14 DAY TRIAL // Sony Online Entertainment has stated that Free Realms, the MMO set to be free while offering casual players and families a medium in which they can enjoy a variety of activities, has entered the closed beta stage, meaning that, for the first time, players from outside the company can directly experience the content of the game. Players who are interested in Free Realms can now go to the official site and register in order to enter into consideration for the open beta period, at the moment dated for the beginning of April.
John Smedley, who is the president of Sony Online Entertainment, stated that “The beta testing phase is integral to the success of any video game, and we are asking that kids, parents, video game fans of all ages sign up to help us during these final weeks before Free Realms launches. Ten years ago, SOE introduced EverQuest, the genre-defining online video game, and this spring, we will introduce Free Realms, a game I believe will expand and enrich the kids’ online gaming genre which really shows the rapid evolution of the online game space.”
The game is set to offer a wide variety of content, focusing on activities which can appeal to the non hardcore gaming demographic. For one, the game is free to play, relying on micro transactions and membership fees to support operation costs. The character creation section of the game will offer a lot of choices, allowing players to create avatars that are fantasy inspired, while not totally separated from reality. There are no classes and players can switch from one role to another to experience all the game has to offer.
Another important feature is that chat for players under a certain age can only use specific pre defined classes, making it safe for kids to take part in the game. Overall, the content will be tailored to make sure that there's nothing offensive to be found in Free Realms. Players can “take care of pets, sort mail, race go-karts, battle goblins or cook meals for their friends.”