EverQuest: Prophecy of Ro Launches

Sony Online Entertainment issued a press release earlier today announcing the launch of their EverQuest: Prophecy of Ro expansion pack.
Sony Online Entertainment Launches Prophecy of Ro(TM) for EverQuest(R)

Experience a Newly Interactive World of Norrath With Player-set Traps and Destructible Objects

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, announced that EverQuest® Prophecy of Ro(TM), the eleventh expansion for EverQuest, is shipping to retail stores in North America and is now available for download. The retail version of the game includes Prophecy of Ro, and a special in-game item of a unique warhorse mount. The new expansion can also be purchased and downloaded directly through the game or via the Station store at www.station.sony.com.

"As we approach the seventh anniversary of EverQuest, players will be delighted with the variety of new features they will encounter in EverQuest Prophecy of Ro," said Chris Sturr, Sr. Brand Manager, Sony Online Entertainment. "EverQuest Prophecy of Ro continues the innovation of the world of Norrath with new features such as all-new player set traps, spheres of influence and destructible objects while advancing the fascinating story of EverQuest with the introduction of 30 new missions across seven new zones and a brand new Freeport."

Three new gameplay features are being added to the ever-growing online world of EverQuest. The first, Spheres of Influence, can be used to thwart your enemies or aid allies. They fall into two categories: Spheres of Influence and Auras. Spheres of Influence are areas in the game world that affect players in a variety of ways similar to spells, such as increased mana or health regeneration or decreased movement. Auras are player-created Spheres of Influence and vary by class. The second feature is a trap system that will let players deceive opponents with player-set traps. Players can obtain traps in the same way as spells, through specific quests and mission rewards. The visual appearance of traps includes a powder keg, spike trap, totem and a floating skull.

And for the first time in EverQuest, players will be able to destroy objects in the world; doors can be bashed in, walls can be toppled and encampments can be destroyed, leading to a new level of interactivity within the game and opening up a new realm of design.

About EverQuest Prophecy of Ro

The gods have returned and the mortal realm shifts with their influence. But a new presence walks among the gods, a malevolent force released into godhood by the follies of mortals. Unbound by the laws of the pantheon, it leaves corruption in its wake and threatens to bring the entire pantheon crumbling down. The only hope for Norrath hangs on the very mortals who have unleashed this upheaval.

EverQuest Prophecy of Ro includes the following features:

* Player-set Traps: Control your battles before they even begin by deceiving your opponents with a new arsenal of player-set traps!

* Spheres of Influence: Transform the world of Norrath by creating magical spheres of influence to thwart your enemies or aid your allies. These artifacts will create a localized area where the rules of the game can change.

* Destructible Objects: Interact with and destroy pieces of the game world leading to a new level of interactivity within the game. Chop down doors, tumble walls, and destroy encampments!

* Buff Filters: Decide which buffs you would rather auto-decline with the new buff filtering system!

* 8 New Bank Spaces

* New Missions: Battle your way through more than 30 new missions.

* New Creatures, New Environments and New Encounters: More than 25 unique creatures, 7 Zones, and 6 Instances.

* New Spells, Tasks, Disciplines and Trade skills

The new expansion will be downloadable via the SOE Station Store for $26.99 (plus tax where applicable). Retailers will be offering a boxed version that will carry a suggested retail price of $29.99, as well as a special in-game item, a Warhorse mount, for players to enjoy. For more information on EverQuest: Prophecy of Ro, please visit: http://everquest.station.sony.com/por/.

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(TM), and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies(TM): An Empire Divided(TM), 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, and the SOE logo are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.