- SOE Gives In-Game Chat an Audio Overhaul in Agreement with Vivox(R) -
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Online Entertainment LLC
(SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, is poised
to revolutionize the way gamers stay connected with sophisticated new voice
services where fellow gamers and guild mates are never more than a shout
away.
Need standard chat for groups and raids? Check. Don't want to tie up
your own bandwidth? Roger that. Want your voice to sound completely
different? Done. Late for your raid but want to take part in the group
setup by cell phone? Can do. Dream of having in-game voicemail? There ya
go. Playing a non-SOE game but want to use this service, free of charge?
Aye.
These powerful community building features and tools are coming to SOE
games at no additional cost to players and go far beyond basic real-time
chat with the usual headset and microphone setup that is commonly used
today.
In an agreement announced Wednesday at the Game Developers Conference
between SOE and Vivox, Inc., an established provider of high quality voice
communications, players will be able to access a suite of voice
communication tools including voice mail, voice fonts to synthesize player
voices into in-game character voices, and the ability to receive external
calls in SOE games.
"We're proud to offer this level of communication power and flexibility
to gamers. These new voice services not only replace many of the voice chat
options currently available but add a broad range of capabilities that
streamline communication and empower gamers to maintain their online
relationships in both the real and virtual worlds," said John Smedley,
President of Sony Online Entertainment. "We are giving gamers the ultimate
one-stop shop to stay in touch at all times."
Beyond voice and guild chat channels, North American players will get a
special PIN number to dial in from either a land line or cell phone and
connect with fellow guild members. SOE anticipates adding additional
features including voicemail, broadcast messages, SMS text messaging and an
initial offering of six high-quality voice fonts that replace a player's
actual voice with something completely different.
With the 3D voice chat, players will be able to walk their avatars into
the taverns in EverQuest II, for example, and strike up a conversation with
players like they would walking into a tavern or restaurant in the real
world. Gamers can manage their conversations with buddy lists, volume
controls and commands to leave and join audio channels at will.
SOE's plan is to add these services to SOE's games, as well as
integrate it with SOE's Station Launcher, so anyone who uses the Station
Launcher, even if they don't otherwise subscribe to an SOE game, can take
advantage of these powerful voice chat capabilities. Furthermore, the voice
features will be hosted and professionally managed on the Vivox Network so
users won't be cutting into their valuable bandwidth.
"We are thrilled to team up with SOE to bring Vivox voice chat and
related services to their game community," said Rob Seaver, CEO of Vivox.
"SOE is an industry leader with a long history of offering exceptional
games and innovative services to players. Their plan to offer such a
comprehensive voice service to their gamers is just another reflection of
their commitment to delivering the best possible game experience and
fostering community."
SOE's current catalog of massively multiplayer online games includes
EverQuest(R), EverQuest(R) II, Star Wars Galaxies, PlanetSide and Vanguard:
Saga of Heroes, as well as upcoming titles such as The Agency.
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. SOE is owned by Sony
Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.
About Vivox, Inc.
Vivox provides high quality, massively scalable voice chat for online
games and virtual worlds. Developers can enhance game play and foster
community with Vivox's advanced feature set and unparalleled service.
Today, the Vivox Network supports millions of users in more than 180
countries. Customers include CCP Games, Icarus Studios, K2 Network, Linden
Lab, Metaversum, Pixel Mine Games, Simutronics, Sony Online Entertainment,
Stratics, Wizards of the Coast and others. For more information:
http://www.vivox.com.
SOURCE Sony Online Entertainment LLC
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Related links:
http://www.station.com
http://www.vivox.com
CONTACT:
Courtney Simmons of Sony Online Entertainment
LLC, +1-760-505-7879, csimmons@soe.sony.com; or Jennifer Frkanec
of Vivox, Inc., +1-978-808-5086, jennifer.frkanec@vivox.com
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