Over One Million Votes Cast in EverQuest II Contest

Sony Online Entertainment has issued a press release announcing that over a million votes were cast in their “Quest for Antonia” contest for EverQuest II.

A MILLION VOTES CAST IN NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR VIDEO GAME DIVA

“Quest for Antonia” Attracts Nearly 150 Hopeful EverQuest® II Spokesmodels

SAN DIEGO & NEW YORK (June 29, 2005) Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming, announced today that more than one million votes have been cast in the nationwide “Quest for Antonia” search as the final days of the contest come to a close. Nearly 150 women have submitted photos online at www.QuestForAntonia.com in hopes of being discovered by SOE and Stuff Magazine as the woman who most resembles the electrifying video game heroine Antonia Bayle from the incredibly popular online video game, EverQuest® II.

“Women from all walks of life have entered the search with aspirations of becoming the real life Antonia from EverQuest II – including girl gamers, professional models, housewives and even centerfolds,” according to Laura Naviaux, senior brand manager, Sony Online Entertainment. “This shows the universal appeal and popularity that online gaming and especially the EverQuest brand – has achieved.”

Photo submissions and online voting for contestants continues through midnight, July 11, 2005. After which, SOE and Stuff Magazine executives will select five (5) finalists and up to three (3) alternates from the top 30 vote recipients in the online portion of the contest (based upon an average of their scores from the votes each entrant received).

The online entrants chosen as finalists, as well as alternates, will be announced shortly thereafter and notified promptly. Finalists will be interviewed and required to submit a videotape of themselves. The five finalists will be flown to Las Vegas for the star-studded Stuff Magazine Casino Weekend 4 party extravaganza.

This is the first-ever nationwide model search with the goal of finding a woman who looks like an online video game character. Once discovered, the new Antonia will be offered a one-year modeling contract with SOE, a photo layout in the pages of Stuff Magazine, and other prizes. The winner will be announced at Stuff Magazine’s Casino Weekend 4 at the Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in August at the conclusion of a pageant-style competition complete with a swimsuit contest and interview portion that is expected to be judged by celebrities, Stuff’s editorial staff and SOE representatives.

For official rules and photo submission guidelines, go to www.QuestForAntonia.com.