NCsoft’s Guild Wars off to a Fast
Start
First week of sales catapults
online role-playing game to top of PC entertainment charts
AUSTIN, Texas, May 16, 2005—NCsoft®
Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS) the world’s leading developer and publisher of
online computer games is sitting atop the PC entertainment charts with Guild
Wars®, the company’s recently released online role-playing game, from Bellevue,
Washington-based ArenaNet®.
Guild Wars is a global online
role-playing game (RPG) that allows people to play with anyone, anywhere, at any
time and there’s no subscription fee required. Guild Wars immerses players in a
colorful, robust and detailed online fantasy world where success is determined
by player skill, not by the time spent playing.
According to retail numbers released
by The NPD Group for the week ended April 30, Guild Wars stood as the number one
product among PC Entertainment titles. “It’s been an immediate hit,” said Jack
Beuttell, senior vice president of marketing and merchandising for GameStop
Corp, one of the nation’s largest video game and entertainment software
retailers. “At launch, Guild Wars quickly became our top-selling product.”
The game, which launched April 28,
has quickly become a hit amongst game reviewers. GameSpot gave Guild Wars an
Editors’ Choice Award. GameSpot executive editor, Greg Kasavin wrote, “It
innovatively and successfully combines many of the best, most addictive
properties of action RPGs, online RPGs, and competitive multiplayer games in one
beautifully produced package. There’s never really been anything quite like it
before.”
GameZone also awarded Guild Wars
with an Editor’s Choice, calling the game, “A feast for the eyes.” 1UP editors
said, “Guild Wars redefines, going forward, what to expect from an online
adventure.”
Guild Wars is now available at most
major North American computer game retail outlets at an estimated retail price
of US$49.99. No monthly subscription fee is required. A special Collector’s
Edition featuring a hard-cover art book, Internet chat headset, Guild Wars
soundtrack CD and other items is also available for an estimated retail price of
US$69.99. The game is rated Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
About NCsoft North America
NCsoft – North America (NC-NA) is headquartered in Austin, Texas and is part of
Korea-based NCsoft Corporation. NC-NA, with development and administrative
offices in Texas and California, launched two ground-breaking titles in the
first half of 2004, Lineage® II and City of Heroes® and Guild Wars in April of
2005. The company also works with NCsoft subsidiaries and third party developers
throughout North America to develop and publish innovative online entertainment
software products. More information about NCsoft – North America can be found at
http://www.PlayNC.com.
About ArenaNet ArenaNet,
located in Bellevue, Washington, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NCsoft.
ArenaNet has built a state-of-the-art, interactive game network and is
developing premier multiplayer online games for dedicated game players. More
information about ArenaNet can be found at
www.arena.net.
NCsoft, the interlocking NC logo,
Guild Wars, ArenaNet, Lineage, PlayNC, PlayNC.com and all associated NCsoft
logos and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCsoft Corporation.
City of Heroes is a registered trademark of Cryptic Studios, Inc. and NCsoft
Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
