Traditional MMORPG addicts may not find much here to tempt them away from their usual poison. Leveling is quick and painless, penalties for failure are slim, trade skills are practically non-existent --much here would be anathema to a game with the same old Everquest structure. Committed players will hit the level cap in a few days -- but that's really where the game begins. If PvP's not your bag, Guild Wars isn't your game, but you should really have been able to tell that from the title.

On the other hand, if tedious leveling up, dull combat, or uninspired player vs. player gaming are your quibbles with today's massively multiplayer offerings, Guild Wars is the cure. With its user-friendly and bug-free client, immensely well thought out design, flexible structure, and first-class PVP, NCSoft's latest is off to an excellent start -- and the price is certainly right. Don't miss it.

Funcom announces ‘Anarchy Online – Lost Eden’, an action-filled new expansion pack for the ultimate sci-fi MMORPG. Set for release in early winter, ‘Lost Eden’ is packed with exciting new features and abilities, including massive orbital battle stations, player controlled battle Mechs, vast PvP upgrades, encounters inside alien motherships, extensive alternative character advancement options and more.

After weeks of polishing the Episode III inspired content through the beta process, Rage of the Wookiees will ship via download to current subscribers on Thursday, May 5th, two weeks before the movie hits theaters. Star Wars Galaxies: Episode III Rage of the Wookiees brings the entire planet of Kashyyyk with over 100 story driven new missions and the exclusive Varactyl mount to subscribers for $24.95 on May 5th, 2005.

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming, today announced EverQuest®II Desert of Flames(TM) and EverQuest®II The Splitpaw Saga(TM), the first expansion pack and second adventure pack, respectively, for the critically acclaimed MMO EverQuest II. Scheduled for launch September 12th 2005, Desert of Flames has a suggested retail price of $29.99 and will be showcased at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles. The Splitpaw Saga will be available only via digital download for just $7.99 and is scheduled for release June 28th 2005.

If you’ve tried MMORPGs before and did not like the repetitive nature of the endless mission and leveling cycle inherent in these games, chances are that you won’t enjoy TMO unless you are a true diehard fan of the films. If you’re the patient type and are looking for something a little different from all of those fantasy-based games out there, then TMO is worth a look. It has its shortcomings and issues, but the potential is there for an interesting game.

As a nice touch, Episode III: Rage of the Wookiees will also have some of its content tie in with the movie. And the fact that it will be available on May 5 -- a couple of weeks before the movie releases -- means that Galaxies players will get a taste of what's to come through the gameplay and new story-driven quests.

Turbine, Inc., a leading publisher of online subscription entertainment, announced today that the highly-anticipated massively multiplayer online game Asheron's Call 2: Legions™ is available now at retail chains throughout North America. The game will be available in Europe on May 6.

The long-awaited expansion pack to Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings® marks the first game to be funded, developed and published entirely by Turbine. With Legions, Turbine has taken the first of many steps beyond its original role as a contract developer and added the responsibilities of marketing and launch efforts, effectively positioning the company as a full-scale publisher.

Asheron's Call 2: Legions is the first follow-up to the graphically ground-breaking MMORPG Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings. Legions will provide players with an ambitious new storyline complete with an extensive array of new content for hours and hours of additional online adventuring. Players will now have a massive new continent to conquer, full of more than 100 quests, increasing the size of the existing gameworld by 30 percent. The title allows gamers to take control of never before playable races, including the Empyreans and the Drudge, as well as explore new dungeons, battle new monsters and arm themselves with the latest array of weapons. The improved Hero System 2.0 builds on the 300 added skills and abilities as well as three new prestige classes. The overall game engine upgrades and extensive system improvements largely enhance the performance and game play experience, making the title appealing to both new players as well as the most avid fan.

Women, who think they look the part of Antonia, are encouraged to submit photos online at www.QuestForAntonia.com from May 17, 2005 to July 12, 2005. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and a legal U.S. resident. Online voting by the public will determine a semi-finalists group, from which five finalists will be flown, all-expenses-paid, to Las Vegas for the star-studded Stuff Magazine Casino Weekend 4 party extravaganza.

This is the first-ever nationwide model search with the goal of finding a woman who looks like an online video game character. Once discovered, the new Antonia will be offered a one-year modeling contract with Sony Online, a photo layout in the pages of Stuff Magazine, and other prizes. The winner will be announced at Stuff Magazine's Casino Weekend 4 at the Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in August in a pageant-style competition complete with a swimsuit contest and interview portion that is expected to be judged by celebrities, Stuff's editorial staff and SOE representatives.