PSP™(PlayStation®Portable) Launches Today Across Europe
Up to 30 PSP Game Titles and 30 Movies at Launch.
60 Games and 100 Movies by Christmas!
London, 1 September 2005 - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today launched its eagerly anticipated PSPTM(PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system across the European market and throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Following the success of the PSP launches in Japan and the USA, and with over 5 million PSP systems already shipped worldwide, PSP launched today in a single version Value Pack, priced at 249 (£179). The PSP Value Pack contains an added-value package of accessories and entertainment content, including the PSP system with a pouch, 32MB Memory Stick DuoTM, Battery Pack, Headphones with Remote Control, AC Adaptor, Wrist Strap, cloth and a video/music/game sampler Universal Media DiscTM (UMDTM) including several game demos.
A copy of Spider-Man 2 on UMD Video will be available free of charge to early purchasers of PSP, who register their PSP through www.yourpsp.com. The official SCEE web portal for PSP, www.yourpsp.com allows PSP owners to view trailers and screenshots from a wide selection of PSP Game, UMD Video and UMD Music titles, as well as accessing the latest software updates and a host of regularly updated competitions, news and features about PSP. Consumers will also be able to download exclusive content to their PSP.
PSP in Europe will launch with over 30 game titles, all of which have been developed especially to exploit PSP's stunning high resolution TFT widescreen display. Featuring classic PlayStation brands that have been re-invented for the new format, alongside some all-new properties, the games catalogue offers something for everyone. For speed demons, there's the new turbo-charged Ridge RacerTM; sport fans can showboat their skills in World Tour Soccer and Everybody's GolfTM; there's madcap monkey madness in Ape AcademyTM with mini-games ranging from monkey hockey to the '1m Dash'; and the legendary MediEvilTM: Resurrection delivers action, humour and an adventure that will challenge all levels of gamer.
A key feature of the PSP is its Wireless LAN capabilities, enabling users to connect to the internet via a 'WiFi hotspot' and play online across a Wireless Network. In the wireless Ad Hoc Mode, up to 16 PSP systems can also be connected to each other directly, allowing for head-to-head competition with other players in the immediate vicinity.
Wireless functionality is also cleverly exploited in many of the game titles available at launch; GameSharing allows owners of games such as WipEoutTM Pure and Fired UpTM to share levels of their game with other PSP users, whilst with WipEout Pure gamers can download new crafts, tracks and other content to Memory Stick to further enhance their enjoyment of the game. FORMULA ONETM fans will be able to expand their gameplay with a downloadable end of season pack for F1 Grand PrixTM, including all the grid line-ups for the season and a bonus historic car.
PSP has also received incredible support from third party game publishers, and there will be over 20 third party game titles available during the initial launch period from the world's top publishers, and over 50 before the Christmas peak selling season gets under way.
The resounding success of the UMD Video format in the USA is further proof that PSP offers an all embracing entertainment experience. PSP will launch with 30 movies from a variety of top Hollywood studios including Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Buena Vista and Universal. With studios now planning to release 'Day and Date' with DVD releases, and an extensive catalogue of some 100 movies scheduled for release on UMD Video by Christmas, European PSP owners can look forward to an unmatched choice of entertainment.
The enjoyment of listening to music is a key part of the PSP's exciting entertainment offering and, in addition to playing music stored on the Memory Stick in MP3, ATRAC 3plus and MPEG-4 AAC format, music videos on UMD Music Videos will also be available. During the initial launch period, three classic music videos will be available from Sanctuary Visual Entertainment; Iron Maiden - Rock in Rio, INXS - Live Baby Live and Bob Marley- Live from Santa Barbara. Along with eight titles from Sony BMG including compilations from Usher, Outkast and The Offspring, and live concerts from Foo Fighters, Rage Against The Machine, Good Charlotte and Incubus, with many more music videos scheduled for release in the run up to Christmas.
"PSPs for the European market will also benefit from the latest system software upgrade", explained David Reeves, President of SCEE. "The European PSPs will contain the latest and most up to date software available. With the introduction of an internet browser to ease the downloading of game trailers and video content from WiFi hotspots, a new codec for optimising the quality of video content on Memory Stick, and a wealth of other improvements to enhance the user experience, European consumers will not only be receiving the most sophisticated and exciting portable entertainment device ever made but will be able to upgrade their PSP's continually as new functionality is announced".
Retailers throughout Europe will be opening their doors at midnight on Wednesday 31st August to satisfy the enthusiasm of fans, keen to get their hands on one of the first European PSPs.
