[Press Release] PS2 Platinum is Go

[MYstIC G]

PlayStation launches 'Platinum' Greatest Hits Collection
London, February 15, 2002 - For only the second time in the history of PlayStation®, a new collection of 'Platinum' greatest hits games will debut from 1st March 2002.

The 'Platinum ' collection will feature some of the best selling and most popular game titles of recent years on PlayStation 2. Building on the hugely successful Platinum collection for the original PlayStation, the first batch of nine games; four from SCEE and five from third party publishers will debut in the shops from 1st March at a significant discount to the normal price of such top selling games. At least a dozen other third party titles will become eligible to go Platinum in the following months.

The first nine titles to go Platinum are Gran Turismo 3, Tekken Tag Tournament, Formula 1 2001 and Dead or Alive 2, all from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe; Timesplitters from Eidos; Oni from Take 2; Crazy Taxi from Acclaim; Red Faction from THQ and Starwars:Starfighter from LucasArts.

Phil Harrison, SCEE Senior Vice President of Development was delighted at the news, "Platinum is really fantastic news for gamers. These are a real 'greatest hits' selection and represent the pinnacle of game playing enjoyment. In addition to being a 'must-have' for the serious gamer, Platinum attracts new gamers, keen to experience the best video games around at a value for money price."

For a game to win the ultimate accolade of release as a Platinum title, it must have achieved a stated minimum sales level across the SCEE territories in the last nine months, a hurdle that the first titles have cleared with ease.

Commenting on the launch of Platinum, SCEE's Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, David Reeves said, "The original Platinum collection was hugely successful, with over 50 million Platinum titles sold for PS one. Experienced gamers know that they are getting the pick of the crop with a Platinum title, and are doing so at a great price, while the Platinum collection provides the perfect entry route for those new to gaming - an unbeatable combination!"

Jonathan Kemp, European MD of Eidos - "We are absolutely delighted that the success of Timesplitters has made it eligible to join the Platinum collection. As with the original Platinum collection, this brand represents a huge 'seal of quality' for the consumer. It is a great accolade and a ringing endorsement of the popularity of Timesplitters".

- ENDS -

For further information please contact:

Nick Sharples (nick_sharples@scee.net)
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd
Tel: + 44 (0)207 859 5301 Fax: + 44 (0)207 859 5036

Julie Skinner (julie.skinner@scee.net)
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Tel: +44 (0) 207 859 5347 Fax: +44 (0) 207 859 5447

Images of the special Platinum packaging for the four debut games can be downloaded Wrom: AFXISHJEXXIMQZUIVOTQNQEMSFDU

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation®, PS one® and PlayStation 2 software and hardware in 100 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. At the end of December 2001, over 36 million PlayStation units had been shipped across these PAL territories, over 89 million worldwide. Between its Japanese debut, on March 4th 2000 and at the end of December 2001, almost 25 million PlayStation®2 units have been shipped worldwide, making it one of the most successful consumer electronic product launches in history.

PlayStation and the PlayStation logo, PS one and PS2 are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

More information about PlayStation products can be found at http://www.scee.com and www.playstation.com.

Dunno about you lot but I'll be picking up Crazy Taxi for defo

 

[Nibbler]

Yeah but how much will the price lower? £0.00? Eh? EH?

 

[MYstIC G]

I dont bloody know do I

 

[MYstIC G]

Turns out I do, forgot about this:http://www.gamesdomain.co.uk/news/6916.html

Sony's Platinum plan
Reported by Corey Brotherson
Sony will be introducing its Platinum budget range in Europe for PlayStation2.

The first batch of games coming from March 1 will include Gran Turismo 3, Tekken Tag Tournament, Dead or Alive 3 and F1 2001, all priced at £19.99. Third party publishers are also finalising plans to join the range too.

 

[Ono]

£20 for a decrepid old PS2 game!!??

I am sure you can pick them up far cheaper second hand or from **your local friendly Far Eastern Supplier**.


If you want Crazy Taxi you're better off getting a DC - then you cna get Crazy Taxi 2 for £2.

 

[Hashmonster]

i'd be interested to see how crazy taxi plays on the PS2 - I know the game so well with my DC pad.

*adds crazy taxi 2 to list*

 

[Skyler]

gah ps2 pads are horrible


but weve had that discussion

and er platinum is no doubt good news

 

[bodhi]

Originally posted by Ono
£20 for a decrepid old PS2 game!!??

20 quid for GT3 is a fucking bargain if you ask me.

 

[MYstIC G]

Might also pick up Tekken Tag, cos although I don't really like it I'm bored of not having a beat-em-up.

 

[Nibbler]

Well now £20 eh? Most irregular and impressive.

 

[Skyler]

well gt3 is good apart from the fact it doesnt have a good sense of speed....

 

[Moving Target]

Originally posted by Bodhi


20 quid for GT3 is a fucking bargain if you ask me.

Indeed it is, might pick up Tekken TT for that amount of money.

 

[Sir Frizz]

That is good news Mystic

But alas i either have those games or they dont appeal to me, s'pose i'll have to wait. :/

 

[]SK[]

GT3 hasnt been out long though which I cant work out.

 

[Sir Frizz]

'Sales' possibly?

 

[]SK[]

Its a great game anyway. Worth the £40 I paid.

 

[old.unakc]

If you ask me brining out th ePlat already is a bit fast. I know they want to compet with xbox and GC that are out in a month but still.
Remember when they did this with ps1, they had many many games to make plat and this made it worth while, pluss alot of those games were really good. But ps2 plat games there no way gonna be as many plat games as there were on ps1 cause lets face it there are good games on ps2 but not many. And brining these games down in price doesnt bode well for ps2.

Im sure playstation are now going to try to rake out as much money as they can from ps2 while they work on ps3. Why you think they want to get ps3 out so early cause they know they have a big fight on there hands, its not all soo easy as it was when ps1 was around.

 

[Sir Frizz]

Ok, if i had a penny for every ps2 game i like/would like, i'd have about 25p atm. If i did the same for the GC, i'd have about 5. That is all. Im sick and tired of people saying there arent that many good ps2 games. Its all matter of opinion. If i have to say one more time i'll kill my sister.

Why doesnt bringing the cost of games down in price bode well for a company? If the games arent selling in such abundance as they used to then they can raise it again by lowering the price. Simple as. And expect the PS3 around 2004/5, a while in my eyes. Sony dont have to fight, theyve already won

 

[Hashmonster]

Originally posted by the-frizz
If i did the same for the GC, i'd have about 5.

erm, right - the fact that the difference that the PS2 has been released here for over a year and the gamecube don't hit till may 3rd. And yes i have a PS2. maybe your referring to the GC release in japan/states

Even tho the gamecube has been out in japan/states for ages now, the PS2 has had the headstart and is now rolling on to it's second generation of games, while nintendo are barely scratching the surface. so there should be a whole ton of excellent games out, instead of a fair amount imo.

yes i will be getting a game cube too.

but yep, it's all down to opinion

/editted cos i'm a ph00l!