989SportsOnline.com Brings Best Ever Online Sports Experience to Gamers August 26

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced the launch of 989SportsOnline.com (available August 26, 2003) in conjunction with the highly anticipated release of the latest version of the 989 Sports® football franchise, NFL GameDay™ 2004. Set to revolutionize the online gameplay experience with a comprehensive line-up of features including Voice Recognition (VR) and Voice Chat (VOIP), which will allow gamers to chat in game or in the 989SportsOnline.com lobby by using the new USB headset. Users will also have the ability to access the new online community with a single username and password when they connect using either broadband or dial-up connections. 989SportsOnline.com will highlight a comprehensive line-up of features including updated stats, downloadable rosters and real-time weather, online tournaments, message boards, universal rankings across all 989 Sports titles, a sports ticker for the latest sports scores and news, user mail, HTML PC interface, and more, making 989SportsOnline.com the most thoroughly designed online sports experience ever created in this category.

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

With the ability to challenge opponents anywhere across the country, 989SportsOnline.com will provide gamers with a single, centrally located lobby that allows access to all 989 Sports online titles as well as an HTML PC interface that lets gamers access features including message boards, user-mail, 989 Sports tournaments, leader boards, polls and surveys, and a live sports ticker via a standard PC web browser. 989SportsOnline.com will also give users the option of downloading updated team rosters and live weather conditions on game day as well as access to chats with players logged on via PC or with any 989 Sports title.

"In 989SportsOnline.com we have developed the most complete online sports gaming experience ever created," said Craig Ostrander, senior project manager, product development, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "With the ability to access a single lobby via PC or PlayStation 2, users will have unprecedented access to information about 989 Sports titles, tournaments, stats and real-time rosters and weather updates, as well as a sports ticker to stay up to date on all the latest sports news and scores, further enhancing the online gaming experience and establishing an online community matched by no other. And, with our VR and VOIP features gamers will be able to experience the games at a whole new level."

Fronted by All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson, the latest version of the 989 Sports' NFL GameDay franchise, NFL GameDay 2004, will launch in conjunction with 989SportsOnline.com. In addition to the breadth of 989SportsOnline.com, NFL GameDay 2004, for the first time in sports gaming history, offers the revolutionary Voice Recognition (VR) technology which allows the gamer to use the USB headset to call audibles, put receivers in motion, change defensive coverage or simply call "timeout." With more than 50 VR commands, NFL GameDay 2004 provides gamers the unprecedented opportunity to create game action without the touch of a button.

989SportsOnline.com will also provide gamers direct access to the product development team via a PC or PlayStation 2. Be it suggestions for future games and product features, enhancements or questions about in-game features, through 989SportsOnline.com users will have a direct link to the 989 Sports development group who will provide feedback and insight into the world of sports videogames. As part of this community, users will receive a 989 Sports ranking of Rookie, Veteran, Pro or Legend, which will be a universal score based on points received for wins across all 989 Sports online titles, and give sports fans the opportunity to determine the best overall 989 Sports gamer.

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 www.989sports.com

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SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

CONTACT: Ron Eagle, +1-858-824-5585, ron_eagle@playstation.sony.com , or
Carrie Altuvilla, +1-858-824-5684, carrie_altuvilla@playstation.sony.com ,
both of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

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