Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Redesign of PlayStation®Home, Coming Fall 2011

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Aug. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced major changes coming to PlayStation®Home in Fall 2011. This complete redesign includes a new core experience for PlayStation Home, available exclusively on PlayStation®Network for the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system, featuring an all-new Hub that integrates games, quests, community events and user-generated content, while providing players with additional navigation, shopping, socialization and entertainment options. From the Hub, players can teleport to various genre-based districts, where they will encounter games tailored to their interests and style, while introducing them to a rich and diverse selection of game experiences.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20020701/SFM066LOGO)

The new core experience reinforces PlayStation Home's evolution from a virtual environment to a world of games, with a focus on rapidly connecting players with game content that pertains to their style and mood. In the Hub, players can head over to the Activity Board, where they will discover the robust questing system that transforms PlayStation Home itself into a game, quickly find games and content, and create their own events to share with their friends.

"PlayStation Home's new core experience is a giant leap in the evolution of the platform, not to mention a major milestone for PlayStation Network, and its new model quickly deploys our users to many compelling free-to-play games that fit their interests," said Jack Buser, director of PlayStation Home, SCEA. "With this update, coming this fall, PlayStation Home becomes a game itself, making it the most robust gamified social experience available."

PlayStation Home's new core experience provides players with a dynamic and constantly changing pool of activities and challenges throughout the Hub and districts, with thematic content that enables players to find games that are relevant to their interests:

    --  The Hub: The new, futuristic Hub brings games directly to players with a
        featured game front-and-center upon login, the Activity Board where
        players can engage in quests and community activities, and a direct path
        to free games via the teleporter.
    --  Action District: A gathering place for the hardcore demographic, the
        Action District has a gritty, urban feel reminiscent of a first-person
        shooter level and provides a direct travel point to action and horror
        games.
    --  Sportswalk: The Sportswalk has an exciting outside-the-stadium feel with
        instant major league sports scores, headlines and highlights, ample
        space for sports-themed games and provides direct travel points to
        sports-related games.
    --  Adventure District: The Adventure District drops you in a lush island
        jungle with an air of mystery, hidden treasure and discovery, where
        players will be able to launch directly into adventure-themed games.
    --  Pier Park: A waterfront boardwalk leads players to carnival, puzzle,
        outdoor and arcade games. Take a ride on the Pier Park Ferris wheel or
        visit the arcade for some bright entertainment.

Also planned to be released this fall as a separate core client upgrade is a revamp of the underlying user experience in PlayStation Home. This update will deliver a more streamlined experience upon login with customized tracks for new, returning and regular PlayStation Home users, minimizing the time it takes for players to get into games.

PlayStation pioneered new ground in interactive entertainment with the launch of PlayStation Home in December 2008. PlayStation Home has since evolved beyond a social network into a true social game platform:

    --  PlayStation Home has been used by over 23 million users worldwide. (WW)
    --  The average time spent in the Home platform is 70 minutes per session
        (SCEA)
    --  Over 230 games ready-to-play (SCEA)
    --  Over 9,000 virtual items (SCEA)
    --  Over 65 spaces (SCEA)
    --  Over 600 community events (SCEA)
    --  Over 35 partners (SCEA)
    --  Total Game Integration: Total Game Integration extends the game
        experience for players of Blu-ray Disc™ or PlayStation Network games
        to PlayStation Home.  The first Total Game Integration was introduced in
        January 2011, where players in PlayStation Home could complete a series
        of mini-games to earn unlock points for Killzone 3 multiplayer.  Total
        Game Integration for Deep Silver's Dead Island™ is available now in
        PlayStation Home's Central Plaza.

For additional information about PlayStation Home's new core experience, please visit: http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-home/homedetail/.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America

Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its online and network services the PlayStation®Network and PlayStation®Store. Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one, PlayStation 2, PSP and PS3 systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC serves as headquarters for all North American operations.

"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks and "PS3" and the Home design are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

CONTACT: Ron Eagle, +1-858-824-5585, Ron_Eagle@playstation.sony.com, or Karen Spearrin, +1-650-655-6024, Karen_Spearrin@playstation.sony.com, both of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Web Site: http://www.us.playstation.com