989 Sports® Signs Three All-Star NBA Players to Represent the NBA Shootout Franchise

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that it signed two of the best players in the National Basketball Association to assist in promoting NBA ShootOut 2004 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the PlayStation® game console. Orlando Magic superstar guard Tracy McGrady and Los Angeles Lakers point guard Gary Payton each signed two-year deals, while All-Star shooting guard and NBA ShootOut 2003 cover athlete, Ray Allen, signed on for an additional two years as a company spokesperson. McGrady will be the cover athlete for NBA ShootOut 2004 for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation, both due out in stores this October, while Payton and Allen will be working with the company as contributing consultants, and spokespersons.

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

At just 24 years of age and with six years already in the league, Tracy McGrady has emerged as one of the game's most explosive guards. The basketball phenom made the leap straight from high school to the NBA, drafted 9th overall by the Toronto Raptors. The six-foot, eight-inch, 210-pounder burst onto the scene after his third season in the league, averaging 26.8 points per contest and winning the NBA's Most Improved Player award in 2000-2001. The three-time All-Star is also in the record books for having the highest scoring average in NBA history for players 21 or under. McGrady is coming off his best season in the NBA, while leading the league in scoring (32.1 points per game), he was also ranked within the top 18 NBA players in more than 20 statistical categories.

Payton, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (1996 and 2000), joins the 989 Sports team after 13 seasons in the NBA. Payton is among the fiercest defenders in NBA history, known as "The Glove," he is the only player in NBA history to be selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for nine consecutive seasons (1994-2002). Payton was also the first guard to win the Defensive Player of the Year award (1996) since Michael Jordan won the award in 1988. In addition, the six-foot, four-inch, point guard is one of only eight players in NBA history to compile 15,000 points, 6,000 assists and 1,000 steals. Originally drafted in 1990, out of the University of Oregon State, Payton was the highest draft pick ever for the Seattle SuperSonics, going in the first round, 2nd overall.

Allen, a first-round draft selection, 5th overall, out of the University of Connecticut in 1996, has continuously been among the NBA leaders in three-point shooting. Last season, the six-foot, five-inch guard not only led the league in three-point field goals but also was among the leaders in points per game and free throw percentage. Averaging more than 20 points per game for the past four seasons, Allen was selected to the All-Star team each year highlighted by his winning the 1-800 CALL ATT Shootout during the 2001 All-Star Weekend. Allen has also starred in the critically acclaimed Spike Lee basketball film, "He Got Game."

"Signing these incredible basketball players is a tremendous opportunity for 989 Sports," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "We have arguably the three best guards in the game today and their enthusiasm, talent, and knowledge of the game will be a great addition to the NBA ShootOut franchise."

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates NBA ShootOut 2004 "RP" for Rating Pending. 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® 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 PSOne 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/

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SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

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

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