"Taking comic books into the online space presents an exciting and unique opportunity for me as a writer," said Johns. "I'm looking forward to creating a thrilling story that explains why the DC Universe has suddenly been populated with millions of new heroes and villains in a way that will engage players."

Excuse me if I gush a little bit, but the union of these two creative minds can only mean good things for the upcoming MMO. The only thing that could go wrong with a dream team like this working on the project is their work not translating well to the new medium, and that hardly ever happens. Hit the jump for some new screens from the game while I try to swallow that massive lie in the name of hope.

Geoff Johns Announced As Writer For Upcoming DC Universe™ Online Video Game

Acclaimed DC Comics Writer To Script DCUO Back Story

AUSTIN, Texas - Sept. 15, 2008 - Geoff Johns, the renowned writer behind popular DC Comics such as Green Lantern, Action Comics and Justice Society of America, has been brought on to write the saga of the DC Universe™ Online (DCUO) massively multiplayer action game from Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) in a first-ever collaboration with legendary comic artist Jim Lee, the company announced today.

DCUO for the PLAYSTATION® 3 computer entertainment system and the PC is currently in development by SOE in collaboration with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

"Having a writer of Geoff's caliber brings even more authenticity to the DC Universe Online, and should provide fans with an exciting new medium for his storytelling skills," said John Blakely, SOE-Austin's VP of Development. "Together with Jim Lee, who is our executive creative director for the game, we are tapping into the very best talent from the comic book industry."

Johns, 35, was born in Detroit and studied media arts, screenwriting, film production and theory at Michigan State University. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked as an intern and later an assistant for film director Richard Donner, whose credits include Superman: The Movie, Lethal Weapon 4 and Conspiracy Theory.

Johns began writing comics starting with 1999's Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., which he created for DC Comics. Comic writing eventually became his full-time career with notable works including The Flash, Teen Titans, 52, Action Comics, and Infinite Crisis.

"Taking comic books into the online space presents an exciting and unique opportunity for me as a writer," said Johns. "I'm looking forward to creating a thrilling story that explains why the DC Universe has suddenly been populated with millions of new heroes and villains in a way that will engage players."

"We've brainstormed about the DC Universe many times but this will be our first time working together on something of this magnitude," added Jim Lee. "This really shows the level of commitment everyone on this project has to capturing the DC Universe in an authentic, compelling way."

DCUO offers a dramatic online setting where players can enter the DC Universe and battle alongside or against their favorite DC Comics heroes and villains including such icons as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Joker, as well as many other fan favorites such as Green Lantern, The Flash, Catwoman and Martian Manhunter. The action and drama will play out in such well-known locations as Gotham City and Metropolis among others.

SOE's Wilson Talks Connected PC, PS3 Game Worlds [Gamasutra]

The good news for those who paid good money to get to Fan Faire was that each attendee would get the expansions free. Well, you know... "free"

The full list of features, including new zones, new dungeons and a higher level cap, in both SOE expansions is contained within the press release after the jump. Should reading bore you to tears, lovely new screen shots of both EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey and EverQuest Seeds of Destruction are in our galleries below.

LEGACY OF EVERQUEST® FRANCHISE CONTINUES WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF EverQuest® AND EverQuest® II EXPANSIONS AT FAN FAIRE

All attendees to Receive Both Expansions for Free as Part of Living Legacy Program!

LAS VEGAS, NEV. – Aug. 15, 2008 – Thousands of video game enthusiasts are in Las Vegas for the annual Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire where the upcoming expansions for the online role-playing games EverQuest® (EQ) and EverQuest® II (EQII) were just announced. EverQuest® Seeds of Destruction™ is scheduled to be available on Oct.21, and EverQuest® II The Shadow Odyssey™ is scheduled to be available on Nov.18. As part of SOE’s extensive Living Legacy program designed to entice new and past EQ and EQII players into the games and reward the existing loyal playerbase, all Fan Faire attendees will receive the software for both expansions for free, an unprecedented offering.

“It is such a privilege to announce the upcoming expansions for two of our most popular games, EverQuest and EverQuest II, in a venue like Fan Faire where we are joined by thousands of our loyal fans, and it seems more than appropriate to give those fans access to both of the expansions for free,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “Both of these expansions are rich in content and adventure, and will provide our players with hours of excitement as they explore the online world of Norrath.”

EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey is the fifth expansion for the critically acclaimed EQII franchise and follows the award-winning and best-selling Rise of KunarkTM expansion. New players and veterans alike will journey through a substantial amount of exquisite content with more than 20 new zones, including the Moors of Ykesha, a massive outdoor zone once known as Innothule Swamp, and the legendary dungeon Guk. Throughout the summer months, players were treated to prelude events, such as the Void Storms, that gave them a glimpse into the expansion lore and content from The Shadow Odyssey, building the anticipation leading up to the launch.

EverQuest is rapidly approaching its 10th anniversary, and Seeds of Destruction is the 15th expansion for the genre-defining online game. For the first time ever, players will have the ability to hire non-player characters (NPCs) to aid them in their heroic endeavors in Seeds of Destruction. These mercenaries will be valuable player assets as they thwart the efforts of Discord’s Dark God. This expansion also includes a level cap increase to 85, new dynamic high-level raid content, new spells and new alternate advancement abilities.

EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey Feature Set:
· New Zones: Journey through more than 20 new zones, including the new overland zone, Innothule Swamp.
· Dungeon Adventures: Experience nostalgic EverQuest dungeon themes, such as Najena, Mistmoore and The Sebilisian Empire, and adventure through more than 18 goal-based dungeons, such as Ruins of Guk and Befallen.
· Achievement Point: An achievement level cap increase to 200 that offers new achievements for class-specific lines.
· Dungeon Delving: A new mission system for players to replay content with new and different experiences.
· Heritage Quests: Five new quests with unique rewards being added.
· Shard Reward System: A new, mysterious group of erudites with powerful new armor and equipment will barter for void shards earned during players’ encounters
· Epic Tales: Stories told through battles with dozens of new creatures and hundreds of new quests.
· New Deities: Rodcet Nife and Anashti Sul are introduced into Norrath.
· Access to All Previous Content: Includes all previous expansion packs and adventure packs.
· Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck and booster pack.

