Steam have started a new scheme called free to play. These are MMO’s MMORPG’s etc. that you can play totally for free with no monthly subscription fees. They are the type of game, much like the one we were given a few years ago that although free, do include the ability to purchase for real cash in game items to enhance game play or to speed up level progress. This can give those that don’t purchase extra's a disadvantage, but it’s not necessary to purchase these items. (Also similar to many Facebook games where you can speed up your progress by purchasing energy and special items that are not available to those cheapskates that don’t purchase anything - joking, lol). Still, these games are a great way to experience games that you may not otherwise play, or be able to afford.
The following five games are available immediately on Steam and no doubt more will follow as the scheme gets established.
1) ... Global Agenda: Free Agent
2) ... Champions Online: Free for All
3) ... Spiral Knights
4) ... Alliance of Valiant Arms
5) ... Forsaken World
Spiral Knights even has a single player mode for those dubious about playing online. One of the greatest problems I’ve found with such games is the number of trolls, spawn rapists, idiots and game spoilers you end up getting in game. Though it’s not always the case.
GLOBAL AGENDA: FREE AGENT: (Multiplayer, MMO)
Video:
You can see videos of Global Agenda: Free agent HERE and HERE
Official Website:
You can find the official website HERE
Reviews:
"Repackages the fond, familiar cooperative and mobile combat of TF2 and Tribes with layers of MMO goodness" -- PC Gamer Magazine
"A fast-paced, action-packed adrenaline rush" -- Zam.com
"Slick, Polished and Bad Ass" -- Gamersinfo.net
"Stuns with its professionalism" -- Eurogamer
"I wanted to play for hours" - Inc Gamers
"Game of the Show - E3 2009" -- MMORPG.com
"Best Gameplay of E3 2009" -- TenTonHammer.com
"Easily the game of the show at GameX, hands down" -- Massively.com
The Game:
2155. From the ashes of the devastating Third Great War rose the Commonwealth, an oppressive world government determined to control the entire planet. The few remaining independent factions retaliate the only way they can, with elite teams of special operatives trained in advanced warfare tactics and equipped with high-tech weaponry. The future of humanity is their battleground, where knowledge is power, technology is a race, and everyone has a Global Agenda.
• Create your agent - Create, customize, and develop multiple agent characters, complementing your FPS skills with accessible RPG-style progression. Unlock weaponry and cutting edge devices including jetpacks, grenade launchers, mines, deployable turrets, stealth suits, holographic decoys, robotic droids and HUNDREDS of others.
• Co-Op with friends online - Four players share the same online mission experience - working as a team, communicating via built-in text and voice chat, infiltrating facilities, defeating end bosses, and earning technology upgrades.
• Compete in fast-paced, multiplayer matches - Teamwork and tactics are paramount within objective-based game types designed from the ground up to support intense and balanced player vs. player combat.
• Conquer persistent territory - You and your agency compete against other agencies for control of limited land resources and special rewards.
Play for Free:
All current content of Global Agenda can be played for free. No purchase required. No subscription required.
With an optional one-time purchase, players may upgrade to Elite Agent status, which will accelerate the rate of earning character levels, gear, and currency and also grant access to premium features such as the login priority, auction house and in-game mail. All players that have previously purchased Global Agenda will be automatically upgraded to Elite Agent status.
Free-to-Play:
• No Level Restriction
• Ability to earn all of the game’s current items without spending real money.
• Access to all of the game’s current playable content, including:
• Sonoran Desert Open Zone
• Special Ops PvE (1- to 4-person Co-Op)
• 10v10 Mercenary PvP
• 4v4 Arena PvP
• Double Agent PvPE
• 10-person Defense Raids - including the new, high-level, Dome Defense Mission introduced in version 1.4
• Agency vs Agency Gameplay (AvA)
• Elite Agent - One-time purchase
• Earn End-of-Mission XP at twice the rate of a Free-to-Play user
• Earn End-of-Mission Credits and Tokens at twice the rate of a Free-Play user
• Earn End-of-Mission Elite Loot upon winning an instanced PvE or PvP match
• Choose which PvP gametypes you would like to play when queuing for Mercenary PvP.
