What The Play writes: "Free Realms is a browser-based massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Sony Online Entertainment. Aimed at kids over 10 as well as teens and families, Free Realms is set in a virtual fantasy world where "anything can happen!" (to quote the marketing materials.) The game emphasizes exploration, social networking, and character options: residents of Free Realms can acquire numerous "jobs" concurrently, including a brawler, a pet trainer, an archer, a ninja, a chef, a miner, a wizard, a go-kart driver, and even a postman. Players receive quests according to their jobs, and are encouraged to try many professions instead of being restricted to one.
The Free Realms experience is molded around personal choice. Though there are several "armed" jobs that focus around battling enemies (such as the brawler or the ninja, who carry weapons like mallets and swords), there are many non-violent options. Pet trainers walk their pets, groom them, and teach them tricks. Chefs cook up food and in-game items."
A lot has happened in gaming, especially free-to-play gaming, over the last decade. Nobody could predict just how prevalent it’s become, and how some of the biggest games on the planet – League of Legends, Fortnite: Battle Royale, World of Tanks, and more – are all free-to-play.
PSU looks at the emergence of free-to-play games and how it relates to PS3 and PS4.
The Koalition: "Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) hosts an annual event to celebrate their massive stable of free-to-play MMO games, as well as an opportunity for them to finally shed some more light on the next Everquest game. SOE’s library of current offerings includes: DC Universe™ Online, Dragon’s Prophet™, EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Free Realms®, PlanetSide®2 (review here,) PoxNora®, Star Wars®: Clone Wars Adventures™ and Vanguard® Saga of Heroes. With so many games on their roster, it’s no surprise that they host an annual event to celebrate the games and gamers. The event is being held at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Aug. 1 – Aug. 4, 2013."