EverQuest Seeds of Destruction Feature Set:

* Mercenaries: Player-controlled NPCs are now available and will not only scale to the appropriate level, but also think and act for themselves with limited player guidance. Designed for extra support or extra muscle in PvE encounters, mercenary archetypes include a variety of classes from all playable races.
* Level Cap Increase: Players can now achieve level 85 with new high-level item sets, new alternate advancement ability lines and new spells.
* 20 New Zones: Features re-imagined classic content and brand-new realms for adventurers to explore, including the eerie wasteland of the Void, the Battle of Rathe on the Plane of Earth and the ultimate Heart of Darkness in the Plane of Discord.
* Access to All Previous Content - Includes all features and content from the 14 previous expansion packs.
* Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck, booster pack and loot item.

In addition to attending exclusive panels this weekend at Fan Faire, eligible players with active accounts will receive early access to beta for one or both games, depending on their preference. EQ’s public beta is anticipated to begin on Aug. 19, and EQII’s public beta is anticipated to begin on Sept. 2.

For more expansion information from EverQuest Seeds of Destruction and a free trial of EverQuest, visit www.everquest.com.

For expansion information from on EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey and a free trial of EverQuest II, visit www.everquest2.com.

About Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development.

Station Voice uses Vivox to allow players to talk to each other in online games. The service currently will allow players to talk person-to-person with any microphone and headset combo, chat with their party, guild or any group, moderator controls and individual mute and volume settings all running on Vivox servers to cut down on bandwidth issues.

Sony Online Entertainment says the free service will be coming to EverQuest players next month, also for free. They also plan to use the voice chatting service in their upcoming massively multiplayer game The Agency and other current and future titles.

SOE first announced the new service back in February, saying that it would also include in-game voicemail, voice masking and multiple channels.

What happened?

Sony Online Entertainment says they're planning on implementing other Vivox services laster this year, including those fancy "voice fonts."

“In-game voice chat is an enhanced new feature gamers of all levels can enjoy. Now, SOE’s players can easily talk to one another and better enjoy the online gaming experience,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “The integration of Station Voice into these initial games was seamless, and we look forward to incorporating this added gaming experience into other SOE titles, as well as implementing the next phase of features to come soon.”

Someone who plays either of the games should let us know how it's looking today, now that the service is live.

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.

Players will be given the option of creating a good or evil character in DCUO, each with a possible dozen unique characteristics, such as power type (ice, fire, mental, sonic), power source (ring, elemental), and movement type (flying, speed). Given Lee's background as a serious MMO player, I had to ask what he was planning on playing in DC Universe Online when it shipped.

"I haven't decided," he said. "I'll probably have one public character and one private character — a villain."

I asked Jim if he was partial to any particular DC mainstays, if he'd lobbied for the inclusion of anyone in particular.

"I kind of have to be impartial," he said, noting that it was more important to ensure that DC's classic characters and classic designs were integrated accurately into the massive multiplayer world.

Sadly, that doesn't include some of the more off-kilter characters, non-humanoids like Krypto the Super Dog, Bat-Mite or various multi-limbed things from the Green Lantern Corps. They may appear in the game in some form, but if you're looking to create a super monkey that can ally with the Superman family or even Gorilla Grodd, you might have to wait for the expansion.

One surprise that Lee mentioned is that alter-egos will play a role in the game. You may have to spend some time as a lowly photographer, for example, one who walks among the regular citizens, preserving your secret identity. "We have to have it be meaningful," Lee said of superhero alter-egos. This aspect of the gameplay, Lee hinted, may address the dreaded "grind", something he says players won't spend much time worrying about.

As far as the look of the game, for which Lee is largely responsible, we learned that some characters that we've already seen are undergoing visual refinements. "The Joker is one character I wanted to tweak," he said, noting that the Heath Ledger/Christopher Nolan take on the Joker from The Dark Knight may have been part of the catalyst for the change. Part of the reason for the change, however, was that the current model of the Joker simply didn't fit with the rest of the game's non-playable DC heroes and villains.

We'll be going hands-on with the game soon and will report our impressions of DC Universe Online later this week.

“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.

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS $10,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR WINNER OF FIRST-EVER G.I.R.L. GAME DESIGN COMPETITION
G.I.R.L. Scholarship Program Helps Boost Female Educational Opportunity
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - July 8, 2008 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC today announced that Julia Brasil of San Francisco has won the 2008 G.I.R.L. Game Design Competition. The competition was the first of its kind and was promoted in conjunction with The Art Institutes system of schools, to encourage students toward career paths in the creative and applied arts, ultimately resulting in the development of games that are more interesting for women to play.

Brasil, a student in the Game Art & Design program, was awarded a $10,000 tuition scholarship toward her education at The Art Institute of California – San Francisco and a paid internship of up to 10 weeks at the Sony Online Entertainment studios of her choice in Austin, Denver, San Diego or Seattle.

“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.”

Brasil was one of nearly 100 applicants vying for the winning title of the 2008 SOE G.I.R.L. Game Design Competition. In order to become the winner, Brasil had to submit an in-game design, original concept art and two essays.

“We believe our groundbreaking G.I.R.L. scholarship can give Julia the foundation she needs to pursue a successful career in the video games business. SOE is thrilled to jumpstart the first step in pursuing her goals,” said Torrie Dorrell, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. “We anticipate G.I.R.L. continuing to evolve and snowball, creating even more opportunities for women to get behind these games.”

