Pick a Role, Any Role, Then Live Nine Lives

A scene from Free Realms, an online game in which a character can hold many different jobs.

If I had children, I would want them to play Free Realms. If I had a close friend who professed to disdain video games, I would want her to play Free Realms. If I had older relatives who were curious about this whole online gaming thing, I would want them to play Free Realms.

And to the hardcore gamer looking for a little palate cleanser, I would whisper, very discreetly: “Yo, dude, you should try Free Realms. Really.”

To read the full article, placed by my team, and to see what I do (a.k.a. “Pitch and Place”) click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/arts/television/21free.html