Company Provides Glimpse into Evolution of PlayStation at 10th Annual 2004
Electronic Entertainment Expo and Debuts New Portable Entertainment Player,
PlayStation(R)Portable (PSP(TM))
LOS ANGELES, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America
Inc. announced today details from the presentation given this morning by Kaz
Hirai, president and chief executive officer, Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc., at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles.
The presentation highlighted the announcements being made by the company and
focused in particular on new dimensions of the PlayStation(R) business. Hirai
provided a glimpse into the past and future evolution of the business while
also providing details about the company's long-term online gaming plans and
the newest member of the PlayStation family of products,
PlayStation(R)Portable (PSP(TM)).
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/SFM066LOGO )
"It's hard to believe 10 years have gone by since the first E3; our
history as a company parallels the first show in 1995, as it was there that
the original PlayStation debuted," Hirai said. "Since then, Sony Computer
Entertainment America has led the industry in all aspects of interactive
entertainment, and our continued innovation -- evolving our business through
new dimensions -- will drive this industry forward for many years to come."
Hirai discussed the importance of sustaining platforms lifecycles, showing
how the 10-year plan for PlayStation has forever altered expectations for
platform longevity, and outlining the company's plans to make that lifecycle a
reality for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. The company's
smart platform management has furthered the financial health and stability of
the interactive entertainment business. In fact, the PlayStation 2 adoption
rate in just its third year is already 38 percent ahead of the original
PlayStation for the same time period. Additionally, the company anticipates
more than 60 percent of PlayStation 2 software sales are still to come, which
provides a healthy outlook for all its business partners.
The company's successful creation of the casual gamer market -- while
still cultivating the core user base -- will additionally fuel the success of
the company's 10-year plan as it delivers innovation to match consumer trends
and expand the audience base, Hirai said. The new PlayStation 2 price of just
$149 along with the bevy of new content also announced at E3 will entice new
and existing consumers. Additionally, the company's continuing focus on
investing in future technologies and new franchise development has been and
will be critical to success.
Sony Computer Entertainment America is also extending its reach online,
games without boundaries. Online gaming, Hirai said, is the new reality TV;
both genres are top draws for the 18-34 year-old demographic and both provide
what today's consumers seek, in particular competition, camaraderie and
unscripted experiences where participants control their own destinies and
ultimately, the outcome. In both genres, persistent worlds continue even when
the camera or action stops, success is sometimes based on alliances with other
players, participants' true personas come front and center, and the end result
is based on the defeat of the enemy.
The company also outlined plans for a business model for online gaming
with a focus on a mini-transactions system that gives consumers the right to
decide what they want to pay for and how much they want to spend -- a model
similar to that which has proven profitable for online music distribution.
At E3, the company also announced and showcased its new lineup of online
titles, including Ratchet and Clank(R): Up Your Arsenal; the new titles bring
the number of online offerings available for PlayStation 2 by the end of the
year to 100, continuing to build on the company's leadership in its vast
library of software offerings.
Further enhancing the company's strong platform strategies, Hirai said, is
Sony Computer Entertainment's official worldwide debut of its new handheld
videogame system, scheduled to launch in Japan at the end of 2004 with North
American and European launches following in the spring of 2005. PSP features
3-D CG games incorporating high-quality, full-motion video giving consumers an
experience similar to PlayStation 2 -- anytime, anywhere.
About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the
entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation(R) and PS one(TM) game console,
and the 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 family of products and develops,
publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console and
the 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.
Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com
SOURCE Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.playstation.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/SFM066LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840
CONTACT:
Monica Wik, +1-650-655-5394, or
monica_wik@playstation.sony.com, or Teresa Weaver,
+1-650-655-5324, or teresa_weaver@playstation.sony.com, both of
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
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