Due to the popularity of the initiative, SOE will make official G.I.R.L — Gamers In Real Life — T-shirts available for purchase sometime this summer. For more information about G.I.R.L., go to girl.soe.com.

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.

The big named superheroes and villains will be out and about, so if you cause enough mayhem you might just aggro Batman, which is always a bad idea. Conversely, heroes may find themselves fighting side-by-side with their idols, or even fighting to save them. There will even be PVP arenas for those content on just beating the living crap out of each other.

By far the most intriguing feature discussed is the chance for comic story lines to crossover into the game world. Major events like 52 or Crisis on Infinite Crises will be experienced in-game as well as in the comics.

"We can tie-in future DC tentpole events and translate the stories for the gaming world, and have them occur simultaneously," said executive creative director Jim)Lee. "The possibilities are numerous and very exciting."

We'll be poking at DC Universe next month at E3, where we'll see if we can get them to say "tentpole events" again with a straight face.

New DC Universe Online details emerge [Eurogamer]

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!

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."

GAMERS, GROUP UP: SIN CITY HOSTS SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT'S

FAN FAIRE, AUGUST 14-17, 2008

-Ultimate Vacation Destination for Online Video Game Players Features Colorful Costumes, Passionate Players and More in Las Vegas-

April 17, 2008 San Diego, Calif. - Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced the date for its annual Fan Faire, a real-life social event where thousands of gamers from around the world gather with members of their online community to play video games and make new friends.

This year's four-day extravaganza, which includes gameplay tournaments, a costume contest, a silent auction for game memorabilia, real-life quests and exclusive 'sneak peeks' at upcoming products from SOE, will be held August 14-17, at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"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."

In addition to enjoying the whimsical game-driven environment, attendees at SOE's Fan Faire 2008 will be privy to the second ever live community address from SOE President John Smedley, as well as How-To forums, game development panels, a party for the players and much more. Fan Faire attendees will also have the opportunity to meet the development teams for some of the world's most successful online PC games, with specific activities and games being planned for each game. In addition, demos of the upcoming SOE titles, The Agency™, Free Realms™, as well as others, will be showcased. Fan Faire promises to deliver a weekend packed with activities and adventure for everyone ranging from casual gaming fans to entire guilds of vacationing gamers who can bring their families along on this quest for fun and excitement.

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

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT TO AWARD UP TO $10,000 SCHOLARSHIP TO HELP GIRLS GET THEIR GAME ON

- Now Accepting Applications for G.I.R.L-Gamers in Real Life-Competition-

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -April 1, 2008 - Applications are now being accepted for the 2008 G.I.R.L. Game Design Competition scholarship of up to $10,000 designed to educate and recruit more women into the field of video game production and design. Sponsored by Sony Online Entertainment LLC. (SOE) a global leader in online gaming, applications and complete rules for entry are available online at www.girl.soe.com.

The SOE G.I.R.L. — Gamers In Real Life — competition is the first of its kind to encourage students toward career paths in the field of video game design and production, ultimately resulting in the development of games that are more interesting for women to play.

"The secret is out: Females game. We're just trying to encourage more women to make the games they obviously enjoy playing, said Torrie Dorrell, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. "With the application process starting today, we're taking a concrete step towards opening the door a little wider for women who want to go into game development, and that can only help expand our industry's audience."

The SOE G.I.R.L competition was created in response to survey findings that focused on women in the field of video games. The survey interviewed female students currently enrolled in Game Art & Design, Visual & Game Programming and Visual Effects & Motion Graphics programs at The Art Institutes schools. The SOE-sponsored survey revealed that:
—61% of students surveyed believe male dominance in the industry is a deterrent to women pursuing a career in gaming
—42% of those surveyed would like to see women portrayed as leaders in video games
—35% of the students surveyed want to create more games that are fun and interesting for women to play
—31% of those surveyed want to become involved in gaming because more women need to represent the industry

According to the Entertainment Software Association, thirty-eight percent of all game players are women. In fact, women over the age of 18 represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (31%) than boys age 17 or younger (20%). 1

The G.I.R.L Game Design Competition officially begins today, April 1, 2008. In order to be eligible to participate, entrants must be currently enrolled at one of The Art Institutes schools, have a graduation date of June 2009 or later and must comply with the Official Rules [Official Rules]. Entrants are required to complete an online application and submit an in-game design, concept art and two (2) essays. Online applications must be completed on or before April 15, 2008 and related asset submissions must be received on or before May 31, 2008. The winner will be announced on or about June 30, 2008.

One skilled student will win up to $10,000 towards tuition for his or her education at The Art Institutes school at which he or she is currently enrolled and a paid internship of up to ten (10) 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). Entrants will be judged by a panel of industry professionals from SOE. To learn more, visit girl.soe.com.

Following the success of the announcement of the competition, SOE has created an official G.I.R.L blog written by Tracy Seamster, game designer for SOE's upcoming release, The Agency™. To visit the G.I.R.L blog, go to http://gamersinreallife.wordpress.com/.

Survey Methodology
Sony Online Entertainment commissioned Insight Express to conduct an online survey of The Art Institutes students in January 2008. A total of 143 students were invited to take the survey via e-mail and 53 students completed the survey (37% response rate).

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.

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.

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LEVERAGE EXPERTISE IN THE COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

SAN DIEGO, CA & TOKYO, JAPAN (March 13, 2008) — In a strategic move to closely align itself with the strong growth of the worldwide online gaming market, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) will report to Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, SCEI, effective April 1, 2008. The new structure is designed to mutually benefit both companies by further accelerating the PlayStation business through SOE's strong online gaming expertise.

