NFL GameDay™ 2001 for the PlayStation® Game Console Hits the Line At Full Speed on August 15

Continuing to deliver breakthrough football action through revolutionary gameplay and impressive graphics, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced that NFL GameDay™ 2001 from 989 Sports™ will be available at retail on August 15 for the PlayStation® game console. Complete with running back Marshall Faulk of the World Champion St. Louis Rams providing strategic input and appearing on the title's box cover, NFL GameDay 2001 features all 31 NFL teams and players, amazingly realistic 3D player and stadium models and tons of new motion-captured moves from 13 NFL players. Announcers Dick Enberg and Phil Simms return to call all the NFL excitement.

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"NFL GameDay 2001 builds on the winning formula of the original pro football franchise for the PlayStation game console and successfully captures the essence of the game," said Ami Blaire, director of product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "We're very pleased to team up with Marshall Faulk, a gamer himself and the winner of our 'Game Before the Game' competition at this year's Super Bowl™, to bring his world championship expertise to the game as the NFL GameDay 2001 cover athlete and as one of our NFL player consultants."

The GameDay series' award winning gameplay has been enhanced with the new "Play As Any Skill Receiver" feature that lets gamers become the quarterback, running back, wide receiver or tight end with the press of a button. With "on-the-fly" flexibility, gamers can throw cut blocks as a tight end for a running back, or as a receiver, signal the quarterback to throw the ball. Relentlessly savvy Artificial Intelligence (AI) has computer-controlled opponents learning player's tendencies on both the offense and defense to shut down the attack. New Total Control Passing? allows players to lead or under throw receivers in any direction by simply pressing the directional buttons.

NFL GameDay 2001 sports the most realistic graphics to date with each NFL player depicted in amazing detail as they are scaled to their actual size, weight and body style. Stadium interiors are richly detailed and enhanced by animated backgrounds and historic landmarks and players will actually experience wear and tear on the playing field as the game progresses.

For the first time, animations including drag downs, shoves, gang tackles, low and high-wrap tackles, upending tackles, across-the-body "shoestring" catches and sideline "tip-toe" catches capture the intensity of real NFL action. Players can break ankle tackles and drag would-be tacklers on second and third efforts.

NFL GameDay 2001 reflects the latest NFL trends through actual NFL player input -- from motion-capture animations to plays designed with the help of real NFL players. Players motion captured for the NFL GameDay 2001 series are among the game's top names, including Buccaneers FB Mike Alstott, Steelers RB Jerome Bettis, Bengals QB Akili Smith, Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith and LB Hardy Nickerson, Vikings DT John Randle, Raiders WR Tim Brown, CB Charles Woodson, and Giants CB Jason Sehorn. Joining Faulk among the more than 55 NFL stars creating the authentic playbooks for NFL GameDay 2001, were Buccaneers DL Warren Sapp, Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper, Bengals RB Corey Dillon and Dolphins LB Zach Thomas.

An improved "GM Mode" lets the videogamer play in multiple seasons as a coach, player or general manager. A new "Draft War Room" feature provides the gamer with a report of team weaknesses allowing players to determine needs on draft day. Gamers can control the everyday activities of a team over several seasons while drafting, trading and signing free agent players. State-of-the-art "Training Camp Mode" lets the gamer sharpen skills and increase knowledge of various offensive and defensive playbooks. The revolutionary "Play Editor" lets the gamer design custom plays and save them to a playbook.

Players can also direct how and where each player will move by assigning individual routes, blocking schemes and defensive alignments and assignments. NFL GameDay 2001 has also refined the "Create Player" feature, allowing gamers to customize a player's physical appearance, salary and mental makeup. Graduating seniors from NCAA® GameBreaker™ 2001 can even be imported to the draft.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. is supporting the product launch with comprehensive television and print advertising, direct mail, national promotions and online efforts. Dedicated thirty-second spots will air on national network, cable and syndication programming, and major print advertising in the form of four-color spread and full-page advertisements will appear in major sports, consumer and gaming publications. At retail, NFL GameDay 2001 will be showcased with point-of-purchase displays including life-sized standees, posters, oversized dummy boxes and tent cards.

NFL GameDay 2001 Key Features:

-- Award-winning gameplay including a new feature that allows gamers to play as a quarterback, running back, wide receiver or tight end with the "Play As Any Skill Receiver" option

-- Hundreds of new plays designed with the help of 55 NFL players containing the latest trends, formations and plays

-- All-new 3D player and stadium models and tons of new motion capture animations from 13 different NFL players, including Charles Woodson, Akili Smith, Jimmy Smith and Mike Alstott

-- All 31 NFL teams and players scaled to actual height, weight and body style

-- Actual NFL stadiums feature historic landmarks and grass that experience wear and tear as the game progresses

-- Play-by-play legend Dick Enberg and color commentator Phil Simms return with broader and more conversational commentary and insight

-- In-game Telestrator provides TV-style instant replays with insight and analysis from Phil Simms

-- In-depth NFL player ratings and updated 2000 team rosters, including rookies, free agent signings and trades

-- Gamers have the ability to import senior college players from 989 Sports' college football videogame NCAA GameBreaker 2001 to play with the pros in NFL GameDay 2001

-- An upgraded "Training Camp Mode" lets the gamer sharpen his skills and increase his knowledge of various offensive and defensive playbooks. Players actually wear practice jerseys and shorts

-- "GM Mode" lets the gamer be the coach, player or general manager over multiple seasons, operating with a salary cap. The new "Draft War Room" feature alerts player to team weaknesses. Create, draft, sign, trade and release players and free agents -- just like a real GM

-- In-game help menus assist new users who are unfamiliar with the in-game controls

-- Team match-ups that detail offensive and defensive strengths and weaknesses

-- Design plays and save them to a custom playbook with the revolutionary "Play Editor" allowing gamers to direct how and where players move by assigning pass routes, blocking schemes and defensive maneuvers

-- Create a player with the updated "Create Player" feature -- customize a player's physical appearance, salary and mental makeup

-- Players perform as in real life as Marshall Faulk jukes to elude flailing arms, Eddie George punishes would-be tacklers, Randy Moss elevates over shorter defenders to grab the deep ball and Brett Favre sports a rifle for an arm

-- 150 personalized touchdown dances including Green Bay's traditional "Lambeau Leap," Ken Norton's end zone "Punching Bag," Cris Carter's "Point to the Sky" and more

-- Multiple weather conditions including wind, snow and rain as well as player injuries affect gameplay

-- "Throwback" uniforms let gamers relive the past with a favorite team

-- Comprehensive season statistical tracking in 163 categories -- for either a team or a player

-- Gameplay modes include preseason, 2000-2001 NFL season play, playoffs, Super Bowl™ and Pro Bowl™

-- Pro Bowl selections are based upon the current season with weekly voting updates

-- Includes every past Super Bowl team such as the '75 Steelers, '85 Bears and '94 49ers

  -- Genuine NFL stadium, game and crowd sounds
  -- Four playing perspectives and a free-floating 3D TV-style presentation
  -- Four levels of difficulty -- Rookie, Veteran, All-Pro and Hall of Fame
  -- Complete substitution capability
  -- Up to 8 players with Multi Tap
  -- Officially licensed by the NFL and PLAYERS INC.

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.

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.

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SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America

Contact: Christy Fritts of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.,
858-824-5825, or christy_fritts@playstation.sony.com; or Chris Overholser,
213-489-8239, or overholc@fleishman.com, for Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc.

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