World Tour Soccer™ 2003 from 989 Sports® Kicks Off on Playstation®2

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that World Tour Soccer™ 2003 from the 989 Sports® group is now available in stores, marking the latest release of the critically acclaimed videogame franchise, developed exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.

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

World Tour Soccer 2003, the second release of this popular videogame franchise, brings unmatched realism, excitement and play options for the true soccer enthusiast. More than 650 teams from around the world, including national teams such as USA, England, Brazil, and France, and international clubs such as Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, are available, giving gamers the opportunity to play for both domestic and international championships. Furthermore, more than 13,500 true-life players are recreated in intricate detail, with players able to perform a seemingly endless number of authentic moves including high-flying headers, bicycle kicks, and goal-saving slide tackles.

The addition of several new game modes adds to the vast array of options. Gamers can choose to play for any of the five continental Cups or take on the world for the grandest Cup of all. Other modes include the Career Mode, which challenges gamers to take inexperienced players and guide them to international stardom, and the Timewarp League, which allows players to compete against some of the greatest teams in history. Games are played in visually stunning and accurately recreated stadiums, filled with passionate fans supporting their team with real-life chants and club and country flags.

"World Tour Soccer 2003 is sure to be a hit with soccer fans of all ages," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "The passion and excitement of the world's most popular sport are recreated in remarkable detail with the release of this game. The amazing graphics and smooth play control combined with the seemingly endless number of play options will have soccer fans cheering all year long."

Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's London Studios, World Tour Soccer 2003 features the tightest, most realistic soccer action ever produced on PlayStation 2. The game is easy to pick up and play but also challenging for the true soccer fan, offering intuitive controls coupled with the depth and complexity of the real sport. The incredibly smart artificial intelligence (AI) will allow gamers to use the full array of special moves and managerial tactics as they move the ball up and across the pitch in an attempt to score the game winning goal.

Marketing efforts for World Tour Soccer 2003 will include national print advertising across newspapers, sports and consumer publications, online advertising, dedicated point-of-purchase displays and merchandising support, and public relations support.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates World Tour Soccer "E" for "Everyone." For more information about the ESRB visit 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®, NCAA® GameBreaker™, and World Tour Soccer™, 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.

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SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

CONTACT: Ben Schechter, +1-858-824-5689, or
ben_schechter@playstation.sony.com, or Carrie Altuvilla, +1-858-824-5684, or
carrie_altuvilla@playstation.sony.com, both of Sony

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