Sony Online Entertainment Announces New Matching Service, SOEGames.net™

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming, announced today that it is finalizing plans to create SOEGames.net , an online game matching service that will allow gamers to find each other and battle it out across the Internet. The first games to take advantage of SOEGames.net will be Lords of EverQuest™ and Champions of Norrath™, two upcoming Sony Online Entertainment titles. SOEGames.net will also be the first game matching system designed to host both console and PC games.

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

"One of the lessons we've learned as a massively multiplayer gaming company is that players do not want any hassle involved in playing online," said Scott McDaniel, vice president, marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. "Since we are not relying on third-party software to match players together, our gamers will never have to shut down or leave their game in order to find a multiplayer game."

SOEGames.net will allow gamers to seamlessly connect with other players (using their own Internet connection) and will provide multiple levels of service. For the basic service, there are no additional subscription fees required (players must provide their own internet connection for online gameplay modes). The SOEGames.net service will be built-in to both Lords of EverQuest and Champions of Norrath so that gamers will not have to leave the game environment to find opponents and allies.

Champions of Norrath, an Action/Role-Playing Game (RPG) for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, will use SOEGames.net to connect up to four players who can then adventure together through the game's deadly dungeons and fantastic environments. Players with Lords of EverQuest, a PC Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game, will find a number of options available online, including multiplayer matches of up to 12 players.

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.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20011203/LAM002
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SOURCE: Sony Online Entertainment Inc.

CONTACT: Sean Kauppinen, +1-858-577-3387, seank@soe.sony.com, or Chris
Kramer, +1-858-577-3481, ckramer@soe.sony.com, both of Sony Online
Entertainment Inc.

Web site: http://www.station.com/