Fresbo World is (unavoidably, perhaps) actually very similar to earlier MMOs we've investigated in the Atlas. Probably the most obvious comparison Is Gaia Online, as it offers an MMO experience within your browser (with a customizable avatar, home, social spaces, etc.) but there are enough differences to make it stand out -- against Gaia Online, for example, the fact that it all happens in the one browser window.

The initial experience of signing up for Fresbo World is typical (select your character's initial look from a fairly limited selection, chose a name and get logged in) and although there isn't any particularly in-depth explanation of how to navigate or use the world, It's quite quick to pick up if you're used to MMOs (though perhaps not if you aren't.)

After a few short moments I had my character dressed in his absolutely horrible starting clothes (though at least he starts with the option of wearing some glasses) and had decorated his room with the starting furniture. Before heading out to socialize, I took some time to play the games console that all players start with, and was pleasantly surprised to find the flash games, while of the simplistic sort that you'll have played a million times before, were (at least) not match 3 clones, instead simple action games that I got fairly into. You earn points, too, from doing well, and points can be used to purchase new items. Perhaps a little confusingly there are two way to pay for things -- with points or credits. Credits can be purchased using cash and points are earned in world, though everything can be purchased with one or the other. 100 credits cost roughly 2 US dollars though offers vary, and you can also earn credits by completing surveys for Offerpal Media if you don't want to spend any cash.

The social world at this current beta state is rather small -- in general there are an average of a few hundred users online at any time, with three different public areas, the park, "futsal" pitch and the shopping mall to interact with each other. The areas are interesting enough (you can sort of play football on the futsal pitch, and the shopping mall has a range of shops plus auctions for users to buy and sell their items to each other, but the social atmosphere is of a community that is still finding its feet – though there is an events browser which over time should further solidify the community.

Fresbo World is a small MMO with a small community right now, and while still in beta there are both positives and negatives about its approach. I'll go into detail on my feelings in the upcoming conclusion.