TOYS FOR TOTS SAN DIEGO ANNOUNCES 2007 HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE EVENTS

San Diego, CA November 19, 2007 – The San Diego chapter of the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program today announced the 2007 Holiday Toy Drive schedule of events. The organization has teamed up with a variety of local companies this year including the Chargers, Wal-Mart and Sony Online Entertainment. Collection events will kick-off in November and conclude with the 18th Annual Chargers Toy Drive at their home game on December 16th.

The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is a nonprofit charity which collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to needy children in the community as Christmas presents. The toys are collected by Reserve Marines at various community fundraisers and civic functions, sorted according to age and gender, and then distributed to local social and welfare agencies, churches and civic organizations. In 2006, the Toys for Tots program in the San Diego area collected 171,125 toys reaching more than 49,000 children.

This year, the Marine Corps Reserves has set a goal of collecting more than 185,000 toys to reach at least 53,000 underprivileged children in the San Diego community. While the Marine Reserves organize, coordinate and manage the nonprofit charity program, the ultimate success depends on the support of the local community and the generosity of the people who donate toys.

2007 Calendar of Events:

* November 23-December 16: Wal-Mart Charity Toy Drives Every weekend at Santee, Shawline, Poway and Murphy Canyon stores from 9am-7pm.
* November 28: NBC 7/39 Toys for Tots Charity Kickoff Celebration at the NBC Studios San Diego. Toy collection and Live Coverage. www.nbcsandiego.com 619 231-3939 5pm-9pm
* December 2: Del Mar Village Association Holiday Wonderland Camino Del Mar and 15th Street. Toy collection. www.delmarmainstreet.com 858 755-1179 10am-6pm.
* December 7 & 8: NBC 7/39 Charity Toy Drive at the NBC Studios San Diego. Toy collection and Live Coverage. www.nbcsandiego.com 619 231-3939. Dec 7th; 5am-7pm / Dec 8th; 6am-5pm.
* December 16: 18th Annual Chargers Toys for Tots Drive at Qualcomm Stadium. Chargers vs. Lions game. Toy collection. www.chargers.com 11am-2pm.

New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at any Toys for Tots collection box or may be brought to the events listed above. Furthermore, financial donations may be made to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation www.toysfortots.org.

Labels: SOE

AHOY LAND LUBBERS! GRAB YOUR MOUSE AND SET A COURSE IN THE PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA™ STRESS TEST #2

WHAT:

Pirates of the Burning Sea, the MMORPG featuring high seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, is scheduled for its second stress test Thursday, November 15th through Sunday, November 18th, hosted by File Planet.

HOW:

Players who are interested in participating need to set sail for www.FilePlanet.com to sign up for the weekend play test. Players will be allowed to register starting Monday, November 12th, with current FilePlanet subscribers getting the first go at access into the game.

Once registered, players will be taken to a page with both a link to the Pirates installer and a Stress Test key. The key will not be active (able to be consumed) until 3:00 PM PST on Thursday November 15th. Players will be able to play the entire three days of the Stress Test., or until they hit the level cap of 20.

WHEN:

Pirates of the Burning Sea stress test is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. PST on Thursday, November 15 and running until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 18th.

For more information on the Pirates of the Burning Sea stress test, or to sign up, log onto www.FilePlanet.com.

ABOUT PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA:

Pirates of the Burning Sea is an MMORPG featuring high seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder. Set against the backdrop of the New World of the 18th Century, players can be any one of three nations – England, France or Spain – or choose the role of a Pirate and battle it out for glory and power. Pirates of the Burning Sea is scheduled to launch on January 22, 2008.

For information on the game, please log onto www.piratesoftheburningsea.com.

Labels: PC, Pirates of the Burning Sea, SOE

Sony Online Entertainment Simultaneously Launches Expansions for Two of Its Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games
EverQuest® and EverQuest® II

EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer™ and EverQuest II Rise of Kunark™ Available Today

SAN DIEGO, CA – November 13, 2007 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announces today that both EverQuest® and EverQuest® II MMORPGs have brand new expansion packs set to go on sale today throughout North America. EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer™ and EverQuest II Rise of Kunark™ are complete and inclusive including all previous expansions and relevant adventure packs in each, for a suggested retail price of $39.99 at participating retail stores and via digital download at www.station.com.

“Launching dual expansions of this magnitude for two major MMOs on the same day is a Herculean feat,” said Russ Shanks, COO and Vice President, Sony Online Entertainment. “It took a full year, dedicated development teams and the experienced infrastructure of SOE to be able to support these simultaneous launches. We’re extremely proud of the breadth of the new adventures these two games offer and we’re also grateful for the support from our beta testers and loyal community for their input on the final products.”

EverQuest II Rise of Kunark brings back the legendary high-fantasy game play style from its famous predecessor and blends it with the beautiful cinematic graphics for which the game has become known. “This is a return to nostalgia expansion -- where players will enjoy the best game experience in EQII’s three year history and likely the most compelling content the franchise has ever seen,” according to Scott Hartsman, Sr. Producer, Sony Online Entertainment.

Rise of Kunark introduces players to the Sarnak, a new dragon-like humanoid playable race that inhabits the jungle islands of Timorous Deep - a new starting location for adventurers featuring a wealth of new content for levels 1-20. Many of the expansion’s new zones are based on favorite gameplay areas from the original EverQuest, such as Karnor’s Castle, the Lake of Ill Omen, Sebilis and Veeshan’s Peak. In addition, Kunark raises the level cap to 80, adding new solo, group, and raid content for levels 65-80.

EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer is the fourteenth expansion for this genre-defining game. “We put a renewed emphasis on the test and adjust period for Secrets of Faydwer and increased the number of our Beta testers by 25 percent,” said Clint Worley, Sr. Producer, Sony Online Entertainment. “The feedback we received from the players was outstanding and it raised the quality bar exponentially.”

Secrets of Faydwer players will have the opportunity to advance to level 80 as they explore through 15 new zones, discovering thousands of new items along the way. In addition to the new high level raid content, there are new Alternate Advancement ability lines to refresh even the most hardened warriors.

