989 Sports'™ NBA Shootout 2001 Takes NBA Action Above the Rim On PlayStation® Game Console

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that NBA ShootOut 2001 from 989 Sports™ returns to the PlayStation® game console with newly redesigned gameplay, amazingly realistic player and arena models, more than 400 motion-captured animations, an enhanced TV-style presentation that features new camera angles and expanded commentary by New Jersey Nets broadcaster Ian Eagle. NBA ShootOut 2001 brings the essence of NBA basketball to the PlayStation game console with extensive rosters featuring veteran and rookie players from all 29 NBA teams, authentic NBA playbooks, real NBA arenas and the ability to play in the NBA All-Star Game, Playoffs and NBA Finals.

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

NBA ShootOut 2001 joins a basketball videogame franchise that has always been graphically impressive, and now the gameplay is better than ever before. Controls have been made more intuitive and the game engine has been redesigned, resulting in the best playing hoops game around. Improved Touch Shooting™ lets gamers control the accuracy of the shot and with Advanced Dribbling Control™, players can change dribbling style on the fly to dazzle opponents with between-the-leg dribbles and behind-the-back moves.

"By delivering the most realistic basketball action for the PlayStation game console, NBA ShootOut 2001 will earn the respect of NBA fans and gamers alike," said Ami Blaire, director of product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "Filled with a host of new features, the redesigned game engine will make it a can't miss hit with all basketball fans."

NBA ShootOut 2001 will infect true NBA fans with basketball fever in a way that only 989 Sports and PlayStation can. Real NBA stars including the Phoenix Suns' three-time all-star Jason Kidd and Cleveland Cavaliers' Brevin Knight have been motion captured to deliver authentic NBA moves -- more than 400 animations in all, including more than 50 signature dunks of NBA standouts. Team-specific playbooks featuring more than 450 plays designed with the help of top NBA players deliver each team's true style of play so that gamers can set the offense to utilize a dominant center or sharp-shooting swingman. Veteran NBA play-by-play commentator Ian Eagle of the New Jersey Nets calls all the action.

Sacramento Kings' two-time all-star forward Chris Webber is featured on the NBA ShootOut 2001 game cover.

  NBA ShootOut 2001 New Features:

  -- Compatible with PS one™ console, PlayStation® game console and
     PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system
  -- All-new, redesigned game engine delivers new level of gameplay to
     accompany award-winning graphics
  -- More than 400 animations include fake around-the-back passes, reverse
     lay-ups, finger rolls, no-look passes, spins and more than 50 signature
     dunks
  -- NBA style playbooks, designed specifically for each team's specific
     style of play; all-in-all, featuring more than 450 plays designed with
     the help of top NBA athletes
  -- Revolutionary Create Dunk™ option lets gamers customize their own
     dunking style
  -- All 29 NBA teams and updated player rosters
  -- All-new large 3D polygonal players scaled to actual height and weight
     with realistic player faces
  -- Advanced Dribbling Control™ allows the player to change dribbling
     styles including between-the-leg dribbles and behind-the-back moves
  -- Touch Shooting™ lets gamers control the accuracy of the shot
  -- Customize players with the Create Player feature, including physical
     attributes and playing ability
  -- Play Creator feature allows gamers to design custom plays and save them
     to their own playbook for the ultimate offensive edge
  -- Motion capture animations from real NBA players, including the Phoenix
     Suns' three-time all-star Jason Kidd and the Cleveland Cavaliers'
     Brevin Knight and Trajan Langdon
  -- Updated TV-style presentation includes new camera angles with more than
     100 hours of play-by-play commentary from New Jersey Nets broadcaster
     Ian Eagle
  -- True-to-life arenas with animated crowds and authentic arena music
  -- "Read and React AI" lets the offense run plays that expose defensive
     weaknesses
  -- "Matchup and Deny AI" lets the defense read and run the offense into
     disarray
  -- Complete roster management:  create, trade, release, sign and draft
     players
  -- Control of every aspect of the game from quarter length to fatigue,
     player ID and auto replays
  -- Gameplay modes:  Exhibition, Tournament, NBA All-Star Game, Playoffs
     and the NBA Finals
  -- Full season and game statistics
  -- Real NBA awards:  MVP, scoring, rebounding, Defensive Player of the
     Year and Rookie of the Year
  -- Up to eight players with Multitap

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates NBA ShootOut 2001 "E" for "Everyone." For more information about the ESRB visit http://www.esrb.org/.

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: Jamie Tica of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.,
858-824-5854, or jamie_tica@playstation.sony.com; or Chris Overholser for Sony
Computer Entertainment America Inc., 213-489-8239, or overholc@fleishman.com

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