Sony Online Entertainment and Intel Team Up to Bring Gamers The Best in Online Gameplay

Sony Online Entertainment Inc., a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming has joined forces with Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) to bring the largest community of online gamers the best gaming experience available. The two companies are working together to enhance the graphics of EverQuest®, the most successful massively multiplayer online role-playing game, for Intel® Pentium 4 processor-based systems by offering higher frame rates and smoother animations.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20011203/LAM002 )

"Working with Intel will allow us to deliver the best possible online experience for today's gamer," said Scott McDaniel, vice president of marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. "Gamers are a savvy group of people, always looking for new games and equipment. Through programming teamwork and expertise we are able to significantly enhance the gaming experience for Intel Pentium 4 owners."

Designed to provide the graphical and technical specification necessary for today's 3D graphic display, the Intel Pentium 4 processor will provide the ultimate gameplay experience available. With the improved graphics of EverQuest: The Shadows of Luclin, which sold more than 120,000 units in its first 24 hours of availability, gamers are in for a rich, immersive role-playing experience.

"Intel is pleased to be working with Sony Online Entertainment to optimize EverQuest for Pentium 4 processor-based systems", said Deborah Conrad, Vice President, Intel Solutions Marketing Group. "A Pentium 4 processor based system is the ideal EverQuest gaming platform, giving gamers the speed and fluidity they want."

Continuing to grow with top-selling expansions The Ruins of Kunark™ and The Scars of Velious™, EverQuest is the largest fantasy world ever created online. With new player features and improved graphics EverQuest: The Shadows of Luclin is the latest and most extensive expansion pack yet offered. During peak periods, more than 98,000 adventurers and dragon slayers have explored the world of Norrath simultaneously.

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, California, SOE develops, publishes and distributes entertainment for the PC and online markets. With more than 11 million registered users, SOE's award-winning website, The Station® ( http://www.station.com/ ) hosts a variety of entertaining games and player communities spanning all genres. In addition to blockbuster hits EverQuest® and Jeopardy! Online, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development such as PlanetSide™, Star Wars® Galaxies™ and Sovereign™.

About Intel Corporation

For three decades, Intel Corporation has developed advanced technology enabling today's computing and Internet innovations. Intel's latest advancement, the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor, offers performance for higher frame rates, smoother animations, and faster game play in today's leading edge games as well as being a robust platform for the next generation of games. Intel is also a leading manufacturer of high-speed networking and communications products.

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SOURCE: Sony Online Entertainment Inc.

Contact: Christy Fritts of Sony Online Entertainment, +1-858-577-3295,
cfritts@soe.sony.com; or Brandon McCormick of Access Communications,
+1-415-844-6218, bmccormick@accesspr.com, for Sony Online Entertainment Inc.

Website: http://www.station.com/