Despite its PlayStation focus, Sony still hasn't forgotten about the PC gamer.
Sony Online Entertainment reveled on Friday its lineup of free-to-play titles that will make an appearance next week at E3 2012. Included will be the highly-anticipated MMOFPS Planetside 2, and an introduction to a new facial recognition and voice technology feature in EverQuest 2. Additional new titles include Wizardry Online and a FPS called Bullet Run.
"This year's E3 line-up features an unparalleled variety of free-to-play titles spanning across multiple genres and platforms – from kids and adults, to casual and hardcore," said John Smedley, President, Sony Online Entertainment. "With the largest and most diverse free-to-play line-up of any online publisher, SOE is delivering on all fronts with the massive show floor debut of PlanetSide 2, two entirely new titles and the latest hands-on game content from franchise favorites, plus never-before-seen MMO innovations that take immersive gameplay to an entirely new level."
During the show, Sony will offer a hands-on preview of The Last Laugh (DLC 4) for DC Universe Online. Attendees will also get a glimpse of Sunstone Valley, new regional content expansion for Free Realms that's expected to go live later this summer. Vanguard Saga of Heroes and Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures will also be on hand to demo, and EverQuest 2 will showcase its new facial recognition and voice technology feature -- SOEmote -- that was designed to "truly bring the roleplay back to roleplaying games."
E3 2012 will also be the first hands-on play with the PlanetSide sequel. "PlanetSide 2 takes all the groundbreaking features from the original game – massive multiplayer battles, distinct empires to rally around, and enormous continents where intense ground and air combat unfolds – and adds features that modern gamers have come to expect of the FPS and MMO genres," Sony said on Friday. "To dial up the E3 experience to epic levels, PlanetSide 2 has enlisted video game personality TotalBiscuit to live cast directly from the SOE booth at 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, June 5, and Wednesday, June 6, as well as at 11 a.m. PT on Thursday, June 7."
Bullet Run, making an appearance at the show next week, is a new team-based multiplayer FPS that puts players in the ultimate reality TV show where "contestants showcase their deadly talents in the name of fame." Wizardry Online is an upcoming free-to-play MMO based on the classic Wizardry computer games. Wizardry Online retains the characteristic elements of the original Wizardry and merges them with modern MMORPG functions.
For additional details, check out SOE's E3 2012 announcement here. The company has also thrown open the doors to the Planetside 2 beta signup which can be accessed here. The beta hasn't actually started, but Sony will alert participants via email when the gates officially open for battle.
Make game F2P.
Make game ridiculously hard but still enjoyable.
In order to win/do better at game, users need to pay money for better weapons/items.
???????
Profit.
But anyways, I'm really looking forward to Planetside 2, and it's pretty obvious that it isn't going to be pay2win from what we've seen and heard about the cash shop. The fact that it's F2P is a pretty huge plus if you ask me.
Make game F2P.
Make game ridiculously hard but still enjoyable.
In order to win/do better at game, users need to pay money for better weapons/items.
???????
Profit.
But anyways, I'm really looking forward to Planetside 2, and it's pretty obvious that it isn't going to be pay2win from what we've seen and heard about the cash shop. The fact that it's F2P is a pretty huge plus if you ask me.