"I am excited to be able to work with SOE even more closely, as online games and services become a more integral part of the PS3 entertainment experience," Hirai said. "This new structure will allow us to take full advantage of the extensive breadth of expertise of the two companies and increase our range of exciting entertainment offerings to our consumers."

San Diego-based SOE is currently part of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Under the new structure, SOE will continue to develop its games for the PC and the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system, and SOE President John Smedley will report to Hirai.

"We are thrilled to become a part of the incredible team that has made PLAYSTATION 3 the premier platform for next generation online gaming," said Smedley. "This move is going to broaden our capabilities and expand the development of our products into new and exciting directions."

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufacturers, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a new handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

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.

Ma Bell, meet Joe Gamer: Sony Online Entertainment Ushers in New Era OF voice chat FOR ONLINE GAMES with powerful suite of Communication services

- SOE Gives In-Game Chat an Audio Overhaul in Agreement with Vivox® -

San Francisco, Calif. — February 20, 2008 — Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, is poised to revolutionize the way gamers stay connected with sophisticated new voice services where fellow gamers and guild mates are never more than a shout away.

Need standard chat for groups and raids? Check. Don't want to tie up your own bandwidth? Roger that. Want your voice to sound completely different? Done. Late for your raid but want to take part in the group setup by cell phone? Can do. Dream of having in-game voicemail? There ya go. Playing a non-SOE game but want to use this service, free of charge? Aye.

These powerful community building features and tools are coming to SOE games at no additional cost to players and go far beyond basic real-time chat with the usual headset and microphone setup that is commonly used today.

In an agreement announced Wednesday at the Game Developers Conference between SOE and Vivox Inc., an established provider of high quality voice communications, players will be able to access a suite of voice communication tools including voice mail, voice fonts to synthesize player voices into in-game character voices, and the ability to receive external calls in SOE games.

"We're proud to offer this level of communication power and flexibility to gamers. These new voice services not only replace many of the voice chat options currently available but add a broad range of capabilities that streamline communication and empower gamers to maintain their online relationships in both the real and virtual worlds," said John Smedley, President of Sony Online Entertainment. "We are giving gamers the ultimate one-stop shop to stay in touch at all times."

Beyond voice and guild chat channels, North American players will get a special PIN number to dial in from either a land line or cell phone and connect with fellow guild members. SOE anticipates adding additional features including voicemail, broadcast messages, SMS text messaging and an initial offering of six high-quality voice fonts that replace a player's actual voice with something completely different.

With the 3D voice chat, players will be able to walk their avatars into the taverns in EverQuest II, for example, and strike up a conversation with players like they would walking into a tavern or restaurant in the real world. Gamers can manage their conversations with buddy lists, volume controls and commands to leave and join audio channels at will.

SOE's plan is to add these services to SOE's games, as well as integrate it with SOE's Station Launcher, so anyone who uses the Station Launcher, even if they don't otherwise subscribe to an SOE game, can take advantage of these powerful voice chat capabilities. Furthermore, the voice features will be hosted and professionally managed on the Vivox Network so users won't be cutting into their valuable bandwidth.

"We are thrilled to team up with SOE to bring Vivox voice chat and related services to their game community," said Rob Seaver, CEO of Vivox. "SOE is an industry leader with a long history of offering exceptional games and innovative services to players. Their plan to offer such a comprehensive voice service to their gamers is just another reflection of their commitment to delivering the best possible game experience and fostering community."

SOE's current catalog of massively multiplayer online games includes EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Star Wars Galaxies, PlanetSide and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, as well as upcoming titles such as The Agency.

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.

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.

That may sound like there's a limited character customization option, but it's actually quite broad, from what we've seen. It's just that everyone seems to be painfully attractive, as the game is striving to be the MMO equivalent of a Bond flick. Character design seems to have a bit of Team Fortress 2 aesthetic to it, with an emphasis on more caricaturist silhouettes. The two agency factions, UNITE and Paragon, will add more variety, as the former is more upscale with the latter more a gritty merc type.

One of the design decisions that will probably be welcomed by non-MMO types is that character creation doesn't lock you into a class, as the game is essentially classless. Your class is what you wear, so if you want to play as spec ops or a field medic, you'll have to deck yourself out in the appropriate gear.

The game is running on the Unreal Engine 3 and even in it's alpha stage, looks like a graphically competent shooter and a rather pretty MMO.

Being heavy on action as a shooter and a time-investment as an online multiplayer game, there has to be something to do between the bits of target tracking and large scale firefights. You won't be craft grinding, however, as NPC agency operatives will pick up the slack for you there—think 24's Chloe to your Jack Bauer or Q to your Bond. They'll not only help with tech, you can call on them from the field to support your stealth efforts. There won't be much in the way of blacksmithing or pelt gathering. Instead, the team has added things like casino games and intel gathering by taking photos, along with vehicle challenges, to spice up the gameplay. You'll also be able to play a game of Q*bert, should the mood strike you, as it's one of the included mini-games.

One of the more interesting aspects is The Agency's reach outside of the console or PC. The team is planning to feature SMS support in the final product, so, if you opt-in for it, you can receive text messages from your agency operatives with updates and story driving situations. Talk of PSP and Home support was mentioned, but given the vagueness of those plans, we'll wait for a future update before getting too excited about such talk.

It sounds like the gang at Sony Online Entertainment are trying to do something original with their latest MMO effort and the game seems to have a solid set of original ideas. Whether those disparate parts can come together to be an ultimately satisfying shooter and an online RPG remains to be seen, as the game is still early. We're looking forward to playing at least one of the betas, a time frame for which wasn't provided.

