Sony Online Entertainment and Wizards of the Coast have begun a collaboration effort to bring gamers Magic: The Gathering-Tactics! This will be an online 3D turn-based game based on everything in the Magic universe!

When asked about the new partnership, John Smedley and Greg Leeds had the following to say:

“By collaborating with Wizards of the Coast, we’re able to combine the strengths of both companies to develop an innovative, online, 3D game based on an extremely popular IP,” said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. “We’re going to be taking the Magic: The Gathering Multiverse places players have never seen.”

“The growing Magic: The Gathering community has an insatiable desire for great strategic game experiences.  Sony Online Entertainment is the perfect partner to transform the best of Magic’s story, strategy and competitive play into a fantastic ‘Tactics’ game experience for current and new Magic fans,” said Greg Leeds, president, Wizards of the Coast.

Magic: The Gathering - Tactics will allow players to command forces of dramatic 3D figures and powerful spell cards pulled from the Magic: The Gathering Multiverse. Players can participate in single player scenarios or jump right into PVP action against other players worldwide, 24 hours per day. Magic: The Gathering – Tactics is expected to feature regular content expansions, a robust tournament environment, an achievement and rankings program, and original stories of the Planeswalkers of Magic: The Gathering.

Magic: The Gathering - Tactics is being developed by SOE’s Denver studio and scheduled to be available for the PC in early 2010, with a version for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system to follow.

For more information on Magic: The Gathering - Tactics, visit www.magicthegatheringtactics.com

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The Sony FanFaire is in full swing this weekend and Curse is here to see some of the latest things SoE has to offer!

This year Sony Trademarked possible EverQuest expansion names, which we're anxiously awaiting an update for! They're also showcasing some new (potentially) free-to-play titles, including The Agency, Pox Nora(a previously released game but new to the SoE Family), FreeRealms, and Kung-Fu Hustle! We had a chance to play The Agency last night and were really excited by the gameplay and the ability to work together with fellow players to complete missions in a dynamic environment; we're heading back to the booth today to get some more details and find out what we can!

The final subscription model for a few of the new titles hasn't been decided on but with the success that FreeRealms has had, it looks like free-to-play will be the best option for The Agency and Kung Fu-Hustle.

We were also able to get some playing time on DC Universe Online. The game has excellent graphics and gameplay, and offers players the ability to use flight in combat and gameplay. The UI was very clean and easy to use, and we were able to start battling without a big learning curve. Hands-on time was limited due to the massive number of people here, but we'll get on it again and see what other juicy details we squeeze out!

During the weekend we're going to be playing the new games and meeting with developers, we'll post any new news and information we find out at the event, if you have any specific questions post them here as a comment and we'll do what we can to get answers!

Through a bit of internet sleuthing we've discovered that recently, Sony Online Entertainment decided to trademark two new titles, one each for EverQuest and EverQuest II. The trademarks in question took place on June 10th, 2009 and are EverQuest Underfoot, and EverQuest II Sentinel's Fate. While nothing is announced yet, there's a good chance these two titles are the names of each game's respective expansions.

So why would SOE do this? Well, they have the annual SOE Fanfaire coming up in a week, in which they'll no doubt continue their recent tradition of announcing expansions for their flagship MMO titles, so ensuring the trademark was in place prior to the announcement is always crucial.

EverQuest fans will no doubt recognize the Underfoot fairly quickly. It's an area that many wished would be introduced to the game early on in its lifetime; the realm of Brell Serilis, deity whom created the dwarves. Coming off its 10th anniversary and a new server ruleset, this would be the 16th expansion for the game.

On the other hand, what Sentinel's Fate will bring is questionable. Will this be the much-anticipated Velious expansion for EverQuest II, related to the dragons of the continent? Or will it continue the story laid out by The Shadow Odyssey?

Regardless, I think it's safe to say we'll hear these new expansions announced at the SOE Fanfaire during John Smedley's Community Address on Friday, June 26th at 7PM PDT. Stay tuned next week as we'll no doubt have more information not only on EverQuest and EverQuest II, but other titles shown at the Fanfaire as well!

