Thusrday June 08, 2000

PS one

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA REDEFINES THE ENTERTAINMENT LIFESTYLE WITH INTRODUCTION OF NEW PLAYSTATION* MODEL IN SEPTEMBER 2000

New Product Plans Allow Company to Grow PlayStation Business and Prepare for Further Market Expansion

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., maker of the best-selling PlayStation* game console, is set to revolutionize entertainment with the introduction of a newly-designed, compact version of the PlayStation game console to be released in September 2000 to commemorate the anniversary of the original North American launch. Further solidifying the company's role as an entertainment visionary, the introduction of the new PS one* will redefine the entertainment lifestyle by providing consumers broader access to the PlayStation gaming experience including portable use outside the home.

PS one, incorporating the same functionalities and technology of the original PlayStation game console, is approximately one-third the size of the existing product, enabling consumers to comfortably carry the system.

The introduction of this new model, PS one*, will replace the original PlayStation design and include a DUALSHOCK* analog controller, AC adapter for portability and necessary connector cables.

This new model supports the existing PlayStation software catalog of more than 800 titles currently on the market, and the more than 150 additional titles currently under development to be released by year-end. While the company continues to enjoy a strong lead in North American sales with a PlayStation game console now in one out of every four U.S. households, its performance in other regions makes PlayStation the undisputed worldwide leader in computer entertainment. As of May 31, 2000,

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. announced that more than 73 million units had been shipped worldwide, more than any other competing system. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced the following details and information pertaining to the North American release of PS one:

Main Product Features

Product Name: PlayStation PS one

Logo Type: PS one

Available: September 19, 2000

Suggested Retail Price (SRP): $99

Production Forecast: 8 million units worldwide for FY '01 (PS one and PlayStation game console combined)

Dimensions: 193 mm (W) X 38 mm (H) X 144 mm (D)

Weight: 550 g

Formats Supported: PlayStation CD-ROM, Audio CD

Interfaces: Controller port (2) Memory Card slot (2) AV Multi Cable output (1)

Accessories Included: DUALSHOCK* analog controller (1) AV Multi Cable (1) AC Adapter (1) Basic Specifications (same as existing PlayStation game console)

CPU: 32 bit RISC (R3000 custom)

Clock Speed: 33.8688 MHz

Main Memory: 16Mbit

Graphics: PlayStation GPU

Graphics Memory: 8Mbit

Sound: SPU 24 channel

Sound Memory: 4Mbit

Disc Drive: CD-ROM 2 times speed

The PlayStation format will continue to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with the introduction in Spring 2001 of a specially-designed LCD monitor for the PS one. The four-inch color TFT LCD will allow consumers to enjoy the world of PlayStation entertainment either in their digital living room environment or outside their home. Specifics on exact release date and pricing are not available at this point.

"Sony is the company that pioneered the evolution of personal audio and video products designed to accommodate the changing consumer lifestyle. Building upon this heritage, it is natural for our company to use this expertise to further define and create new markets for the PlayStation business, over and above the more than 26 million users in North America alone," said Kazuo (Kaz) Hirai, president and chief operating officer, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "The new PS one model will allow us to further differentiate between the existing platform and the new entertainment experiences allowed through the upcoming PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system to be released on October 26, 2000."

As part of this worldwide initiative, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. announced today specifics of the PS one launch for the Japanese market. The system will be available July 7, 2000 for 15,000 yen (tax not included). Broadening the scope of entertainment beyond traditional packaged content, this winter a special adapter cable will be available for consumers enabling the entire PlayStation platform family (PlayStation game console, PS one and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system) to be connected to mobile phones. Through this connectivity option, millions of PlayStation users will be able to download information, entertainment content and software programs, in addition to exchanging data with other users.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation* game console and the upcoming PlayStation*2 computer entertainment system. The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system is set to revolutionize the home entertainment market, offering the most compelling interactive content and the capability to be used as a network terminal in the coming broadband era.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation game console and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PlayStation game console and the upcoming PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.