Sony Online Entertainment Announces Gift With Purchase Plans for the Retail Version of Everquest®: Lost Dungeons of Norrath™

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming, announced today that the boxed retail version of EverQuest®: Lost Dungeons of Norrath™ will contain both a special "in-box" gift as well as an "in-game" item (while supplies last). Lost Dungeons of Norrath, the sixth expansion to the hugely popular Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EverQuest, is expected to ship to North American retail stores this Fall.

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

"This is a real first for us, since we've never given away an in-game item before" said Don Vercelli, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. "It's very important for us to support our retail customers and we feel that the combination of both the in-game item and the keychain in the box will be a great incentive for EverQuest fans."

For the first time, Sony Online Entertainment is offering both a "real world" item and an "in-game" item to those who purchase the boxed retail version of Lost Dungeons of Norrath. Inside the retail box is a unique, collectible EverQuest-branded keychain, while the in-game item is the magical "Satchel of Abu Kar."

What is a Satchel of Abu Kar? Not much is known about the ancient adventurer, Abu-Kar, beyond a few rare weight-reducing containers that are occasionally discovered. Now rumor has it that a buried storehouse full of these fine satchels has recently been unearthed by the Wayfarers Guild. This satchel will carry eight small-to-large sized items, and magically reduces the weight of everything within by 25%. The satchel will be a single non-drop "lore" item that can only be granted to one character avatar per EverQuest account.

About Lost Dungeons of Norrath

Just when you thought you'd covered it all -- five massive continents, the moon, and the homes of the gods themselves -- a new series of adventures leads you into some of Norrath's greatest sources of speculation and mystery. The story that began in Broken Skull Rock now yields new clues about an event threatening to change the face of Norrath. Assist a band of adventurers on their quest to unearth long-hidden artifacts of power from forgotten dungeons, secret catacombs, and long-buried ruins. A mystery is unfolding and a new age of exploration and adventure has begun! Lost Dungeons of Norrath also features:

   *  Explore more than 40 diverse dungeons set in 5 new environments.
   *  New Dynamic Dungeon System (DDS) emphasizes personalized group
      encounters created specifically for a single party.
   *  Enjoy the excitement of "dungeon crawls" that are tailored and
      customized for your group's attributes & levels.
   *  New environments, objects, and interactive items await the hardy
      adventurer.
   *  Reap the benefits of the new Adventure Rewards Technology.
   *  Track your progress in the dungeons via a new in-game interface.
   *  Encounter dozens of new challenging monsters and NPCs.
   *  Collect explosive new spells, new trade skills, fearsome weapons, and
      other incredible loot!

  About EverQuest

Developed and published by Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), EverQuest launched in 1999 and has since become both a gaming and cultural phenomenon. The game has sold more than 2 million copies while continuing to grow with award-winning expansions The Ruins of Kunark®, The Scars of Velious®, The Shadows of Luclin™, The Planes of Power™, and The Legacy of Ykesha™, making it the largest online 3D fantasy world ever created. During peak periods, more than 118,000 simultaneous adventurers have explored the fully detailed world of Norrath, filled with monsters, magic, adventure and more. The active global EverQuest subscriber base of more than 430,000 players is comprised of people from 40 different countries including North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Sony Online is committed to bringing EverQuest to various entertainment platforms, releasing titles such as EverQuest Online Adventures for the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system, EverQuest for the Pocket PC and EverQuest: Hero's Call for wireless phones. This Winter, SOE will launch the highly-anticipated sequel, EverQuest II, on PCs around the globe.

About Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Digital Inc., is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with a subscriber base of over 500,000 active players 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, EverQuest® and PlanetSide™, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™: An Empire Divided™, 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 and St. Louis, MO, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development.

EverQuest is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. SOE and the SOE logo are registered trademarks and PlanetSide is a trademark of Sony Online Entertainment Inc.

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SOURCE: Sony Online Entertainment Inc.

CONTACT: Tamara Sanderson, +1-858-577-3362, tsanderson@soe.sony.com , or
Chris Kramer, +1-858-577-3481, ckramer@soe.sony.com , both of Sony Online
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