Sony Online Entertainment Continues Its Expansion Into the European Market; Translation Software and EverQuest Game Cards Help Cultivate European Gaming Community

Business Wire, Sept 11, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2001

Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) announced today two major initiatives that make good on the company's goal to bring it's online gaming offerings to a global audience.

In a step that transcends traditional language barriers, SOE is localizing several games at The Station (www.station.com) using human and automated translating agents for French, German, Japanese and Korean. The localization will allow players to fully interact textually within the game in their own language. Additionally, EverQuest(R) Game Cards will be sold at retail worldwide and accepted as online payment for the popular massively multiplayer game, EverQuest. These additions to SOE's international efforts come on the heels of new EverQuest servers for the European market.

"SOE is committed to making online games accessible to gamers around the world regardless of location or language differences," said Kelly Flock, president, Sony Online Entertainment. "Surpassing language barriers and payment methods puts Sony Online Entertainment one step closer to creating a true global gaming experience."

Sony Online Entertainment's global efforts are in response to customer demand and current increases in global adoption of the Internet. According to the International Development Conference, more than 50 percent of current Web users reside outside of the United States. This percentage is expected to increase to 60 percent by 2003. Additionally, by 2003 nearly half of worldwide e-commerce will take place outside the United States.

Localization Efforts

SOE has already begun the multi-language duplication process for several games. The identical version preserves the look and feel of the game while making it accessible to a foreign language audience. SOE's plans include the use of real-time machine translation of in-game player chat. This will allow players to chat even if they do not share a common language. The combination of localization and advanced translation software will facilitate SOE's position as a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games.

Leading off the localized products is EverQuest(R): The Shadows of Luclin(TM), the third expansion pack to EverQuest, the most successful online role-playing game of all time boasting more than 410,000 active subscribers comprised of players from all over the world. Other games planned for localization include: PlanetSide(TM), the world's first massively multiplayer first-person action game set in a persistent world and Star Wars(R) Galaxies(TM), an online game set within the Star Wars universe.

EverQuest Game Cards

Game Cards will allow cash holders to experience the best-selling online game of all time in various increments and will be available on retail shelves worldwide. The initial phase will begin in North America on October 1st with the worldwide launch following soon thereafter. Currently, SOE requires an American credit card number to subscribe to the online game and ultimately this has limited EverQuest's growth abroad.

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).