TOKYO, Heralding in a new age of digital entertainment, Sony Computer Inc. (SCEI) announced the launch details of its revolutionary computer entertainment system, PlayStation2. Building on the success of the worldwide best-selling PlayStation? game console with hardware shipments exceeding 60 million units, PlayStation2 is designed to bring together movies, music and games to form a new world of computer entertainment. PlayStation2 launched in Japan on March 4, 2000 with an unprecedented initial week's shipment of one million units. Supporting both the audio CD and DVD-Video formats, PlayStation2 offers consumers a wide range of music and video entertainment options. The new system is backwards compatible with the original PlayStation, bridging the gap between the two systems while legitimizing consumers' investment in their existing PlayStation software libraries. Sony Computer Entertainment announced the following details of the new system:

Product Name: PlayStation2
Suggested Retail Price (Japan) 39,800 Yen
Available: March 4, 2000
Accessories included: "Dual Shock"2 analog controller
High capacity 8MB Memory Card
PlayStation2 Demo Disc
AV Multi Cable
AC Power Cord
Dimensions: 301mm (W) x 178mm (H) x 78mm (D) (12" x 7" x 3")
Weight: 2.1 kg (4 lbs. 10 oz.)
Media: PlayStation2 CD-ROM, DVD-ROM
PlayStation CD-ROM
Formats supported: Audio CD, DVD-Video
Interfaces: Controller Port (2)
Memory Card Slot (2)
AV Multi Cable Output (1)
Optical Digital Output (1)
USB Port (2)
I.Link (IEEE1394) (1)
Type III PCMCIA Card Slot

"PlayStation2 is charting a path toward the future of networked digital entertainment," said Ken Kutaragi, president and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Just as PlayStation brought interactive gaming to an unprecedented mass market, PlayStation2's combination of breathtaking digital graphics, superb sound and DVD video will open the doors to a new computer entertainment experience in the home." The PlayStation2 computer entertainment system will be available in Asian markets in Summer 2000 and in Fall 2000 in Europe and North America. Sony Computer Entertainment America, a division of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., markets the PlayStation game console for distribution in North America, develops and publishes software for the PlayStation game console, and manages the U.S. third party licensing program. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

PlayStation?2 Basic Specifications and Features
CPU 128 Bit "Emotion Engine?"
System Clock Frequency 294.912 MHz
Main Memory Direct RDRAM
Memory Size 32MB
Graphics "Graphics Synthesizer"
Clock Frequency 147.456MHz
Embedded Cache VRAM 4MB
Sound SPU2
Number of Voices 48ch plus software
Sound Memory 2MB
IOP I/O Processor
CPU Core PlayStation CPU+
Clock Frequency 33.8688MHz or 36.864MHz (Selectable)
IOP Memory 2MB
Disc Device CD-ROM and DVD-ROM
Device Speed CD-ROM 24 times speed
DVD-ROM 4 times speed