989 Sports'™ NCAA® GameBreaker® 2001 and NCAA All-Time Rushing Leader Ron Dayne Plow Onto PlayStation®

Best-Selling Videogame Franchise Brings College Football to Life With 1999 Heisman Trophy Winner Dayne and the Legendary Keith Jackson

PRNewswire
FOSTER CITY
08/22/2000

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that NCAA® GameBreaker™ 2001 from 989 Sports™ is now available for the PlayStation® game console. Delivering a balanced attack of unrivaled graphics, great gameplay and a multitude of features, NCAA GameBreaker 2001 includes all 115 Division I-A programs, plus 64 historical teams, 21 bowl games, new player models and more than 250 motion-captured animations. The game features 1,800 plays designed by legendary All-Americans, Artificial Intelligence (AI) consultation provided by Washington Huskies head coach Rick Neuheisel and strategic input by Heisman Trophy™ winner Ron Dayne, who also appears on the game's package cover.

  (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/SFTU071
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NCAA GameBreaker 2001 re-creates the spirit and pageantry of college football Saturdays with all 115 Division I-A football stadiums from Michigan's "Big House" to the Rose Bowl, all rendered in amazing detail, as well as the race for the Heisman Trophy, and conference championships. Adding to the game's realism are more than 30 authentic fight songs and hundreds of motion-captured animations including new tackles, special moves and jukes. Players can utilize special weapon "GameBreakers" who can change a game's complexion whenever they touch the ball.

Former University of Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne, this year's GameBreaker cover athlete and a recent New York Giants first round draft pick, was brought into the studio for consultation adding to the game's realism through play calling strategies and play design. Dayne finished his Badger career as college football's all-time rushing leader becoming the first runner to amass more than 7,000 yards on the ground.

"NCAA GameBreaker 2001 captures the look and feel of college football and with our collaboration with Ron Dayne, the NCAA's most prolific running back, GameBreaker lives up to 989 Sports' mantra 'Made by the Pros. Played by the Pros." said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "With Ron Dayne and Rick Neuheisel's strategic input, Keith Jackson's play-by-play commentary, incredibly realistic stadiums and team-specific playbooks, GameBreaker really is college football."

NCAA GameBreaker 2001 features superior gameplay to accompany its amazing graphics and college football realism. With Total Control Passing™, players adjust to changing defenses by leading or under-throwing receivers so the ball is placed just where the receiver can catch it. Special moves allow "GameBreakers" to juke overmatched defenders, while a well-timed leap can tip the ball away from the outstretched hands of the intended receiver. A "Career Mode" allows a player to assume the duties of a head coach, coordinator or assistant in leading a run at the National Championship. Players can then progress up the coaching ladder, landing jobs at higher profile schools depending on the success of their squad.

Only NCAA GameBreaker 2001 allows gamers to take their best players to the next level. Gamers are able to save senior players from NCAA GameBreaker 2001 and draft them into the NFL by downloading them into 989 Sports' best-selling pro football franchise and new release, NFL GameDay™ 2001.

  NCAA GameBreaker 2001 Key Features:

  -- All 115 NCAA Division I-A teams and stadiums, plus 64 classic teams
     from the past
  -- Authentic college play formations and playbooks featuring more than
     1,800 plays designed by college coaches such as the University of
     Washington's Rick Neuheisel and UCLA's Bob Toledo and by GameBreaker
     cover athlete Ron Dayne, the 1999 Heisman Trophy winner
  -- Five gameplay modes:  Scrimmage, Fantasy, Tournament, Bowl Season and
     Career
  -- "Career Mode" enables the user to assume the duties of a head coach,
     coordinator or assistant in leading a run at the National Championship
  -- TV-style presentation with extended analysis from legendary college
     football announcer Keith Jackson
  -- NFL GameDay 2001 compatible - users will be able to save senior players
     from an NCAA GameBreaker 2001 season and import them into NFL GameDay
     2001
  -- All-new gameplay animations include new tackles, special moves and
     jukes
  -- All 3D polygonal players scaled to actual height and weight
  -- Authentic college fight songs and drums provide the most realistic
     college football environment, while real audio enhances every juke,
     grunt and bone-crunching hit
  -- "Blue Chip Recruiting" feature allows gamers to sign recruits and build
     powerhouse teams
  -- Play in 21 different bowl games, including the Rose Bowl™, and
     individual players can compete for the Heisman Trophy, Sears National
     Championship Trophy, All American Team and Freshman of the Year Award
  -- Utilizes more than 250 motion capture animations of former college
     standouts and current NFL Pros, including Akili Smith, Charles Woodson,
     Tim Brown, Chad Brown, Mike Alstott, Jason Sehorn, Hardy Nickerson,
     Christian Fauria, Jimmy Smith and Lamont Warren
  -- "Max Pro" feature allows player to order running backs to block or go
     out for a pass
  -- Gamers can control celebration and show-off animations, but must watch
     out for excessive celebration penalties
  -- True-to-life "GameBreakers" can change the outcome of a game with each
     touch of the ball
  -- Practice field "Play Editor" feature enables users to create and
     customize their own playbook
  -- Supports the DUALSHOCK™ analog controller for the ultra-realistic
     experience
  -- Total Control Passing allows players to lead or under-throw receivers
     so the ball is placed out of the reach of greedy defenders
  -- Wind, snow and rain all affect gameplay, while uniforms show mud and
     grass stains depending on field conditions
  -- Tracking of game and full season statistics in every major category
  -- Up to 8 players with Multi Tap

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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http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000121/SONYPLAY

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SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

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

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