Sony Online Entertainment Narrows Its Search for a Real-Life Video Game Heroine

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming, announced today the five finalists in the nationwide Quest for Antonia spokesmodel search.

For the past few weeks, Sony Online Entertainment, creators of hit games like EverQuest and EverQuest II has been conducting an online search to find the women in America who most resemble EverQuest II's computer-generated video game heroine, Antonia Bayle.

The Quest for Antonia voting generated more than 2.8 million votes, with more than 40,000 voters helping to determine the top 30 candidates. The five following women are heading to the final round of competition during the Stuff Magazine Casino Weekend 4 at The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas August 12 & 13, 2005. During the weekend, one lucky finalist will be crowned Antonia, winning a one-year modeling contract with SOE as well as a pictorial in the pages of Stuff, one of the country's most widely read men's magazines.

   The five finalists are:
   *  Carin Ashley of Jupiter, FL
   *  Teresa Noreen of Duluth, GA
   *  Bridget Peters of Las Vegas, NV
   *  Anna Wainscoat of Davis, CA
   *  Holly Weber of Newport Beach, CA

"We are on a quest to find a woman who not only resembles our game heroine, but can also represent her spirit and character," said Laura Naviaux, brand manager, Sony Online Entertainment. "Each one of these women would make an outstanding spokesperson for our online fantasy game. We'll let the Stuff magazine judges help determine who our Antonia will be in Las Vegas."

More than 200 women submitted photos online at www.QuestForAntonia.com in hopes of being discovered by SOE and Stuff Magazine as the woman who most resembles the electrifying video game heroine Antonia Bayle from the incredibly popular online video game, EverQuest II.

This is the first-ever nationwide model search with the goal of finding a woman who looks like an online video game character. Once discovered, the new Antonia will be offered a one-year modeling contract with SOE, a photo pictorial in the pages of Stuff Magazine, and other prizes. The winner will be announced at Stuff Magazine's Casino Weekend 4 at the Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in August at the conclusion of a pageant-style competition complete with a swimsuit contest and interview portion that is expected to be judged by celebrities, Stuff's editorial staff and SOE representatives.

  For more information, visit www.QuestForAntonia.com.

  ABOUT EverQuest II

EverQuest II is the next generation of massively multiplayer gaming, a huge online world where thousands of players come together for adventure and community. Featuring breathtaking graphics and a vast, beautiful game world to explore, as well as voices for almost all non-player characters, EverQuest II sets new standards in gameplay and immersion. EverQuest II brings players into its world with a powerful epic storyline and gives them the power to be the hero or villain in their personal adventure. Players will encounter hundreds of creatures as they travel across majestic landscapes of rolling hills, barren deserts, dense forests, and bustling cities. Thousands of items, hundreds of spells, and unlimited adventure await all who enter the world of EverQuest II.

ABOUT DENNIS PUBLISHING

Dennis Publishing, Inc. is a media company that publishes the two most successful modern men's lifestyle magazines in America -- Maxim (2.5 million rate base) and Stuff (1.3 million rate base) -- along with general interest music magazine Blender (Advertising Age's Launch of the Year/2005 Hit List), and The Week, a distillation of the week's most important news and opinion from the US and international media. Maxim, Stuff, Blender and The Week are registered trademarks of Felix Dennis. Maxim Radio is broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 145.

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 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™: 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, Seattle, WA, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development.

EverQuest is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. SOE, the SOE logo and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment Inc. Untold Legends is a trademark of Sony Online Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Sony Online Entertainment Inc.

CONTACT: Courtney Simmons of Sony Online Entertainment, +1-858-577-3335,
csimmons@soe.sony.com; or Scott Gorenstein of Susan Magrino Agency,
+1-212-957-3005, ext 203 sgorenstein@smapr.com, for Stuff

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