Both retail and digital customers will receive several items with their purchase. Rise of Kunark consumers receive the base EQII game, the Rise of Kunark expansion, all three previous expansions and adventure packs, a claimable cockatrice house pet and a Legends of Norrath online strategy game starter pack, booster pack and loot item. Secrets of Faydwer consumers will receive the base EverQuest game and all 14 expansions, a claimable worg mount and a Legends of Norrath online strategy game starter pack, booster pack and loot item.


EverQuest II Rise of Kunark Features

* All-New Player Race – Start up a brand new Sarnak – the classic dragon-like humanoid creature that now inhabits Timorous Deep. Exiled from your homeland and magically altered, discover how your new breed came to be, and eventually return home to help your race triumph over the evil Iksar.
* New Starting Area – Begin your adventure from the new starting area in the islands of Timorous Deep. Conclude your day of questing and retire to new housing within the Village of Gorowyn.
* Level Cap Raised – Continue your adventures with your existing character in Kunark, expanding on your achievements as Adventure and Tradeskill levels all increase to 80. Achievement points cap raised from 100 to 140.
* More Unique Zones – Advance your way through new, massive regions, containing many zones filled with nostalgia and danger, such as The Emerald Jungle, Skyfire Mountains, Sebilis, and Karnor’s Castle.
* Hundreds of New Quests – The tale of Kunark is told through hundreds of new quests, aimed at gameplay of all types: solo, group, and raid.
* More Weapons & Armor – New quests for all 24 classes. Battle through the opposition and acquire additional fabled and legendary armor sets.
* New Mount – Explore the world on the shoulders of a new rampaging beast - The Kunarkian Rhinoceros.
* Dozens of New NPCs – Encounter and engage a wide variety of new enemies that inhabit the menacing lands of Kunark.
* Improved Features - New and improved racial abilities for all of the original races, new tradeskill interface and new in-game map capabilities.

EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer Features

* Level Cap Increase – Players can now achieve level 80.
* New High Level Content – Over 3,000 new item sets, more than 300 new spells and 30 new NPCs. In addition, prepare for the return of some of the best known NPC’s in the EverQuest franchise!
* 15 New Zones – New realms for adventurers to explore, including: Meldrath’s mechanical fortress Mechanotus, the new lands of the Loping Plains and Kerafyrm’s lair Crystallos.
* Thrilling New Adventure Content – Travel through Faydwer solo or with a group to complete over 100 new challenges, including 28 high-end raids.
* Alternate Advancement Ability Lines – 170 Alternate Advancement Abilities with various ranks.
* Amazing Heroic Items – Increase stats above current caps!


For more information on EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer, and a free trial of EverQuest visit www.everquest.com.

For information on EverQuest II Rise of Kunark and a free trial of EverQuest II visit www.everquest2.com.

Labels: Everquest II Rise of Kunark, Everquest Secrets of Faydwer, PC, SOE

EVERQUEST® FRANCHISE ONLINE STRATEGY GAME -- LEGENDS OF NORRATH™ STACKS THE DECK WITH ITS FIRST EXPANSION ANNOUNCEMENT

Additionally, SOE Announces the First Championship Series to Start Later This Year

DENVER, CO – November 8, 2007 – Just three months after the highly successful inaugural launch of the online trading card game Legends of Norrath (LoN), Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announces that Forsworn, the first expansion for the online strategy game, is currently in development. Based on legendary MMOs EverQuest® and EverQuest® II, Forsworn is scheduled to launch Tuesday, December 18, 2007. LoN Oathbound was released late this past summer and has already hosted more than 300,000 matches to date.

“The instant success of the game’s first set, Oathbound, led to the decision to release Forsworn before the end of this year. Forsworn will continue to provide players with high-quality gameplay and a rich storyline that enhances a compelling stand-alone game or the already seamless experience from within the worlds of EverQuest and EverQuest II,” said Scott Martins, Director of Development, SOE. “Forsworn expands the Legends of Norrath experience with something for everyone. We’re particularly excited about kicking off the Legends of Norrath Championship Series in early December. With a total prize pool in excess of $100,000, this series adds another viable element of competitive play to the game.”

Developed at SOE’s Denver, CO studio, Legends of Norrath is the first online trading card game based on and playable from within SOE’s popular franchises EverQuest (EQ) and EverQuest II (EQII), as well as from a free stand-alone client. Launching from a menu within either MMO or using a free SOE Station ID (available at www.station.com) in the stand-alone client, players can challenge opponents on their game server and across other EQ and EQII servers.

Forsworn, the second release in the Legends of Norrath storyline, features enhanced multiplayer support that allows team-based 2 vs. 2 games, as well as cooperative multiplayer “raid” games against powerful AI opponents. Forsworn introduces 235 new, artistically stunning game cards, with new gameplay and multiplayer options, as well as an updated client with new content and bonus features for all registered users. Forsworn also boasts 22 additional loot items each for EQ and EQII, including player mounts, potions, clothing and spells.

Available in both 58-card digital starter decks and 15-card digital booster packs, Forsworn cards will be available via digital download from SOE’s Station Store. The digital starter decks (58 cards) will be available for $9.99 (plus any applicable taxes), with digital booster packs (15 cards) selling for $2.99 (plus any applicable taxes).

In addition to AI opponents and player vs. player combat, Legends of Norrath is the complete online card gaming experience, featuring numerous Casual and Tournament game lobbies with three exciting tournament formats in which to compete. Tournaments range from smaller on-demand tournaments all the way up to the Legends of Norrath Championship Series events, with a total prize pool in excess of $100,000 USD.


Legends of Norrath Championship Series

Starting in December Legends of Norrath players can truly test their strategic skills and throw down in the Legends of Norrath Championship Qualifier tournaments. Running monthly, each of these events will have no entry fee and will feature a prize pool of approximately $5,000 USD. Winners of these monthly qualifier events will receive an automatic entry into the Legends of Norrath Championships at Gen Con Indy 2008 in Indianapolis, IN where they will compete for cash and prizes in excess of $100,000 USD.


