Fifth Expansion for Critically Acclaimed Video Game Arrives

Video game players around the world are powering up their PCs as the new EverQuest® II expansion, The Shadow Odyssey™, is scheduled to launch worldwide tomorrow. The Shadow Odyssey is the fifth expansion for the critically acclaimed EQII franchise developed by Sony Online Entertainment LLC. This all-in-one compilation pack will be available at select retail stores and via digital download at www.station.com for the suggested retail price of $39.99 US.

“The storyline of The Shadow Odyssey allows players to explore uncharted regions in the virtual world of Norrath while experiencing nostalgic areas made famous in the original EverQuest almost 10 years ago,” said Bruce Ferguson, senior producer, Sony Online Entertainment. “This expansion comes on the heels of the highest selling expansion to date, Rise of Kunark™, and the incredibly successful Living Legacy program, which ran over the summer months and attracted large numbers of new and returning players who are ready for exciting new adventures.”

About EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey

In an age long passed, a band of extraordinary heroes embarked on a journey to free Norrath from the clutches of a shrouded threat. Their quest would take them to the far reaches of the globe, delving deep into the most dangerous dungeons and undertaking many daunting trials. This was the Shadow Odyssey, and the heroes were known as the Ethernauts. In their time, this epic quest came to an end, and Norrath was saved. But now, history is repeating itself. It is time for a new generation of Ethernauts to retrace the steps of their honored predecessors through the ruined, unforgiving and twisting regions of Norrath to rid the world of the invading scourge and destroy the renewed evil of the Shadowmen.

Feature Set:

· More than 20 new zones, including the new overland zone, Innothule.
· Experience nostalgic EverQuest dungeon themes, such as Najena, Mistmoore and The Sebilisian Empire, and adventure through more than 18 goal-based dungeons, such as Ruins of Guk and Befallen.
· The Achievement Point level cap will be increased to 200 to offer new achievements for class-specific lines.
· A new Dungeon Delving mission system for players to replay content with new and different experiences.
· Five (5) new Heritage Quests with unique rewards being added.
· A new, mysterious group of erudites with powerful new armor and equipment will barter for void shards earned during your encounters.
· Epic tales of the odyssey are told through battles with dozens of new creatures and hundreds of new quests.
· Two new deities have been introduced into Norrath, Rodcet Nife and Anashti Sul.
· Includes Desert of FlamesTM, Kingdom of SkyTM, Echoes of FaydwerTM and Rise of KunarkTM expansion packs, and The Bloodline ChroniclesTM, The Splitpaw SagaTM and The Fallen DynastyTM adventure packs.
· Also includes Legends of NorrathTM strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck and booster pack.

For more expansion information from EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey and a free trial of EverQuest II, visit www.everquest2.com.

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in online gaming, invited all companies doing business in the video game industry to join SOE’s efforts to educate and recruit more women into the field of video game creation, design and production.

In a lunchtime keynote speech during the International Game Developers Association conference in San Francisco, Torrie Dorrell, senior vice president of Global Sales and Marketing for SOE, challenged companies in the video game industry to each make a $10,000 donation toward the G.I.R.L. – Gamers In Real Life – scholarship, with the goal of creating multiple scholarships and more opportunities for women.

“Today, I am challenging everyone to take action to help level the playing field for women pursuing a career in video games. By donating to the G.I.R.L. scholarship, we can encourage diversity in development and make a difference, hopefully creating more opportunities for women and ultimately making more video games women will want to play,” said Dorrell.

First awarded in 2008, the G.I.R.L. scholarship was created by SOE and encourages female students toward career paths in the creative and applied arts, with the ultimate goal of developing video games that are more interesting for women to play. In 2009, the program will be managed by Scholarship America®, a leading non-profit educational support program. SOE will offer students of undergraduate programs related to video games a chance to compete for the scholarship by submitting original artwork and essays to a panel of judges.

