SOE Celebrates First Anniversary of EverQuest II

Sony Online Entertainment issued a press release earlier today announcing their plans for celebrating the first anniversary of EverQuest II.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERQUEST® II

– Sony Online Entertainment Prepares to Celebrate the First Year of EverQuest II With Exciting Rewards, In-Game Treats and Asian Flair –

SAN DIEGO, CA November 1, 2005 On November 9, 2005 Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, will celebrate the first birthday for EverQuest®II. On that day, SOE will offer in-game rewards to EQII players based on the length of time they have subscribed and there will be fun virtual treats for all EQII players to enjoy. However, the most extraordinary gift is the option for US and European players to use unique Asian-styled characters that were only previously available for the EverQuest II East project created by SOGA, an SOE joint-venture development studio based in Taiwan.

(It has been a fantastic year for EverQuest II,) said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. (The team has been amazing, continually adding great features to the live game, creating adventure packs, releasing our first expansion pack, Desert of Flames, and launching Station Exchange. We’ve been so busy that it’s hard to believe we’re already coming up on birthday celebrations. The team has created a lot of great gifts for our players to enjoy next week and we’re already planning exciting things for the year to come.)

In-game rewards will be given to players who have subscribed for any time from one day (a 12 slot bag) all the way up to those who subscribed for the whole year. The gifts will be given at the following intervals: at least one day, one week, one month, three months, six months and one year. The gifts stack up so, for example, a player who subscribed for 6 months will also receive all previously accrued rewards. Exciting gifts include experience bonuses, a special title, unique house items, and fireworks.

All EQII players will be able to access the special SOGA created characters. Earlier this year, news of these models spread to the EQII fan community when screenshots were released to the Asian press. Players expressed a strong interest in these characters, but weren’t aware of the details surrounding the EverQuest II East project that was created by SOE’s SOGA studio in Taiwan. While most companies simply translate text for international use, SOE chose to (re-culturalize) its game for the Asian market creating EverQuest II East. Of the game’s 16 playable races, 13 were redesigned with an Asian style and major user interface changes were made to accommodate Asian styles of play such as (point-to-move) use of the mouse rather than use of the keyboard for character movement. EverQuest II East is scheduled for launch in China, Korea, and Taiwan later in November with high expectations for success.

North American, European, and Japanese players will now be given the option to see their characters, and other characters, in the EQII East style. This style adds such unique flavor to the already exciting world of EverQuest II that SOE expects most players to enjoy viewing the SOGA created models.

To view a video of EverQuest II East characters, please visit www.eq2players.com.

About EverQuest® II

EverQuest II is the next generation of massively multiplayer gaming, a huge online world where thousands of players come together for adventure and community. Featuring breathtaking graphics and a vast, beautiful world to explore, as well as voices for almost all non-player characters, EverQuest II sets new standards in gameplay and immersion. EverQuest II brings players into its world with a powerful epic storyline and gives them the power to be the hero or villain in their personal adventure. Players enter this world by creating their own unique character, choosing from 16 races and 24 classes. Players will encounter hundreds of creatures as they travel across majestic landscapes of rolling hills, colorful deserts, dense forests, and bustling cities. Thousands of items, hundreds of spells, and unlimited adventure await all who enter the world of EverQuest II.

About Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Digital Inc., 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™: An Empire Divided™, 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, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development.