On Demand Tournaments

Starting November 17th, Legends of Norrath players can also start their own tournaments or enter other player-initiated tournaments 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. These 8-player events feature a variety of play formats including Constructed Deck and Booster Draft formats. In Booster Draft, players can open several packs of cards and only play with the cards drafted for their deck– a pure test of calculated skill! Scheduled tournaments for larger numbers of players are set to run each week so that players can compete in tournaments with several hundred players at a time.


Loot Tournaments

Monthly loot tournaments pit individual player skill against each other as they compete for promotional cards, sealed packs and loot to be used in EQ and EQII. Just for entering, players will receive a special loot and promo card that can only be obtained through such Loot Tournament events. Players who place well can win additional prizes such as packs, promotional cards and/or loot.


To get started on the fun, players can download the cilent for free, test their skills against AI and real opponents, and then head over to the tournament lobby to play. Tournament eligibility limited and subject to official rules. Residents of certain territories are ineligible to participate in LoN tournament play. Please see the EULA for details. For a schedule of events, rules and further details see the LoN Events Page or the LoN Tournaments webpage . For more information on Legends of Norrath, visit the website at www.legendsofnorrath.com.

Labels: Legends of Norrath, PC, SOE

EVERQUEST® ONLINE ADVENTURES™ CASTS A LINE INTO FALL

WITH FIRST EVER FISHING TOURNAMENT

The Adventure Continues With New Holiday Themed Quests and Activities

WHAT: Gone Fishing!

Scheduled to begin on October 31st, EverQuest Online Adventures (EQOA) will officially kick-off fishing season with its first ever in-game fishing tournament. Players can grab their rods and reels and seek out the best locations as weekly prizes will be awarded for catching special tagged fish. Anglers who are able to lure in the tagged fish will be awarded an in-game pet as a reward. The tournament is scheduled to culminate on November 15th, so time is limited. Join in the fun and hook a big one!


Fall Activities Galore!

· Trick or Treat Halloween Quest: Quest is comprised of 20 NPCs that the player must discover, collecting all the “treats” they hand out.

· Moradhim Earth Elemental Invasion: A GM run event that has players battling a Rift, the enraged earth guards, and the muddites. GMs take the guise of “rock named” elementals to fight.

· Scavenger Hunts: Players have the opportunity to collect specific items from various NPC’s around Norrath.

· Witch Hunt Quest: A witch harasses a nearby town. In an attempt to be rid of her, players assist her in finding her sisters.

Unlock the Mystery of the Broken Blade!

Many years ago, adventurers encountered a Cave Hydra in the depths the caverns of Solusek’s Eye. After a long battle with this mystical three headed creature the adventurers discovered that it was protecting a secret. The Hydra possessed a magical Broken Blade with an inscription that provided little information as to the true destiny of this item. Hoping to decipher the words written on the blade they sought out many races throughout Tunaria for translation, but to no avail. Hop online and see if you can be the first to decipher the mystery of the broken blade that has eluded puzzle experts for years!

Click here to check out all latest enhancements!

WHEN: October 31, 2007

WHERE: EverQuestOnlineAdventures.station.sony.com

Labels: Everquest Online Adventures, SOE

ARRR MATEYS!

PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA™ RETAIL PRE-ORDER

TO START OCTOBER 23

WHAT:
Pirates of the Burning Sea, the MMORPG featuring high seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, is scheduled to be available for pre-order starting Tuesday, October 23rd at participating retail locations.


PRE ORDER

FEATURES:
Players who pre-order the game will receive the following:

*An invitation to the “Pre-Boarding Party” allowing them access to the live game up to 15 days prior to launch, and the ability to keep their characters, skills and equipment after launch with purchase of game and paid subscription (characters will have a level cap of 20 during the pre-boarding party)
*Captain’s Best Friend – a blue and yellow parrot
*Mighty Blades - Swedish Rapier, Old World Steel or Musketeer’s Matching Blades (depending upon which fighting style is selected)
*Original Game Soundtrack CD – 60 minutes of pirate themed music (comes in pre-order box)


WHEN:
Pirates of the Burning Sea is scheduled to be available for preorder in North America on Tuesday, October 23, 2007. A European pre-order date has not been set at this time.

For more pre-order information on Pirates of the Burning Sea, log onto www.piratesoftheburningsea.com.

Labels: PC, Pirates of the Burning Sea, SOE

LEGENDS OF NORRATH™ LOOT TOURNAMENT WEEKEND!

New Loot! Lucan D’Lere Card Illustrated by Jim Lee!

WHAT:

Legends of Norrath tournaments are scheduled to go live Saturday, October 27th 2007. SOE is set to host large scale tournament event where players can win extraordinary in-game loot rewards! All weekend long players can jump into one of the “Loot Tournament Weekend” event queues which will start when all slots have filled. Each player that participates in one of these tournaments will have their account flagged to receive a Lucan D’Lere, Ruthless Tactician (1P3) promotional card (illustrated by Jim Lee) and a choice of either an EverQuest® Scale of Rodcet Nife or EverQuest® II Bottled Breath loot card!

Participation limited to U.S. residents only.


WHY:

Loot Tournament Weekend Event

Entry Fee: 10 Event Passes*

Format/Deck: Constructed

Queue Size: 256-Player

1st Place: 14 Oathbound Booster Packs

2nd Place: 10 Oathbound Booster Packs

3rd Place: 9 Oathbound Booster Packs

4th Place: 8 Oathbound Booster Packs

5th – 32nd Place: 5 Oathbound Booster Packs

Remaining Entrants: 3 Oathbound Booster Packs


*Each player will receive a Lucan D’Lere, Ruthless Tactician (1P3) promo card (illustrated by Jim Lee) and a choice of either a Scale of Rodcet Nife (1EQP2) or Bottled Breath (1EQIIP2) promotional loot card.

The excitement doesn’t end here! More tournaments will continue with the World Championship Qualifier Tournaments. Start building your killer deck now as SOE prepares to launch these monthly tournaments that will test players’ strategic skills as they compete for prizes. Also on the line, a seat at the World Championships where players will vie for the Grand Prize and bragging rights as the years Legendary Hero. Watch for further details and a schedule of events.


WHEN:

9:00 a.m. (PDT) Saturday October 27 – 8:00 p.m. (PDT) Sunday October 28th 2007.


WHERE:

During the specified times of the event just head over to the Tournaments Lobby in the Legends of Norrath client, find the appropriate queue, join the event. You must be registered to participate in tournaments, have a legal deck, and bring 10 Event Passes (which can be purchased in the Legends of Norrath store or traded for in the Trade Lobby).

www.legendsofnorrath.com

Labels: SOE

BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID
EVERQUEST® II GAME UPDATE #39 UNLEASHES
THE SHARD OF FEAR AND HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE!

Also, New EQII Website and Rise of Kunark Pre-Order Go Live!

WHAT:
The Shard of Fear!
Even before we find ourselves in the Nights of the Dead, the Shard of Fear brings forth our worst nightmares. Remnants from the Plane of Fear have manifested themselves and are now accessible through the Fear Gate in the Feerrott. Dare you face your terrors in this new Level 70 group zone? The Shard of Fear also incorporates persistent instance technology and can be taken on in steps should your group need time away from the computer! Only seasoned adventurers traveling in groups should dare tread into this realm of terror and dread!

Halloween comes to Norrath!
Trick-or-Treating, Haunted Houses and an eerie raid mark the beginning of Nights of the Dead in Norrath! Collect candy from NPC’s in the cities to earn Halloween rewards, free spirits in the Haunted House to unbind them from their haunting curse and quest on a hair-raising raid all hallows eve! Nights of the Dead is set to haunt Norrath from 10/26/07 to 11/05/07.

EverQuest2.com Re-launched for Rise of Kunark
Just in time for the RoK pre-order and expansion, EverQuest2.com has been re-launched with new content and features! Check out the website to get a look at some cool new artwork for RoK and a host of new information for prospective players. New and veteran EQII players will find news and information about the game, the trial, our latest update, and more! The changes you find at EverQuest2.com are just the beginning of a series of changes that add more information about the game for all players and people looking to learn more about the game.

Rise of Kunark Pre-order Now Available
The Rise of Kunark expansion for EverQuest II is now available for pre-order! Can't wait to get your hands on the expansion? Want to see what's inside the box? Now you don't have to wait to see it on the shelves, you can check out the RoK pre-order website and get the details. As a special bonus, everyone who pre-orders EverQuest II Rise of Kunark will receive one (1) Burynai Seeker house pet per account!

Information on additional enhancements included in GU 39 can be found here.

EverQuest II is rated T (for Teen) by the ESRB, suggestive themes, use of alcohol, violence.

WHEN:
October 17, 2007

WHERE:
www.playthefae.com (Free Trial)
www.everquest2.com

Labels: Everquest II, PC, SOE

AHOY MATEYS!

PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA™ SCHEDULED TO

SET SAIL WORLDWIDE JANUARY 22

Gamers Experience Action and Adventure on the High Seas Circa 1720 in New Online PC game


SAN DIEGO, CA & SEATTLE, WA – October 5, 2007 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC’s (SOE) Platform Publishing label and Flying Lab Software LLC (FLS) announced today Pirates of the Burning Sea™, is scheduled to launch worldwide on January 22, 2008. The hotly anticipated MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) game, featuring high seas action and swashbuckling adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, is being developed by Seattle-based FLS and published by Platform Publishing.

“We are eagerly anticipating the day we can raise the anchor and set sail with Pirates of the Burning Sea. Our team’s hard work and dedication, and that of our partners at SOE’s Platform Publishing group, is going to result in a fantastic gameplay experience for PC gamers,” said Russell Williams, CEO, Flying Lab Software. “We are looking forward to bringing this game to fruition, and appreciate the support from our dedicated community in helping us to develop a top-notch game.”

As a captain in Pirates of the Burning Sea, you can choose among the French, Spanish, English, or Pirate nations, playing a naval officer, a freetrader, a privateer, or a pirate as you like. Action–filled ship battles take place at sea, where players can destroy or board and seize their competitors’ ship. On land, a world of swashbuckling adventure awaits full of sword-swinging action. The unique player-driven economy means players can be a captain of industry too, running mines, lumber mills, shipyards and other large-scale operations to produce the tons of goods needed to supply every player in the game with what they need. Through the player-generated content system, players can create their own sail and flag designs to display in game and even model their own ships.

“The vast amount of player-created content and the intense strategy required in Pirates of the Burning Sea sets it apart from any other MMO on the market,” said D Tim Granich, Sr. Global Brand Manager, Sony Online Entertainment. “Gamers will be donning their captain’s gear and eagerly awaiting their next battle on land or sea.”

The game takes place in the New World circa 1720, a dramatic time of conflict and riches that features action for every play style, from epic ship combat, to piracy, to building economic empires or sword-swinging adventure. With more than one thousand missions per nation, dozens of ports to explore, and the entire Caribbean as their domain, players will find an online experience like no other.

Pre-orders are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 23rd. Players that pre-order will receive an invitation to the “Pre-Boarding Party” giving them access to the live game 15 days prior to launch. During this time, players can level up to 20 and keep their characters after launch, with a purchase of the game and paid monthly subscription. Players who pre-order and purchase the game will also receive a “captain’s best friend” – known to any good pirate as a blue and yellow parrot – as well as a powerful weapon suited to their fighting style and an original game soundtrack CD complete with 60 minutes of pirate-themed music.