• Access the Auction House
• Access In-Game Mail
• Less restrictive chat capabilities
• No ads for in-game voice
• Ability to create Agencies
• Higher Login priority
System Requirements:
OS: Windows XP SP2+, Windows Vista SP1+
Processor: 2.4+ Ghz Single-Core Processor
Memory: 2GB RAM (3GB RAM required for Vista/Windows 7)
Graphics: 256mb video ram or better with Shader Model 3.0+ (GeForce 8 series or higher/Radeon HD3000 series or higher)
DirectX®: Directx 9+
Hard Drive: 15 GB Free Space
A broadband internet connection is required to play the game. All players will connect to centralized servers run by the Developer and gameplay may be impacted by network performance. Some game features may require online fees. Visit the game website for more information.
CHAMPIONS ONLINE: FREE FOR ALL: (Multiplayer, MMO, Co-op, Steam Achievements)
Video:
You can see videos of Champions Online: Free for all HERE and HERE
Official Website:
You can find the official website HERE
The Game:
Champions Online: Free for All brings epic heroism back to the MMORPG genre with depth that challenges the most experienced online gamers, while its fast-paced action engages new entrants to the online superhero universe. Join Defender and the legendary Champions to stop Dr. Destroyer and his minions in the ultimate showdown between good and evil.
Key features:
• Free-to-Play: Play a triple-A MMO experience without cost. Play from level 1 to 40 free of charge! There is no box price and no mandatory subscription. Enjoy Champions Online: Free for All as you like, when you like.
• Total Customization: Choose from thousands of different costume pieces, colours and body types to create your character's one-of-a-kind look. There are billions of possible combinations, and even in a universe brimming with the fantastic and the unforgettable, you can be completely unique!
• Keep Your Enemies Close: Every hero must have an archenemy. Design your character's supreme adversary, choosing a name, powers and costume for a super powered foe to bedevil your hero throughout his or her career.
• Endless Exploration: The battle against evil rages across the world and into alternate dimensions. No other MMO offers players the chance to explore such diverse realms — from the shining skyscrapers of Millennium City and the frozen wastes of Canada to the hidden underwater city of Lemuria, the foul mystical dimension known as Qliphothic, and the tormented Vibora Bay.
• Evil Most Foul: Battle supervillains, aliens, giant monsters and secret, sinister organizations. Doctor Destroyer is launching new plans to conquer the world. VIPER lurks in the shadows, seeking chances to strike at humanity. The ancient Lemurians are plotting a return to power. And Mechanon won't stop until it has wiped all organic life from the planet. Can you stop these heinous threats to humanity?
• Hi-Octane Excitement: Combat is instantaneous and electrifying. No more boring auto attacks and lengthy recharge times.
• Brains Required: Every enemy and super-powered threat in Champions Online: Free for All has its own unique abilities and combat specialties. Use your head or wind up dead!
• Bring Friends, Make Friends: Our universe is jam-packed with thousands of heroes, facing thousands of threats. Join up with other heroes, create your own super group, and prepare to take on the ultimate threats!
• Your Powers, Your Terms: There is a multitude of astonishing powers to choose from and the flexible character creation system gives you total control over your hero's abilities. You can even pick the appearance of your powers. Do you want purple force fields? Green fire blasts? Jet black claws? You decide!
• Bigger and Better: Vanquish evil and your successes will be rewarded with costume pieces to enhance your powers and abilities. Then customize the appearance of those rewards to your vision of your hero's look and abilities!
• Make Your Mark: All this within a constantly changing, continually evolving story: Villains are defeated. Heroes rise and fall. Cities transform. Your actions may decide the future!
