The Major League Baseball(R) 2004 American League(R) MVP Vladimir Guerrero to Appear on the Cover of MLB(TM) 2006 for PlayStation(R)2

The Major League Baseball(R) 2004 American League(R) MVP Vladimir Guerrero to Appear on the Cover of MLB(TM) 2006 for PlayStation(R)2 Angels Guerrero Joins Oakland A's Eric Chavez, Arizona Diamondbacks Troy Glaus, Arizona Diamondbacks Shawn Green and Cincinnati Reds Adam Dunn to Promote 989 Sports(R) Category-Leading Baseball Franchise FOSTER CITY, Calif., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. and 989 Sports(R) announced today that it has signed the Major League Baseball (MLB) 2004 American League MVP, Vladimir Guerrero, to grace the cover of its MLB(TM) 2006 videogame, due to hit stores in Spring 2005, exclusively for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. A top defensive playmaker and premier offensive threat, the Angels outfielder will team up with a host of other top MLB stars to promote the popular 989 Sports baseball title including Oakland A's third baseman Eric Chavez, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Troy Glaus, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Shawn Green, and Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, all of whom will continue in their roles as contributors, consultants, and spokespersons. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000510/SFW104-a ) During his first season with Angels, Guerrero led his club, and in some cases the American League (AL), in several offensive categories, including 124 runs (set new club record and led the AL), 366 total bases (tied club record and led AL), and a season ending batting average of .337 (set a new club record), which led to Guerrero being voted the Gene Autry Trophy (Team MVP) by his teammates. After making his fifth MLB All-Star game appearance in July, Guerrero continued his offensive dominance in September, earning American League Player of the Month after batting .371 with 24 runs scored, six doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 23 RBI. Guerrero was clutch down the stretch. Over the final seven games of the season, his 10 runs, six home runs and 11 RBI helped the Angels overcome a 3-game deficit, which ultimately led to an American League West Division Crown. "Vladimir Guerrero is one of the most talented and instinctual baseball players in the Major Leagues, continuously amazing baseball fans with his superb offensive and defensive skills," said Scott Rohde, director of product development, 989 Sports. "Guerrero is a great role model and we are very pleased to have him become part of the 989 Sports family as a consultant and spokesperson." Oakland A's third base slugger Eric Chavez returns this season as a spokesperson and consultant for the MLB franchise, after his reign as cover athlete for MLB 2005. As an intricate part of the team for the A's, Chavez continued his homerun hitting ways this past season as he belted 29 homers again, bringing his career homerun total to 163. Chavez led the American League in walks with 95, while also capturing his fourth consecutive Golden Glove Award in his young career. Arizona Diamondbacks Troy Glaus will continue to serve as a spokesperson for 989 Sports and the MLB franchise, while participating in consulting sessions to assure that MLB remains the most realistic baseball game available. Glaus is a three-time All-Star game and was named the 2002 World Series MVP. Returning from injury late in the 2004 season, Glaus, then an Angel, went on to help lead the Angels to a division title, racking up a solid 42 RBI in only 58 games. Arizona Diamondbacks and MLB 2004 cover athlete Shawn Green returns as a company spokesperson and consultant for another season. Green has become one of the most feared left-handed sluggers in the game. The right-fielder/first baseman has posted 281 home runs, 885 RBI and 1,560 hits during his 12-year career. Joining Guerrero, Chavez, Glaus, and Green, Cincinnati Reds Adam Dunn returns for his third year as a 989 Sports spokesperson and consultant. The six-foot, six-inch, 240-pound All Star has quickly established himself as one of the league's premier power hitters, racking up 118 home runs in only three and a half seasons. Set for a Spring 2005 release, MLB 2006 is the latest edition of a franchise that has established itself as a third-year phenom for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. To enhance the gameplay experience and provide gamers with an authentic, yet unique simulation, MLB 2006 provides baseball fans with numerous gameplay nuances including an enhanced Artificial Intelligence (AI), new graphics and the return of EyeToy(TM) functionality, once again assuring the most realistic baseball experience on the virtual diamond. Dedicated to staying atop the baseball field, MLB 2006 has integrated new gameplay options in order to make it the deepest baseball game ever produced. Innovations like the all-new Branch Point Technology (BPT) give gamers the ability to field the ball and pre-load a throw through seamless fielding transitions, while an all-new Pitcher Confidence feature gives baseball fans the ultimate duel through a revised pitcher/batter interface that binds player rating attributes with individual gamer skills. Known for its extensive list of game modes, MLB 2006 continues to build upon the success of the franchise by enhancing its gameplay options. A new Franchise Mode includes an all-new Player Morale System that tracks player morale on every level and applies it to the player's day-to-day performance, and the new Career Mode lets gamers play from the player's perspective and control their own destiny from the start to the finish of their career, based on their on-field performance. The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating for MLB 2006 is "RP" for Rating Pending. For more information about the ESRB visit www.esrb.org. About 989 Sports 989 Sports(R) is the sports software brand of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Known for its top-selling sports franchise titles such as NFL GameDay(TM), MLB(TM), NBA ShootOut, Gretzky NHL 2005(TM), NCAA(R) Final Four(R) and NCAA(R) GameBreaker(TM), 989 Sports is committed to developing authentic and innovative sports games to appeal to both the professional athlete and hard-core sports videogame fan. About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation(R) and PS one(TM) game console, and the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system is set to revolutionize the home entertainment market, offering the most compelling interactive content and the capability to be used as a network terminal in the coming broadband era. Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Visit us on the Web at http://www.989sports.com/ Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. Visit the official website at MLB.com. (C) MLBPA, Official Licensee-Major League Baseball Players Association. Visit the Players Choice on the web at www.bigleaguers.com. (C) 2005 by STATS, Inc. Any commercial use or distribution of the Licensed Materials without the express written consent of STATS is strictly prohibited. Silver Bat is a trademark of Hillerich & Bradsby Co., Louisville, KY. Rolaids Relief Man Reward is a registered trademark of Warner-Lambert, a Pfizer Company. 989 Sports and the 989 Sports logo are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (C) 2005 Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000510/SFW104-a AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, 1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840 Source: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. CONTACT: Paul Murphy of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., +1-858-824-5963 or paul_murphy@playstation.sony.com; or Marc Feuerstein, +1-212-253-4663 or mfeuerstein@bncpr.com, for Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Web site: http://www.playstation.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment