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PAL PS2 Sales Increase

PS2

6th November 2003, 2:46pm
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today confirmed that sales to consumers of PlayStation® 2 in the PAL markets were showing considerable growth in the run up to the important peak selling period, with sales for the first half of the financial year running 25% above those for the same period last year.

Confidence in PlayStation 2 sales this Christmas is being driven by the presence of an extremely strong game line-up, with over 50 exclusive titles in a range of over 200 new PlayStation 2 titles scheduled for launch before Christmas. The innovative and hugely enjoyable, million selling EyeToy party game is clearly capturing the imagination of families this year, whilst for experienced gamers there are brilliantly reviewed character action games such as Jak ll: Renegade, high octane rallying action in WRC 3, award winning adventure titles such as Prince of Persia and spine-chilling action in Ghosthunter.

For the gamer who thrives on the need to compete at the highest level, eight new titles featuring networked entertainment will be available, including Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's addictive Hardware and Electronic Arts' eagerly awaited FIFA Football 2004. With such a wide range of games available for all age groups and tastes, PlayStation 2 will be under the Christmas trees of more people than ever before.

Also reaching the stores in time for Christmas is the new PlayStation 2 Satin Silver edition. A sleek and stylish addition to the Living Room, the Satin Silver PlayStation 2 comes complete with two silver controllers and is selling as quickly as it reaches the shelves throughout Europe, With the ability to play DVD movies 'straight out of the box', replay music CDs with Dolby quality sound, and play over 750 exciting game titles, the Satin Silver PlayStation 2 is a family entertainment centre that is being purchased primarily for the Family Living Room this Christmas.

"We are going into the peak selling period with great confidence", said Chris Deering, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. "We have an outstanding range of games from our own studios and from third party publishers this Christmas, many of which are exclusive to PlayStation 2. Our hugely enjoyable EyeToy game has taken the market by storm, having already sold a million in just 4 months, and is redefining in a very positive manner the way in which families perceive gaming. And of course we also have the smart new Silver console which will accelerate the existing trend whereby gaming is increasingly moving out of the study or bedroom into the family Living Room."

"With a whole range of blockbuster titles due for release early next year, 2004 is already shaping up to be an exciting and extremely successful year for PlayStation".

Nick Gibson, an independent games analyst is also bullish on the games market this Christmas. "All indications are that this Christmas will be a successful one for the whole games sector. Gaming is now very much a mainstream entertainment activity, and innovative gaming concepts like Sony Computer Entertainment's EyeToy can only broaden the audience for gaming into the mass market, ensuring a healthy environment for console manufacturers and software producers alike for the foreseeable future."

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by Jason Eder