Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today the Spring 2001 release of Gran Turismo™ 3 A-spec, the latest installment of the greatest racing series in history. Developed exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system by Polyphony Digital Inc., Gran Turismo 3 A-spec harnesses the technological power of PlayStation 2 bringing the team's creative vision to life through outstanding graphics and special effects, and creating the most technologically advanced racing experience ever.

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The Gran Turismo franchise revolutionized the racing car genre. In May 1998, the original Gran Turismo was released on the PlayStation game console providing the best graphics and realism to date. Since its launch, 3.7 million units have been sold nationwide and more than 10 million units sold worldwide. Back by popular demand, in December 1999, Gran Turismo 2 was released on the PlayStation game console selling more than one million units in six weeks. As one of the most highly-anticipated titles for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Gran Turismo 3 A-spec's mass market appeal is expected to drive hardware sales for the platform in 2001.

"We are thrilled to bring the Gran Turismo franchise to the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. "Gran Turismo 3 A-spec truly revolutionizes the racing category, bringing a new dimension in physics, graphics and special effects that blurs the line between game and reality. It will appeal to a much broader audience and will drive the formation of the PlayStation 2 platform."

Gran Turismo 3 A-spec immerses players into the most true-to-life environments ever realized, including special effects like blinding sun glare hitting the windshield, shimmering heat rays rising off the tarmac and real-time reflections on the cars, adding to the overall experience. Improved opponent A.I. (artificial intelligence) further adds to the realism, allowing players to experience a true sense of emotion emanating from the opposing cars. As drivers respond to annoying tailgating, they may pass you on the inside or perform sneering cut-offs. In addition, the power of PlayStation 2 allows for each car's characteristics to be accurately designed and calculated to handle according to the "real life" physics of that particular vehicle, taking into account weight, speed, friction, wind and more.

The most realistic interactive racing experience to date, Gran Turismo 3 A-spec delivers speed that players can actually feel. The game takes full advantage of the DUALSHOCK™2 analog controller, so that the harder the driver pushes on the touch-sensitive controller, the faster the car goes, simulating the gas pedal of a real car. Drivers can "feel" the speed as they maneuver through curves and shoot down straight-aways while racing fellow competitors.

The PlayStation 2's superior technology has enabled the development team to evolve the sound effects in Gran Tursimo 3 A Spec to a new level of realism. Tire sounds have been improved so that each tire has its own distinctive skid sound. Players will notice that the friction noise changes throughout the game, depending on the driver's speed, and the type or size of the tires on the car. As players accelerate, the sound of the wind from the car's body will increase, adding to the overall sensation of speed and realism.

In Gran Turismo 3 A-spec, weather conditions, including enhanced fogging effects and rain, have been implemented to improve realism and add challenge to the racing experience. An enhanced Rally Mode adds further variety, allowing players to race through gravel tracks, kicking up dirt to impair their opponent's view. Dirt tracks offer a completely different driving experience with varying topography that changes how well each vehicle's traction handles the gravel tracks.

More than 150 authentic vehicles will be available to the player, including a variety of models from Japanese, European and American car manufacturers. Among the choice of vehicles, there will be 30 new car models, plus the return of European "super cars" and American "muscle cars" as seen in Gran Turismo and Gran Turismo 2. All vehicles will feature individually customized performance, handling, drive train and real engine sounds. The following is a list of automobiles featured in Gran Turismo 3 A-spec:

