Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Gangs of London Exclusively for the PSP

Foster City, CA - March 1, 2006 – Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that Gangs of London will be available exclusively for the PSP (PlayStationPortable) system later this year. Created by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's London Studio, developers of The Getaway franchise, Gangs of London was designed specifically for the PSP system and will be presented in stunning graphic-novel style narratives. Dynamic storylines enable each player to experience their own unique progression in nearly 60 different missions that immerse gamers in an elite criminal underworld in modern day London. Complete with new gameplay modes, Gangs of London provides intense free-roaming gameplay perfectly tailored for a handheld system.

"Gangs of London is organized crime in the palm of your hands. Now you can control and give orders to your team of gangsters to orchestrate the most ruthless takeover of the London Underworld," said Daniel Navarro, Team Soho, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. "We are excited by so many facets including its accessibility, graphic novel gangster stories, and open game structure that enables a large variety of game modes. It's an intense depiction of London's criminal underworld with elements never seen before on a handheld system."

Gameplay Description / Key Features

Gangs of London offers a variety of modes of play including Story Mode, Gang Battle, Free Roaming, London Pub Games and a unique Game Sharing mode. In Story Mode, players choose the gang they want to lead and must use strategy and skill to stay one step ahead of the competition. Each mission is separated with narratives that guide players through the background story of criminal masterminds fighting for the right to be called London's number one gangster. Gamers can re-play missions from different gang perspectives, allowing for a variety of routes throughout the game.

Combining some of the best elements of turn-based strategy and card games, Gang Battle mode provides players with an interactive map on which they must use criminal force to attack and defend patches of London. Using a combination of skill, nerve and chance, gamers can take on up to four other gamers on a single PSP system, or compete against up to four AI controlled players.

Free Roaming mode allows players to explore and tackle the streets of London on their own terms as they choose between a variety of characters, vehicles, weapons, time of day, and police levels. Additionally, gamers may activate Tourist Mode, where they will be tasked with exploring and photographing the city's most famous landmarks to unlock game extras. If it's pickup and play gaming that players are looking for, Gangs of London also offers a set of British Pub minigames that include darts, pool and skittles.

Gangs of London also supports a completely original Game Share mode that will generate a new level unique to each PSP, with the content dependent on the serial number of the target system. Once activated, players will find themselves faced with uniquely different mission objectives, environments, characters and weaponry.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation and PS one game console, the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and the PSP (PlayStationPortable) 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. The PSP system is a new entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and the PSP 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.