Gaming News - January 2006

Foster City, CA (January 12, 2006) - Sony today released a list of their first party PSP titles due to be released in the First Quarter of 2006.

From Sony:

The upcoming titles span across multiple genres and will provide innovative, exciting entertainment content to gamers of all ages, continuing the momentum for the PSP system post- holidays. The PSP system brings an unparalleled gaming experience to consumers, and with the addition of these action-packed first-party titles to the PSP system's software library of more than 70, along with the ability to watch movies, view photos, listen to music, and browse the Internet using the PSP system's built-in Wi-Fi capability, consumers have many new reasons to celebrate well after the holiday season has ended and the new year has begun.

"Our first quarter lineup is yet another example of our continuous pledge to consumers to deliver viable and innovative new entertainment choices for the PSP system," said Jack Tretton, executive vice president, co-COO, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "With the PSP system's first holiday season demonstrating incredible sales and market penetration, we will continue to drive the unprecedented demand for the PSP system with compelling content for gamers of all ages."

With PSP hardware and software sales continuing to flourish, momentum for the PSP system is strong, and will continue with the addition of the following much-anticipated first-party titles available in the first quarter of 2006:

 PURSUIT FORCE

Developed by BigBig Studios, Ltd., Pursuit Force for the PSP system brings Hollywood-style movie action to life by delivering high-speed vehicle chases and thrilling shootouts, all in the quest for justice. In Pursuit Force, players take the role of a young rookie police officer, responsible for tracking down and thwarting five criminal gangs in and around Capital City. Pursuit Force presents a variety of gameplay elements for each criminal case, including collect and follow assignments, high-speed pursuit, on-foot action, and aerial attacks. Featuring an innovative gameplay mechanic where players can jump from vehicle to vehicle at speeds of more than 150 MPH, Pursuit Force keeps the action moving seamlessly. Players will hang perilously as they battle with enemy gangs and attempt to commandeer a number of vehicles. Players will skirt along city highways and dusty tracks in speeding cars, bikes, SUVs, and buses, and high-powered speedboats are available for chases through metropolitan waterways and scenic, canyon-lined rivers.

Available March 2006 -- Rated T

SYPHON FILTER: DARK MIRROR From the development team of the critically acclaimed Syphon Filter franchise, comes their first project exclusive to the PSP system, set to deliver an intense, edge-of-your-seat thriller. Gamers assume the identity of Gabe Logan, a highly-trained Precision Strike Operative, commanding a black box United States Agency that legally doesn't exist. As Gabe, players will have to strategize quickly, as he is responsible to infiltrate, recon and execute decisively. Once inserted, Logan is his own authority -- making life and death decisions, quickly choosing his course of action. An immersive single-player experience also delivering an evolving online multiplayer experience, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror features melee attacks, target lock, precision aiming, target and vision enhancements, enhanced artificial intelligence (AI), and high-tech weaponry. Gamers can choose between difficulty modes that monitor and adjust skill level, multiple unique online maps using both Ad Hoc and Infrastructure connectivity, and four types of gameplay modes in multiplayer.

Available March 2006 -- Not Yet Rated

MLB 06 THE SHOW

As the longest running officially licensed baseball franchise on PlayStation platforms and already widely considered the most authentic baseball simulation available, MLB 06 The Show picks up where last year's game left off and pitches the complete portable package for the PSP system. Gamers can play their entire career "on the road." An all-new Career Mode allows baseball fans to create a player and attempt to land a spot on the roster of their favorite team based on their abilities, while an updated Season Mode, now tracking multiple seasons, lets users take their team and make a run for consecutive rings. An all-new Rivalry Mode allows players to set up and maintain multi-game rivalries, while tracking stats for the life of the rivalry, and the Historical Greats option allows core baseball fans to go up against baseball's heroes of yesteryear. Sports fanatics can now stay up-to-date with news with an all-new online news service, providing users with MLB updates on current events from around the league or their favorite team.

Available March 1, 2006 -- Rated E

DAXTER

After years of standing in Jak's shadow, Daxter finally gets his turn in the spotlight as he stars in his very own self-titled game. An all-new adventure platformer made exclusively for the PSP, Daxter is centered around the world of the famous orange ottsel made popular in the multi-million unit-selling Jak and Daxter franchise. As the first title developed by Santa Ana-based Ready At Dawn Studios, Daxter will push the popular Jak and Daxter world in new directions through the eyes of Daxter as it completes the Jak and Daxter story and allow players to find out how Daxter became a hero, freeing Jak at the beginning of Jak II. Daxter, on his own in an unfamiliar place, realizes that being small and furry won't help his chances of survival or saving Jak, so he takes on a job as a pest exterminator -- a job in high demand due to a mysterious metalbug invasion. His new job enables him to explore parts of Haven City in an effort to collect the clues that will lead him to Jak ... but Daxter soon discovers more excitement than he bargained for.

Available March 2006 -- Not Yet Rated

NEOPETS: PETPET ADVENTURES THE WAND OF WISHING

Neopets: Petpet Adventures - The Wand of Wishing is an action/role playing game exclusively for the PSP system. Developed and created by Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. and Neopets Inc., Neopets: Petpet Adventures - The Wand of Wishing brings a hidden Petpet world of Petaria to life in 3D for the first time. Players move through the game using characters they create from among four popular Petpet species and, utilizing the wireless Ad-Hoc mode, can compete head-to-head in the Battledome using their characters from the single-player game. In their search to overcome evil and recover the fabled Wand of Wishing, players will discover more than 100 unique characters and enemies, as well as have the opportunity to collect and use over 800 items. With more than 30 million registered users worldwide accessing the site in 11 languages simultaneously, Neopets.com is the fastest growing youth-oriented website in the world. Neopets.com is consistently ranked among the top 10 stickiest sites on the Internet, generating more than seven billion page views worldwide per month.

Available February 28, 2006 -- Rated E

APE ESCAPE ACADEMY

Created by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, Ape Escape Academy delivers a whole new twist while retaining the fun and frenetic flavor of the Ape Escape series. Specter has failed over and over again in his attempts at taking over the world, all because of a few inept monkeys. To rectify his problem, he decides to form the Ape Escape Academy, where he will serve as principal and train the monkeys so that he can help improve their behavior. In a collection of more than 40 diverse mini-games that make up the academy, players can work their way through six school years by winning each mini- game. Combining the franchise's trademark personality, excellent visuals and featuring ad hoc wireless functionality, Ape Escape Academy will offer an engaging experience to players.

Available January 17, 2006 -- Rated E10+

The PSP is available for a suggested retail price of $249.99 (USD) in a PSP Value Pack. In addition to the revolutionary PSP hardware, the PSP Value Pack contains an unprecedented added-value package of accessories and entertainment content, including 32 MB Memory Stick Duo, headphones with remote control, battery pack, AC adaptor, soft case, hand strap and cleaning cloth, and a movie/music/game video sampler UMD disc including multiple non-interactive game demos. There are currently more than 70 games available for PSP and more than 250 feature films, TV programs and videos from major studios combining to create an unmatched library of entertainment content.