We just received word that SOE has announced expansions for two of their premiere titles at this year's fanfaire, being held right now in Las Vegas, Nevada. EverQuest will see its fifteenth expansion titled "Seeds of Destruction" release this October, while EverQuest II's fifth expansion titled "The Shadow Odyssey" will be hitting shelves this November. Read on for the full press release.

LEGACY OF EVERQUEST® FRANCHISE CONTINUES WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF EVERQUEST® AND EVERQUEST® II EXPANSIONS AT FAN FAIRE
All attendees to Receive Both Expansions for Free as Part of Living Legacy Program!

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LAS VEGAS, NEV. – Aug. 15, 2008 – Thousands of video game enthusiasts are in Las Vegas for the annual Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire where the upcoming expansions for the online role-playing games EverQuest® (EQ) and EverQuest® II (EQII) were just announced. EverQuest® Seeds of Destruction™ is scheduled to be available on Oct.21, and EverQuest® II The Shadow Odyssey™ is scheduled to be available on Nov.18. As part of SOE’s extensive Living Legacy program designed to entice new and past EQ and EQII players into the games and reward the existing loyal playerbase, all Fan Faire attendees will receive the software for both expansions for free, an unprecedented offering.

“It is such a privilege to announce the upcoming expansions for two of our most popular games, EverQuest and EverQuest II, in a venue like Fan Faire where we are joined by thousands of our loyal fans, and it seems more than appropriate to give those fans access to both of the expansions for free,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “Both of these expansions are rich in content and adventure, and will provide our players with hours of excitement as they explore the online world of Norrath.”

EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey is the fifth expansion for the critically acclaimed EQII franchise and follows the award-winning and best-selling Rise of KunarkTM expansion. New players and veterans alike will journey through a substantial amount of exquisite content with more than 20 new zones, including the Moors of Ykesha, a massive outdoor zone once known as Innothule Swamp, and the legendary dungeon Guk. Throughout the summer months, players were treated to prelude events, such as the Void Storms, that gave them a glimpse into the expansion lore and content from The Shadow Odyssey, building the anticipation leading up to the launch.

EverQuest is rapidly approaching its 10th anniversary, and Seeds of Destruction is the 15th expansion for the genre-defining online game. For the first time ever, players will have the ability to hire non-player characters (NPCs) to aid them in their heroic endeavors in Seeds of Destruction. These mercenaries will be valuable player assets as they thwart the efforts of Discord’s Dark God. This expansion also includes a level cap increase to 85, new dynamic high-level raid content, new spells and new alternate advancement abilities.

EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey Feature Set:

• New Zones: Journey through more than 20 new zones, including the new overland zone, Innothule Swamp.
• Dungeon Adventures: Experience nostalgic EverQuest dungeon themes, such as Najena, Mistmoore and The Sebilisian Empire, and adventure through more than 18 goal-based dungeons, such as Ruins of Guk and Befallen.
• Achievement Point: An achievement level cap increase to 200 that offers new achievements for class-specific lines.
• Dungeon Delving: A new mission system for players to replay content with new and different experiences.
• Heritage Quests: Five new quests with unique rewards being added.
• Shard Reward System: A new, mysterious group of erudites with powerful new armor and equipment will barter for void shards earned during players’ encounters
• Epic Tales: Stories told through battles with dozens of new creatures and hundreds of new quests.
• New Deities: Rodcet Nife and Anashti Sul are introduced into Norrath.
• Access to All Previous Content: Includes all previous expansion packs and adventure packs.
• Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck and booster pack.

EverQuest Seeds of Destruction Feature Set:

• Mercenaries: Player-controlled NPCs are now available and will not only scale to the appropriate level, but also think and act for themselves with limited player guidance. Designed for extra support or extra muscle in PvE encounters, mercenary archetypes include a variety of classes from all playable races.
• Level Cap Increase: Players can now achieve level 85 with new high-level item sets, new alternate advancement ability lines and new spells.
• 20 New Zones: Features re-imagined classic content and brand-new realms for adventurers to explore, including the eerie wasteland of the Void, the Battle of Rathe on the Plane of Earth and the ultimate Heart of Darkness in the Plane of Discord.
• Access to All Previous Content - Includes all features and content from the 14 previous expansion packs.
• Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck, booster pack and loot item.

