One millionth Free Realms customer joins the realm.
Breaking all records for a new franchise, Sony's latest online game just racked up its millionth player -- in just 17 days.
The lucky millionth will receive more than just a character in what's surely the fastest-growing online world around. Free Realms' publisher will reward the fortunate individiual with a unique in-game astronaut suit, a lifetime subscription to the game's premium tier, and 10,000 units of the game's currency. Regular players don't miss out, either: all 1,000,000 will get a cool in-game shirt for themselves and their pets, plus 200 in cash.
And a million players is just the beginning.
"At the rate we're growing, we'd like to hit somewhere between 8 and 10 million this year," Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley told us in an interview. "We designed to appeal to [all audiences], but we weren't sure if the rest of the world was ready for a massively-multiplayer online game that was aimed at a broader audience. I think it showed, and that's what people are responding to."
So far, nearly half of all Free Realms players are under 13, and around a third are female. It's not surprising Free Realms is proving to be such a hit with tweens. The game offers a unique, robust system of safeguards intended to prevent younger players from encountering inappropriate content, while the art style and gameplay is still accessible to more experienced gamers. In Smedley's words, "We were going for a game that we could play with our families and friends."
Smedley's family practices what he preaches, too. He's the father of four, and all play Free Realms -- when their school work is up to scratch. "Every weekend they've been fighting -- a little too literally -- over the chance to play. But you have to have Bs or above to play video games," he told us.
If you've got the grades, you can register your own Free Realms account right here.
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Posted: 15 May 2009
