Þetta fékk ég í pósti frá Simon & Schuster Interactive

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Below is the press release that Evegate recieved from S&S on 22/04/2002


SIMON & SCHUSTER INTERACTIVE TO PUBLISH MASSIVE MULTIPLAYER ONLINE
GAME “EVE-ONLINE: THE SECOND GENESIS”
Movie and Television Opportunities Being Explored

NEW YORK, April 22, 2002 - Simon & Schuster Interactive announced
today it has obtained North American and European rights to “Eve Online: The
Second Genesis,” a space trading / combat Massive Multiplayer Online Game
(MMOG) for the PC (Windows® XP, ME, 98; Rated: “RP” by the ESRB). Developed
by Crowd Control Productions (CCP) of Reykjavik, Iceland, EVE ONLINE will
allow upwards of 100,000 gamers to compete simultaneously across a full 3D
galaxy which includes 5000 solar systems.

EVE is one of the first of a new breed of computer games. Played
online with thousands of other players, EVE draws people into what is
essentially an alternate universe set some time far in the future in a place
one can only dream of. While Simon & Schuster Interactive will initially be
releasing this game on CD-ROM, the Company is actively pursuing the
licensing and creation of print, film, TV and other media based on the EVE
property.

“Eve is the only MMOG in the Simon & Schuster line-up, so we felt
confident that it would get the kind of support it deserves,” said Sigurdur
Arnljotsson, chief executive officer of CCP Games. “They're a strong
partner, and share our vision of the game's massive potential.”

BACKSTORY
EVE is a world far away from mankind's original habitat, planet
Earth. How far away, and where, no one knows. Humans got there through a
natural wormhole, and gazing upon a sky never before seen, were completely
unable to determine the whereabouts *of this new world. From the system of
New Eden, where the gate of EVE that once led to the old world lies, humans
expanded in all directions at a great pace, exploring and colonizing.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, the EVE gate collapsed in an
apocalyptic catastrophe of a scale never before witnessed by the human race,
ruining the New Eden system in the process. Thousands of small colonies were
left in isolation to fend for themselves. For many millennia they endured on
the brink of extinction and only a handful survived.

Of those surviving colonies, five were to rise up and become the
major empires that hold between them the balance of power in the world of
EVE today. These are: the Amarr Empire, the Gallente Federation, the Caldari
State, the Minmatar Republic and the Jovian Empire, plus several small
independent factions and states.

For more than a century the five empires have lived together in
relative peace. They've strived hard to maintain this peace, as each of them
realizes only too well the grave consequences of a massive inter-stellar
war. Recent technological breakthroughs in FTL travel, and the ensuing
increase in space travelers, has shaken, but not broken the fragile peace -
at least not yet.

GAMEPLAY
“EVE ONLINE is a unique title in that the game takes the best
elements from the classic online game ‘Elite’ and combines them with the
sci-fi action of ‘Wing Commander,’” said Simon & Schuster Interactive
Producer Mike Wallis.

Players begin EVE ONLINE by developing a character to control in
this massive world. They can choose to be one of five races:
* Amarr - The largest of the empires in the world of EVE, Amarr spans
40% of the inhabited solar systems.
* Jove - The most mysterious and elusive of all the peoples of EVE,
the Jovians number only a fraction of any of their neighbors, but their
technological superiority makes them powerful beyond all proportion.
* Caldari - A state built off corporate capitalism, the Caldari State
is run by a few mega-corporations which divide the state between them,
controlling and ruling every aspect of society.
* Minmatar - A tough, no nonsense race, the Minmatars are a determined
and independent people. Their home planet on Matar is a natural paradise,
although centuries of abuse have taken much from its beauty.
* Gallente - The Gallenteans are self-righteous, meddling, pompous and
tiresome, or virile libertarians and defenders of the free world. Love them
or hate them, you simply can't ignore them.

Additional details on each race can be found at the EVE ONLINE web
site at: www.eve-online.com

Once a race is chosen, players select a profession (which vary by
race). Professions range from bounty hunters, to pirates, space traders
and the military. Each one provides a basic skill set from which to build a
character's personality. Better players earn more money, and go further in
the EVE universe.

Players can fully customize the look of their characters - all the
way down to the tattoos they wear.

