Subj:	Sony to launch PlayStation in Europe, U.S.
Date:	95-06-02 07:28:40 EDT

          LONDON, June 2 (Reuter) - Japanese consumer electronics
giant Sony said on Friday it plans to launch its PlayStation
computer game system, hailed as its most important development
since the Walkman, in Europe and the United States in September.
          Phil Harrison, director of product development for Sony
Computer Entertainment Europe, told Reuters Sony had set up a
European sales and distribution alliance with Namco, the biggest
operator of amusement arcades in the United States.
          ``This announcement represents the most important
partnership in next generation games,'' Harrison said in an
interview. ``There isn't a bigger deal in the marketplace,''
          Sony, which launched the PlayStation in Japan in December,
also in alliance with Namco, said the two-way European deal
would be worth about $100 million in retail value.
          Harrison said Sony's ``next generation'' system replaces
cartridge-based computer games systems and will offer TV quality
images and CD quality audio interactive technology.
          Although it was unlikely to contribute to overall Sony Corp
earnings in the first year, he said Sony viewed it as its most
exciting product in decades.
          ``Within Sony, this is the most important...introduction
since the Walkman, `` Harrison said. Sony has sold more than 100
million of the now much-copied Walkman personal stereos since
they were introduced in the late 1970s.
          PlayStation will bring the quality of amusement arcade games
into the home and will be followed by movie quality images by
the end of the century, Harrison said.
          Sony aims to be one step ahead of arch-rivals Sega and
Nintendo, whose next generation systems Sega Saturn and Nintendo
Ultra 64 have not yet been launched.
          Under the deal, Namco has given Sony Computer Entertainment
exclusive distribution rights to its entire catalogue of
software throughout Europe. Sony will carry out sales,
distribution and marketing and pay Namco a royalty.
          Under the Japanese and U.S. deals, Sony licenses Namco as a
third party publisher.
          Harrison said PlayStation sales in Japan, where they retail
for around 300 pounds ($475), were now over one million units
and the four Namco games currently available to play on the
system exceeded 20 percent of total software sales in the
market.
          The two most popular games -- Ridge Racer and Tekken -- have
sold half a million units each, he said.
          When the PlayStation is launched in Europe there will be six
Namco titles and a further 10 will be launched next year.
       ^REUTER@