Anarchy Online now free for a year

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19 Dec 2004, 03:24 AM
Revoltor

Anarchy Online now free for a year

http://www.anarchy-online.com/

Quote:

Funcom announces that Anarchy Online will be the first major western live MMO without a subscription fee. In a unique move Funcom is removing all cost barriers in the ultimate sci-fi MMORPG, allowing all new players to enter and stay, free of cost! At the same time Funcom is departing from the obligatory need to register with a credit card, making for an easier entrance and registration process.

In an increasingly competitive market for fantasy MMO games, Anarchy Online stands out as the superior alternative if you like online RPG’s and sci-fi. Not only will this new and totally free approach allow everyone tired of elves, fairies and gnomes to enter a futuristic RPG world full of fun action, it will also make it possible for those who are sci-fi fans to explore a world hailed and rewarded as the best sci-fi MMO available today.

“Funcom has always been recognized as an inventive MMO developer. This unique move will allow us to test important new business models prior to announcing future online games, while also giving everyone the chance to experience the best online sci-fi RPG totally free of cost” said Trond Arne Aas, President and CEO of Funcom.

“We feel very confident in the unique features and heralded qualities of our game, and are now openly inviting everyone playing MMO’s to find out what Anarchy Online is all about, completely free of commitment” said Ole Schreiner, Project Director for Anarchy Online. “Not only can we boast of a fantastic game which has been expanding for years, we are also constantly adding exciting new content, progressively making the ultimate sci-fi MMORPG even better.”

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpage...archy%20online
19 Dec 2004, 03:24 AM
maruchan

is this worth the free download..
19 Dec 2004, 03:24 AM
Roufuss

Quote:

Originally Posted by maruchan

is this worth the free download..

Hell no.
19 Dec 2004, 05:05 AM
rezo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roufuss

Hell no.

OR IS IT!?
22 Dec 2004, 09:17 PM
NeoZeedeater

I'm tempted on this. I have avoided MMORPGs out of principle of not paying monthly fees so it's hard to argue against a free one. Before I do the giant download I want to know if you are required to give them your credit card info when you register. I know they won't charge until 2006 but I still would rather be able to just register without giving my credit card number.
22 Dec 2004, 09:22 PM
Drewbacca

I'll wait until they pay me for the lost time in that grindfest.
22 Dec 2004, 09:22 PM
epmode

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

Before I do the giant download I want to know if you are required to give them your credit card info when you register. I know they won't charge until 2006 but I still would rather be able to just register without giving my credit card number.

according to the press release, you don't need a credit card to register.

but i'd still suggest avoiding this and picking up world of warcraft. it streamlines/removes almost every bit of the horribility that many MMORPGs (including this one,) are plagued with. plus, half of tnl is playing it at the moment.
22 Dec 2004, 09:22 PM
Victrix

No CC required.

And honestly, I wouldn't bother. You'd be better off on a good mud imo (there's irony at its finest).

You ONLY get base AO, and the best pve stuff is in Shadowlands. The best pvp stuff is in notum wars, and (some of) the best guild stuff is in alien invasion. Any expansion costs money + starts the monthly fee.

I suppose you could go try it, after all, it is indeed free, but... *shrug* I happen to like AO quite a bit, the universe is cool, but the devs are just insane, the level curve is ridiculous, and the ui/feedback/controls/polish (areas that really, really matter to me) are pretty slipshod.
22 Dec 2004, 09:27 PM
NeoZeedeater

Quote:

Originally Posted by epmode

according to the press release, you don't even need to register with a credit card.

but i'd still suggest avoiding this and picking up world of warcraft. it streamlines/removes almost every bit of the horribility that many MMORPGs (including this one,) are plagued with.

I don't know how I missed that in the press release.