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 NAMES
MATT SLAGLE AS PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER
Tenured Associated Press Journalist Joins SOE to Oversee PR for SOE Austin

San Diego, CA January 3, 2008 - Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), a worldwide leader in online gaming, has appointed Matt Slagle to the role of Public Relations Manager. Slagle joins SOE from The Associated Press' Dallas bureau where he covered the video game industry for over a decade. In this newly-created role, Slagle will work directly with SOE Austin, the studio responsible for the highly-anticipated DC Universe massively multiplayer online game (MMO) as well as Star Wars Galaxies®. Courtney Simmons, SOE's Senior Director of Corporate Communications, to whom Slagle will report, made the announcement today.
"Having immersed himself with the players and people of video games, Matt brings to SOE an unparalleled understanding of the industry's business and consumers. His valuable perspective and experience will undoubtedly serve us in launching one of SOE Austin's most important franchises in the DC Comics product. We look forward to much success together," said Simmons.

"Transitioning over to SOE creates a unique opportunity to apply my interests and expertise in the video game industry," Slagle said. "As a lifelong gamer who has made a career out of covering the business, I'm looking forward to working on brands as large and influential as the games created by Sony Online."
While the two interacted directly through normal course of business, a posting by Simmons on her Facebook page alerted Slagle to the PR Manager opportunity.

As the National Technology and Business reporter for the AP, Slagle covered industry features, financial and product news for Fortune 500 technology companies. More recently, he also led the AP's national video game coverage, including reviews and industry features. Slagle, who holds a BA in Journalism from Indiana University, began his career in 1997 as an AP editorial assistant.

"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]

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.

TOYS FOR TOTS SAN DIEGO ANNOUNCES 2007 HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE EVENTS

San Diego, CA November 19, 2007 - The San Diego chapter of the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program today announced the 2007 Holiday Toy Drive schedule of events. The organization has teamed up with a variety of local companies this year including the Chargers, Wal-Mart and Sony Online Entertainment. Collection events will kick-off in November and conclude with the 18th Annual Chargers Toy Drive at their home game on December 16th.

The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is a nonprofit charity which collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to needy children in the community as Christmas presents. The toys are collected by Reserve Marines at various community fundraisers and civic functions, sorted according to age and gender, and then distributed to local social and welfare agencies, churches and civic organizations. In 2006, the Toys for Tots program in the San Diego area collected 171,125 toys reaching more than 49,000 children.

This year, the Marine Corps Reserves has set a goal of collecting more than 185,000 toys to reach at least 53,000 underprivileged children in the San Diego community. While the Marine Reserves organize, coordinate and manage the nonprofit charity program, the ultimate success depends on the support of the local community and the generosity of the people who donate toys.

2007 Calendar of Events:

* November 23-December 16: Wal-Mart Charity Toy Drives Every weekend at Santee, Shawline, Poway and Murphy Canyon stores from 9am-7pm.
* November 28: NBC 7/39 Toys for Tots Charity Kickoff Celebration at the NBC Studios San Diego. Toy collection and Live Coverage. www.nbcsandiego.com 619 231-3939 5pm-9pm
* December 2: Del Mar Village Association Holiday Wonderland Camino Del Mar and 15th Street. Toy collection. www.delmarmainstreet.com 858 755-1179 10am-6pm.
* December 7 & 8: NBC 7/39 Charity Toy Drive at the NBC Studios San Diego. Toy collection and Live Coverage. www.nbcsandiego.com 619 231-3939. Dec 7th; 5am-7pm / Dec 8th; 6am-5pm.
* December 16: 18th Annual Chargers Toys for Tots Drive at Qualcomm Stadium. Chargers vs. Lions game. Toy collection. www.chargers.com 11am-2pm.

New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at any Toys for Tots collection box or may be brought to the events listed above. Furthermore, financial donations may be made to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation www.toysfortots.org.

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.

The medusa reps Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising and the pirate girl was... inspired by Pirates of the Burning Sea. Okay, okay, I realize that this is a total cop-out and that having two outfits created by professional costume makers kind of disqualifies these two. Plus, I realize there are reasons why these two won't appeal to you—I'm referring to your predilection for console gaming, of course.

Also, boobs.

Anyway! I'll have a full gallery of Comic Con cosplayers later, but in the meantime, check out these gloves!

I've personally responded to jointheagency@soe.sony.com, but have not received a confirmation e-mail, nor a nicely written beta invite. We're waiting to hear back from SOE PR to find out if reader suspicions are true. Michael McWhertor

The Agency [SOE, thanks Sean and Riyu!]

The Agency, an upcoming massively multiplayer online PC and Playstation 3 game set in the world of espionage, will be a pick-up-and-play experience that leans heavily on the first-person and third-person shooter genres, Sony Online Entertainment announced today.

The game will start with players choose which agency to join either the stealthy UNITE spy or blazing guns ParaGON mercenaries. The online persistent shooter has what sounds to be a number of original facets to it:

• Become An Elite Agent: The Agency offers hundreds of unique missions with varied end-goals requiring combat, stealth, and style. With gameplay ranging from sneaky assassinations to all out assaults, from vehicle challenges to casinos loaded with mini-games, there's something for every aspiring agent.

• Build Your Own Agency: As players advance through the ranks of their faction, they'll also begin building their own Agencies. Players will increase their power even further by creating Joint Agencies with others.

• Mercenary or spy, the choice is yours: In the Agency, collect the right weaponry, gadgets, vehicles, gear, attire and aliases to gain access to various locales and influence over the people within them.

• Put Operatives to work: Operatives are collectible non-player characters who provide the goods player's desire, the services to keep them alive, and allow them to concentrate on the mission at hand. Operatives work 24/7, regardless of whether players are logged in, and they can even keep them up-to-date through email and instant messages.

• Fun Now, No Waiting: The Agency is not about waiting for the fun to start. At any point, players can take a break from their high-flying career to engage in a number of other activities. Veterans and new players alike can take on other players at the card tables, the shooting range, or in head-to-head combat.

While I'm intrigued by the concept of operatives, the thing that has me most interested is the fact that this game might play more like a shooter.

