SEGA.COM ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF ITS
ONLINE DEVELOPER PROGRAM
To Kick Off the Program Sega.com and
Oceanus are Teaming Up to Bring Money, Power and Fame to Online Gamers
Nationwide
SAN FRANCISCO – (January 30, 2003) – Sega.com,
the network entertainment company integrating Internet and wireless technologies
with innovation, today announced the launch of its new Online Developer Program
designed to address the specific needs of PC online game developers in search of
a comprehensive and highly effective publishing solution. "Legacy Online,"
originally titled "Star Peace," is a real time massively multiplayer online game
(MMOG) developed by Oceanus Communications, Inc. and will be the first title to
be published under the new program.
"With a rapidly growing networked gaming
community, Sega.com is committed to providing gamers with quality content and
technology they have come to expect from SEGA, be it online or wireless gameplay,"
said Ryoichi Shiratsuchi, CEO of Sega.com and general manager, Network Business
Division, SEGA Corporation. "Sega.com is pleased to be kicking off its Online
Developer Program by working with Oceanus in delivering a compelling and unique
MMOG, as the popularity and demand of these types of games continues to
flourish."
With the establishment of Sega.com’s Online
Developer Program, the company is actively looking for quality content to lend
its expertise, technology and the power of its brand. Offering game developers
years of experience in network gaming technologies and online consumer programs,
as well as strong global distribution channels and brand recognition, Sega.com
will publish multiple online PC titles to help game developers successfully
launch their online games.
The first company to take advantage of the
program, Oceanus with its game "Legacy Online," will include publishing as well
as SEGA Network Application Package (SNAP) services. Sega.com will assist in the
production, hosting, authentification and billing, quality assurance, customer
support and frontline marketing services for the game. Gamers currently have a
chance to personally impact and change the final version of the game before it
is officially released in early March for a monthly fee of $9.95. PC gamers can
participate in the beta test program by simply registering to play for free on
www.legacyonline.net
<http://www.legacyonline.net>.
"Sega.com was an obvious choice when we
started searching for a publisher, with their extensive experience, strong brand
name and reputation as a major player in the online gaming industry," said Elias
Assad, President of Oceanus Communications, Inc. "All these factors only
reinforced our decision to work with Sega.com to provide the best environment to
successfully launch an online multi-player game." "Legacy Online" takes players
into new worlds of the near future where they are in full control of their own
capitalist empire. Players will co-exist with other gamers online in a
persistent world in an attempt to achieve legendary status by expanding their
wealth, business and prestige through strategic negotiations and community
building. During a time when the Earth’s natural resources are being killed off,
a new technology is discovered allowing humans to travel to new worlds through
portals. Migrating to uninhabited planets, gamers are given $100 million to
colonize the new world, giving them the power to influence the economy and
politics of their planet. Gamers can amass great fortunes, political power and
personal notoriety through entrepreneurial prowess and strategic partnerships.
Make a wrong a move, and they could be sleeping in the interplanetary gutter.
"Money, power and prestige are often the
driving forces in our society. ‘Legacy Online’ provides an environment where
gamers can pursue their own personal legacy by obtaining great wealth and
recognition while running their own business," said Jason Kinne, producer,
Sega.com. "’Legacy Online’ is a game of strategy, success and glory. It let’s
gamers indulge in and live out millionaire dreams without the consequences of
actually losing real money."
For more information about "Legacy Online"
visit
www.legacyonline.net
<http://www.legacyonline.net>.
The official name change from "Star Peace" to "Legacy Online" on the web site
will take effect at the launch of the game.
About Sega.com, Inc
Sega.com, Inc. (www.sega.com)
is a network entertainment company that integrates Internet technology with
innovation while leveraging a video game heritage dating back more than 50
years. Sega.com also built SegaNet the first high-speed online console gaming
network and community destination for gamers. Sega.com is dedicated to bringing
the technology and content required for networked entertainment to game
developers and game players alike, leveraging the network possibilities for a
multitude of devices including game consoles, cellular phones and PDAs.
