Everquest II players, get your video-making caps; your creativity could get you a trip to Vegas with Sony footing the bill, all thanks to Sony’s SOEmote technology.

Sony has announced that they will be integrating their SOEmote technology into the MMORPG Everquest II. SOEmote allows players to transmit their facial expressions via webcam to their online avatars with a technology called “Live Driver” which then display the same emotions. Robert Gehorsam, CEO of Image Metrics, said, “Live Driver lets players simply be themselves and inhabit their character in a completely natural way. With it, SOEmote captures and reflects the slightest nuances of expression and emotion, allowing for the kinds of social experiences that players and developers have sought to create for years.” SOEmote also morphs the voices of players using “voice fonts” to emulate the characters that they’re playing in game, so if a player is playing as a Ratonga, their chatting will sounds like a Ratonga (though I’m not sure what that sounds like).

To celebrate the new update, Sony has announced an SOEmote contest for Everquest II players. From August 8, 2012 to September 8, 2012, players can submit :30 videos that showcase SOEmote in “original, creative, and expressive ways.” Qualifiers will be entered to win a grand prize trip for two to SOE Live, SOE’s annual player celebration in Las Vegas. They’ll also get the chance to have their video broadcast to fellow EverQuest II gamers at the EverQuest II role-playing-themed panel at SOE Live. For information on how to enter, check out SOEmote.com.