PSP Launches with Extensive Content Line-up

Eagerly Awaited PSP™(Playstation®Portable) Set To Revolutionize Portable Entertainment

PSP Launches with Extensive Content Line-up

60 Games and 100 Movies by Christmas

NEW ZEALAND, 1 September 2005 – Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand (SCENZ) today launched its eagerly anticipated PSP™(PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system across New Zealand, Australia and Europe.

Following the success of the PSP launches in Japan and the USA, and with over 5 million PSP systems already shipped worldwide, New Zealand consumers have been desperate to get their hands on the ‘must have’ entertainment system of the moment.

SCE Europe has secured one million PSP systems for Day 1 of the European and Australasian launch and, with pre-orders of the $429.95 PSP Value Pack far exceeding expectations, many retailers throughout New Zealand opened their doors at midnight on Wednesday 31st August to satisfy the enthusiasm of fans.

PSP is a completely integrated portable entertainment system that is set to revolutionize the market for handheld portable entertainment devices. Comprising games, music, movies, photography, communication, and wireless networking, the PSP systems credentials are evident in the impressive and diverse launch line-up of UMD™ Game titles, UMD™ Video movie titles and UMD™ Music content. Leading publishers and studios have committed to delivering an ever increasing flow of content for the world’s most advanced handheld entertainment sysytem.

PSP in New Zealand will launch with over 30 game titles, all of which have been developed especially to exploit the PSP system’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 Racer™; sport fans can showboat their skills in World Tour Soccer and Everybody’s Golf™; there’s madcap monkey madness in Ape Academy™ with mini-games ranging from monkey hockey to the ‘1m Dash’; and the legendary MediEvil™: 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 WipEout™ Pure and Fired Up™ 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 ONE™ fans will be able to expand their gameplay with a downloadable end of season pack for F1 Grand Prix™, 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 PSP’s exciting entertainment offering and, in addition to playing music stored to 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 New Zealand market will also benefit from the latest system software upgrade, explained David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “New 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, 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”.

ENDS

PSP Product Specification:

Product Name PSP™(PlayStation®Portable)
Colour Black
Product Code PSP-1002K (Australasia), PSP-1003K (UK), PSP-1004K(Europe),
Dimensions Approximately 170(W) x 23(H) x 74(D) mm
Weight Approximately 280g / .62 lbs (including battery)
CPU PSP™(PlayStation®Portable) CPU (System clock frequency 1 - 333MHz)
Main Memory 32MB
Embedded DRAM 4MB
Display

4.3 inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD

480 x 272 pixel, 16.77 million colours

Maximum luminance 180 / 130 / 80cd/m2 (when using Battery Pack)

Maximum luminance 200 / 180 / 130 / 80cd/m2 (when using AC Adaptor)
Sound Built-in stereo speakers
Main Input/Output IEEE 802.11b Wi-Fi

High Speed USB (USB 2.0)

Memory Stick PRO Duo™

IrDA
Main Connectors Memory Stick Duo™ slot

USB connector

DC OUT connector

DC IN 5V connector

Headset connector
Power Lithium-ion Battery

AC Adaptor
Disc Drive UMD Drive (Read only)
Profile PSP Game

UMD Audio

UMD Video
Codec [Video]: “UMD”: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile Level 3

[Video]:“Memory Stick”: MPEG-4 SP (AAC), H.264/MPEG-4 (AAC)

[Music]: “UMD”: linear PCM, ATRAC3plus™

[Music]:“Memory Stick”: ATRAC3plus™, MP3, Linear PCM, MPEG-4 AAC

[Photo]: JPEG (DCF2.0/Exif2.21), TIFF, BMP, GIF, PNG
Security (Encryption) 128bit AES (Copyright protection technology) MagicGate™
Access control Region, Parental Control
Wireless communications

IEEE802.11b Infrastructure Mode

Ad Hoc Mode (connects up to 16 PSP systems)
PSP Value Pack supplied accessories

AC Adaptor

Battery Pack

Memory Stick Duo™ (32MB)

Pouch (Black)

Headphones with Remote Control (90dB limited*) (White)

UMD In-pack Sampler

Wrist Strap (White)

Cloth (Light Grey)

* conforming with European standards

About PlayStation Portable™

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 Duo™, 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.

About Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand

SCE New Zealand, based in Auckland, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PS one®, PlayStation®2 and PlayStation® Portable software and hardware in New Zealand. Over 300,000 consoles have been shipped in New Zealand as of July 2005. With both CD and DVD capabilities, PlayStation®2 offers consumers a diverse range of computer entertainment solutions and is supported with over 800 high quality software titles.

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.

More information about PlayStation products can be found at nz.playstation.com, www.yourpsp.co.nz and www.scee.com.

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