Lifetime Free Realms Membership

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Free Realms from Sony Online Entertainment. As you can imagine, I was pretty thrilled when I found out that they were going to be offering a lifetime membership to the game for only $29.99.

Membership gives you access to member only items, marketplace discounts, access to all job classes, and upgraded home, monthly membership packages, and more! It's a great deal, so don't miss it if you're a Free Realms fan.


Unfortunately, I haven't had much time lately to spend in world. At least now when I return, I'll still be a member and will have accumulated all of the monthly membership goodies. And for only $30. Woot!

More info here:
http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2010/07/soe-offers-lifetime-memberships-for-free-realms.html

Free Realms Reaches 8 Million

Impressive. Sony Online Entertainment has just announced that Free Realms has reached an impressive 8 million unique users. Here's a little snippet from the press release:

“Free Realms is more than just a virtual world for our players; it is a portal for imagination. A place where players transform their house into a jumping maze for friends to compete or a petting zoo that boasts all their pets,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “Our job as developers is to listen to and predict what they want and give them the tools that inspire and compel them to share their experiences with eight million others.”

And of course, some hints at what they have planned. Sounds fun!:

Later this week, Free Realms is scheduled to kick off the Festival of Hearts, a special month long event that celebrates love, friendship and kindness. All players will be able to participate in themed events, daily social activities and storyline quests that incorporate traditional items and rewards which embody the holiday: hearts, candies, forget-me-not cards, flowers, love potions and more. Heart Breakers are invited too, as even the Stone Hearted can participate in the world events that ensue. New Hippo, Tiger, Beetle, Groundhog and Owl pets will also be available in the Marketplace.

To play Free Realms, visit: http://www.FreeRealms.com.

Habbo & SOE Promotions

Just a few quick virtual world deals I've noticed lately...

If you grab a Habbo Hotel card at GameStop by December 13th @ 11:59pm PT, you'll get a free rare Arcade Cabinet furni. I bought my $10 card (worth 50 coins) last weekend and have already received my reward. As long as I'm talking about Habbo, make sure to log-in and check out the awesome improvements made to pets! Your pet can now earn experience and badges.

Sony Online Entertainment is also holding a 25% more station cash promotion for station cash cards sold at participating retailers. Free Realms, EverQuest and EverQuest II cards must be redeemed this week by November 29th to receive the bonus Station Cash reward. I picked up my Free Realms card at Walmart today.

Free Realms Sneak Peeks

A ton of sneak peeks at upcoming Free Realms features over on their official blog. The big addition is that players will soon be able to have their own homes within Free Realms.

Other changes include new pet types (like a dragon, pegasus, etc.), easier shopping features, a new fishing mini-game, and the ability to dye your clothing. There's a whole ton of new things coming. Check out the following link to read it all...

http://freerealms.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/november-december-updates/

Magic: the Gathering Strategy Game

I'm a big fan of Magic: the Gathering... and I also like strategy games. So I have to admit I was really excited when I read this press release today. Personally, I was a big fan of Magic: the Gathering Battlegrounds, so I'm eager to see how this compares. Anyway... the official announcement is below:

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT AND WIZARDS OF THE COAST COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP MAGIC: THE GATHERING -TACTICS™

Online, 3D Turn-Based Strategy Game Scheduled for Launch in Early 2010

DENVER, Colo. – November 2, 2009 – Today, Sony Online Entertainment LLC, and Wizards of the Coast LLC announced they are developing Magic: The Gathering – Tactics, an online, 3D turn-based strategy game played within the rich Magic: The Gathering Multiverse.
“By collaborating with Wizards of the Coast, we’re able to combine the strengths of both companies to develop an innovative, online, 3D game based on an extremely popular IP,” said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. “We’re going to be taking the Magic: The Gathering Multiverse places players have never seen.”

“The growing Magic: The Gathering community has an insatiable desire for great strategic game experiences. Sony Online Entertainment is the perfect partner to transform the best of Magic’s story, strategy and competitive play into a fantastic ‘Tactics’ game experience for current and new Magic fans,” said Greg Leeds, president, Wizards of the Coast.

