PlayStation
2 is now in store with 26 titles available
The Biggest
Consumer Electronics Product Launch in History Is
Here: PlayStation(R)2 Computer Entertainment
System Officially Available Across North America
Sony Computer Entertainment America Drives
Category Growth Through Introduction of
Revolutionary Console Aimed At Defining a New
Form of Entertainment
The most
significant consumer electronics product to hit
store shelves, the PlayStation(R)2 computer
entertainment system, is officially available
throughout North America for a suggested retail
price of $299 U.S. and $449 CDN, Sony Computer
Entertainment America Inc. announced today. With
the largest software library ever introduced for
a home entertainment product, the PlayStation 2
computer entertainment system brings together
games, music and movies to redefine consumers'
entertainment lifestyles and change the landscape
of the North American living room.
"Just as the
PlayStation game console appealed to a mass
market audience, driving the growth of the
interactive entertainment category to
unprecedented levels, PlayStation 2 will create a
new market for the next level of entertainment
experience in the home," said Kaz Hirai,
president and chief operating officer, Sony
Computer Entertainment America Inc. "The
incredible success of the PlayStation 2 launch
will firmly establish Sony Computer Entertainment
America as the driving force behind computer
entertainment."
To supply the
market with a continuous flow of the highly
anticipated system product during the holiday
season, the company shipped 500,000 units of the
PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system to
North American retailers, and plans to ship
approximately 100,000 additional units per week
on average during the holiday season. In just two
months following its launch, the company
estimates that it will have shipped a total of
1.3 million units into the North America market,
representing an historic milestone for the
industry.
Additionally, the
company is on target in North America to ship
three million units by the close of fiscal year
2001, ending March 31, 2001, which is part of the
company's total 10-million-unit worldwide
production estimate for the product within the
same time period.
In Japan, where
the system launched on March 4 this year, more
than three units have been shipped, establishing
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.'sability to
accomplish what no other manufacturer has
previously -- maintain market leadership from one
platform to another and simultaneously dominate
the market with two distinct platforms. The
second best-selling platform in Japan is the PS
one(TM), the newly-designed, compact version of
the popular PlayStation(R) game console.
The PlayStation 2
not only plays graphically stunning game titles,
but also DVD movies and audio CDs. It offers a
bay for a hard drive that will allow broadband
connectivity in 2001, allowing for an Internet
connection that will eventually allow the system
to serve as a network platform for e-commerce
applications and network gaming capabilities.
In order to lead
the broadband era, without changing the aesthetic
design or basic dimensions of the system itself,
the PlayStation 2 includes a bay for 3.5"
hard disc drive and an expansion unit for
interfacing with a network for future
functionality upgrades. Together with the USB and
i.LINK (IEEE1394) interfaces, the PlayStation 2
is ready to expand into the home network.
In addition, the
PlayStation 2's DVD-video playback capability is
built into the hardware, and does not require use
of a Memory Card. The features and functionality
of the DVD player can also be enhanced in the
future via firmware upgrade, simply by loading a
new program from upgrade discs.
This firmware
upgrade feature also enables the PlayStation 2
computer entertainment system to evolve into
future digital consumer applications. No other
system has created as much excitement and support
among the software development community as the
PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system.
Currently 301 publishers/developers are licensed
to develop software and more than 270 software
titles are in development worldwide.
On October 26th,
a software library of 26 titles will be available
for the system with more than 50 titles scheduled
for release by the end of 2000. The new system
boasts the broadest software catalog ever created
with the capability of playing the more than 800
titles available for the PlayStation game console
and PS one.
Consumers can
find the following titles in October at more than
20,000 retail locations (listed in alphabetical
order):
-- Armored Core
2, published by Agetec and developed by From
Software
-- Dead or Alive
2: Hardcore, published and developed by Tecmo
-- Dynasty
Warriors 2, published and developed by Koei
-- ESPN
International Track & Field, published by
Konami and developed by KCEO
-- ESPN X Games
Snowboarding, published and developed by Konami
-- Eternal Ring,
published by Agetec and developed by From
Software
-- Evergrace,
published by Agetec and developed by From
Software
--
FantaVision(TM), published by SCEA
-- Gun Griffon
Blaze, published by Working Designs and developed
by Game Arts
-- Kessen,
published by Electronic Arts and developed by
Koei
-- Madden NFL
2001, published and developed by EA Sports
-- Midnight Club:
Street Racing, published by Rockstar Games and
developed by Angel Studios
-- Moto GP,
published and developed by Namco
-- NHL 2001,
published and developed by EA Sports
-- Orphen,
published by Activision and developed by Kadokawa
Shoten
-- Q-Ball
Billiards Master, published and developed by Take
2 Interactive
-- Ready 2
Rumble(TM) Boxing: Round 2, published and
developed by Midway
-- Ridge Racer V,
published and developed by Namco
-- SSX, published
and developed by Electronic Arts
-- Silent Scope,
published and developed by Konami
-- Smuggler's
Run, published by Rockstar Games and developed by
Angel Studios
-- Street
Fighter(R) EX3, published and developed by Capcom
-- Surfing H30,
published and developed by Take 2 Interactive
-- Summoner,
published by THQ and developed by Volition, Inc.
-- Swing Away
Golf, published by Electronic Arts and developed
by T&E Software
-- Tekken Tag
Tournament, published and developed by Namco
-- TimeSplitters,
published by Eidos and developed by Free Radical
Design, Ltd.
-- Unreal
Tournament, published by Infogrames and developed
by Epic Games
-- Wild Wild
Racing, published by Interplay and developed by
Rage Software
-- X-Squad,
published by Electronic Arts and developed by EA
Square
The PlayStation 2
is sold with necessary cables and cords and the
DUALSHOCK(TM)2 analog controller. The DUALSHOCK 2
analog controller offers analog functions, with
the exception of the "start" and
"select" buttons, providing a wider
variety of user operations and a more compelling
interactive experience. Additional controllers
are available for a suggested retail price of
$34. The following other PlayStation 2-branded
peripherals are sold separately:
-- Memory Card
(8MB) -- With a $34 suggested retail price, the
new memory card has a storage capacity of 8MB of
data, and a data transfer rate up to 250 times
faster than the current memory card. In the
interests of data security for potential future
network applications, the memory card
incorporates the authentication and encryption
security system, "MagicGate(TM)."
-- Multi Tap
Adaptor -- This innovative peripherals device,
available for a $34 suggested retail price, is an
adaptor used to increase the number of
controllers and memory cards that can be
connected to the PlayStation 2 computer
entertainment system. With one multi-tap, up to
four-players can enjoy intense gameplay, and two
multi-taps allow up to eight players the ultimate
interactive videogame experience.
-- Stands --
Available for horizontal or vertical use, each
stand offers maximum flexibility for optimum
enjoyment with the PlayStation 2 computer
entertainment system. The suggested retail price
for the vertical stand is $14.99 and $9.99 for
the horizontal stand.
Sony Computer
Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine
the entertainment lifestyle with its
PlayStation(R) game console and the
PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system.
The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system
will 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.
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