"SOE is looking to take the online gaming industry to new places with The Agency, not only in terms of its theme, but also in its design. It's accessible to all types of players, blending genres and changing up established conventions. It's different from anything SOE has released before," said Matt Wilson, Director of Development, SOE Seattle. "Our goal is to break from traditional online games and provide players with a 'fun now, no waiting' gameplay experience in a dynamic, ever-evolving online world."

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to make it out to the event where the game was unveiled, so I'm not sure if the game's central mechanic will be RPG, with behind-the scenes dice rolls determining everything, or shooter, where aim and finger dexterity determines everything. My personal choice would be a nice blending of the two. Either way, this is one of the first MMO's that has attracted my attention in quite awhile. Brian Crecente

While we are still awaiting the official word from SOE promised later today, this move unfortunately makes a lot of sense, especially considering Sigil founder Brad McQuaid's words that we discussed back on April 30th. Sounds like the 'much closer' relationship between Sigil and SOE McQuaid hinted at might just be flat-out absorption.

Having been playing Vanguard on and off since launch, I really hope this doesn't signal the end of the game. There is a lot of potential there that just needs to be polished. Helmets would be good.

Once again, this is almost as good as confirmed, but we're going to hold out for word from SOE before committing either way. Michael Fahey

The Short and Morbid Tale of Sigil Games Online [F13.net - Thanks CyanBane]

The fighter, which promises a "branching storyline" and supports up to eight players in an online Versus Mode, will be free to play. However, Kung Fu Hustle will follow the microtransaction business model that allows for character customization with purchases of virtual items (and "extra lives") coming in at a "nominal fee."

While ultimately a bit disappointing, the announcement takes us one step closer to a possible God of Cookery or Shaolin Soccer game. Make it happen, people.

Full press release after the jump. Michael McWhertor

Sony Online Entertainment introduces Kung Fu Hustle

Taipei-Based SOGA Studio and Shanghai Northstar Join Forces to Develop Original Title Based on Stephen Chow's Hit Film for Chinese Market

San Diego and Taipei, (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced that its Taipei-based SOGA studio, in conjunction with Shanghai Northstar is developing a game based on the hit movie Kung Fu Hustle.

Designed specifically for the Chinese market, SOGA is also collaborating with development talent from across China to assist in the design and development of the game.

"Working with Stephen Chow has been a fantastic experience," says John Laurence, General Manager of [SOGA]. "His sense of humor, directing and martial arts expertise has been an enormous asset for us; he's an avid video game player, with a strong sense of game design."

Kung Fu Hustle combines the best elements of classic fighting games from the past and adds compelling character designs, new technology and trademark humor from the movie for a new generation of gamers.

Players will encounter familiar characters from the movie, such as Sin, the Sidekick, the Landlady, Beast and more.

Kung Fu Hustle features a branching story mode, where players can hone their Kung Fu skills against a host of wacky enemies as they battle their way across China.

By cooperating with friends, players can learn new sets of moves to add to their martial arts arsenal.

In Versus Mode, eight players can go head to head in all out multiplayer mayhem, creating that old-school arcade feeling online.

Gamers can even watch and scout potential opponents online before challenging them.

While Kung Fu Hustle will be free to play, players will be able to purchase extra lives and hundreds of virtual items for a nominal fee.

"Kung Fu Hustle represents a decidedly different and exciting direction for SOE in terms of creating territory-specific content utilizing local development talent," says David D. Christensen, Vice President of Business Development & International Operations for Sony Online Entertainment. "We are confident this approach will help us to further extend SOE's global business."

About Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe.

SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets.

Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest(R), EverQuest(R) II, Champions of Norrath(R), Untold Legends(TM), and PlanetSide(R), as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies(TM), SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms.

Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.

SOE, the SOE logo, EverQuest and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC.

Untold Legends is a trademark of Sony Online Entertainment LLC.

All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

About Shanghai Northstar

Shanghai Northstar Software Technology Co., Ltd. ("Shanghai Northstar") is an exclusive foreign-owned company specializing in online game development and operation.

As a new rising star among gaming companies in one of the world's largest online game markets — China, Shanghai Northstar recruited young talents with extensive knowledge and experience on developing and operating Chinese and Korean games in China and captured over 5 million game players within one year.

Backed by a team of professional game developers, programmers and experienced game players, who refuse to compromise on producing general online games, the company is eager to develop games for players who demand for more heartfelt advanced game experience.

In 2007, Shanghai Northstar will introduce its upcoming products "Wulitou Tetris", a witty wacky style casual online game, and the next generation MMORPG "Discovery Online".

I suppose I'll find out this Thursday just how good it was when Sony Online Entertainment releases it on the PlayStation Network. Considering I've probably spent at least twenty or thirty bucks on the arcade release, $4.99 is a fairly safe bet. Sure, it's a complete eyesore compared to other PLAYSTATION 3 titles, but four-player internet games! Michael McWhertor

Rampart This Week [IGN]

Sigil Games Founder Brad McQuaid, who co-designed the original EverQuest, updated Vanguard players about the current state of the game and where it's headed. In short, co-publisher Sony Online Entertainment is going to be more heavily involved in Sigil and its game, but to what extent, Brad's not telling.

Following up on SOE's "discussions with Sigil regarding the future of Vanguard and Sigil Games in Carlsbad" McQuaid writes:

It means that right now Vanguard is doing decently but not as well as we hoped. If you haven't read my last long post that outlined some of the things that went wrong during development, etc., please do. So the bottom line is that SOE is going to be getting more involved with Sigil and Vanguard - our relationship is going to become even tighter - much tighter. At this point I can't say much more than that.

