Free Realms, released by Sony Online Entertainment in late April 2009, is a free massively multiplayer game that is nearly at five million accounts. Free Realms has been a surprise hit for Sony, who has been under pressure to recreate the success of Everquest ten years ago. One of the most attractive features of Free Realms is that it’s a free game; SOE profits by offering players the ability to purchase premium items through microtransactions. Free Realms is also playable as a trading card game (TCG), extending game play from the purely online setting to the real world face to face with friends. Both on-line and real world packs of the trading card game feature 10 game cards, and 1 virtual reward card that can be redeemed in-game for various items. Real world game card packs also include 50 Station Cash, usable to purchase items in-game. Free Realms will be coming to the Playstation 3 in late 2009, slated to be one of the first few MMO’s for the console.
A recent game update, Speedway Thunder, introduced fast cars, new profession progression and two new tracks (Thunder to guarantee epic crash and draft action. There are 40 new quests per job, cool trophies and quest rewards like wearables and car parts. Two new car models and 18 new karts available for purchase in the Station Marketplace will help players push the limit on the leaderboards and smash the competition. To give your vehicle a boost, new parts can be acquired and installed in the all new Garage. Not only will your karts go faster and turn better, but you can make them look even more awesome with mods and other visual parts.
And Card Duelists, don’t forget you get the exclusive ‘Cardie Racer’ as part of the items included with the Free Realms Trading Card Game Passport to Free Realms Starter Deck, available at select retailers.
In related news, Sony Online Entertainment and WildStorm have teamed up with best-selling fantasy author J.S. Lewis to adapt Free Realms to the comic page. This 12-issue comic book series ($3.99 each) mirrors the nonstop action of the game, offering exciting adventures, battles with vicious monsters and, of course, the allure of gorgeous fairies. The story begins when a young boy is abducted and dragged into a darkened forest teeming with twisted monsters. It’s up to a relic hunter and a pixie to save him, but their mission is cut short when a horde of troll-like creatures captures them..
On sale starting July 29th, 2009, look for Free Realms comic book issue #1 wherever comics are sold! Here are the first few pages of the comic (click to enlarge):
