Sony Announces New PlayStation Model for Japan in 1996
Tokyo Oct. 31, 1996 - To further expedite the increased production of PlayStation hardware, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today the November 15, 1996, introduction of a new PlayStation consumer game console, SCPH-5500.
The new console to be introduced to the Japanese market, will carry a suggested retail price of 19,800 yen (consumption tax not included). The new model has been designed for manufacture with a reduced number of parts as compared to earlier models, in order to achieve mass scale production.
The simplified internal design of the new model, including the unification of video connection output terminals into a single AV multi- output jack, will result in a 30 percent increase in manufacturing productivity. This new configuration will facilitate SCEI's increased production demands towards year-end, as well as any future requirements.
SCEI will also introduce, as part of a special sales campaign, a new memory card "triple pack," SCPH-1170. The pack will include three memory cards for use with PlayStation, and will go on sale on November 15, 1996, at a suggested retail price of 4,000 yen (consumption tax not included). The single memory card pack, SCPH-1020, will continue to be available at the suggested retail price of 2,000 yen (consumption tax not included).
The total number of PlayStation titles in Japan is expected to exceed 600 by year-end, with a number of new role playing games as well. The new memory card "triple pack" is yet another illustration of SCEI's commitment to making the PlayStation THE game console for the entire family to enjoy.
