NCsoft Launches North American Version of
Lineage: The Blood Pledge
With More Than Three-million Subscribers
Worldwide, the Biggest Online Game in the World Welcomes Lord British Back to
the Realm of Online Gaming
AUSTIN, Texas, October 25, 2001 – NCsoft(TM)
Corporation, the world’s largest independent online game company, announces the
launch of Lineage: The Blood Pledge(TM) to North American customers. With more
than three-million subscribers and 250-thousand concurrent users, Lineage is the
leading worldwide subscription-based online game. Having already captured
the imaginations of millions of gamers in Asia, Lineage is now rolling out its
unique set of features to North American players.
Gamers will soon notice a familiar face in
Lineage. One of the most well-known names in computer games, Lord British(TM),
will soon be making his entree into Lineage. The pseudonym of legendary game
designer Richard Garriott, Lord British is back to venture forth into Lineage’s
fictional world of Aden, participating in a four-week long special event to
commemorate the occasion beginning November 26. The event will culminate in a
castle siege as Lord British assists Blood Pledges in their ongoing battle to
protect the castle thrones of Lineage.
"I’m thrilled that Lord British has found a
new home," says Garriott, now an executive producer at NCsoft’s Austin, Texas
office. "And I’m happy that home is Lineage. Players in North America are about
to find out why Lineage is so incredibly popular in other parts of the world.
Its unique features offer something that people here have never before
experienced."
Lineage raises the concepts of community,
player interaction, and combat to new levels with the introduction of Blood
Pledges-strong alliances with friends and allies in the game world. Once you’ve
formed or joined a pledge, you can plan your strategy for taking over a castle
in Lineage. Win the battle and rule your kingdom, fixing taxation rates to line
your coffers.
You can play four different classes in
Lineage-a heroic knight, a clever wizard, a nimble elf, or rarest of the rare-a
prince or princess. As a prince or princess, you have the unique ability to form
a Blood Pledge-enlisting others to follow and protect you in the quest to claim
your place as rightful heir to the kingdom of Aden.
Creating a character is quick and easy.
Immediately jump into the game and learn the ropes in a Lineage new player area
where players quickly level up and learn the basics in preparation for the
adventures and perils that lie ahead.
Lineage’s easy-to-use Diablo"-style interface
makes navigation and combat a breeze. And unlike other subscription-based games,
Lineage offers FREE updates that expand the game world to exotic new lands
filled with fierce creatures.
Lineage is distributed via FREE download from
the Internet at the new Lineage web site,
http://www.lineage-us.com.
Lineage CDs can also be ordered from the web site and mailed to customers for a
shipping and handling fee. Subscribed customers will receive future CDs
free as part of the service. The web site has helpful information about playing
Lineage and also includes online manuals, account management tools, news, game
support areas and community message boards.
Lineage comes with a 30-day free trial. After
the trial period, players are charged US$15 per month. Players can save money by
purchasing four months at a rate of US$11.25 per month. An Internet connection
is required to play Lineage.
Starting in November, players can also
purchase Lineage CDs through retail outlets exclusively at Electronics Boutique
(EB) stores in the United States and Canada for US$2.99. Players who purchase
Lineage from EB stores will receive an extra 15 days of free game time. The
Lineage game CDs also will soon be bundled with the top PC game magazines in the
industry.
About NCsoft Headquartered in Seoul,
South Korea, NCsoft is the world’s largest independent online game company.
Established in 1997 as a systems integration company, NCsoft has leaped to
become Korea’s and the world’s leading online game software company. In Korea,
its blockbuster hit game Lineage: The Blood Pledge commands a 47% market share
and attracts the greatest number of concurrent users in the world. NCsoft is a
public company and is traded on the KOSDAQ Korean stock exchange.
NCsoft and Lineage: The Blood Pledge is a
trademark of NCsoft Corp. Lord British is a trademark of Richard Garriott. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
