Free MMORPGs?

[trancejeremy]

Now that I have broadband which works reasonably well, I might as well try playing a MMORPG. But I doubt I want to commit to pay $15 a month for one.

Tried Dungeon Runners, uninstalled it after about half an hour. Seemed like a simpler version of Guild Wars with 1995 era graphics.

Just tried "Rappelz". That doesn't seem bad, exactly, but has poor performance for so-so graphics, and I think the translation was done by the lowest bidder.

I've heard Archlord from Codemasters is now free, I'll give that a try eventually.

Any ones I'm missing? (Even monthly fee free, like Guild Wars)

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Do you mean like browser games? Because there are plenty around; Banana King, Knight Fight, Monsters Game and Gangs of New York just to name a few.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

Perfect World www.perfectworld.com.my/

It's a full feature MMO, graphics are nothing special. It's funded by the Item Mall that sells some fancy In-Game items via RW money. Playing is free unless you want to get one of these items and they're not mechanically necessary or even optimum they just look better than the ones you can earn in-game.

Play is pretty bog standard MMO, only really innovative thing about it is the flying. Depending on race some get to fly from day one and everyone gets the ability to fly by lvl30. It's a fully 3-D environment with complete freedom of engagement. But to discourage mob camping if you are flying and the target isn't or the reverse damage is reduced. Otherwise everyone would just hover right above the range of enemies and fire down on them all day. There's an interesting mechanism for full-scale warfare. The game world is divided into about 50 territories and clans (groups of affiliated guilds) can make war on one another to seize territory with the winning clan getting tribute and IG service perks as a result of the territories they hold.

One warning YES ENGRISH VERY GOOD IS. The game is an Asian game mainly played by Asians with the servers in Asia. What we can play right now is the Open Beta of the Malayan English version, and as such the English is very frustrating. You will end up scratching your head and puzzling things out or resorting to forums to figure out what was meant. But it is a rather fun game.

 

[trancejeremy]

Do you mean like browser games? Because there are plenty around; Banana King, Knight Fight, Monsters Game and Gangs of New York just to name a few.

No, I mean ones with proper clients and such, and make money either via advertising (like Dungeon Runners) or selling items (like Rappelz and apparently Archlord and a few others).

Thanks though.

 

[trancejeremy]

Perfect World www.perfectworld.com.my/
One warning YES ENGRISH VERY GOOD IS. The game is an Asian game mainly played by Asians with the servers in Asia. What we can play right now is the Open Beta of the Malayan English version, and as such the English is very frustrating. You will end up scratching your head and puzzling things out or resorting to forums to figure out what was meant. But it is a rather fun game.

Thanks, I'll check that out. I watch a lot of films from Hong Kong, so I'm used to that sort of stuff.

 

[Cergorach]

Rappelz was fun for a while, at the time there was a mechanic that didn't make much sense (needing to be logged on and not doing anything). Currently reinstalling it, thanks for reminding me ;-)

Sword of the New World has some interesting concepts (playing a party of three characters, instead of a single character). Don't know if you'll like the gameplay though (I haven't touched it in months).

Guild Wars is fun to install once in a while, don't play it much though.

While not a MMO, NWN 1 and 2 have a lot of persistent worlds (run by fans). Some are good, some are bad, but there are a lot of folks having tons of fun with it.

I currently play EVE online (still at it), while it isn't free, it is possible to buy game time with in game currency. There's a 14 day trial available, while it should theoretically be possible to make 200M isk in those two weeks, I don't recommend it. EVE is like the old Elite space trading sim, but without the need to have jedi like reflexes.

You might want to take a look at the following list:
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/gameId/0

Zu Online is looking promising due to it's interesting graphics style (looks like an animation).

Shadow of Legend looks promising if you like the Baldur's Gate graphics style (let's call it 2.5D).

 

[Tharian]

Another title I've heard of but not had the chance to try is Sword of the New World found at this link. I first heard of it during the Thanksgiving holiday, but until I get a newer system (i.e. something with both hard drive space and a video card made this century), I won't be able to really let you know what my thoughts of the game are.
The ones who introduced me to it, though, really seem to enjoy it.

 

[sydbar]

You might want to try Anarchy Online, if you're interested in sci-fi mmo's. You get to play the
basic game, and the tower wars expansion free, which has 4 races, 12 classes, 3 sides to play, and up to 200 levels. It also has an active community with a fair amount of people that will help others(esp claners on rk2).

 

[trancejeremy]

Well, I gave Sword of the New World a try (took me 2 days to download it, the client is 3.7 gigs). It sure looks impressive, probably about as good looking as Guild Wars. Not quite as polished, but close. Not sure about the gameplay, though.

 

[trancejeremy]

Well, so far Sword of the New World is pretty fun. The combat is crazy though - it's like a John Woo movie - hordes of critters instead of just mobs. And they respawn almost immediately.

Some of the quests are a little boring. Like kill 250 and such of so and so monster.