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Funcom announces a plan to make the base version of Anarchy Online, their science fiction MMORPG, free to download and free to play. Though this seems appropriate for a game with Anarchy in the title, there are still ways for them to make money here, as the free game does not include any of the three AO expansions. Here's the deal, complete with footnote:


Durham, USA — December 15, 2004 – 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.”

More information, videos and screenshots from the award-winning game: http://www.anarchy-online.com

To download the free full version of Anarchy Online: http://www.anarchy-online.com/free/ad_c ... eecampaign

Prominent awards and press quotes: http://community.anarchy-online.com/con ... nthemedia/

* Offer valid only on new accounts created between 15 December 2004 and 15 January 2005. Other restrictions and conditions may apply. See registration information for details. The free version does not include access to any of the three expansion packs. Should you wish to upgrade to any of the expansion packs monthly subscription and client fees will be added

The only catch is the temptation to buy the expansion packs? Something doesn't seem right here..

DLing it right now :p

Oh God I am actually going to play this piece of shit again

What is wrong with me?

Nope there's no catch, they don't even require a credit card. They honestly think that when people start playing that they'll realize it's good and purchase the expansions. It really is an underrated game. I bet if some of you try it, you'll keep playing it. I might start playing this again for when I get burnt out from playing WoW. I had a 80ish level Fixer a year or so ago.

My hub liked this game but I just couldn't get into it. He'll be happy.

This is great

The expansion are worth it imo, but I can only pay for one game at a time really (all access pass counts as one :P)

This will be perfect for those times when I wanna pick up AO and play around a bit. Now i will be able to use the same character months from now instead of having to make another temporary accont.

I had an engineer but my robot did nothing much more than hump the walls. I still have it installed I guess I will start playing since its free now.

I'm going to rock this game's shitty code all over and grief pvp all day.

Yay for knowing shitloads of exploits.

So I'm downloading AO using bit torrent.

ANy tips on how to make it work better? downloading at 1k, uploading at 6k or something like that.

I've uploaded more then I've downloaded so far.

In general you will download faster once you have more to offer to other peers.

Unless of course there are more seeders on the torrent than peers wanting to download (fuck that, almost impossible)

Finawin Darkfyre wrote:In general you will download faster once you have more to offer to other peers.

Unless of course there are more seeders on the torrent than peers wanting to download (fuck that, almost impossible)

This makes no sense to me, but I am all the more glad for it, because AO is the biggest waste of time ever. I want the 25 hours I put into that piece of shit before I came to my senses. Thx.

i played AO for awhile, had a 156 enforcer.

only quarrel i have is the lack of mobs to hunt. from like level 100-160, you hunt in the same spot, killing the exact same mob, over and over and over =[

Jei wrote:i played AO for awhile, had a 156 enforcer.

only quarrel i have is the lack of mobs to hunt. from like level 100-160, you hunt in the same spot, killing the exact same mob, over and over and over =[

you spent 56 lvls killing the same mob? What is wrong with you? hehe

you had no choice - there was no other place to go

levels go quicker in AO, you can get one in an hour and a half at that level

and even after you get 160 there, the rest of your leveling from 160-200 is killing the same mob as before, just a higher level version of it. really sucks

Was this with Shadowlands or before? Highest I ever got was like 80ish after Notum Wars, before Shadowlands.

After I downloaded it through bittorrent, they added a fileplanet download :-/

HAH same here, bastards.

Taxx, you playing? what Server, type of character?

I made a MA right before we left for Christmas with the in-laws. He's still on the newb area and going to go clan.

I haven't started playing yet. I'll most likely only play when there is server downtime or I'm burnt out. I'll probably play on RK2, thats where I played before.

Jei wrote:you had no choice - there was no other place to go

levels go quicker in AO, you can get one in an hour and a half at that level

and even after you get 160 there, the rest of your leveling from 160-200 is killing the same mob as before, just a higher level version of it. really sucks

You missed my point. Why would you not just turn the game off?

because it was a time killer - i didnt have time to sit in a group for 2+ hours and just grind exp. i could log on for half an hour, get a group, /q when i had to go and safely log on next time i felt like logging on

but eventually i didnt enjoy logging on anymore and did in fact turn the game off

and taxx, with shadowlands you could get 50 in 2 or 3 hours if you tried...they really upped the exp by easily at least 5x - no one ever hunted in old world after sl was released. getting a group together to do a good old fashion mission was pretty much impossible.

Jei wrote:because it was a time killer - i didnt have time to sit in a group for 2+ hours and just grind exp. i could log on for half an hour, get a group, /q when i had to go and safely log on next time i felt like logging on

but eventually i didnt enjoy logging on anymore and did in fact turn the game off

and taxx, with shadowlands you could get 50 in 2 or 3 hours if you tried...they really upped the exp by easily at least 5x - no one ever hunted in old world after sl was released. getting a group together to do a good old fashion mission was pretty much impossible.

GO OUTSIDE

ok