SOE Free Realms

[Lantyssa]

No inventory limits.  The idea is you can keep all the awesome outfits and gear you've collected.  (They got lots of bonus points from me for letting me have the bottomless closet I've asked for in every MMO.)

[Yegolev]

I just got an enormous loot-boner.

[Xurtan]

I'm in love with the metal bar making mini-game, for some reason. I do wish the weapon-craft part wasn't practically identical to mining, though. Something more like this seems more appropriate. Different weapon shapes to fill in. 

[Sjofn]

If smelting didn't have the stupid bellows part, I would like it fine. But it does, and I hates it. It may be irrational hate, but I hate it anyway!

[gryeyes]

Where can i train ninja?

[Xurtan]

If smelting didn't have the stupid bellows part, I would like it fine. But it does, and I hates it. It may be irrational hate, but I hate it anyway!

I'm getting better at it. The key seems to be small mouse movements, back and forth. Not long wide jerks. Annoyingly, it seems to be picky. Sometimes I do well, and sometimes.. meh.

I've had problems not spilling any of the molten metal at the end, personally. I want all five bars. 

[NiX]

Where can i train ninja?

Map with all trainer positions pointed out...

[Sjofn]

If smelting didn't have the stupid bellows part, I would like it fine. But it does, and I hates it. It may be irrational hate, but I hate it anyway!

I'm getting better at it. The key seems to be small mouse movements, back and forth. Not long wide jerks. Annoyingly, it seems to be picky. Sometimes I do well, and sometimes.. meh.

I've had problems not spilling any of the molten metal at the end, personally. I want all five bars. 

Yeah, my problem is mostly that I feel like an idiot DOING the bellows part. I'm pretty good at the pouring metal, although silver (and I presume gold, my miner is level 19) is really fussy.

So here is a stupid question: How do you eat the crafting buff food? I can't figure it out. 

[Signe]

I but it in my belt and eat it, but some of it doesn't seem to work.  I have no idea why.  I wish I could sell the stuff, too.

[Venkman]

Ya know? I think you might be right there. Even Tanarus is still running, even though they don't collect money for that (nor Cosmic Rift nor that other one).

They're a curious case for sure.

[tazelbain]

Putting it in you belt is right, but whether or not you are in an instance effects which consumables can be used.

[Merusk]

Ya know? I think you might be right there. Even Tanarus is still running, even though they don't collect money for that (nor Cosmic Rift nor that other one).

They're a curious case for sure.

Wrong turn, hoss?

[Xanthippe]

I will try to discover where we stand on long term potential for inversion today.

In other news, 2 million accounts have been registered as of yesterday. 

Yes, registered accounts, not subscriptions. It's a useful statistic, but not one you can derive our level of profit from 

I got a party pack in commemoration of this. 

Neato!  I can turn into a ewe.  And other fun stuff.

[Venkman]

Ya know? I think you might be right there. Even Tanarus is still running, even though they don't collect money for that (nor Cosmic Rift nor that other one).

They're a curious case for sure.

Wrong turn, hoss?

Shit. Yea.

And I laugh every time I see "hoss". Awesome word. 

[Sjofn]

So do I hit the number outside an instance that corresponds to my belt? 'Cause I can't SEE it outside an instance, so I sort of assumed it pretty much was unaccessable.

HELP THE CHILDREN'S GAME IS TOO COMPLICATED FOR ME 

[Lantyssa]

Outside an instance I was able to double-click (or something) in inventory and eat the food.  It was something in beta which turned me into a cat, so I know it's possible, just been a while since I tried.

[Bandit]

Some random redeemable free realms codes, most worked as of a couple of days ago...

    * FACEBOOKFANS01 -- Veggie Surprise
    * FACEBOOKFANS02 -- Froggy Fries
    * FACEBOOKFANS03 -- Goat Cheese
    * FACEBOOKFANS04 -- Shadowblade
    * FACEBOOKFANS05 -- Dynamite
    * FACEBOOKFANS06 -- Checker Charged Helmet
    * KN78CH2 -- Striped Shoes
    * JFRE87J -- Doggy Bowling T-Shirt
    * CMNJGGE -- Spider Snack
    * N4PF9R3 -- Crystal Hammer
    * 6TNBTGH -- Charcoal Bermuda Shorts
    * ROBGOBLINBOOTY -- Robgoblin T-Shirt
    * MPT38B3 -- Layered Skirt
    * PXNH6HB -- Spook Sphere
    * FROGGY -- Froggy Fries
    * SANDWICH -- Small Sandwich
    * XCZG923 -- Baseball cap
    * T86766R -- Chatdy Baseball Cap

[Xurtan]

Nice, they still work.  Robgoblin T-Shirt.

