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Free online FPS targets Socom players

José Moreno | Newsday Staff Writer

Combat Arms screenshot

Are you salivating over the upcoming release of "Socom: US Navy SEALs Confrontation?" Can't wait to start "Rajala'ing" your way through "Crossroads." No? How about an appetizer?

Nexon, the Korean company that has 5.9 million registered users playing its free online games, has launched Combat Arms, a game in the same vein as "Socom"or "Halo." But, unlike these other shooters, "Combat Arms" doesn't cost anything. Wannabe combatants just need to sign up for a free Nexon Passport and download their client to start playing.

Don't expect to be bombarded with endless ads, spyware, or adware. Nexon's mantra is "We want gun clicks, not mouse clicks."

Teams of up to 16 players can join game sessions that last anywhere from a couple of minutes to about 15 minutes. As of now, only a "last man standing" type of match is available to play.

Gamers will be able to create and join clans as well as customize their soldier with a variety of weapons and accessories. Over 30 real wold guns, from assault rifles, SMGs, to shotguns, are all at the player's disposal, along with secondary weapons such as different grenades, LAW rockets, and mines. All weapons can be additionally outfitted with attachments such as silencers, scopes, and extended magazines.

In addition to weapons, soldiers can be tricked out with various camouflages, helmets, vests, and cosmetic items such as berets, bandanas and sunglasses.

The game also offers a persistent character profile, where players will earn experience and in-game currency, which translate to improved weapons and gear.

Combat Arms follows in the the footsteps of EA's Battlefield, an online FPS that caused an uproar for making weapons only available for purchase. Nexon wants players to earn their stripes, not buy them. So the developers at Nexon look to make money by selling cool sunglasses, fancy "skins" that make their weapons "look" deadlier, and outrageous explosion effects.

The business model isn't fully deployed, yet. So for now there's nothing to buy on the site" said Min Kim, vice president of marketing in the U.S, to the LAtimes.com

One idea, said Kim: Instead of smoke and fire that comes from exploding a grenade, your enemies could be smacked with a cloud of Hello Kitties.

Now that's something we might even pay to see.

Screenshot of Combat Arms courtesy of Nexon