MMORPG Merger Announced

I received this press release last night. I figured I would just post it here in it's entirety and let you digest it. -------------- SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT, SQUARE-ENIX AND BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE CROSS-OVER GAMING DEAL - In an unprecedented merger of gaming assets, online gamers will be able to take their existing characters into new and exciting adventures in other gaming worlds. SAN DIEGO, CA - March 31, 2005 - Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), Square-Enix (S-E) and Blizzard Entertainment (Blizzard), the worldwide leaders in Massive Online gaming, have announced a joint venture where players of any of their games, including the enormously successful World of Warcraft, the granddaddy of online gaming Everquest, S-E's hugely successful online version of the Final Fantasy franchise, and the popular titles Everquest 2 and Star Wars Galaxies, can take their existing characters and move seamlessly into new gaming worlds. Through new technology developed jointly by all three companies, your character will be converted over to the rule set and graphical look of each new game as you transfer back and forth, opening up literally tens of thousands of new gaming possibilities for every player. Players of all these games will suddenly be confronted with not just new zones to play in, but entire new universes. "We have been looking for ways to add more end game content to World of Warcraft, and this just seemed a natural fit" said Mike Morhaime, President of Blizzard Entertainment. "This gives our players instant access to a range and depth of content that would otherwise take us years to develop through our current schedule. Now you can simply pick up and walk into another universe and open up an entire set of new and unique content" "The enormous success of World of Warcraft proves that there is a large market for online gaming" said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. "We decided that the best way to tap this market is to combine all of our assets into what is in effect one massive, massive-multiplayer game. By opening up more content and variety like this, our player base can only benefit and thrive." The details of the agreement will be released in more details later. The current timeline calls for the merger to be completed by May 16th, in time for a complete demonstration at the Electronic Entertainment Expo held annually in Los Angeles. The companies have put together a transition team lead by venerable programmer Raph Koster of SOE that will finalize the details of the changes that will be needed in each game to make the transitions from game to game smooth and consistent. "Some things are going to have to change in each game to make this work" said Mr. Koster. "Expect each class in each game to get altered somewhat to allow them to fit into the new rule sets. We are excited about the possibilities of how this can improve the gaming structure of all our franchises." Each company plans on releasing more detailed statements on their respective websites over the next few weeks explaining to the players the impact of this agreement on their specific games. About Blizzard Entertainment Best known for their series Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo®, Blizzard Entertainment (www.blizzard.com, a division of Vivendi Universal Games) is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating many of the industry's most critically acclaimed games. The company's free Internet gaming service Battle.net® provides a forum in which owners of Blizzard's games can play in a multiplayer mode remotely across the Internet and against other gamers from around the world. About Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Digital Inc., is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with a subscriber base of over 800,000 active accounts 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, EverQuest®, EverQuest II, Champions of Norrath and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies(TM): An Empire Divided(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 an additional development studio in Austin, TX, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development. About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan’s best-selling franchises – FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 60 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST™, which has sold over 35 million units worldwide—under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. ------ Updated 4/3/05 - Just wanted to say "April Fools"

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Almost there...
# Apr 01 2005 at 6:48 PM Rating: Decent
You know, this is almost as good [cough] as the one about the PS2 version of the game being discontinued as of May 1st... This one, as a matter of fact... Until I realized from the beginning that it's AFD, it wouldn't happen.
not fooled
# Apr 01 2005 at 6:43 PM Rating: Decent
I was expecting something like this. You didn't get me!
april fool?
# Apr 01 2005 at 6:43 PM Rating: Decent
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2,306 posts
i seriously think this was april fool, just like some of the announcements posted on killingifrit today
><
# Apr 01 2005 at 6:19 PM Rating: Decent
38 posts
i was like oh dear god then it hit me april fools ><
hehe
# Apr 01 2005 at 6:16 PM Rating: Decent
nice joke, the headline got me pondering, made me think...possibly, then read on, looked at my watch, shook my head and giggled. nicely done.
XD
# Apr 01 2005 at 6:13 PM Rating: Decent
HAHA. Got me, too. I'm such a sucker.

I was like. . .O.O
boooo!
# Apr 01 2005 at 6:03 PM Rating: Decent
I'll be damned if there's gonna be one big hairy muwaaaaah screaming monster in my Moghouse! I won't let them! I won't let them! It's mine! Mine alone! My owndown! My precioius!
Speaking of which, why not have the LOTR games in this too? ^^ Should be fun^^
/em whatches Legolas getting raped by orcs and even though he could cure, doesn't cure.

Not more then you deserved! You brought shame upon the Elvaan! ^^

Happy 1st of April to the world ^^
Ow, That hurts
# Apr 01 2005 at 6:02 PM Rating: Decent
I got so excited, It was like a dream come true. I mailed the article to a couple friends and told one of the people i work with about this. Then I remembered that it was april 1st... I really with that they could do this but i think the codeing would be nothing short of pure hell. to many things to change, the currency alone would be a nightmare, the exp and the rest...eek.

