Sony Online Entertainment and TransGaming have announced the release of Free Realms for the Mac. The family-friendly online game gives players the chance to engage in quest solving, activities, and mini games. Mac users who join will be integrated into synchronous gameplay on the same game servers as PC players.

Free Realms players on the Mac platform will experience consistent controls and functionality and will be integrated on the same game servers as PC players. Mac users will also have full access to the existing Marketplace and community forums.

"Free Realms offers a truly unique and captivating user experience that aligns with TransGaming's focus on bringing new massive multiplayer online games to the Mac platform," commented Vikas Gupta, CEO & President of TransGaming Inc. "Our strategic partnership with SOE has strengthened our leadership position in the enablement of family-friendly titles for the growing Mac community and offers Mac gamers an ever-increasing catalog of outstanding video game content."

Free Realms is a free-to-play, online game that has more than fourteen million registered players engaged in its expansive virtual world. In Free Realms, players can customize their characters and play a wide variety of minigames in a safe, online environment, packed with stunning visuals, distinctive environments, and social networking capabilities.

TransGaming (add to watch list)

Free Realms (add to watch list)

Click to enlarge

Inside Mac Games has posted a new review of Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening, an expansion for the epic RPG. Developed for Mac by TransGaming, the the add-on puts players in the role of a Grey Warden Commander who must rebuild the order, resolve conflicts with "The Architect", and decide the fate of the darkspawn.

Here's an excerpt from the review:

Thankfully, the sounds, music, and graphics are all just as good as they've always been. The voice actors all fit their roles excellently, with plenty of burps, groans, and wisecracks to go around, the music fits the atmosphere of each area you enter as you slaughter darkspawn and rogues alike, and each model still looks absolutely amazing even on medium. Most people will never get to see the game at a much higher level, though, as a strong machine will start to slow in the more detailed zones. This occurs even on low quality in some areas, so don't expect to be able to crank things up to highest quality without a beast of a machine.

IMG Reviews Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

TransGaming (add to watch list)

BioWare (add to watch list)

Dragon Age: Awakening (add to watch list)

Click to enlarge

Blizzard Entertainment has announced the availability of one free account name change to current plyaers of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. The real-time strategy game continues the story of the Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss with an expanded single player campaign, and features all new units and strategies for multiplayer fans to explore.

All StarCraft II accounts have been granted one free name change. If you'd like to change your character name, log in to Account Management and choose your StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty game license. On your game license screen a "Character Name Change" button at the bottom will initiate the request. After confirming that you'd like to change your character name, simply log in to StarCraft II and you'll be prompted to select a new one. Please be sure to use this name change wisely.

Battle.net: StarCraft II Name Change

Blizzard Entertainment (add to watch list)

StarCraft II: Wings Of Liberty (add to watch list)

Buy StarCraft II: Wings Of Liberty

Click to enlarge

Blizzard Entertainment is now offering a new FAQ for the digital version of World of Warcraft's upcoming Cataclysm expansion. Among other things the new informational release clarifies the status of Cinematics for the downloadable version of the game.

Cataclysm Direct Download and Game Cinematics

We’d like to take a moment to clarify how we’ll be delivering World of Warcraft: Cataclysm cinematics to players who purchase the expansion digitally through Battle.net or download the installer from the web in the future.

Prior to the December 7 launch of Cataclysm, all current World of Warcraft players will receive the Cataclysm intro cinematic as part of an upcoming patch. In addition, all other in-game cinematics (including previous ones such as the Wrathgate movie) will be available for download to players who have not previously installed them. These cinematics will be automatically downloaded in the background while you play the game, after other critical game data has been received.

Cataclysm Realm Launch Time Information

Wondering exactly what time you’ll be able to begin playing your goblin or worgen or making your way to level 85? On all North American realms, World of Warcraft players who upgrade to Cataclysm will be able to begin experiencing the new content at 12 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (3 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) on December 7, whether they purchase the digital download through Battle.net or buy a physical retail boxed version in stores. Players will not be able to access Cataclysm

GameBanshee: Cataclysm FAQ

Blizzard Entertainment (add to watch list)

World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm (add to watch list)

Search for other Mac games news stories or browse our Mac Games News Archive.