Sony Computer Entertainment America Sponsors ESPN Winter X Games VII

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today its sponsorship of the seventh annual ESPN Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado. Action sports athletes from around the world will converge at Aspen's Buttermilk Mountain from January 30 - February 2 to compete at the world's premier winter action sports event.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000510/SFW104-a )

As an ESPN Winter X Games associate sponsor for the second year in a row, Sony Computer Entertainment America benefits from widespread on-air presence including 70 advertising spots on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports during the January 30 - February 4 telecast of the games. The multimillion-dollar sponsorship also includes category exclusive brand representation in ESPN The Magazine, within the Winter X Games VII sponsor index listing, through substantial on-site signage and hospitality opportunities during the event, and on both ESPN.com and EXPN.com Web sites.

Fusing the best of live-action sports and videogame entertainment, the PlayStation®2 tent provides Winter X Games VII attendees a break from the action with the opportunity to check out the latest PlayStation 2 titles such as ATV Offroad Fury™2, War of the Monsters™, Ratchet and Clank™ and Sly Cooper and the Thievius Racoonus™. Plus, attendees will have the chance to meet world champion and PlayStation-sponsored snowboarder, Shaun White at the PlayStation tent, where he will greet fans and sign autographs on Thursday, January 30 and Saturday, February 1 at 3 p.m.

One of the youngest rising stars in the professional snowboarding circuit, Shaun White already has a long list of wins including the Vans Triple Crown overall title, and first place finishes at the 2002 Sims World Championship Slopestyle and 2002 Toyota Big Air in Tokyo, Japan. This year he will be competing in the Men's SuperPipe and Men's Slopestyle events, which are located on a portion of the PlayStation 2 Crazy T'rain Terrain Park. Home to some of the most popular events of Winter X Games VII, the PlayStation 2 branded winter sports park is the longest terrain park in the world, challenging athletes with 30 rails and 25 jumps.

"The Winter X Games are the pinnacle of action sports competition, and by aligning our brand with this event, we directly connect with our loyal PlayStation 2 users and action sports fans on a very personal level," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "At the same time, our presence will attract new die-hard sports fanatics to the PlayStation 2 entertainment experience."

  For more information about Winter X Games VII, please visit www.expn.com.

  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.

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SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America

CONTACT: Teresa Weaver, +1-650-655-5324, or
teresa_weaver@playstation.sony.com, or Janette Barrios, +1-650-655-5583, or
janette_barrios@playstation.sony.com, both of Sony Computer Entertainment
America

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

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