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DDO out now in Europe
TURBINE’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE™: STORMREACH™
HITS RETAIL ACROSS EUROPE
- English Language Version and Limited Edition Launch in Europe; French
and German to Follow with Advance Head Start Pre-Order Programme -
LYON, FRANCE – 3 March 2006 – Atari announced that the English language
version of Turbine’s DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE™: Stormreach™, the
first massively multiplayer online (“MMO”) role-playing game inspired
by the legendary pen and paper game, has launched today in
Europe. The localized German and French versions of the title are
on schedule to launch on March 23rd and 24th respectively.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach is a unique experience where
players must use their combat skills and wits to survive dangerous
dungeons, fiendish traps and foes that punish the foolish. The
game seamlessly combines the beautiful world of Eberron®, the classic
D&D® v3.5 Edition rules, and the latest innovations in online
technology into a breathtaking gaming experience like no other.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® is under license from the Hasbro Properties
Group, the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, Inc.
“DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach offers fresh and exciting
gameplay that captures the true spirit of the D&D adventures that
we grew up with,” said Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO of Turbine,
Inc. “We are confident that the game will appeal to MMO gamers
and D&D fans alike.”
“With the European Limited Edition and the advance head start programme
for France and Germany we’ve worked hard to give the fans something
special at launch,” said Cyril Voiron, Marketing Director, Atari
Europe. “DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach is a magnificent
milestone in online role-playing games and the first time D&D has
been realized in the massively multiplayer online realm.”
“Players around the world will appreciate Turbine’s faithful adaptation
of D&D’s party-based adventures - a system that has made the pen
and paper game a powerful brand for over 30 years,” said Jeff Burdeen,
vice president for the Hasbro Properties Group.
In addition to the standard game, the European DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
ONLINE: Stormreach LIMITED EDITION will be available at selected
retailers from launch. Packaged in a high quality aged-effect
presentation box, the limited edition contains the full game, a guest
pass which allows the player to invite a friend to join them in Eberron
for five days, two CD’s containing artwork and music from the game, an
A3 full colour poster and two collectible miniature D&D
figurines. The game case also contains a playable demo of Atari’s
recent D&D PC title Dragonshard.
-more-
As a bonus for French and German fans waiting for the localized game,
Atari, Codemasters and Turbine are offering pre-order customers in
those countries an advance head start program allowing them early
access into the fully localized version of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
ONLINE: Stormreach. French and German players who pre-order the
title can gain access into the live localized game and begin building
up their character from March 17th, a week before the public launch
date.
Developed by Turbine and published by Atari, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
ONLINE: Stormreach is the first and only massively multiplayer online
role-playing game based on the world-renowned DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®
brand franchise from Wizards of the Coast, Inc, a subsidiary of Hasbro.
Key features:
Authentic D&D Characters
Create a custom character from D&D’s newest campaign setting,
Eberron, choosing from nine classes (barbarian, bard, cleric, fighter,
paladin, ranger, rogue, sorcerer and wizard) and five races (human,
elf, halfling, dwarf or warforged) plus hundreds of skills, feats and
looks. The result is a countless number of possible combinations.
Characters will need both wit and brawn to complete quests and advance
over time.
Fast-Paced Combat
A unique Active Combat control system requires tactical thinking and
quick reflexes as much as character abilities and skill.
Characters will battle in real-time and have the ability to block with
shields, dodge to the side and tumble away from enemy attacks.
Unlike other online roleplaying games, the outcome of the battle is not
solely determined by statistics – player skill is an important factor
in succeeding in combat.
Dangerous Dungeons
Players must face devious traps, intricate puzzles and fierce monsters
in their quest for treasure and rewards. Private instanced
adventures minimize the interference from party outsiders and reward
players for the cooperative completion of quest objectives, eliminating
the sense of repetitive combat found in other massively multiplayer
online games.
Instant Adventure
When undertaking a quest in the bustling frontier city of Stormreach,
players will be instantly transported into the quest environment to
begin their adventure, reducing tedious travel and waiting.
Authentic Party-Based D&D Gameplay
Coordinate tactics with the game’s integrated voice chat system to
experience D&D the way it was meant to be played – in a small party
setting. Players will need to create balanced parties including a
variety of character classes in order to complete their quests.
-ends-
About the Hasbro Properties Group:
The Hasbro Properties Group (HPG), the intellectual property
development arm of Hasbro, Inc., (NYSE:HAS), translates one of the
industry’s richest portfolios of brands into a world of fun and
excitement for children and adults globally. Through a host of
publishing, lifestyle and entertainment platforms, HPG is able to
surround fans worldwide with consumer products that expand Hasbro’s
core brands, such as TRANSFORMERS, DUEL MASTERS, MY LITTLE PONY,
MONOPOLY and CANDY LAND, beyond the toy and game aisle, creating rich
lifestyle experiences
About Codemasters:
Codemasters is a leading developer and publisher of best-selling
interactive entertainment products for a global audience on current and
future gaming platforms and channels. Established in 1986, the
company's dominant brands include Colin McRae Rally, TOCA Race Driver,
LMA Manager, Brian Lara Cricket and Operation Flashpoint. The company
is headquartered in Southam, Warwickshire UK and maintains European
operations in Germany, France, Spain, and Benelux. More information
about the company and its products is available online at
http://www.codemasters.com
About Infogrames Entertainment and Atari:
Infogrames Entertainment (IESA), the parent company of the Atari
Group, is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (ISIN code:
FR-0000052573) and has two principal subsidiaries: Atari Europe, a
privately-held company, and Atari, Inc., a United States corporation
listed on NASDAQ (ATAR).
The Atari Group is a major international producer, publisher and
distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market
segments and in all existing game formats (Microsoft, Nintendo and
Sony) and on CD-ROM for PC. Its games are sold in more than 60
countries.
The Atari Group’s extensive catalogue of popular games is based on
original franchises (Driver, Alone in the Dark, V-Rally, Test Drive,
Roller Coaster Tycoon, etc.) and international licenses (Matrix, Dragon
Ball Z, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, etc.).
For more information: http://www.atari.com
About Turbine:
Turbine, Inc. is a premier developer, publisher and operator of online
subscription entertainment and is headquartered in Westwood,
Massachusetts. The company is the largest privately-held online
games company in North America. Turbine’s catalogue includes some
of the most famous online entertainment brands, including Asheron’s
Call®, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE ™: Stormreach™ and The Lord of the
Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™. For more information on
Turbine and its services, please visit www.turbine.com.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
ONLINE, Eberron, Stormreach, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS and Wizards of the
Coast are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the U.S. and/or other
jurisdictions, and are used with permission.
Hasbro is a trademark or registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc. in the
U.S. and/or other jurisdictions, and is used with permission.
Codemasters is a registered trademark owned by The Codemasters Software
Company Limited. Turbine is a trademark or registered trademark of
Turbine, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other jurisdictions. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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