Tue, Apr 05, 2011 | 09:35 BST

SOE shooting for 100 million Free Realms players, counting on “endless supply of children”

We can’t be the only ones who find this terribly amusing.

Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, SOE president John Smedley discussed his plans for his future with Free Realms, and let’s just say they involve kids and white picket fences. And more kids. A lot more kids.

“[17 million] is a phenomenal number, and we’re very pleased with its success – and it’s really keeping going. I don’t see this thing stopping until it hits 100 million,” he said.

“I think it could take five or six years – that should give you some idea,” he added. “But I don’t see any reason why it can’t go to 100 million, because there are so many kids out there. And the great thing about a kids’ game, and this is different for an adult audience and people don’t think about this, is that there are always more kids.”

“That endless supply of children that have a hunger for gaming, as long as we keep improving it and make sure it’s still relevant – which we do every month with patches – means that we expect the game to have a long life.”

Free Realms, of course, just recently made the jump to PS3. SOE, however, isn’t exactly all sunshine and butterflies at the moment, as it recently suffered major lay-offs and the cancellation of espionage MMO The Agency.

So then, do you want to help SOE? Make more children. Clearly, it’s the only way.

7 comments

StolenGlory
05/04/11, 9:37 am

That is perhaps the most sinister gaming-related headline I have ever read.

Blerk
05/04/11, 9:39 am

glol, wait until the Daily Mail gets a hold of this one!

“EVIL GAMES COMPANY WANTS YOUR CHILDREN!”

RockTwist
05/04/11, 9:43 am

Sony, yesterday:

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/childcatcher-431×300.jpg

Amored
05/04/11, 10:38 am

100 million? Really? And that other part just sounds wrong…

Badger
05/04/11, 11:19 am

“But I don’t see any reason why it can’t go to 100 million, because there are so many kids out there. And the great thing about a kids’ game, and this is different for an adult audience and people don’t think about this, is that there are always more kids.”

Do they not understand that children grow up to become adults?! If they are saying that there’s an endless supply of children, the same can surely be said of adults!?

absolutezero
05/04/11, 11:52 am

Breeders gonna breed.

Zurtech
05/04/11, 1:01 pm

Wonder if they realize that the “endless supply of kids” is mostly due to the babyboom from the 50s. And not to mention that governments always “promote” families so that there’s more taxes to pay into pensions for when the older generations retire, which means there’s a cycle of a country growing out of control and leading to overpopulation and poverty due to lack of jobs. Which in turn could lead to a class war. But hey least they can still play Free Realms cos it’s got no sub on it… if only the future war babies could afford PCs. -_^