Los Angeles, May 8, 2006 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) announced today that it would launch PLAYSTATION3 (PS3) in “Clear Black” throughout mainland Europe and Australasia on November 17, 2006, as part of a worldwide simultaneous launch. PS3 is the most advanced computer system that serves as a platform to enjoy next generation computer entertainment contents in the home, realized through the combination of Cell and RSX processors, in addition to the playability of a vast catalog of PlayStation and PlayStation2 software titles. Having Giga-bit Ethernet and a pre-installed hard disk drive (HDD) as standard in PS3, users will be able to download a variety of contents as well as access on-line games and services over the network. Equipped with basic input/output ports, PS3 supports a broad range of displays from conventional NTSC/PAL standard TVs to the latest full HD (1080i/1080p) flat panel displays, offering the joy of the most advanced computer entertainment contents to homes around the world. For use in living rooms, maximum heat and noise reduction has been achieved with a noise level equivalent to that of the current slim-line PlayStation 2.

With the overwhelming computational power of the Cell processor, PS3 is capable of playing back content from Blu-ray (BD) disc at a bit rate of multiplex 48Mbps with ease, the maximum bit rate defined in BD standards.

The new controller for PS3 has been created by refining and improving the world’s most popular PlayStation controller which has shipped more than several hundred million units worldwide. The controller for PS3 employs a high-precision, highly sensitive six-axis sensing system that is capable of processing all parameters within the controller itself, thereby eliminating the need for any additional settings on the display system. By applying this technology, it will become possible to freely control the PS3 system over the network.

While further enhancing the joy of entertainment on PlayStation 2 and PSP (PlayStationPortable), SCEE will vigorously promote PS3 as the next generation computer entertainment platform.

PLAYSTATION3

• Product name: PLAYSTATION3
• CPU: Cell Processor
• GPU: RSX
• Sound: Dolby 5.1ch, DTS, LPCM, etc. (Cell-based processing)
• Memory: 256MB XDR Main RAM, 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
• HDD: 2.5” Serial ATA ○ (20GB) ○ (60GB)
• I/O: USB 2.0 ○ (x4)
• MemoryStick /SD/CompactFlash - ○
• Communication: Ethernet ○ (x1 / 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
• IEEE 802.11 b/g - ○
• Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR) ○
• Wireless controller (Bluetooth) ○
• AV Output: Screen size 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
• HDMI OUT - ○ (x1 / HDMI NextGen)
• AV MULTI OUT ○ (x1)
• DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) ○ (x1)
• BD/DVD/CD Drive (Read Only): Maximum Read Speed BD 2x (BD-ROM)
• DVD 8x (DVD-ROM)
• CD 24x (CD-ROM)
• SACD 2x
• Dimensions: Approximately 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm (D)
• Weight: Approximately 5 kg

SCE ANNOUNCES NEW CONTROLLER FOR PLAYSTATION3

Equipped with High-Precision, Highly Sensitive Six-Axis Sensing System

Los Angeles, May 8, 2006 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced the new controller for PLAYSTATION3 (PS3), which will become available as standard with the system. The new controller can be experienced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) held from May 10 through 12, 2006, in Los Angeles, California.

The controller for PS3 has been created by refining and improving the world’s most popular PlayStation controller that has shipped more than several hundred million units worldwide, while inheriting its basic concept and design. The controller for PS3 employs breakthrough technology of high-precision, highly sensitive six-axis sensing system that does not require any devices other than the controller itself for seamless interactive operation, thus eliminating additional settings to TVs. With this technology, ways to enjoy PS3 will be further enhanced by accessing PS3 through the network, while retaining the six-axis sensing capability.

In addition to the “3-posture-axis” of roll, pitch and yaw, “3-dimension acceleration information (X, Y, and Z)” can be detected in high-precision and in real-time. In addition to standard key input available in existing controllers, more natural and more intuitive play will become possible as if the controller has become part of your body.

Pursuant to the introduction of this new six-axis sensing system, the vibration feature that is currently available on DUALSHOCK and DUALSHOCK2 controllers for PlayStation and PlayStation2, will be removed from the new PS3 controller as vibration itself interferes with information detected by the sensor.

The shape of L2/R2 buttons located on the top of the controller has also been enlarged with increased depth in stroke for more subtle control in games. At the same time, the tilting angle of the analog joy sticks has been slightly broadened to enable more delicate and more dynamic manipulation. Along with these improvements, precision of above information detection (L2/R2, analog joy stick) has been increased from 8 bit to 10 bit.

