SOE to launch Web-based community service

Sony Online Entertainment today announced a Web-based service that will allow players of the company's online games to connect, meet, and share info. Cleverly dubbed Station Players, the service is currently slated to go live at the same time that EverQuest II hits retail stores in North America and Europe this November.

"Station Players is an amazing service that centralizes the resources our players have traditionally used through multiple external sites in a single, powerful umbrella," said SOE president John Smedley. "It combines the ability to connect your character with in-game activities, leaderboards, item databases, and a powerful set of guild tools in a single online package for our players."

EverQuest II players will be able to access Station Players for a fee of $2.99 per month, or subscribe only to specific site features for $.99 each per month. Station Players will allow EQII players to check their characters' stats and image on the Web, host guilds that feature chat and message boards, upload screenshots, search a constantly updated item database, and access other community news and features.