Jim Lee Dishes On DC Universe Online

Sony Online Entertainment treated members of the press to a luncheon earlier today, part of the Comic-Con 08 push for DC Universe Online. The massively-multiplayer online action RPG, coming to both the PlayStation 3 and PC platforms, will be playable by the public for the first time tonight. We'll be going hands-on with the title this evening, taking part in an in-game Brainiac themed live event with other DC heroes.

We sat down with DC Comics executive creator Jim Lee earlier today to talk about the SOE-developed, DC-branded game. Lee told me that he was the one who had approached SOE after catching wind of the project, an effort which had experienced multiple starts and stops.

As a fairly serious EverQuest player — Lee played Paladin, for the record — the artist turned exec knew his stuff. He dropped MMO-isms (LFG, instances, the grind) like it was his natural language, and with a working knowledge of the DC universe, fans of the genre and the brand should feel confident that it's creatively in good hands.

SOE Awards First G.I.R.L. Scholarship

Sony Online Entertainment has announced the first ever Gamers In Real Life (G.I.R.L.) design contest scholarship winner. Nearly 100 applicants submitted their video game concept art and essays for the contest, which kicked off in early April, and from those entries Julia Brasil of San Francisco was chosen to win a $10,000 scholarship at The Art Institute of California and a paid internship at Sony Online Entertainment.

“I am shocked and overjoyed to be the first G.I.R.L. Scholarship recipient,” said Brasil. “I’m really looking forward to my internship with SOE, and getting some hands-on experience at such a well-known company. It’s such a great opportunity.”

Shocked, Julia? You need to believe in yourself. Dreams really do come true; you're living proof.

With Marvel Universe Online canned by Microsoft, the only hope comic book geeks like myself have to see their favorite men-in-tights in an MMO setting is Sony Online Entertainment's DC Universe Online for the PC and PS3. The latest issue of Edge magazine has the scoop on the heroes versus villains title, and while you can't be Superman you might just get a chance to punch him right in his stupid Kryptonian face.

At its core it sounds very City of Heroes. Pick your alignment and powers, including movement abilities like flying and teleporting, and then run about locations like Metropolis and Gotham City (both confirmed in-game) and fight and/or cause crime. As you level up your basic power set is enhanced with further abilities to mimic the natural superhero learning curve.

SOE Fan Faire Registration Is Go

SOE is now accepting registration monies for their 2008 SOE Fan Faire, being held August 14th through the 17th at the Las Vegas Hilton in beautiful downtown...you know. $89 gets you an All-Access pass, which secures you a sneak-peek at "three monumental new games in development". Interesting.

The pass also gets you into the Free Realms beta test, a beta for an upcoming EQ2 expansion, gifts, in-game items, and the chance to listen to John Smedley talk for a bit.

Of course if you'd rather miss out on all the All-Access goodness you can pick up a day pass for $39, which just seems like a giant waste of time and money. Head over to http://www.soefanfaire.com/ and mention my name when you register to receive the awkward joy of having my name on your attendee badge. I've been doing it for years, and look where it's gotten me!

Smedley - MMOs To Sell PS3s

John Smedley loves his massively-multiplayer online games, and well he should, being a co-founder of Verant Interactive and now President of Sony Online Entertainment. Is he taking this love a bit too far in suggesting that one day MMOs will be a reason to buy a PlayStation 3?

I think MMOs are going to be a real strong selling point for the PS3 long term — there's going to be some great ones on the PS3. You're not going to find "The Agency" on the [Xbox] 360.

Game development is hot here [The Seattle Times via CVG]

"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."

Flynn wasn't super impressed by the GDC unveiling of Sony Online Entertainment's G.I.R.L. (Gamers In Real Life) program, but that didn't stop SOE from kicking off their first game design competition for the program.

The GIRL Game Design Competition scholarship is only open to current students of any The Art Institute schools and will reward one winner up to $10,000 towards tuition for his or her education at The Art Institute school at which he or she is currently enrolled. The winner will also receive a paid internship of up to ten weeks at one of the Sony Online Entertainment studios (located in Austin, Denver, San Diego and Seattle; room, board, transportation and living expenses not included).

To enter you need to complete an application and submit three pieces of concept art, a 500 word essay decribing the art, another 500 word essay describing why you want to work in the video games industry, how you could improve the image of women within video games and how your improvements could facilitate the creation of games that more women will play.

