Wednesday, June 2, 2010
by Ben Silverman
A partnership between online gaming gurus Sony Online and Star Wars overseers LucasArts could yield one of the year's biggest hits -- and it won’t cost you a dime.
Based on the popular cartoon, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures was officially unveiled Tuesday. It's a family-friendly, massively multiplayer and -- best of all - entirely free-to-play online game set in the universe popularized by the Clone Wars cartoon series.
"Clone Wars Adventures is the ultimate destination for fans of The Clone Wars series and will bring the action and excitement of the show to players online so they can experience The Clone Wars universe firsthand,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment.
Intended for younger gamers, Clone Wars Adventures will feature hordes of Star Wars themed mini-games, including customized lightsaber battles, speeder bike racing and even a collectible card game, alongside typical online gaming staples like chatting and leaderboards. Players will be able to interact with the likes of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda. Smedley calls it a "true extension of the show."
While it can be enjoyed free of charge, Sony Online will offer premium content to those who opt to pay a subscription fee. The game will also accept Sony Station 'cash' for special items or gear, though again, none of that is required.
Sony Online is certainly no stranger to the free-to-play model. The company's recent hit Free Realms has enjoyed massive success, currently boasting over 10 million registered players.
Clone Wars Adventures is due out on PC this fall.
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