Sony Computer Entertainment

Categories: Sony subsidiaries | Computer and video game companies

Image:Sce.jpg

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation that was established on November 16, 1993 in Tokyo, Japan. SCEI handles the research and development, production, and sales of hardware and software for their high-selling PlayStation line of handheld and video game consoles. SCEI is also a developer and publisher of video games for their systems.

The president and CEO of SCEI is Ken Kutaragi, who is widely acknowledged as the creator of the PlayStation. SCEI is comprised of several subsidiaries covering the company's biggest markets: America, Europe, Japan, and the rest of Asia.

Contents

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Consoles

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PlayStation

Main article: PlayStation
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Sony's first foray into the video game market, the PlayStation (formerly PSX, currently called PS one), was initially set to be an add-on for Nintendo's Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Famicom video game consoles as an answer to Sega's Sega CD. When the prospect of releasing the system as an add-on dissolved, Sony transformed it into the PlayStation video game console. The PlayStation was released in Japan on December 3, 1994 and later in North America on September 9, 1995. The system was widely popular and quickly became the #1 selling video game console worldwide.

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PlayStation 2

Main article: PlayStation 2
Image:Ps2 console.jpg

Sony's second generation console, the PlayStation 2 or PS2 was released in Japan on March 4, 2000 and later in North America on October 26, 2000. The PS2 is powered by a proprietary CPU, called the Emotion Engine and is the first video game console to have DVD playback functionality. Another feature of the PS2 was its ability to be stood up vertically in addition to sitting horizontally like previous systems. Given the design of the hardware, game developers complained that the PlayStation 2 was too hard to develop for. Many also claim that the PS2 is not as durable, or as powerful, as its competitors. Despite these flaws, the PlayStation 2 has sold more systems and more video games than its rivals, the Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft's Xbox.

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PSX

Main article: PSX
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In December 2003 Sony upgraded the PlayStation 2 adding DVD burning and a hard drive with PVR functionality. The upgraded system was renamed the PSX (the former name of the PlayStation). This system was released only in Japan with a high price (approximately US$ 700).

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PlayStation 3

Main article: PlayStation 3
Image:Ps3main.jpg

The PlayStation 3 is Sony's next-generation video game console with a release date set in the spring season of 2006. The system was unveiled on May 16, 2005 at a press conference prior to the 2005 E³ event. The PS3 is powered by a CPU developed by IBM, Toshiba, and Sony themselves, called the Cell. The PlayStation 3 is backward compatabile with both the PlayStation 2 and the original PlayStation.

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Handhelds

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PocketStation

Main article: PocketStation
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Released only in Japan in December 1998 the PocketStation is a miniature game console and also a PlayStation acessory. The games can be downloaded in connection with PlayStation console into Memory Card and compatible gamed with proper content or with infrared bases in videogame stores. Multiplayer is allowed in infrared connection. A Tamagotchi software was disponibilized for download in videogames stores.

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PlayStation Portable

Main article: PlayStation Portable
Image:PlayStation Portable.jpg

After a successful run in the console market with both the PlayStation and the PlayStation 2, Sony moved into the handheld market. On May 11, 2004 Sony officially unveiled the PlayStation Portable or PSP during a press conference at E³. The PlayStation Portable is intended as an entertainment platform and is currently positioned to play videogames, video content, and digital audio, as well as displaying digital photos. Instead of using traditional cartridges, the PSP uses a proprietary disc medium called the Universal Media Disc or UMD. The system also uses Sony's memory stick for game saves and for the transfer of content to and from the PSP. The PlayStation Portable was released in Japan on December 14, 2004, released in the United States on March 24, 2005, and on all of the U.K/Continential Europe/Australia regions on September 1, 2005. As of October 3, 2005, the PSP can also completely surf the web with a web browser built-in.

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Operating systems

Main article: PS2 Linux
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In 2002, Sony released the first usefull operating system for a video game console, after the Net Yaroze experience. The kit turns PlayStation 2 into a full fledged computer system running Linux. The mix of hardware and software costs around 149 dollars in the launch.

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Game franchises

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Structure

In September 2005 Ken Kutaragi announces that all Sony Computer Entertainment studios will be globally integrated in unique one, supervisored by Phil Harrison. The new integrated studio is called SCE Worldwide Studios. From September 2005, the division names related below finishes to start the new global SCE studio.

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Old structure

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External links

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