In addition to attending exclusive panels this weekend at Fan Faire, eligible players with active accounts will receive early access to beta for one or both games, depending on their preference. EQ’s public beta is anticipated to begin on Aug. 19, and EQII’s public beta is anticipated to begin on Sept. 2.

For more expansion information from EverQuest Seeds of Destruction and a free trial of EverQuest, visit http://www.everquest.com.

For expansion information from on EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey and a free trial of EverQuest II, visit http://www.everquest2.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, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development.

SOE very recently posted the schedule for the Fan Faire 2008 Las Vegas. It's taking place at the Las Vegas Hilton, August 14 – 17.

Among the events there's several daytime and late-night tournaments, a career fair, special game-themed live events, exclusive first looks at the upcoming EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions, demos of Free Realms, The Agency and something to do with capes (surprise surprise!).

In addition to a jam-packed weekend of activities, everyone who pre-registers for an All-Access pass online will receive an invitation to the Free Realms, EverQuest expansion and EverQuest II expansion beta programs.

Each attendee will also get an in-game item for their primary selected game (EverQuest, EverQuest II, Vanguard, Star Wars Galaxies, Planetside or The Matrix Online).

This is not all, though. A "special loot item" for the online trading card game Legends of Norrath and the new Star Wars Trading Card Game: Champions of Force will be given to Fan Faire attendee's as well.

• Current schedule
• Fan Faire website

Recently Sony Online Entertainment updated its MySpace page with a couple of screenshots for DC Universe Online -- these are the first ever seen screens of the game, who many thought was canceled. Glad the rumors were false!

Furthermore, SOE continue and share information that the first ever public showing of the DC MMO will be at Comic-Con which is in a few weeks. SOE also say that if you virally market the game, you will have a chance to attend the Comic-Con party; by making the page a top MySpace friend. Go nuts.

Not a lot of information has been shared about DC Universe Online yet, however, what we know is that it can be compared to City of Heroes and you create a superhero and chose what superpowers you want. You can't play any of the actual DC superheroes; however, they're going to be featured throughout the game.

Five screenshots :

• DC Universe Online MySpace Page

The upcoming Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire will take place in Las Vegas from August 14th to the 17th this year. SOE very recently published the list of attendees, check out if there's someone you might know attending from your server and/or guild. Perhaps even another server or game all together!

The SOE Fan Faire have been happening for many years now and it's quite amazing how popular it still is. Perhaps not so amazing when you think of it, with the addition of EverQuest 2 and the other games SOE have, it should be even more popular! Will be interesting to see how this years Fan Faire turns out.

Are you going to attend to the Fan Faire in Las Vegas?

View who's attending

GROUNDBREAKING VIDEO GAME FRANCHISE EVERQUEST® CELEBRATES FANS WITH LIVING LEGACY PROMOTION

SAN DIEGO, CA – June 2, 2008 – The EverQuest ® franchise, the groundbreaking, award-winning fantasy series that redefined massively multiplayer online (MMO) video games for a generation of gamers around the globe, is bringing a near decade of success back to millions of fans with a new Living Legacy program from Sony Online Entertainment LLC, which will feature in-game events, promotions, game updates and more.

Living Legacy, announced today, is a brand-new initiative aimed at the millions of players who have experienced the vast, engaging online worlds of EverQuest ® (EQ) and EverQuest® II (EQII) since the original EQ game was launched in 1999. The celebration starts today and continues through the end of September. As part of the promotion, both EQ and EQII subscribers with inactive accounts who left in good standing will be able to log back in to the games and play for free until the end of July.

“The EverQuest franchise has touched so many lives since the launch of EverQuest in 1999, and with the 10th anniversary of EverQuest just around the corner, we felt it was the best time to give back to all the players who made it the cultural phenomenon it is today,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “We are grateful for the continued support from our legions of fans and are extremely excited about the groundswell of interest surrounding Living Legacy.”

