Sony Online Entertainment Appoints Raph Koster to New Role as Chief Creative Officer

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming, is pleased to announce the promotion of Raph Koster to Chief Creative Officer. Mr. Koster comes to this new role from his position as Creative Director of Star Wars Galaxies™: An Empire Divided™, where he oversaw and contributed to the product's design and community management. In his new role, Mr. Koster will ensure that SOE's products continue to lead the market in innovation and creativity while continuing to lend his expertise to the growing and involving virtual world of Star Wars Galaxies.

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"Raph's experience in virtual worlds is unparalleled in this industry," said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. "His exceptional knowledge and insight into online gaming will play an integral role in our future growth as an organization."

Bringing more than ten years of experience to the SOE team, Mr. Koster is a well-respected and sought-after authority on the topic of virtual worlds. Prior to joining SOE, Mr. Koster was the lead designer of Ultima Online. A frequent writer on issues of virtual world design, his essays and writings are in high demand and he has been invited to speak at game conferences world wide.

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. All other trademarks property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE: Sony Online Entertainment Inc.

CONTACT: Christy Fritts, +1-858-577-3295, cfritts@soe.sony.com, or Chris
Kramer, +1-858-577-3481, ckramer@soe.sony.com, both of Sony Online
Entertainment

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