Pirates of the Burning Sea game features:

· Join one of four nations (Pirate, English, French, or Spanish)

· Every player is the captain of their very own ship in massive naval battles

· Duel other players to control more than 80 conquerable ports in the Caribbean

· Explore the world and make a name for yourself in more than 1,000 missions

· Economy driven by players, who manufacture and sell all ships and equipment found in the game

· Build, capture, and customize more than 50 historical ships

· Design your own flags and sails

· Choose from 3 different styles of swashbuckling combat – deadly and formal Fencing, flashy, dual-wielding Florentine or rowdy and treacherous Dirty Fighting

· Participate in epic sea battles with up to 25 players on a side

For more information on Pirates of the Burning Sea, log onto http://www.piratesoftheburningsea.com/ or the community site at http://www.burningsea.com/

Labels: PC, Pirates of the Burning Sea, SOE

SOE Breaks Out of the Box

Unveiling A New Art Direction For Franchise Titles

EverQuest® And EverQuest® II!

Box art revealed for upcoming EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions signals new marketing direction for flagship MMO titles.

Currently in development, the EQ expansion, Secrets of Faydwer™, and EQII expansion, Rise of Kunark™, are scheduled to be available at participating retail stores and via digital download on November 13th. With the new box art, packaging and branding focus have shifted to emphasize the all-in-one nature of the products. Both Rise of Kunark and Secrets of Faydwer will ship with the base game plus all previous expansions to date.

Combined, EQ and EQII have sold more than 4.5 Million copies in the eight year history of the franchise. Traditionally, the graphics of both games have been highly stylized and the key art box fronts have reflected the look and feel of a fantasy novel, complete with characters and action. The new box art direction captures the mystery and adventure of game play, without the strict literal interpretation of the in-game characters and art.

New EverQuest® II Rise of Kunark™ Box Art and Logo!

Rise of Kunark (RoK) is the fourth expansion pack for the critically acclaimed EverQuest II franchise. RoK introduces a new playable race, The Sarnak, and new starting area, Timorous Deep. RoK provides a full range of content for new player’s levels 1-20, as well as for high level players who can now advance up to level 80 in their Adventure and Tradeskill classes.

New EverQuest® Secrets of Faydwer™ Box Art!

Secrets of Faydwer (SoF) is the fourteenth expansion to the genre-defining EverQuest series. With SoF, players can now advance up to level 80 and explore 15 new Adventure, Encounter and Raid Zones. Along the way, players can challenge new NPCs and discover thousands of new items, including Heroic attributes that push abilities to new heights.

For more info visit: http://www.riseofkunark.com/ and http://www.secretsoffaydwer.com/

Labels: Everquest, Everquest II, SOE

ARRR MATEYS!

PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA™ RETAIL PRE-ORDER

TO START OCTOBER 23

Pirates of the Burning Sea, the MMORPG featuring high seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, is scheduled to be available for pre-order starting Tuesday, October 23rd at participating retail locations.

PRE ORDER FEATURES:

Players who pre-order the game will receive the following:

*An invitation to the “Pre-Boarding Party” allowing them access to the live game up to 15 days prior to launch, and the ability to keep their characters, skills and equipment after launch with purchase of game and paid subscription (characters will have a level cap of 20 during the pre-boarding party)
*Captain’s Best Friend – a blue and yellow parrot
*Mighty Blades - Swedish Rapier, Old World Steel or Musketeer’s Matching Blades (depending upon which fighting style is selected)
*Original Game Soundtrack CD – 60 minutes of pirate themed music (comes in pre-order box)

Pirates of the Burning Sea is scheduled to be available for preorder in North America on Tuesday, October 23, 2007. A European pre-order date has not been set at this time.

For more pre-order information on Pirates of the Burning Sea log onto http://www.piratesoftheburningsea.com/

ABOUT PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA:

Pirates of the Burning Sea is an MMORPG featuring high seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder. Set against the backdrop of the New World of the 18th Century, players can choose one of three nations – England, France or Spain – or choose the role of a Pirate and battle it out for glory and power.

Labels: PC, Pirates of the Burning Sea, SOE

VANGUARD: SAGA OF HEROES™ GAME UPDATE #2 FOCUSES ON POLISH

In response to players’ requests, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Game Update #2 will focus on making the game more user-friendly through a variety of alterations and additions.

Included with the performance increases in this update are:

Level Based Diplomacy – Transitioning from "skill-based" (1-500) system to "level-based" (1-50) system will happen automatically and mean that a skill 120 player will now be level 12. NPC and items will also be converted.

Rest Experience – Resting increases the rate at which a hero will gain adventuring, crafting, or diplomacy experience. As the player gains experience in a particular sphere, rest for that type of experience will be exhausted.

Quest Journal and Tracking – The layout of the quest journal window has been changed to allow more info to be shown at once, your list of quests is on the left, and the info for the quest you have selected is on the right, making for less scrolling.
Looking for Group (LFG) Improvements – Including more functionality and a more intuitive process.

For the full update notes visit www.vgplayers.com.

Following the Game Update, a server merge is scheduled to occur allowing more features to go live including:

Guild Halls – Plots are now available for purchase and will operate in a similar manner as regular housing does, but will require new components and efforts from all three spheres of Vanguard.

The Brotherhood System – Brotherhood is a method for players to gain experience for one another, even if some players are offline.

Check it out - live now!

Labels: SOE, Vanguard Saga of Heroes

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT UNITES WITH VIRGIN COMICS

TO CREATE ONLINE VIDEO GAME FRANCHISE

Leading Game and Worldwide Comic Companies Join Forces to Develop and Publish Massively Multiplayer Online Video Game Based On the Popular Ramayan 3392 A.D. India-Mythology Inspired Comic Book Series

SAN DIEGO, California & NEW YORK, New York (AUGUST 9, 2007) — Through a deal that joins two of the world’s most innovative entertainment brands, Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), a global leader in the online gaming industry, is teaming up with Sir Richard Branson and Deepak Chopra’s Virgin Comics to bring the popular, India-based Ramayan 3392 A.D. comic book universe to life as an MMO video game initially for the PC.

The deal was announced today by John Smedley, President of SOE and Sharad Devarajan, Co-Founder and CEO of Virgin Comics.

