Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. ( 株式会社ソニー・コンピュータエンタテインメント ? ) ( SCE ) is a video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a full subsidiary of Sony. The company was established on November 16, 1987 in Tokyo, Japan prior to the launch of the original PlayStation video game system. The logo has been used since 1994.
SCE handles the research & development, production, and sales of both hardware and software for the PlayStation line of handheld and home console video game systems. SCE is also a developer and publisher of video game titles and is composed of several subsidiaries covering the company's biggest markets: North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia.
The Chairman and Group CEO of SCE is currently Kazuo Hirai, who on November 30, 2006 replaced longtime CEO Ken Kutaragi, also known as "The Father of the PlayStation" . Kuturagi officially retired from his executive position at SCE on June 19, 2007, and now holds the title of Honorary Chairman at the company. Jack Tretton and Andrew House currently serve as President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, respectively.
SCE currently has three main headquarters around the world: Minami-Aoyama, Minato, Tokyo, Japan which controls operations in Asia; Foster City, California, USA which controls operations in North America; and London, England, UK which controls operations in Europe and Oceania. SCE also has smaller offices and distribution centres in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Melbourne, Australia; and Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea, Poland.
Hardware
Home consoles
Main article: PlayStation (brand)PlayStation 3
Main article: PlayStation 3The newest home console in the PlayStation family, as well as Sony's entry in the seventh-generation of consoles, the PlayStation 3 ( PS3 ) was launched in November 2006. It utilizes a unique processing architecture, the Cell microprocessor, a proprietary technology developed by Sony in conjunction with Toshiba and IBM. The graphics processing unit, the RSX 'Reality Synthesizer', was co-developed by Nvidia and Sony. Several variations of the PS3 have been released, each with slight hardware and software differences, each denoted by the varying size of the included hard disk drive (20, 40, 60, 80, and 160GB). A 120GB Slim model has been released and is now the current default system. The 20, 40, 60 and 80GB versions, however, have since been discontinued.
PlayStation 2
Main article: PlayStation 2Currently the highest selling home console of all time, SCE's second home console, the PlayStation 2 ( PS2 or PSX2 ) was released in Japan on March 4, 2000, and later in North America and Europe in October and November 2000, respectively. The PS2 is powered by a proprietary central processing unit, the Emotion Engine, and was the first video game console to have DVD playback functionality included out of the box. Initially, the system was criticized for its complex development environment, due mainly to the proprietary hardware included, however despite these complaints the PlayStation 2 received widespread support from third party developer's throughout its lifespan on the market.
PlayStation
Main article: PlayStationSony's first home console release, the PlayStation (codenamed PSX during development, currently PSOne ), was initially designed to be a CD-ROM drive add-on for Nintendo's Super Nintendo Entertainment System (a.k.a. Super Famicom in Japan) video game console, in response to Sega's Sega CD. When the prospect of releasing the system as an add-on dissolved, Sony redesigned the machine into a stand alone unit. The PlayStation was released in Japan on December 3, 1994 and later in North America on September 9, 1995.
Handheld consoles
PlayStation Portable
Main article: PlayStation PortableThe PlayStation Portable ( PSP ) is SCE's first foray into the handheld console market, which was and to this date still is dominated by Nintendo. Its development was first announced during SCE's E3 conference in 2003, and it was officially unveiled during their E3 conference on May 11, 2004. The system was released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005 and in Europe and Australia on September 1, 2005. The console has since seen two major redesigns, with new features including a smaller size, more internal memory, a better quality LCD screen and a lighter weight. A new design, the PSP Go , was released on October 1, 2009 for North America and Europe and on November 1, 2009 for Japan. It has a 3.8" LCD which slides up to reveal the main controls. The PSP Go is 45% lighter and 56% smaller than the original PSP and does not support UMD. The device does support Bluetooth and will be completely digital meaning all media must be downloaded or transferred to the device which has 16 GB of internal flash memory.
