Planetwide Games announces that RYL: Path of the Emperor goes live today, including what they are calling the "largest tournament award in MMORPG history." Here goes:

RYL: PATH OF THE EMPEROR LAUNCHES TODAY WITH LARGEST MMORPG TOURNAMENT AWARD IN VIDEO GAME HISTORY

Skill-Based Player vs. Player Tournament to Culminate in $1,000,000 Grand Prize Costa Mesa, CA, March 17, 2005 – Planetwide Games announced today, St. Patrick’s Day 2005, that RYL: Path of the Emperor will be the first Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game to offer a $1,000,000 Grand Prize to the winner of a Player vs. Player Skill-Based Tournament.

Players who purchase the RYL: Path of the Emperor video game either online or in retail stores such as EB Games and Gamestop will be qualified to participate in the tournament in which one player will win the $1,000,000 Grand Prize. The RYL qualifying tournament will start July 1, 2005 and will end April 30, 2006, culminating in a Final Tournament event to be broadcast live and to take place in conjunction with the E3 Video Game Expo in May 2006.

Planetwide Games is also proud to announce RYL: Path of the Emperor has gone gold, pay to play throughout North America and is available for immediate download at www.ryl.net. With the support of over 500,000 North American RYL Players and RYL Founder’s Guild members who have already downloaded the Open Beta of RYL: Path of the Emperor, Planetwide Games is able to successfully deliver this next generation MMORPG video game with superior graphics and challenging game play.

“Planetwide Games is pleased to be able to bring North American and English-speaking users one of the world’s most popular video game properties with 8.2 million registered users worldwide. Early indications are demonstrating that online video game players from around the world cannot wait to show off their game skills and have the opportunity to become the Emperor and win $1,000,000,” said Kevin Donovan, President Planetwide Games. “RYL: Path of the Emperor has become a live interactive global community. RYL is also the first fantasy MMORPG to be comprised of true Player vs. Player and Guild vs. Guild action. RYL’s 100% realistic 3D gameplay complete with ever changing weather and environmental effects and intuitive combat system is quick and clean allowing players to move more easily through the levels, much more so than in any other MMORPG.”

The RYL: Path of the Emperor $1,000,000 Tournament will qualify players who will compete on the RYL Tournament server based upon Top RYL Game scores throughout the year with the qualifying tournament ending April 30, 2006. Interested players can view more details about the tournament rules and regulations at http://www.RYL.net.