“SOE’s vision is commendable, and we fully endorse the G.I.R.L. scholarship program and look forward to the results of this initiative,” said Joseph Olin, president of The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. “Expanding the presence of women in video games reflects SOE’s foresight and acknowledges its contributions to the future of our dynamic entertainment medium.”

For more information about the G.I.R.L. scholarship program, please visit, www.girl.soe.com.

Sony Online Entertainment’s Free-to-Play Video Game Gets Ready To Let The First Players In By Taking Sign-Ups

Be one of the first to get a sneak peek at Free Realms, the highly anticipated free online video game from Sony Online Entertainment. Free Realms is currently in development and is close to giving players an early look at what it has to offer. The adventure packed, family-friendly game is filled with an art style and humor and contains enough to do to keep everyone in the family entertained.
For the opportunity to participate in the North America beta program, an important stage in the development process, go to www.freerealms.com to sign up. More information on localized European beta programs to follow.

Free Realms allows you to do what you want to do, when you want to do it, in a lush, living, 3D world, filled with rich landscapes and fun wildlife. From pet raising to mini-games like soccer and racing, or battling giant spiders and adventuring with friends – there’s something for everyone! With weekly and monthly content updates, regular and special events scheduled, and even the potential player-created parties and celebrations there is always something new to see and do in the world of Free Realms.

Free Realms Features & screenshots after jump

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Results From Sony Online Entertainment and Yahoo! Survey Available This Week

Parents across America are recognizing the benefits of their children playing videos games, according to a new study from Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE). The results, published exclusively in the new November issue of Family Circle magazine, suggest parents are seeing improvements in hand/eye coordination, problem solving and typing skills.

In addition to basic education elements, the survey suggests video games are teaching children to think strategically. The majority of video games require players to follow rules, think tactically, make fast decisions and fulfill numerous objectives to win. This resonates with the 70% of the parents surveyed who have seen their children’s problem-solving skills improve since they started playing video games.

Yahoo!’s website, Shine (http://shine.yahoo.com), which reaches 10 million women each month, hosted the survey throughout June 2008. The study found that 87% of parents who participated in the survey are spending time playing video games with their children. “Family video game nights are becoming incredibly popular with the variety of games out there,” said Linda Fears, editor-in-chief, Family Circle magazine. “Parents and children of all ages are finding games to play together, no matter what each person’s experience level.”

Other key survey findings from the survey:

With the vast majority of games on the market rated E for Everyone (ESRB, 2007), parents have many options when choosing games for their children, an important fact for the almost 80% of parents surveyed who say they purchase all their children’s video games. “The ultimate parental controls are parents themselves,” said John Smedley, president of SOE and father of four.

Many games, including the upcoming free online game Free Realms from SOE, offer opportunities for kids to play online with others. “The good news is that parents are involved with and aware of what their kids are playing,” said Smedley. “The even better news is that parents and kids are playing together.”

For a complete listing of the survey results, log on to www.station.com.

For more information on Free Realms log on to www.freerealms.com.

Online Titles to Host Variety of In-Game Halloween Events Including EverQuest II ’s Nights of the Dead and First-Ever Star Wars Galaxies Galactic Moon Festival

WHAT: Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) conjures ghosts, ghouls and goblins for the gamer community in a variety of in-game events themed around Halloween. This October, EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Star Wars Galaxies, Legends of Norrath™, Vanguard Saga of Heroes™, EverQuest® Online Adventures and The Matrix Online players can celebrate All Hallows Eve by participating in themed quests, donning avatar costumes and masks, and trick-or-treating for loot and candy!

see all the in-game events after the jump

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Ethernauts Introduces Players to 280 New Cards, New Loot, New Starter Pack and New Scenarios

Sony Online Entertainment LLC announces that a new card set for the popular online strategy game Legends of Norrath™ (LoN) is in development at SOE’s Denver studio and heading for release next month. Dubbed Ethernauts, this set adds 280 new cards, including new light and shadow cards that add powerful deck customization, 20+ new loot cards for EverQuest® and EverQuest® II, and a new Starter Pack option that provides gamers with enough cards to build four starter decks for one low price.

“Ethernauts provides gamers the opportunity to play as the great heroes of Norrath,” said Scott Martins, director of development for SOE Denver. “This set will give players the whole story behind the events in the upcoming EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey™ expansion launching in November. Ethernauts provides gamers the back story and history they need to fully unravel the mysteries of The Shadow Odyssey!”

This set kicks off the newest Legends of Norrath story arc, starting 4,000 years ago when void storms and terrible creatures threatened the very existence of Norrath. Only a handful of brave heroes, the Ethernauts, kept the world from extinction. Players will experience this epic story through Legends of Norrath, taking this knowledge into the present EverQuest II timeline, where strange void storms trouble Norrath once again.

Ethernauts features include:

New Cards: More than 280 beautiful new cards, including 210 base set cards, 16 new quest cards and more than 30 promotional cards. Ethernauts also adds new unit races, including the Half-elves, the Centaurs and the Treants, as well as 4 new avatar cards.

New Loot: Ethernauts adds 20+ new loot cards for EverQuest and EverQuest II, including rare and exotic items from the Void, as well as new mounts, cloaks, consumables and baubles.

New Starter Options: Ethernauts marks the debut of a new Starter Pack, a single, larger pack of cards, capable of making four starter decks for $19.99, plus any applicable taxes. This Starter Pack will replace the individual starter decks for each set of this block, providing all the cards in a single, player-friendly package.

New Gameplay: Theme your deck with new light/shadow cards that have powerful benefits and consequences. Ethernauts also introduces two new keywords, Fabled and Lookout, which offer new strategies and approaches for raids and one-on-one gameplay.

New Scenarios: 10 new scenarios let the story of the Ethernauts unfold and allow players to fight against trolls, ogres and void beasts, culminating in an epic battle with Baron and Baroness V’Nol!

Ethernauts cards will be available via digital download from SOE’s Station Store in the new $19.99 Starter Pack and 15-card digital booster packs for $2.99, plus any applicable taxes per pack.
Developed at SOE’s Denver studio, Legends of Norrath is the only online trading card game based on and playable from within SOE’s popular EverQuest and EverQuest II MMOs, as well as from a free stand-alone client using a free SOE Station Account ID (available at www.station.com). Players can challenge opponents on their game server and across other EverQuest and EverQuest II servers.

To get started, players can < download the client> for free, test their skills 24 hours a day against AI and real opponents, and then head over to the tournament lobby to compete. Tournament eligibility is limited and subject to Official Rules. Residents of certain territories are ineligible to participate in LoN tournament play. Please see the for details. For a schedule of events, rules and further details, see the or the . For more information on Legends of Norrath, visit the website at www.legendsofnorrath.com.

The First Release of the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game, “Champions of the Force” Now Available

LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment announced today the launch of the Star Wars Galaxies™ Trading Card Game and its first release: Champions of the Force.

Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game: Champions of the Force marks the first ever Star Wars® trading card game offered exclusively online. Available to both current and former Star Wars Galaxies subscribers*, the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game provides players an entirely new gameplay experience by combining the challenge of a trading card game with the adventures and community of the massively multiplayer game. For the first time online, players can:

· Choose between the light and dark sides of the Force and build their own Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game decks to fight virtual matches for the Rebel, Imperial, Jedi or Sith;
· Enhance their digital card decks with 15-card Booster Packs;
· Find more than 20 “loot” cards in the first release, Champions of the Force, that can be redeemed for fantastic virtual items for use within the Star Wars Galaxies massively multiplayer game for players with a Star Wars Galaxies account*;
· Challenge their skills in story-based solo-play or against other Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game players in epic one-on-one matches, cooperative Heroic Encounters, and official tournaments. (more…)

WHAT
Watch, listen and learn what’s new at SOE! To kickoff the 2008 SOE Fan Faire, SOE President John Smedley will provide opening remarks to more than 1000 video game fans at the Hilton Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The second annual “Community Address” combines a live presentation with a streaming video broadcast online. For the first time ever, there will be a live audio broadcast in EverQuest®, EverQuest ®II and Star Wars Galaxies™ through Station Voice™, a service powered by Vivox® that allows players to talk to each other in online games. Smed will give both Fan Faire attendees and gamers worldwide the kind of inside look at SOE products usually reserved for industry insider events.

SOE’s Fan Faire is a unique social event in which players of SOE’s most popular titles congregate to meet their online, game-playing peers. Fan Faire guests will have the chance to demo new titles throughout Fan Faire weekend, August 15th 17th, including the highly anticipated Free Realms™. This year’s event boasts a plethora of game-themed live events including tournaments, contests, live quests, a variety of panel discussions and tons of great gaming-related contests.

WHEN
Friday, August 15th at 6:00pm PST.

WHERE
To view the live webcast, please go to:
http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=50659

To listen to audio broadcast in-game, please go to:
www.station.sony.com/stationvoice

WHO
SOE is hosting its annual Fan Faire event in Las Vegas for fans of its massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming lineup including the hit titles EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, EverQuest® Online Adventures, PlanetSide®, Star Wars Galaxies™ and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes®. This year’s Fan Faire will also feature upcoming titles such as Free Realms™, The Agency™ and more.

For more information on the SOE Fan Faire visit: http://events.station.sony.com/fanfaire/

EverQuest® II and Star Wars Galaxies™ Go Live With Free Voice Chat,
EverQuest® to Follow Suit Soon
 

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – July 31, 2008 – Station Voice™, a service powered by Vivox® that allows players to talk to each other in online games, is now available in the role-playing games EverQuest® II and Star Wars Galaxies™, Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), announced today. Station Voice, which is scheduled to be available next month in EverQuest, is available for players at no additional cost with their current subscription plan.

“In-game voice chat is an enhanced new feature gamers of all levels can enjoy. Now, SOE’s players can easily talk to one another and better enjoy the online gaming experience,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “The integration of Station Voice into these initial games was seamless, and we look forward to incorporating this added gaming experience into other SOE titles, as well as implementing the next phase of features to come soon.”

The initial launch of Station Voice will allow players to:
· Talk person-to-person in game with any microphone and headset combo
· Chat with their party, guild or any other group in game
· Play and communicate without worry of a significant increase in game lag
· Manage group/user participation with moderator controls
· Individually mute and set volume per user
· Set up easily without the need for separate software, accounts or registration

“SOE’s commitment to the player experience and their game communities is unrivalled and presents an incredible opportunity to demonstrate the power of voice,” said Rob Seaver, CEO of Vivox. “Through a magnificent implementation, SOE has delivered high quality voice chat, seamless access, instant groups, intuitive controls and a fantastic and immersive experience for their players.”

In addition to these current features, SOE is planning to implement other Vivox services into Station Voice later this year, such as voice fonts and the ability to connect to games from Station Launcher. SOE’s plan to integrate the service with Station Launcher should allow anyone who uses the Station Launcher, even if he or she doesn’t otherwise subscribe to an SOE game, to take advantage of these powerful voice chat capabilities. These features, which are intended to support hundreds of players in a channel, are also slated to be extended to other current and future SOE titles, such as The Agency™.

For specific details and tips on how to use Station Voice in each game, log onto www.station.sony.com/stationvoice/

Six original pieces of artwork showcasing the epic fantasy characters from the EverQuest^® franchise online trading card game Legends of Norrath™ are featured in the prestigious EXPOSÉ 6 digital art book hitting store shelves this week, Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announced.

The illustrations by multiple distinguished SOE artists will be included in the video game section of the latest EXPOSÉ book. The annual compilation showcases the finest digital art in a variety of fields, including games, digital illustration, television and 3D.

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