THAC0 - A few comments....

First of all, I fail to see why it becomes such a hardship for people to simply skip past articles about a game they have no interest in. Ok, you don't want to play FR. So don't read the articles about it. Problem solved. While this game may very well be targeted for kids that does not, by any means, mean that no adults are going to play it. Believe it or not, some adults enjoy simple games that are click based, collectible card games, and social interaction online.

Here's another thing - Some of us? We're parents! We might be looking for a game that satisfies our MMO itch AND appeals to our kids.

I know...that's just crazy talk, right?

Here's something else - I'm a thirty six year old PnP gamer from back in the day who spent many a late night with my friends doing exactly what you described above (although, in all reality, hindsight makes those games considerably more rewarding than they really were. Most of the adventures we ran back then were about how many things we can kill and how our characters could hook up with wenches in the tavern). Amazingly enough, I also found time to play a lot of video games back then! Things that challenged my mind like...Pac-Man...hrm...maybe that's not a good example. Ok, how about that Porky's game I had?...noooo....Q-Bert?

Free Realms is fluff. I won't say that it isn't. But it's good fun if you are of the right mindset to play it and no more responsible for the rotting of young minds than any other entertainment that is not taken in moderation.

And for the record (since your hindsight seems to have left out this little detail of our similar past), they said the exact same thing about PnP games when we were growing up.

Bah...reply fail. Oh well.

Agreed. It seems to be a perfect iteration of the "casual MMO" concept, and the more the jaded "psssht ... whatever" gamers bitch about it, they closer I get pushed toward giving Free Realms a try. At the very least, you see, these tiresome types won't be playing it.

My only problem with the ad (given that it was never intended to target my demographic) is the announcer's voice. He sounds like the lead character from "Johnny Test" (a cartoon I love, even as an "old geeze") sucking on helium, and high on speed. Annoying.

What the "hipper-than-thou" crowd consistently forget is that this game is not primarily intended for them, and never was. As you say, Scopique, it's something for young kids and the "Bejweled" and "Wii Sports" crowds to cut their teeth on, before they're ready for real MMORPG games.

I don't think anyone is upset that the game isnt aimed at them. but there are issues like the fact that sites like Massively that have a completely (i would assume from the comments and other coverage) different target demographic treat it like us older Jaded gamers should love this game.. That is where you get the posts saying how stupid it is from. It is clearly a kids game and many people are covering, talking about it and reviewing it as if it was meant for adults which is ridiculous i.e. Shut Up. We're Talking.

Personally as far as my early gaming experiences. As a jaded old gamer myself I can easily say that at the game that FR is targeted to i was sitting around a table with graph paper, dice, chips and soda having a good time learning to use my imagination and collaborating with other people and share in a single creation within the groups mind. FR has no where near the benefit for intellectual, personal and social development that I had. Also it is no where near the same experience that older mmos have brought that share in may of the unique PnP aspects of world and community creation. In other words the Game is nothing but vapid fluff to rot kids brains.. more so than most mmo titles on the market that at least teach team work and that effort and hard work will produce rewards. So yes i am an old jaded gamer and think FR is crap on that level.

At Thaco:

You don't dictate what games adults want. I get the feeling that you dictate what games 13-year-olds (my apologies to 13-year-olds) are too self-conscious to admit that they like.

Free Realms is fun. It's new and popular and that is why it's getting press. Sorry your favorite PvP gank-fest isn't getting enough coverage.

@ Pingles

You sir are an idiot, i said nothing about PvP or dictating what people like. I explained why Free realms gets hate. Also i replied to the OP whom i was replying to about comparing games i played at the target age range to FR. Its bizzare that FR already has rabid fanbois that will attack you for saying anything that is even slightly contrived as being negative.

@ Critus:

I agree with most of what you said. nice post! :D I understand wanting to play it with your child, I don't understand treating it as if it were the same as any other mmo because its really not, sorry if thats elitist but I don't see anyone going on about the Habo Hotel mmo thats just about the same level as FR.

Pimp the game as "FREE" to the point of calling FREE realms and then advertizing it as FREE on tv and the internet only to implement nagware??


I don't hate the game because its kiddy (I got into MMO's with RSC) I don't hate it because its NOT made by Blizzard.

I hate it because SOE are a bunch of sonsofabitches running the "Free" scam on kids and parents.......