  Manufacturer/Car/Model  Acura CL               3.2                  Type S  Acura                  NSX  Acura                  NSX  Acura                  Integra              Type R  Alfa Romeo             156                  Super Turismo  Alfa Romeo             156                  2.5 V6 24V  Aston Martin           DB7                  Vantage Coupe  Aston Martin           V8                   Vantage  Audi                   S4  Audi                   TT                   1.8T quattro  BMW                    328ci  Chevrolet              Corvette             Grand Sport  Chevrolet              Camaro               Z28  Chevrolet              Corvette             Z06  Chevrolet              Camaro               SS  Chrysler               PT Cruiser  Citroen                Xsara                Rally Car  Daihatsu               Storia               X4  Daihatsu               Mira                 TR-XX Avanzato R  Dodge                  Viper                GTS-R Team Oreca  Dodge                  Viper                GTS  Fiat                   Coupe                Turbo Plus  Ford                   Focus                Rally Car  Ford                   Escort               Rally Car  Ford                   Mustang              SVT Cobra R  Ford                   GT40                 Race Car  Ford                   GT40  Gillet                 Vertigo              Race Car  Honda                  Accord               Euro-R  Honda                  Raybryg NSX  Honda                  Castrol Mugen Nsx  Honda                  Arta NSX  Honda                  NSX                  Type S Zero  Honda                  NSX                  Type R  Honda                  S2000                Type V  Honda                  S2000  Honda                  Integra              Type R 98 Spec  Honda                  Civic                Type R(EK)  Honda                  Civic                SiR-II(EG)  Honda                  Cr-X Del-Sol         SiR  Jaguar                 XJ220                Road Car  Jaguar                 XKR                  Coupe  Lister                 Storm V12            Race Car  Lotus                  Esprit               Sport 350  Lotus                  Elise                190  Lotus                  Motor Sport Elise  Mazda                  RX-7 Type RS  Mazda                  RX-7 Type RZ  Mazda                  Savanna RX-7         Infini III(FC)  Mazda                  Eunos Roadster       Normal  Mazda                  Eunos Roadster       Normal  Mazda                  Roadster             1.8 RS  Mazda                  Roadster             RS  Mazda                  Demio                GL-X  Mercedes-Benz          CLK55  Mercedes-Benz          CL600  Mercedes-Benz          SLK                  230 Kompressor  Mitsubishi             FTO                  GP Version R  Mitsubishi             GTO                  Twin Turbo  Mitsubishi             GTO                  Twin Turbo  Mitsubishi             Lancer               Evolution IV GSR  Mitsubishi             Lancer               Evolution V GSR  Mitsubishi             Lancer               Evolution VI GSR Tommi                                              Makinen Edition(Stripe)  Mitsubishi             Lancer               Evolution VI Rally Car  Mitsubishi             Lancer               Evolution VI GSR  Mitsubishi             Lancer               Evolution VI GSR Tommi                                              Makinen Edition  Mitsubishi             Lancer               Evolution VII GSR  Nissan                 Silvia               Varietta  Nissan                 Skyline              GTS-t Type M(R32)  Nissan                 Skyline              GT-R Vspec II(R32)  Nissan                 Skyline              GT-R Vspec(R33)  Nissan                 R390 GT1             LM Race Car  Nissan                 R390 GT1             Road Car  Nissan                 Skyline              GT-R Vspec(R34)  Nissan                 Skyline              GT-R Vspec II(R34)  Nissan                 Pennzoil Nismo       GT-R GT  Nissan                 Silvia               K's 2000cc(S13)  Nissan                 Silvia               K's 1800cc(S13)  Nissan                 Silvia               K's Aero(S14)  Nissan                 Silvia               Spec R(S15)  Nissan                 180SX                Type X  Nissan                 Loctite Zexel        GT  Nissan                 Calsonic Skyline     GT  Nissan                 Fairlady Z           Version S 2 seater Twin Turbo  Opel                   Caribra              Touring Car  Pagani                 Zonda                C12  Pagani                 Zonda                C12S  Peugeot                206                  S16  Peugeot                206                  Rally Car  Renault                Clio Sport           V6 24V  Renault                Clio Sport           Race Car  RUF                    RUF 3400S  RUF                    RUF R-GT  RUF                    RUF CTR2  Shelby                 Cobra  Subaru                 Impreza              WRX STi  Subaru                 Impreza              Sports Wagon STi  Subaru                 Impreza              Rally Car  Subaru                 Impreza              Coupe 22B STi Version  Subaru                 Impreza              Sedan WRX STi Ver. VI  Subaru                 Impreza              Wagon WRX STi Ver. VI  Subaru                 Impreza              Rally Car prototype  Subaru                 Legacy B4            RSK  Subaru                 Legacy B4            Blitzen  Subaru                 Legacy               Touring Wagon GT-B  Suzuki                 Alto Works           Suzuki Sports Limited  Tommykaira             ZZS  Toyota                 MR2                  GT-S  Toyota                 MR2                  G-Limited  Toyota                 Corolla              Rally Car  Toyota                 Sprinter Trueno      GT-Apex(AE86 Type I)  Toyota                 Altezza  Toyota                 MR-S                 S Edition  Toyota                 Autobacs             APEX MR-SGT  Toyota                 Celica               SS-II  Toyota                 Supra                RZ  Toyota                 Supra                SZ-R  Toyota                 Castrol Tom's Supra  Toyota                 Denso Sard Supra  Toyota                 Altezza              RS200  Toyota                 Altezza              AS200  Toyota                 GT-One(TS020)        Race Car  Toyota                 GT-One(TS020)        Road Car  Toyota                 Vitz                 Euro Edition  Toyota                 Vitz                 RS 1.5  Toyota                 Celica               GT-Four(ST205)  Toyota                 Sprinter Trueno      GT-Apex Shigeno version  TVR                    Tuscan               Speed 6  TVR                    Griffith             500  TVR                    Speed 12  Vauxhall               Astra  Vauxhall               VX220  Vauxhall               Caribra  Volkswagen             New Beetle           2.0  Volkswagen             New Beetle           RSi  Volkswagen             New Beetle           Cup car  Volkswagen             Lupo                 Cup car

Continuing to set the standards for racing games Gran Turismo 3 A-spec will incorporate many enhanced features including:

  -- Fifteen tracks including two new tracks -- Monte Carlo and Tokyo     circuits  -- Arcade Racing mode with power slides, burnouts and excessive speed  -- In-depth simulation mode where money is earned to buy and sell vehicles     and upgrade parts  -- License tests and racing championship rounds  -- Fully customizable vehicles  -- Refined Replay mode  -- One-to-six player racing using i-link

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has not yet rated Gran Turismo 3 A-spec. For more information about the ESRB visit http://www.esrb.org/.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one™ game console and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system is set to revolutionize the home entertainment market, offering the most compelling interactive content and the capability to be used as a network terminal in the coming broadband era.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PS one game console and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

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SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America

Contact: Charlotte Panther, 650-655-3542, or
charlotte_panther@playstation.sony.com, or Ryan Bowling, 650-655-3657, or
ryan_bowling@playstation.sony.com, both of Sony Computer Entertainment
America

Website: http://www.playstation.com/