All input information will be immediately transferred to the PS3 system through the Bluetooth wireless technology. By using a USB cable, the PS3 controller can be swapped seamlessly from wireless to wired, and can be charged automatically. The cable can be attached and detached at anytime.

By integrating all these features into one standard PlayStation controller, SCEI, together with content creators, expects to further expand and accelerate the world of next generation computer entertainment.

SCEE E3 MESSAGING DOCUMENT AS AT 9 MAY

Amended following SCEA Press Conference

This document provides some potentially useful sound bites and perspectives on the announcements to be made at E3. It has been updated following the SCEA Press Conference, the MD’s meeting to discuss positioning, and clarification on Tuesday morning of the positioning for the controller and the status of BD region coding.

At the end of the document is a short Q&A to provide guidance on some of the likely questions following the SCEA Conference.

It should be read in conjunction with the PS3 Q&A. The key points about PS3 are:

• PS3 is being positioned as a computer system, and not a computer entertainment system. Whilst this is not a point we wish to promote too heavily, it does provide a justification for the upgradeable aspects of the 20GB PS3.

• Like other computer systems it can be upgraded through the use of readily available industry standard adaptors.

• There will therefore be two initial configurations of PS3, not two versions.

• With the exception of the HDMI socket, every aspect of the 20GB model can be upgraded using readily available, industry standard adaptors.

PS3

Hardware

How would you position the difference between the two versions of the PS3 announced this week?

Firstly, the PS3 is a computer system. There may be two configurations but the key elements are standard – Blu-ray disc, Cell chip, Giga-bit Ethernet to provide an always-on connection to the network, and a pre-installed hard disk drive (HDD) as standard.

The difference between the two versions is more to do with the customer who will buy the PS3. The 60 GB HDD version comes fully equipped to exploit the very latest in HD display technology. It also has a full suite of interfaces (I/O connectors), including an HDMI connection which will allow it to support full HD (1080i/1080p) flat panel displays. This version is positioned at the early adopter consumer who has either adopted HD, or who is planning to upgrade to HD display technology in the next few years.

The 20GB PS3 is more for the value conscious consumer who is happy to upgrade the capability of their PS3 as and when they need it. They will probably be happy with the quality of their existing TV, or have perhaps recently upgraded to a digital TV and do not plan to upgrade further for the time being – for them an HDMI socket is not essential.

Upgradeability

Like other computer systems it is possible to upgrade the configuration of the PS3. For both models, it is possible to upgrade the hard disk to any industry standard Serial-ATA 2.5” HDD.

For those with the 20GB version, owners who wish to utilise Memory Stick/SD memory card/Compact Flash slots or Wi-Fi 802.11 connectivity to PSP can make use of widely available USB wireless LAN adaptors and other industry standard adaptors. Note: The only non upgradeable element of the 20GB version is the HDMI slot, which can not be added later.

PS3 games will look brilliant on a standard TV, but stunning when viewed on a HD display.

TV Connectivity

The issue of connectivity between the PS3 and the display is very complex and depends on the type of TV (Analog, Digital or HD Ready), the make of TV (until recently only Toshiba TVs have component AV connections as standard in Europe, most other Euro TV sets use SCART which can not carry an HD signal) and specification of TV (the very latest HD Ready TV sets have wider connectivity options than earlier HD “capable” TVs from the same manufacturer which may have lacked HDMI), and finally the configuration of the PS3 model purchased.

The issue of which cables to supply with the different configurations of PS3 has yet to be decided.

Controller

The technical description of the Controller from the press release is:

“The controller for PS3 employs a breakthrough technology of high-precision, highly sensitive six-axis sensing system that does not require any devices other than the controller itself for seamless interactive operation, thus eliminating additional setting to TVs. With this technology, ways to enjoy PS3 will be further enhanced by accessing PS3 through the network, while retaining the six-axis sensing capability.

In addition to “3-posture-axis” of roll, pitch and yaw, “3-dimension acceleration information (X, Y, and Z)” can be detected in high-precision and in real-time. In addition to standard key input available in existing controllers, more natural and more intuitive manipulation will become possible as if the controller has become part of your body.”

This is an overly technical description, and there is a need to simplify the USP for consumers in terms of features and benefits. The new PS3 controller employs cutting edge technology and is a major and key element of the overall PS3 package.