System Requirements:
Minimum:
OS: Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7
Processor: 2.5GHz Single Core or 1.8GHz Dual Core
Memory: 1GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 / ATI Radeon X700 or HD / Intel Graphics with Dual Core
DirectX®: DirectX 9.0c
Hard Drive: 5GB Free Disk Space
Sound: DirectX Compatible Soundcard
.
Recommended:
OS: Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7
Processor: 2GHz Dual Core or Better
Memory: 2GB RAM or Better
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 or Better / ATI Radeon HD3850 or Better
DirectX®: ®: DirectX 9.0c
Hard Drive: 5GB Free Disk Space
Sound: DirectX Compatible Soundcard
SPIRAL KNIGHTS: (Single player, Multiplayer, MMO, Co-op, Steam Achievements, controller enabled)
Video:
You can see videos of Spiral Knights HERE and HERE
Official Website[/u][/b]:
You can find spiral Knights official website HERE
The Game:
Band together and fight to the Core!
Spiral Knights is a cooperative adventure in a persistent world with a focus on instant, fast-paced action. Arm yourself and join the ranks of the Spiral Knights; stranded on an alien world, they must explore the ever-changing Clockworks beneath its surface in hopes of reaching its mysterious Core.
Key Features:
• Co-operative Exploration
• The Clockworks offer challenges that are best tackled with friends.
• Fight monsters, solve puzzles and discover treasures together!
• Instant Action
• Go from login to a multiplayer adventure in less than a minute.
• Ever-changing World
• The Clockworks cycle levels to explore in real time. Every moment of every day changes the world.
• Create an Arsenal
• There are hundreds of unique weapons and gear to discover and alchemize.
• Form Powerful Guilds
• Guild alliances allow greater influence over the world. Amass powerful minerals to transform the Clockworks!
Free to Play! :
Spiral Knights is free to play, no subscription is required to enjoy everything the game has to offer.
PC System Requirements:
OS: Windows XP, Vista or 7
Processor: 1.3ghz processor
Memory: 512MB for Windows XP or 1GB for Windows Vista/7
Graphics: 64MB Video Memory. GeForce 5 series, ATI Radeon 8500. Latest video driver.
Display: 1024x600
DirectX®:
Hard Drive: 300MB
Java: Version 1.5
Mac System Requirements:
OS: OS X version Leopard 10.5.8, Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later.
Processor: 1.3ghz processor
Memory: 1GB
Graphics: 64MB Video Memory. GeForce 5 series, ATI 8500. Latest video driver.
Display: 1024x600
Hard Drive: 300MB
Java: Version 1.5
ALLIANCE OF VALLIANT ARMS: (Multiplayer, Co-op)
Video:
You can see videos of Alliance of Valiant Arms HERE and HERE
Official Website:
You can find Alliance of Valiant Arms website http://ava.ijji.com/">HERE
The Game:
November 2009 -- The Republic of the Commonwealth of Independent States, once scattered into pieces with the fall of the Soviet Union, comes together for reintegration under Russian president: 'Vladimir Mashkov', a conservative ultra-nationalist. On the anniversary of the National Founding Day for the Soviet Union, the newly created Neo Russia Federation (NRF) springs to life as a world power, occupying 1/6th of the earth's land surface with the world's 3rd largest population.
Concerned with the NRF's rapid expansion into Eastern Europe, the EU requests the immediate removal of NRF troops from Eastern Europe and an immediate stop to the intervention in Middle East countries. Mashkov ignores all communications and the extremely fast growth of the NRF casts dark clouds over the entire continent of Europe.
January 2011 -- As all political and economic approaches fail EU forces from Germany, France, England and Northern Europe attack NRF troops stationed in Poland and effectively begin the European War. NRF forces retaliate with great force causing substantial losses to EU troops and pushing EU out of Poland altogether. NRF forces cross into Germany in massive waves. After subsequent battles, the NRF occupy Germany entirely as well as parts of France.
