After nearly three years in development, the first Dungeons and Dragons massively multiplayer online role-playing game has launched. Today, Atari and Turbine announced that Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach has shipped to stores.

Based on the Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 rule set, Stormreach features nine classes from the classic role-playing system: barbarian, bard, cleric, fighter, paladin, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, and wizard. But whereas combat in the pencil-and-paper D&D featured turn-based gameplay, combat in Stormreach is in real time, incorporating gamers¡® reflexes and mouse-wielding skills. It will also sport integrated voice chat and other tools to help players assemble and coordinate adventuring parties. For more information on DDO you can visit our?special coverage.

Turbine¡®s Highly Anticipated Online Roleplaying Game Launches in North America

WESTWOOD, Mass., February 28, 2006 ? Turbine, Inc. and Atari, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATAR) announced that DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE?: Stormreach?, the first massively multiplayer online ("MMO") roleplaying game inspired by the legendary pen and paper game, has launched in North America. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE? is a unique experience where players must use their combat skills and wits to survive dangerous dungeons, fiendish traps and foes that punish the foolish. This seamlessly combines the beautiful world of Eberron?, the classic D&D? v3.5 Edition rules, and the latest innovations in online technology into a breathtaking gaming experience like no other. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS? is under license from the Hasbro Properties Group, the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS).

"DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE offers fresh and exciting gameplay that captures the true spirit of the D&D adventures that we grew up with," said Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "We are confident that DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE will appeal to MMO gamers and D&D fans alike."

"We are extremely pleased with DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE," said Nique Fajors, senior vice president, marketing, Atari, Inc. "D&D is an iconic brand that has spawned a legion of imitators, but this game delivers the real thing to online gaming fans everywhere."

"Players around the world will appreciate Turbine¡®s faithful adaptation of D&D¡®s party-based adventures - a system that has made the pen and paper game a powerful brand for over 30 years," said Jeff Burdeen, vice president for the Hasbro Properties Group.

You can read the full press release here.