LucasArts and SOE Celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of Star Wars Galaxies with SWG Trading Card Game

LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment

announced today the Star Wars Galaxies(TM) Trading Card Game as part of

the fifth anniversary celebration for the massively multiplayer game,

Star Wars Galaxies. The first release for the online trading card game,

Champions of the Force, is scheduled to be released late this summer,

following several months filled with in-game anniversary events.

The release of Champions of the Force marks the first ever Star Wars(r)

trading card game offered exclusively online. Available only through a

valid, active, fully-paid subscription to Star Wars Galaxies, Champions

of the Force provides Star Wars Galaxies subscribers an entirely new

gameplay experience by combining the challenge of a trading card game

with the adventures and community of the massively multiplayer game.

For the first time, players can:

* Choose between the light and dark sides of the Force and build their

own Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game decks to fight virtual matches

for the Rebel or Imperial factions;

* Challenge their skills in story-based solo-play or against other Star

Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game players in epic one-on-one matches,

cooperative Heroic Encounters, and official tournaments;

* Find more than 20 "loot" cards in the first release, Champions of the

Force that can be redeemed for fantastic virtual items for use within

the Star Wars Galaxies massively multiplayer game;

* Adventure in Star Wars Galaxies and collect desirable cards that

enhance their virtual trading card game deck.

All Star Wars Galaxies subscribers with valid, active, fully-paid

accounts in good standing are scheduled to receive five Star Wars

Galaxies Trading Card Game booster packs per month, included at no

additional cost, as part of their valid monthly subscription to the

game, providing a simple way for players to quickly and easily build

their decks. In addition, all subscribers will be able to purchase

booster packs and starter decks through Sony Online Entertainment's

Station Store at www.store.station.sony.com.

More information on the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game and its

first release, Champions of the Force, can be found at

www.StarWarsGalaxies.com/tradingcardgame.

In addition to the upcoming release of the Star Wars Galaxies Trading

Card Game, LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment are celebrating the

fifth anniversary of Star Wars Galaxies with several in-game events.

Beginning this week and continuing through July 22 in Star Wars

Galaxies, players can gather with others to celebrate the fifth

anniversary of the game through virtual "Empire Day" festivities.

Featuring notable Star Wars characters and events, players of all

factions can experience festivities in the cities of Theed and Coronet

that include:

* Performances by the Max Rebo Band;

* The debut of two new prominent in-game statues: the Emperor in Theed,

and Yoda in Mos Eisley, both accompanied by new vendors to distribute

celebratory buffs that enhance the players' in-game characters;

* Regularly scheduled Imperial parades;

* Appearances by Princess Leia;

* In-game fireworks.

In addition, all Star Wars Galaxies players will receive several in-game

items to commemorate the fifth anniversary, as part of their regular

subscription to the game:

* A Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back virtual poster for

decorating an in-game home or player structure;

* New, wearable goggles inscribed with a "V," in honor of the fifth

anniversary for use by an in-game character;

* Plus, during the first week of the in-game festivities, community

members will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite Star Wars

Galaxies Fifth Anniversary Fan Art Contest submissions at

www.StarWarsGalaxies.com. Both the winning Rebel and Imperial fan art

submissions may then be added as in-game virtual posters to Star Wars

Galaxies in honor of the Fifth Anniversary.

More information about the fifth anniversary celebrations can be found

at www.StarWarsGalaxies.com.

Anyone wishing to try Star Wars Galaxies can do so at no charge for up

to two full weeks through the Star Wars Galaxies 14-Day Trial. This

trial includes all the content of the base game, Star Wars Galaxies: An

Empire Divided and its first expansion, Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to

Lightspeed(TM). Beginning late this summer, the 14-Day Trial will also

include access to the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game tutorial.

Available by download from www.StarWarsGalaxies.com, the 14-day trial

gives players a chance to meet and fight with or against their favorite

Star Wars characters as they explore this massive online universe filled

with other Star Wars fans.

About Star Wars Galaxies

Star Wars Galaxies, developed and published by LucasArts and Sony Online

Entertainment, is one of the longest-running and most popular online

experiences, bringing gamers of all ages and skill levels together in

the ultimate Star Wars(r) journey. Begin aboard the Millennium Falcon

helping Han Solo and Chewbacca fend off the notorious Darth Vader.

Along the way, join with Star Wars characters on missions that span

across the galaxy. Ally with the Rebels to fight against the Galactic

Empire, or join forces with the dark side and crush the Rebel scum.

Heroic adventurers can seek their fortune in space or on the ground as a

bounty hunter, smuggler, Jedi or a host of other unique Star Wars

professions.

About LucasArts

LucasArts, a Lucasfilm Ltd. company, is a leading developer and

publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide for video game

console systems, computers and the Internet. Based in San Francisco,

Calif., as well as on the Internet at www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts was

created in 1982 by George Lucas to provide an interactive element to his

vision of a state-of-the-art, multifaceted entertainment company.

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, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle,

WA, Denver, CO, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in

development.

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