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PlayStation2 due in Oct.
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May 10, 2000: 6:32 p.m. ET
Sony to distribute one million units of popular game console in North America
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Japan's Sony Computer Corp. on Wednesday said it plans to roll out in North America its powerful PlayStation2 game console on October 26, a key strategic move aimed at retaining its dominance in the $7 billion electronic game market.
The game console, which will carry a suggested price of $299, will be able to play games built specifically for the new box, as well as those made for older PlayStation versions, and will also support audio CDs and DVD-Video.
 Retailers in Tokyo, engulfed in what some called "PlayStation 2 mania," were overrun with customers in March when the console was introduced there. Crowds began lining up 48 hours before the box, which sold at $365 in Japan, was scheduled to go on sale. Nearly one million were sold in the first week and 1.8 million units have been sold in Japan to date.
The company plans to initially ship one million units in North America, followed by an additional two million units through March 31, 2001.
Sony (SNE: Research, Estimates) has been the undisputed champ of the "next generation" game system makers, whose high-powered computer consoles support games that feature life-like action and fast, crisp graphics.
Sony has sold more than 70 million of its PlayStation consoles in the past five years. Its nearest competitor, Nintendo, has sold about 29 million of its N64 units, while Sega, once the market leader, trails in a distant third place.
The battle promises to escalate in the next year as Microsoft Corp. (MSFT: Research, Estimates) sets its sights on the video game market, with its planned introduction of its "X-Box," which is seen hitting stores by the second half of 2001.
 The fight is not simply for kids who love to play games but experts say, for the time and dollars of entire families. The console makers hope family's will utilized the game boxes as home entertainment systems to watch DVD movies and surf the Internet.
The North American version of PlayStation will include an expansion slot, into which users can slide a modem that will give the box access to the internet. Sony says the modem will likely be available before the Christmas holiday. 
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PlayStation
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