so today i tried out a new indie MMO called linkrealms.  Its essentially very similar to UO, although my expirience with UO is somewhat limited so some may disagree with me here.  it also seems to have a feature where you can upload new pieces of the world to the servers and they become part of the map (it comes with a map editor).  Overall i found i the game to be very well put together for an indie game, and really brought me back to my old way back runescape days.  Its currently in beta, with registration open whenever they feel they need to up the playerbase a bit.  Overall its definitely worth a look for anyone looking for more of a "world", sandbox, nonlinear style game.  

BETA IS NOW INVITATION ONLY (maybe someone here would be nice enough to give you one? Though joining the official forums is more likely)

JOIN THE OFFICIAL FORUMS!! http://forums.linkrealms.com/    <-------Your best chance at getting a beta key!

http://linkrealms.com/

 Condensed Updates and thread info

-The graphics are much more like diablo than UO

-Beta registration is usually open in the evening around 6-9 PM EST

-they are currently working on a tutorial, and when that is finished they will let a lot more people into beta (possibly have a completely open beta)

-the developers regularly log on and chat with player

-you can download the game and play with the map editor if you would like

-No classes or levels, its all about raising skills (you are free to do all of them or any you would like, however there are skillcaps for different groups of skills (i.e. your agility + strength is capped at 150, i have 100str and 50 agil)

-there will be an item mall upon release, though their stance on item malls can be found here 

-you choose whether your land will permit illegal actions (like PVP, lockpicking, snooping etc.)

-Dungeons are all  non instanced and FFA PVP with looting (though not full apparently, items have a chance of dropping, not to much expirience with this aspect yet)

-you can craft just about anything

-you can plant and grow seeds in your garden

-many things do take several steps to make

-the game has an amazing community, and is very community oriented

-you must be 18+ to register (though i am aware that you cant really expect that to always be the case)

-lots of different and scripted bosses.

-the developers regularly log in and chats with players and listen to their suggestions.

-there currently is no guild system, however after chatting with the developers, they are adding guilds, guild chat, and private messages in a not-to-distant update.

-boss loot is different than just upgraded armor (tools/furniture for your realm, permenant stat increase potions, etc.)

-when uploaded, your realm is instantly added to the game world (if you own land)

-as of 2/10/09 they are still opening beta up for short periods

-gnomes (and possibly other things) may infest your gardens and property when growing crops (these things are tough  and not to be taken litely)
 

-world map is here http://home.linkrealms.com/map.png and was updated (2/11/09)

Well they definately deserve kudos for having some of the best ingame animation I have ever seen.

 yea, its also the first time i have felt overwhelmed and free to do whatever i want when starting an MMO since EvE.

Not to mention they have player guides who will warp to you and answer any questions you have or show you around, its a great community

Animation is more like Diablo2 with better graphics then UO, from what I saw in the movies.

You said UO, I was like 2 frames a second huh?

Holy buckets.

Those are some of the best animations I think I have ever seen, in any game, ever.

For all those who believe that MMOs are stale and broken, this could be what we have been waiting for. I am going to try the beta tonight.

Assuming I can get a beta spot I'll definitely give it a shot.  It looks like fun and I can't wait to see what some of the possibilities are.

Good find.  Thanks for sharing.

except its closed.  =(

YOU MAKE YOUR OWN REALM, HOLY SHIT

And no classes, pick any skills you want.

OK, so there's an item mall, dude I am so sold it's not even funny.  Player created content with no classes, I love it!

And it's adult content!

Signing up for beta right now, or as soon as they open up beta sign up again.

Looks interesting. I'll definitely give it a try when you can make accounts again. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Here's a trailer of it ( Since the one on the site doesn't seem to be working ) www.youtube.com/watch Looks kinda like UO meets Diablo.

 Yea, right now its a really small beta it seems, i had to wait about 4 days before it was open to new registration, and the most people i have seen online at one time was about 10, however, i really recommend that everyone try it, because i have found that it just may be what lots of people have been looking for.  Of the things i have found so far that were kind of cool.

-you can haggle with vendors, and they only buy items they would want

-you can dig anywhere prospecting for metal/gold i would think (havent done much)

-to make something which requires cooking, you pick wheat and then grind it at the milling stone etc.

-you can drop items on the ground and other can pick them up.

ill write a more detailed description of what its like at some point possibly, but those are just some little things that i love in an MMO and have been missing in most of these themepark games 

I have vowed never to play a game with an item mall, but I'm making an exception for this game.

Can't wait to dig into the editor.

 But their website does suck, oh well, can't win them all.

Item mall. No thanks.

what's an "item mall"?

Originally posted by GreenChaos

 

I have vowed never to play a game with an item mall, but I'm making an exception for this game.

 

Can't wait to dig into the editor.

 But their website does suck, oh well, can't win them all.

same situation here with the item mall

Originally posted by Nerf09

what's an "item mall"?

Free to play, better items for purchase with real money. These can be ignored if you want to , so not that big of a deal.

If the game is real good I'm willing to spend as much as I would for a sub, so it should work out.

 also i think its worth noting that once it releases, they plan on have a business model similar to runescape as well, where you can subscribe for additional functionality (though who knows what that means at this point, new areas?, items?, skills?)

but yes there also will be an item mall, though again we dont know what that entails entirely yet 

Originally posted by GreenChaos

Originally posted by Nerf09

what's an "item mall"?

 

Free to play, better items for purchase with real money. These can be ignored if you want to , so not that big of a deal.

If the game is real good I'm willing to spend as much as I would for a sub, so it should work out.

You will spend much more than a subscription game though. Don't kid yourself. But you must already know that having stated you traditionally refuse to play item shop games.

Originally posted by RedwoodSap

Item mall. No thanks.

Give the guys a break, this is a indi MMO with user created content.   They don't have a huge name to sell subs, this is probably the best way to get their game out there.

I don't think companies with smaller player-based games such as this will beable to opt for a monthly fee any longer. So you will have to either stop playing games like this or adjust to the item mall fad.