Asherons Call 2 Fallen Kings Celebrates First 100 Days

March 3, 2003

Asheron’s Call 2 Fallen Kings
Celebrates First 100 Days

Today marks the 100-day milestone
for Microsoft Game Studios’ award-winning, next-generation massively multiplayer
online role-playing game (MMORPG), Asheron’s Call 2 Fallen Kings — the only
MMORPG that delivers fresh episodic content monthly. These regular updates help
drive the game’s epic storyline about the world of Dereth, a land being rebuilt
by its inhabitants after a mystical worldwide cataclysm.

The Monthly Episodes also provide
additional game features such as in-game mounts, all included in the regular
subscription fee. Asheron’s Call 2 Fallen Kings introduced frequent Game Master
(GM) initiated events into the game. These live events introduced another
element of surprise and danger to the world of Dereth and give clues to the
evolving storyline. These events may happen at any time, at any place and to
anyone in the world.

Since Asheron’s Call 2 Fallen King’s
launch 100 days ago, the title has acquired online Game of the Year awards from
PC Gamer, Computer Gaming World, RPGDot and Gamer’s Pulse. AC2 also received
IGN.com’s Editor’s Choice Award for Best PC Persistent World Game of 2002, as
well as nominations for Online Massively Multiplayer Persistent World Game of
the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering for the Academy of
Interactive Arts and Sciences annual awards.

Ken Troop, AC2 Live producer at
Turbine Entertainment Software, is enthusiastic about the future of Asheron’s
Call 2 Fallen Kings. "Everyone on the AC2 development and Live teams has been
very happy with the numerous awards we’ve won and the recognition we’ve
received. We’ve come a long way in the first 100 days and are very much looking
forward to adding new content and surprises for our players in the next 100
days, as the plans of ancient enemies threaten all that the people of Dereth
hold dear."

In its first 100 days, Asheron’s
Call 2 Fallen Kings has also seen:

• Five new mounted creatures for
  players to ride

• More than 100 new quests

• UI improvements such as customized
  text display, faster looting, etc.

• 35+ megabytes of new content added
  

• More than 10,000 developer-hours
  dedicated to creating Monthly Episodes

Asheron’s Call 2 Fallen Kings
provides some of the most sophisticated graphics available on a PC with the
advanced Turbine Engine G2 graphics engine. Asheron’s Call 2 Fallen Kings
features a dynamic, evolving fantasy world that reacts to players’ behaviors and
actions. Developed by Turbine Entertainment Software, the game includes features
such as a revamped combat system and a new in-depth crafting system that gives
players a chance to pursue non-combative skills. More information about
Asheron’s Call 2 Fallen Kings is available at http://www.asheronscall2.com.

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading
worldwide publisher and developer of games for the PC, Xbox video game system
and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game
Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse game portfolios for the
PC (http://www.microsoft.com/games/), including such franchises as Age of
Empires, Flight Simulator and Zoo Tycoon; Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/), including
such franchises as Halo, Project Gotham Racing and NFL Fever; and Zone.com
(http://www.zone.com/), the official games channel for the MSN network and home
to such hits as Bejeweled and OutSmart.

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