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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC. DEMONSTRATES COMMITMENT TO ITS 989
SPORTS LABEL WITH ACQUISITION OF RED ZONE INTERACTIVE, INC.
Software Development Company Behind Multi-Million Unit-Selling NFL GameDay
Franchise Joins PlayStation 2 First Party Ranks
FOSTER CITY, Calif., January 22, 2001 – In a strategic initiative to
remain competitive in the sports category, Sony Computer Entertainment America
Inc. announced today that it has acquired Red Zone Interactive, Inc., the
software development house responsible for hit 989 Sports titles including the
renowned NFL GameDay series.
As a result of the acquisition, Red Zone Interactive, Inc. becomes a
division of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.’s first party product
development operation lead by Shuhei Yoshida, vice president, product
development. Red Zone Interactive will continue to develop for and expand its
sports catalog exclusively on the PS one console and PlayStation 2 computer
entertainment system. Financial terms of this arrangement are not available.
Personnel from Sony Interactive Studios America, the defunct development
studio division responsible for all of Sony Computer Entertainment America’s
in-house game development from 1995-1998, founded Red Zone Interactive, Inc.
in December 1997. Based in San Diego, Calif., the company currently employs 65
people. Red Zone Interactive does not plan to move its development facilities
or make staffing changes. Red Zone Interactive president Chris Whaley will
report directly to Yoshida.
"We are excited about the opportunity to have one of the top sports
game developers join our ranks, bringing colossal talent into the confines of
the organization," said Shuhei Yoshida, vice president, product
development, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "Throughout the
course of the year, we have expanded our internal development efforts
considerably. And although we have enjoyed a tremendous working relationship
with Red Zone Interactive to date, we now can concentrate on solidifying
PlayStation and PlayStation 2 as the ultimate destination for sports game
enthusiasts."
"The acquisition will provide Red Zone Interactive development teams
greater access to the vast technical and operational resources of Sony
Computer Entertainment America," said Chris Whaley, president, Red Zone
Interactive, Inc. "We are proud to rejoin the company responsible for the
PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, which we believe will
revolutionize the future of not just videogaming, but also home
entertainment."
989 Sports is the sports software brand of Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc. Known for its top-selling sports franchise titles such as NFL
GameDay™, MLB™, NBA ShootOut, NHL FaceOff™, NCAA® Final Four® and NCAA®
GameBreaker™, 989 Sports is committed to developing authentic and innovative
sports games to appeal to both the professional athlete and hard-core sports
videogame fan.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the
entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation and PS one™ game console and
the PlayStation 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 PS one game console and PlayStation 2 computer
entertainment system 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
www.989sports.com
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