"Ramayan has inspired the lives of millions of people through the ages. The re-imagining of this great ancient epic through the creativity of a game platform re-affirms the fact that Ramayan is one of the greatest stories ever told," said Deepak Chopra. "The fact that the same creative team of young Indians that created the story will be involved in working with SOE’s game development team, is a testament to the innovative and mythic minds of these gifted Indian creators who will take a new generation to new frontiers across the seas of consciousness into new realms of mystery, magic, adventure, and transformation."

Through this exclusive multi-year, worldwide license agreement, SOE will develop and publish an MMO based on Ramayan’s story of mythological lore. Virgin Comics will serve as a creative consultant on the project. Virgin’s creative involvement with SOE’s game development team will be spearheaded by its President and head, Suresh Seetharaman, who has also overseen the development of the comic series. Also involved is acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, a co-founder of Virgin Comics.

"Virgin Comics approached us with a portfolio of amazing comic properties based on Indian lore. We particularly love Ramayan 3392 A.D., as we feel Virgin Comics’ telling of The Ramayana is particularly gripping, graphically brilliant and lends itself extremely well to an MMO," said Smedley. "This a fantastic time for us to expand our games to include this culturally rich storyline and we are honored to do this with a diversified, creative and experienced company like Virgin Comics."

Virgin Comics’ Ramayan 3392 A.D., initially released as a comic in late 2006, re-imagines one of India’s greatest epics into a futuristic realm. Gotham Chopra, Virgin Comics’ Chief Creative Officer commented, "While many of the characters and settings remain familiar to the original lore, we never intended to re-tell the story, but essentially use it as the key inspiration for something fresh. What remains intact to our story are some of the core universal themes like duty, honor, sacrifice, and fraternity while also mining uniquely Indian ideas like karma (how action and consequence are linked) and the malleability of time itself. To bring all of these ideas into a game with SOE is just awesome."

Devarajan concluded, "In a world increasingly dominated with games influenced by a western Tolkien mythos, Ramayan will offer gamers a chance to experience a whole new universe of characters and archetypes derived from one of the oldest cultures on Earth. Our mission at Virgin Comics has always been to allow this generation of Indian youth to have a creative platform through which to speak to the world. Through this collaboration with the likeminded visionaries at SOE, our young Indian creators will make gaming history worldwide."

Labels: SOE

EVERQUEST® II GAME UPDATE #36 INTRODUCES A NEW RAID ZONE, DRESSING ROOMS AND THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE SWORDS OF DESTINY QUEST LINE

Swords of Destiny: The Final Chapter Revealed!

The next and final exciting chapter in an on-going saga, the Swords of Destiny quest line will conclude with GU 36. This third phase provides players a chance to complete the quest trilogy and discover the final details about the history and relevance of the swords and their impending role in Norrath's future! See Sir Trodonis in Butcherblock for further information.

New Raid Zone: Felwithe Throne Room

It’s time to Storm the castle and seize the Throne of New Tunaria (aka Felwithe Castle)! Available as an instance for high level raid groups, the addition of Felwithe presents challenging opportunities to explore the lore surrounding the Thexian Throne and a final chance to defeat the infamous Mayong Mistmoore.

New Dressing Rooms

Try before you buy, or see what that linked item looks like on you! GU 36 also brings the ability to preview weapons, garments, armor, furniture, mounts, and more. This new window will allow you to preview these items from links, merchants, brokers, recipe books, during trades, while inspecting others, in the commission window, and most any other place you’d want it to.

Also in GU 36: Tradeskill Reset, Coin Changes!

• Not happy with your tradeskill profession? Consult a Tradeskill Career Counselor in Neriak, Kelethin, Qeynos Ironforge Exchange, Freeport Coalition of Tradesfolke or Haven about the possibility of starting over!

• Coin is now weightless and automatically changes up to the best denominations, so no more destroying your copper!

Information on additional enhancements included in GU 36 can be found here.

EverQuest II is rated T (for Teen) by the ESRB.

WHEN: June 28th, 2007

WHERE: http://www.playthefae.com/ (Free 7-day Trial) http://www.everquest2.com/

Labels: everquest 2, SOE

PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA FINDS A HOME PORT WITH PLATFORM PUBLISHING

Platform Publishing to Work with Flying Lab Software, Add to SOE’s E3 Title Lineup

SAN DIEGO, CA AND SEATTLE, WA – June 26, 2007 – In an agreement reached today, Pirates of the Burning Sea, the hotly anticipated MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) game developed by Flying Lab Software LLC featuring high seas action and swashbuckling adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, will be published by Sony Online Entertainment LLC’s Platform Publishing label. The game will be added to SOE’s title lineup for the E3 Media and Business Summit, July 11-13 in Santa Monica, CA.

Pirates of the Burning Sea will feature action for every play style, whether it’s epic ship combat, piracy, building economic empires or sword-swinging adventure. Burning Sea takes place in the New World circa 1720, a dramatic time of conflict and riches. Choosing one of four Nations – France, Spain, England or Pirate – players can set sail as a valiant naval officer, a devil-may-care privateer, a savvy merchant adventurer, or a fearless, rampaging pirate. With one thousand missions to play, dozens of ports to explore, and the entire Caribbean as their domain, players will find an online experience like no other.

“Working with top notch developers like Flying Lab Software is at the heart of Platform Publishing’s mission to market and distribute a portfolio of games like Pirates of the Burning Sea that stand shoulder to shoulder with our SOE flagship franchises,” said David D Christensen, Vice President, Business Development and International Operations, Sony Online Entertainment.

Virtual buccaneers can engage in fierce ship-to-ship combat in real time, complete with the roar of cannon fire and the crunch of timber as masts and hulls are shattered, sending foes to the bottom of the briny deep or leaving them helpless and ripe for looting. Pirate games aren’t complete without the clashing of swords and Pirates of the Burning Sea delivers with three swashbuckling styles, from the deadly and formal Fencing, to the flashy dual-wielding Florentine, or the rowdy and treacherous Dirty Fighting. The combat system is fast and fluid with awesome swordplay and powerful finishing moves.