On a different note, anyone know how to reset the graphical settings to default? Changed my resolution and now it feels all wonky. 

[gryeyes]

Click the automatic detect box or whatever it is called.

[Xurtan]

First thing I tried, doesn't seem to make a difference. I was hoping for the usual reset all defaults button, heh.

[Merusk]

WTB way to redeem codes without 3 clickthroughs per code. Or at least multiple codes at once. Very irritating compared to the rest of the game.

[Signe]

There is a website where you can check for the new codes as they become available, too.  I was glad to get the Mother's Day roses right on the day it expired.  So far, that's the only thing I've found that my adventurer can actually carry around.  (though there are some items you can buy with SC)

[Xanthippe]

My daughter cannot chat openly on Free Realms, which means she cannot really interact with people online other than through pre-set chat.  She's under 13, and I cannot enable her chat settings because Sony Online has decided that they are better at making these decisions for my child than I am.

This is a huge bummer for her.  So she mostly plays Club Penguin, since the big draw for her is the social aspect of the game - and there are no restrictions there for her.  I don't know if I will renew her membership.  I'm also unable to change her birthdate so as to make it appear that she's 13.

Frustrating.

[Hawkbit]

My daughter cannot chat openly on Free Realms, which means she cannot really interact with people online other than through pre-set chat.  She's under 13, and I cannot enable her chat settings because Sony Online has decided that they are better at making these decisions for my child than I am.

This is a huge bummer for her.  So she mostly plays Club Penguin, since the big draw for her is the social aspect of the game - and there are no restrictions there for her.  I don't know if I will renew her membership.  I'm also unable to change her birthdate so as to make it appear that she's 13.

Frustrating.

It's a great idea that's being used with an iron fist.  A parent should be able to opt-in/out on the chat system under parental controls.  Default chat off. 

I have the same complaint, as my four year old might not chat now, but in a year or two I might want it on.

[Grimwell]

Let me look into that next week? I thought parents did have the ability to opt their kids into chat if they so chose. Maybe that didn't make the beta - live cut, who knows? I sure don't (yet). 

I can tell you the reasoning behind it being very strict: With all things concerning the kids in this game, we are erring on the side of caution. If that does not make sense, considering who the game was made for, I can't help you there. I see the logic.

[Xanthippe]

Let me look into that next week? I thought parents did have the ability to opt their kids into chat if they so chose. Maybe that didn't make the beta - live cut, who knows? I sure don't (yet). 

I can tell you the reasoning behind it being very strict: With all things concerning the kids in this game, we are erring on the side of caution. If that does not make sense, considering who the game was made for, I can't help you there. I see the logic.

No, I see the logic - but it's too strict.

I sit next to my daughter when she's online, I monitor what she types, who she talks to and so on.

If it was set up the way Club Penguin is - so that parents can set chat options - I'd be fine with that.  That is not the case, though, Sony has decided that my 10 year old cannot openly type on Free Realms.

Had I known this prior to signing her up, I'd have fudged her birthday by a few years.  But it's ridiculous that I should have to.

Toontown had very strict chat as well, but Toontown had more useful phrases, more of them, and one could actually converse in game with them.

Free Realms has the most retarded chat I've seen in a kids' game, hands down - the filter needs massive work.  But this is a deal breaker for my daughter.  If she's the target audience, then Sony needs to rethink things.

EDITED TO ADD:

Another thought occurs to me - my 13 year old son might play but when the account was made, it was made in my daughter's name.  I should have put it in my name instead, because nobody else can chat on any toon on that account.

I don't recall seeing any sort of warning about that when I set up the account.  If I had, I would have put it in my name.  Something for Sony to consider, at any rate.

[Signe]

Maybe they plan to allow accounts to merge together when they add in family accounts, which is hopefully in the near future.  When they do, I should think the account holder would be able to assign permissions as they choose.

[Grimwell]

Toontown had very strict chat as well, but Toontown had more useful phrases, more of them, and one could actually converse in game with them.

Toontown's quick chat is indeed awesome. It's not a fair comparison though. At launch it was very simple, similar to what we have; the slickness it now presents is directly tied to the years of development and refinement they have been able to invest in that system. I will not debate how awesome it is, it's fantastic and all anyone needs to communicate play needs in the game -- but I don't exactly feel that the Free Realms team did something bad by only being as good as ToonTown at launch. The very basics are covered, time will provide more.

With the age based filtering on open chat, I won't know squat until Monday... but if your kid has not invested any funds in her account and you are comfortable with her not being filtered (you are the parent, your choice), why not make a new account and do it in your name/age and let her play?

If you have invested funds, it's an entirely different matter -- obviously you don't want to walk away from money spent. In that event I will see you on Monday.

