free Realms Has A Million Unique Registered Users". Sony Insider. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  23. Martin, Matt (2009-05-27). "Free Realms hits over 2 million users". Games Industry. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  24. "Free Realms hits close to the 5 million registered mark". VG247. 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  25. Clarke, Robert (2010-02-08). "Free Realms Boasts 8 Million Registered Users". Aperture Games. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  26. Mitchell, Richard (2012-05-25). "Joystiq". Gamedaily.com. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  27. McElroy, Griffin (2009-07-23). "Free Realms comic coming July 29, includes in-game bonuses". Joystiq. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  • "Main website". Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2009.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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