SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT SHIPS CHAMPIONS OF NORRATH™ TO RETAIL STORES

- Groundbreaking Action/RPG Now Available Exclusively for PlayStation®2 -

SAN DIEGO, CA – February 10, 2004 – Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming, today announced that Champions of Norrath™ has shipped to North American retail stores. Champions of Norrath, available exclusively on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, brings gamers into its immersive fantasy universe as they experience exciting hack-and-slash action. Champions of Norrath has more game features than any other game in the genre, including five playable character types, randomly generated dungeons and voice chat during online, four players co-op action. Champions of Norrath carries a suggested retail price of $49.99.
“We believe that Champions of Norrath is one of the greatest action RPGs the PlayStation 2 has ever seen,” said Don Vercelli, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. “No other game in the genre can match the features that Champions of Norrath offers, with up to 70 hours of gameplay per character, randomly generated dungeons, online and offline cooperative multiplayer adventuring, both voice and keyboard chat and an amazing graphics engine. We’re very proud of the game and we think that players are going to love it.”
Champions of Norrath features thousands of items, weapons and spells, unparalleled character customization, randomly generated dungeons that create a different and unique gameplay experience with each adventure, online and offline cooperative multiplayer adventuring, and an amazingly detailed 3D engine with multiple camera angles.
Champions of Norrath offers an online multiplayer component for no additional cost to players (players are responsible for providing a broadband internet connection for online play). Up to four players per game can adventure in Norrath via their broadband internet connection, using the PlayStation 2 Network Adaptor (sold separately). Players have the freedom to join an existing game or host their own through SOE’s matchmaking service, SOEGames.net. Champions of Norrath has both USB headset voice and keyboard chat support, allowing players to plan strategies during online play (USB headset/keyboard optional, each sold separately). Alternately, up to four players can use the Multitap (sold separately) to play together on a single PlayStation 2.

About Champions of Norrath
Champions of Norrath allows gamers to adventure as one of five playable characters who must journey from the Elven tree city of Kelethin into the wilds of Norrath to save the land from a gathering army of evil. Champions offers up to 70 hours of gameplay per character and fierce battles, deadly missions and unmatched character customization. The game also includes:
· An engrossing fantasy storyline set several hundred years before the current EverQuest PC game -- players do not need to be familiar with EQ lore to enjoy the game
· Conquer enemies together with up to 4 players online free via SOEGames.net and offline with up to 4 players via the Multitap
· USB headset and keyboard support for planning strategies
· Five playable characters (both male and female): Select from Barbarian Warrior, Dark Elf Shadow Knight, High Elf Cleric, Erudite Wizard, Wood Elf Ranger
· More than 10,000 items randomly generated with the ability for players to create their own
· Randomly generated dungeons and monsters -- a different experience every time the game is played
· Unmatched character customization with modifiable hair, skin, tattoos and facial hair, hundreds of armor variations and thousands of distinctive weapons, including swords, maces, axes, bows and more
· Player characters can be used for both single-player and multiplayer adventures, allowing players to build up their character both online or offline
· More than 45 levels to conquer with non-linear side quests
· Total camera control: zoom-in up close, or view combat from above
· Fully interactive 3D environments with stunning lighting and visual effects; up 40 characters can be displayed on screen at once in spectacular battles