Free Realms Character Prints

I guess this is kind of cool...
Sony Online Entertainment (SoE) and HP are teaming up to offer an in game service to purchase a quality print of your character. I wonder if it is just a screenshot of your toon. If so, then I'll just print my own and save myself $19.99 or whatver the cost will be. Thank you very much tho... And besides, I can take my screen, bring it into photoshop and spiffy it up ALOT so that it looks really cool. I used to do this for my EQ rogue Maximo Ceasar to make sigs, avatars, etc. I'm curious if this service will offer any type of design above and beyond just a simple screenshot. Anyways, here is the press release...

Following the Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) Fan Faire event June 25-28, HP today launched an innovative print-on-demand service for Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) gamers. The HP print-on-demand technology will allow players to view, create and purchase custom prints of classic characters, imagery and scenes from SOE’s various fantasy worlds, games and artists. The service, which will be accessed directly from the online games, is scheduled to launch later this year in EverQuest, EverQuest II and Free Realms.

“There is a significant opportunity among SOE’s gamers to provide personalized and customized offline souvenirs from the games and fantasy worlds they love,” said Rohit de Souza, Vice President and General Manager, Retail Publishing Solutions, Imaging and Printing Group. “We believe this program is a first of its kind in the MMO gaming segment and demonstrates the wide range of opportunities available for delivering custom print-on-demand services.”“This unique service allows players to create their cards during an online play session then, though HP’s state-of-the-art print-on-demand service, we’re able to provide ‘offline’ access to online content to create a whole new interactive experience,” said Christopher Sturr, Director of Corporate Strategy Sony Online Entertainment. “We’ve been impressed with the customization and personalization capabilities offered by HP and are excited about the value this service will bring to gamers.”

How it WorksThrough the in-game Station Cash® commerce system in SOE’s games, players will access the Marketplace and choose from a list of select art images and sizes. A simple in-game and/or web-based interface will walk players through the entire process from the initial order to purchase confirmation, without ever closing the game world and/or current game session.

For the initial launch of the service, SOE will debut 10 art images from the Legends of Norrath™ series. The companies plan to feature and debut new prints, limited edition collector’s prints and select prints from top game artists throughout the year. Ultimately, SOE and HP plan to offer players the ability to personalize and customize their own art prints, posters, and other merchandise using their avatar, screen shots and artwork.


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Free Realms & Everquest News from the Fain Faire

Sony had its annual Fan Faire held in Vegas this past weekend. This is where most of their announcements come from in regards to expansions and features they plan on releasing in their online games like EverQuest, EverQuest II, Star Wars Galaxy, and Free Realms. This was year was no different as they have announced some EQ expansions and updates planned for Free Realms. So, let's jump right into the announcements...

Free Realms

* Very close to 4 Million subscribers - (maybe a new party pack :)
* Demo Derby and Race Car driver will be able to advance to level 20!
* Each job will have 40 missions along the progression path.
* Players will be able to customize thier cars in a garage
* Soccer Star will be a new job! - Coming this Summer!!
* Guilds will be able to have matching uniforms for soccer.
* We showed a new desert region that will be the home of the dwarves.
* A new Druid job will come will be part of this region.
* TCG - There will be a feature where you can have your character portrait added to a physical card. You can buy a bunch of cards and give them to friends who can use a digital code to add your card to their digital deck.
* New Desert area to be released - Dwarven Homeland
* Methods to gain Levels beyond 20 for some jobs - Late Summer
* Sony is teaming up with HP to offer high quality art prints of YOUR CHARACTER for station cash.

So, all in all, lots of good info for Free Realms coming out of the Fan Faire.
Here are some newsletters recapping the daily events of the Fan Faire.

Thursday Night Recap
Fun Friday

Also, in further news Sony has announced new expansions from EQ and EQII.

EverQuest II’s next expansion is not Velious, as widely assumed based on the (now known to be) red herrings seen in Kunark. EQ2’s next expansion, Sentinel’s Fate, will bring the island of Odus back to Norrath.
At the same time (but not as part of the expansion), good races will be able to start in the frozen city of Halas, a move widely expected as it brings the number of good/evil starting cities to three each — Freeport, Neriak and Gorowyn vs Qeynos, Kelethin and now Halas.
Sentinel’s Fate also carries with it ten new levels — raising the bar for endgame activities to level 90.

Back in old EverQuest, their sixteenth expansion will be Underfoot, as in the Plane of, and Brell makes an appearance. Looks great for such an old game. All new underground content for EQ players to experience.
Expansion is scheduled to be released in November with small additional game updates every other month or so up until April of next year. EQ will be seeing no new levels which has some players happy and other upset...

From an EQ Game Designer: Doug Cronkhite: aka Elidroth

It's strange.. so many of you said the level increase only added about a week's worth of grind time to the game, yet now no level increase has got some people in an uproar.
No level increase means I need to work extra hard to make sure the AA's are worthwhile. It means Raramor has to work extra hard to come up with new and unique spell ideas. It means Ngreth and Aristo have to work that much harder to give you quality tradeskills and items. We're well aware of the task we've taken on.. and not one of us thinks it's going to be easy.
BUT.. it also means that come tuning time, we'll have a much better reference point for raid tuning, rares, basic population, etc. We know SoD was too easy in the end, for whatever reason. There were several raids in SoD that nobody in beta came ANYWHERE CLOSE to beating, yet who blew through them come live release. Why that is nobody is really sure, but it is the way it happened.
You guys have been asking for more challenge.. and I believe the new raids we're making are going to give you exactly that.


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Free Realms Fan Faire Picts.

Sony's Fan Faire started yesterday and folks were out in costume showing pride in their favorite game. As the weekend goes on, I'm sure we'll be seeing tons more photos and reports surrounding the Fain Faire in Vegas, which goes until Sunday.

Here are some photos we as Free Realms fans will appreciate...







They look so cute!!



Thanks you for viewing my Blog, and check back daily for updates on Free Realms and Everquest.