Pirates of the Burning Sea also features an economy completely run by players, who build their own empires across the Caribbean. Build your own forges, quarries, and rum distilleries and manage large-scale production and distribution in a cutthroat world of gold and galleons where profits are the dream and desperate measures the reality.

The game's Conquest system turns any port into a battleground, as rival players rack up points through PvE (Player vs. Environment) missions and combat culminating in a period of intense PvP (Player vs. Player) gameplay to determine who takes the port -- and the valuable resources it provides for economic gameplay. If you want the cannons, you have to capture the iron, making the Conquest system something that impacts the career of every single player.

“Platform Publishing and SOE possess a level of expertise and success in sales, marketing and distribution that makes them the perfect co-publisher for Pirates of the Burning Sea,” said Russell Williams, CEO, Flying Lab Software LLC. “This relationship will allow us their world-class expertise in marketing, distribution, and billing so we can focus on developing an amazing swashbuckling adventure for the pirate in all of us -- and building a community of players who will live that life for years to come.”

Labels: Pirates of the Burning Sea, SOE

Where's the Celebrity Jeopardy mod when you need it?

Get ready to test your knowledge in Jeopardy!(R)2, the sharp new online version of America's Favorite Quiz Show®! Just like the popular TV game show, select a category and a dollar amount to reveal the hidden clue . Come up with the correct response and you’re in the money; otherwise, your virtual bank will take a hit.


ABOUT JEOPARDY 2:

* Over 3,000 clues to tackle as players experience two regular rounds and one Final Jeopardy! round
* New Daily Clue game mode
* Play alone, against the PC or against others at the same keyboard, each with three levels of difficulty: easy, medium and hard
* In-game trophies and badges for skillful play
* More realistic stage and set graphics


For more information visit www.sonypictures.com/games or www.station.sony.com.

Jeopardy! 2 is scheduled to be available for download from www.station.sony.com and www.sonypictures.com/games/jeopardy/ for the suggested retail price of $19.99 beginning June 19, 2007.

Labels: Jeopardy 2, PC, SOE

Pirates of the South China Seas, the latest expansion of the Pirates Constructible Strategy Game (CSG) Online, is now available for digital download.

Piracy and politics intertwine in the South China Seas! A new faction rules these waters, one powerful enough to influence the rise and fall of even the mighty Imperial dynasties. Crewing exotic looking vessels such as the massive six-masted junk and the fearsome Dragon ship, the Jade Rebellion rules the trade routes leading in and out of these lands and seeks to keep the treasures of the South China Seas out of the hands of the imperialists from the west.

Online tournament players will additionally be rewarded with new bounty with this expansion. From June 13 until August 1, 2007, each player that enters a sanctioned Pirates CSG Online tournament will receive a randomly selected digital Limited Edition ship from the Pirates of the South China Seas set as well as a redemption offer good for one randomly selected Limited Edition physical ship for the tabletop version of WizKids’ Pirates of the South China Seas.* In addition, winning players for all other Pirates CSG Online tournaments during this limited time will receive the same digital ship and physical redemption offers.. Redeemable Limited Edition ships for all tournaments will be chosen at random from the following:

·El Afortunado – A great treasure hunting ship

·Le Triomphant – Perfect for “hit and run” tactics

·La Belle Poule – Ideal for exploring islands

·Floating Stone – Fast and Lucky

·Dragon’s Talon – A sturdy and resilient fighter

·Tiger’s Paw – Crews of any nation/faction can use their abilities aboard her


FEATURES:

* 72 different ships to scuttle or scavenge, including the stalwart Dragon ship, sturdy Korean Turtle ship and the powerful six-masted pirate junk
* A new pirate faction for players to ally with – the Jade Rebellion
* 46 different treasures and crew.
* New game-changing Events that quickly turn the tide of battle – discover looted treasure is fake, summon rolling fog banks or cross swords with your opponents.


For more information on Pirates of the South China Seas and Pirates CSG Online, visit the website at www.piratesgameonline.com.

* Offer expires August 1, 2007. Redemption must occur on or before August 30, 2007. Offer good for one (1) Limited Edition ship and one (1) Limited Edition physical ship randomly selected (from the list above) from the Pirates of the South China Seas expansion. Player must have an active Station Account and a registered account with Pirates CSG Online in order to redeem the physical ship. Redemptions are only processed through the Pirates CSG Online software. Not valid in conjunction with any other coupon or offer. No cash value. Non-transferable. Void where prohibited. Please allow six (6) to eight (8) weeks for delivery. Sony Online Entertainment and WizKids are not responsible for lost or stolen cards.

Labels: Pirates CSG, SOE

Put the pedal to the metal and race to the finish line in Championship Sprint™. Choose from a multitude of different tracks and be the first to make it to the finish line while avoiding oil slicks, water spots and more! Relive this classic Midway game as it speeds onto the PLAYSTATION Network.

ABOUT CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINT:

A Timeless Classic - Relive the timeless arcade action and simple elegance of one of the classic 80's arcade games.

Simple and Intuitive Gameplay - The goal is clear: race through the tracks, earn bonuses, avoid any obstacles and cross the finish line first to gain golden glory!

Multiplayer Action - Challenge other players through multiplayer functionality. Be the first to cross the finish line, track your score on the leader boards and show them who's the best of the best!

Championship Sprint is scheduled to launch in North America on May 31, 2007, on the PLAYSTATION Network for the suggested retail price of $4.99.

Labels: Championship Sprint, PSN, SOE

Next Expansion to Feature Asian-Themed Ships, New Faction and Exclusive 10-Masted Chinese Pirate Junk

SAN DIEGO, CA and DENVER, CO – May 25, 2007 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced that Pirates of the South China Seas, the fourth expansion for the Pirates Constructible Strategy Game™ (CSG) Online, is currently in development at the company’s Denver studio. Scheduled for a mid-June release, South China Seas brings an Asian flair to this online 3D world of pirates, high seas combat and the search for treasure.

