September 19th, 2003 (12:00am) - Hardware Evolution to Enhance Consumers’ Overall Online Entertainment Experience
SAN FRANCISCO, September 16, 2003 – Continuing to extend the capabilities of PlayStation®2 through technology and content, industry leader Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. today unveiled specifics on its internal Hard Disk Drive (40GB) (for PlayStation®2) and while also announcing an impressive line-up of first and third party online-enabled titles that will be available for the holiday season and beyond.
The Hard Disk Drive is a further step toward a new era of digital in-home entertainment, creating a total living room experience that includes games, movies and music. True to its business philosophy of delivering technology when the market is ready and with full content support, the Hard Disk Drive will take advantage of the active PlayStation 2 online community by providing consumers an extended world that is dynamic through expanded applications and downloadable content.
The Hard Disk Drive will come pre-installed with Square Enix’s highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), FINAL FANTASY®XI, allowing cross-platform play between the PlayStation 2 and a personal computer. In addition, the company plans to include sneak-peek product demos as well as PlayStation 2 titles, to be announced, pre-installed as part of the product package. Other product features or benefits include 40GB of storage, faster loading times, saving CDs to create a personal jukebox, and the ability to download content – levels, missions, characters, and much more.
SCEA – Gamers Day 2003 Announcements
Soon-to-be-released PlayStation 2 titles SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs and Syphon Filter®: The Omega Strain, published by Sony Computer Entertainment America, will be among the first to utilize the Hard Disk Drive with new content for consumers to download.
In addition to the gaming content, the internal Hard Disk Drive will also include a customized media player specifically designed for PlayStation 2. The media player offers a myriad of entertainment options to the consumer including playing MP3s, storing CDs, further expanding the functionalities of the top-selling console. The media player will also incorporate a photo manager allowing users to store, display and edit digital photos, as well as a games manager to organize and browse games stored on the drive.
Available in March 2004 for $99 suggested retail price (SRP), the internal Hard Disk Drive attaches to the Network Adaptor (Ethernet/modem) (for PlayStation®2), which connects to both broadband or dial-up networks, and rests in the expansion bay of the PlayStation 2 console.
"With the battle for console supremacy decided, we are departing from the status quo in an effort to broaden the in-home entertainment market with the release of the Hard Disk Drive for PlayStation 2," said Andrew House, executive vice president, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "The online world is dynamic and constantly changing, and with the Hard Disk Drive consumers can truly capitalize on the fusion of content - whether it be gaming applications, communities, digital media delivery - and refresh and expand the experience infinitely."
Editor’s notes: Well, this certainly sounds more promising than a vague release "schedule." Let’s hope it goes through, although add-ons aren’t exactly my favorite thing... A hard drive is a hard drive!
