EverQuest
Online Adventures, the World's Premier Online Only Console Game, Delivers a Whole New
Genre to Console Gaming
Sony Online Entertainment Becomes an Official PlayStation 2 Developer
SAN DIEGO, CA - April 9, 2002 - Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) Inc., a
worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming, announced today that it will
develop and publish EverQuest Online Adventures for the PlayStation 2 computer
entertainment system. In addition, SOE is now an official PlayStation 2 developer,
specializing in massively multiplayer online games, an entirely new genre for the console
player. EverQuest Online Adventures will be the world's premier online only console game,
bringing the player interaction and community that made the original EverQuest so popular
to a whole new audience of console gamers. The game is scheduled to launch in the spring
of 2003.
"We have seen phenomenal success with the original EverQuest. The look, feel and
functionality of the game provided the foundation on which we built a truly unique
console-focused game," said John Smedley, chief operating officer, Sony Online
Entertainment. "Relying on the many insights we have gained from EverQuest over the
past three years, we strongly believe that EverQuest Online Adventures has what it takes
to be a major success on the PlayStation 2."
EverQuest Online Adventures is a completely new game, designed to take full advantage
of the PlayStation 2 system's capabilities. But like the original EverQuest, it will
feature intricate character development, continuous player interaction and a strong sense
of community, which is sure to create a phenomenon that PlayStation 2 gamers have never
experienced before. With an installed base of more than 8.8 million units in the U.S., the
PlayStation 2 represents an opportunity to expand the massively multiplayer online
role-playing game onto new platforms, delivering a whole new genre to the console gamer.
"Quite simply, there is no other console game like this," said Don Vercelli,
vice president of sales and marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. "The dedicated team
at SOE has put in countless hours making sure that no other game would rival the level of
character customization and atmospheric detail in EverQuest Online Adventures. This is
truly a new experience for the console gamer."
Using the PlayStation 2 system's network adaptor, available in stores this August,
EverQuest Online Adventures will connect seamlessly to the Internet, directing players to
dedicated EverQuest Online Adventures servers. By connecting directly to dedicated
servers, SOE can help to ensure low latency gameplay and fast connection times. Gamers
simply insert the disc and the world of Norrath is just a few button pushes away. By 2005,
Gartner Group estimates that 18 percent of American households will own an online enabled
game console.
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