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Reader Comments (5)

Posted: May 14th 2009 11:11AM Scopique said

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You know, any "gamer" who dismisses something like Free Realms has apparently forgotten the fact that he or she was young(er) once, and was interested in [Insert favorite toy of your childhood here] and might have even played [Insert name of first gaming system and/or embarassing favorite childhood game title here].

Thanks to [Insert name of first gaming system and/or embarassing favorite childhood game title here], they're now jaded "pssht...whatever" types who think the gaming industry revolves around their tastes.

The fact that kids these days (said with a shaken, old man fist) HAVE something like FR to cut their teeth on means that when they grow up to be a jaded gamer who thinks the gaming industry revolves around them, they're going to be able to pwn the geezers with a flick of their wrist. It really DOESN'T matter who these commercials are aimed at, or that there's a commercial at all.
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Posted: May 14th 2009 11:49AM mysecretid said

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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.
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Posted: May 14th 2009 12:07PM Thac0 said

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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.

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Posted: May 14th 2009 12:50PM Pingles said

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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.
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Posted: May 14th 2009 2:18PM Thac0 said

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@ 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.
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