Retailers and Consumer Research Reports Point to Playstation®2 as Top Holiday Contender

As retailers prepare for what is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, Sony Computer Entertainment America announced today that PlayStation®2 is poised to top everyone's holiday wish lists this year according to recent consumer surveys. Offering consumers a diverse selection of compelling content and a great entertainment value, the PlayStation® family of products are also top contenders to reap the rewards of consumer demand for value this holiday season.

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As the industry heads into the biggest selling season of the year, consumer demand for the number one selling next generation platform is growing even stronger. In a recent holiday shopping survey conducted by MACResearch, a division of the Macerich Company, one of the largest owners/operators of regional malls in the United States, consumers named PlayStation 2 as the toy that will most likely fly off the shelves this holiday season.

A recent report from Deloitte & Touche/National Retail Federation found that shoppers are becoming increasingly value-conscious when purchasing gifts. Delivering the value that today's consumers demand, the PlayStation®2 Combo Pack (includes the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Network Adaptor (Ethernet/modem) (for Playstation®2), and a copy of the online-enabled game, ATV Offroad Fury™ 2, all for $199 suggested retail price), gives consumers an incredible entertainment value and offers a savings of $60 with each purchase (savings based on msrp of item sold separately).

The PlayStation 2 Combo Pack offers not only an unbeatable value, but also a turnkey solution to enter the PlayStation 2 online community. The thrill of playing head-to-head with a friend, unknown rival or teammate from all over the country is drawing in gamers to join the experience, and with an infusion of new online titles released in time for the holidays totaling more than 50 by year-end, consumers have added incentive to join the dynamic world of PlayStation 2 online. In fact, online titles are already in-demand at retail, five of the top ten selling PlayStation 2 titles during the month of October were online enabled, according to NPD Funworld, a division of The NPD Group.

To meet consumer demand for Sony Computer Entertainment America's most ambitious offering ever, retailers are stocking the shelves with the PlayStation 2 Combo Pack and online hits such as highly anticipated third party titles including Electronic Arts' online exclusives NBA Live 2004, Madden NFL™ 2004, Tiger Woods PGA Tour™ 2004 and SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs, with something for everyone. SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs, the highly anticipated sequel to the "Greatest Hit" title, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs, set a new standard for online console gaming in its first two days of release, quickly bumping its predecessor from the number one online console game spot.

"As we head into a key selling weekend, we anticipate consumer demand for the category-driving PlayStation family of products to set the tone," said Dan DeMatteo, President and COO of GameStop, a leading videogame retailer. "This year consumers are particularly excited about exploring the world of online gaming with in-demand online titles including SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs and trying out innovative new games such as EyeToy. Response to recent in store demonstrations of EyeToy has been amazing, it is an entirely new way to experience PlayStation 2 and consumers are hooked as soon as they give it a try."

Available for the first time this holiday season, EyeToy™ is a revolutionary USB Camera that plugs into one of the two available ports on the front of a PlayStation 2 system, and uses unique motion-tracking technology to project the player's image on screen. The EyeToy USB Camera comes with EyeToy: Play, developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, London Studio, the first title to showcase the PlayStation 2 exclusive EyeToy technology. Players must then use their hands, head, knees and more to play one of the 12 mini-games included on the EyeToy: Play game disc. Having already surpassed mass-market penetration in Europe (1 million units sold in four months), EyeToy: Play is expected to be one of the hottest-selling gifts in the United States this holiday season and has already been featured as a must-have-gift in leading national magazines such as Newsweek and Time and on NBC "Today Show's" "Toy Test 2003" as one of the top five games of the season. The EyeToy USB Camera comes with EyeToy: Play and can be affordably purchased for only $49.99 suggested retail price.

EyeToy is just one of more than 630 titles available for PlayStation 2 this holiday season. As the platform enters the fourth holiday season for PlayStation 2, publishers are realizing the true potential of the hardware and delivering some of the most innovative content to date that engage consumers in new and exciting ways. With a unique combination of first-party games and strong third party titles including Medal of Honor™ Rising Sun from Electronic Arts, Tony Hawk's Underground from Activision and WWE™ Smackdown™: Here Comes the Pain™ from THQ, Sony Computer Entertainment America is uniquely positioned to benefit from the increased focus on software this year.

In addition to the best and most diverse collection of new content, value- conscious PlayStation 2 fans can round-out their holiday shopping by picking- up the perfect stocking stuffers, the PlayStation 2 "Greatest Hits" series, a distinctive roster of more than 50 titles that have proven to be all-time favorites among consumers and are generally as low as $19.99.

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.us.playstation.com

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SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

CONTACT: Teresa Weaver, +1-650-655-5324, or
teresa_weaver@playstation.sony.com, of Sony Computer Entertainment America
Inc.; or Erin Phillips, +1-415-856-5115, or ephillips@blancandotus.com, for
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

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