Sony Computer Entertainment Elevates Its Role In The Digital Era With PlayStation2
Heralding in a new age of digital entertainment, Sony Computer Inc. has 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, PlayStatio2 is designed to bring together movies, music and games to form a new world of computer entertainment. PlayStation2 will launch in Japan on March 4, 2000 with an unprecedented initial weekís 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 consumersí 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 CardPlayStation2 Demo Disc AV Multi Cable AC Power Cord Dimensions: 301mm (W) x 178mm (H) x 78mm (D)(12x 7x 3-inches) 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 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 SPU2Number 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 ""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, PlayStation2ís 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, California, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. For more information, visit the Web at http://www.playstation.com.