NCsoft Announces Their E3 2005 Lineup

The full press release:

NCsoft Announces Exciting Lineup at 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo

Online computer game publisher to show blockbuster product line, featuring Auto Assault, City of Villains, Guild Wars and Tabula Rasa

AUSTIN, Texas, May 4, 2005 NCsoft® Corporation, the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today announced its lineup of games for the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), May 18-20 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. NCsoft’s games represent the company’s varied offering of massively multiplayer online (MMO) game titles. All products will be shown in booth #1024 in the convention center’s South Hall.

NCsoft CEO Tack Jin Kim said, (NCsoft will showcase a very diverse lineup of blockbuster online entertainment products at E3 this year, which solidifies our commitment to leadership in the global MMO industry.)

The products that will be featured at E3 are:

Auto Assaultâ„¢ Already generating excitement in the press as one of 2005’s most anticipated games, the world’s first car-combat MMO is at E3 and is launching this year! Developed by NetDevil®, LTD., Auto Assault’s high-speed vehicular combat and spectacularly destructible environments are the highlights of a game that will redefine expectations of online role-playing. Successfully combining speed, action and role-playing elements, Auto Assault pushes the envelope for MMO gaming. It’s the fastest, most destructive MMO ever.

City of Villainsâ„¢ Cryptic Studiosâ„¢, the creators of the massively popular City of Heroes® game, is premiering the companion game that allows players to take on the role of the bad guy. City of Villainsâ„¢ is set in the Rogue Isles, a treacherous region not far from Paragon City. Players can now build their criminal empires and spread their own reign of terror. Slated for release later this year, this is the first public showing of this eagerly awaited title since last year’s E3.

Guild Wars® Recently launched simultaneously in Europe, North America and Australia, this first title by ArenaNet® immerses players in a colorful, robust and detailed online fantasy world where success is determined by player skill, not by the time spent playing. Play with anyone, anywhere, at any time and there’s no subscription fee required.

Tabula Rasaâ„¢ Tabula Rasa is a massively multiplayer online action game that takes you into the heat of battle at the front lines of an epic war between a xenophobic alien race bent on galactic conquest and the coalition of rebel soldiers who’ve traveled across the galaxy to stop them. Combining the action of a first person shooter, the immersion of a role-playing game, and Richard Garriott’s signature creative vision, Tabula Rasa takes the player on an intergalactic adventure where the individual has an opportunity to significantly impact the pace of battle on a global scale.

In addition to viewing all these top-notch titles and speaking with the developers, visitors to the booth will see the high-energy performance art and percussion beat of The Mutaytor, which will interpret the world of Auto Assault in scheduled performances throughout the three-day show. Guild Wars demonstrations presented by the development team will be showcased on a giant video wall display. Plus, MMORadio (http://www.mmoradio.com), a 24/7 web radio station for gamers, will be webcasting three days of continuous E-3 coverage live from the NCsoft booth.

About NCsoft

NCsoft’s North American business is headquartered in Austin, Texas and is part of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation. NCsoft, with its own development and publishing offices in Texas and California, also works with subsidiaries and third party developers throughout North America to develop and publish innovative online entertainment software products. The company launched two massively multiplayer titles on the same day last year: Lineage II and City of Heroes, and in April of 2005 released its third title, the highly anticipated, Guild Wars. NCsoft expects to launch two more massively multiplayer titles in 2005: Auto Assault, and City of Villains. More information about NCsoft can be found at http://www.PlayNC.com.

About Cryptic Studios

Cryptic Studios, Inc., located in Los Gatos, California, was established in July of 2000 and is an independent developer of massively multiplayer online games for the PC and next generation consoles. Its first game, City of Heroes, launched in April 2004. The game takes place in a virtual world where thousands of people play simultaneously, take on the role of super-powered heroes, fight villains and help create a dynamic story in a visually-stunning, 3-D graphical world.

About NetDevil

NetDevil was founded in 1997 under the inspiration of Jumpgateâ„¢, the world’s first massively multiplayer space simulator universe. NetDevil is an independent game development company dedicated to the construction of massively multiplayer universes. NetDevil is committed to creating immersive, interactive virtual worlds in unique settings outside the typical fantasy genre. For more information, please visit http://www.netdevil.com.

About ArenaNet

ArenaNet, located in Bellevue, Washington, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NCsoft and was founded by some of the key members of the creative teams that developed the hit game series StarCraft®, Warcraft™, and Diablo® as well as Battle.net™. ArenaNet has built a state-of-the-art, interactive game network and is developing premier multiplayer online games for dedicated game players. More information about ArenaNet can be found at www.arena.net.