PS3 Fanboy

There are a number of MMO titles coming to PS3 via Sony Online Entertainment. This ten minute video from the developers tries to explain how the upcoming casual MMO will work, starting from its Facebook-like social networking website, moving on to the four styles of gameplay Free Realms features. Burning questions like "can I be a ninja?" are answered (the answer is yes). Unlike other MMO games, Free Realms is more about various mini-games -- there is combat, but it's optional.

If this piques your interest, you may want to check out all of Massively's coverage so far.

• They are currently in "full alpha" and the plan is for a beta in the fall. They are also working towards a demo.
• They haven't decided between a subscription based financial model or a microtransaction one. However, Wilson noted that the PS3 is a console, and "console players don't generally do subscriptions."
• The penalty for death will be "as lightweight as possible to begin with" since the player will die "frequently." Penalty will mostly be in the form of lost gameplay time, but Wilson cites an example of after dying ten times, you'll need to get fixed up at a field office, presumably losing extra time.
• World events are planned, and SOE is hoping for content that "is easily playable for everyone" and accessible to players who do not invest as much time into the game.
• Vehicle combat will take place. No other specific details are given.

We finally have some actual screenshots from DC Universe Online, as opposed to the thumbnail sized ones we saw on the game's MySpace page. Like the E3 trailer, they seem to be focusing on the well-known denizens of the DC Universe. Keep in mind you won't actually be able to play as one of them, but rather as hero/villain you create on your own.

SOE has also announced they will be "revealing exciting new details" about DCUO at Comic-Con, which begins tomorrow. There will also be a "first-ever public demonstration" taking place, so if you are a fan of all this superhero business and you are around San Diego, drop by and check it out.

[Via press release]

Gallery: DC Universe Online

The latest issue of Edge magazine has some details concerning DC Universe Online straight out of executive creative director Jim Lee's mouth. DC Universe Online, which will be released on the PS3 and PC, is a MMO that will include the cast of heroes and villains of the DC universe -- that's Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Darkseid, to name a few. Lee describes the genre as a "kick-ass hybrid between a traditional MMO and a first-person action console game" where you create a unique superhero or villain and choose his/her/its superpowers. Abilities named so far include attacking with fire or ice, acrobatics, flight, speed-running and teleportation. Unfortunately, you can't be the Flash or Poison Ivy or any of the famous (or infamous) DC characters for obvious reasons.

We are actually pretty stoked about this; with a well-known and well-established franchise behind this MMO, Sony might just have a fighting chance. We'll see how it is marketed and whether the gameplay elements live up to expectations when the game comes "next year."

It's been a long time since we last heard from SOE about their upcoming PS3/PC MMO action game, The Agency. There's a lot of potential in this online initiative. Watch the SOE presentation from the CES show in Las Vegas, and tell us what you think. It appears the game isn't delivering on every level, but the concept has us excited.

[Via NeoGAF]