While the Living Legacy program is aimed at former EQ and EQII players, the program also offers a perfect way for new players to experience the world of Norrath. Nostalgic NPCs and group PvE encounters, as well as brand new raid content, will commemorate EQ’s hardcore heritage. The program features bonus XP weekends, several live events, new content updates and the introduction of new zones all taking place in EQII. Returning EQII players will also be able to experience Rise of Kunark, EQII’s fourth expansion, which just became the game’s best-selling expansion of all time.

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Key features of the Living Legacy program include:

• All qualified returning EQ players will receive the EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer all-in-one compilation and bonus in-game items at no additional cost.
• All qualified returning EQII players will receive the EverQuest II Rise of Kunark all-in-one compilation and bonus in-game items at no additional cost.
• All software provided during the promotional period will be credited to any EQ or EQII account that is converted to a valid, paying monthly subscription.
• Current EQII players who recruit a friend to play the game who converts to a valid subscription will receive free gameplay-time added upon conclusion of their then-current subscription .

In the spirit of honoring the players, the Living Legacy program is supported by an online and print advertising campaign that features real EQ and EQII players.

For more information on the Living Legacy program or to reactivate your account, log onto http://www.eqlivinglegacy.com.

WHAT: Get ready to celebrate at the biggest Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) Fan Faire yet with fellow gamers and the creators of your favorite SOE games at the Las Vegas Hilton, Aug. 14 -17.

For only $89, attendees receive an All-Access pass to an expanded Fan Faire that includes sneak peeks at three monumental new games in development, plus special activities, roundtables, developer forums and live in-game tournaments and quests for SOE’s lineup of smash hits.

And that’s not all! The Fan Faire All-Access pass also includes:

• Receive an invitation to participate in the upcoming Free Realms Beta test!
• Receive an invitation to participate in the upcoming EverQuest® II expansion Beta test!*
• Attend the second annual Community Address from SOE President John Smedley
• Attend social activities, including a Kickoff Reception, a Grand Banquet, a Costume Contest and an offsite VIP Party with lots of fun, games and live entertainment!**
• Guilds who pre-register groups of 10 or more attendees for the All-Access pass online will receive 50% off the All-Access admission fee. (Offer does not apply to walk-in or day-pass registrants.)
• Play live demos of SOE’s upcoming titles

• Receive gifts and in-game items

Can’t make it for the whole weekend? Buy a day pass for only $39! You’ll still get a chance to participate in the daytime activities, such as forums, roundtables, live quests, tournaments and more.

WHEN: Registration is live on May 29, 2008

WHERE: Register at http://www.soefanfaire.com

The president of Sony Online Entertainment have been interviewed by gamesindustry.biz. Smedley share information about some of their upcoming titles such as The Agency and he explain how it's like to acquire a title like Vanguard.

How is work coming along on the PS3 titles?

John Smedley: Work's coming along great - we've been very careful to keep our games playable as much as possible all the time. We're using the Unreal 3 engine for DC and Agency, and because of that we're a long way along on those titles.

Q: How would you characterise the change that has undergone SOE in the past few years, in terms of working with partners?

John Smedley: One thing that's happened quite often is that we've been able to work with some great partners. We've worked with the LucasArts guys for years, and right now we're working with the Warner Bros team on DC Universe, so for us partnerships are what it's all about.

And we also launched the Pirates of the Burning Sea game with Flying Labs, so we're always out there looking for people to work with.

Q: How do you approach those partnerships? What level of involvement do you have in development, or marketing? What's your ideal partnership?

John Smedley: The ideal relationship is that we look at everything from the game first - like with Pirates of the Burning Sea, a high quality game, a very good developer. We work with people we like and want to work with, that's important too. There's just not enough hours in the day.

We all love what we do, so we want to work with people we care about, and on games that we want to play.

Full interview is available here.

GAMERS, GROUP UP: SIN CITY HOSTS SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT'S FAN FAIRE, AUGUST 14-17, 2008

-Ultimate Vacation Destination for Online Video Game Players Features Colorful Costumes, Passionate Players and More in Las Vegas-

April 17, 2008 San Diego, Calif. – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced the date for its annual Fan Faire, a real-life social event where thousands of gamers from around the world gather with members of their online community to play video games and make new friends.

