Star Wars Galaxies Official Web Site Surpasses 100,000 Registered Users; Key Milestone Coincides With One-Year Anniversary of www.starwarsgalaxies.com

Business Wire, Dec 17, 2001

Business Editors/Entertainment Writers

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. & SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 2001

LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC and Sony Online Entertainment Inc. today announced that www.starwarsgalaxies.com, the official web site for LucasArts' upcoming Star Wars(R) Galaxies(TM) massively multiplayer online role-playing game series, reached a significant milestone by surpassing 100,000 registered users. This key achievement also coincides with the site's one year anniversary. Registered users may participate in weekly polls, post to message boards, download exclusive content, and receive a monthly newsletter.

"As in all massively multiplayer role-playing games, Star Wars Galaxies will rely upon a strong and active community to populate the universe we're creating," says Haden Blackman, producer of Star Wars Galaxies for LucasArts. "The 100,000 registered members represent the foundation for this ever-growing community. We're absolutely amazed the community has grown so rapidly and is so enthusiastic about a game that's still several months away from launch."

"Fans are very knowledgeable about the history and technical aspects of the Star Wars universe," says Rich Vogel, executive producer, Sony Online Entertainment. "By collecting opinions and ideas from the Star Wars community, we're able to supplement our design with some of the creative touches fans have been suggesting through the site."

LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment hope to attract hundreds of thousands of players to Star Wars Galaxies, which will feature dynamic role-playing and ground-based adventures across multiple planets in the classic Star Wars timeframe. Game play will offer a unique combination of combat, exploration, social interaction, specialized missions, and daring quests.

The Star Wars Galaxies game series is being developed by Sony Online Entertainment, and will be distributed and sold at retail by LucasArts and available for play exclusively online at The Station, www.station.com.

About LucasArts

LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC is a leading international developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for a variety of computer and console platforms. Based in San Rafael, Calif., as well as on the Internet at www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts is one of five companies in the Lucas group which include Lucasfilm Ltd., Lucas Digital Ltd. LLC, Lucas Licensing Ltd., and Lucas Learning Ltd. Lucasfilm is one of the leading film and entertainment companies in the world. Lucasfilm's businesses include George Lucas' film and television production and distribution activities as well as the business activities of the THX Group. Lucas Digital, which consists of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Skywalker Sound, provides visual effects and audio post-production services to the entertainment industry. Lucas Licensing is responsible for the merchandising of all Lucasfilm's film and television properties. Lucas Learning creates engaging interactive entertainment products that provide learning opportunities through exploration and discovery.

About Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), the online gaming division of Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment, is a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming. Headquartered in San Diego, California, SOE develops, publishes and distributes entertainment for the PC and online markets. With more than 11 million registered users, SOE's award-winning web site, The Station(R) (www.station.com) hosts a variety of entertaining games and player communities spanning all genres. In addition to blockbuster hits EverQuest(R) and Jeopardy! Online, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development such as PlanetSide(TM), Star Wars Galaxies(TM) and Sovereign(TM).