Brad goes into GREAT detail about the upcoming changes and how they got their in his forum post below. Invested parties and MMO armchair analysts should peruse. Michael McWhertor

Update on the future of Sigil and Vanguard coming soon... [Vanguard Forums]

For a brief moment it looked like the hiring of former IGE lackey Dave Christensen by Sony Online Entertainment might pass with nary a ripple.

But then it hit: Sony Online Entertainment just hired a guy from a company that is essentially the marketplace for gold farmers in almost every MMO on the net.

Or as Michael Zenke so deftly put it "SOE spits in our face."

Of course Sony has the right to hire whoever they want from where ever they want, but I think what rubs so many people the wrong way about this particular hiring is the stand that PC gamers, PC magazines and developers took against IGE early on.

I understand SOE's desire to try and tap new markets, but I don't think this is the best way to do it. Whatever the company gains from hiring Dave Christensen is not worth the loss of respect from the gaming community. Brian Crecente

SOE Spits In Our Face [MMO Nation]

I'm putting funds in my wallet, like, yesterday for this one. Michael McWhertor

Sony Online Entertainment just announced the dates for their next Gamer's Day in New York and Los Angeles. According to the press release the May event will include information on upcoming titles, expansions, updates on live games, hands-on demos, interview with developers and best still two new IPs. New SOE IPs? Hmm, no clue. Brian Crecente

Development duties are, of course, being handled by retro masters Digital Eclipse and gamers looking to relive the fatality filled classic need only drop $4.99 the online-play enabled 2D fighter.

I'm so in for this. Anyone else? Michael McWhertor

Mortal Kombat II [Station.com]

Sony Online Entertainment is bringing the fuzzy orange Noser to the PlayStation Store next Thursday for the low-low retro price of $4.99. Gottlieb's classic arcade game will feature 720p resolution graphics and Worldwide Online Leaderboards for high scores. Hmm. Q*bert or flOw? Q*bert or flOw? Q*bert or flOw? What to do?! Michael McWhertor

Q*bert [Station.com]

Following some quick clips of Ghost Rider—a movie Landau mistakenly referred to as Ghostbusters, eliciting chuckles from the crowd and a hasty correction—the topic extended to bringing the visceral experience of movies to games. Citing the popularity of Saving Private Ryan, a movie with raw cinematic appeal, he proposed that games like Medal of Honor, Company of Heroes and Call of Duty were direct extensions of the movie's influence on a mass market.

He then showed a clip of Sony Picture's own Casino Royale, culminating in an interesting product development.

After the brutal intensity of the best action moments from the latest 007 flick, Landau showed footage (some of it "target render") of an multiplayer title in development at Sony Online Entertainment's Seattle office, codenamed "Vista". Why Vista? "We had to push it back a year," he explained. Damn! Ice burn!

The game featured a pair of digital agents, one tall, dark, and tuxedoed, his female counterpart in a slinky cocktail dress sporting plenty of heaving cleavage. After a brief intro showcasing some Q-caliber gadgetry built into the main character's mount (a BMW look-alike), the two engaged in a massive firefight with all manner of street thugs, characters that looked ripped from Manhunt (or a Misfits show). Securing the aluminum brief case they were after, a dreadlocked, face-painted baddie made a dramatic appearance, seconds before the clip went black. Again, citing Hollywood hits like The Bourne Identity and the Bond franchise, Landau and SOE believe that action-oriented espionage is ready to break out. Hence, the currently untitled game.

He also showed some clips of Sony Pictures Classics "Riding Giants", a movie that helped spawn the upcoming penguin surfing animated venture "Surf's Up." Talking animals? Normally, I'd say "No thanks!" but it got a laugh out of me. He then showed a clip of Ubisoft's game adaptation that goes by the same name, which actually looked pretty damn good. More Tony Hawk's Pro Skater than Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer, the penguin surfing action did give off a very visceral feel. Riding (inexplicably placed) railslides, crashing through obstacles, hitting massive wave jumps—it all felt very close to the intense clips he'd shown in film form.

While convergence may be the wrong (tired) term, the extension of a film's strength did bring up an interesting design challenge for the gathered creators. Landau wrapped up by challenging developers to take advantage of share rendering and animation tools to extend the experience of powerful, primal cinema to create equally powerful games.

Then, he told everyone to go drink lots of booze. Don't mind if I do, Yair. Michael McWhertor

Sony just chucked a press release in the rusty Kotaku mailbox, announcing that the RPG Untold Legends Dark Kingdom will get a PS3 Japan release. The title was developed by Sony Online Entertainment and will be hit The Land of the Rising Sun courtesy of Spike. From the presser:

'It is an honor to publish Untold Legends Dark Kingdom in Japan,' said Mitsutoshi Sakurai, C.E.O. of Spike. 'We hope that this will be the start of a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between our companies.'

Hey, Mitsutoshi. Lighten up. Full press release after the jump. Brian Ashcraft

Sony Online Entertainment Announces Spike Company to Distribute Untold
Legends(TM) Dark Kingdom(TM) for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 System in Japan

