Sony Online Entertainment Partners With DC Comics to Publish First EverQuest Comic Book; Adventures in Norrath to Continue in Comic Book Series

Business Wire, Oct 24, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech & Entertainment Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2001

Sony Online Entertainment announced today that EverQuest(R), the world's No. 1 online multiplayer game, will be available as a comic book series later this year.

Wildstorm Productions, an imprint of DC Comics, will publish EverQuest comic books, one-shots and graphic novels based on one of the largest fantasy worlds ever created.

The first project, a one-shot prestige format book, will be co-written by key members of the EverQuest Development Team, and Jim Lee, Editor Director for Wildstorm Productions. The first book gives the background story of EverQuest while following the quest of Firiona Vie, a high elf Paladin, in her attempt to learn what the Ring of Scale has in store for her fellow Norrathians. Future books will be self-contained stories dealing with a number of different heroes and the adventures that unfold during their travels.

"The world of EverQuest lends itself to great storytelling," said John Smedley, chief operating officer, Sony Online Entertainment. "We're thrilled to partner with DC Comics and Wildstorm Productions to bring EverQuest to a different entertainment medium."

Jim Lee, editor director, Wildstorm Productions, "Being a dedicated EverQuest fan for quite some time, I'm confident that we can deliver a compelling fantasy world that will please EverQuest players and comic book fans alike."

Continuing to grow with top-selling expansions The Ruins of Kunark(TM) and The Scars of Velious(TM), EverQuest proves to be one of the largest fantasy worlds ever created online. During peak periods, more than 98,000 adventurers and dragon slayers have explored the world of Norrath simultaneously. The active global EverQuest subscriber base is comprised of players from various countries throughout the "real" world, including the U.S., England, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy and Australia.

The Station(R) (www.station.com) is the official provider of EverQuest, with software updates and news about the game, message boards and other community features, as well as an easy-to-use billing system for EverQuest's monthly subscription fee.

About Wildstorm Productions

In 1998, DC Comics acquired WildStorm Productions, a successful independent comic book publisher located in La Jolla, Calif. This new alliance has helped DC strengthen its position as the largest and most diverse publisher in the comic book business. WildStorm continues to run under the editorial direction of its founder, acclaimed comic book writer/artist Jim Lee. Since its inception in 1992, WildStorm has made a lasting impression on the marketplace with its stellar lineup of titles, including some of the most commercially successful comics being published today.

About DC Comics

DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros. an AOL Time Warner Co., is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC superheroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics' Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.

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, SOE develops, publishes and distributes entertainment for the PC and online markets. With more than 10 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(R) Galaxies(TM) and Sovereign(TM).