PlayStation 2 Announces First Party Software Line Up

Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today its first party software release calendar through April 2004 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. With five exclusive titles and a one-of-a-kind cross-platform release, Sony Computer Entertainment America's software lineup features a wide variety of characters and genres, motivating fans to add new titles to their existing PlayStation 2 library every month. The first party software lineup through April 2004 includes Rise to Honor, 989 Sports' MLB 2005, FINAL FANTASY XI, 989 Sports' World Tour Soccer 2005, EyeToy: Groove, and Siren.

Available now, Rise to Honor puts gamers in the role of Kit Yun (Jet Li) to play as the ultimate film star and simultaneously battle multiple enemies with a truly unique 360-degree fighting system. Launching on March 16, MLB 2005 promises to be the most authentic baseball simulation for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system to date. On March 23, gamers can welcome a new evolution of online play -- cross-platform compatibility. PlayStation 2 gamers will be able to team up with players around the world when FINAL FANTASY XI releases simultaneously with the internal Hard Disk Drive (40GB) exclusively for PlayStation 2.

Carlos Ruiz of the Los Angeles Galaxy kicks off the soccer season as he graces the cover of 989 Sports' World Tour Soccer 2005 set to hit retail shelves on April 13. On April 20, Siren will immerse players into a mysterious, spine-tingling horror entertainment thriller playable through 10 diverse characters looking to solve a mysterious force that has transformed a fictional Japanese village into a living nightmare. Completing the season's lineup is EyeToy: Groove, which is the first interactive videogame that enables players to dance in time with music simply by moving their bodies, with no controller or dance pad necessary.

"This diverse selection of titles includes several new franchises, and the extension of some of the best-selling franchises ever. We are constantly looking to deliver a full range of interactive entertainment content to meet the growing demands of our consumers with solid first party titles," said Ami Blaire, director of product marketing. "Whether players are looking for fast-paced fighting action in Rise to Honor, a chilling fear-provoking adventure in Siren, or the pure competitive intensity of sports in MLB 2005 and World Tour Soccer 2005, or to experience the FINAL FANTASY franchise in a whole new way, gamers have something to look forward to in early 2004."

Rise to Honor (Available now)
Inspired by the excitement and cinematic styling of the Hong Kong action movie genre, Rise to Honor is a fast-paced action game created by Sony Computer Entertainment America's Foster City Studio in collaboration with worldwide action star Jet Li. Rise to Honor immerses players into an action packed story line centered around family, deceit and honor in a chain of dangerous events extending from Hong Kong to San Francisco.

Rise to Honor incorporates a unique 360-degree fight system -- one that allows players to simultaneously battle multiple enemies without reorienting the character. In addition to hand-to-hand fighting, players will engage in intense gunplay, single-player collaborative fighting, and the opportunity to use single and double-stick weapons, featuring unique animations. Using motion capture technology to incorporate Jet Li's signature moves, Rise to Honor adds a new level of realism and authenticity into the action genre.

989 Sports MLB 2005 (March 16, 2004)
Set for a March 16, 2004 release, MLB 2005 promises to be the most authentic baseball simulation for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. MLB 2005 features 13 extensive gameplay modes including EyeToy functionality that puts the player's face in the game, an all-new Franchise Mode that allows players to control every aspect of running a ball club from parking prices to player contracts, an innovative Career Mode takes gamers from Class-A ball to the Fall Classic, Online playability through 989SportsOnline.com complete with 32-team tournaments and live sports tickers, and an all-new SportsCast Manager that provides players the ability to simulate in style while managing the game head-to-head or versus the CPU. MLB 2005 has integrated new gameplay enhancements like pressure sensitive controls, Voice Recognition that allows gamers to bark out plays like a manager with a USB headset, and player scaled strike zones that are proportionate to every batter. All this along with more than 3,500 personalized animations, 60 frames-per-second gameplay, new player models and fully animated crowds, will make MLB 2005 one of the deepest baseball games yet.

FINAL FANTASY XI (March 23, 2004)
For decades, gamers have embarked upon journeys through the unforgettable worlds of the FINAL FANTASY franchise. The FINAL FANTASY series is world-renowned for creating new standards in the role-playing game (RPG) genre, while redefining the limits of existing technology. FINAL FANTASY has entered its next phase -- online play. FINAL FANTASY XI, will be available pre-installed on the upcoming internal Hard Disk Drive (40GB) exclusively for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Entering the next evolutionary phase in the PlayStation 2 experience, the internal Hard Disk Drive and FINAL FANTASY XI will utilize the Network Adaptor (Ethernet/modem)(for PlayStation2) to get online, while fostering in a new era of console gaming by allowing gamers to connect to the same exact world regardless of whether they are playing on a PlayStation 2 (broadband or narrowband) or a personal computer (PC).

FINAL FANTASY XI showcases the same award-winning visual content, innovative gameplay and deep storyline that has made the FINAL FANTASY series one of the most popular videogame series in the world, with more than 45 million units sold to date. In FINAL FANTASY XI, players are immersed in an expansive, original storyline as they embark on missions and build up their character's skills and attributes, either alone or with other members of the community, ultimately creating the history of an expansive world called Vana'diel. Vana'diel is truly a persistent world, composed of three unique regions: the Republic of Bastok, the Kingdom of San d'Oria, and the Federation of Windurst, all with vast environments ranging from mountains forests, ice plains, deserts, oceans, rivers, castles and dungeons. With the ability to create unique characters, encompassing a variety of races, facial features, size, hair-styles and attributes, players will be able to play at their own pace and form parties with other players while embarking on multiple adventures.

989 Sports World Tour Soccer 2005 (April 13, 2004)
Set for an April 13 release, World Tour Soccer 2005 takes the passion, pageantry and excitement of the world's most popular sport and delivers a true soccer simulation for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system. Now in its third year, the World Tour Soccer franchise has set the tone for unmatched play options and realism for the core soccer enthusiast.

To further the global soccer experience, World Tour Soccer 2005 now offers more than 900 international and league teams from around the globe, 18,700 FIFPro licensed players from 30 divisions and 22 leagues including classic teams from the past like the 70s Liverpool team, the 80s Milan team and the 90s Barcelona team. With multiple modes of play such as Exhibition Match and Competition Mode, Season Mode, Career Mode, combined with intuitive controls, incredibly smart AI, and immaculately detailed stadiums from across the globe, World Tour Soccer 2005 is sure to provide an authentic soccer experience by capturing the enormous scope and popularity of the global game.

Siren (April 20, 2004)
Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan in conjunction with SCEA Santa Monica Studios, Siren puts the player into an alternate reality, capable of raising the heartbeat and creating a true sense of suspense and fear, allowing for a new horror entertainment experience. In the blink of an eye, everything can change in Siren. Set in a fictional Japanese village, a terrible force slowly turns the civilians into vile creatures looking to destroy the player. Seen through the eyes of 10 characters, Siren immerses the player into a personal fight for survival and to unravel the truth behind the mysterious force.

EyeToy: Groove (April 20, 2004)
EyeToy: Groove, exclusive to the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, is the first interactive videogame that enables players to dance in time with music simply by moving their bodies, with no controller or dance pad necessary. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment London Studio, EyeToy: Groove is scheduled for release in April 20, 2004.

The follow up to the highly successful EyeToy: Play, EyeToy: Groove challenges players to take their coordination and rhythm skills one step further. Simply by linking the EyeToy USB camera to a PlayStation 2, the player will appear live, on TV, enabling them to dance along with the on-screen prompts. Technique, style and timing are required as players move their arms, hips and body to the beat of one of the 25 licensed songs from such artists as Madonna, Jamiroquai, and Fatboy Slim.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated Rise To Honor and FINAL FANTASY XI "T" for Teen. MLB 2005 has been rated "E" for everyone. World Tour Soccer 2005, Siren, and EyeToy: Groove have not yet been rated. For more information about the ESRB visit http://www.esrb.org.

For more information visit www.us.playstation.com.

SOURCE Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.