DENVER (Map) - DENVER, May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The first four-set block of the heroic Norrathian storyline for the popular online strategy game Legends of Norrath(TM) (LoN) is nearly complete!

Sony Online Entertainment LLC announced today that Oathbreaker is currently in development and scheduled to launch on Thursday, June 19, 2008. Featuring hundreds of new cards and gameplay features, Oathbreaker not only completes the Inquisitor story arc which originated with LoN's first set, Oathbound -- it's also the last LoN release before the $100,000 World Championship event at Gen Con Indy, August 14-17!

"Oathbreaker has played a significant role in the sequence of Legends of Norrath development both internally and with the player community," said Scott Martins, director of development, SOE Denver. "With over 250 new cards to enhance your strategies, Oathbreaker is a perfect point to jump into the game, just in time for the monthly Legends of Norrath Championship Series, which is set to culminate in August in Indianapolis at Gen Con Indy 2008. At that event, 32 players will compete for a total prize pool of $100,000!"

Oathbreaker continues to draw upon the influence of SOE's groundbreaking EverQuest(R) franchise, adding fun and familiar elements, items and characters illustrated with highly-stylized fantasy flair.

Oathbreaker will enthrall with a tale of corruption from within and redemption that comes at a terrible cost, providing unprecedented level of drama in the ongoing saga, while also expanding upon traditional game and raid-play functionality.

Developed at SOE's Denver studio, Legends of Norrath is the only online strategy game based on and playable from SOE's popular EverQuest(R) and EverQuest(R) II MMOs, as well as from a stand-alone client using a free SOE Station Account (available at http://www.station.com). Players can challenge opponents on their game server and across other EQ and EQII servers.

Oathbreaker is the last Legends of Norrath release before the World Championship event at Gen Con Indy. Players will have two more monthly $5,000 Championship Qualifiers after the release of Oathbreaker and two days of qualification heats at Gen Con Indy to compete for spots on the final day of the Championship.

    Oathbreaker's features include:
    *  New Cards -- More than 250 new cards for your online arsenal! Collect
       all 210 base set cards, four starter decks featuring 16 new quests and
       three random rares, 10 scenario rewards, fantastic new loot cards for
       EverQuest and EverQuest II and lots of new promotional cards.
    *  Play For Free -- SOE is providing all registered LoN users even more
       complimentary content and bonus features in the game client, including
       ten new scenarios that tell the tale of Oathbreaker and a brand new
       raid. Go to http://www.legendsofnorrath.com for complete details.
    *  New Raid Play -- In the Antechamber of Fate, up to four players can
       face off against the powerful island guardian Chel'Drak, the dragon
       turtle!
    *  New Gameplay -- "Charge" is a new keyword that provides additional
       bonuses to cards while players have, or get rid of, their charge
       tokens. Re-linkable navigation offers greater flexibility in play by
       allowing linked cards to be linked again to a new target.
    *  New Faces -- Explore new unit types, legends, keywords and abilities
       for your favorite EverQuest and EverQuest II classes, with the
       introduction of "unarmed" Monks, Coercers, Templars and Beastlords
       (with their warder pets)!

Oathbreaker cards will be available via digital download from SOE's Station Store in both 58-card digital starter decks for $9.99 (plus any applicable taxes), and 15-card digital booster packs for $2.99 (plus any applicable taxes).

    To get started, players can download the client for free, test their
skills 24 hours a day against AI and real opponents, and then head over to the
tournament lobby to compete. Tournament eligibility limited and subject to
Official Rules
(http://forums.station.sony.com/strategygames/posts/list.m?topic_id=6315).
Residents of certain territories are ineligible to participate in LoN
tournament play. Please see the [EULA] (http://help.station.sony.com/cgi-
bin/soe.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=18277) for details. For a schedule
of events, rules and further details, see the [LoN Events Page]
(http://legendsofnorrath.station.sony.com/events_calendar.vm) or the [LoN
Tournaments webpage]
(http://legendsofnorrath.station.sony.com/tournaments.vm). For more
information on Legends of Norrath, visit the website at
http://www.legendsofnorrath.com.

New assets for Legends of Norrath Oathbreaker can be found at http://www.SOEpress.com.

About Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) 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(R), EverQuest(R) II, Champions of Norrath(R), Untold Legends(TM), and PlanetSide(R), as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies(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, Calif., with additional development studios in Austin, Texas, Seattle, Wash., Denver, Colo., Los Angeles, Calif., and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.