Untold Legends Dark Kingdom Is Scheduled for Release in Japan in February 2007

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), a
global leader in the online gaming industry, announced today that it has
entered into a Japanese licensing and distribution deal with Spike Company
Limited to distribute Untold Legends(TM) Dark Kingdom(TM) for the
PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system. Developed by SOE, Untold
Legends Dark Kingdom takes the top-selling PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable)
system brand onto the next generation of PlayStation systems. Spike will be
responsible for the marketing, sales and distribution for Dark Kingdom in
Japan.
"Spike has a successful track record of publishing games in Japan, and we
are pleased to be collaborating with them as we bring the next generation of
the Untold Legends franchise to Japan," said John Needham, Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer, Sony Online Entertainment. "Based on
the positive response that Dark Kingdom received at Tokyo Gaming Show last
year, we are confident that it will be a good fit in this market."
"It is an honor to publish Untold Legends Dark Kingdom in Japan," said
Mitsutoshi Sakurai, C.E.O. of Spike. "We hope that this will be the start of
a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between our companies."
Untold Legends Dark Kingdom is an epic action-RPG that delivers all-new
graphical detail in high-definition, dynamic visual effects utilizing the raw
rendering power and unique cell processing of the PLAYSTATION 3 computer
entertainment system and heart-pounding creature combat featuring
physics-based gameplay for a more immersive experience. Players can choose
from one of three unique characters to take on their perilous journey, with
which they will be able to unlock spells and abilities, and collect unique
weapons, armor and other items throughout the game. In addition, the game is
impressively interactive with the surrounding environment, giving players the
ability to tear through environments and defeat enemies in new ways.
Knock enemies against walls and watch them bounce to the ground. Smash
through crates, pillars, and boxes to clear a way through the environment. Or
grab NPCs and use them as living, unwilling weapons. Other next-gen features
include support for high-definition formats up to 720p, a dynamic particle
system, cinematic story-telling, digital surround sound, high-resolution
textures and detailed character models.
For the epic storyline of Dark Kingdom, SOE engaged renowned fantasy
author Keith Baker, writer of several best-selling Dungeons and Dragons
novels. In Dark Kingdom, players have loyally served the king, yet have
reason to believe he is being corrupted by dark forces. Sensing distrust, the
king sends some of his military off to quell an uprising in the barbaric
borderlands. After returning home, players find the land a horribly changed
place. It is revealed that the king is responsible for torturing and killing
many innocent people, and now players must battle through forests, caverns,
villages and the palace, all the while betraying the king in order to save the
kingdom!

Key features in Dark Kingdom include:
* Next-Gen HD Graphics: Experience next-gen graphics in true
high-definition formats. Watch as the fantasy unfolds through vibrant
environments, beautifully rendered characters, highly-detailed
creatures, and intense battles filled with engaging combat, magical
spells and brilliant special effects.
* Engaging Real-time Physics: Unique physics-based game mechanics will
give the heroes of Dark Kingdom the ability to tear through
environments and defeat enemies in exciting ways. Knock enemies against
walls and watch them tumble to the ground. Smash through crates,
pillars and rocks to clear a way through the environment. Or grab
creatures and use them as living, unwilling weapons.
* Epic Storyline: Immerse yourself in an intriguing storyline, as you
seek to end an evil king's reign of oppression that he has forced upon
your fellow citizens — all told through in-game dialog and cut
sequences.
* Visceral Action RPG Combat: Take control of battles by using chained
melee attacks, or an array of spells and special abilities acquired
along your journey.
* In-depth Character Progression: Choose from three unique heroes and
unlock new spells and abilities as you adventure! Collect and equip
unique armor sets, powerful weapons and other special items that will
aid your hero on their perilous journey!
* Co-op and Internet Modes: Adventure alone or with your friends with a
full range of multiplayer support such as two player co-op and four
player online.

For more information, visit Untold Legends Dark Kingdom
www.uldarkkingdom.com

IGN has first shots and details of the game, which they say is "right around the corner" and dated for some time in 2006, and will only set you back $9.99 for 720p, 60 frames per second, 125 levels and 25 tracks. It may not be the graphical showcase of, say, Metal Gear Solid 4, but that's not a lot of dollars for a lot of content.

Now how about some retail releases, Sony? Michael McWhertor

GripShift Unveiled [IGN]

Sony Online of Denver just birthed their first game. I'm so very proud.

Pirates Constructible Strategy Game Online is based on the collectible card game from Wiz Kids. It's SOE's first venture into online collectible gaming, but likely not their last.

Back when SOE bought World's Apart and made them SOE-Denver they told me they hope to one day work online versions of collectible card games into their massively mulitiplayer online games.

For now, though, we have this kinda cool looking Pirate game to check out. As an added bonus, SOE announced today that all proceeds generated today from Pirates CSG are going to be donated to Child's Play.

So if you're even marginally interested, make sure you buy the game today. Brian Crecente

Pirates Online [SOE Denver]

Foreign languages you don't understand are so fun! And perfect comedy fodder for game site Aggro Me to made yuk-yuk with. Using BombayTV, a series of old Bollywood clips were given a MMORPG thematic touch. Hijinks ensue. Brian Ashcraft

Watch Them Here [Aggro Me] via Aeropause

Holy Crap, Sony Online Entertainment-Denver lives!

Sony Online Entertainment just announced that they've bought out Denver online trading card game company Worlds Apart Productions.

Employees from Worlds Apart Productions will form the core of the new Sony Online Entertainment-Denver studio. The plan, I'm told, is to one day use Worlds Apart Productions' online trading card technology in Sony's massively multiplayer games, like Everquest II and Star Wars: Galaxies. Sounds very cool. More importantly, I now have two big local largish game developer studios I can harass in person. Brian Crecente

The only exposure I've had to Star Wars Galaxies, besides the awesome Fett's Vette video by Windspire, was via an old roommate, who was gone most of the day but would leave his mining bot on. Knowing that he was doing this, and that no one stopped him, and that many other people were probably doing it too...just sort of soured me to the whole proposition.

One benefit of WoW having such a massive market share is that they can afford to ban cheaters en masse, and overall I think Blizzard does a decent job of policing.

So this account of the rise and fall of SWG is fascinating to me. It's written in the style of a what-have-we-learned postmortem, outlining what SOE did right and wrong in dealing with the fans. It sounds like the developers are behaving in the same way as Lucas himself; taking something everyone loved just the way it was, and poncing it all up in the name of...what, exactly?

In Lucas' case, I think it was simple brattiness. In the case of SOE, their reasons for the total redesign that's going down right now are put forth in this statement from Nancy MacIntyre, the game's senior director, to the New York Times. Hit that jump.