GAMING ON A MASSIVE SCALE
EVE ONLINE: THE SECOND GENESIS will be the largest online game ever.
The servers for this game will be capable of handling upwards of 100,000
gamers who can compete simultaneously across a fully 3-D galaxy which
includes 5000 solar systems. Players can choose from more than 40 ships to
pilot and customize them with missiles, lasers, particle accelerators,
shields, power cores, sensors, armor, and engines.

EVE ONLINE is an ever-changing universe. Even after a player logs
off the online world will continue to evolve and change as players from
around the world are actively conducting business and fighting battles.

While playing online, gamers can converse with one another through
an elaborate communications network including e-mail , instant messenger,
and message boards. This communications system will also allow players to
leave messages for those off-line via this unique e-mail system so that when
they return to EVE, they will receive the message.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CASH
Just like in the real world, money will be the commodity of choice.
Players can earn cash by accepting work from Non-Player Characters (NPCs)
who will reward gamers with cash which can be traded for goods or other
items.

Also, gamers can earn money by working for a “corporation.” These
corporations are comprised of gamers who have pooled their resources and are
working together to dominate the universe. A solo gamer can approach the
head of a corporation for a job and can be paid in cash.

Established corporations will have a unique “stock exchange” in
which gamers will be able to purchase stock in corporations. The stock
exchange will go up and down as trades occur, just like the real world.

To date there are more than 80 corporations already established -
even though EVE ONLINE has not yet been published. These corporations have
elaborate web pages detailing infrastructure, location, business models, and
mission statements.

NEWS FLASH!
Space is a busy place, and gamers will be able to keep tabs on
events throughout their universe with a news update. Major events and
business updates are provided on an regular basis. The news will be
available on-demand by clicking a button on the display.

ONLINE BETA TEST
CCP, developers of EVE ONLINE will continue to offer beta tests of
EVE ONLINE as development progresses. At present, more than 35,000 gamers
have already signed up to beta test. Gamers interested in adding their name
to the list can visit the EVE ONLINE web site at www.eve-online.com to
register.

EVE ONLINE AT E3 2002
EVE ONLINE: THE SECOND GENESIS will be on display at Simon &
Schuster Interactive's booth at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at
the Los Angeles Convention Center. S&SI's booth is located in the West Hall
lobby, in front of the entrance to the west hall.

EVE ONLINE WEB SITE
For very detailed information on EVE ONLINE: THE SECOND GENESIS,
please visit the web site: www.eve-online.com

AVAILABLITY
EVE ONLINE: THE SECOND GENESIS will be available in Fall 2002.

ESRB RATING
EVE ONLINE: THE SECOND GENESIS will be rated by the Entertainment
Software Rating Board (ESRB). All advertising and promotional materials
currently carry a “RP” or “Rating Pending” logo. More information on the
ESRB and its rating system can be found at www.esrb.org.

Simon & Schuster Interactive (www.ssinteractive.com) is the digital
entertainment unit of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Based in New York, S&SI
publishes entertainment, education and reference titles for the PC,
Macintosh, Pocket PC, Sony Playstation 2®, Microsoft XBox®, Nintendo
Gameboy® Advance, and Gamecube®.

Simon & Schuster, the publishing operation of Viacom Inc., is a
global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to
providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages,
across all printed and multimedia formats. Its divisions include Simon &
Schuster Trade Publishing, Pocket Books, Simon & Schuster Children's
Publishing, Simon & Schuster New Media, Simon & Schuster Online, Simon &
Schuster U.K., and Simon & Schuster Australia. For more information about
Simon & Schuster, visit our website at www.simonsays.com.

Viacom is a leading global media company, with preeminent positions
in broadcast and cable television, radio, outdoor advertising, and online.
With programming that appeals to audiences in every demographic category
across virtually all media, the company is a leader in the creation,
promotion, and distribution of entertainment, news, sports, and music.
Viacom's well-known brands include CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, BET,
Paramount Pictures, Viacom Outdoor, Infinity, UPN, TNN: The National
Network, CMT: Country Music Television, Showtime, Blockbuster, and Simon &
Schuster. More information about Viacom and its businesses is available at
www.viacom.com.

CCP is a privately held company founded in 1997. It is created on
strong vision of creating online games which focus on maximizing player
interaction, and on utilizing the new, unexplored possibilities created by
having thousands of players interacting in the same game world.

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