This year’s four-day extravaganza, which includes gameplay tournaments, a costume contest, a silent auction for game memorabilia, real-life quests and exclusive ‘sneak peeks’ at upcoming products from SOE, will be held August 14-17, at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Fan Faire is by far the best vacation destination for SOE gamers, their families and friends,” said Alan Crosby, Senior Director, Global Community Relations, Sony Online Entertainment. “This is the ultimate party for gamers and a great chance to meet up with their online friends in the real world.”

In addition to enjoying the whimsical game-driven environment, attendees at SOE’s Fan Faire 2008 will be privy to the second ever live community address from SOE President John Smedley, as well as How-To forums, game development panels, a party for the players and much more. Fan Faire attendees will also have the opportunity to meet the development teams for some of the world’s most successful online PC games, with specific activities and games being planned for each game. In addition, demos of the upcoming SOE titles, The Agency™, Free Realms™, as well as others, will be showcased. Fan Faire promises to deliver a weekend packed with activities and adventure for everyone ranging from casual gaming fans to entire guilds of vacationing gamers who can bring their families along on this quest for fun and excitement.

For more information, or to register, visit http://www.soefanfaire.com

Yesterday we announced that SOE will report to Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, SCEI, effective April 1, 2008. The new structure is designed to mutually benefit both companies by further accelerating the PlayStation business through SOE’s strong online gaming expertise.

Warcry have talked with John Smedley, CEO of Sony Online Entertainment about what will happen.

Check out the full article here.

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LEVERAGE EXPERTISE IN THE COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

SAN DIEGO, CA & TOKYO, JAPAN (March 13, 2008) — In a strategic move to closely align itself with the strong growth of the worldwide online gaming market, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) will report to Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, SCEI, effective April 1, 2008. The new structure is designed to mutually benefit both companies by further accelerating the PlayStation business through SOE’s strong online gaming expertise.

“I am excited to be able to work with SOE even more closely, as online games and services become a more integral part of the PS3 entertainment experience,” Hirai said. “This new structure will allow us to take full advantage of the extensive breadth of expertise of the two companies and increase our range of exciting entertainment offerings to our consumers.”

San Diego-based SOE is currently part of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Under the new structure, SOE will continue to develop its games for the PC and the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system, and SOE President John Smedley will report to Hirai.

“We are thrilled to become a part of the incredible team that has made PLAYSTATION 3 the premier platform for next generation online gaming,” said Smedley. “This move is going to broaden our capabilities and expand the development of our products into new and exciting directions.”

About Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment (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 and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufacturers, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a new handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

SOE is replacing their Station Exchange service that allows players to buy and trade game currency and items for real money.

The full article is available here.

There was a rumor going around in late November that Scott Hartsman was going to be leaving SOE. Today he confirmed the rumor by posting a goodbye Producer's Letter on the EverQuest II forums.

For those who aren't familiar with Scott Hartsman, he's been EverQuest II's Senior Producer since shortly after the game's launch, and orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, taking the game from a title that was struggling and plagued with issues to one of the top MMOs in the world. Prior to that, Scott worked at SOE on EverQuest, as the Technical Director, and ushered in the new interface design which was one of the first interfaces in a game that could be modified by players.

Granted, it couldn't be modified to the extent of World of Warcraft's, but it was certainly one of the first of a new age of MMO experiences -- the mini-game of interface modification that has now captivated countless players, allowing them to show off their creativity to the world.

Gallenite leaves EverQuest II in very capable hands, and it will be interesting to see what he works on next. He's one of the most respected Producers in the industry when it comes to MMOs, so wherever he works next will definitely be worth keeping an eye on.

To read his goodbye letter or to wish him well, head over to Producer's Letter: December 2007. Part 1: Coda.

Today is a big day for MMOs, especially two of Sony Online Entertainment's flagship products, EverQuest and EverQuest II. The company has simultaneously released an expansion pack for each of the games today, introducing a whole slew of new levels, items, spells, creatures and overall content to each of the worlds.

"Launching dual expansions of this magnitude for two major MMOs on the same day is a Herculean feat," said Russ Shanks, COO and Vice President, Sony Online Entertainment. "It took a full year, dedicated development teams and the experienced infrastructure of SOE to be able to support these simultaneous launches. We're extremely proud of the breadth of the new adventures these two games offer and we're also grateful for the support from our beta testers and loyal community for their input on the final products."