[Tmon]

Looks like the game has hit the 'big time'  I just got two PMs on the FR forums offering coins and power leveling.  Also there doesn't seem to be a way to report the PMs to anyone.

Order our sevice,save your raid time.

40 K Coins= $ 13.72

60 K Coins= $ 20.55

We are a professional offer freereamls coins and powerlevleing

[Xanthippe]

Toontown had very strict chat as well, but Toontown had more useful phrases, more of them, and one could actually converse in game with them.

Toontown's quick chat is indeed awesome. It's not a fair comparison though. At launch it was very simple, similar to what we have; the slickness it now presents is directly tied to the years of development and refinement they have been able to invest in that system. I will not debate how awesome it is, it's fantastic and all anyone needs to communicate play needs in the game -- but I don't exactly feel that the Free Realms team did something bad by only being as good as ToonTown at launch. The very basics are covered, time will provide more.

With the age based filtering on open chat, I won't know squat until Monday... but if your kid has not invested any funds in her account and you are comfortable with her not being filtered (you are the parent, your choice), why not make a new account and do it in your name/age and let her play?

If you have invested funds, it's an entirely different matter -- obviously you don't want to walk away from money spent. In that event I will see you on Monday.

Oh, please don't get me wrong - Free Realms is an awesome game.  Much more complete and less buggy than Toontown was at launch.  The rate of change I've seen so far impresses me as well.  I love Free Realms. 

The chat thing is probably the weakest thing about it - the inane filtering really needs work, but I understand there are more important priorities.

I've put about 15 bucks in SC on that account (plus the $5 for membership).  I think my daughter's pet trainer is lvl 15 but the time she's put in isn't that huge.  It's not a fortune, and I could eat the costs, but it is something.

As you point out, it's really easy for me to make another account.  Either way, I'll have the account, but one way Sony gets to keep my goodwill.  I've sent an email and then a response to the help team, asking for a reconsideration of the policy.  And I do appreciate you looking into this, thanks much.

[Xanthippe]

Looks like the game has hit the 'big time'  I just got two PMs on the FR forums offering coins and power leveling.  Also there doesn't seem to be a way to report the PMs to anyone.

Order our sevice,save your raid time.

40 K Coins= $ 13.72

60 K Coins= $ 20.55

We are a professional offer freereamls coins and powerlevleing

/report <name>
Then submit a ticket why you're reporting <name>



From the support pages:

http://help.freerealms.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/21141/c/1932/r_id/158

"If you encounter another player who is not playing by the Code of Conduct, or is being abusive to you or other players, please use the /report command in game. This will send us the last ten lines from your chat window. Remember to add the name of the player you are reporting; just like /report Billy.

"After /report make sure to submit a ticket, so a Referee can take a look and handle the problem. To see how you can submit a ticket please click here, or click the "Ask for Help" button at the bottom of this page."

http://help.freerealms.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/20967/c/1932/r_id/158
To submit a ticket:

Options (top right gear thingie by minimap)
Help & Support
Add Customer Service Ticket

"This will take you to our support site, where we have written many articles that can help you with any problem you may have. After looking at an article to find help, you will see a button called "Ask for Help." Click this button to type a question that will be sent to us, and we will answer it as soon as we can.

The very first time you do this, it may take up to a minute for the help window to load. After the first time, it will load much faster. Thank you for your patience as we work to get the help window loading much faster."




I have a feeling they're going to have to streamline this.  I'm amazed that the gold sellers are already in game. 

Why would anyone pay money for in game money, when everything good you can buy, you pay real money for?

Maybe Sony will make it so people can convert SC into in game money.

[Xurtan]

Why hello, 1997. When did you get back? 

Admittedly the report system worked, to a degree. This was always assuming the players -knew- about the command. It always seemed someone would send in a petition, and by the time it got answered, telling them about /report and how it works, the chat was long gone.

What is with the recent trend of having to go through multiple windows to send in a support ticket/petition/what have you? What ever happened to just a simple command like /petition? *sigh*

[Signe]

When my character fights she says, "Hell, yeah!"  and when a troll sneezes he says "ahh, shit!". 

Naughty devs -1, Innocent children - 0.

[Xanthippe]

I just tried to /report someone with firstname lastname and it said he wasn't online, despite that he was online and being really obnoxious.  This system needs a great deal of work.

[NiX]

When my character fights she says, "Hell, yeah!"  and when a troll sneezes he says "ahh, shit!". 

Naughty devs -1, Innocent children - 0.

This could also be a part of the age your account has listed, alternatively you could very well be mistaking "achoo" for "ah, shit." Course, I've never heard either, so I can't tell you. You sure do spend a lot of time in that one place in Snow Hill, Signe.