Video Game Review: Free Realms
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this is a massively multiplayer
online role playing game (MMORG) with safe chat and optional
combat (with no blood). The game is free to play but children
may wish to have special in-game items such as pets or fancy
outfits that cost money to purchase. There is also content that
is not free and it becomes available with a $4.99 per month
fee. If parents choose to activate it, there is menu chat for
young players. The game also has filtered open chat where the
filters cannot be turned off.
Families can calk about why games are not truly "free." How do
the game developers make money in this game? Families can also
talk about choices, why one may wish to focus on certain jobs
in the game, be a jack-of-all-trades, or try playing every one
of them, or not many at all. Why are jobs and skills something
that has to be learned? Why does experience help?
FREE REALMS is an MMORPG - a Massively Multiplayer Online
Role Playing Game created by veteran MMORPG studios, Sony
Online Entertainment. It is targeted at children 10 to 14 and
their families. Children choose a character -- either human or
pixie -- to represent them in the game. They are free to
explore this wide open world as they wish and play it in the
way they want to choosing to take on jobs, going on missions,
fighting others, and/or playing minigames.
The game is flash based and played through the
Free Realms website. All character creation is done on
the website and once satisfied with the character and the name,
clicking play launches a new window and the character arrives
in the world. Movement and most actions in the world are
accomplished by mouse click. Others are automatic, such as
teleporting to certain points in the world you've visited by
clicking on that point in the map, and obtaining rewards.
The website is like a social networking page where children
can share their likes and dislikes, links, and messages. This,
however, can be controlled by the parent. The choices for
things to do in game are very broad. The child can simply run
around, exploring the land, or learn a job by doing a task.
Each job has its own associated outfit and the character is
automatically dressed for the job. Combat in
Free Realms is also a choice as well.
The world is massive and the quests or tasks available in any
area are plentiful. Younger children may get confused when
faced with so many choices; parents may want to assist or play
along to provide a little focus. Because there is so much
choice within the game, this game will appeal to kids, but
adults playing with their children will not be bored. This is a
game that can keep families entertained for many, many
hours.
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