Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Acquires RTIME, Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that it acquired RTIME, Inc., a privately-held company that provides products and services that support real-time interactivity on the Internet and broadband networks. Driving the company's strategic vision for the evolution of computer entertainment in the broadband network era, this acquisition allows Sony Computer Entertainment America access to the various technologies, products and services developed by RTIME, including the RTIME Interactive Networking Engine™, a scalable, high-performance networking package for real-time interactivity for games and other multi-user applications.

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As part of this deal, RTIME becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. and will operate under the RTIME brand name. Financial terms of this arrangement are not available. Based in the Sony Computer Entertainment America offices in Foster City, Calif. and San Diego, Calif., RTIME's day-to-day operations will continue to be run by the current management team under the direction of Shuhei Yoshida, vice president, product development, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

RTIME will be working with the Sony Computer Entertainment America studios, its developers and group companies to build a common "back end" technology for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system's future broadband games and services. In addition to dedicating its internal resources to building a broadband network engine for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, RTIME will continue its ongoing commitment to existing customers and partners, including support and licensing for products and services in the PC and workstation markets.

"We are pleased to be working closely with formidable technology partners like RTIME in the development of our broadband strategy," said Shuhei Yoshida, vice president, product development, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "This new corporate acquisition allows us to continue to move forward with our broadband plans for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, and ensure that we are providing our software developers and content providers with the most robust environment available."

"The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system has all the ingredients necessary to become the standard entertainment platform for the Internet and broadband networks," said Chip Overstreet, president and CEO, RTIME, Inc. "As part of Sony Computer Entertainment America, RTIME is positioned to extend the platform even further by enabling new forms of interactive content and offering end-users the most compelling multi-user games and applications experience possible."

The current RTIME product offerings include the RTIME Interactive Networking Engine, a runtime and delivery platform that enables real-time, multi-user interaction over the Internet and broadband networks. The product is packaged into four components: RTIME Communications Engine, RTIME Broadband Engine, RTIME Multimedia Engine, and RTIME Cluster Engine.

RTIME, Inc. is the leading provider of commercial networking software that enables real-time, multi-user applications over the Internet and broadband networks. RTIME's current business partners include Numerical Design, NeMo, MathEngine PLC, SGI and InterNAP Network Services. RTIME's intellectual property is protected by U.S. Patent #5,841,980 and European Patent Application #0901657. Additional information can be found on the company's web site at http://www.rtimeinc.com/.

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 Inc.

Contact: Molly Smith of Sony Computer Entertainment America,
650-655-6044, or molly_smith@playstation.sony.com

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