- ENDS -
PSPTM (PlayStation®Portable) Games Available During Launch Period:
Archer MacleansTM Mercury Ignition
Ape Academy Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
BurnoutTM Legends EA
Coded Arms Konami
Colin Mcrae Rally 2005TMPlus Codemasters
Darkstalkers Chronicles Capcom
Dynasty Warriors PSP Koei
Everybody's GolfTM Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
FIFA 06 EA
F1 Grand Prix PSP Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Fired Up Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex Bandai
Grand Theft Auto:Liberty City Stories Take 2
LuminesTM Ubisoft
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Take 2
MediEvilTM Resurrection Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Metal Gear Acid Konami
NBA STREET Showdown EA
Need for SpeedTM Underground Rivals EA
NFL STREET 2 Unleashed EA
Pro Evolution Soccer 5 Konami
Ridge RacerTM Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Spider-Man The Movie 2TM Activision
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®06 EA
TOCA Race DriverTM 2 Codemasters
Tony Hawk Underground 2 Remix Activision
Untold Legends:Brotherhood of the BladeTM Activision
Virtual TennisTM:World Tour Sega
WipEoutTM Pure Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
World Snooker Challenge 2005 SEGA
World Tour Soccer Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
UMDTM Video Available During Launch Period:
A Knights Tale Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
13 Going on 30 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Bad Boys Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
The One Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
xXx - The Next Level Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Ghostbusters Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
You Got Served Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Hitch Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Spider-Man 2 (softbundle) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Charlie's Angels Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Resident Evil Apocalypse Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Hellboy Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Hollow Man Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
xXx Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Once Upon A Time In Mexico Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
The Punisher Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
SWAT Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Anacondas : Hunt For the Blood Orchid Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Van Helsing Universal
8 Mile Universal
The Bourne Supremacy Universal
The Mummy Returns Universal
I Robot Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Alien Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Alien v. Predator Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Dodgeball Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Robots Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Pirates of the Caribbean Buena Vista Home Entertainment
King Arthur Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Sin City (UK and Italy only) Buena Vista Home Entertainment
UMDTM Music Videos Available during Launch Period
Iron Maiden - Rock in Rio Sanctuary Visual Entertainment
Bob Marley - Live from Santa Barbara Sanctuary Visual Entertainment
INXS - Live Baby Live Sanctuary Visual Entertainment
Usher - Rhythm City Vol. 1 Sony BMG
Outkast - The Videos" Sony BMG
Coheed & Cambria - Live at the Starland Ballroom Sony BMG
The Offspring - The Complete Music Video Collection Sony BMG
Foo Fighters - Live - Everywhere But Home Sony BMG
Rage Against the Machine - Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium Sony BMG
Good Charlotte - Live at Brixton Academy Sony BMG
Incubus - Alive at Red Rocks Sony BMG
Note to Editors:
Product and lifestyle images of PSP, together with a comprehensive Press Pack are available from the Virtual Press Office at www.scee.presscentre.com . B-roll footage of PSP is available from Helen Boole (details below) or from Medialink (Toby Low on 0207 554 2782). For more information on PSP, please visit www.yourpsp.com .
For further information please contact:
David Wilson (david_wilson @scee.net)
Tel: 020 7911 3128 Fax: 020 7734 4926
Jonathan Fargher (jonathan_fargher@scee.net)
Tel: 020 7911 8195 Fax: 020 7734 4926
Jennie Kong (jennie_kong@scee.net)
Tel: 020 7911 8176 Fax: 020 7734 4926
Sony Computer Entertainment UK Ltd
About PlayStation PortableTM
PlayStation Portable is a new handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. With graphics rendering capability comparable to that of PlayStation®2, PlayStation Portable features a 4.3 inch widescreen, high-resolution TFT display. PlayStation Portable also adopts a newly developed compact but high-capacity (1.8GB) optical disc, Universal Media Disc (UMD), as its storage medium. With a wide range of accessories and connectivity options, including Memory Stick DuoTM, USB 2.0, IR port and Wireless LAN.
About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PS one®, PlayStation®2 and PlayStation Portable® software and hardware in 104 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes games software for the three formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the PAL territories. At the end of June 2005, over 40 million PlayStation® units had been shipped across these PAL territories, over 102 million worldwide. Between its European debut on 24 November 2000 and the end of July 2005, over 33 million PlayStation®2 units have been shipped across the PAL territories, over 91 million world-wide, making it one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history. Between the launch of the PSP in Japan in December 2005 and 21 July 2005, over 5 million PSPs have been shipped worldwide.
More information about PlayStation products can be found at , www.playstation.com and www.psp.com or visit the Virtual Press Office at www.scee.presscentre.com.
PlayStation and the PlayStation logo, PS one and PS2 are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PSP and UMD (Universal Media Disc) are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.