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Playstation History Written By: SCEE

PLAYSTATION HISTORY IN EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND ASIA PACIFIC - HISTORY OF EVENTS 1990 •PlayStation R&D project that had grown out of Sony’s "System G" broadcast TV graphics project is formalised. Five-man team headed by Ken Kutaragi boosted to ten members. 1993 •PlayStation R&D project completed; Sony Computer Entertainment established and Ken Kutaragi becomes its Executive Vice President, R&D Division. December 1993 •PlayStation hardware demonstrated to European Developers in new London HQ. January 1994 •PlayStation hardware demonstrated to US Developers. May 1994 •Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. established (Foster City, California). December 1994 •PlayStation launched in Japan (SRP 39 800 Yen). •Sony Computer Entertainment Europe host developers conference in London. January 1995 •Sony Computer Entertainment Europe office established - London, UK. May 1995 •Japanese sales exceed 1 million units of hardware. September 1995 •PlayStation launched in America; within two days it sold over 100 000 units, taking over $45 million. (SRP 299 US Dollars).   •PlayStation launched in Europe; within six weeks the UK installed base had risen to 50 000. Around 350 000 units were in customer’s homes across Europe by Christmas 1995. Price £299. •Namco's Tekken becomes first game to exceed 1 million units sold. October 1995 •PlayStation’s first pan-european TV advertising campaign (SAPs) launched.   •Official PlayStation Magazine with monthly demo CD launched in UK November 1995 •PlayStation launches in Australia and New Zealand January 1996 •34 PlayStation titles have now been launched in Europe, 18 of them by third party licensees   •Global sales of PlayStation hit 3.4 million units with 518 000 of those units sold through in Europe March 1996 •Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s first in-house game is released: Total NBA 96   •Over 700 000 PlayStations have now been shipped in Europe May 1996 •SCEE bring down the price of PlayStation in Europe from £299 to £199   •USA: Price drops to $199 US Dollars June 1996 •Japan: Price drops under 20 000 Yen. (SCPH-500) on sales (including 1 controller/SRP 19 800 Yen) August 1996 •PlayStation game consoles cumulative production and shipment as at August 1996 reached 7.2 million units worldwide. Japan 3.5 million North America 2.1 million Europe 1.6 million October 1996 •PlayStation Worldwide Shipments Hit 9 million units January 1997 •SCEE announces the launch of the PlayStation Platinum software range   •Square’s, Final Fantasy VII sells over 3.5 million units in Japan February 1997 •PlayStation game consoles cumulative production and shipment as at 14th February 1997 reached 12 million units worldwide. Japan 5.6 million units North America 3.8 million units Europe 2.6 million units   •SCEE announces the renewal of their long-term strategic alliance in all PAL territories with Namco Ltd   •Namco, Sony Computer Entertainment, and Polygon Pictures announce establishment of world-class computer graphics studio - Dream Pictures Studio Inc.   •Net Yaroze launches in Europe March 1997 •PlayStation game consoles cumulative production and shipment as at end of March 1997 reached 13.5 million units: Japan 6.5 million units North America 4.0 million units Europe 3.0 million units   •SCEE bring down the price of PlayStation from £199 to £129   •USA: PlayStation Game Console to retail for $149 and PlayStation software to be targeted at a MSRP of $49.99 or less April 1997 •Sony Computer Entertainment Europe secures Eighth Wonder in exclusive deal May 1997 •PlayStation game consoles cumulative production and shipment as at end of May 1997 reached 16 million units: Japan 7.5 million units North America 4.8 million units Europe 3.7 million units •PlayStation signs £10m+ million soccer deal to sponsor UEFA Champions League   •PlayStation production to be increased - monthly production to be 1.5 million units from May June 1997 •Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announces its latest development in peripherals for PlayStation - the Analog Controller - the latest development in hand-held controllers   •PlayStation becomes official partner of Prost Grand Prix July 1997 •Sony Computer Entertainment Europe acquires Millennium’s Games Development Teams •The studios are renamed Sony Computer Entertainment, Cambridge. Their first product under this new name will be the much-anticipated MediEvil September 1997 •SCEE announces that the Tomb Raider franchise, featuring leading character Lara Croft, will be exclusive to the PlayStation games consoles •SCEE launch value pack containing PlayStation, two controllers and a Memory Card at £129. October 1997 •PlayStation game consoles cumulative production and shipment as at end of September 1997 reached 22.5 million units:- Japan      8.6 million units North America      7.8 million units Europe      6.1 million units November 1997 •SCEE wins the "Golden Joystick Award" for the Best Software House, Most Original Game (ParappaTheRapper) and Best Ad (Tekken 2) •Final Fantasy VII released in PAL territories on November 17th December 1997 •SCEE announce that sales of FFVII have already reached over half a million units January 1998 •PlayStation game consoles cumulative production and shipment as at end of September 1997 reached 28.2 million units:- Japan      10.05 million units North America      10.35 million units Europe      7.8 million units •World-wide production and shipment of software reaches a staggering 200 million pieces world-wide:- Japan      90 million units North America      60 million units Europe      30 million units •Total number of software titles released since launch reaches: Japan      1 150 North America      380 Europe      400 •SCEE launch its state of the art website: www.playstation-europe.com February 1998 •SCEI announces that it has developed a miniature size PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) as an extension of the PlayStation Memory Card •The PDA has a programmable 32 bit RISC processor, together with LCD screen, sound and communication capabilities. This PDA is not aimed for business or office applications, but for personal entertainment including games March 1998 •On day one, in Japan, over one million units of Tekken 3 are shipped to retail April 1998 •SCEI announce that is has established four satellite studio companies that will be supervised by Akira Sato, Executive Vice President of SCEI Polyphony Digital Titles developed: GT, Motor Toon Grand Prix Arc Entertainment Inc. Titles developed: Arc the Lad Sugar and Rockets Inc. Titles developed: IQ, Go!Go!Moriwaka Contrail Inc Titles developed: Wild Arms May 1998 •SCEI and Whoopee Camp established a joint venture company named "DEEP SPACE". Mr Fujiwara, president of Whoopee Camp, was named Executive Producer in the new company. Deep Space is expected to develop new real-time adventure games to be published by SCEI •SCEE (except UK and Ireland) unveiled details of its new PlayStation DUAL SHOCK Console Pack. This new pack incorporates the PlayStation console with the "Soundscope" feature and incorporating the state-of-the art Analog Controller (DUAL SHOCK) •PlayStation game consoles cumulative production and shipment as at end of September 1997 reached 32.8 million units: Japan       11.51 million units North America      11.67 million units Europe      9.64 million units •Total number of software titles released since launch reaches : Japan      1,280 North America      412 Europe      419 July 1998 •SCEE announces that it has signed a three-project deal with Picture House Software. The first product will be released in the second half of 1999. August 1998 •SCEE announces an installed base of over 10 million units across PAL territories. •PlayStation game consoles cumulative production and shipment reached 40 million units by August 21st: Japan     13.00 million units North America      14.3 million units Europe      12.7 million units

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