What this means for users is:

• The new controller for PS3 enables the user to direct characters, vehicles, aircraft and other game elements in the Yaw, Pitch and Roll axes (3 of the six axes mentioned above) without the use of the traditional directional buttons

• In addition, the Controller’s sensors can detect acceleration in each of the above axes (providing the remaining 3 axes), allowing the user to determine the speed of movement of the object being controlled. As a result, the PS3 controller can provide relative control appropriate for 99% of games.

• There is no requirement for any additional sensors in front of the display, a sis the case with other systems.

• The new controller will also allow users to freely navigate the PS3 controls as well as access, move around and operate the PS3’s navigation system (Cross Media Bar) using the same sensor based control system.

• PS3 will come with a single controller - it is Bluetooth, rechargeable and simple to use for all games.

• You could say that it is not "plug and play" out of the box....it's simply "play",

• The controller is the fourth USP for PS3, along with Cell, BD and HD capability.

Not all Day 1 games will employ the innovative features of the controller, but over time, every developer will use the features.

Have you been forced into this ‘six-axis’ approach by losing the ‘DualShock vibration’ court case against Immersion?

Not at all. The technology used for the DualShock is now almost 10 years old. Whilst it was revolutionary when PS one launched, technology has moved on, and SCE is always at the forefront of the technology wave. For the PS3 Controller, we are using breakthrough technology, right at the cutting edge of what is possible today.

Software

What about the media reports we have seen suggesting that not all PS2 and PS one titles will be backwards compatible?

Kutaragi san made clear at the PlayStation Business Meeting in March that all titles that complied with the TRC (technical requirements checklist) – essentially a blueprint of how to develop a game on the PlayStation platform, would be backwards compatible. Nothing has changed from that statement.

In a few instances, developers have applied short cuts or workrounds in the development process to extract the maximum performance from their games. In some cases, these may not fully comply with the TRC and additional work may be required to make these titles compatible. Our target nevertheless remains 100% backwards compatibility.

The lack of a vibration function when playing PS one or PS2 games on the PS3 does not affect the gameplay (and we can therefore say that there is full backwards compatibility)

Technology

Blu-ray Disc (BD)

The PS3 will be one of the first BD players on the market with full ‘BD Live’ capability (the ability to access the internet from within the disc and download additional content to the player’s internal memory - as well as the ability to enjoy unique, “web-enabled” interactive features, such as bringing up web sites, actor information and bios and related topics in windows (picture in picture) whilst continuing to play the main movie).

The marketing tagline for Blu ray is Beyond High Definition. The key messaging to support this is:

• More High–Def Content
  90% of major Hollywood studios, the world’s two largest music companies, PLAYSTATION 3 and leading gaming companies all support BD. That means more HD movies, more HD concerts, more HD games and more for you!
   
• More High-Def Capabilities
  Full 1080P resolution, up to 7.1 channels of surround sound, 50GB of storage capacity, real time internet and network connectivity and interactivity and backwards compatibility with existing DVD libraries.
   
• More High–Def Products
  Over 85% of the leading consumer electronics companies and the four largest PC brands all support BD.

Region Coding

BD region coding is a simplified version of the DVD region coding system. The region code system for BD Movies has not yet been confirmed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA)

For BD Game content, all PLAYSTATION 3 games will be region free and will therefore play on any PLAYSTATION 3, regardless of where it was bought.

Q&A

Q. What will be the split at retail between the 20GB and 60GB versions?
A. SCEE has the freedom to determine the split of versions, and will do so following discussions with retail and extensive consumer research. The split may be different between different territories.

Q. When will you announce the launch title lineup/the price of software?
A. There are a number of key events such as TGS and Game Convention between now and 17th November, and you can expect to see more information about these subjects announced at some of these events.

Q. What is SCEE’s share of the 2m consoles promised for the first 3 weeks, and the 4m promised before Christmas?
A. SCEE will receive between 700-800K for the first 3 weeks of launch and between 1.3 – 1.5m before Christmas.

Q. Will PS3 launch across all of your 104 territories on 17 November?
A. We will launch in all our front line territories on 17 November and in the majority of others shortly afterwards, as determined by the logistics involved. It is our intention to have launched in all our territories by Christmas.

Q. Will all games be sold on BD?
A. Yes.

Q. What about the business model for the Network Platform?
A. This will be discussed directly with those concerned over the next 2-3 months. As the business model is a commercial arrangement the precise details will not be made public.

Q. Will prepaid cards be made available in Europe, and where will consumers be able to buy them?
A. This has still to be determined. More information will be announced at the key events between now and launch date.

Q. How much will peripheral controllers cost?
A. This has not yet been announced.