SOE unveils online EverQuest CCG

By Tom Magrino, GameSpotPosted Aug 3, 2007 7:22 pm PT

Publisher unveils collectible card game playable within both iterations of its flagship franchise at community event, set for release later this month.

If there's one thing to be said about Sony Online Entertainment, it's that it is one of the most prolific online publishers around. In addition to housing big-name massively multiplayer online games like EverQuest, The Matrix Online, and Star Wars Galaxies, the publisher has made several major acquisitions recently, including Sigil Games' Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and Flying Lab's Pirates of the Burning Sea.

Not satisfied with simply buying up other games, the publisher has also been working on several of its own unique MMOGs. At D.I.C.E. in February, the publisher revealed the espionage-themed shooter The Agency. In June, SOE teased its sandbox-style, free-to-play, casual-friendly MMOG Free Realms. Never one to sit back on its haunches, the publisher today unveiled its latest internally developed game at the SOE Fan Faire.

Delivering his keynote address, Sony Online president John Smedley announced the newest addition to the SOE family, Legends of Norrath: Oathbound. Oathbound is a collectible card game that is built into EverQuest and EverQuest 2, and is steeped in lore common to both games. The CCG spans both EQ and EQ2, where players from one game can play against those from the other. Players can also access the game from an outside client, or play against computer-controlled opponents.

Oathbound, the first of three planned sets, contains 375 cards, all featuring original art. Fan service abounds within the CCG, and Smedley listed a few examples such as fan favorites Fippy Darkpaw, Mayong Mistmoore, journeyman boots, and snow bunny hats.

All current EQ and EQ2 players will initially receive a starter deck, and additional booster packs can be purchased with real-world cash. However, those wishing not to spend any extra money will be happy to know that booster packs can also be acquired as loot off of boss mobs in both games, and the game will be free-of-charge to play. Of further note, the game will feature loot cards that can be redeemed for in-game items for players' characters. SOE plans to offer substantial support for the product, including in-game tournaments, card trading, a unique user interface, and deck-building functionality.

SOE's Denver studio, which up until it was acquired last year went by the moniker Worlds Apart Productions, developed the game on the down-low for the publisher. Legends of Norrath: Oathbound will undergo a soft launch next week, with an official launch planned for later this month.

54 Comments

  • deadeye2180

    Posted Aug 7, 2007 12:23 am PT

    This should be good if nothing else it will help to pass the time in game while your waiting for a rare spawn or more members for you raid. it will most likely start off slow but i reckon this will grow to be pretty popular, espeially as it free as well.

  • schizoholic

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 4:57 pm PT

    hmmm, i was at that conference, its not just boss mobs that will drop the cards, any mob that can drop a chest can drop a starter or booster, so you really do not have to pay for anything, if you do not want to.

  • ScreamDream

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 3:39 pm PT

    lobobizarro you are correct, we need a PS3 EQOA or any standard MMO.

  • axia_777

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 10:30 am PT

    LAME! Nuff said.....

  • bcolter

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 8:56 am PT

    EverCrap...

    /runs away

  • lobobizarro

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 4:03 am PT

    Xavier_Draven wrote:
    No news on another EQOA? Or an expansion?
    Booo!
    ---
    A new EQOA with PS3 graphics could be sweet! That might _MIGHT_ entice me to buy one. Very unlikely though. I guess you can call it EQ:NG and set it between EQ and EQ2.

    Now, this EQ CCG, meh... it will sell. Eventually the small player base that start playing will infect the other player base that were trying not to get into it... all a matter of time.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Aug 5, 2007 6:22 pm PT

    Is a card game really needed? I guess plenty of people will buy cards anyways so it is a money maker...

  • 69

    Posted Aug 5, 2007 2:53 pm PT

    Meh, im always highly opposed to using real world money to buy in game items.

  • Outlawlaw

    Posted Aug 5, 2007 11:13 am PT

    "Sounds more like a greed thing then anything else."

    You might even say they're running a business. *GASP!*

  • We_Who_Fork

    Posted Aug 5, 2007 8:36 am PT

    Sounds more like a greed thing then anything else. And yeah, just a little late for EQlive.

  • figuretwist

    Posted Aug 5, 2007 8:29 am PT

    Sounds okay, but I don't terribly like the way that SOE does things, that's why I stick to free MMOs.

  • runstalker

    Posted Aug 5, 2007 2:39 am PT

    Kind of late to the table with this idea for EQ, but I suppose if there's still a sufficiently large EQ1 fanbase to justify five zillion expansions, there's a market of geek elites for this merchandise too.

  • IKKF

    Posted Aug 4, 2007 11:19 pm PT

    I thought everyone moved on to WoW. Either way, sounds interesting.

  • hegetshiskeys

    Posted Aug 4, 2007 10:38 pm PT

    Those guys at SOE should consider deving a true next gen Champions game for PS3. Those games were so addicting!!! Among my favorite PS2 games

  • Xavier_Draven

    Posted Aug 4, 2007 7:23 pm PT

    No news on another EQOA? Or an expansion?

    Booo!

  • AL13NK1LL3R

    Posted Aug 4, 2007 6:31 pm PT

    what i never knew that soe was in denver!!!! my home town whoaa learn something today that not bout games...

  • gertish

    Posted Aug 4, 2007 4:52 pm PT

    Even though I wasted my high school years on EQ, I find it silly that there needs to be an EQ card game.

  • darendt69

    Posted Aug 4, 2007 3:59 pm PT

    The reason SOE doesnt put out games for the consoles is simple....its in the name actually....SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT... The PS3 is really the first console by Sony that is focusing on Internet play. Now that the PS3 is here, SOE will be publishing games on the PS3 as well. I bet we will see all of the PC games on the PS3. SOE is a part of Sony, just as SCEI is a division of Sony as well, and Sony pictures. They may be seperate on paper for managment sakes, but they are all Sony companies that contribute to there bottom line.

  • cloud-wolf

    Posted Aug 4, 2007 2:49 pm PT

    Just to let people know, SOE is NOT a part of SCEI, they're under the parent company of Sony Pictures, the filmmakers, lol.

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