Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

Sony Online Entertainment is taking a page from Turbine's success with DDO and opening up EQ2 Extended, a new service that will allow players to pick and choose from various EverQuest II subscription models, including a free-to-play option.

EQ2 Extended is running on a trial basis, currently in beta trial, but will allow players to experience the world of Norrath as much or as little as they choose to. New free-to-play option includes:

Bronze Membership (Free) - Full access to Shadow Odyssey and earlier content. 4 available races, 8 classes, 2 character slots, spells upgradable to Adept, equipment with legendary and fable restrictions, 2 bag slots, 5 gold earned per level limit, 20 active quests in journal limit, and limited broker access.

When you begin playing Extended, you default to the Free level of membership. That means you have access to a lot of content in the world of Norrath, you can create characters in any of eight classes, from four different races, and you have many, many months of gameplay at your fingertips. However, there are certain content, feature and service limitations that are only unlocked through a la carte item sales or by upgrading your membership to another tier.

There is also a silver, gold, and platinum options available.

EQ2 Extended is currently accessible via its own launchpad and limited to the test copy server. At the moment, this service is segregated from the live servers though it isn't clear how this will impact the game in the future if the new subscription models turn out to be successful.

You can find the full information on the service including the FAQ by visiting the EQ2 Extended page.

Is this a smart move for SOE? Are the options too complicated or is the ability to play for free worth it? Let us know what you think by clicking the "Post your comments" link below.