Playstation Portable To Launch in New Zealand

Playstation Portable To Launch in New Zealand on 1st September 2005

PlayStation Portable Value Pack to retail at NZ $469.95

Auckland, 26 April 2005 – Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand (SCENZ) announced today that its highly anticipated PlayStation® Portable handheld entertainment system will be launched in New Zealand on 1st September 2005.

Following the success of the PlayStation Portable launches in Japan and the USA, PlayStation Portable will go on sale throughout New Zealand and Australia on 1st September 2005, available in a single version Value Pack, priced at NZ $469.95. The PlayStation Portable Value Pack contains an added-value package of accessories and entertainment content, including the PlayStation Portable system with a pouch, 32MB Memory Stick Duo, Battery Pack, Headphones with Remote Control, AC Adaptor, wrist strap, cloth and a video/music/game sampler Universal Media Disc™ (UMD™) including several non-interactive game demos.

A copy of Spider-Man 2, on UMD Video will be available as an extra value offer to early purchasers of PlayStation Portable, who register their PlayStation Portable and order their Spider-Man 2 UMD Video through www.yourpsp.co.nz, the official SCEE web portal for PlayStation Portable.

PlayStation Portable features a 4.3-inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD that displays full colour (16.77 million colours) on a 480 x 272 pixel high-resolution screen. PlayStation Portable also comes complete with built-in stereo speakers, exterior headphone connector and a range of input/output connectors such as USB 2.0 and 802.11b Wireless LAN, enabling users to connect to the Internet and play online via a Wireless Network. Up to 16 PlayStation Portable systems in the vicinity can also be connected to each other directly in Ad Hoc Mode, allowing for Wireless head-to-head competition. In addition, Wireless capabilities will allow software and data to be downloaded to PlayStation Portable and saved onto a Memory Stick Duo.

PlayStation Portable uses a newly-developed proprietary storage medium named Universal Media Disc (UMD). This high-capacity optical disc is the next-generation compact storage media, and although only 60mm in diameter, a UMD can store up to 1.8GB of digital data – more than three times the data held on a CD-ROM. A broad range of digital entertainment content such as high quality 3D games, music, movies, video clips and other media can be distributed on UMD. “PlayStation Portable will revolutionise portable entertainment, giving users the freedom to play full 3D games, watch movies, listen to music and connect wirelessly on their terms, wherever and whenever they wish to do so,” said David Reeves, President of SCEE. “More than ever, today’s consumer demands access to their personal entertainment outside the home, without compromising quality. With more than 100 PlayStation Portable game titles currently in development worldwide, and the ability to download and listen to music, and view feature films with breathtaking screen quality, PlayStation Portable lets users control their entertainment options, all in a single package.”

PlayStation® Portable Basic Specifications and Features

Product Name

PlayStation® Portable

Colour

Black

Product Code

PSP-1002K

Dimensions

Approximately 6.7 in (W) x .9 in (H) x 2.9 in (D)

Weight

Approximately 280g / .62 lbs (including battery)

CPU

PSP 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 High Speed USB (USB 2.0)

Memory Stick 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

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

[Music]:“Memory Stick”: ATRAC3plus™, MP3(MPEG1/2 Layer3)

[Photo]: JPEG (DCF2.0/Exif2.21)

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 (White)

UMD In-pack Sampler

Wrist Strap (White)

Cloth (Light Grey)

-ENDS-

About PSPTMPSP 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, PSP features a 4.3 inch widescreen, high-resolution TFT display. PSP 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.

Images of the PSP system are available from the SCEE Virtual Press Office at www.scee.presscentre.com

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® and PlayStation®2 software and hardware in 102 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes games software for the two formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the PAL territories. At the end of December 2004, over 39 million PlayStation® units had been shipped across these PAL territories, over 101 million worldwide. Between its European debut on 24 November 2000 and the end of December 2004, over 29 million PlayStation®2 units have been shipped across the PAL territories, over 81 million world-wide, making it one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history.

About Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand

SCE New Zealand, based in Auckland, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation®, PS one® and PlayStation®2 software and hardware in New Zealand. Over 260,000 consoles have been shipped in New Zealand, by January 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, PS2 and PSP are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

More information about PlayStation products can be found at and

ENDS

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