EverQuest's expansion, EverQuest: Secrets of Faydwer is the fourteenth expansion for the historic game and returns to one of the original continents circa 1999 to introduce areas of the map that were never before available.

"We put a renewed emphasis on the test and adjust period for Secrets of Faydwer and increased the number of our Beta testers by 25 percent," said Clint Worley, Sr. Producer, Sony Online Entertainment. "The feedback we received from the players was outstanding and it raised the quality bar exponentially."

Secrets of Faydwer will give players the opportunity to advance beyond the current level cap - to level 80 - as well as obtain new Alternate Advancement abilities, new spells, explore 15 new zones and tackle some old Norrathian legends in Meldrath the Malignant and Kerafyrm the Awakened.

Meanwhile, in the EverQuest II camp, the latest expansion - Rise of Kunark - is now ready for players to explore. This expansion revives one of the most popular continents from the original EverQuest and even brings back quite a bit of nostalgia - keeping landmarks from dungeons and outdoor areas to remind players of the game's predecessor. "This is a return to nostalgia expansion -- where players will enjoy the best game experience in EQII's three year history and likely the most compelling content the franchise has ever seen," according to Scott Hartsman, Sr. Producer, Sony Online Entertainment.

Rise of Kunark follows Secrets of Faydwer by raising the level cap to 80. Additionally, a new race - the Sarnak - and a new starting area have been introduced. Players will also be able to work on all-new class-specific epic weapon quests, for the first time in EverQuest II's history; 24 quests in total have been added with multi-tier rewards starting at Legendary and ending in Fabled quality. Listed below are the features for both expansions.

EverQuest II Rise of Kunark Features

• All-New Player Race – Start up a brand new Sarnak – the classic dragon-like humanoid creature that now inhabits Timorous Deep. Exiled from your homeland and magically altered, discover how your new breed came to be, and eventually return home to help your race triumph over the evil Iksar.
• New Starting Area – Begin your adventure from the new starting area in the islands of Timorous Deep. Conclude your day of questing and retire to new housing within the Village of Gorowyn.
• Level Cap Raised – Continue your adventures with your existing character in Kunark, expanding on your achievements as Adventure and Tradeskill levels all increase to 80. Achievement points cap raised from 100 to 140.
• More Unique Zones – Advance your way through new, massive regions, containing many zones filled with nostalgia and danger, such as The Emerald Jungle, Skyfire Mountains, Sebilis, and Karnor's Castle.
• Hundreds of New Quests – The tale of Kunark is told through hundreds of new quests, aimed at gameplay of all types: solo, group, and raid.
• More Weapons & Armor – New quests for all 24 classes. Battle through the opposition and acquire additional fabled and legendary armor sets.
• New Mount – Explore the world on the shoulders of a new rampaging beast - The Kunarkian Rhinoceros.
• Dozens of New NPCs – Encounter and engage a wide variety of new enemies that inhabit the menacing lands of Kunark.
• Improved Features - New and improved racial abilities for all of the original races, new tradeskill interface and new in-game map capabilities.

EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer Features

• Level Cap Increase – Players can now achieve level 80.
• New High Level Content – Over 3,000 new item sets, more than 300 new spells and 30 new NPCs. In addition, prepare for the return of some of the best known NPC's in the EverQuest franchise!
• 15 New Zones – New realms for adventurers to explore, including: Meldrath's mechanical fortress Mechanotus, the new lands of the Loping Plains and Kerafyrm's lair Crystallos.
• Thrilling New Adventure Content – Travel through Faydwer solo or with a group to complete over 100 new challenges, including 28 high-end raids.
• Alternate Advancement Ability Lines – 170 Alternate Advancement Abilities with various ranks.
• Amazing Heroic Items – Increase stats above current caps!

To find out more about Secrets of Faydwer, head over to http://www.everquest.com. To learn about Rise of Kunark, visit http://www.everquest2.com.