I strongly suggest pitching work on more IMAGINE games, just not the one's we've talked about.

G.I.R.L. Scholarship

Kaz Hirai Makes Sony Online Entertainment His Bitch

Sony is beefing up its PlayStation business, announcing that Sony Online Entertainment, developer and publisher of EverQuest, The Agency, Star Wars Galaxies and much, much more will now report to big boss Kaz Hirai. He's the president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment International, Ken Kutaragi's replacement. You know that.

While SOE has done its share of PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PSP development in the past, we would expect that the alignment with SCEI will mean additional focus on PlayStation output. Potentially good news for the PS3's first-party line up and the PlayStation Network.

The official word is that SOE will continue to develop for the PS3 and PC and that president John Smedley will be one rung under Hirai on the corporate ladder. All that officialness is in the following press release on the matter.

Yes, Females Play Video Games (More Should Make 'Em!)

Women are out there in significant numbers playing MMOs, action games, first-person shooters. What is lacking in the equation are women behind these games.

SOE And Vivox Go Way Beyond In-Game Voice Chat

The Agency Walk-Through

I hate to admit that I'm really looking forward to an MMO, mostly because I've been burned and burned out so many times on the over-used, under thought-out genre, but I really am getting psyched for The Agency. It looks like they've gone to great lengths to get rid of the stuff I hated in MMOs. Part two is on the jump.

The folks at Sony Online Entertainment are one of the few gaming companies who have a presence at CES, showing off upcoming wares like The Agency, the MMO that's heavy on action and light on grind. The development team walked us through a video demonstration of the game, one that was played live, but filmed from multiple perspectives and edited to show off the game's features, giving plenty of details on how the PC and PlayStation 3 game will work.

One thing's for sure, The Agency isn't even remotely attempting to attract lapsed Everquest or EVE Online gamers or anyone who feels that chopping virtual lumber is a fun way to spend a Friday night. No, The Agency is all tits, ass and guns, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. There are no bearded dwarf women or obese two-headed trolls to play, just foxy chicks in skin-tight outfits with overtly sexual walk animations and super cool, badass dudes that come in two flavors: sleek and burly.

Another one bites the dust.

While I'm happy and all for Matt Slagle's move into a job he seems to be really jazzed about, I'm not so thrilled about what it means for games' journalism. As the National Technology and Business reporter for the Associated Press, Slagle was one of the few mainstream reporters out there who really got gaming and it's disheartening to see him leave. We need more people like Slagle covering the biz, not less. At least they still have Lou Kesten. Let's hope the hire someone to work with him on ever-expanding beat.

Jubilant, yet still depressing press release on the jump.

Sony Online Entertainment Looks To India

India may be the world's best source for colorful musical numbers and technical support, but the MMO industry is just getting started there, and Sony Online Entertainment will be there. They are currently in taks with local talent, with plans on opening a studio in the country early next year.

"We need to have Indian content for our games and we are looking for local partners," said Dave Christensen, VP of business development and international operations at SOE, speaking during a gaming conference in Mumbai, India.

SOE Heads to India [Next-Gen]

SOE Teams Up With Toys For Tots

Gamers in the San Diego area can add Sony Online Entertainment to the list of partners helping the United States Marine Corps Reserve kick off its Toys for Tots Program in the region. A list of fund raisers and events is after the jump. For those not in the area, but in the United States, check your local collection locations at the official Toys For Tots web site.

Folks living outside the States may want to research their regional options at the Child's Play charity site or simply make a donation online. Other helpful charitable options are certainly welcome and encouraged in the comments.

SOE Revealing New Game at Fan Faire

Next week will be a doozy for fests and such, what with BlizzCon, QuakeCon and Sony Online Entertainment's Fan Faire all happening at the same time.

SOE says they will be unveiling a new game at this year's Faire. In fact their own president John "Smed, not smeg" Smedley will do the honors during his first ever community address next Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Could be interesting. Gamers at the Faire will even be able to check out the game, which I saw a month or so back and which will go live later in August. (I'm under embargo until after the announcement, sorry.)

Other games at the event will include Pirates of the Burning Sea, Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising, Secrets of Faydwer, the next expansion for EverQuest, and Rise of Kunark, the upcoming expansion for EverQuest II. What, no Agency?

We won't be sending anyone to the event, but if you're planning on attending take plenty of pictures for us.

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