Sony Online Entertainment is offering some lucky players a chance to play EverQuest Online Adventures months before copies of the game show up in stores. During this public beta test, a handful of PlayStation 2 system owners will enjoy one of the largest, most in depth online game experiences ever created. The best part about the public beta test is that it's free! The first phase of public beta testing is scheduled to begin in September, 2002. All you'll need to play is a love of video games and a desire to preview one of the biggest massively multiplayer online games for the PlayStation 2. Click HERE to apply for entry in the EverQuest Online Adventures Public Beta Test Phase 1.

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. today announced deals with Snowblind Studios Inc. and Rapid Eye Entertainment Inc. to create original content for the PC and console markets under the SOE label. Rapid Eye Entertainment is currently developing a real-time strategy, PC-based EverQuest game while Snowblind Studios is developing an EverQuest-based product for the PlayStation®2. Further product information will be announced at a later date.

EverQuest Castersrealm today tossed up information and some screens about EverQuest 2 Project (thanks voodoo). Here is a clip from the posting:

The June issue of PC Gamer has a lot of information on the upcoming EverQuest 2 project being developed from Sony Online. From the reading of the article the designers have learnt a lot about the world of Norrath and how they can build upon it. This knowledge has been garnered not only from EverQuest but from many of the other MMOG's which have been released over the last three years. It's system requirements when released (currently slated for October 2003) will be a P3-733 (or Athlon XP), 512MB of Ram and GeForce 3 or higher. It's graphics engine was developed along with that used in the upcoming Star Wars Galaxies title. Check out full article here!

Sony Online Entertainment, a division of the media and electronics conglomerate, said it would release "EverQuest Online Adventure," based on the series of PC online games, for the PS2 next spring. The game will consist of packaged software and a subscription-based online service. Read more here