D+PAD Magazine writes:
Two weeks ago D+PAD was invited to spend some time with 8Realms - Jagex Games Studio’s upcoming browser-based strategy game. Focussed on building settlements and attacking your neighbours in an attempted to rule the world, it's a game treading territory that will be instantly familiar with fans of Civilisation and the like.
Jagex suggest that the game is best experience by playing a little bit each day, watching your kingdom gradually build. With this in mind D+PAD’s own wannabe dictator – Charles Etheridge-Nunn - spent some time in the world of 8Realms and kept a diary of his adventures. Read on to find out how his endeavours panned out.
Jagex Games Studio has built a solid reputation for creating innovative browser-based experiences, demanding on your playtime but not on your PC hardware. The latest title from the studio, the long awaited 8Realms, is live now for all registered members, ready to eat away at those few free hours your have with no regard for your self-imposed playtime limits.
I think Jagex is pretty awesome, but 8Realms is awful. =\ I don't even consider something like this to be a game. It's just garbage like all of those Facebook "games" that are out there. They're quickly made, and the only reason they exist is for the developer to try to gather money.
I don't even understand how people can play these "strategy games". There is absolutely zero fun to be had. =\
Greg Giddens says: "8 Realms, developed by Jagex, is the latest strategy/management title to incorporate a free to play model and browser based play. It’s also highly successful in tapping into what makes these kinds of titles so engaging."
GodisaGeek: "If you’ve been on Facebook at any point in the last year or so then you will have no doubt noticed just how many of those time management games there are on there. You know the kind, the FarmVille’s of the world, those games that drain your life away without you even knowing there was anything wrong; and that’s coming from a World of Warcraft player.
Considering just how many of those types of games litter the internet, with the majority of them being concentrated on Facebook, it could be seen as a surprise to find out that not many of them are any good. A handful of them are worth anybody’s time, with The Sims Social topping that list for a lot of people. 8 Realms is another game in that same vein, some nice changes make it a little bit different but, for the most part, people that have played those games before will feel right at home."