Magic: The Gathering - Tactics will allow players to command forces of dramatic 3D figures and powerful spell cards pulled from the Magic: The Gathering Multiverse. Players can participate in single player scenarios or jump right into PVP action against other players worldwide, 24 hours per day. Magic: The Gathering – Tactics is expected to feature regular content expansions, a robust tournament environment, an achievement and rankings program, and original stories of the Planeswalkers of Magic: The Gathering.

Magic: The Gathering - Tactics is being developed by SOE’s Denver studio and scheduled to be available for the PC in early 2010, with a version for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system to follow.

For more information on Magic: The Gathering - Tactics, visit http://www.magicthegatheringtactics.com/.

Free Realms Updates

Loads of new Halloween content and other updates now in Free Realms. Looks like fun! Here's the basics:

• Even MORE Halloween costumes and items
• A special Halloween themed daily wheel to spin for prizes
• New Halloween quest series with awesome prizes
• New dungeon - Bone Bog Cemetary
• Trick or treating every day during the Halloween celebration
• In-world Halloween events - the Pumpkin Prince and his ghouls are spawning!
• New trophies based on accomplishments (reaching certain levels, unlocking jobs, exploring, etc.)

http://www.freerealms.com/

Free Realms Updates

A ton of changes to Free Realms along with the latest update (and a few previous updates that I never mentioned...). I unfortunately haven't had a lot of time to play lately, so I may have missed out on a few recent changes. The second Free Realms comic has also recently been released, so I'll have to make sure to run out and buy that. Here's a rundown of some recent additions:

• Style cards - You can now purchase style cards to change your face paint, wings, and hair style! Very nice addition. See my new wings and facepaint in the pic? You can buy some cards from ships in Sanctuary and purchase more using Station Cash.


• Tons of new freebie codes - try these out: mmmdonut, berrycupcake, drinkmilk, EMD73DK, MILKRULES


• 5 million pack celebrating Free Realms reaching 5 million players, includes a party hat and other goodies. Just waiting for you to claim it if you haven't yet!


• New Soccer Game and new soccer job class - new job is for members only, but everyone can trial up to level 5


• Inspect feature - click another player to see their jobs, levels, and equipment


• You now earn coins as a pet trainer from perfect tricks


• Halloween decorations in Sanctuary. In the pic above you can get a sneak peek. A few pumpkins and spiderwebs in the background.


• Take Me There feature - during a Quest, click 'Take me there' to go straight to your destination
• Whenever you move towards a Quest goal or enemy, you'll be asked if you want to check it out

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs promo is now officially over. Gotta hand it to Sony Online Entertainment and Free Realms. I'm thoroughly impressed, not only by the quality of the game, but also by the consistent updates that keep things fresh and interesting.

Free Realms Content Update

Just after the layoff announcement, Free Realms now has announced some content updates. The updates include tweaks to leveling up, bug fixes, new quests (w00t), and some UI changes.

Here's the full rundown of changes.

IGN recently posted an article giving some info on Free Realms updates. It's a quick read, so check it out here: http://pc.ign.com/articles/100/1005002p1.html

Glad to see some new quests added in (there are tons already, but it's great to have a constant flow to keep us busy). Personally I'm not horribly excited about the new raceway that's under construction or the fact that the update focuses on the Demolition Derby job. Now, if only they'd increase the level cap...

Time to Set Sail!

The highly anticipated MMORPG, Pirates of the Burning Sea, is now available!

From Sony Online Entertainment, Pirates of the Burning Sea is available for $49.99 with a montly subscription of $14.99.

Pirates will give gamers the opportunity to be the Captain of their own ship in the 1720s. Players start by joining the French, Spanish, English or Pirate nations as a naval officer, freetrader, privateer or pirate. Players can blow enemy ships out of the water in ferocious sea battles, or engage in action-filled sword fights on land. The game's unique economy allows gamers to become captains of industry, running mines, lumber mills, shipyards and other large-scale operations. Players produce all the various goods needed to supply others with the raw materials to conquer the Caribbean, one port at a time. A player-generated content system lets gamers create their own sail and flag designs and even model their own ships.

There are over 50 ships at your command and up to 25 players per side can engage in PvP action. For more information, visit: http://www.burningsea.com/