Legends of Norrath has been a smash hit with EverQuest and EverQuest II players, and SoE is doing something to show appreciation. Four new loot cards are being added to booster packs - two each for EverQuest and EverQuest II - and they're even being added retroactively, meaning that when you opened your booster pack, if you would have gotten one of these cards, they'll be automatically credited to your account and available once the loot cards are added in. Check out the loot cards below to find out more about them!

EverQuest

EverQuest II

To find out more about this cool new online trading card game from SoE, head over to the Legends of Norrath website. If you play EverQuest or EverQuest II, you can even play from within the games!

The latest SoE Podcast is now available on the podcasts page at http://station.sony.com; episode 23 is a "Best of" edition where the podcast team looks back at some of the best moments thus far.

This is pretty important to get out there; SoE will be performing maintenance on all of their services on September 25th, as per the website announcement and that means that access to SoE games, websites, message boards, Knowledge Base, Station store and other services will be unavailable for approximately 24 hours.

Source

Sony Online Entertainment announced today that they've teamed up with Virgin Comics in an attempt to enter the gaming space in India, using the popular Ramayan 3392 franchise as its choice for the MMO.

On hand to make the announcement was Johny Smedly, President of SOE and Sharad Devarajin, Co-Founder and CEO of Virgin Comics.

“Virgin Comics approached us with a portfolio of amazing comic properties based on Indian lore. We particularly love Ramayan 3392 A.D., as we feel Virgin Comics’ telling of The R®m®yana is particularly gripping, graphically brilliant and lends itself extremely well to an MMO,” said Smedley. “This a fantastic time for us to expand our games to include this culturally rich storyline and we are honored to do this with a diversified, creative and experienced company like Virgin Comics.”

You can read more about this licensing on the SOEPress website.

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Fans of EverQuest(R) and EverQuest(R) II, as well as strategy game enthusiasts received a special surprise from Sony ( Nachrichten) Online Entertainment (SOE) president John Smedley during his Fan Faire Community Address today when he revealed plans for Legends of Norrath(TM), 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 http://www.legendsofnorrath.com

SOE CEO John Smedly will be announcing a new title at this week's SOE Fan Faire - starting in just one day - at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. This announcement will be occuring at 5:30 PM on August 3rd at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Amazon Ballroom, Suite G.

Smedley took the opportunity to talk about this upcoming announcement in his SOE Station Blog.

To read more, head over to John Smedley's blog.

Uberguilds Radio is excited to announce that starting on August 2nd through August 5th Uberguilds Radio will be covering the Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire live from the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. DJ Sam “QforQ” Houston will be broadcasting live from the Uberguilds Radio booth on the Fan Faire floor at the Rio. Tune in for live interviews with developers of your favorite SOE game, recaps of events, coverage of exclusive Fan Faire announcements and more!

During the week of Fan Faire Uberguilds Radio will be giving away SOE swag and running contests along with the live coverage of the Fan Faire. Make sure you tune in for our exclusive coverage of the event and a chance to take home some great gear!

If you have any questions you would like to be asked when interviewing developers from your favorite SOE game, please email them to Questions@UberguildsRadio.com with the game as the Subject.

Stay tuned to Uberguilds Radio and http://www.UberguildsRadio.com for more information and announcements leading up to and during SOE Fan Faire.

SOE is taking it one step further with their Station.com franchise. They'll be doing away with game-specific launchers, and introducing a brand new one-for-all launcher, called the Station Launcher. There's a bit of info on the SOE Press website about it.

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One place for all your games... fast, simple and ready to go anytime!

Station Launcher™ is a simple, one-click application that delivers games, community and digital media content all in one complete package right to your desktop.

• Find your friends fast and stay connected with voice chat and universal IM support.
• Get bonus content like free trials, trailers, wallpapers and more.
• Stay current on the latest Station news, Dev chats and upcoming games.
• Take advantage of pre-ordering and pre-loading your favorite Station games.
• Browse and buy games, new content and, soon, movies, music and more!

The release date for the new launcher hasn't been announced yet, but it sounds as if SOE is ready to take on the world with this all new solution to their lineup of MMO's.

The latest Podcast from Sony Online Entertainment is available on the SOE webpage. This Podcast has several interviews, short skits, and recent news about SOE games.

You can check out the Podcast by visiting their official Podcast page.