January 2012 -- EU forces, supported by US troops, plan a major counterattack…
Key features:
• Class System: Select from the 3 classes (Point Man, Rifle Man, Sniper) to best support your teammates.
• Skill System: Unlocked by meeting certain requirements in-game, skills allow you to further customize each class.
• Rank System: Rank up from Trainee to Private and so on. As your character climbs the ladder in the ranking system, more weapons and items will be obtainable through the in-game shop.
• Squad Commander: The highest ranked player on each team is equipped with high tech binoculars to scope out enemy locations and report back to your teammates.
• Weapon Customization: Add custom parts or modify your weapons to drastically change its performance.
• In-Game Challenges and Awards: Daily challenges/missions which consists of completing objectives to receive rewards such as in game money. There is also an award system consisting of campaign ribbons, badges, and medals. Different awards give different benefit such as game money, unlocking skills, and supply points.
• Co-op Gameplay: Team up with friends and take on the challenging co-op mode. Co-op supports a team of 4 or 5 players depending on the mission.
System Requirements:
OS: Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7
Processor: Pentium 4 2.4GHz
Memory: 1GB
Hard Disk Space: 6GB
Video Card: NVidia GeForce 6600 or better
DirectX®: 9.0C
Additional: Internet Connection required
FORSAKEN WORLD: (Multiplayer, MMO, Co-op)
Video:
You can see videos of forsaken worlds HERE and HERE
Official Website:
You can find Forsaken World’s website HERE
The Game:
Unite against the dark forces that threaten the world of Eyrda in one of the newest MMORPGs from Perfect World Entertainment – Forsaken World! Choose between five distinct races including the Stonemen, Elves, Dwarves, Humans and the Kindred, each with their own in-depth narrative and history. Roam through an ever-changing land, discover an advanced guild system and immerse yourself in a dark, fantasy world.
Key features:
• 5 Distinct Races – Choose between Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Stonemen and the Kindred
• 8 Unique Classes – Decide your path as a Warrior, Protector, Mage, Priest, Assassin, Marksman, Vampire or Bard, each offering a customized play style
• Over 10 Occupations - Become a Socialite, Adventurer, Merchant, Collector, Arcanist, Botanist, Astrologist, Armorsmith, Bladesmith, Tamer or Alchemist
• Floating Guild Command Centers – Gain access to special guild features such as quests, housing, NPCs and guild-versus-guild warfare
• Soul Shattering PvP System – Capture your enemies’ Soul Orbs to replenish HP, MP or to cast special skills during heat of battle
• Auction House – Built-in auction house allows players to sell their loot to the highest bidder
• Devotion System – Pray to the gods and receive special blessings
• Dynamic Dungeons – Difficulty scales according to players’ experience
• Stunning Equipment – Weapons and gear will evolve and gain new physical appearances
• Versatile Pets – Pets will serve multiple purposes and be indispensible during battle
• Auto-Navigation Quest System – Never get lost during quests with auto-navigation
• Visually Stunning Graphics – First game to run on Perfect World Entertainment’s updated proprietary 3D graphics engine, Angelica
System Requirements:
Operating system: Windows® XP, Vista, or Windows 7
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 at 1GHz, (Mid to High Range Dual-Core 2.5GHz CPU or better recommended.)
Memory: 1GB of RAM (2GB or more recommended for XP, 3GB or more for Windows Vista and Windows 7)
Hard disk space: 8GB of Hard Drive Space or more (16GB or more preferred)
Video: 3D video chipset with support for Shader Model 2.0 or better. nVIDIA GeForce 6200 with 256MB RAM (nVIDIA GeForce 9800GT with 1GB RAM or better recommended) or AMD/ATI Radeon 9550 with 256MB RAM (AMD/ATI RADEON HD 3850 with 1GB RAM or better recommended)
Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound chip or onboard audio capability with the latest sound drivers
DirectX®: DirectX 9.0c
Additional: Broadband Internet Connection Required
