Free Realms
Encyclopedia
Free Realms is a massively multiplayer online
role playing
video game developed by Sony Online Entertainment
(SOE) set in a fantasy-themed world, named Sacred Grove for the PC
, Mac
and PlayStation 3
. The game was released on April 29, 2009, for the Windows PC. The game itself is free to play, although in a job without membership you cannot exceed level 4.
. During character creation a 3D client downloads in the background and then streams as the user plays. This method is used when encountering any new in-game content or updates, eliminating large or long downloads. A version of FreeRealms for Mac was announced at SOE Fan Faire 2010 for release "within the next 3 months." The Mac version was released on November 2, 2010.
The PlayStation 3 version was released on March 29th 2011 on the US Playstation Store and on September 28th 2011 in the EU and is accessible via the PlayStation Network.
Free Realms offers an optional membership for a single player, allowing for 3 characters to be created per account plus other benefits such as member-only quests, jobs, and items. Only one character can be played at a time but in the future, a "family" membership will be offered allowing multiple logins at the same time. Also, micro-transactions are available for players interested in purchasing in-game items for their characters. Currently, you can pay for memberships with StationCash, an ingame currency, or a credit/debit card.
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." Eurogamer
gave the game a largely positive review, MMO editor Oli Welsh describing the game as "an effortlessly light and addictive indulgence". MMOHut 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". 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."
John Smedley
, president of Sony Online Entertainment, revealed that 1 million users had signed up to Free Realms 18 days after its launch; a month after release Free Realms reached 2 million users, and registrations have continued growing at a steady rate since then. As of July 24, 2009, it had approximately 5 million registered users. Sony Online Entertainment announced in February 2010 that the game now has 8 million registered users. In April 2010, it was announced that the game has now 10 million players, with two million players signing up in March 2010.
The comic features Dane Kensington, an aspiring Brawler who sets out on his adventure in hopes of becoming stronger.
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
role playing
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
video game developed by Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment is a game development and game publishing division of Sony that is best known for creating massively multiplayer online games, including EverQuest, EverQuest II, The Matrix Online, PlanetSide, Star Wars Galaxies, Free Realms, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, DC Universe...
(SOE) set in a fantasy-themed world, named Sacred Grove for the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
, Mac
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. The game was released on April 29, 2009, for the Windows PC. The game itself is free to play, although in a job without membership you cannot exceed level 4.
Business model
The game is available to download and play free of charge. The PC version is accessed via the Free Realms web site or, through game arcade sites Candy Stand or MiniclipMiniclip
Miniclip is a website known for its browser-based casual games. It was started in 2001 by Robert Small and Tihan Presbie on a budget of £40,000 and quickly grew to become a leader in its respective market. As of 1701, the company has been valued at over £200 million, having been profitable for six...
. During character creation a 3D client downloads in the background and then streams as the user plays. This method is used when encountering any new in-game content or updates, eliminating large or long downloads. A version of FreeRealms for Mac was announced at SOE Fan Faire 2010 for release "within the next 3 months." The Mac version was released on November 2, 2010.
The PlayStation 3 version was released on March 29th 2011 on the US Playstation Store and on September 28th 2011 in the EU and is accessible via the PlayStation Network.
Free Realms offers an optional membership for a single player, allowing for 3 characters to be created per account plus other benefits such as member-only quests, jobs, and items. Only one character can be played at a time but in the future, a "family" membership will be offered allowing multiple logins at the same time. Also, micro-transactions are available for players interested in purchasing in-game items for their characters. Currently, you can pay for memberships with StationCash, an ingame currency, or a credit/debit card.
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." USA TodayUSA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
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." Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
gave the game a largely positive review, MMO editor Oli Welsh describing the game as "an effortlessly light and addictive indulgence". MMOHut 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". In a review of Free Realms at USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
's Character Arcade, David Chapman
David Chapman (journalist)
David Chapman is an entertainment writer/producer covering various pop culture interests, particularly the video game and comic book industries. David's freelance work has appeared in a variety of outlets, including GameSpy and the US version of Play Magazine...
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."
John Smedley
John Smedley (developer)
John Smedley was a computer game programmer, Product Development Director and is now President of Sony Online Entertainment since 2002.Smedley was involved with the creation and development of the original EverQuest and was co-founder of Verant Interactive, Inc., which became Sony Online...
, president of Sony Online Entertainment, revealed that 1 million users had signed up to Free Realms 18 days after its launch; a month after release Free Realms reached 2 million users, and registrations have continued growing at a steady rate since then. As of July 24, 2009, it had approximately 5 million registered users. Sony Online Entertainment announced in February 2010 that the game now has 8 million registered users. In April 2010, it was announced that the game has now 10 million players, with two million players signing up in March 2010.
Free Realms comic
A Free Realms comic, released for $3.99 per issue, holds twelve issues each of which contain unique one time code redeemable for a in game virtual reward. Published by DC Comics' Wildstorm, it is based on the Sony Online Entertainment MMO. The comic is written by J.S. Lewis, writer of the "Gray Griffon" series of young-adult fantasy books, with the art by Allen Martinez and Jon Buran.The comic features Dane Kensington, an aspiring Brawler who sets out on his adventure in hopes of becoming stronger.