Legends of Norrath: Oathbound Announced

Sony has finally gotten around to issuing a press release officially announcing Legends of Norrath: Oathbound, their new EverQuest online trading card game revealed at the SOE Fan Faire.

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT INTRODUCES LEGENDS OF NORRATH

First Online Trading Card Game into EverQuest and EverQuest II; First Chapter, Oathbound, Introduced at SOE Fan Faire

LAS VEGAS, NV August 3, 2007 Fans of EverQuest® and EverQuest® II, as well as strategy game enthusiasts received a special surprise from Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) president John Smedley during his Fan Faire Community Address today when he revealed plans for Legends of Norrathâ„¢, the first online trading card game based on SOE’s popular MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) franchises.

Legends of Norrath is the first online card game playable within the EverQuest(EQ) and EverQuest II(EQII) live MMO games. Launching from an in-game menu, or using a free SOE Station ID, players can challenge opponents on their game server, or across other EQ and EQII servers in both casual games and high-level tournaments.

(With Legends of Norrath, we’re expanding and evolving the EverQuest and EverQuest II experience for both our loyal fans as well as strategy gamers,) says Smedley. (The cards and interface have been designed by some extremely talented people in our Denver studio, and perfectly capture the sense and feel that have made EQ and EQII so popular.)

Developed at SOE’s Denver, CO studio, Oathbound is the first release in the Legends of Norrath storyline. Oathbound features more than 375 digital cards and will be available in both 55-card digital starter decks and 15-card digital booster packs. In this first of three card sets, players become part of a clandestine, secret war between the forces of Order and Chaos. Once jailed on the Plane of Justice, a mysterious tribunal offers them a chance for freedom and redemption by helping fight against the forces of Chaos. In swearing allegiance to the side of Order, players become Oathbound, and fight this shadow war against the forces of Chaos to keep them from plunging Norrath into a bloody and eternal war.

In addition to player vs. player combat, Legends of Norrath is the complete online card gaming experience, featuring a sophisticated, re-playable AI system for single player campaigns, easy to use management tools and numerous Casual and Tournament game lobbies. Victory can be achieved by completing quests or reducing your opponent’s health, enabling players to employ their own unique strategies for victory. The game also features a robust loot system; more than 30 loot items each for EQ and EQII will be available, including player mounts, potions, clothing and spells.

On August 28, 2007, EverQuest and EverQuest II players will receive a complimentary random Oathbound digital starter deck and given access to the game prior to its general release scheduled for September 4, 2007. The digital starter decks (55 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). For more information on Legends of Norrath, visit the website at www.legendsofnorrath.com.

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.