Western fleets are sailing the treasure-rich waters of the South China Seas and a new faction, the Jade Rebellion, has arisen to thwart the advances of imperialist navies. The Jade Rebellion employs two new types of ships – massive six-masted junks and the sturdy and resilient Korean “Turtle” ship. This new faction also introduces some new characters into player fleets; the inscrutable Ms. Cheng, the head of the pirate confederation and widow of the famous pirate warlord Cheng Yi. The Jade Rebellion also features her closest ally, the pirate Chang Pao; together, they’ve defeated every expedition sent out to destroy the Jade Rebellion.

Beginning today, SOE Denver is giving away a special promotional ship in anticipation of the release of the South China Seas expansion. For every ten (10) Pirates CSG Online digital game packs purchased by a player, they will receive the Baochuan, a massive 10-masted Chinese treasure ship – the largest of all the junks. Its size allows players to fit a larger complement of crew members aboard and capitalize on even more crew abilities, such as extra actions and additional moves. The Baochuan holds more cargo than any other ship; with 10 masts, it features four more cannons than the next largest ship, making it a formidable opponent in battle.

South China Seas will also introduce new game-changing events that can twist the outcome of your battles -- duel with your opponents, discover that your looted treasure is fake and summon rolling fog banks. As with all expansions for the Pirates CSG Online, Pirates of the South China Seas can be played as a standalone game, or combined with ships from other expansions. Single game packs contain everything a player needs to plunder the high seas for treasure.

For more information on Pirates of the South China Seas and the Baochuan, visit the website at http://piratesonline.station.sony.com/baochuan. For further details on SOE’s online trading card games, visit www.station.com/strategy.

Labels: Pirates, SOE

WHAT:

Joust™ will allow players to be the ultimate knight in shining armor as they mount their ostrich, grab their lance and battle through hordes of enemy knights! Dreaded lava trolls and pterodactyls are out to defeat players while they are reliving this valiant classic Midway title.

ABOUT JOUST:

A Timeless Classic - Relive the timeless arcade action and simple elegance of one of the classic 80's arcades games.

Simple and Intuitive Gameplay - Defeat all of the enemy knights from a higher jousting point, while avoiding the rapture of creatures such as the dreaded lava trolls or pterodactyl.

Multiplayer Action - Work cooperatively with another player or challenge people from all over the world with the multiplayer functionality. Track your score with online leaderboards to see who the top knight is!

WHEN:

Joust is scheduled to launch in North America on May 24, 2007, on the PLAYSTATION Network for the suggested retail price of $4.99.

Labels: joust, midway, SOE

WHAT: A New Player Race: The Arasai

With Game Update 35 the Arasai race is now available for all those adventurers contemplating the dark side! Maliciously mischievous and down right wicked, the Arasai are the evil answer to the goody two-shoes Fae of Kelethin. These rivals to the loveable, cute and brightly-colored denizens of Faydark, have a sinister look- players will be surprised at how much malice can be forced into such a small package!

And, just in time to create your new Arasai character, GU #35 also includes an additional character slot for all players & two character slots for Station Access subscribers! Go ahead and wreak havoc with your brand new set of wings!

Creation of an Arasai character requires installation of the Echoes of Faydwer expansion pack for EverQuest II, though the city of Neriak and creation of existing races are available to all subscribers.

A New Starting City: Neriak, City of Hate
The lost city of Neriak has been rediscovered! After centuries of war and darkness, Neriak has been uncovered as the new capital of the underground empire of the Dark Elves of Norrath. Also a new starting city for Trolls, Ogres, Ratonga, Iksar and the Arasai, Neriak lies deep under the forest floor of Nektulos and is a full city zone for players new and old to set as their base of operations. New housing is available, with the sadistic culture and atmosphere being just right for folks who like things a bit on the malevolent side!

A New Overland Zone: Darklight Wood
With a full suite of quests that will take new characters from levels 1 – 20, Darklight Wood is an evil doers dream! Buried deep within the forest of Nektulos, Darklight Wood has remained well hidden from prying eyes for over 300 years after the destruction of the First Gate and Neriak's Foreign Quarter. Newly created characters loyal to Neriak will start in Hate's Envy, an outpost in Darklight Wood.

Also, LFG and Moving Improvements, New Rules for PvP!
· A new LFG (Looking For Group) system is available. Find friends, slaughter foes!
· House moves just became less of a chore with the addition of a new moving service!
· PvP players can no longer use zoning to escape combat!

Information on additional enhancements included in GU #35 can be found here.

WHEN: May 23, 2007

WHERE: www.playthefae.com (Free 7-day Trial) ; www.everquest2.com

Labels: everquest 2, SOE

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES GAUNTLET II™ IS SCHEDULED TO HIT THE PLAYSTATION® NETWORK AS A DOWNLOADABLE TITLE ON MAY 3


Play as the Warrior, Valkyrie, Elf, or the Wizard in Gauntlet II™! Enter a dungeon with several hundred levels as players defeat monster generators that churn out wave after wave of enemies. Players can destroy them to clear the level and find their way to the exit! Collect food for health and magic items for power-ups while plowing through the dungeon. Brought back and available for download exclusively on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, it’s time to re-experience this classic Midway arcade title.

Replay All Your Favorite Characters – Choose from one of four characters, either Thor the Warrior, Merlin the Wizard, Thyra the Valkyrie or Questor the Elf.

Dungeon Crawling Action in 100+ Unique Levels – Players will fight their way through levels in new ways by having the playfield turned in steps of 90° or the classic invisible walls.

Control Your Enemies’ Fate, Control Your Own – Players will race to make the enemy "It" and avoid becoming "It" themselves! Release the curse that draws all enemies towards you by touching another player or entering the exit. The medieval game of games is on!

Multiplayer Action – Play online against other players through the PLAYSTATION Network. Track wins, and see how everyone stacks up against other players through dedicated leader boards.

Gauntlet II is scheduled to launch on May 3, 2007, on the PLAYSTATION Network for the suggested retail price of $4.99.

Labels: gauntlet ii, SOE