Sony Computer
Entertainment America Continues to Drive Category
Growth With Introduction of PS One(TM)
Newly-Designed
PlayStation(R) Game Console Further Demonstrates
Company's Commitment to Its Existing Business
Demonstrating a
strategic, multi-tiered approach to its consumer
product portfolio, Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc. announced the release of its
newly-designed, compact version of the popular
PlayStation(R) game console, branded PS one(TM).
With the widest distribution base of any platform
ever available,
PS one will be
available at more than 20,000 stores on September
19, 2000 for a suggested retail price of $99.
Incorporating the
same functionalities and technology of the
original PlayStation game console, PS one is
approximately one-third the size of the existing
product, enabling consumers to comfortably carry
the system.
The introduction
of this new model will replace the original
PlayStation design and include a DUALSHOCK(TM)
analog controller, AC adapter for portability and
necessary connector cables. Rather than competing
against the soon-to-be-released PlayStation(R)2
computer entertainment system, the market demand
for PlayStation hardware and software is stronger
than ever and the introduction of PS one allows
for market expansion, thus allowing each product
to co-exist in the marketplace.
Today found in
one out of every four U.S. households, the
PlayStation game console has already reshaped the
concept of entertainment for many consumers.
In just five
years, PlayStation has dominated the marketplace
with a North American installed base of more than
27 million consoles, and life-to-date software
shipments exceeding 240 million units. According
to the July 2000 TRSTS report from the NPD Group,
a leading market research firm that tracks and
reports on the gaming industry, PlayStation
continues to maintain market dominance, holding a
54.1 percent share of the U.S. hardware market
and a 64.3 percent share of the software market
life-to-date.
"Historically,
no videogame system has achieved in sales what
Sony Computer Entertainment has accomplished with
the PlayStation game console," said Edward
Williams, industry analyst with Gerard Klauer
Mattison & Co., Inc. "Robust PlayStation
sales have continuously demonstrated the
company's ability to drive consumer demand and
grow the overall market for game consoles and
computer entertainment."
Initial sales of
the PS one in Japan support this trend. "On
the heels of the PlayStation 2 launch in March,
Sony Computer Entertainment has already confirmed
shipments of more than a quarter million PS ones
in Japan since its launch on July 7th, which is
almost the same as the first month's shipment of
PlayStation units when the game console
originally launched five years ago," said
Jack Tretton, senior vice president, Sony
Computer Entertainment America Inc.
"Additionally, PS one is the second
best-selling system in Japan, just behind
PlayStation 2, confirming that this new product
continues to expand the PlayStation business
overall by representing a new lifestyle choice
for many new consumers.
"We expect
this type of consumer enthusiasm to translate
into robust sales in this territory," added
Tretton. "Even though the demand for
PlayStation has always exceeded supply in North
America, we have continually outsold our
competition in both the hardware and software
categories. Our challenge has never been selling
the console, but rather being able to supply the
retail channel with enough product to satisfy
market needs."
PS one 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. At the
end of August, the company introduced six new
titles to its "Greatest Hits" library.
The
"Greatest Hits" line-up is a series of
the most popular PlayStation games, available for
as low as $19.99. The new titles include Gran
Turismo(TM) 2, Crash Team Racing(TM) (CTR), Spyro
2: Ripto's Rage!(TM), Disney's Tarzan(TM), Cool
Boarders(R)4 and Twisted Metal(R)4.
Building on its
previous success, the 2000 PlayStation marketing
campaign furthers the company's successful
efforts to penetrate the overall entertainment
market, and PS one will garner additional
consumer exposure and awareness through these
efforts. The marketing program will continue to
feature extended print advertising in new,
non-traditional vehicles, strategic television ad
buys with an expansive children's programming
push through a $10 million dedicated spend, and
increased consumer promotions and cross
promotional opportunities for all PlayStation
entertainment franchises.
The campaign also
features ongoing partnerships with the most
recognized youth-, family- and children-oriented
brands. In addition, Sony Computer Entertainment
America will be working in conjunction with its
retail partners to strengthen the in-store
presence for its popular "Greatest
Hits" products.
This summer,
consumers enjoyed the PlayStation game console at
a variety of special events, in total reaching a
wide and diverse audience of both current and
future PlayStation fans.
A sample of these
events included: the seven-week cross-country
VANS Warped Tour 2000; the popular KROQ Weenie
Roast in Anaheim, California; the annual Sears
Taste of Chicago; the VANS Triple Crown Series,
in partnership with VANS; Comic-Con International
representing the largest gathering of comic book
fans in the country; the 107.7 EndFest in Seattle
with feature artist KORN; the Honda Gran Prix of
Monterey; and at numerous retailers nationwide
through the 40-foot PlayStation GameMobile.
Additionally, at
the NBC Toy Test at the Pacific Science Center in
Seattle, consumers enjoyed a special treat with
the first PS one product sampling. "With its
portability and affordable price, the PS one will
satisfy the strong demand retailers continue to
experience for the PlayStation business, without
cannibalizing future purchasers of the
PlayStation 2," noted Tretton.
"With the
introduction of PS one, we are confident that we
will be the first and only company in the
marketplace to maintain and manage two successful
platforms." The PlayStation format will
continue to broaden consumers' gaming experiences
with the spring 2001 introduction of a specially
designed LCD monitor for 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 Computer
Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine
the entertainment lifestyle with its
PlayStation(R) game console and the upcoming
PlayStation(R)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.
PS ONE(TM) BASIC
FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS
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
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