Sony Online Entertainment Launches EverQuest: Trilogy; Epic Adventures Await in First EverQuest Anthology

Business Wire, Sept 17, 2001

Business Editors & Entertainment Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2001

Sony Online Entertainment announced today that EverQuest(R): Trilogy, an anthology that includes the original game and two expansion packs, is now available in stores everywhere for the SRP of $39.99.

EverQuest: Trilogy offers players five enormous continents to explore, 13 races, and more than 400 supporting characters from snow orcs to giant scorpions for one low price. With over 400,000 subscribers, EverQuest is one of the world's most successful massively multiplayer online role-playing games.

"We're pleased to offer prospective EverQuest fans the opportunity to experience Norrath on a grand scale," said Don Vercelli, vice president of sales and marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. "EverQuest: Trilogy is a great way for new players to experience all aspects of EverQuest and prepare for this December's launch of the highly anticipated EverQuest: The Shadows of Luclin(TM) expansion pack."

EverQuest: Trilogy features:

-- EverQuest(R) Classic game

-- EverQuest(R): The Ruins of Kunark(TM) Expansion Pack

-- EverQuest(R): The Scars of Velious(TM) Expansion Pack

-- Collectible map of Norrath

-- Two collectible EverQuest figurines (Collector's Edition Only)

-- Strategy Guide for new players

EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark expansion was released April 24, 2000. Since then, it has become a part of the basic EverQuest package, giving players more than 20 new zones and a new playable race of lizard men called the "Iksar." In addition, the maximum player character level was raised from 50 to 60.

The most recent expansion, EverQuest: The Scars of Velious, was released on Dec. 5, 2000. It provides 19 more zones of content designed for level 30 characters and above.

Due to launch this December, the EverQuest: The Shadows of Luclin expansion pack gives players a massively enhanced 3D graphics engine to explore Norrath and its moon, Luclin. In addition to new adventure zones, items, creatures and spells, and a new playable character class, players will be able to traverse the lands of EverQuest on horseback for the first time.

Continuing to grow with top-selling expansions The Ruins of Kunark and The Scars of Velious, EverQuest is 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 of $9.89.

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).