Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Showcases PlayStation®2 and NFL GameDay™ 2002 Super Bowl XXXVI

PlayStation 2 and 989 Sports Set to Sponsor Featured Events Including 2002 Maxim Magazine's Curiouser & Curiouser Event, Playboy Super Saturday Night, CBS/NFL United We Stand Concert, MTV Rock N Jock And 'Game Before the Game®'

PRNewswire
FOSTER CITY, Calif.
01/25/2002

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today involvement in a full week's schedule of marquee events to support the PlayStation®2 platform, 989 Sports® brand and NFL GameDay™ 2002 in conjunction with Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, LA. These events, running from January 30 - February 3, 2002, include: 989 Sports' 7th annual "Game Before the Game®"; the 989 Sports Locker Room Challenge™; presence at Coca-Cola and America Online Present The NFL Experience; NFL Ultimate Defender; 2002 Maxim Magazine's Curiouser & Curiouser Event; CBS/NFL United We Stand Concert; MTV's Rock N Jock; and Playboy Super Saturday Night. All events will provide football fans the opportunity to enrich their Super Bowl experience through PlayStation 2 and 989 Sports' all-new installment of its football franchise, NFL GameDay 2002.

(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000510/SFW104-a )

The 7th annual "Game Before the Game" pits marquee athletes from the respective AFC and NFC Championship teams in a Super Bowl preview match-up on NFL GameDay 2002 on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. For the past six years the winner of "Game Before the Game" has gone on to victory in the Super Bowl, with Qadry Ismail of the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens winning last year's competition over the New York Giants' Jason Sehorn. This year's event is open to the public on Thursday, January 31 at 7:00 p.m. at the NFL Experience on the Main Stage and will be announced by FOX Sports' Tom Arnold, host of "Best Damn Sports Show Period."

989 Sports' NFL GameDay 2002 will also be featured during Super Bowl week events involving league players at the NFL Ultimate Defender and the 989 Sports Locker Room Challenge. The NFL Ultimate Defender, a made-for-television event taking place on Wednesday, January 30 at the NFL Experience and scheduled to air on ESPN and ESPN2 on Saturday, February 2, will feature top NFL players in a skills competition, including the NFL GameDay "Goal Line Stand" featuring PlayStation 2's premier football title, NFL GameDay 2002. The company's own 989 Sports Locker Room Challenge event, open to the public on Saturday, February 2 at 2:00 p.m. at the NFL Experience, will pit four of the NFL's top gamers against each other in a single elimination tournament to determine the league's top NFL GameDay 2002 player.

Leading up to Super Bowl XXXVI PlayStation 2 and 989 Sports is one of the associate sponsors of the CBS/NFL United We Stand Concert on February 1 at 8:00 p.m. CST at the New Orleans Arena. The concert will provide thousands of fans the opportunity to mingle with celebrities and NFL players while enjoying musical performances from a star-studded lineup. In addition, PlayStation 2 and 989 Sports is one of the presenting sponsors of this year's MTV Rock N Jock Super Bowl hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, Deion Sanders and Gus Johnson. The event will also include, sideline reporter, LL Cool J and a Half-time performance by Busta Rhymes. This year's game will feature legendary quarterback Dan Marino, NYC firefighters and police officers as well as other celebrities.

The company will also participate in the 2002 Maxim Magazine's Curiouser & Curiouser Event, and Playboy Super Saturday Night. The 2002 Maxim Magazine's Curiouser & Curiouser Event on Friday, February 1 at The Ruins in downtown New Orleans is one of the most anticipated events of Super Bowl week. The party will be hosted by actress Tara Reid and feature a special musical performance to entertain the biggest celebrities, NFL athletes and VIP's in New Orleans for the Super Bowl. Playboy Super Saturday Night on Saturday, February 2 will transform the historic St. Elizabeth's Orphanage into Playboy Mansion South and feature a lively mix of dancing and entertainment for marquee celebrities and athletes hosted by the Playboy Playmates and football great Marcus Allen. With interactive kiosks and popular titles available for gameplay at both parties, celebrities, athletes, VIP's and fans alike will have the opportunity to experience the power of PlayStation 2.

Throughout the week, from January 30 - February 3, Sony Computer Entertainment America will participate in the Coca-Cola and America Online Present The NFL Experience, a continuous interactive theme park offering games, displays and entertainment attractions, located at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Fans will have the opportunity to play NFL GameDay 2002 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system as well as other popular titles on the 68-foot PlayStation 2 Touring Attraction where more than 60 participants at a time can sample the latest games. In addition, the 989 Sports Locker Room Challenge on Tour Vehicle will make its debut at Super Bowl XXXVI. The attraction is a 24-foot state-of-the-art mobile gaming vehicle that will allow sports fans to be fully immersed in a sports environment as they experience and compete in the most authentic titles in sports gaming. Equipped with 10 PlayStation and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems, the 989 Sports Locker Room Challenge on Tour Vehicle will be located at the NFL Experience.

Sony Computer Entertainment America will also be advertising during the FOX pre-game show on Sunday, February 3, with a scheduled nine spots to run during the three-hour show. In addition, FOX will dedicate a segment to cover highlights of the Thursday night "Game Before the Game" competition.

"Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. and 989 Sports are thrilled to be a part of Super Bowl week activities and contribute to the excitement surrounding the biggest event in professional sports," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Our involvement in the week's events and the NFL Experience allow NFL athletes and fans alike to truly experience first hand the entertainment PlayStation 2 and our products can deliver."

About 989 Sports

989 Sports® is the sports software brand of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Known for its top-selling sports franchise titles such as NFL GameDay™, MLB™, NBA ShootOut, NHL FaceOff™, NCAA® Final Four® and NCAA® GameBreaker™, 989 Sports is committed to developing authentic and innovative sports games to appeal to both the professional athlete and hard-core sports videogame fan.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one™ game console, and the 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 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.

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SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Contact: Ron Eagle of Sony Computer Entertainment America,
+1-858-824-v5585, or ron_eagle@playstation.sony.com; or Rick Heineman,
rheineman@bncpr.com, or Scott Floyd, sfloyd@bncpr.com, +1-310-274-7800, for
Sony Computer Entertainment America

Website: http://www.989sports.com/

Website: http://www.playstation.com/