Swing Into The Summer With MLB™ 2003 From 989 Sports®

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that MLB™ 2003 from the 989 Sports® development team is now available in stores, marking the availability of the only officially licensed Major League Baseball game for the PlayStation® game console this year. The latest installment in the most popular baseball franchise for the PlayStation features detailed player and stadium graphics, updated rosters and statistics, and unrivaled gameplay delivering an exciting and an amazingly authentic baseball game experience.

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

With consultation from more than 20 MLB players, including this year's cover athlete and future Hall-of-Famer, Barry Bonds, MLB 2003 features an incredibly realistic Artificial Intelligence (AI). In arguably the greatest offensive season in Major League Baseball history last year, Bonds became the first ever four-time NL MVP and single season Home Run king as he set marks for Home Runs (73), slugging percentage (.863) and walks (177). The Sporting News "Player of the Decade" for the '90s, Barry Bonds represents the explosive power and tradition of excellence embodied in 989 Sports' MLB 2003.

"With the brilliant graphics, gameplay, and Artificial Intelligence, the launch of MLB 2003 continues the high standard set forth by the previous MLB titles," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "Consultation from Barry Bonds, our cover athlete and one of the greatest players in baseball history, helps make this game so realistic, baseball enthusiasts will think they can actually smell the leather of the mitt and the fresh roasted peanuts in the stands as they take their shot at the World Series® with the most complete baseball game ever available on PlayStation."

Eight modes of gameplay, including Spring Training™, Season, and Franchise will allow everyone from the casual to the hardcore baseball fan an opportunity to enjoy all facets of America's National Pastime as players take their shot at official MLB trophies including the Cy Young, MVP, and the World Series championship. With Total Control™ Pitching, Fielding and Hitting, players can take charge of all aspects of the game from throwing the high heat to leaping over the fence to rob a home run to putting on the suicide squeeze. The TV-style presentation with new camera angles and updated commentary from Hall-of-Famer Vin Scully and sportscaster Dave Campbell will make players feel closer than ever to the action and keep them on the edge of their seat throughout the entire nine innings.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates MLB 2003 "E" for "Everyone." For more information about the ESRB visit http://www.esrb.org/.

About 989 Sports

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.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one™ 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 family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one 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.

Visit us on the Web at http://www.989sports.com/ .

© MLBPA-Official Licensee, Major League Baseball Players Association. Visit the Players Choice on the web at http://www.bigleaguers.com/.

MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X22084693

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

AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/

PRN Photo Desk, 1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840

SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

CONTACT: Ron Eagle, +1-858-824-5585, or ron_eagle@playstation.sony.com,
or Ben Schechter, +1-858-824-5689, or ben_schechter@playstation.sony.com, both
of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.; or Rick Heineman,
+1-310-274-7800, or rheineman@bncpr.com, for Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc.

Web site: http://www.989sports.com/

Web site: http://www.playstation.com/