See? You don't have to be a fairy.

Sony Online Entertainment's latest MMO, the family-friendly, genre-confused Free Realms, is now officially launched for PC. A mix of traditional MMORPG elements, mini-game collections and social networking, Free Realms' aim is to provide a safe and fun online location for players of all ages - with a special emphasis on youngsters and their parents. Now curious gamers can get hands-on with this odd concept and see for themselves what the fuss is about.

Having completed an open beta over the last two months, and published an educational brochure targeted at parents, Free Realms is now open to all comers, providing a place for younger children to enjoy the fun of MMO gaming while their guardians relax in the knowledge that their child's gaming is monitored and restricted by flexible parental controls - managed in a separate account by the parent or guardian who authorised the player's registration. Free Realms is thus stretching its hands out to a new generation of potential MMORPG players, while at the same time taking proactive measures to calm public qualms about MMOs and educate non-gaming parents, something all gamers should appreciate given the inflammatory and often false negative press gaming in general often receives.

No word yet on when Free Realms will appear for Playstation 3, which is disappointing given the potential for Free Realms to take the place of Playstation Home as a location for gamers to meet up and organise online gaming in households where parents might be concerned about their children socialising in an all-ages environment.