Though i wish it could happen, I do not belive unfortunatly it would be something that could be accomplished without a great effort. I would play all the worlds if it did though :)

Everquest 66 cleric,66 enchanter
ffxI 57 paladin
OY!
# Apr 01 2005 at 5:39 PM Rating: Decent
Ok who ever went through the trouble of posting this... DAMN YOU ^^ and good job i almost fell for it.
i hope this is real Elvann Blm with force powers bye bye MR.
# Apr 01 2005 at 5:38 PM Rating: Default
Elvann Blm with force powers bye bye MR. jedi
that would rock i hope this is real but probly april fools damn u allakhzam if it is its not funny to get our hopes up if its real i think ill pinch myself to see if im dreaming then shout hooty hoo and throw a party
Hahaha!
# Apr 01 2005 at 5:29 PM Rating: Decent
Keeriyis casts Gullible X on Keeriyis
Keeriyis gains the effect of Gullible for life

OMG you guys really got me. I began to fume at how much lag that was going to create until I clicked on the forum and realize what day it was.

Good show!

Edited, Fri Apr 1 17:30:33 2005
lol 4/1
# Apr 01 2005 at 5:22 PM Rating: Decent
april fools ya dorks XD
O.o
# Apr 01 2005 at 5:19 PM Rating: Default
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425 posts
Why is there an 'o' after all of Blizzard's products? Warcrafto, Starcrafto, Diabloo. o.O

Did they want us to see it was fake?
rrriiiggghhht
# Apr 01 2005 at 5:03 PM Rating: Decent
i dont believe it . to be honest, i havent read the post yet but c'mon.... Friday... april 1st.... i dont have to say much more..XD
><
# Apr 01 2005 at 4:39 PM Rating: Decent
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79 posts
My first thought: "Awesome! I've got FFXI and WoW so I'm all set!"

I clicked the link and started thinking...

Ya, I don't think that would work too well. They'd have to seriously overhaul every game to compromise with the other games.

Who needs wookies. I'd charm one of those cute lil Ewoks!
ffxiwowswg
# Apr 01 2005 at 4:25 PM Rating: Decent
47 posts
Would Tarutarus be yoda like?
Mithras would be Jedi
Elvaan the Sith
Hume the Rebels
the Galkans Wookies (chebacca)

Tarutarian Yoda, "Use the forcey-worcey you will."

Galkan Wookie, "I hate mining URRRLL URRLLL!!!"



For those who doubt
# Apr 01 2005 at 3:54 PM Rating: Decent
For those that still might think that this is legitimate.
If it were, Allakhazam would have listed the source. They're really good at that. I hope that one day this will become a reality though.
Would be a nice option to possibly take advantage of. I personally don't see me leaving the game to go to another... I've tried others and came up lacking. This time, however I enjoy the game thoroughly.
This was a fantastic April Fool's joke. Especially considering I didn't know it was April fools until I read this article.

Thumbs up for the Author!
Come on!
# Apr 01 2005 at 3:49 PM Rating: Decent
Jesus I was going crazy after I read this.. then reading the posts I was convinced this was an April Fools joke.. only cuz I remembered what day it was right then and there... Wow.. this isnt even funny.. I was so exciteted.... Well that sucks...


Happy April Fools Day Everyone
lol
# Apr 01 2005 at 3:44 PM Rating: Decent
Hehe a ranger with a starwars laser gun and a jedi with a boe HAHA
lol...
# Apr 01 2005 at 3:31 PM Rating: Decent
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366 posts
If it weren't for the date I might have thought "well...but why would they murder all the games to prop up the ones that suck?"
I give it a 3/10.
# Apr 01 2005 at 3:30 PM Rating: Decent
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141 posts
Wow, are there going to be any good April Fool's jokes this year? This one had the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
I'm retarded...
# Apr 01 2005 at 3:30 PM Rating: Decent
I was reading this while at work this morning and the whole way through, I was saying to myself, damn, that's awesome that they actually found a way to mix mmorpg's made me so happy.... until.... I told one of my coworkers about it and he said "Um... you do know what day it is right?" I replied "Um... it's... oh... ya... >.>" So, Curse you all!!!!
har har har
# Apr 01 2005 at 3:28 PM Rating: Decent
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120 posts
haha as soon as i read the first scentence i knew it was a load of crap.. Happy April Fools everyone ^^.
Holy Smoked Bananna peels
# Apr 01 2005 at 3:24 PM Rating: Decent
I just wanna say you guys suck lol no offense though... you had me so good I called like 4 people and told em about it.. cause we all play different MMORPGs now after reading further and these posts Ima have to hide for like a week to escape the pointing and laughing.... Kudos to who ever wrote this... very nicely done... also

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS
almost
# Apr 01 2005 at 3:23 PM Rating: Decent
You could have pulled it off if it wasnt so extreme.
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