PlayStation Illustrated NEWS
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
ESTABLISHES NEW COMPANY TO PRODUCE
NEXT GENERATION PLAYSTATION EMBEDDED DRAM GRAPHICS SYNTHESIZER
TOKYO, March 4, 1999 - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. today announced the establishment of a new subsidiary company to manufacture the Graphics SynthesizerTM, the main grpahics processor for the next generation PlayStationR system employing 0.18 micron embedded DRAM process technology.
Based in Nagasaki, Japan, the new chip manufacturing facility will be responsible for mass production of the Graphics Synthesizer chips on 8-inch silicon wafers. Initial production capacity will be 10,000 wafers a month (multiple chips are produced from a single wafer). The new chips will be available from spring 2000. Until the establishment of the new facility, production will take place at Sony's existing chip manufacturing plant based in Kokubu, Japan.
The facility will be housed in a new building next to Sony's existing semiconductor plant, Sony Nagasaki, and will be comprised of new production lines employing leading-edge 0.18 micron embedded DRAM process technology. The manufacturing plant will operate in cooperation with Sony Corporation.
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.'s total investment in the new facility will total 70 billion yen. The next generation PlayStation is a new computer entertainment platform that will further expand the market for digital entertainment created by the PlayStation, the world's most successful TV-based videogame console with global sales of more than 50 million units.Company Outline
Company Name: To be determined
Established: April 1999
Location: Nagasaki, Japan
Initial Capital: To be determined (100 percent SCEI ownership).
