Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) is responsible for the continued growth of the PlayStation® market in the United States and Canada. Based in Foster City, California. SCEA serves as headquarters for all North America operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) that reports directly back to SCE in Japan.
SCEA’s advanced hardware technology enables the most talented developers to produce vanguard titles, setting new standards in interactive entertainment. The PlayStation® family of products has taken home entertainment to never before imagined heights – whatever your interests, the PlayStation® entertainment products have something for you.
The PlayStation® Story
Long before there was such a thing as affordable CD-ROM gaming or 3D polygonal graphics, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) set the not-too-humble goal of creating a gaming platform that would become as pervasive as the VCR and change the industry forever.
In 1994, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) was founded as the North America division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Taking approximately four years to develop, the PlayStation® game console was introduced in the United States in 1995.
The launch of the PlayStation was a sensation. In the very first weekend, more than 100,000 units were sold. In the first six months, over a million were sold. In April 1997, with nearly 4 million PlayStation® game consoles in North America, we found a way to strengthen our bond with PlayStation® owners even more. Our interactive relationship marketing PlayStation® Underground, gives us the opportunity to recognize and reward our loyal gamers. Members of the PlayStation® Underground can feel as though they belong to a subculture of intense gamers by experiencing new game challenges and getting the scoop on upcoming games, merchandise, and special offers.
The company next sets its sights on development of the PlayStation®2, which becomes available to consumers in November 2000. With its incredible power and the exciting added ability to play CD’s and DVD movies, this new system was unstoppable, making it possible for smooth, lifelike animation to be shown in real time. Then in August 2002, the company introduced the option to play games online with the new Network Adaptor (Ethernet/modem) (for PlayStation®2).
In March 2005, the PlayStation®Portable (PSP™) was launched in North America, brining an unparalleled gaming experience to a handheld platform. With graphics rendering capability comparable to that of the PlayStation®2 system, the PSP™ features a 4.3 widescreen, high-resolution TFT display.
On November 17, 2006, Sony will release the PLAYSTATION®3. PLAYSTATION®3 is the most advance computer system that serves as a platform to enjoy next generation computer entertainment contents in the home, realized through the combination of Cell and RSX™ processors, in addition to the compatibility of a vast catalog of PlayStation® and PlayStation®2 software titles. With its Giga-bit Ethernet and a pre-installed hard disk drive (HDD), users will be able to use input/output ports, PLAYSTATION®3 to download a variety of online contents as well as access online games. Equipped with basic input/output ports, PLAYSTATION®3 supports a broad range of displays from conventional NTSC/PAL standard TV’s to the latest full HD (1080i/1080p) flat panel displays, offering the joy of the most advanced computer entertainment contents to homes around the world.