World Tour Soccer 2006 Announced for PlayStation(R)2

World Tour Soccer 2006 Announced for PlayStation(R)2 Revered Soccer Franchise Scores with Enhanced Gameplay and Non-Stop True-to-Life Soccer Action FOSTER CITY, Calif., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that World Tour Soccer 2006 from 989 Sports(R) will be available in stores this Spring, marking the fourth iteration of the critically acclaimed soccer franchise. Developed exclusively for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, World Tour Soccer 2006 features an unprecedented line-up of teams and players from around the globe in order to bring the excitement of the world's most popular sport to the forefront for gamers and soccer fans alike. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000510/SFW104-a ) Building upon the roots of the franchise, World Tour Soccer 2006, provides gamers with a familiar yet enhanced gameplay experience, complete with even more features, players, teams and stadiums. Highlighted by more than 935 international and club teams from around the globe, along with an astounding 19,000 FIFPro licensed players from 32 different leagues, eight international tournaments and 28 unique stadiums, the global game of soccer has been recreated with exceptional detail in order to capture its enormous scope and popularity. To enhance the experience on the virtual pitch, World Tour Soccer 2006 features EyeToy(TM) functionality and the all-new Digimask(TM) technology. Utilizing the EyeToy USB camera (for PlayStation 2), sold separately, gamers can take snapshots of themselves and literally get into the game. Once the player has taken their self-portraits, Digimask technology converts the high-resolution images of a gamer's head into a full 3D model so that they can personally battle against the world's best. "World Tour Soccer 2006 is the most true-to-life soccer game on the market, complete with an unmatched roster of the world's best players and top teams from around the globe," said Scott Rohde, director of product development, 989 Sports. "The attention to detail, endless number of play options, and inclusion of EyeToy functionality make this game not only enjoyable for gamers of all ages, but challenging for even the most intense soccer fan." World Tour Soccer 2006, the most realistic soccer simulation to date, allows gamers to choose from multiple modes of play including Exhibition Match, Season, Career and Challenge Mode, giving players the option of playing a quick game or the opportunity to play out a grueling season where they'll have to manage player contracts, trades, salary caps and injuries. Additionally, World Tour Soccer 2006 offers hard-core soccer enthusiasts a Competition Mode, in which players can create their own Custom Cup or Custom League to their exact specifications, all while highlighting their own Custom Team. With successful play, gamers will be able to unlock hidden teams, stadiums, and cheats to help fill up their trophy cabinet with any of the 49 available trophies. Developed by true soccer fans at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's London Studios, World Tour Soccer 2006 sets the bar for unmatched play options and realism. An enhanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings a new level of authenticity to life during shots on goals, defensive tackles and countless other moves during matches, while new animations, passionate celebrations, enhanced lighting effects and the option of having broadcasters announce in four different languages, will have fans screaming, "goal!" The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating for World Tour Soccer 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), NCAA(R) GameBreaker(TM), NBA ShootOut, Gretzky NHL(R), NCAA(R) Final Four(R) and MLB(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/ . 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, +1-858-824-5963, or paul_murphy@playstation.sony.com; or Marc Feuerstein, +1-310-854-4782, or mfeuerstein@bncpr.com, for Sony Computer Entertainment America Web site: http://www.esrb.org/ Web site: http://www.989sports.com/ Web site: http://www.playstation.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment