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Free Realms

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

Free Realmswas amassively multiplayer online role-playing game(MMORPG) developed bySony Online Entertainment(SOE) set in a fantasy-themed world called Sacred Grove. The game was first released on April 28, 2009 forMicrosoft Windows.Versions forMac OS XandPlayStation 3followed in subsequent years. The game wasfree-to-playwith leveling restrictions, with access to additional content available through a membership fee. The game allowed the player to fight, interact with other players, take up jobs, and more.

The game's servers were shut down on March 31, 2014 in a closure of three other SOE MMOs that year; with the company stating a necessity to devote resources to other games,[4][5]as well as to move away from games oriented to children, through SOE PresidentJohn Smedleystating in a Reddit ask-me-anything that "Kids don't spend well and it's very difficult to run a kids game. Turns out kids do mean stuff to each other a lot."[6][7]

Gameplay

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Free Realmscontained many of the staples of MMORPG's at the time, such as anopen 3D environmentto explore andqueststo complete for usable rewards. Unlike most MMORPG's,Free Realmsset out to appeal to children as well as adults with afamily-friendlydesign[6]and muted combat visuals, such as a lack of blood or explicit death; whirling stars would appear above a fallen enemy's head when defeated, indicating unconciousness.[8]The player could choose between two races, pixie or human,[9]and take up any number of the fifteen available jobs on a single character. Jobs could involve combat or trade, though not all jobs did, and were leveled individually through questlines unique to each job.[10]

Business model

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The base game was available to download and play free of charge.Free Realmsoffered 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.[11][12]Free Realmsalso employed the Station Cash currency, usable across several SOE games, which could purchase items and features asmicrotransactions,as well as pay for membership.[13][14]

Versions ofFree Realmsfor Mac and PlayStation 3 were announced at SOE Fan Faire 2010.[15]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 of that year in the EU, and was accessible via thePlayStation Network.[2][16][17][18]

The PC version was accessed via an browser plug-in[19]paired with theFree Realmswebsite,[20]Candy Stand,[21]orMiniclip.[22]BeforeFree Realmswas shut down, SOE planned to offer a "family" membership that would allow multiple logins through one account at the same time.[23]

Reception

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InThe New York Times,reviewer Seth Shiesel noted, "For Sony Online,Free Realmsis a triumph of the company's own reinvention. "[25]USA Todayreviewer Marc Saltzman gaveFree Realmsa 4/5 score, noting "Sony Online Entertainment'sFree Realmsis an extraordinary online adventure that is sure to please tweens and teens looking for a fun and free fantasy world. "[24]Eurogamergave the game a largely positive review, with MMO editor Oli Welsh describing the game as "an effortlessly light and addictive indulgence".[9]MMOHuts gave the game a 4/5 and noted that "Free Realmsis one of the most feature-rich free MMORPGs currently available and it's all delivered in a beautiful package ".[26]In a review ofFree RealmsatUSA Network's Character Arcade,David Chapmanstated 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."[27]

John Smedley,president of Sony Online Entertainment, revealed that one million users had signed up toFree Realms18 days after its launch.[28]A month after release, the game had reached two million users,[29]and registrations had continued growing at a steady rate from then on. SOE announced in February 2010 thatFree Realmshad eight million registered users,[30]and the following April announced a player count of ten million, in time for the game's first anniversary.[31]

Comic

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AFree Realmstie-incomicseries was published by DC subsidiaryWildStorm,beginning in 2009 for $4.99 per issue. The series held twelve issues, each of which contained a unique one-time code redeemable for an in-game virtual reward. The comic was written byJ. S. Lewis,writer of theGrey Griffinsseries of young-adult fantasy books, with art by Allen Martinez and Jon Buran.[32][33]

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

References

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  1. ^ab"Maintenance for November 2, 2010".Forums.station.sony.com. Archived fromthe originalon March 14, 2012.RetrievedMay 30,2012.
  2. ^ab"Free Realms Available on PSN March 29 – PlayStation Blog".Blog.us.playstation.com. March 11, 2011.RetrievedMay 30,2012.
  3. ^Eric Caoili (March 11, 2011)."SOE's Free Realms Releasing For PS3 On March 29".Gamasutra.RetrievedMarch 11,2011.
  4. ^Birnbaum, Ian (January 24, 2014)."SOE announces closure of four MMOs including Free Realms and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes".PC Gamer.Archived fromthe originalon April 6, 2023.RetrievedMay 9,2023.
  5. ^"Sony Shuts Down Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and Three Other MMOs – Black Gate".January 26, 2014.
  6. ^abOlivetti, Justin (January 9, 2021)."The Game Archaeologist: Free Realms".Massively Overpowered.Archived fromthe originalon February 3, 2023.RetrievedMay 9,2023.
  7. ^Royce, Bree (April 29, 2022)."Free Realms would've turned 13 years old this week if it were still alive".Massively Overpowered.Archivedfrom the original on March 15, 2024.RetrievedMarch 15,2024.
  8. ^Free Realms Gameplay - First Look HD(video).MMOHuts.February 10, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 9,2024– viaYouTube.
  9. ^abcWelsh, Oli (May 27, 2009)."Free Realms Review".Eurogamer.
  10. ^abKrause, Staci (May 6, 2009)."Free Realms Review".IGN.com. Archived fromthe originalon May 9, 2009.RetrievedMay 25,2009.
  11. ^"Free Realms Membership Guide: Job Access, More Characters, Power Hour and More".Game Yum.Archivedfrom the original on July 5, 2024.RetrievedJuly 5,2024.
  12. ^"Free Realms Member Benefits".Archived fromthe originalon November 10, 2013.RetrievedApril 19,2009.
  13. ^"Station Cash FAQ".SOE.COM. September 16, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon September 5, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 16,2013.
  14. ^"Free Realms - Station Cash™".Free Realms.Archived fromthe originalon August 7, 2013.
  15. ^"Breaking: Free Realms Headed To PS3 And Mac In The Next 3 Months!".Freerealmsinsider.com. Archived fromthe originalon January 22, 2021.RetrievedMay 30,2012.
  16. ^Welsh, Oli (February 12, 2009)."Free Realms to launch in early April News".Eurogamer.RetrievedFebruary 12,2009.
  17. ^"Free Realms hits PSN today with Voice Chat, Trophies".Playstation Blog US. March 29, 2011.RetrievedApril 22,2011.
  18. ^"Free Realms News".SOE.RetrievedOctober 4,2011.
  19. ^"Free Realms - Walkthrough, Tips, Review".JayIsGames.June 14, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on April 1, 2023.RetrievedJuly 5,2024.{{cite web}}:|first=missing|last=(help)
  20. ^"Welcome To Free Realms".RetrievedMay 6,2009.
  21. ^"Free Realms – Candystand.com".
  22. ^"Free Realms – Miniclip.com".Archived fromthe originalon May 6, 2009.RetrievedMay 11,2009.
  23. ^"Free Realms – Support".Help.freerealms.com.RetrievedMay 30,2012.[dead link]
  24. ^abSaltzman, Marc (May 21, 2009)."'Free Realms' offers world of family-friendly fun ".USA Today. Archived fromthe originalon November 25, 2010.RetrievedMay 25,2009.
  25. ^Shiesel, Seth (May 20, 2009)."Pick a Role, Any Role, Then Live Nine Lives".New York Times.RetrievedMay 25,2009.
  26. ^Altay, Erhan (May 24, 2009)."Free Realms Game Review".MMOHuts.
  27. ^Chapman, David (May 19, 2010)."'Review: Free Realms (PC) ".USA Network. Archived fromthe originalon May 26, 2010.
  28. ^MacManus, Christopher (May 24, 2009)."SOE's Free Realms Has A Million Unique Registered Users".Sony Insider.RetrievedMay 25,2009.
  29. ^Martin, Matt (May 27, 2009)."Free Realms hits over 2 million users".Games Industry.RetrievedJune 12,2009.
  30. ^Clarke, Robert (February 8, 2010)."Free Realms Boasts 8 Million Registered Users".Aperture Games. Archived fromthe originalon August 11, 2011.RetrievedFebruary 8,2010.
  31. ^Nunnely-Jackson, Stephany (April 2, 2010)."Free Realms hits the 10 million user mark".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on March 15, 2024.RetrievedMarch 15,2024.
  32. ^McElroy, Griffin (July 23, 2009)."Free Realms comic coming July 29, includes in-game bonuses".Joystiq. Archived fromthe originalon June 2, 2014.RetrievedMay 30,2012.
  33. ^"FREE REALMS #1".DC.Archivedfrom the original on December 12, 2023.RetrievedDecember 12,2023.
[edit]
  • "Main website".Archived from the original on February 23, 2014.RetrievedApril 19,2009.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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