Other hardware
PSX
Main article: PSX (DVR)In December 2003, Sony released the PSX , a device that combined the video game capabilities of a PlayStation 2 with an included DVD writer and hard drive, allowing video recording and DVD burning functionality. The PSX was the first product to utilize SCE's XrossMediaBar user interface, and was to be a media convergence device utilizing the PlayStation brand to gain a foothold on the market, however due to its high price it failed to gain any significant market share. It was never released outside of Japan.
PocketStation
Main article: PocketStationThe PocketStation is a miniature game console created by SCE as a peripheral for the original PlayStation. Released exclusively in Japan on December 23, 1998, it features an LCD display, a speaker, a real-time clock, and infrared communication capability. It can also be used as a standard PlayStation memory card.
Software development studios
On September 14, 2005, SCE formed Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios ( SCE WWS ), a single internal entity overseeing all wholly owned development studios within SCE. It is responsible for the creative and strategic direction of development and production of all computer entertainment software by all SCE-owned studios, all of which is produced exclusively for the PlayStation family of consoles.
Shuhei Yoshida was named as President of SCE WWS on May 16, 2008, replacing Kazuo Hirai, who was serving interim after inaugural SCE WWS President Phil Harrison left the company in early 2008.
Since its inception in 1993, SCE has also built up a large stable of third party developers that it often collaborates with in a variety of manners, from publishing to funding to co-development. These companies are however not owned or under contract by SCE, and some, unlike the studios within SCE WWS, also release and develop products in cooperation with competing video game developers and publishers, and for competing handheld and/or home consoles as well.
Owned franchises and properties
Software initiatives
PlayStation Home
Main article: PlayStation HomePlayStation Home , is a community-based service developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's London and Cambridge studios for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network. It is available directly from the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar. Home has been in development since early 2005 and started an open public beta test in December 2008. Home allows users to create an avatar on their PlayStation 3 console and explore an online world. This avatar gets its own virtual apartment space or "HomeSpace", which can be adorned with items that users can obtain in several different ways. Xi , a once notable feature of Home, is the world's first console based Alternate Reality Game that took place in secret areas in Home and was created b
Christmas Party Games - Party Game Ideas - Kids XMas Fun
Christmas Candles is a A Christmas party game for kids. A collection of children's party games include Christmas Candles, Christmas Guesses, Christmas Tree, Christmas Wreath ...
Christmas Games - Games for Christmas - Online Christmas Games for ...
Christmas Party Games Christmas Jokes Free Newsletters Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving 2009 Guide ... It's a fun game at Christmas. Snow Fall. Get your baby brother home through the Snow Fall.
Office Christmas Party Games
Based on popular demand we have compiled some of our favorite party games, suitable for Company Christmas ... time… everyone or just some party participants can play these fun games——————————————————————————–
Christmas Party Games! Holiday & Christmas Party Games for Kids ...
Christmas Crowds - Get the party started with these unique Christmas party games sure to please your crowd! Fun Christmas Party Games - Christmas party games will get your holiday ...
Christmas Games | A Homemade Christmas | Family Fun
Find Christmas Games for your Kids to enjoy during the joyous ... Get great ideas for fun and cute crafts to make with ... Party Planning; Party Printables; Holiday Parties; Getaways
Christmas Party Ideas for Kids - Christmas Party Games
A Christmas party for kids with Christmas party games, Christmas party supplies and ideas for a ... la carte or complete party boxes, you can even find fun crafts to make and party ...
Play Christmas games - build a snowman and more
» Party » ... Christmas Fun & Games. Fun activities and computer games with a Christmas theme including Tic Tac Toe ...
Decorate the Christmas Tree - fun interactive Christmas Game
Fun Interactive Animated Trim a Tree Christmas Game : Home >Holidays and ... Printable Christmas Party Games
Best Party Games Ever. Superb Party Game Ideas and Party Supplies ...
Christmas Party Gift Exchange Games. Your party friend is Father Christmas now. Best Christmas Party Gift Exchange Games. Good fun giving out and receiving games.
Christmas Games, Fun Christmas Party Games
Looking for Christmas games? Find best Xmas games to make your office or family party fun.