Star [Minor Peril - Ed]: Clone [Argument - Ed]
SOE has today launched its Star Wars MMO Clone Wars Adventures, which becomes the second Star Wars virtual world, and thus neatly pips The Old Republic to the post. Aimed at the younger Star Wars audience that's thrilled to the Clones Wars series, toys and official stationery - or so I understand it - it's a free to play* mini-game-based place that appears to be roughly analogous to Free Realms. It being Star Wars, expect crowds despite the rugrat-orientation. Details below. To be honest, there's a lot of promise from this - yeah, it'll be free from the grown-up roleplaying that such as we might demand, but creating a bunch of (hopefully) engaging interactive contact from a virtual world that's achieved some resonance with kids is no bad thing. Well, perhaps apart from that "massive amounts of cash to George Lucas" stuff.
Sign up here! Includes character customisation and stuff!
* Microstranscation**-based
** Transaction
Here's the trailer. Warning: includes someone pretending to be Hayden Christensen, but with a deeper voice.
In Clone Wars Adventures, players become the next great hero of the Republic as they take their place alongside their favorite characters from Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated TV series including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Ahsoka Tano. Gamers can play exciting minigames, engage in dynamic activities, attend lively social events, and access thousands of customization options for their very own personalized avatars. They will speed through space in a Starfighter, take out waves of battle droids in Tower Defense, and test their brains with challenging Droid™ Programming puzzles. Players can also purchase legendary Star Wars outfits, items and accessories through micro-transactions using Station Cash™, SOE’s virtual currency.
Star Wars: Clone War Adventures offers a number of features, including:
Extending the Fantasy: Kids no longer have to wait until the next exciting episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated TV series to continue exploring and enjoying the Star Wars universe. With Clone Wars Adventures, kids can go online to experience exciting thrills as they duel iconic adversaries with their own custom Lightsaber, speed through the galaxy in a Starfighter, defeat enemies and take down starships.
Free Play or Upgrades: Clone Wars Adventures is a free-to-play game, but players who want to take the galactic action to the next level can purchase a monthly Jedi Membership subscription for $5.99. Players can also buy cool Star Wars universe items from within the game through micro-transactions using Station Cash.
Minigames & More: From Droid Programming to Speeder Bike Racing, Clone Wars Adventures puts you in the driver seat to experience epic action in immersive minigames that take you to your favorite locations in the galaxy. Become the proud owner of a tricked out Droid pet or throw a party in your player house - the fun is seemingly endless!
Fun With Friends: Whether you are on adventures with old friends or competing for leaderboard status with new ones, Clone Wars Adventures is a lively virtual world that connects players in fun and safe ways. Show off your achievements in your Trophy Room, use safe chat and emoticons to express yourself and celebrate in-world events with the entire galaxy!
Kid-Friendly: Parental controls allow for the customization of safety options, including pre-canned chat and playtime settings for younger players.
Retail Package: The Clone Wars Adventures Galactic Passport is scheduled to be available at thousands of retail locations in North America later this fall and will include a 90-day membership, 500 Station Cash, the ability to unlock the Togruta playable character, a Yoda monitor topper, and more.