FirstPlay

30/03/10 – Future, the special-interest media group and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today confirm that FirstPlay – Europe’s only on-console interactive show – launches its first weekly episode on Thursday, 8th April.

Available exclusively to UK gamers through Sony’s PlayStation 3 (PS3) console from the PlayStation Network (PSN), FirstPlay delivers brand-new high definition video reviews and previews every week, plus exclusive downloadable content and much more. FirstPlay is delivered to your console for just 99p an episode. Money-saving subscriptions are also available for £8.99 a 90-day subscription.

FirstPlay offers gamers a whole new way of consuming media alongside magazines and websites, raising the bar with high quality production values, trusted editorial and interactive elements. FirstPlay unites the respected Official PlayStation Magazine team with a hand-picked group of TV and games industry veterans.

Introducing gamers to the FirstPlay experience, highlights in the first episode include the definitive verdict on Square Enix’s eagerly-awaited Just Cause 2 – rewarding viewers with an exclusive in-game item for use by Rico Rodriquez. FirstPlay also gets to grips with Sony’s God of War III – showcasing the epic scale of the game in glorious HD and scores a revealing first-look at EA’s Fifa World Cup 2010 – due for release late April.

Bringing gamers closer to the biggest games for PlayStation 3, FirstPlay reveals its interactive gallery function, including screenshots and artwork from Formula One 2010, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and Red Dead Redemption. Gamers can use each image as an XMB background wallpaper and also find out more about the games thanks to the accompanying audio captions. With a vast variety of content available through the PlayStation Network, FirstPlay’s Network Highlights section brings a round-up of the latest PlayStation Minis, films and digital comics in a weekly package.

Tim Clark, Editor-in-Chief of FirstPlay, said:

“We’re tremendously excited to be finally launching FirstPlay, and to be bringing our brand of editorial direct to PS3 owners on their consoles. It will be an evolving service, but our focus will always be showing gamers the most exciting things on PlayStation systems.”

FirstPlay’s debut episode launches Thursday, 8th April – and then goes weekly on the PlayStation Network store, costing just 99p or £8.99 per 90 days.

ENDS

About Future

Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today we have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. We hold strong multi-media market positions in games, technology, film, music, cycling, automotive and crafts. Our biggest-selling magazines include Total Film, T3, Classic Rock, Digital Camera, Guitar World, Official Xbox Magazine, Official Playstation Magazine, Nintendo Power, Maximum PC and MacLife. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, techradar.com, musicradar.com, dailyradar.com and photoradar.com. Future produces nearly 4 million magazines each month; we attract more than 27 million unique visitors to our websites; and we host 27 annual live events that attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. In addition, Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of monthly magazines.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation®3, PlayStation®2, PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®Network software and hardware in 99 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for the formats in these territories. Since the launch of PlayStation 3 in November 2006, over 27 million units have been sold globally and continue to be sold at a record level. Maintaining its position as one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history, PlayStation 2 has sold over 140.7 million systems worldwide. Since its launch at the end of 2004, over 55.9 million PSPs have been sold globally, highlighting the importance of the portable entertainment market. With the huge increase in interest and accessibility of network applications and network gaming, over 31 million accounts have registered to PlayStation Network, the free-to-access interactive environment, and over 650 million items have been downloaded.

For more information

Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager, Future UK, 01225 822517.