989 Sports'™ MLB™ 2002 Brings America's National Past Time Back to the Diamond for Another PlayStation® Season

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that MLB™ 2002 from the 989 Sports™ development team will take the field on May 8, 2001. The latest installment of the popular MLB franchise couples the ultimate in gameplay control with Artificial Intelligence (AI) consultation by professional players and the most updated rosters and stadiums. With eight modes of gameplay, MLB 2002 offers fans the ability to play through the rigors of a full-length season with Season Mode, jump straight into Play Offs or the World Series® or even assume the role of general manager and guide a team in pursuit of the pennant over multiple seasons with Franchise Mode. All new camera angles and commentary by Hall of Fame™ announcer Vin Scully and color analyst Dave Campbell combine to make MLB 2002 the most authentic telecast available for a PlayStation® game console baseball game.

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With input from nearly 20 MLB players, MLB 2002 features more than 300 Major League™ motion-captured animations with 250 personalized moves ranging from Randy Johnson's nasty 3/4 delivery to El Duke's unmistakable leg kick. Players are closely modeled after their real-life counterparts, including details such as facial hair, and consumers can play at stadiums across the country, such as the brand-new PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

"MLB 2002 provides the most realistic baseball game available for PlayStation," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "The 989 Sports team has combined the classic elements of its previous release with new features that really give the player a first-hand experience of what it is like to take a team all the way to the World Series."

The 989 Sports development team sought professional consultation from some of the biggest names in the game to make MLB 2002 the most realistic baseball game on PlayStation. Batting AI was designed with the help of the newest member of the 3000 hit club, Tony Gwynn, while pitching AI was improved with input from one of the most feared relievers on the mound, Trevor Hoffman. Consultation with top MLB managers helped fine-tune defensive and strategic AI.

MLB All-Star and Atlanta Braves' outfielder Andruw Jones stars on the package front of the game.

MLB 2002 for PlayStation Key Features:

-- Ultimate Control Gameplay -- Control is key to success. With Total Control Fielding, fielders dive, throw from their knees, crow-hop, twirl throw, throw on the run, and make barehanded grabs. The best batting interface in all of baseball videogames, Total Control Batting, is enhanced with an eight-zone location selector.

-- TV-Style Presentation -- Along with more commentary from the two-man booth of Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully and ESPN color analyst Dave Campbell, all new camera angles provide the most authentic telecast available for a PlayStation baseball game.

-- Professionally Consulted AI -- Featuring batting AI designed with the newest member of Baseball 3000 hit club, Tony Gwynn and pitching AI improved with input from the top hurlers in the game including one of the most feared relievers in the game today, Trevor Hoffman.

-- Stadium Graphics -- Play at the brand new PNC Park in Pittsburgh or one of the newer stadiums in the league including: Safeco Field in Seattle, Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco and Comerica Park in Detroit.

-- Player Models & Animations -- More than 300 authentic Major League motion-captured animations with 250 personalized moves.

-- Multiple Gameplay Modes -- Eight different modes lets gamers participate in every aspect of MLB baseball. Modes include Exhibition, Spring Training™, Season, All-Star Game®, Playoffs, World Series, Home Run Derby™ and Franchise.

-- Authentic MLB Trophies -- Bring home some recognition, including the Cy Young, Batting Title, MVP Award or even the World Series.

-- Compatible with PS one™ console, PlayStation® game console and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates MLB 2002 "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 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 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: Jamie Tica of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.,
858-824-5854, or jamie_tica@playstation.sony.com; or Rick Heineman,
310-274-7800, or rheineman@bncpr.com, for Sony Computer Entertainment America
Inc.

Website: http://www.esrb.org/

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

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