WoW is very tempting too and it sounds like the best MMORPG out there. I'm not sure I want to buy it just for the free first month or whatever it is. Then again, it would probably hook me into paying monthly.
22 Dec 2004, 09:30 PM
Gohron

I'd try AO if you're interested, I played in the past and it was alright, but when it's free you just can't complain, give it a look if you're curious.
22 Dec 2004, 09:32 PM
Grave

I've still never played AO. Which amuses me, because I was under NDA for quite a while during their beta... of which my materials they mailed me for didn't work. Then they released the next beta which we had to download, a something like 500MB image on a server with no resume. I was on dialup at the time and nobody I knew in the area had broadband I could use. Fun.

Glad to hear I didn't miss anything, though. :p

I've wanted to try another MMORPG. I've never paid for one and I don't think I'd like to, but the Asheron's Call beta was a lot of fun and I guess if you have friends that play them it could be a really good time.
23 Dec 2004, 02:29 AM
Six

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grave

...and I guess if you have friends that play them it could be a really good time.

This is the only thing that makes a MMORPG fun for me. If I can't play with people I know most/all of the time I get bored very easily and quit playing.

Funny enough that was the problem with EQ1 - all my friends played all the time. And so did I :\

This isn't the thread for it but EQ2 is rocking my ass off. It seems to be everything that was fun from EQ1 minus almost all of the really stupid "We Hate You Bastard Players!" crap the devs put in then later tried to nerf. And it's pretty without being too cartoony *cough* wow *cough*.
23 Dec 2004, 02:30 AM
Roufuss

Quote:

Originally Posted by Six

And it's pretty without being too cartoony *cough* wow *cough*.

I'd rather take "cartoony" than generic.

And obviously, your definition of cartoony is one that's very different from everyone else.
23 Dec 2004, 02:33 AM
FirstBlood

Quote:

Originally Posted by Six

This isn't the thread for it but EQ2 is rocking my ass off. It seems to be everything that was fun from EQ1 minus almost all of the really stupid "We Hate You Bastard Players!" crap the devs put in then later tried to nerf. And it's pretty without being too cartoony *cough* wow *cough*.

The word is stylized. Look into it.
23 Dec 2004, 02:55 AM
LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Six

And it's pretty without being too cartoony *cough* wow *cough*.

LOL!

Now everyone on TNL thinks you're stupid. Good job.
23 Dec 2004, 04:42 AM
PKBMax

Quote:

Originally Posted by omfgninjas

LOL!

Now everyone on TNL thinks you're stupid. Good job.

Now everyone on TNL thinks you're a worthless troll. Good job.
23 Dec 2004, 04:43 AM
Prome

I'm downloading the thing now. Something to do anyway, and besides, I think my PC would cry if I tried to load up WoW. :p I'm not expecting the best thing since sliced bread, but there really isn't much in the way of sci-fi based MMORPGs on the market outside of PSO, so it might make for a nice change of pace, despite the flaws the game is notorious for. :\
23 Dec 2004, 04:48 AM
Revoltor

Let us know how it is. I'm curious as to whether or not people are actually playing it.
23 Dec 2004, 05:13 AM
Prome

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revoltor

Let us know how it is. I'm curious as to whether or not people are actually playing it.

You betcha :)
23 Dec 2004, 09:46 AM
Yoshi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Six

This isn't the thread for it but EQ2 is rocking my ass off. It seems to be everything that was fun from EQ1 minus almost all of the really stupid "We Hate You Bastard Players!" crap the devs put in then later tried to nerf. And it's pretty without being too cartoony *cough* wow *cough*.

WoW destroys EQ2 in every conceivable way, but if you like paying every month for an inferior product, keep it up.
23 Dec 2004, 11:01 PM
NeoZeedeater

I played a bit of Anarchy Online. It seems kind of cool but I doubt I'm going to want to devote massive time to it. I'll keep it on my hard drive for now anyway. It's worth at least trying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revoltor

I'm curious as to whether or not people are actually playing it.

There seemed to be plenty of non-NPC people around when I was on but I imagine there are a lot of new people in the beginner area right now.
24 Dec 2004, 10:56 AM
Frogacuda

I've had AO for over a year and never installed it or even opened the box. Maybe now I will.
24 Dec 2004, 11:47 AM
station82o

eh i have free time, i'll try it.